WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.100
 Okay, thanks so much, Sarah.

00:00:04.259 --> 00:00:07.780
 So this is just truly a remarkable passage.

00:00:08.300 --> 00:00:09.919
 And please, whoever you are here today,

00:00:10.019 --> 00:00:12.700
 tune into what God says is true.

00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:14.120
 It's one of these passages that you think,

00:00:14.179 --> 00:00:16.620
 I wouldn't believe this if it weren't for the fact

00:00:16.620 --> 00:00:18.460
 that God tells me it's true in his word.

00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:20.699
 And so whoever you are here today,

00:00:20.780 --> 00:00:21.879
 whatever's going on in your life,

00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:23.839
 whoever you come here today,

00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:27.219
 this is something really worth tuning into.

00:00:27.480 --> 00:00:29.640
 So let me just try and get this to the heart of it.

00:00:29.640 --> 00:00:33.740
 I lived one of my worst nightmares recently.

00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:37.780
 So it was the middle of the night

00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:41.679
 and I'm just hitting the greatly sought after

00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:45.060
 deep sleep phase of the night.

00:00:45.179 --> 00:00:48.880
 And I happen to look up and I see at the end of the bed,

00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:51.500
 I see a silhouette of a person.

00:00:53.519 --> 00:00:56.840
 And what I do is I inwardly give myself that pep talk.

00:00:56.980 --> 00:00:59.040
 I think, come on, you've done this so many times before.

00:00:59.640 --> 00:01:00.920
 You're almost 40.

00:01:01.100 --> 00:01:04.280
 Never has there really been a person at the end of your bed.

00:01:04.340 --> 00:01:06.760
 It's just a light hitting the gap in the window

00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:08.219
 and it appears like that.

00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:10.159
 It's just time to go back to sleep.

00:01:10.260 --> 00:01:11.019
 Everything's fine.

00:01:12.420 --> 00:01:14.260
 But then the silhouette moved

00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:17.240
 and I discovered it was a person.

00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:19.480
 It was a little person.

00:01:19.480 --> 00:01:23.640
 And because I went on a sleepover when I was young

00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:26.240
 and we watched horror films for that one evening

00:01:26.240 --> 00:01:28.000
 and I cannot get the images out of my head,

00:01:28.060 --> 00:01:29.420
 the fact that it was a little child

00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:33.719
 added to the sense of fear

00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:35.879
 and I could feel the adrenaline beginning to pump

00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:36.580
 through my body

00:01:36.580 --> 00:01:38.200
 and this whole fight or flight thing

00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:40.200
 kicks into my system.

00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:41.799
 And I think to myself,

00:01:42.240 --> 00:01:44.859
 who dares waltz into my bedroom

00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:48.379
 uninvited in the middle of the night?

00:01:50.579 --> 00:01:52.180
 And then the answer came to my head,

00:01:52.280 --> 00:01:54.379
 actually there's three,

00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:55.760
 technically there's four

00:01:55.760 --> 00:01:57.800
 when she can learn to walk

00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:00.179
 that can do that.

00:02:01.399 --> 00:02:03.219
 And the silhouette spoke

00:02:03.219 --> 00:02:04.459
 and the silhouette said,

00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:06.179
 not Mr. Shanks.

00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:08.319
 Okay, that's how my bank relates to me.

00:02:09.139 --> 00:02:10.319
 The silhouette said,

00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:11.120
 not Graham.

00:02:11.259 --> 00:02:12.759
 That's how you relate to me.

00:02:13.259 --> 00:02:14.819
 The silhouette said,

00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:16.039
 Daddy.

00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:19.379
 Because that's how my children relate to me.

00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:21.500
 Dear friends,

00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:23.579
 if you take one thing from this today,

00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:25.620
 let it be this,

00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:31.319
 that as earth shattering as this passage is,

00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:32.319
 it really is simple.

00:02:33.460 --> 00:02:35.680
 The one thing to take from this passage today

00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:37.240
 is that this is exactly how

00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:39.159
 a Christian believer

00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:41.480
 can relate to the God of the universe.

00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:44.939
 And if you take one word from this sermon today,

00:02:44.980 --> 00:02:46.080
 and I hope you take a lot of words,

00:02:46.180 --> 00:02:47.980
 but if you take one word from it today,

00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:50.640
 maybe the one that appears at verse 15,

00:02:50.640 --> 00:02:53.060
 it is the word Father.

00:02:53.060 --> 00:02:53.140
 Father.

00:02:55.460 --> 00:02:58.280
 That is what the God of all creation

00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:01.740
 has done to write that identity

00:03:01.740 --> 00:03:02.979
 all over our lives.

00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:04.780
 It's what the God of the Bible does.

00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:07.699
 His is the light that can transform

00:03:07.699 --> 00:03:10.580
 the messiest and the darkest

00:03:10.580 --> 00:03:13.560
 and the bleakest of situations.

00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:17.719
 Let me just do a little bit of work

00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:18.539
 on that word Father,

00:03:18.640 --> 00:03:19.599
 because I don't know how it lands

00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:21.000
 on many of us today.

00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:24.560
 It's a deeply relational claim.

00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:26.479
 It's a deeply intimate word.

00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:29.199
 And it's one that differentiates Christianity

00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:32.219
 from every other religious faith system

00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:33.639
 in the world.

00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:35.520
 In fact, if you're looking for a little example of that,

00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:38.719
 here's Muslim scholar Shabir Akhtar,

00:03:39.259 --> 00:03:41.520
 who died not so long ago,

00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:42.840
 taught in Oxford for a while.

00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:45.599
 And he's letting us see how our Muslim friends,

00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:46.319
 and we love them,

00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:48.680
 how they understand this.

00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:49.000
 He says,

00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:50.819
 Muslims do not see God as their father.

00:03:51.379 --> 00:03:53.460
 Men are servants of a just master.

00:03:53.620 --> 00:03:54.240
 They cannot,

00:03:54.860 --> 00:03:56.260
 in Orthodox Islam,

00:03:56.780 --> 00:03:59.700
 typically attain any greater degree of intimacy

00:03:59.700 --> 00:04:01.700
 with their creator.

00:04:02.700 --> 00:04:04.240
 And so how different, then,

00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:05.300
 the God of the Bible?

00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:10.159
 This is a God who has made himself known.

00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:12.319
 He's made himself known in creation,

00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:13.240
 generally.

00:04:13.939 --> 00:04:16.579
 He's made himself known in his word,

00:04:16.899 --> 00:04:17.600
 specifically.

00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:20.180
 And he's made himself known in his son,

00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:21.139
 perfectly.

00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:22.699
 And those three things come together

00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:26.180
 and tell you that this God longs to be known.

00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:30.120
 He is a God who has revealed himself.

00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:31.399
 And he's a God,

00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:33.319
 if you turn to the opening pages of the Bible,

00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:36.060
 who has made human beings in his image.

00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:38.459
 It means whoever you are here today,

00:04:38.459 --> 00:04:39.859
 whatever is going on in your life,

00:04:39.919 --> 00:04:42.039
 you are somebody who has been wonderfully made

00:04:42.039 --> 00:04:43.099
 in the image of God.

00:04:43.659 --> 00:04:45.219
 Dignity is not something you earn.

