WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.600 Well, good morning again. 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:07.940 My name is Jeff. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:11.019 I am one of the pastors here at Church of the Advent. 00:00:11.220 --> 00:00:14.839 And if you're here this morning and it's your first time, I just want to say welcome. 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:17.539 We're so glad that you decided to join us. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:19.879 We would love to connect with you. 00:00:20.460 --> 00:00:24.839 During the announcements, there's going to be a QR code on the screen for you to scan. 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:26.480 It's also in the lobby on your way out. 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:31.019 We'd love for you to scan that, fill out a form, and connect with you. 00:00:31.260 --> 00:00:33.259 And one of our pastors will follow up with you. 00:00:33.799 --> 00:00:40.520 And we would love to just get coffee and hear your story and hear about what God is doing in your life. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:54.659 If you would have walked the streets of Corinth in the first century, you would have noticed a number of things about this city. 00:00:54.659 --> 00:00:58.799 You would have noticed that it was a very wealthy city. 00:01:00.059 --> 00:01:05.079 That it was a center of commerce and trade, of banking and finance. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:11.780 You would have noticed that it was a center of a lot of travelers and tourism. 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:19.879 Tourists who came to the city for the city's many festivals and athletic games, athletic events. 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:26.659 You would have noticed that it was a city full of vice and crime. 00:01:27.579 --> 00:01:33.159 One of the things that Corinth was famous for was its flourishing industry of prostitution. 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:50.620 All of this led one scholar to conclude that Corinth was at once the New York, the Los Angeles, and the Las Vegas of the ancient world combined. 00:01:53.219 --> 00:02:00.079 Another thing that you would have noticed about the city of Corinth, in addition to all this, is that it was a very religious city. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:08.159 There were 26 shrines and temples scattered throughout the city to various gods and goddesses. 00:02:08.840 --> 00:02:15.300 The most prominent of which stood atop the city's highest point on a large hill. 00:02:16.139 --> 00:02:20.800 And it was the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty and fertility. 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:26.800 And it's to people in this city that Paul writes this letter. 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:33.140 And in this section, he's writing to people who are living in a city of temples. 00:02:33.980 --> 00:02:40.660 And to people living in a city of temples, he tells them, you're to be the one temple. 00:02:41.480 --> 00:02:44.660 You're to be the one temple that stands apart all the rest. 00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:49.659 We've been in a series in 2 Corinthians called Power and Weakness. 00:02:50.419 --> 00:02:53.859 And we've been walking through that letter chapter by chapter. 00:02:54.079 --> 00:03:00.300 And if you're just reading 2 Corinthians straight through, if you're reading it straight through all in one go, 00:03:01.180 --> 00:03:07.519 when you get to this section in 2 Corinthians 6, it can feel like this abrupt left turn. 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:11.860 In Paul's thought and in the flow of his words. 00:03:12.820 --> 00:03:19.260 We're in this section, as we had two weeks ago, where Paul is making this direct appeal to the Corinthian church. 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:22.200 Some people that he's had some conflict with in the past. 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:28.219 And he's seeking to ask them to accept his authority as an apostle. 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:32.219 And for them to receive the authenticity of his ministry. 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:37.240 But he's also asking them to open their hearts to him again in love. 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:40.879 He's seeking to restore his relationship with them. 00:03:41.579 --> 00:03:46.400 And right in the middle of the section, he sort of makes this what feels like an abrupt left turn. 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:51.979 He goes right into this really strong exhortation about pursuing holiness. 00:03:53.079 --> 00:03:54.939 About pursuing holiness. 00:03:54.939 --> 00:03:59.819 And you're like, okay, Paul, like, I thought I knew where this was going. 00:03:59.979 --> 00:04:02.859 But I didn't realize that this is where we were headed. 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:04.620 But we're here now. 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:05.719 So, okay. 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:08.280 But I didn't realize that this was where we were going. 00:04:09.819 --> 00:04:17.500 And what may feel like an abrupt transition in the flow of this letter actually shows us something really important. 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:23.839 It shows us that Paul's main concern, although he cares about his relationship with the Corinthians, 00:04:24.439 --> 00:04:28.079 his main concern isn't about hurt feelings. 00:04:29.620 --> 00:04:34.339 His main concern is about seeing the gospel transform the Corinthian church. 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:41.720 And as the gospel transformed the Corinthian church, that it would transform the city in which they live. 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:49.140 Paul calls on people living in a city of temples to be the temple of the living God. 00:04:49.760 --> 00:04:50.940 Because that is what they are. 00:04:52.080 --> 00:04:57.460 And so we're going to look at two things this morning that Paul reminds us of. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:02.200 We're going to see that we're called to live the story of the temple. 00:05:02.960 --> 00:05:05.220 And we're called to draw sacred boundaries. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:08.040 We're called to live the story of the temple. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:10.560 And we're called to draw sacred boundaries. 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:12.220 Let's pray together. 00:05:13.180 --> 00:05:14.500 Lord, thank you for your word. 00:05:15.660 --> 00:05:17.720 Thank you that all of it is true. 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:20.000 It is given to us in love. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:25.560 I pray that you would speak to us by your Holy Spirit through your word. 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:28.439 That we may know, love, follow, and worship you. 00:05:29.340 --> 00:05:31.100 In Christ's name, amen. 00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:38.100 So first, Paul shows us that we're to live the story of the temple. 00:05:38.100 --> 00:05:43.460 The central image of the temple comes from verse 16, where Paul says, 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:47.060 for we are the temple of the living God. 00:05:48.340 --> 00:05:53.240 And in many ways, the story of the Bible is the story of the temple. 00:05:54.040 --> 00:06:01.040 That place where God reveals his glory and manifests his presence with his people. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:06.260 Genesis 1 and 2 shows us that all of creation is God's temple. 00:06:06.379 --> 00:06:09.220 His presence and glory fills the cosmos. 00:06:09.700 --> 00:06:24.320 And the Garden of Eden is sort of this microcosm of creation, where human beings made in his image embody his presence and his rule to the rest of creation as kings and as priests. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:35.040 And humanity's job description is not only to serve God and worship God in this garden temple, but to extend its borders. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:45.039 To extend its borders by cultivating God's creation until the earth is filled with the glory of God. 00:06:45.659 --> 00:06:48.740 Old Testament scholar T. Desmond Alexander says this. 00:06:48.740 --> 00:07:18.720 He says, 00:07:18.740 --> 00:07:27.620 And so what did they do? 00:07:27.699 --> 00:07:29.360 How did they respond to this boundary? 00:07:30.740 --> 00:07:36.240 Well, when I was in seminary, I had an Old Testament professor who would talk about Genesis 3. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:44.939 And he would say that the way that Genesis 3 should read is that a serpent came into the garden. 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:48.699 A serpent came into the garden and split. 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:50.540 Adam killed the serpent. 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:54.280 That's how Genesis 3 should read. 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:58.240 That Adam protects the garden from the presence of evil. 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:00.520 But that's not what Genesis 3 says. 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.660 Instead, Adam and Eve listen to the serpent. 00:08:04.660 --> 00:08:07.780 And they rebel against the sacred boundary that God had set. 00:08:08.780 --> 00:08:11.000 And so God expels them from the garden. 00:08:11.100 --> 00:08:12.500 He expels them from his prisons. 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:16.420 And he strips them of their status as kings and priests. 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:26.279 And the story of the Old Testament is a story of God coming to restore his glory and his presence to his fallen creation. 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:30.439 That glory and that presence that was lost in Eden. 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:35.440 And the echoes of Eden run throughout the Old Testament story. 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:39.360 We see the echoes of Eden all throughout the Old Testament. 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:47.500 In particular, we see these striking similarities between Eden and these places where God came to dwell with his people. 00:08:47.659 --> 00:08:49.500 The tabernacle and the temple. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:57.080 So in Genesis, we see that the Lord himself walks with Adam and Eve in the garden. 00:08:57.080 --> 00:09:04.960 But Leviticus and Deuteronomy say the exact same thing about the tabernacle and the temple. 00:09:05.060 --> 00:09:09.000 That the Lord comes and dwells and walks with his people. 00:09:10.280 --> 00:09:14.080 We know that Genesis 3 says that Eden was... 00:09:14.800 --> 00:09:19.660 The entrance to the east of Eden was guarded by angels, by cherubim. 00:09:20.920 --> 00:09:25.480 The tabernacle and the temple are entered from the east. 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:29.560 And the altar is guarded by angels, by cherubim. 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:36.180 The lampstand, the menorah in the tabernacle is designed to look like what? 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:37.860 Like a tree. 00:09:39.220 --> 00:09:41.200 Symbolizing the tree of life. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:48.360 And so the tabernacle and the temple, the place of God's dwelling, are meant to point us back to the Garden of Eden. 