WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.980 So I love beginnings in the beginning. 00:00:03.660 --> 00:00:08.800 And this morning we are beginning a series on the Holy Spirit. 00:00:08.919 --> 00:00:13.439 We're going to be looking at it for the next four to five weeks. 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:16.640 And it's going to be good, right? 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:22.920 But my prayer and my hope as we begin this is not that we get to the end of it 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:27.660 and we just have more of a teaching on the Holy Spirit, 00:00:27.660 --> 00:00:29.600 more of a lecture kind of understanding. 00:00:30.660 --> 00:00:32.399 Academic understanding of the Spirit. 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:38.840 But rather we have an understanding of the Spirit in our lives. 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:44.299 Because I don't know about you, but for me personally, I need to be led by the Spirit more. 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:48.100 I need more of the Spirit's work in my life, right? 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:50.140 So does that sound good to you guys? 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:51.359 Yes. 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:51.900 Okay. 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:52.359 Amen. 00:00:52.539 --> 00:00:52.740 Good. 00:00:55.120 --> 00:00:56.079 So, sorry. 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:59.939 For those of you who don't know who I am, I'm Graham. 00:01:00.179 --> 00:01:01.799 I'm one of the elders here. 00:01:02.199 --> 00:01:05.280 I'm married to Irina, my beautiful wife. 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:07.019 And we have two kids. 00:01:07.140 --> 00:01:07.459 Yay. 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:08.480 That's a... 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:10.920 I love you, honey. 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:14.100 And we have two kids. 00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:15.519 Elijah, who's seven. 00:01:16.019 --> 00:01:18.000 And Daniela, who's four. 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:21.719 And my son, Elijah, he's now in P2. 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:26.299 And he's starting to pick up a lot of things that he's learning at school. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:28.299 And some from his friends. 00:01:28.540 --> 00:01:31.079 Some good stuff and some not so good stuff. 00:01:31.079 --> 00:01:38.259 So we decided, and I thought we've got to begin tackling this whole idea of sex education. 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:44.939 And rather, let's teach him from home rather than let him learn some of the stuff at school. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:50.620 So believe it or not, I'm actually quite nervous to talk to my son about this subject, right? 00:01:50.620 --> 00:01:53.519 I've spoken to teenagers about it and adults about it. 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:57.500 But my seven-year-old son, I can't find it a bit difficult to bring up the subject. 00:01:58.140 --> 00:02:01.000 So what I did is I bought a book, right? 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:02.560 That's a great way to copy out. 00:02:02.620 --> 00:02:04.340 I brought it with me today. 00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:06.459 It's called Before I Was Born. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:13.659 So our practice in our household is at night when we put him to bed, we'll say, 00:02:13.879 --> 00:02:17.680 you can choose one book that we read to you and then one Bible story. 00:02:18.340 --> 00:02:20.259 So anyway, I decided, all right, I'm going to do it. 00:02:20.259 --> 00:02:21.479 And we're getting to bed. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:22.919 And I said, what book do you want to read tonight? 00:02:22.979 --> 00:02:25.020 And he goes, Star Wars. 00:02:25.539 --> 00:02:27.740 We've read Star Wars about a million times, right? 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:28.900 And I go, no, no, no. 00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:30.259 I've got something much better. 00:02:30.259 --> 00:02:32.620 I've got Before I Was Born. 00:02:33.519 --> 00:02:35.199 Take that, Luke Skywalker. 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:41.599 But it took a little bit of convincing because I really built it up that it's an awesome book. 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:43.799 And eventually he agrees, right? 00:02:43.859 --> 00:02:47.180 So we're sitting down and we're reading the book. 00:02:47.299 --> 00:02:49.079 And he's actually, it's very well written. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:50.639 It's from a Christian perspective. 00:02:51.359 --> 00:02:53.439 And there are lots of illustrations and stuff. 00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:54.819 And he's asking questions. 00:02:54.819 --> 00:02:57.280 And he's quite involved in it. 00:02:57.319 --> 00:02:58.280 And the story develops. 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:01.239 And I'm going to read you the page I got to. 00:03:01.900 --> 00:03:04.099 So here it is. 00:03:04.280 --> 00:03:04.439 Okay. 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:06.099 So just bear with me. 00:03:06.239 --> 00:03:06.419 Okay. 00:03:07.379 --> 00:03:10.560 So friends bring gifts to a wedding. 00:03:11.019 --> 00:03:14.539 God has a special gift for new husbands and wives too. 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:15.879 It's called sex. 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:17.419 So pause. 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:18.680 Elijah says, what's sex? 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:20.599 I said, it's coming. 00:03:20.699 --> 00:03:21.340 We'll get to it. 00:03:21.419 --> 00:03:21.579 Okay. 00:03:22.579 --> 00:03:26.979 God's rules say that only people who are married to each other should have sex. 00:03:27.139 --> 00:03:29.939 It's God's way of making families strong. 00:03:29.939 --> 00:03:34.900 Because the man and the woman are married, their bodies belong to each other. 00:03:35.359 --> 00:03:37.620 They enjoy holding each other close. 00:03:37.979 --> 00:03:44.359 When a husband and wife lie close together, he can fit his penis into her vagina. 00:03:44.979 --> 00:03:50.039 At this point, Elijah's face just drops. 00:03:50.900 --> 00:03:53.919 And he turns to me and this is what he says. 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:55.740 That's gross. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:57.180 He did. 00:03:57.180 --> 00:04:01.500 And at that point, I completely lost it. 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:02.640 I couldn't carry on. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:03.780 I just got the giggles. 00:04:03.980 --> 00:04:05.640 I don't know why, whether it was the answer and stuff. 