00:04:45.659 --> 00:04:47.459
 Dignity is something that is pronounced on you

00:04:47.459 --> 00:04:48.819
 from the outside.

00:04:50.599 --> 00:04:52.919
 And because we have been made in his image,

00:04:53.019 --> 00:04:53.399
 dear friends,

00:04:53.500 --> 00:04:54.859
 it explains why,

00:04:54.979 --> 00:04:55.560
 as human beings,

00:04:55.659 --> 00:04:58.199
 we are hardwired for relationship.

00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:01.359
 Because he is a father, son, spirit.

00:05:01.459 --> 00:05:02.979
 He is the relational God.

00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:04.800
 So to be made in his image

00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:06.439
 helps us understand

00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:08.620
 why we long for relationships.

00:05:09.220 --> 00:05:11.140
 And that's why we found COVID so difficult,

00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:11.660
 wasn't it?

00:05:11.700 --> 00:05:12.700
 Because for so long,

00:05:12.780 --> 00:05:14.240
 those relationships,

00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:16.259
 we can't have them with a screen.

00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:20.819
 And that's what the word father is telling us.

00:05:20.960 --> 00:05:23.080
 And I recognize it for many of us here today,

00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:27.040
 that word doesn't conjure up happy thoughts.

00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:31.020
 Because I imagine it for many of us,

00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:33.640
 we know what it is to be deeply hurt

00:05:33.640 --> 00:05:34.780
 by an earthly father.

00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:36.680
 And so maybe you hear that word

00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:37.480
 and you're suspicious.

00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:42.400
 You're wondering what this father in heaven is like,

00:05:42.580 --> 00:05:43.600
 whether he's trustworthy,

00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:45.160
 whether he'll be any good.

00:05:45.540 --> 00:05:47.400
 If you want to know what he is like,

00:05:48.040 --> 00:05:49.060
 look at Jesus.

00:05:50.020 --> 00:05:51.700
 Because there is no God in heaven

00:05:51.700 --> 00:05:52.879
 who is unlike Jesus.

00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:56.459
 And maybe for us,

00:05:56.519 --> 00:05:57.420
 maybe you hear that word father

00:05:57.420 --> 00:05:58.459
 and actually it's really painful

00:05:58.459 --> 00:05:59.819
 because you've lost your father.

00:06:01.779 --> 00:06:02.719
 All of those things

00:06:02.719 --> 00:06:04.120
 that you most loved about him,

00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:05.719
 the way that he just knew you,

00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:07.639
 the way that he could make you laugh,

00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:08.879
 the way that he could pick you up,

00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:10.040
 the way that he was there for you

00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:11.240
 in the hardest of times.

00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:14.480
 This is the perfect father

00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:15.839
 who you were created to know.

00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:17.719
 And I always wonder whether God,

00:06:18.819 --> 00:06:20.279
 that's the reason why he weaves

00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:21.839
 these longings and experiences

00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:24.299
 into the tapestry of human life

00:06:24.299 --> 00:06:26.079
 so that we'll understand

00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:27.699
 a little bit more

00:06:27.699 --> 00:06:29.419
 what he is like.

00:06:29.479 --> 00:06:31.379
 Those famous words of Augustine

00:06:31.379 --> 00:06:33.919
 that are a bit cliche,

00:06:34.139 --> 00:06:35.779
 but one of the things about cliches

00:06:35.779 --> 00:06:37.719
 is that they're truthful, right?

00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:40.739
 So you made us for yourself, O Lord,

00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:42.120
 and our heart is restless

00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:44.500
 until it rests in you.

00:06:45.159 --> 00:06:46.979
 This is the father

00:06:46.979 --> 00:06:48.779
 who we were made to know.

00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:49.959
 Now last week we thought

00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:51.319
 as we began this chapter,

00:06:51.859 --> 00:06:52.919
 as we entered this chapter,

00:06:52.919 --> 00:06:54.500
 all about Christian assurance,

00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:56.839
 how the Christian

00:06:56.839 --> 00:06:58.039
 is united to Jesus.

00:06:58.180 --> 00:06:59.439
 If you didn't listen to that last week,

00:06:59.479 --> 00:07:00.439
 go back and listen to it.

00:07:00.479 --> 00:07:01.399
 It's what it says.

00:07:02.539 --> 00:07:03.799
 It is to be a Christian,

00:07:04.019 --> 00:07:04.419
 that declaration

00:07:04.979 --> 00:07:06.779
 that God makes over us,

00:07:06.839 --> 00:07:07.339
 remember it?

00:07:07.479 --> 00:07:08.500
 Those 10 words

00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:09.819
 that will transform our lives.

00:07:09.819 --> 00:07:10.339
 There,

00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:12.319
 now for,

00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:12.939
 no,

00:07:13.579 --> 00:07:14.099
 there's,

00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:14.899
 therefore,

00:07:15.099 --> 00:07:15.259
 now,

00:07:15.419 --> 00:07:16.659
 no condemnation

00:07:16.660 --> 00:07:18.840
 for those in Christ Jesus.

00:07:20.980 --> 00:07:21.780
 And the word,

00:07:21.960 --> 00:07:22.480
 so then,

00:07:22.520 --> 00:07:23.439
 at verse 12,

00:07:24.640 --> 00:07:25.660
 is Paul's way,

00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:26.560
 if you see it in the text here,

00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:27.080
 verse 12,

00:07:27.200 --> 00:07:28.240
 it's his way of saying,

00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:30.660
 this is what that now means for you

00:07:30.660 --> 00:07:31.380
 in your life,

00:07:31.580 --> 00:07:32.720
 dear Roman Christians.

00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:35.700
 And here's the earth-shattering truth

00:07:35.700 --> 00:07:37.020
 that this is telling us,

00:07:37.060 --> 00:07:37.680
 that this God

00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:39.420
 isn't simply after us

00:07:39.420 --> 00:07:40.400
 being declared

00:07:40.400 --> 00:07:42.320
 innocent rather than guilty,

00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:44.680
 as wonderful as that is.

00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:48.579
 the intention of this God's heart

00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:49.860
 is way bigger than that.

00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:51.280
 It's way bigger than that.

00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:52.540
 It's way more glorious than that.

00:07:53.019 --> 00:07:53.740
 This God

00:07:53.740 --> 00:07:55.459
 wants us to be

00:07:55.459 --> 00:07:56.379
 declared

00:07:56.379 --> 00:07:57.620
 family.

00:07:58.400 --> 00:07:59.699
 And so we move

00:07:59.699 --> 00:08:00.540
 downstream

00:08:00.540 --> 00:08:01.899
 from the declaration

00:08:01.899 --> 00:08:03.960
 to the invitation.

00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:07.379
 So in light of that

00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:08.399
 no condemnation,

00:08:08.540 --> 00:08:10.019
 how does God invite us,

00:08:10.540 --> 00:08:11.360
 draw us in

00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:11.980
 to live?

00:08:12.699 --> 00:08:14.139
 Two points for us this morning.

00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:15.000
 Here's number one.

00:08:15.579 --> 00:08:16.879
 As people who bear

00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:19.259
 the family likeness.

00:08:21.699 --> 00:08:23.180
 Now there's a famous story told

00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:23.699
 of the late

00:08:23.699 --> 00:08:24.579
 Queen Mum

00:08:24.579 --> 00:08:26.939
 who turned up

00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:27.740
 to a royal visit

00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:28.659
 in her limo

00:08:28.659 --> 00:08:30.079
 and in the back of the limo

00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:30.879
 were her children.