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:51.159 They're meant to point us back to Genesis. 00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:53.919 And the message that we're supposed to get is supposed to be loud and clear. 00:09:54.959 --> 00:10:05.980 It's supposed to be loud and clear that the redemption and the salvation that God brings is always about the restoration of his purposes in creation. 00:10:06.959 --> 00:10:10.179 That's what we're supposed to see throughout the Old Testament story. 00:10:10.179 --> 00:10:18.000 And here in 2 Corinthians chapter 6, Paul is following the grain of the story. 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:23.299 He's following the grain of the story of the temple. 00:10:23.479 --> 00:10:37.159 In three verses, he quotes and alludes to six or seven different Old Testament passages that are all about God's covenant relationship with his people through his temple. 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:43.419 In verse 16, he quotes Leviticus 26, which says, 00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:50.819 I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:53.980 God dwelling among his people. 00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:55.639 God walking among his people. 00:10:56.699 --> 00:10:59.319 Those are echoes of Genesis. 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:01.019 They're echoes of Eden. 00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:06.199 In verse 17, he quotes Isaiah 52, which says, 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:12.319 Therefore, go out from their midst and be separate from them and touch no unclean thing, and then I will welcome you. 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:18.620 And here God is speaking through Isaiah to people who are living in exile in Babylon, 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:20.500 and he's saying to them, 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:26.899 Even though you live in exile, you're still people of the temple. 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:31.080 And so don't worship the idols around you. 00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:33.220 Don't worship the gods around you, 00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:35.419 because one day I'm going to bring you out of exile, 00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:38.700 and I'm going to once again make you my dwelling place. 00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:42.320 Again, we should hear Genesis, 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.080 Eden, 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:45.480 temple, 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:46.740 these echoes. 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:48.840 And then in verse 18, 00:11:49.680 --> 00:11:54.320 Paul does this thing where he actually brings together two different passages. 00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:59.080 He brings together 2 Samuel 7 and Deuteronomy 32. 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:05.340 And he brings them together in this quotation that says, 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:06.840 I will be a father to you, 00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:11.000 and you shall be sons and daughters to me. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:13.080 And what this is, 00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:14.600 is again, 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:22.179 it's a reference of God dwelling among his covenant people in intimate relationship. 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:28.960 God is a father who dwells with his people as a father dwells with his sons and daughters. 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:34.879 And all of these references here in 2 Corinthians 6 were meant to hear the story of the temple 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:38.399 that goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden in Genesis. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:46.980 And Paul is saying that this story has reached its climax in you, the church. 00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:50.939 In Jesus Christ, we don't just have a temple. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:55.419 We are the temple of the living God. 00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:59.299 Jesus is our great high priest and our atoning sacrifice. 00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:03.959 He entered the temple of the Holy of Holies and tore the curtain 00:13:03.959 --> 00:13:07.139 so that the presence of God, the glory of God, 00:13:07.219 --> 00:13:10.819 might be poured out by the Holy Spirit to all people. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:15.639 The temple of God is no longer brick and mortar, 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:18.419 but it is flesh and blood. 00:13:19.179 --> 00:13:20.199 It is you. 00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:26.559 It is your very bodies have become the temple of the living God. 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:35.679 And so we see this story unfold from garden to tabernacle to temple to exile to Jesus to the church 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:38.399 of God filling all creation with his glory 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:45.039 and then in love coming to save and redeem and dwell with people who had rejected that glory 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:51.179 and to restore them once again to their vocation as royal priests. 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:54.759 And it is this glorious truth. 00:13:55.439 --> 00:14:02.179 It is this new covenant reality about the temple that motivates us to be holy people, 00:14:02.839 --> 00:14:08.299 that motivates us to pursue holiness in our lives. 00:14:09.199 --> 00:14:12.879 Holiness is its moral purity. 00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:15.559 It's godly maturity. 00:14:16.539 --> 00:14:19.599 Holiness is looking like God. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:21.159 It's looking like Jesus. 00:14:21.800 --> 00:14:23.300 That's what holiness is. 00:14:23.920 --> 00:14:27.340 And in chapter 7, verse 1, Paul says, 00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:30.379 Since we have these promises, beloved, 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:33.340 since we are inheritors of this story, 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:38.060 let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, 00:14:38.800 --> 00:14:42.860 bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:46.159 He's saying if we are in fact God's temple, 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:51.899 if we've been receivers and inheritors of these promises in this story, 00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:56.840 then we should take holiness in our lives seriously. 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:05.360 If Old Testament believers had to be cleansed from sin in order to enter God's holy temple, 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:15.680 how much more should we pursue holiness in our lives now that we have become that temple in our bodies? 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:21.799 And it's important to see, though, that as we talk about pursuing holiness, 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:28.000 as Paul exhorts and commands the Corinthians here to pursue holiness in our lives, 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:30.339 it's important to see that in this verse, 00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:35.399 Paul is rooting our pursuit of holiness. 00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:37.959 He's rooting it in God's grace. 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:41.060 He's rooting it in God's grace. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.060 He says, 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:44.780 Since we have these promises, beloved, 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:47.220 since we have these promises, 00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:52.400 he's talking about the assurance of all the promises that we have through faith in Christ. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.780 And this says something really important 00:15:53.780 --> 00:15:56.139 that I think we can sometimes miss 00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:58.720 about the pursuit of holiness in our life. 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.519 And it's this, 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:03.400 that the pursuit of holiness 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:08.819 isn't about becoming somebody that we're not yet. 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:14.079 It's not about becoming somebody that we're not yet. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:20.919 It's about becoming more and more of who we already are in Christ 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:24.299 as recipients of the gospel. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:27.379 Pursuing holiness isn't about becoming more and more of something, 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:28.799 someone that we're not yet. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:34.519 It's about becoming more and more of who we already are in Christ 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:36.939 by grace through faith. 00:16:37.859 --> 00:16:41.339 And so this story of garden to temple, 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:43.039 to tabernacle to temple, 00:16:43.199 --> 00:16:44.099 to Jesus, 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:47.479 frames and shows us 00:16:47.479 --> 00:16:50.699 what Paul means when he says in verse 16 00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:53.039 that in a city of temples, 00:16:53.319 --> 00:16:55.819 we're to be the temple of the living God. 00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:59.420 And it shows us why we should pursue holiness. 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:02.260 And it shows us 00:17:02.260 --> 00:17:04.259 the particular way 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.380 that God, 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.740 that Paul is, 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:07.840 God through Paul, 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.000 is calling the Corinthians 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:11.539 to pursue holiness in their lives. 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:13.420 It shows us why, 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.140 it shows us one particular way 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:18.240 that we're actually meant to pursue holiness 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.860 in our lives. 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.519 And that is 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:24.240 that we're to draw sacred boundaries. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:27.779 That we're to draw sacred boundaries 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:29.200 in our lives. 