00:04:05.920 --> 00:04:06.939 But I started laughing. 00:04:07.040 --> 00:04:09.480 And because I was laughing, he started laughing. 00:04:09.760 --> 00:04:11.680 Next five minutes, that's what we did. 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:12.300 We were just giggling. 00:04:12.480 --> 00:04:16.980 So my first attempt at sex education was an epic failure. 00:04:18.379 --> 00:04:20.120 But anyway, we persevered. 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:20.899 We persevered. 00:04:21.100 --> 00:04:23.100 And we eventually got there. 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:24.180 And it was good discussion. 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:26.040 He still thinks it's gross, by the way. 00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:29.340 So I just pray that that continues for a lot of time. 00:04:29.720 --> 00:04:33.100 I'm going to remind him when he's a teenager of what he said when he was seven. 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:36.040 But he asked this question. 00:04:36.379 --> 00:04:40.500 He said, eventually we read it through, and he says, who made me? 00:04:41.379 --> 00:04:45.280 Now, it's probably the question that most children come to ask. 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:50.059 And we tend to brush it off as a childish question, right? 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:52.199 Oh, kids ask that question. 00:04:52.239 --> 00:04:52.739 How cute. 00:04:53.239 --> 00:04:59.519 And then as adults, we're far too sophisticated to ask that kind of a question. 00:05:00.019 --> 00:05:02.019 So I want to tackle that today. 00:05:02.139 --> 00:05:02.779 And I'm going to do it. 00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:04.099 We're going to look at two hurdles. 00:05:04.739 --> 00:05:05.959 And you'll get where I'm going. 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:08.779 But the first one is God is creator. 00:05:09.719 --> 00:05:14.560 And the second hurdle is Jesus is creator. 00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:15.939 Okay? 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:20.959 In the beginning, what does that sound like to you? 00:05:23.339 --> 00:05:24.779 It's a story, right? 00:05:24.979 --> 00:05:26.599 Once upon a time, in the beginning. 00:05:26.799 --> 00:05:29.859 It's not a scientific journal, right? 00:05:29.899 --> 00:05:33.259 If you read any science journal, it doesn't start off with in the beginning. 00:05:33.259 --> 00:05:34.259 Okay? 00:05:34.420 --> 00:05:39.620 The Bible is creation from God's perspective. 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:43.699 It's actually incredible how it's written. 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:44.819 It's amazing. 00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:52.740 God has chosen to communicate this story from the beginning of time for all people, all cultures, 00:05:52.920 --> 00:05:54.159 till the end of time. 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:55.980 And he's done it in this format. 00:05:56.139 --> 00:05:58.159 It's actually a brilliant piece of work. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:04.680 But the Bible just, it never argues the existence of God. 00:06:04.760 --> 00:06:08.100 It just takes for a fact that God exists, right? 00:06:09.880 --> 00:06:14.520 But the modern mind says, no, God must prove himself to me. 00:06:15.200 --> 00:06:17.879 God must prove himself to me. 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:23.920 Whereas the Bible's focus is, God made the world. 00:06:24.019 --> 00:06:25.300 And he made it good. 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:26.100 It was perfect. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:27.360 Relationships were good. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:28.800 He communicated with people. 00:06:29.100 --> 00:06:33.899 And then it went horribly wrong by our own doing. 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:40.339 And yet, then the rest of the story is about how God chooses, even in that horrible mess, 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:43.439 he chooses to redeem the world and put it right again. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:47.339 Again, that's the story and the narrative of the Bible. 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:49.339 That's its focus. 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:51.319 That's the message it wants you to take away. 00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:57.639 But in the midst of that, God has provided evidence for himself. 00:06:57.740 --> 00:06:58.740 So how has he done it? 00:07:00.259 --> 00:07:03.399 I have with me a picture, okay? 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:06.540 So I don't know if you guys can see it. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:08.040 Can I show it to you? 00:07:08.060 --> 00:07:10.300 You're allowed to go, wow, okay? 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:11.120 Ready? 00:07:11.300 --> 00:07:11.980 Here it is. 00:07:11.980 --> 00:07:12.460 Here it is. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:13.259 Ooh. 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:16.900 Wow, okay. 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:18.200 A little there. 00:07:18.520 --> 00:07:25.920 Okay, when I look at that picture, I know that there is an artist behind that picture. 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:32.100 This picture didn't just, I didn't just leave the piece of paper in a room for a very, very, 00:07:32.200 --> 00:07:36.280 very long time and dust formed on it and all the colors came together. 00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:38.439 And then, wow, it's a beautiful picture. 00:07:38.520 --> 00:07:39.080 I know. 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:44.819 I know that there is an artist who drew this picture. 00:07:44.899 --> 00:07:45.819 Would you agree with me? 00:07:46.919 --> 00:07:47.359 Yes. 00:07:47.740 --> 00:07:47.959 Okay. 00:07:48.099 --> 00:07:51.300 Now, if someone said to you, no, that's impossible. 00:07:51.419 --> 00:07:52.479 The picture drew itself. 00:07:53.479 --> 00:07:54.519 What would you say? 00:07:54.519 --> 00:08:03.919 Probably, the Bible's quite strong and it says, the fool says in his heart, there is no God. 00:08:04.419 --> 00:08:05.519 The picture made itself. 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:09.019 Or take another example, right? 00:08:09.019 --> 00:08:16.839 So, this book that I brought with you, lovely book, got great illustrations, it's words, makes good grammar, nice pictures. 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:21.000 Could this book create itself? 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:29.899 If we just waited a really, really long time, the book could just kind of all come together, form words, pictures. 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:31.040 Could it do that? 00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:34.320 Anyone think that that's possible? 