00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:33.199
 Before getting out of the car,

00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:34.199
 she turns to the back

00:08:34.199 --> 00:08:35.360
 and she says this line.

00:08:36.580 --> 00:08:36.939
 She says,

00:08:37.019 --> 00:08:37.779
 remember children,

00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:39.319
 royal children,

00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:40.700
 royal manners.

00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:44.320
 Now you could be forgiven

00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:44.780
 for thinking

00:08:44.780 --> 00:08:45.740
 that's exactly what God

00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:47.560
 is saying to us here.

00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:50.420
 Don't let the side down.

00:08:51.460 --> 00:08:52.480
 Don't slip.

00:08:53.900 --> 00:08:54.860
 Keep your chin up.

00:08:55.860 --> 00:08:56.780
 Keep up appearances.

00:08:58.120 --> 00:08:58.960
 And yet the problem is,

00:08:59.140 --> 00:09:00.220
 see when I try and live

00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:00.940
 a God-honoring,

00:09:01.060 --> 00:09:02.259
 moral life on my own,

00:09:02.700 --> 00:09:04.460
 I'm not very good at it.

00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:06.820
 I fall,

00:09:07.040 --> 00:09:07.460
 I make mistakes,

00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:09.480
 I hurt people,

00:09:09.660 --> 00:09:10.400
 I get it wrong.

00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:11.860
 And God here says,

00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:12.660
 I know.

00:09:14.900 --> 00:09:16.220
 Friends, without the Spirit,

00:09:17.400 --> 00:09:18.780
 you and I are like

00:09:18.780 --> 00:09:19.879
 a mobile phone

00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:20.720
 that has run

00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:22.300
 out of battery.

00:09:22.800 --> 00:09:23.860
 You can try

00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:24.759
 all you like

00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:25.879
 to rub the battery,

00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:27.480
 try and get the thing started,

00:09:27.740 --> 00:09:29.100
 speak life over it,

00:09:29.100 --> 00:09:30.639
 but it doesn't work.

00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:31.940
 And this is what the Bible

00:09:31.940 --> 00:09:32.740
 says we were

00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:34.279
 before Jesus

00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:34.860
 got involved

00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:35.620
 in our lives.

00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:37.620
 We were slaves

00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:38.340
 like we were singing

00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:39.360
 in the second song

00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:39.800
 this morning,

00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:41.340
 slaves to our sin.

00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.180
 We were slaves

00:09:42.180 --> 00:09:43.200
 to our flesh.

00:09:43.820 --> 00:09:44.899
 Everything we were doing

00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:45.500
 was out of

00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:46.519
 this

00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:47.659
 me first

00:09:47.659 --> 00:09:48.860
 mentality.

00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:51.480
 But see the hope

00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:52.200
 for failures

00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:52.879
 like me

00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:53.920
 at verse 13.

00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:57.200
 How do we live

00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:58.340
 a God-glorifying life?

00:09:58.340 --> 00:09:58.940
 Just see it

00:09:58.940 --> 00:09:59.700
 in verse 13.

00:10:00.340 --> 00:10:01.240
 How do we please

00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:01.879
 this God?

00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:03.040
 What do we need?

00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:05.540
 We need to be connected

00:10:05.540 --> 00:10:06.680
 to a new power

00:10:06.680 --> 00:10:09.120
 that will bring us

00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.100
 inwardly

00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:11.519
 to life.

00:10:12.920 --> 00:10:13.899
 And feel

00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:15.960
 those words

00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:17.740
 by the Spirit.

00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:19.720
 And that's what

00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:20.360
 the Spirit living

00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:21.100
 in us does.

00:10:21.300 --> 00:10:22.440
 He is the animating

00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:23.360
 presence of the

00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:24.220
 Christian life.

00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:25.900
 He helps us

00:10:25.900 --> 00:10:26.680
 and just follow

00:10:26.680 --> 00:10:27.580
 the logic of the

00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:27.960
 passage.

00:10:28.340 --> 00:10:29.240
 He helps us

00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:30.680
 to put to death

00:10:30.680 --> 00:10:32.460
 the deeds

00:10:32.460 --> 00:10:33.080
 of the body.

00:10:34.060 --> 00:10:34.780
 Feel the strength

00:10:34.780 --> 00:10:35.360
 of that phrase

00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:36.120
 put to death.

00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:37.879
 I'm always amazed

00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:38.379
 when you watch

00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:39.340
 those programs,

00:10:39.560 --> 00:10:40.620
 those animal programs.

00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:43.840
 And you get

00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:44.300
 the animal

00:10:44.300 --> 00:10:45.399
 hunter saying

00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:46.360
 I kind of grew up

00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:47.240
 with this lion.

00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:47.960
 I kind of played

00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:48.800
 with this lion.

00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:50.100
 I stroked this lion.

00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:50.840
 I put the bottle

00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:51.560
 in this lion.

00:10:51.559 --> 00:10:52.979
 and we're surprised

00:10:52.979 --> 00:10:53.579
 when we learn

00:10:53.579 --> 00:10:54.179
 that the lion

00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:55.219
 grew up

00:10:55.219 --> 00:10:56.759
 and tried to

00:10:56.759 --> 00:10:58.019
 eat the person.

00:10:58.019 --> 00:10:58.339
 Right?

00:10:59.659 --> 00:11:00.679
 And it's this idea

00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:02.019
 of recognize

00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:03.339
 what is going on.

00:11:03.619 --> 00:11:04.599
 Put to death

00:11:04.599 --> 00:11:05.479
 the deeds of the body.

00:11:05.599 --> 00:11:06.239
 Don't stroke.

00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:07.179
 Don't negotiate.

00:11:07.479 --> 00:11:08.419
 Don't try and bargain

00:11:08.419 --> 00:11:08.839
 with.

00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:10.679
 Sever ties

00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:11.599
 is what he's saying.

00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:13.779
 Sever ties

00:11:13.779 --> 00:11:14.979
 with the old us.

00:11:15.079 --> 00:11:15.939
 The old us

00:11:15.939 --> 00:11:16.759
 with the old way

00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:17.359
 of thinking

00:11:17.359 --> 00:11:18.739
 and live out

00:11:18.739 --> 00:11:20.539
 the new us

00:11:20.539 --> 00:11:21.859
 that God has created

00:11:21.859 --> 00:11:23.039
 in Christ Jesus.

00:11:23.299 --> 00:11:23.899
 We've got to see

00:11:23.899 --> 00:11:24.659
 that this is deeper

00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:25.859
 than behavior modification.

00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:26.359
 Right?

00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:27.360
 This is not fake it

00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.120
 till you make it

00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:29.100
 with a religious

00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:30.139
 veneer on top.

00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:32.320
 Because let me tell you

00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:33.560
 church is the easiest

00:11:33.560 --> 00:11:34.500
 place to hide

00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:35.080
 from God.

00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:36.899
 The spirit

00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:37.840
 he transforms

00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:39.740
 our inner tastes.

00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:40.539
 The spirit

00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:42.159
 puts new desires

00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:43.220
 in us.