00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:31.299 The central command here 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:32.599 in this section 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:35.259 is kind of a strange one, 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:35.900 to be honest. 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:37.940 In verse 14, 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:38.859 Paul says, 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:41.799 do not be unequally yoked 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:43.019 with unbelievers. 00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:46.920 Now, what in the world does that mean? 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:50.740 Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers. 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.579 Well, a yoke 00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:55.000 is a large piece of wood 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:58.900 that farmers would harness 00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:00.500 to the backs 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:02.140 of two animals 00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:06.039 who would drag a plow 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.079 through a field together 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:09.220 as they were plowing the field 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:09.779 for planting. 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.559 And this yoke, 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:13.299 this large beam of wood 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:15.440 harnessed to these two animals 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:17.620 would allow the animals 00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:19.000 to work together productively. 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:20.240 It would allow them to 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:22.140 pull the plow together 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:24.099 in the same direction. 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:26.400 And in Deuteronomy 2, 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.380 there are some laws 00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:30.099 about the agricultural life of Israel. 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.420 And there was a law that said 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:34.819 that you can't make an ox 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:37.140 and a donkey plow together. 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:40.859 You can yoke together two oxen. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:43.980 You can yoke together two donkeys. 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:46.240 But don't yoke together 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.819 an ox and a donkey. 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:49.379 Why is that? 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.879 Well, because an ox 00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:52.279 and a donkey 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.279 are fundamentally, 00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:55.399 they're fundamentally 00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:57.139 incompatible plowing partners. 00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:59.279 They're fundamentally incompatible. 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.839 An ox is clearly bigger 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:02.119 and stronger than a donkey. 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.619 And so they won't 00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:05.379 share the load equally. 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:06.779 And so if you harness them together, 00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:08.179 it's going to be hard for them 00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:09.819 to move in the same direction. 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.639 It's going to be hard for them 00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:12.799 to move the plow. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:15.440 And if you harness them together, 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:18.599 you also risk doing damage to the animals. 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:20.960 You risk hurting the animals. 00:19:21.419 --> 00:19:22.659 The ox is going to be exhausted 00:19:22.659 --> 00:19:24.039 from having to do all the work. 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:26.839 And the donkey is going to run the risk 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:27.819 of breaking a leg 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:29.579 while he tries to keep up. 00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:31.819 And if that happens, 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:34.879 and your animals are hurt and exhausted, 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:37.119 then you can forget about plowing your field. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:39.319 You can forget about planting your crops. 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:42.059 Instead, you need two animals 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:43.079 of the same kind 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:45.299 who can be yoked equally 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:49.059 and move the plow in the same direction 00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:51.099 and share the load together. 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:52.979 And most likely, 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:56.139 Paul is using this image, 00:19:56.199 --> 00:19:57.199 he's using this metaphor 00:19:57.199 --> 00:19:59.099 to talk about 00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:02.519 worship and fellowship 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:04.339 in the Corinthian temples. 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:07.159 And the 26 temples scattered around the city. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.079 And he's warning them 00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:13.019 against participating in idol worship, 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:15.759 participating in pagan practices 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:18.019 like the temple feasts 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:19.579 and things like prostitution. 00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:22.359 He's warning them against 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:24.839 harnessing themselves 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:27.619 to all the various cults and religions 00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.939 around the city. 00:20:28.939 --> 00:20:29.839 And we see this 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:31.319 because of what follows 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:33.379 in verses 14 through 16. 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.780 In verses 14 through 16, 00:20:35.260 --> 00:20:37.840 he asks several rhetorical questions 00:20:37.840 --> 00:20:38.280 in a row. 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:41.320 And these five questions 00:20:41.320 --> 00:20:42.540 are all making the same point. 00:20:43.300 --> 00:20:43.880 He says, 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:45.380 for what partnership 00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:47.340 has righteousness 00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:48.560 with lawlessness? 00:20:50.060 --> 00:20:51.460 What fellowship 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.800 has light 00:20:52.800 --> 00:20:54.160 with darkness? 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.440 What accord 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:58.100 has Christ 00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:59.380 with Belial? 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:01.540 Belial is this name 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.740 for Satan, 00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:04.000 meaning worthless one? 00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:06.859 What portion 00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:07.980 does a believer share 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.819 with an unbeliever? 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:09.940 What agreement 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:12.500 has the temple of God 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.519 with idols? 00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:14.859 And so, 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.899 why does Paul ask 00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:17.720 this string of questions? 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.619 He asks them 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:20.940 to make one singular point, 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:21.539 which is, 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.359 all of these 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:24.119 are pointing to 00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:24.799 a fundamental 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:27.399 spiritual incompatibility 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:29.860 between having communion 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:30.500 with Jesus 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:32.220 and having communion 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:33.500 with idols. 00:21:34.580 --> 00:21:34.860 And so, 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:36.560 to be unequally yoked 00:21:36.560 --> 00:21:39.019 is to be fundamentally 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.800 aligned 00:21:39.800 --> 00:21:41.620 with somebody 00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:42.780 or something 00:21:42.780 --> 00:21:44.220 that is your 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:45.080 spiritual opposite. 00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:47.620 To be unequally yoked 00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:48.720 is to be fundamentally 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.940 aligned at your core 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:51.540 with somebody 00:21:51.540 --> 00:21:52.120 or something 00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:52.900 that's your spiritual 00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:53.900 opposite. 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.740 There's something 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:56.759 at the center 00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:57.920 of all of our lives 00:21:57.920 --> 00:22:00.460 that is driving 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.279 the plow 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.920 of our decisions, 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.519 of our choices, 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.180 our habits, 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:05.920 our values. 00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.980 It could be money. 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:10.220 It could be success. 