00:08:35.419 --> 00:08:36.659 You're allowed to say so. 00:08:37.460 --> 00:08:38.379 Okay, we all agree. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:39.200 Okay, good. 00:08:39.419 --> 00:08:39.700 All right. 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:41.519 If you don't, come chat to me afterwards. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:42.460 All right. 00:08:42.460 --> 00:08:47.200 Do you know what deoxyribonic nucleic acid is? 00:08:48.660 --> 00:08:49.600 Somebody said it. 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:51.500 DNA, right? 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:52.400 I didn't know that. 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:54.440 I looked it up this week, so I learned a new word. 00:08:54.940 --> 00:08:55.320 DNA. 00:08:55.440 --> 00:09:07.360 Now, DNA is a molecule that carries all the genetic code and instructions for how tall you're going to be, the color of your eyes, the shape of your nose. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:08.860 It's all there, right? 00:09:08.860 --> 00:09:17.340 And it's put together in this little bi-polymer molecule that's curled around in a double helix. 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:19.600 Okay, now, I've lost you, right? 00:09:20.060 --> 00:09:22.360 I knew that would happen, so I brought a picture. 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:23.960 All right, can we show the picture? 00:09:24.560 --> 00:09:24.879 There it is. 00:09:24.980 --> 00:09:26.259 You guys are allowed to go, wow. 00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:27.840 Wow. 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:29.300 Okay, that's you, right? 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:35.700 So, in a cell, in your body, in the nucleus, there's this stuff called chromosomes and DNA. 00:09:35.700 --> 00:09:35.900 DNA. 00:09:36.940 --> 00:09:38.140 So, how DNA is formed. 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:38.520 Thank you. 00:09:38.700 --> 00:09:40.440 We can turn that off. 00:09:40.820 --> 00:09:49.879 So, how DNA is structured is if you took a string and you just kind of coiled it and coiled it and coiled it and coiled it, it would just become coils of coils of coils. 00:09:50.400 --> 00:09:51.960 And that's how it can fit. 00:09:52.660 --> 00:10:00.780 Three billion base pairs can fit in one cell six microns across. 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:02.860 Now, you ask me what is a micron? 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:06.259 Micron is very, very, very small. 00:10:07.299 --> 00:10:07.559 Okay? 00:10:08.179 --> 00:10:22.379 So, if you had to take DNA in one cell in your body and stretch it out, it would be about, there it is, it would be about two meters long in one cell. 00:10:22.459 --> 00:10:24.759 If you're Australian, probably half a meter. 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:25.159 Okay. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:26.860 Okay, sorry. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:28.720 That's a terrible joke, right? 00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:31.519 At least a meter and a half. 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:32.279 Okay. 00:10:32.819 --> 00:10:41.460 So, one cell in your body, two meters long, you have about 10 trillion cells in your body. 00:10:41.460 --> 00:10:54.060 So, if you had to take all the DNA inside you this morning and you had to stretch it out, it would be about 745 million miles long. 00:10:55.040 --> 00:10:58.519 Okay, you guys are allowed to go, wow, that should blow your mind. 00:10:58.600 --> 00:10:59.860 That's incredible, right? 00:10:59.940 --> 00:11:01.280 In your body right now. 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:03.780 So, you're thinking, my goodness, could that get to the moon? 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:09.420 Well, the moon is about 250,000 miles away. 00:11:09.419 --> 00:11:09.500 Okay. 00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:14.719 Your DNA could get there and back about 1,500 times. 00:11:14.819 --> 00:11:16.459 There and back, there and back, there and back, there and back. 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:18.839 Wow. 00:11:19.219 --> 00:11:19.639 Okay. 00:11:20.139 --> 00:11:21.159 What about the sun? 00:11:21.479 --> 00:11:22.419 Could it get to the sun? 00:11:22.939 --> 00:11:23.819 That's pretty impressive, right? 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:28.379 The sun is about 93 million miles away. 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:31.120 Probably a little bit further today. 00:11:31.219 --> 00:11:31.919 It's a little bit cooler. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:38.379 So, your DNA could get to the sun and back about four times. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:40.319 Wow. 00:11:40.939 --> 00:11:42.299 Okay, that's pretty impressive. 00:11:42.299 --> 00:11:59.019 If you ever are standing in front of the mirror and you think, I'm not that special, I want you to think, your DNA can go to the sun and back at least four times. 00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:00.599 Twice if you're Australian. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:01.939 But there it goes. 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:02.579 There and back. 00:12:03.299 --> 00:12:04.399 Now, get this, right? 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:09.859 But scientists call DNA the book of life. 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:14.860 Now, I find that a little bit ironic, what we call the book of life and what scientists. 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:19.680 They say it's the foundation of life, the building blocks of life, or the book of life. 00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:28.379 DNA is far more complex than this little book. 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:32.220 Far more complex than this little book. 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:36.860 And yet, you will have people who will say, well, it formed itself. 00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:39.920 It took a very, very, very long time. 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:42.740 But it formed itself. 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:49.840 The creator has left his fingerprints on your human body. 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:55.440 On creation outside, his fingerprints have been there for all to see. 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:58.660 This is how the Bible puts it. 00:12:58.680 --> 00:13:00.060 It comes from Romans 1. 00:13:00.059 --> 00:13:02.319 It says this, 00:13:02.319 --> 00:13:23.179 For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, his eternal power, and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:32.699 When you look at creation, you look at the mountains, the hills, you look at other people, you are seeing something of what God is like. 00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:41.539 No one is going to be able to stand before God one day and say, you know what, I wasn't really sure if you existed or not. 00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:44.259 You didn't really give me enough evidence. 