00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:44.820
 And whereas before

00:11:44.820 --> 00:11:46.259
 we reveled

00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:47.120
 in our sin

00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:48.159
 now we come

00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:48.600
 to find

00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:49.740
 a greater delight

00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:50.320
 in the God

00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:51.340
 who has saved us.

00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:52.480
 The sin

00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.000
 that pleased us

00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:54.639
 before

00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:55.720
 now becomes

00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:57.000
 odious.

00:11:58.120 --> 00:11:59.019
 The God

00:11:59.019 --> 00:11:59.899
 that we flinched

00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:01.080
 from on the other hand

00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:02.120
 becomes

00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:03.620
 entrancing.

00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.040
 And what does

00:12:06.040 --> 00:12:07.000
 that look like

00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:07.460
 you see?

00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:09.180
 A better question

00:12:09.180 --> 00:12:10.259
 to ask is

00:12:10.259 --> 00:12:11.360
 who does

00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:12.139
 that look like?

00:12:13.660 --> 00:12:14.639
 The spirit

00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.300
 is working

00:12:15.300 --> 00:12:15.860
 in us

00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:16.700
 and forming us

00:12:16.700 --> 00:12:17.279
 so that we would

00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.500
 increasingly come

00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:19.879
 to bear the image

00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:21.340
 of Jesus.

00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:24.279
 Now there's a myth

00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:25.379
 that's often peddled

00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.019
 in our culture

00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:27.460
 that God

00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:27.980
 is a kind of

00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:28.919
 life stealer.

00:12:29.559 --> 00:12:30.159
 And I imagine

00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:30.879
 that's how many

00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:32.059
 of our dear

00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:32.860
 non-Christian friends

00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:33.259
 who we love

00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:34.159
 might look at us

00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:34.720
 and think

00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:36.320
 why would you

00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.059
 sign up for

00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:38.019
 something like that?

00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:38.559
 Do you remember

00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:38.960
 there was this

00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:39.539
 famous slogan

00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:39.980
 that was on the

00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:40.539
 side of buses

00:12:40.539 --> 00:12:40.980
 in London

00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:41.740
 a number of years

00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:42.059
 ago

00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:43.200
 promoted by

00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:44.100
 Richard Dawkins.

00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:44.620
 There probably

00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:45.360
 is no God

00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:46.399
 so stop worrying

00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:47.659
 and enjoy

00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:48.480
 your life.

00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:49.039
 Is God

00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:49.539
 some kind of

00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:50.720
 killjoy in the sky?

00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:52.500
 Is he the referee

00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.519
 in the sky

00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:54.059
 who always

00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:54.720
 gets it wrong?

00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:55.159
 The person

00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:55.700
 who we love

00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:56.139
 to hate

00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:56.879
 who's just out

00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:57.480
 to spoil

00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:58.679
 the fun?

00:12:59.240 --> 00:12:59.460
 Friends,

00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:00.700
 if holiness

00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:01.600
 is being transformed

00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:02.379
 into the image

00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:02.919
 of Jesus

00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:05.539
 then you look

00:13:05.539 --> 00:13:05.919
 at Jesus

00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:06.639
 in the scriptures

00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.299
 and you have

00:13:07.299 --> 00:13:07.879
 to say

00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:09.620
 here is a man

00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:10.279
 who is truly

00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:10.879
 alive.

00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:12.600
 The first time

00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:13.139
 I read about him

00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:13.799
 thinking that

00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:14.580
 here is a man

00:13:14.580 --> 00:13:15.100
 who does not

00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:15.600
 seem to be

00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:16.120
 missing out

00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:16.659
 on life.

00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:18.480
 So to be

00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:19.139
 transformed

00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:20.039
 into his

00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:20.639
 image

00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:22.059
 is to become

00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:23.319
 more human

00:13:23.319 --> 00:13:24.139
 not less.

00:13:25.459 --> 00:13:26.419
 Jesus as it were

00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:27.299
 he shows us

00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:28.199
 what life

00:13:28.199 --> 00:13:29.620
 was always

00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:30.559
 meant to

00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:31.879
 look like.

00:13:33.939 --> 00:13:34.559
 And so with

00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:35.259
 that framework

00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:35.879
 in mind

00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:36.419
 if that is

00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:36.779
 where the

00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:37.659
 spirit is

00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:38.799
 pulling us

00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:40.120
 friends I wonder

00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:40.519
 here's some

00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.500
 hot questions

00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.000
 for you.

00:13:42.899 --> 00:13:43.399
 What new

00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:44.399
 step of obedience

00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:45.259
 is God the

00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:45.899
 Holy Spirit

00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:46.600
 calling you

00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:47.019
 to make

00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:47.399
 today?

00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:50.139
 You know

00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:50.659
 is there a

00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.439
 sin that you

00:13:51.439 --> 00:13:52.879
 are making

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:53.639
 peace with

00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:54.299
 in your heart?

00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:56.240
 That you're

00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:56.879
 allowing a

00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:57.480
 foot in

00:13:57.480 --> 00:13:58.899
 the door?

00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:00.959
 What is it

00:14:00.959 --> 00:14:01.439
 that God

00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:02.279
 is calling you

00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:02.659
 out of his

00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:03.059
 grace,

00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:03.500
 out of his

00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.179
 mercy to

00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:05.779
 see and

00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:06.439
 to kill?

00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:09.120
 Have you

00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:09.819
 ever prayed

00:14:09.819 --> 00:14:11.199
 and this is

00:14:11.199 --> 00:14:11.600
 a scary

00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:12.019
 prayer

00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:13.919
 Lord show

00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:14.439
 me the

00:14:14.439 --> 00:14:15.059
 hidden bits

00:14:15.059 --> 00:14:15.519
 of my

00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:15.899
 heart

00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:16.959
 and expose

00:14:16.959 --> 00:14:17.519
 them

00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:19.539
 even the

00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:19.959
 bits that

00:14:19.959 --> 00:14:20.359
 I'm not

00:14:20.359 --> 00:14:21.099
 even aware

00:14:21.099 --> 00:14:22.000
 exist.

00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:24.539
 And if that

00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:25.539
 battle rages

00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:26.039
 in your

00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:26.539
 heart

00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:29.059
 be encouraged

00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:29.579
 that the

00:14:29.579 --> 00:14:30.379
 presence of

00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.119
 the spirit

00:14:31.119 --> 00:14:32.500
 creates the

00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:33.199
 conflict.

00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:35.259
 You know I

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:35.559
 used to think

00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:35.899
 of it like

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.539
 this, I

00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:37.000
 used to play

00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:37.500
 a lot of

00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:37.979
 football when

00:14:37.979 --> 00:14:38.179
 I was

00:14:38.179 --> 00:14:38.519
 younger.

00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:39.679
 I'm growing

00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:40.039
 up in the

00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:40.399
 west of

00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:40.739
 Scotland.

00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:42.419
 we didn't

00:14:42.419 --> 00:14:42.840
 play on

00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:43.700
 grass pitches,

00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:44.980
 we didn't

00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:45.600
 play on

00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:46.600
 4G pitches,

00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:47.000
 we didn't

00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:47.299
 play on

00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:48.240
 3G pitches,

00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:49.120
 we didn't

00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:49.460
 play in

00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:49.879
 concrete,

00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:50.240
 but we

00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:50.659
 played on

00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:51.320
 something much

00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:51.659
 worse.