00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:11.279 It could be comfort. 00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.579 It could be 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:15.019 even a good thing 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.640 like family. 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:18.200 But whatever it is, 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.759 that is what you're 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.500 harnessing 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.420 yourself to. 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.299 It's what you're 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:23.180 harnessing 00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:24.519 the deepest places 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.799 of your soul to. 00:22:26.320 --> 00:22:27.279 That is what you worship. 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.039 And Paul says, 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.519 don't be 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.660 harnessed together 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.420 with people 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:32.120 and things 00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:33.180 that are 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:34.299 your spiritual 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:35.120 opposite. 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:36.299 Don't align yourself 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.600 with what is going 00:22:37.600 --> 00:22:39.080 to do real damage 00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:39.740 to your soul 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:42.680 and pull you away, 00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:44.480 pull your heart away 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:46.680 from following Jesus. 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.640 Now, 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.560 here's what this 00:22:49.560 --> 00:22:50.220 doesn't mean. 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.340 It's important 00:22:51.340 --> 00:22:52.140 to see here's 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:52.900 what this doesn't mean. 00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:54.140 This is not about 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:55.880 not having any 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:56.480 relationships 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.360 or associations 00:22:57.360 --> 00:22:58.180 with people 00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:58.860 who aren't Christians. 00:22:59.060 --> 00:22:59.519 Of course, 00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:00.320 it doesn't mean this. 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.200 We know this 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.280 from the rest 00:23:02.280 --> 00:23:03.160 of Paul's writings. 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:03.720 In other places, 00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:04.540 he assumes 00:23:04.540 --> 00:23:06.320 that people have 00:23:06.320 --> 00:23:06.940 relationships 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:07.900 with non-Christians. 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:09.660 And he always 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.680 encourages love 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.220 and friendship 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:11.800 and hospitality 00:23:11.800 --> 00:23:13.580 in those relationships. 00:23:13.860 --> 00:23:14.460 We also know this 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.240 just because of what 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:16.580 the rest of the Bible 00:23:16.580 --> 00:23:17.000 teaches. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.400 All throughout Scripture, 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.320 we see that we're called 00:23:19.320 --> 00:23:21.240 to love our neighbors. 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.440 We're called 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.599 to be salt and light. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:23.960 We're called 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:25.079 to love all people. 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.339 And that implies 00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:28.019 relationship and friendship. 00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:28.859 I mean, 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.480 if you look at the life 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:29.819 of Jesus, 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:30.140 I mean, 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.200 Jesus had more 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.120 non-Christian friends 00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:32.519 than anybody. 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.079 He was known 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.700 for hanging out 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.079 with people 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:37.460 who weren't believers. 00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.240 And so, 00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:39.039 what this command 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:40.120 is about then, 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.720 what it is about 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:43.400 is creating 00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:44.559 sacred boundaries 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.380 in your life 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:47.940 with people 00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:48.580 and things 00:23:48.580 --> 00:23:49.140 that are your 00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:50.040 spiritual opposites. 00:23:50.780 --> 00:23:51.720 Creating sacred 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.720 boundaries in your life 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.860 with people 00:23:53.860 --> 00:23:54.340 and things 00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:54.780 that are your 00:23:54.780 --> 00:23:56.280 spiritual opposites. 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:57.720 So, 00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:59.000 we're to love 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:00.740 our neighbors. 00:24:00.860 --> 00:24:01.540 We're to love 00:24:01.540 --> 00:24:02.760 our friends. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:04.920 You're to share 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:06.040 your lives with them. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.160 You're to share 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:07.980 your worldly goods 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.260 with them. 00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:09.440 You're to invite 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:11.640 them to your dinner table. 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:12.960 You're to have 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.740 friendships 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:15.599 with all kinds 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:15.980 of people. 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.440 You're to share 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:18.920 everything 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:20.559 that you have 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.039 with them. 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:26.319 But don't worship 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:26.759 their idols. 00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:29.039 Don't worship 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:30.019 their gods. 00:24:30.620 --> 00:24:31.599 Don't be harnessed 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:32.420 into situations 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:34.339 where you're being 00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:35.000 dragged away 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.579 into sin, 00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.000 where you're being 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.440 pulled away 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:37.680 from following Jesus. 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:38.400 Instead, 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:39.759 we're to create 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.559 sacred boundaries. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.319 You might say, 00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:42.460 okay, 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:42.579 well, 00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:42.980 what are some 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.799 examples of this? 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.200 What are some 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.960 examples of what 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.920 this looks like 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.380 practically? 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:47.839 I'm going to give 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:48.259 you three. 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:51.240 A lot of people, 00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:51.680 actually, 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.460 when they read 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.259 this verse, 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:54.480 and you might have 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.640 been thinking this 00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.059 when we read 00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:56.900 the passage earlier, 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:57.920 a lot of people 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:58.720 think that this verse 00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.519 is primarily 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.620 talking about marriage. 00:25:01.860 --> 00:25:02.880 That's most often 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:03.720 how people quote 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.360 this passage. 00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:06.000 But hopefully, 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:07.220 by seeing the context, 00:25:07.360 --> 00:25:07.579 hopefully, 00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:08.140 what you're able 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:08.900 to see is that 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:10.140 marriage is actually 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:12.339 not what this verse 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.299 is primarily about. 