00:13:45.839 --> 00:13:47.819 The Bible doesn't allow for that. 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:52.560 Okay, but you came to church this morning for theology, not for science. 00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:55.400 So let's jump back straight into the theology. 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:58.300 Understanding that God creates this world. 00:13:58.420 --> 00:13:59.440 How does he do it? 00:14:00.740 --> 00:14:06.140 It says his spirit is hovering over this unformed place. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:10.140 And what God does is he breathes. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.260 He speaks. 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:16.299 Now the Hebrew word for breath or spirit is ruach. 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:18.259 Okay, I love Hebrew. 00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:20.860 It always sounds much better if you've got flu, right? 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:21.799 Ruach. 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.799 Okay, this is what I want you to do. 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:27.939 Take your hand, put it in front of your mouth, and I want you to blow. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:30.720 You feel that? 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:34.960 That is ruach, your breath, your spirit. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:39.280 Now your breath is pretty powerful, especially if you've got bad breath, right? 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:42.600 You can knock someone over three meters away. 00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:43.519 They just fall down. 00:14:43.920 --> 00:14:49.800 Now imagine that is God's breath blowing onto creation. 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:52.560 Things start to happen. 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:53.379 God speaks. 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.280 His breath moves. 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:55.080 His spirit moves. 00:14:55.400 --> 00:14:56.259 Boom, there's light. 00:14:56.420 --> 00:14:57.340 Boom, there's mountains. 00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:58.040 There's trees. 00:14:58.180 --> 00:14:58.680 There's rivers. 00:14:58.800 --> 00:14:59.480 There's animals. 00:15:01.420 --> 00:15:02.519 Mind-blowing. 00:15:02.800 --> 00:15:03.139 Wow. 00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:09.720 You know, there's a lot of debate that goes on whether it took six days or 600 million years. 00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:11.199 It's not the point. 00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:14.840 The point is God's spirit was behind it all. 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:17.759 He was breathing onto creation. 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.779 He was making creation. 00:15:19.939 --> 00:15:21.720 His spirit caused it to move. 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:24.039 And then he gets to man, right? 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:25.519 Very last thing. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.439 He's made this world. 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.179 He goes, it's good. 00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:27.919 It's perfect. 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.220 But it's missing something. 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:30.279 It's missing man. 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:33.240 And he makes man special. 00:15:35.459 --> 00:15:37.819 And he makes, he forms this body. 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:42.399 And he breathes into him. 00:15:42.459 --> 00:15:45.579 Now what's the difference between a dead body and a living body? 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:50.659 If you're out for a walk and you come across a body, how do you know it's dead or alive? 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:58.360 Unless it hasn't got its head chopped off or anything, you would look if it's breathing. 00:15:59.179 --> 00:15:59.339 Right? 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:01.399 There is breath in the body. 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:02.579 That gives its life. 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:07.719 So Franklin, who's not here today, recently told me a story. 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:14.759 He was a couple of weeks ago at somebody's bedside as they died. 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:21.840 And he said he was holding his hand when he took his final breath. 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:27.659 And he said it was the most awesome moment as he saw him breathe out for the last time. 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:29.720 And it was as if he's no longer there. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:30.919 He's gone. 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:32.200 The breath has gone out of him. 00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:33.740 The life has gone out of him. 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:36.919 And here we see the reverse happening, right? 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:39.039 It's not breath going out of him. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:43.500 It's God breathing life and his spirit into man. 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:44.860 Right? 00:16:45.079 --> 00:16:46.879 And man comes. 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:48.799 And he calls him Adam. 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:50.279 Okay? 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:54.759 Now that's the example I thought was going to happen, right? 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:56.379 People are going to respond that way. 00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:57.759 Footnotes. 00:16:58.439 --> 00:17:00.500 I love footnotes. 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:01.019 Okay? 00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:02.740 My love language is footnotes. 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:08.579 If you buy a Bible, make sure that it has footnotes and that you read the footnotes. 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.839 The footnotes are incredible. 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.819 They teach us everything. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:13.319 So I put footnotes in today in the scripture. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:17.899 And you'll see Adam is not just like a cute name God came up with. 00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.859 Like, oh, look at that. 00:17:18.899 --> 00:17:19.519 He's adorable. 00:17:19.639 --> 00:17:20.460 Let's call him Adam. 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:21.339 You know? 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.379 Or Peter or John. 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:23.500 There was a reason there. 00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:26.799 The name in Hebrew, Adam, means Adam. 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:28.339 Means people. 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.199 Mankind. 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:33.259 God is creating the human race right there. 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:36.599 And another meaning for Adam can be ground. 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:38.399 From the ground. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:38.740 Right? 00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:42.919 So I hate to break this to you, but I know I told you it was special. 00:17:43.419 --> 00:17:49.439 But there's nothing special in my body from a material point of view that you cannot find in the ground. 00:17:50.219 --> 00:17:50.480 Right? 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:56.120 You've watched a movie where they say ashes to ashes, dust to dust. 00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:57.079 That's where we go. 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:57.319 Right? 00:17:57.420 --> 00:18:00.880 The material, your makeup of your body can be found in the ground. 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:06.019 So what's the difference between all the material coming together and forming something? 00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:12.000 It's God's breath, his spirit that he breathes into man. 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.960 That's the difference. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:19.960 Because, unfortunately, and it's good, right? 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:20.680 God creates it. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.079 It's good. 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:23.220 It's like he now has relationship with human beings. 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:26.740 He makes Eve and they have relationship with each other and everything's good and it's perfect. 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:31.360 And then it goes horribly wrong. 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:32.799 Right? 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:35.919 But man disobeys. 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:38.779 He shakes his fist at God and he says, you know what? 00:18:39.379 --> 00:18:43.419 I'll decide for myself what is good and evil. 00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:46.559 And it is the same problem today. 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:51.819 Man decides for himself what is good and evil. 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:58.799 And when you've got 7 billion people living on the planet deciding for themselves what is good and evil, you end up with a mess. 00:19:00.139 --> 00:19:00.519 Okay. 00:19:01.139 --> 00:19:02.500 So that's where we are. 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.440 Now, fast forward. 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:04.859 God has created this world. 00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:07.240 His spirit has breathed on creation. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:09.380 His spirit has breathed into man. 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:14.460 And then we fast forward and we're at John 3. 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:23.819 Now, in your Bibles, if you read the chapter heading is Jesus teaches Nicodemus. 00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:29.099 Now, if you were a first century Jew and you saw that, you'd laugh. 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:31.839 This is the reason you'd laugh. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:40.799 Is because at that time, Jesus and Nicodemus are the two theological heavyweights in Israel. 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:44.819 You see, Nicodemus, he's not just any Pharisee. 00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:48.220 He is the teacher. 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:51.419 Jesus said to him, you are Israel's teacher. 00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:55.820 And you have this conversation unfolding. 00:19:55.819 --> 00:20:00.480 Did any of you, I don't know if you missed this in the news, it kind of made big news. 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:02.700 There was a fight between two boxers. 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:05.819 Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor. 00:20:05.899 --> 00:20:08.220 If you missed it, you actually didn't miss anything. 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:15.720 But it's kind of like Conor McGregor sneaking up to Floyd Mayweather. 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:22.480 Before they've even had the fight, he goes, Floyd, actually, you're much better at this than I am. 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:24.500 Could you teach me how to do it? 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:25.759 Right? 00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:26.860 It just wouldn't happen. 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:32.000 And now you kind of get an idea of why Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.440 Right? 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.759 He was in the dark in more ways than one. 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:43.220 But he comes to Jesus because he doesn't want anyone to see that he's talking to Jesus. 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:49.579 But at the same time, he recognizes Jesus has something that he doesn't have. 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:51.660 And he needs to talk to him. 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:55.299 So he goes and he opens the conversation and he says, 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:59.299 Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. 00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:01.740 For no one can perform the signs you are doing. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:04.700 If God were not with him. 00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:08.940 So Nicodemus, he recognizes Jesus, you are a teacher. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:11.819 When you teach, things happen. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:14.180 Things happen. 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:15.960 Miracles happen. 