00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:51.899
 If you

00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:52.519
 remember this,

00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:53.180
 if you're

00:14:53.180 --> 00:14:54.100
 certain vintage,

00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:55.019
 we played

00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:55.299
 on this

00:14:55.299 --> 00:14:55.700
 thing called

00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:56.240
 ash.

00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.180
 Ash is

00:14:58.180 --> 00:14:59.080
 just gravel,

00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:00.419
 red gravel.

00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.080
 And the

00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:02.480
 thing about

00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.620
 ash is it

00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:04.519
 completely

00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.560
 wrecked my

00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:05.980
 knees.

00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:06.600
 Right?

00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:07.600
 Every time

00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:08.240
 you'd fall

00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:08.720
 on this

00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.360
 ash, it

00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:09.720
 would just

00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:10.480
 cut your

00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.259
 knees open.

00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:12.139
 And so what

00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:12.560
 I would do

00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:12.879
 is I would

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.220
 go home

00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:13.879
 after every

00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.379
 game and

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:14.740
 mum would

00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:14.960
 get out

00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.600
 the scrubbing

00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.159
 brush and

00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:17.440
 she would

00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:18.139
 just scrub

00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:19.659
 away until

00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:21.639
 getting most

00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.120
 of the dirt

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:22.360
 out.

00:15:22.560 --> 00:15:22.820
 And then

00:15:22.820 --> 00:15:23.560
 finally when

00:15:23.560 --> 00:15:23.899
 she called

00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:24.259
 it quit,

00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:25.220
 she whacked

00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:25.860
 on top of

00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:26.420
 this cut

00:15:26.420 --> 00:15:27.240
 pseudocreme.

00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:29.840
 And boy

00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:30.180
 did it

00:15:30.180 --> 00:15:30.580
 sting.

00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:31.680
 Every time

00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:32.300
 it stung.

00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:34.779
 But what

00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:35.980
 I soon found

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.340
 out was

00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:36.920
 true that

00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:37.800
 the sting

00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:39.300
 was a sign

00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:40.060
 in my head

00:15:40.060 --> 00:15:40.639
 that the

00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.300
 good stuff

00:15:41.300 --> 00:15:41.660
 was trying

00:15:41.660 --> 00:15:42.100
 to attack

00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:42.500
 the bad

00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:42.940
 stuff.

00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:44.379
 Yeah?

00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.300
 So the

00:15:45.300 --> 00:15:45.879
 sting

00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:47.780
 was a sign

00:15:47.780 --> 00:15:49.060
 that the

00:15:49.060 --> 00:15:49.600
 good stuff

00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:49.920
 was trying

00:15:49.920 --> 00:15:50.120
 to go

00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:50.340
 at the

00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:50.540
 bad

00:15:50.540 --> 00:15:50.960
 stuff.

00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:52.620
 And so

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.139
 here's what

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:53.600
 that means.

00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.139
 Friends,

00:15:54.180 --> 00:15:54.879
 if you feel

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.720
 yourself in

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.460
 a fight,

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.639
 if you feel

00:15:58.639 --> 00:15:59.000
 like the

00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.660
 Christian life

00:15:59.660 --> 00:16:00.200
 is tough,

00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:00.840
 if you feel

00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:01.220
 like there's

00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:01.639
 a tug of

00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:02.160
 war going

00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:02.600
 on,

00:16:02.920 --> 00:16:03.820
 that is not

00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:04.500
 a sign of

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:04.900
 failure.

00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:06.539
 that is a

00:16:06.539 --> 00:16:06.959
 sign of

00:16:06.959 --> 00:16:07.459
 faith.

00:16:08.459 --> 00:16:09.019
 Or if you

00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:09.279
 want to

00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:09.959
 quote verse

00:16:09.959 --> 00:16:10.980
 14 there,

00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.360
 that you

00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:13.159
 feel the

00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:14.879
 battle is

00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:15.579
 proof that

00:16:15.579 --> 00:16:16.059
 you are a

00:16:16.059 --> 00:16:16.399
 son and

00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:16.860
 daughter of

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.100
 God.

00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:17.639
 Because if

00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.220
 you weren't,

00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:18.559
 if the

00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:19.259
 spirit wasn't

00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:19.639
 present,

00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:20.179
 you wouldn't

00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:20.639
 care.

00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:23.559
 Let me try

00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:23.919
 and put this

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:24.360
 another way,

00:16:24.439 --> 00:16:24.579
 friends.

00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:25.779
 What is going

00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.559
 to transform

00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:27.000
 Rome?

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:28.939
 There's a big

00:16:28.939 --> 00:16:29.319
 question.

00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:29.879
 What's going

00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:30.500
 to transform

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:30.879
 Rome?

00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.120
 this letter

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.600
 written to

00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.299
 Roman believers

00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:34.100
 living in the

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:34.659
 heart, the

00:16:34.659 --> 00:16:36.080
 motherland of

00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:36.779
 the empire.

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.340
 What is going

00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:39.240
 to transform

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:39.799
 Rome?

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.200
 Where you

00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:40.919
 are encouraged

00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:41.720
 to let your

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.700
 passions run

00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.080
 wild?

00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:45.120
 Where might

00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.700
 is right?

00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:46.320
 Where people

00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.379
 are disposable

00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:48.200
 according to

00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:49.139
 human wants?

00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.259
 Where society

00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:51.299
 is based on

00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:51.840
 where you

00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:52.939
 were born and

00:16:52.939 --> 00:16:53.860
 exist in the

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.980
 ranking system?

00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:57.899
 What is going

00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:58.440
 to transform

00:16:58.440 --> 00:16:59.100
 society?

00:16:59.100 --> 00:17:00.300
 I take it

00:17:00.300 --> 00:17:01.360
 it is individual

00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.279
 people coming

00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.039
 to know Jesus

00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:06.259
 and putting to

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:07.099
 death the deeds

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.720
 of the body.

00:17:08.860 --> 00:17:09.660
 In other words,

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.940
 it is only dead

00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:11.880
 fish who go with

00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:12.319
 the flow.

00:17:13.860 --> 00:17:14.660
 How do you

00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:15.299
 spot a living

00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:15.740
 fish?

00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:17.259
 It is going

00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:17.920
 against the

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.160
 current.

00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:20.819
 Students,

00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:21.440
 if you are here

00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.700
 today, you want

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.640
 to be revolutionary

00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:24.700
 amongst your

00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:25.120
 peers.

00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:25.539
 You want to

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.160
 stand out.

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.720
 I take it that

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.380
 is a wonderful

00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:27.799
 thing.

00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:29.659
 Can I encourage

00:17:29.659 --> 00:17:30.079
 you from this

00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:30.859
 passage not to

00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:31.719
 think protests

00:17:31.719 --> 00:17:32.639
 and marches

00:17:32.639 --> 00:17:33.279
 primarily?

00:17:34.379 --> 00:17:35.639
 Think putting

00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.919
 to death the

00:17:36.919 --> 00:17:37.419
 deeds of the

00:17:37.419 --> 00:17:37.699
 body.

00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.279
 Think the

00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:39.819
 fruit of the

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.099
 Spirit.