00:25:14.439 --> 00:25:15.319 It's actually much 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.079 broader than that. 00:25:16.699 --> 00:25:17.259 Again, 00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:19.500 it's about anything 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.159 in your life 00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:21.819 that you're aligning 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.539 yourself with 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.199 that is your 00:25:23.199 --> 00:25:23.879 spiritual opposite. 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.939 Having said that, 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:29.119 marriage is one 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.339 particular potential 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:31.480 application of this 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.279 verse. 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.480 Because marriage, 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.779 let's be honest, 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:38.299 marriage is one of 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:39.119 the bigger harnesses 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:39.599 that you can get 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.339 into in life, 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:41.639 where you're 00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:42.359 hitching yourself 00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:43.219 to somebody else. 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.859 And you don't want 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:45.599 to marry someone 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.059 who's your 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.799 spiritual opposite. 00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:47.379 You want to marry 00:25:47.379 --> 00:25:48.659 someone who's 00:25:48.659 --> 00:25:49.799 your spiritual partner, 00:25:49.919 --> 00:25:50.959 someone who can 00:25:50.959 --> 00:25:52.299 encourage you 00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:53.019 to follow Jesus, 00:25:53.179 --> 00:25:54.679 someone who can 00:25:54.679 --> 00:25:55.439 pray with you 00:25:55.439 --> 00:25:56.259 and for you, 00:25:56.339 --> 00:25:57.679 someone who knows 00:25:57.679 --> 00:25:59.240 how to speak 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.299 gospel truth 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:01.740 to the intricacies 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:03.500 of your personality. 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:05.819 At the same time, 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.039 we know that, 00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:08.799 we know from Paul 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.319 in 1 Corinthians 00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:10.139 that if you do 00:26:10.139 --> 00:26:11.839 in fact find yourself 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.399 in a marriage 00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:13.819 with an unbeliever, 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.500 we're actually 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.779 encouraged to 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:18.240 nevertheless stay 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.940 in that marriage. 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.519 In 1 Corinthians 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.119 chapter 7, 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.899 Paul talks about 00:26:21.899 --> 00:26:23.519 how someone can 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.700 continue to be 00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:26.559 a spiritual influence 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:30.319 on their spouse 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.299 and potentially even 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.099 lead them to faith 00:26:32.099 --> 00:26:32.559 in Christ. 00:26:33.379 --> 00:26:33.799 But still, 00:26:33.879 --> 00:26:34.700 the ideal is to 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.419 marry someone 00:26:35.419 --> 00:26:37.099 that you're 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:38.180 spiritual equals with, 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.460 that you're 00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:39.259 spiritually compatible 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:39.660 with. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.340 A more common 00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:43.640 example for all 00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.840 of us might be 00:26:44.840 --> 00:26:45.620 something like 00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:48.460 in the workplace, 00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:50.759 perhaps a political 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.900 or a business 00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:53.160 relationship. 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.799 Maybe at work, 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:57.420 you could be asked 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:58.140 to enter into 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.960 a contract 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.759 or an agreement, 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:03.519 a business dealing, 00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:04.580 a financial agreement 00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:05.779 that would clearly 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:07.500 compromise your identity 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.000 in Christ, 00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:09.180 that would clearly 00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:10.700 compromise your ethics 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.279 and your values 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.799 as a Christian. 00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:12.240 And so, 00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:13.220 in those kinds 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:13.839 of situations, 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.599 you may need to 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.599 draw a sacred 00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:17.920 boundary and say, 00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.859 this is antithetical 00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:19.579 to my identity 00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.779 in Christ. 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:22.660 Let's say, 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.240 hypothetically, 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:26.539 you were an employee 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:28.720 of the Washington 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.339 football team, 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:29.900 the Washington 00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:30.440 commanders, 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:32.079 and hypothetically, 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.279 the owner of that team 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:35.480 asked you to create 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:37.019 two sets of financial 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.440 books. 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.599 One that it reported 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.140 to the NFL 00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:41.700 and one that was 00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:42.860 actually true 00:27:42.860 --> 00:27:45.000 in order to commit 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.779 financial fraud 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:47.539 and pay executives 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.240 millions of dollars. 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:49.099 This is just a 00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:49.980 hypothetical example. 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.400 But this would be 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.099 a good opportunity 00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:55.500 for a sacred 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.360 boundary. 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:56.960 This would be 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.579 a situation 00:27:57.579 --> 00:27:59.059 in which you 00:27:59.059 --> 00:27:59.860 should probably 00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:00.740 unhitch yourself 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.220 from. 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:03.880 another example 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:04.900 more common 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.740 to us would be 00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:07.420 certain friendships 00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.100 that we have. 00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:08.980 Maybe there are 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.559 some friendships 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.200 where you have 00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.900 to draw some 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.779 spiritual boundaries 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:13.200 because maybe 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.440 that friendship, 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.079 that relationship 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:17.039 is pulling you, 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.799 dragging you 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.799 away from following 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.920 Jesus and into sin. 00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.240 And again, 00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:21.960 I want to be clear, 00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:23.360 all of us in this room 00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:24.819 should have relationships 00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:25.819 and friendships 00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.799 with people 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.680 who don't know Jesus. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:30.080 but our deepest 00:28:30.080 --> 00:28:31.940 spiritual fellowship, 00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:32.480 our deepest 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.420 spiritual communion 00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:35.240 should be people 00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:36.600 who are going 00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:37.360 in the same direction 00:28:37.360 --> 00:28:38.360 as us. 