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:16.700 Something happens. 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:19.740 And I just love Jesus' response. 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.079 Right? 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:22.339 If you look at this conversation, it's incredible. 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:26.880 Like Jesus doesn't even respond to what Nicodemus has just said. 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:27.740 Right? 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:31.740 He doesn't say you're wrong or anything like that or thanks for acknowledging that. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:34.420 I mean, Jesus just cuts straight to the chase. 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:41.619 If you're the type of person who's offended by someone who's pretty straight talking, Jesus would probably offend you. 00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:42.299 Right? 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.579 Because he just cuts straight to the chase. 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:45.339 Nicodemus, here's the deal. 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:46.339 Right? 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:48.599 This is what it's all about, Nicodemus. 00:21:50.199 --> 00:21:53.859 Very truly, honestly, 100%, I'm telling you, this is what it's about. 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:58.619 No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. 00:21:58.939 --> 00:22:05.279 And footnotes, remember we love our footnotes, tells us that born again can also mean born from above. 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:07.359 So that's what Nicodemus hears. 00:22:08.399 --> 00:22:08.559 Okay? 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:11.359 And Nicodemus, bless Nicodemus, right? 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:13.539 He just doesn't get it. 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.200 Huh? 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:19.599 Like how can someone, wow, dude, that's weird, right? 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.279 That's weird. 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:23.379 Like how can someone be born when they're old? 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.019 Like, wow, weird. 00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:27.059 You want me to go back into my mother's womb? 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:32.559 Like, I don't think Nicodemus is taking it that literally. 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.339 He might be. 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.619 He might be. 00:22:34.679 --> 00:22:36.419 But he did hear you're born from above. 00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:44.159 I think what really bothers Nicodemus about what Jesus said is he's like, hang on. 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:47.720 I'm old and I'm Israel's teacher. 00:22:47.879 --> 00:22:50.019 I've been doing this for a very long time. 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:54.619 And you're telling me I need to start again. 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:57.639 I need to go back to the beginning. 00:22:57.799 --> 00:23:00.619 Everything I'm doing is wrong and I need to start again. 00:23:01.419 --> 00:23:09.519 Now, it's very difficult to tell someone, no matter how old they are, actually, you've got it wrong and you need to start again. 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:16.639 But it's very, very, very difficult to tell a middle-aged man who's been doing something. 00:23:16.739 --> 00:23:23.679 He's recognized by the whole of Israel as being the teacher in Israel and saying, no, actually, you got it wrong. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:25.000 You need to start again. 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:30.140 And then, I mean, Jesus just presses on, right? 00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:31.700 Just he goes for the throat. 00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:35.320 He says, very truly, Nicodemus, I'm telling you, this is the deal. 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:43.240 No one will enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:47.960 Now, this would have really shaken Nicodemus, right? 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:52.400 Because he's, he said, like, Nicodemus, here's the truth, right? 00:23:52.779 --> 00:24:00.819 The kingdom of God, the very thing that you have been teaching Israel about, you've missed it, right? 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:03.440 And you kind of, you know you've missed it and you want in. 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:08.840 It's not going to happen unless you are born of water and of Spirit. 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:12.500 Okay, water. 00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:16.120 So, I brought some water with me today. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:20.519 So, today, all of us are going to use water for two things, hopefully. 00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:25.059 The one is to have a bath or a shower with, right? 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:31.859 We get dirty, smelly, stinky, and hopefully we're going to have a bath and we're going to use water to clean us. 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:33.799 Okay, that's one thing. 00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:38.899 And the other thing that we're going to use water for, which we need water for, is to drink, right? 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:43.559 Water sustains life. 00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:44.700 It brings refreshing. 00:24:48.419 --> 00:24:50.539 And to me, it's this beautiful picture, right? 00:24:50.539 --> 00:25:00.420 Because, in a very simple way, I just think how God's ordered creation is that it's a little reminder that we cannot live a self-contained life. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:04.920 We need something outside of ourselves to sustain us. 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:07.099 It's a lovely little picture. 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.059 Have you ever thought about it? 00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:15.259 Like, if you think you're such a tough guy and you can live on your own and you don't need anybody or anything, just try not drinking water for three days. 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:20.799 And you'll realize you're not so tough and you need something outside of you to sustain you. 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:25.420 So, John the Baptist had been on the scene, right? 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:30.379 And he had come in and he says, repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand. 