00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:42.179
 How much are

00:17:42.179 --> 00:17:42.619
 you going to

00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:43.299
 stand out if

00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:43.939
 people look at

00:17:43.939 --> 00:17:45.359
 your life and

00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:46.619
 they see growing

00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:47.599
 inside of you,

00:17:47.719 --> 00:17:48.219
 and this is what

00:17:48.219 --> 00:17:49.159
 the Spirit produces

00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:49.919
 in our lives,

00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:52.259
 love, joy,

00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:53.500
 peace,

00:17:54.219 --> 00:17:54.759
 patience,

00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:56.200
 kindness,

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.440
 goodness,

00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:59.180
 faithfulness,

00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.460
 gentleness,

00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.720
 and self-control.

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:02.740
 Nine words.

00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:04.200
 I cannot think of

00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:04.920
 nine words that

00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:05.740
 are more different

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.480
 from the social

00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.319
 media age in

00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:07.940
 which we live.

00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:10.140
 You want to

00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:10.680
 stand out at

00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:10.879
 uni,

00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:12.859
 you want those

00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:13.379
 around you to

00:18:13.379 --> 00:18:13.920
 sit up and

00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.599
 take notice,

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.299
 live lives

00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:19.279
 where people can

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:19.960
 see that you are

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.819
 putting to death

00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:21.480
 the deeds of the

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:21.799
 body.

00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:22.799
 Can I just say

00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:23.220
 as well,

00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.099
 this is what I

00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:25.299
 found in five

00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:25.879
 years when I

00:18:25.879 --> 00:18:26.419
 was at Aberdeen

00:18:26.419 --> 00:18:27.099
 University.

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.859
 There is never

00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:29.700
 a better week to

00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.240
 do it to nail

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.819
 your colours to

00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.339
 the mast than

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:31.740
 in the first

00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.019
 week.

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.180
 Yeah, we'll be

00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:34.779
 praying for you

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.539
 the first chance

00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:36.399
 that you get to

00:18:36.399 --> 00:18:37.299
 be different from

00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:37.879
 the world around

00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:38.359
 about you,

00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.220
 take it.

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:40.680
 It means saying

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:41.639
 no to drink,

00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:42.279
 it means saying

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:42.980
 no to sex,

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:43.419
 it means saying

00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:44.099
 no to drugs.

00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:45.599
 Take the

00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.460
 opportunity to be

00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:46.940
 different from

00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.240
 Jesus.

00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:48.440
 We always say

00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:48.819
 here at the

00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:49.460
 church we want

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.079
 to be walking

00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:51.220
 question marks in

00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:51.839
 this world in

00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.379
 which we live.

00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:53.100
 What is it that

00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:53.480
 makes those

00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:54.080
 people tick?

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:56.920
 Paul wants

00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:58.080
 these Christians

00:18:58.080 --> 00:18:58.640
 to be people

00:18:58.640 --> 00:18:59.800
 who bear the

00:18:59.800 --> 00:19:01.400
 family likeness.

00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:03.540
 And secondly,

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.240
 he wants them

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:04.760
 to be people

00:19:04.760 --> 00:19:05.500
 who know the

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.380
 Father's nearness.

00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:06.920
 And this will

00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.660
 be a lot quicker,

00:19:07.800 --> 00:19:08.360
 but it is

00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:09.480
 incredible.

00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:11.000
 Do you see

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:11.780
 verse 15?

00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:15.080
 What does Paul

00:19:15.080 --> 00:19:15.820
 not want the

00:19:15.820 --> 00:19:16.720
 believer to fall

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.420
 back into?

00:19:18.840 --> 00:19:19.400
 The word

00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:19.800
 beginning with

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.079
 death?

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.740
 It's fear.

00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:23.500
 Now, I've

00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:23.819
 been asking

00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:24.700
 myself all

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:26.460
 week, why

00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:26.819
 would you

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.359
 fear?

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:29.419
 The word

00:19:29.419 --> 00:19:29.980
 fall back

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.299
 there, I

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:30.619
 think, is

00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:31.200
 the clue.

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.220
 I think it's

00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.099
 falling back

00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:35.399
 into an old

00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:36.099
 way of thinking

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:36.779
 about God.

00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:39.259
 Because sometimes,

00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:39.740
 and I know this

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.559
 is true in my

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.119
 life, we're

00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.200
 tempted to think

00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:42.980
 when we get it

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.599
 wrong, when we

00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.500
 stumble, when we

00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:45.359
 doubt, when we're

00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:47.299
 weary, that God

00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:48.180
 somehow changed

00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:48.860
 his mind on

00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:49.180
 us.

00:19:50.620 --> 00:19:51.600
 Like he saved

00:19:51.600 --> 00:19:52.180
 us, and like

00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:52.640
 you would in

00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:54.900
 your work, any

00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:55.920
 job you can go

00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.740
 into, he saved

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.420
 us and he's put

00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.340
 us on probationary

00:19:58.340 --> 00:19:58.860
 period.

00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.900
 We'll give it six

00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.600
 months and we'll

00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:02.380
 see how this

00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:03.960
 salvation thing

00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:05.500
 turns out.

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.380
 For the Spirit

00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:08.980
 leads us to

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:09.759
 relate to God

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.420
 as a Father

00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:11.080
 who we can

00:20:11.080 --> 00:20:13.120
 trust, rather

00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:13.660
 than a God

00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.080
 that we are

00:20:14.080 --> 00:20:15.060
 fearful of.

00:20:16.060 --> 00:20:16.840
 And this is so

00:20:16.840 --> 00:20:17.560
 important why we

00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:18.579
 don't base our

00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:19.460
 faith on our

00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.019
 feelings.

00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:21.039
 Because our

00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.839
 feelings go up

00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.779
 and down all

00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:23.419
 the time.

00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:24.720
 And this is

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.599
 true on your

00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:26.639
 best day, this

00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:27.759
 is true on your

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:29.039
 worst day.

00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.200
 That this is how

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:31.819
 God wants to

00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.519
 relate to us.

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:34.359
 Formally, before

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.200
 we came to know

00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:36.000
 this God, because

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.720
 of our sin, we

00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.779
 were in fear of

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.220
 judgment.

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:38.960
 And we want to

00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.700
 be clear that there

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:40.419
 is coming a day

00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:41.119
 of judgment for

00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:42.019
 every single human

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.819
 being who's lived.

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.779
 We'll have to give

00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:45.059
 an account for our

00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:46.259
 lives before the

00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:47.359
 holy God who made

00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:47.659
 us.

00:20:48.699 --> 00:20:49.419
 But if you're a

00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:50.379
 Christian here today,

00:20:50.459 --> 00:20:51.299
 what this is telling

00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:52.119
 you is that your

00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:53.359
 judgment day happened

00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:55.519
 2,000 years ago on

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.799
 an old wooden cross

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:58.019
 outside Jerusalem.

00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:59.259
 And Jesus knew

00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.500
 exactly what he was

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.339
 doing when he died

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:02.119
 for your sin on the

00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:02.519
 cross.

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:04.339
 Jesus doesn't offer

00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:05.359
 us there a matching

00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:05.879
 grant.

00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:06.779
 You know those

00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.119
 things?

00:21:07.459 --> 00:21:08.159
 People say, I'll put

00:21:08.159 --> 00:21:09.439
 up the first 50% of

00:21:09.439 --> 00:21:10.619
 the funds and I

00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:11.259
 kind of leave it to

00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:12.079
 you to find the

00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.479
 rest.