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:40.120 People who are 00:28:40.120 --> 00:28:42.240 plowing the field 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.960 of discipleship 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.779 and who can carry 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.539 the load with us 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.440 and who can encourage 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:47.100 us as our spiritual 00:28:47.100 --> 00:28:48.120 partners to follow 00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:48.960 Jesus. 00:28:49.080 --> 00:28:49.660 Those are the people 00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:50.160 that we should be 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:51.100 in closest 00:28:51.100 --> 00:28:52.060 spiritual fellowship 00:28:52.060 --> 00:28:52.440 with. 00:28:53.860 --> 00:28:54.360 Now, 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.240 I fully admit 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:57.180 that most situations 00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:59.279 in which creating 00:28:59.279 --> 00:28:59.980 these type of 00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:01.279 boundaries would apply 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.960 are probably 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:03.500 way too complex 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.060 for a sermon. 00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.140 I mean, 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:05.820 there's probably 00:29:05.820 --> 00:29:06.519 some really 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.539 complicated, 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.680 difficult situations 00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:09.620 in which this 00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:10.080 should rise. 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.480 And so, 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.380 I think 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:13.180 it's important 00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:13.640 to say that 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.740 these types of things, 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:15.640 these types of 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.360 boundaries are best 00:29:16.360 --> 00:29:17.680 to serve not 00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:18.700 individually and privately 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.680 but in community 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:21.140 with a wise 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:22.360 counsel of brothers 00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:23.200 and sisters in Christ 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.820 who can speak 00:29:23.820 --> 00:29:24.620 into that situation. 00:29:24.619 --> 00:29:27.279 But also, 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.539 you know, 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.239 if you're here 00:29:29.239 --> 00:29:29.639 this morning 00:29:29.639 --> 00:29:30.219 and you're maybe 00:29:30.219 --> 00:29:31.119 wrestling with a 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:31.879 situation or your 00:29:31.879 --> 00:29:32.779 relationship and 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.279 you're wondering, 00:29:34.199 --> 00:29:35.259 am I unequally 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.859 yoked in this 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.339 situation? 00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:38.579 Here's a list 00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:40.000 of maybe some 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.339 diagnostic questions 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:41.839 that could help 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:42.399 you discern 00:29:42.399 --> 00:29:44.239 if you are. 00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:45.199 So, 00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:45.959 here's a list 00:29:45.959 --> 00:29:46.259 of some 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.259 diagnostic questions. 00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:49.279 Is this 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:50.119 situation, 00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:50.539 is this 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.119 relationship 00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:53.000 drawing me 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:54.099 to idolatry? 00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:56.140 Drawing me 00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:58.000 to worship 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.680 something other 00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.099 than God? 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:01.079 Am I being 00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.640 pulled 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:03.319 to center 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:03.960 my life 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.480 on something 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.000 other than 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.299 Jesus? 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.980 Am I being 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.500 led 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:11.039 to delight 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.420 in 00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:13.299 what grieves 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:13.640 the heart 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:14.019 of God? 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.839 Am I being 00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:18.339 influenced 00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:18.839 to sin? 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:22.399 Are my 00:30:22.399 --> 00:30:22.859 choices 00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:23.240 or my 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:23.639 actions 00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:23.939 or my 00:30:23.939 --> 00:30:24.379 habits 00:30:24.379 --> 00:30:26.119 drifting 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:26.659 away 00:30:26.659 --> 00:30:27.079 from 00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:27.759 my 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.079 pursuit 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.220 of 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.500 holiness? 00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:31.139 Is this 00:30:31.139 --> 00:30:31.619 situation, 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.059 is this 00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:32.500 relation 00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.579 causing 00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:34.039 my 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:35.240 affections, 00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:35.899 my desire 00:30:35.899 --> 00:30:36.519 for Jesus 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.859 to wane? 00:30:39.199 --> 00:30:40.000 And if you 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.740 can answer 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.199 yes to 00:30:41.199 --> 00:30:41.819 two or three 00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:42.079 of those 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.459 questions, 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:43.439 it could be 00:30:43.439 --> 00:30:43.720 that you 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.000 may need 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.519 to create 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.539 a sacred 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:45.899 boundary 00:30:45.899 --> 00:30:46.299 in your 00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:46.679 life. 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:49.519 And to 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:50.539 sum all 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:51.080 this up, 00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:51.860 Paul is 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:53.299 telling the 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:53.620 Corinthians, 00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.160 he's saying 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:54.720 in the 00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.360 city of 00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:56.039 temples, 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:58.220 we are 00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:59.140 to be 00:30:59.140 --> 00:30:59.740 the temple 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.320 that is 00:31:00.320 --> 00:31:01.240 set apart 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:01.759 and unique, 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:02.420 we're to be 00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:02.779 the temple 00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.100 of the 00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:04.259 living God 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:04.560 and this 00:31:04.560 --> 00:31:04.840 is something 00:31:04.840 --> 00:31:05.500 that motivates 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.019 us to 00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.500 pursue 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:08.039 holy lives. 00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:09.580 A 00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.039 pursuit 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:11.519 that is 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.600 rooted in 00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:12.980 God's 00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.380 grace, 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.220 that's rooted 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:14.519 in the 00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:14.820 gospel, 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.759 that's rooted 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.660 in who 00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.120 we are 00:31:17.120 --> 00:31:17.500 in Christ, 00:31:17.600 --> 00:31:18.100 but nonetheless 00:31:18.100 --> 00:31:20.060 a pursuit 00:31:20.060 --> 00:31:20.640 that calls 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.740 us to 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.640 draw sacred 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:23.640 boundaries 00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.380 in our 00:31:24.380 --> 00:31:24.779 lives. 