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:33.339 You need to get cleaned up because the king is coming. 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:36.420 And the guy's like, okay, what do we need to do? 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:37.940 And he says, okay, take a bath, right? 00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:40.319 Let's dunk you, baptize you. 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:44.400 And this would have been hugely unpopular. 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:50.740 The Pharisees, they just did not like this at all because they thought they were pretty clean. 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:53.800 And here's some guy telling us, actually, you're pretty dirty on the outside. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.780 You need to get clean. 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:58.759 Okay, now that could be one interpretation of this passage. 00:25:58.980 --> 00:26:01.019 I have to tell you that you read up about it. 00:26:01.300 --> 00:26:04.980 The scholars have spilt a lot of ink over what that means. 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:08.860 So, it could mean something else and I'm totally okay with that. 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:13.080 But from my perspective, that's what I think the passage is teaching about. 00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:14.679 That's the conversation that they're having. 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.740 That would have been Nicodemus' context. 00:26:17.699 --> 00:26:18.519 So, he gets this. 00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:19.799 All right, well, that's offensive. 00:26:19.919 --> 00:26:24.960 I didn't appreciate the whole John the Baptist coming along and telling us that we were dirty. 00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:27.899 And now you're telling me, hey, that's not the end of the story. 00:26:28.659 --> 00:26:30.720 Nicodemus, you need something more than that. 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:32.799 You need the spirit. 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.220 You need water. 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:36.720 And it comes from Jesus talking to the woman at the well. 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:42.500 He says, I will give you water that will well up inside you to eternal life. 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:47.920 You need my spirit inside you to sustain you and give you life. 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:55.740 It's kind of like a baby in its mother's womb. 00:26:55.740 --> 00:27:04.059 All right, now that baby is being formed for a world that it cannot see yet. 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:07.759 Okay, in its mother's womb, it's been formed for this world. 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:10.759 But it cannot see the world it's being created for. 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:14.539 It cannot interact with the world it's being created for. 00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:19.359 It cannot smell the world it's being created for until it is born. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:25.019 And once it's born, my goodness, it begins to interact straight away, right? 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:27.900 Any of you parents, the first thing you do is hear a big scream. 00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:30.700 And that screaming doesn't stop for the next 18 years. 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:31.559 Okay? 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:35.940 But there is this thing happens when a baby is born. 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:38.440 It suddenly sees the world it's created for. 00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:45.379 And when you are born of the spirit, suddenly you look and you see the world in which we were created for. 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:47.680 You see God's hand in it. 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:53.059 You look at creation and you suddenly see, my goodness, he's amazing. 00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:57.419 That's his divine nature and his power displayed around me. 00:27:57.460 --> 00:28:02.940 You suddenly look at people and you think, those are people made in the image of God. 00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:05.879 They are to be loved and valued and appreciated. 00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:12.419 But it only happens once you are born of the spirit. 00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:17.500 Otherwise, you are like a baby in the womb that just doesn't see it. 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:21.960 And Jesus goes on, right? 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:29.819 He just says, Nicodemus, flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to spirit. 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:34.900 Now, when it talks about flesh there, it doesn't literally mean, you know, the flesh in your body. 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:37.660 It's talking about your sinful nature. 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:43.040 It took me a long time to realize this, to be honest with you. 00:28:44.580 --> 00:28:47.019 We're born with a sinful nature. 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:49.000 We inherited it from our parents. 00:28:49.100 --> 00:28:51.140 Our parents inherited it from their parents. 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:53.040 Their parents inherited it from their parents. 00:28:53.300 --> 00:28:55.720 And it goes on and on and back and back. 00:28:56.779 --> 00:29:01.960 You know, someone said to me, you never need to teach your children to lie. 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:02.360 Right? 00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:05.900 You know, they just do it naturally. 00:29:06.360 --> 00:29:09.340 You never need to teach your children to be selfish. 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.640 Only to be generous. 00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:13.100 Right? 00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:15.319 I'd love that if that were true. 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:18.480 But, you know, I think of that with kids, but I think of myself. 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:21.579 Took me a long time, right? 00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:24.579 Because I thought I was a pretty okay kind of guy. 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:28.380 At least amongst my friends, I was okay. 00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:32.300 So, if you want to feel good about yourself, you get yourself a really dodgy group of friends. 