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.359
 It's not how

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.259
 salvation works.

00:21:14.679 --> 00:21:15.359
 The number is not

00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:15.919
 50.

00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.919
 The number is 100.

00:21:18.199 --> 00:21:19.179
 He took all of our

00:21:19.179 --> 00:21:20.579
 sin on the cross.

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.179
 And what that means

00:21:22.179 --> 00:21:23.219
 is that God the

00:21:23.219 --> 00:21:25.279
 Father loves Jesus

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.579
 with fatherly love

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.779
 because Jesus is his

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.740
 son by nature.

00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:31.119
 It means that God

00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.539
 the Father loves you

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:34.379
 and I with the same

00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:35.740
 fatherly love because

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:37.959
 we are his sons and

00:21:37.959 --> 00:21:39.259
 daughters by adoption.

00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:42.219
 God loves us exactly

00:21:42.219 --> 00:21:43.679
 how he loves his son

00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:44.980
 because our lives are

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:46.120
 united to his son.

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:46.560
 Right?

00:21:46.600 --> 00:21:47.259
 And I know that's

00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.140
 stretching us a little

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:49.000
 bit but it's so

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:49.660
 profound.

00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:51.600
 It transformed my

00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:52.440
 Christian life when I

00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.100
 understood that.

00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:54.259
 I'm not right before

00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:55.759
 this God because of

00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.980
 how I act and how I

00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:57.340
 am.

00:21:58.180 --> 00:22:00.060
 I'm loved by this God

00:22:00.060 --> 00:22:00.940
 way more than I could

00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.960
 possibly imagine

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:03.539
 because Jesus has

00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.740
 died and brought me

00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.400
 to himself.

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.400
 And he'll never change

00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.620
 his mind on us.

00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:12.599
 You know there's a

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:13.339
 woman called Faith

00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:13.779
 Chang.

00:22:13.939 --> 00:22:17.019
 She wrote a book

00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:18.119
 called Peace Over

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:19.259
 Perfection and I hope

00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:20.019
 you can see that with

00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:20.779
 the contrast.

00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:22.799
 If not, come and I'll

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:24.599
 let, I can give you

00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:25.219
 the book and you can

00:22:25.219 --> 00:22:25.699
 read it yourself.

00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.599
 But she says this,

00:22:26.699 --> 00:22:26.879
 okay.

00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:29.799
 If drawing near to God

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:32.319
 is the goal, maybe we

00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.659
 can aim to return to

00:22:33.659 --> 00:22:34.639
 him a little quicker

00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:36.599
 when we fall instead of

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:38.000
 staying away because we're

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.879
 not yet perfect.

00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.560
 Do you feel that?

00:22:41.120 --> 00:22:42.720
 I often assume that God

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:44.120
 is just as impatient with

00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:45.640
 me as I am with myself.

00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:48.340
 But he is not like me

00:22:48.340 --> 00:22:51.060
 and I greatly need his

00:22:51.060 --> 00:22:53.440
 lengthening perspective.

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.240
 It's incredible.

00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:57.220
 I loved that quote when I

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:57.580
 read it.

00:22:58.280 --> 00:22:59.240
 God is not like me.

00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.060
 His patience is so much

00:23:02.060 --> 00:23:02.460
 greater.

00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:04.580
 His knowledge is so much

00:23:04.580 --> 00:23:04.920
 greater.

00:23:05.060 --> 00:23:05.840
 His love is so much

00:23:05.840 --> 00:23:06.180
 deeper.

00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:09.759
 Let me just really quick

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.380
 and the time we have

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.460
 left pick out two words

00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.600
 that Paul uses here.

00:23:12.860 --> 00:23:13.640
 Verse 15.

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.480
 What does that mean?

00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:17.640
 How can we come before

00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.200
 this God?

00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.500
 Do you see the word Paul

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.560
 uses there is not say

00:23:20.560 --> 00:23:22.220
 or declare?

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:25.140
 It is the word cry.

00:23:25.320 --> 00:23:26.180
 Now that is a really

00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.400
 painful word when you

00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:28.180
 look at the original.

00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:31.380
 And when Paul quotes there

00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:33.640
 Abba Father, he's picked

00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:36.080
 that phrase deliberately

00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:37.660
 because that is the phrase

00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:39.259
 that Jesus cried on his

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.240
 darkest hour.

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:43.000
 On the eve of his death

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:44.579
 on the cross as the sheer

00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:46.000
 terror of what is ahead

00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:48.079
 of him overwhelms his

00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:48.640
 soul.

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:51.079
 He says Abba Father

00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:52.400
 in that cry of pain.

00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:55.059
 And so this means as it

00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:56.259
 were that we can pray

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:58.019
 through the lips of Jesus

00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.140
 when we find ourselves

00:23:59.140 --> 00:24:00.620
 particularly in those

00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:02.079
 dark times.

00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:03.740
 When we are in the depths

00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.400
 of despair.

00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:06.440
 When the only words that we

00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:08.079
 can possibly muster up are

00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:09.240
 the cry of a child

00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.720
 screaming for help

00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:12.480
 with nowhere else to go

00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.799
 but to dad.

00:24:15.439 --> 00:24:16.839
 Even then and maybe

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:19.279
 especially then

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:21.299
 we can pray through the

00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:22.619
 lips of Jesus and say

00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:23.679
 Father.

00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:27.659
 And so next time you pray

00:24:27.659 --> 00:24:30.000
 we pray let's remember

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.619
 that through Jesus we have

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:33.179
 the Father's undivided

00:24:33.179 --> 00:24:33.679
 attention.

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.319
 Remember when I was

00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.259
 grappling with this when

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:37.000
 I was young I used to

00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.980
 picture God with a

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:39.720
 massive ear bending

00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:40.099
 down.

00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:44.019
 He listens, he cares, he

00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.660
 knows, he loves.

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:47.559
 As we see next week he's

00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.819
 working all things

00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:50.120
 together for the good.

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.680
 And that means that we

00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:53.319
 can pray with rock solid

00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:54.440
 confidence when we come

00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:55.960
 before this God and we

00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:57.539
 can do it every time.

00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:01.120
 Second word real quick

00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:04.539
 see that word air right

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.700
 at the end of verse 17.

00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.460
 If we're thinking more

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.319
 about this next week we

00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:08.179
 just want to try and set

00:25:08.179 --> 00:25:08.759
 us up.

00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:12.159
 Do the spike before the

00:25:12.159 --> 00:25:12.359
 dig.

00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:12.980
 Can't remember what it

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.179
 is.

00:25:13.659 --> 00:25:13.799
 Anyway.

00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.679
 Everything that Jesus

00:25:16.679 --> 00:25:18.000
 stands to inherit will be

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:19.559
 ours by right.

00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:23.639
 A child inherits not based

00:25:23.639 --> 00:25:24.500
 on their performance.

00:25:24.639 --> 00:25:26.139
 A child inherits because of

00:25:26.139 --> 00:25:27.099
 their family name.

00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:27.839
 God's life.

00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:28.899
 And the shape of the

00:25:28.899 --> 00:25:30.879
 life of Jesus.