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:27.259 Now that 00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:27.700 might seem 00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:27.980 like a 00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:28.460 tall order 00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:30.500 and that's 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:30.860 because it 00:31:30.860 --> 00:31:31.120 is. 00:31:32.840 --> 00:31:33.640 The pursuit 00:31:33.640 --> 00:31:34.000 of holiness 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.420 is a 00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:35.600 tall order 00:31:35.600 --> 00:31:35.980 and that's 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:36.320 why to 00:31:36.320 --> 00:31:37.100 pursue holiness 00:31:37.100 --> 00:31:37.560 in this 00:31:37.560 --> 00:31:37.759 way, 00:31:37.860 --> 00:31:38.380 to create 00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:39.420 these kinds 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:39.980 of boundaries, 00:31:41.320 --> 00:31:42.060 you need 00:31:42.060 --> 00:31:42.540 something 00:31:42.540 --> 00:31:43.759 better, 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:45.240 you need 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.519 something 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.160 stronger, 00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:46.880 you need 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:47.140 something 00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:47.440 more 00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:48.000 beautiful 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.680 and compelling 00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.100 in your 00:31:49.100 --> 00:31:50.000 life to 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.400 be yoked 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:52.200 to if 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:52.320 you're 00:31:52.320 --> 00:31:52.500 going to 00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:52.800 unhitch 00:31:52.800 --> 00:31:53.200 yourself 00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:53.740 from something 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.080 else. 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:55.779 You know, 00:31:55.820 --> 00:31:56.080 one of the 00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:56.800 passages that 00:31:56.800 --> 00:31:57.480 Paul quotes 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:59.620 here is 00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:00.300 from Leviticus 00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:01.100 chapter 26 00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:01.500 and he 00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:02.019 quotes 00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:03.380 verses 11 00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:03.960 to 12. 00:32:05.560 --> 00:32:06.040 Interestingly, 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.220 verse 13, 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.100 the very next 00:32:09.100 --> 00:32:10.279 verse says, 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:12.000 I am the 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.279 Lord your 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.680 God who 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.079 brought you 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:14.440 out of the 00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:14.740 land of 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.759 Egypt that 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.079 you should 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:16.440 not be 00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.119 their slaves 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:18.980 and I 00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:20.200 have broken 00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:21.200 the bars 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:21.720 of your 00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:23.440 yoke that 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:23.779 you should 00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:25.279 walk upright. 00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:26.259 The Lord 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:28.359 rescued Israel 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:29.079 from Egypt 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:29.740 from the 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.839 yoke of 00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:31.460 slavery and 00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:31.799 this would 00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:32.440 be a 00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:34.000 small picture 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.539 of what 00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:36.299 Jesus Christ 00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:36.940 would come 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.720 and do 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.620 for us 00:32:38.620 --> 00:32:39.360 to break 00:32:39.360 --> 00:32:39.640 us from 00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:40.000 the yoke 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.559 of sin 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.720 and death. 00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:43.640 If comfort 00:32:43.640 --> 00:32:44.839 and security 00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:45.720 and wealth 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:47.839 are driving 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:48.519 the plow 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:48.860 of your 00:32:48.860 --> 00:32:49.259 life, 00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:51.400 it's inevitably 00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:51.920 going to crush 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.100 you. 00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:53.600 It's inevitably 00:32:53.600 --> 00:32:54.339 going to enslave 00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:55.120 you because 00:32:55.120 --> 00:32:55.680 idols, 00:32:56.579 --> 00:32:57.079 see idols 00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:57.559 can only 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.100 promise 00:32:58.100 --> 00:32:59.480 but they 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.000 can't deliver. 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.559 Money and 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:03.220 success and 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:03.600 wealth are, 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.460 if that's what 00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:05.160 you're harnessing 00:33:05.160 --> 00:33:05.640 the center of 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:06.160 your life to, 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.019 if it's what's 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:07.519 driving the 00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:07.839 plow, 00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:09.359 it's going 00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:09.579 to lead 00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:09.839 you to 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:10.299 exhaustion 00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:11.859 and it's 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:12.240 going to lead 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.779 you to real 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.960 spiritual damage 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.619 in your soul. 00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:17.220 But to 00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:17.799 people who 00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:19.480 are weary, 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.980 to people who 00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.779 are burdened, 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.900 to people who 00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:25.700 are exhausted, 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:28.259 from harnessing 00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:30.059 themselves to 00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:30.500 idols, 00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:32.119 from harnessing 00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:33.299 themselves to 00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:33.900 things like 00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:35.279 comfort and 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:36.000 security and 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.319 wealth, 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:38.200 and the 00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:38.619 heavy, 00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:39.619 heavy yoke 00:33:39.619 --> 00:33:39.879 that they 00:33:39.879 --> 00:33:40.279 become. 00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:43.139 Jesus says 00:33:43.139 --> 00:33:43.680 these words 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:45.039 to us in 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.660 Matthew chapter 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:45.960 11. 00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:47.859 He says, 00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:49.539 come to me, 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:51.500 all you who 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.079 are weary 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:53.799 and burdened, 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.819 and I will 00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:56.420 give you 00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.319 rest. 00:33:58.299 --> 00:33:59.819 Take my 00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:01.160 yoke upon 00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:02.180 you and 00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:02.879 learn from 00:34:02.879 --> 00:34:03.400 me, for I 00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:03.980 am gentle 00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:04.519 and humble 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.960 heart and 00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:06.299 you will 00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:07.019 find rest 00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:08.099 for your 00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:08.500 souls. 00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.340 For my 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:10.940 yoke is 00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:12.759 easy and 00:34:12.759 --> 00:34:13.380 my burden 00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:14.820 is light. 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.519 The glory 00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:17.159 of Jesus 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:18.360 is that on 00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:18.739 one hand, 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:19.199 he is our 00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:19.980 total spiritual 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.380 opposite. 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.300 We're totally 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:23.119 incompatible with 00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:23.280 him. 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.539 He's God, 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.259 he's holy, 00:34:25.259 --> 00:34:26.059 he's righteous, 00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:26.920 he's eternal. 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.679 He's our 00:34:28.679 --> 00:34:29.340 total spiritual 00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:29.679 opposite. 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:32.019 and yet, 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.940 at the same 00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.339 time, 00:34:33.819 --> 00:34:35.059 he's our 00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:36.299 fully human 00:34:36.299 --> 00:34:37.079 counterpart. 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:38.139 He knows 00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:39.199 every single 00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:39.960 burden that 00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.579 you've faced 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.639 because he's 00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:42.019 faced them 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:42.460 himself. 00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:44.379 He's walked 00:34:44.379 --> 00:34:45.299 the same roads 00:34:45.299 --> 00:34:45.679 that you've 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:46.139 walked down, 00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:47.980 he's plowed 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.960 the same fields 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.299 that you've 00:34:49.299 --> 00:34:49.659 plowed, 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:52.480 and Jesus 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:53.159 is the one 00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:53.639 person that 00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:54.559 you can center 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:56.199 your life on. 00:34:56.259 --> 00:34:56.799 He's the one 00:34:56.799 --> 00:34:57.319 person that you 00:34:57.319 --> 00:34:57.799 can align 00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:58.299 yourself with. 00:34:58.300 --> 00:34:58.880 He's the one 00:34:58.880 --> 00:35:00.600 person that 00:35:00.600 --> 00:35:01.720 you can harness 00:35:01.720 --> 00:35:02.500 yourself to, 00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:06.080 whose expectations 00:35:06.080 --> 00:35:07.940 of you feel 00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:08.460 light as a 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:08.660 feather, 00:35:09.660 --> 00:35:10.980 whose commands 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:12.080 are restful 00:35:12.080 --> 00:35:13.580 and life-giving 00:35:13.580 --> 00:35:14.360 and joyful, 00:35:15.720 --> 00:35:16.760 who when you 00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:18.080 stumble and fall 00:35:18.080 --> 00:35:18.780 again and 00:35:18.780 --> 00:35:19.060 again, 00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:21.760 is gentle 00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:23.500 and lowly 00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:24.400 in heart. 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.700 He's patient, 00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:27.880 he's compassionate, 00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:30.220 he's kind, 00:35:31.080 --> 00:35:32.120 he's loving. 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:34.700 And when 00:35:34.700 --> 00:35:36.340 Jesus carried 00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:38.500 the heavy 00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.400 yoke 00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:40.920 of the wooden 00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:41.360 cross, 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:43.440 when he carried 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.060 the heavy 00:35:44.060 --> 00:35:44.760 yoke of the 00:35:44.760 --> 00:35:45.160 cross, 00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.200 no one else 00:35:47.200 --> 00:35:47.660 carried it with 00:35:47.660 --> 00:35:47.800 him. 00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.960 He carried it, 00:35:50.220 --> 00:35:50.740 he did it all 00:35:50.740 --> 00:35:51.180 by himself, 00:35:51.240 --> 00:35:51.720 and he did it 00:35:51.720 --> 00:35:52.519 all for you 00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:54.900 so that you 00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.360 could believe 00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:55.519 him, 00:35:55.580 --> 00:35:55.800 so that you 00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:56.340 could trust 00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:56.600 him. 00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:58.000 When he 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.420 says to 00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:58.719 you, 00:35:59.159 --> 00:36:00.019 my yoke 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:00.519 is easy, 00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:01.839 my burden 00:36:01.839 --> 00:36:02.779 is light, 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:03.480 come to me 00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:03.960 all you who 00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:04.219 are weary 00:36:04.219 --> 00:36:04.619 and burdened 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:04.880 and I 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:05.199 will give 00:36:05.199 --> 00:36:06.199 you rest. 00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:08.239 And when 00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:08.579 you see 00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:08.920 that, 00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:10.360 when you 00:36:10.360 --> 00:36:11.019 see Jesus 00:36:11.019 --> 00:36:11.900 as the one 00:36:11.900 --> 00:36:12.179 who has 00:36:12.179 --> 00:36:12.679 carried the 00:36:12.679 --> 00:36:13.019 yoke of 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:13.420 the cross 00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:13.699 for you, 00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:14.000 you can 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:14.279 look at 00:36:14.279 --> 00:36:14.539 all the 00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.019 situations, 00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:15.719 you can 00:36:15.719 --> 00:36:15.940 look at 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:16.319 all the 00:36:16.319 --> 00:36:16.739 relationships 00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:17.059 in your 00:36:17.059 --> 00:36:17.400 life, 00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:18.900 and all 00:36:18.900 --> 00:36:19.099 of their 00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:19.559 complexity, 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:21.139 and all 00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:21.380 of their 00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:21.799 messiness, 00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:22.159 and all 00:36:22.159 --> 00:36:22.440 of their 00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:23.440 difficulty, 00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:26.200 and you 00:36:26.200 --> 00:36:26.800 can look 00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:27.000 at those 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:27.480 situations 00:36:27.480 --> 00:36:29.099 and say, 00:36:29.679 --> 00:36:31.220 maybe it's 00:36:31.220 --> 00:36:31.579 time to 00:36:31.579 --> 00:36:31.920 unhitch, 00:36:32.720 --> 00:36:33.820 maybe it's 00:36:33.820 --> 00:36:34.220 time to 00:36:34.220 --> 00:36:34.700 unharness 00:36:34.700 --> 00:36:35.300 myself, 00:36:35.800 --> 00:36:37.019 so I can 00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:38.519 pursue the 00:36:38.519 --> 00:36:39.159 holy life 00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:39.539 that God's 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:39.780 called me 00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:40.159 to live, 00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:41.659 that I might 00:36:41.659 --> 00:36:42.579 know and 00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:43.700 worship and 00:36:43.700 --> 00:36:45.500 follow and 00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:45.780 be in 00:36:45.780 --> 00:36:46.280 relationship 00:36:46.280 --> 00:36:47.139 with Jesus. 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:49.139 let's 00:36:49.139 --> 00:36:49.319 pray. 00:36:52.659 --> 00:36:53.059 Lord, 00:36:53.139 --> 00:36:53.500 thank you 00:36:53.500 --> 00:36:54.159 for your 00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:54.500 word. 00:36:55.779 --> 00:36:56.179 Thank you 00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:57.960 that you 00:36:57.960 --> 00:36:58.379 have made 00:36:58.379 --> 00:36:59.900 us into 00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:01.779 temples of 00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:02.420 your presence, 00:37:02.699 --> 00:37:03.339 our bodies, 00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:04.139 our places 00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:04.480 where you 00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:04.659 dwell. 00:37:04.739 --> 00:37:04.839 Lord, 00:37:04.859 --> 00:37:05.199 I pray 00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:05.539 that you 00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:07.139 would help 00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:07.739 us to see 00:37:07.739 --> 00:37:08.460 the areas 00:37:08.460 --> 00:37:08.679 of our 00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:08.940 lives, 00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:09.099 Lord, 00:37:09.139 --> 00:37:09.480 where we 00:37:09.480 --> 00:37:10.299 need to 00:37:10.299 --> 00:37:11.460 pursue 00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:11.900 holiness, 00:37:12.059 --> 00:37:12.379 maybe where 00:37:12.379 --> 00:37:12.679 we need 00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:13.099 to draw 00:37:13.099 --> 00:37:13.400 some 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.759 boundaries 00:37:13.759 --> 00:37:14.079 in our 00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:14.420 lives. 00:37:15.219 --> 00:37:15.659 Thank you, 00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:15.839 Jesus, 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:16.199 that you 00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:16.839 have carried 00:37:16.840 --> 00:37:17.460 the ultimate 00:37:17.460 --> 00:37:18.000 yoke for 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:18.320 us. 00:37:18.860 --> 00:37:19.180 You have 00:37:19.180 --> 00:37:19.720 carried the 00:37:19.720 --> 00:37:20.100 ultimate 00:37:20.100 --> 00:37:21.240 burden for 00:37:21.240 --> 00:37:23.620 us by 00:37:23.620 --> 00:37:24.100 taking the 00:37:24.100 --> 00:37:24.460 weight of 00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:24.900 the cross 00:37:24.900 --> 00:37:25.579 on yourself. 00:37:26.660 --> 00:37:27.120 And it's in 00:37:27.120 --> 00:37:27.559 your name we 00:37:27.559 --> 00:37:27.780 pray. 00:37:28.620 --> 00:37:28.940 Amen.