00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:32.119
 Trust in God and the

00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:33.500
 hardships and the

00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:34.939
 roller coaster of life

00:25:34.939 --> 00:25:37.500
 now leading to glory with

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.219
 God then.

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:40.980
 That is to be the shape of

00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:42.359
 our lives too.

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:44.399
 Everything that the son

00:25:44.399 --> 00:25:46.379
 stands to inherit will be

00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:46.759
 ours.

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:47.859
 We'll think more about that

00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.439
 next week.

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.759
 But this is the identity

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.899
 that this God has so

00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:53.039
 graciously and kindly

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:55.419
 written all over our lives.

00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.440
 It's what he does.

00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:58.600
 He brings newness of life.

00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.539
 He brings forgiveness.

00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:02.420
 He transforms people who

00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:05.000
 were spiritual orphans and

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:06.539
 makes them spiritual sons.

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.940
 Now just as we close and I

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:12.240
 thought of this dear friend

00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.019
 of mine recently.

00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:15.259
 I think this is a wonderful

00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:16.200
 application of this.

00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:17.640
 I've got a good friend who's

00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:21.400
 got a tattoo on the top of

00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.259
 his left arm.

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:24.859
 And this is his story.

00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:26.140
 They say every tattoo's got

00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:26.740
 a story, right?

00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.680
 This is his story.

00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.640
 He grows up in a Christian

00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.160
 family.

00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:33.339
 He goes to university when

00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:34.119
 he leaves home.

00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.839
 And in his own words he

00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:38.200
 drifts from the things of

00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:38.799
 Jesus.

00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:41.460
 And part of this phase of

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.279
 his life he goes on this

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:43.500
 rugby tour to a place called

00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:45.019
 Loret de Mar near Barcelona

00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.920
 if you've ever been there.

00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:46.660
 It's a nice place.

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:48.299
 He gets caught up in the

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.519
 spirit of the tour to the

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.640
 extent that he goes to a

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:53.000
 tattoo parlor and he gets a

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.980
 tattoo of the rugby club on

00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.400
 his arm.

00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.020
 And one of those things

00:26:58.020 --> 00:26:58.880
 that's good in the moment

00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:00.540
 and then when you wake up

00:27:00.540 --> 00:27:01.759
 the next day you think I'm

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.460
 living with that for the

00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:03.120
 rest of my life.

00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:06.460
 And years later with this

00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.759
 tattoo still on his arm,

00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:10.300
 years later he comes back to

00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:10.640
 Jesus.

00:27:12.020 --> 00:27:13.540
 And in response he goes to

00:27:13.540 --> 00:27:15.200
 another tattoo artist and he

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.360
 says I want another tattoo

00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:17.940
 but I don't want a tattoo on a

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:19.160
 different place on my body.

00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:21.400
 What I want you to do is I

00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:23.480
 want you to, the tattoo that

00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.460
 I've got, I want you to

00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:26.580
 transform it into a collage of

00:27:26.580 --> 00:27:27.440
 Psalm 23.

00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:29.960
 So they plan it together and

00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:31.120
 they come up with this image

00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:33.040
 and so on top of these

00:27:33.040 --> 00:27:35.600
 initials of the rugby club is

00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:37.080
 transformed into a collage of

00:27:37.080 --> 00:27:37.759
 Psalm 23.

00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:39.140
 That verse, even through the

00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:40.580
 darkest valley you will be with

00:27:40.580 --> 00:27:40.800
 me.

00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:43.000
 The Lord is my shepherd.

00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.700
 And it was his way of saying

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:46.740
 that what God has done for me

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:48.799
 has covered all my shame and

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:51.380
 regrets, all my foolishness,

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.400
 all my mistakes.

00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:54.620
 This God has transformed my

00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.000
 story.

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.880
 This God has written his story

00:27:57.880 --> 00:28:00.500
 of grace over all of my life.

00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:01.680
 And instead of thinking I was

00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:03.460
 the head honcho of my life, I

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.900
 now see that he is my loving

00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:06.680
 shepherd and I want to follow

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.039
 him.

00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.859
 And that's what this God does.

00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.859
 It's what he does.

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:13.019
 He takes the messy lives of

00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:14.920
 sinful people living in a broken

00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.980
 world like us.

00:28:16.840 --> 00:28:18.300
 And because of the death and

00:28:18.300 --> 00:28:19.980
 the resurrection of his son, he

00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:20.940
 forgives us.

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.640
 He accepts us.

00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:25.180
 He welcomes us into his family.

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:27.060
 He makes us sons and daughters.

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:30.740
 And he promises us to bring us

00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:33.080
 into his heavenly home and

00:28:33.080 --> 00:28:35.180
 shower that fatherly kindness

00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:37.880
 upon us for all eternity.

00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:39.779
 Friends, if you do not know this

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:41.600
 God for yourself, may today be the

00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:43.060
 day when you put your trust in his

00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:45.339
 son and come to have life in him.

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.859
 Why don't we just be quiet for a

00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.740
 minute and then I'll pray.

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:52.220
 Just use this opportunity before

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:55.359
 everything gets noisy and busy

00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:55.819
 again.

00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:59.299
 Bring your cries and your mistakes

00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:00.179
 and everything that's going on in

00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:01.519
 your life to this God.

00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:04.039
 And know the forgiveness and the

00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:05.339
 newness of life that's found in

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:05.619
 Jesus.

00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:12.719
 And so Father, as your word has gone

00:29:12.719 --> 00:29:16.319
 forth today, I pray that your spirit

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:18.919
 would take these truths and apply

00:29:18.919 --> 00:29:21.279
 them deep into our hearts.

00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:26.919
 Like the master farmer, just doing the

00:29:26.919 --> 00:29:28.719
 work that's needed in the soil.

00:29:30.219 --> 00:29:32.000
 Lord, I pray that you would be in our

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.379
 own individual circumstances.

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:36.700
 Lord, if there is stuff that we need to

00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:40.980
 realize today, would you bring a fresh

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:42.520
 realization of who we are?

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:45.080
 Lord, if there's stuff that we need to

00:29:45.080 --> 00:29:48.760
 sever today to put to death, Lord, I

00:29:48.760 --> 00:29:49.800
 pray that you would be bringing a

00:29:49.800 --> 00:29:51.260
 convicting knowledge of that.

00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:53.880
 But Father, most of all, I pray that you

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:55.720
 would help us to grasp something more

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.220
 today.

00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:59.200
 In all of our different generations, in

00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:00.840
 all of our different life circumstances,

00:30:00.839 --> 00:30:05.419
 that together we have been declared sons

00:30:05.419 --> 00:30:07.859
 and daughters of you, the living God.

00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:10.659
 Father, thank you that you are the God who

00:30:10.659 --> 00:30:12.199
 is bigger than our mistakes.

00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:15.559
 Thank you that Christ on the cross, he

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:18.459
 absorbed the judgment that was deserved

00:30:18.459 --> 00:30:19.079
 for us.

00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:21.559
 And thank you now that we are the

00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:24.379
 beneficiaries of fatherly love and

00:30:24.379 --> 00:30:25.079
 perfect care.

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:28.179
 So Lord, be with us now as we close our

00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:29.519
 time as we sing.

00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:33.019
 May these truths just resonate in our

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:34.220
 hearts and in our minds.

00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:35.759
 Father, be with us as we close.

00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.560
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:38.560
 Amen.