00:29:32.600 --> 00:29:34.060 And you think, okay, I'm not so bad. 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:36.400 That's not the way to do it, right? 00:29:39.800 --> 00:29:44.060 I suddenly realized, I got to about my early 20s. 00:29:44.080 --> 00:29:48.700 And I realized, flesh gives birth to flesh. 00:29:48.860 --> 00:29:55.520 The only thing I really have is a nature that's perpetually selfish. 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:57.680 Or a little bit self-seeking. 00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:59.680 Or there is lust inside me. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:01.779 There is jealousy inside me. 00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:04.079 There is envy inside me. 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:06.000 And I cannot change it. 00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:07.359 I cannot break free from it. 00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:10.920 I see it also in the people around me. 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:17.740 And when we allow our sinful nature to go unchecked. 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:21.019 You know, society does a good job of restraining sin. 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:26.019 But when we allow that to go unchecked and we think we can get away with what we can get away with, 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:28.480 we become who we really are. 00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:30.319 And you see it. 00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:37.220 You just need to read the newspaper every day to see what's happened with people where they think they can get away with things. 00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:39.740 And their sin just takes over their lives. 00:30:39.819 --> 00:30:43.500 And I think I'll read that and I go, but for the grace of God go I. 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:49.859 This is how Galatian describes a life in the flesh. 00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:51.880 The sinful nature is what it says. 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:54.740 It says the acts of the flesh are obvious. 00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:57.460 Sexual immorality. 00:30:57.859 --> 00:30:57.980 Right? 00:30:58.059 --> 00:31:02.160 Do we see a problem with sexual immorality in the world today? 00:31:05.160 --> 00:31:05.759 Yes. 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.920 There's a huge problem. 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:12.519 The world hasn't done a great job of showing us how this gift from God is meant to be used. 00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.519 Impurity. 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:14.700 Debautery. 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:15.759 Idolatry. 00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:16.379 Witchcraft. 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:16.900 Hatred. 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.660 Do we see hatred? 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:18.819 Yes. 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:26.139 Some guy this last week gets into a truck in New York and drives down the road and kills eight people. 00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:27.660 Because he hates. 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.420 It's in there. 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:31.480 But there's hatred in our hearts anyway. 00:31:31.639 --> 00:31:35.720 When we go to work amongst our own family members. 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:37.200 Discord. 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.220 Jealousy. 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.059 Frits of rage. 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:41.339 Selfish ambition. 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:45.619 Have you ever walked into your office and think, wow, this place is amazing. 00:31:45.939 --> 00:31:47.759 No one has their own agenda. 00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:48.639 Right? 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:50.779 No one's got any selfish ambition here. 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:57.000 I have yet to discuss with anyone that that is their environment in their work. 00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.019 Dissensions. 00:31:59.480 --> 00:31:59.879 Factions. 00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:00.480 Envy. 00:32:00.639 --> 00:32:01.139 Drunkenness. 00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:01.559 Orgies. 00:32:01.699 --> 00:32:02.059 And the like. 00:32:02.119 --> 00:32:09.259 I tell you and I warn you as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:12.619 Flesh gives birth to flesh. 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:14.879 And then Jesus paints this picture. 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:15.559 He says, but. 00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:17.720 That's where you are. 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:19.440 Now let's look at life of the spirit. 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:23.940 If you have the spirit of God inside you. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:25.099 You are born of the spirit. 00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:28.119 This is what your life begins to be shaped like. 00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:29.059 And it grows. 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:30.059 It only grows. 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:31.640 It gets better and better. 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.940 This is what it says. 00:32:33.040 --> 00:32:33.700 Same passage. 00:32:33.900 --> 00:32:36.000 But the fruit of the spirit is love. 00:32:38.100 --> 00:32:38.740 Joy. 00:32:39.280 --> 00:32:39.800 Peace. 00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:41.060 Forbearance. 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:42.660 Kindness. 00:32:43.580 --> 00:32:43.940 Goodness. 00:32:44.780 --> 00:32:45.340 Faithfulness. 00:32:45.600 --> 00:32:46.060 Gentleness. 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:46.900 Self-control. 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.880 Against such things there is no Lord. 00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:50.480 No one's going to say that's terrible. 00:32:50.800 --> 00:32:52.440 Please stop being so kind. 00:32:53.520 --> 00:32:56.380 Please stop being so gentle with one another. 00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:59.820 Spirit gives birth to spirit. 00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:05.139 But we need someone who is pure and holy that will give us that birth. 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:09.220 Our parents are not pure, holy, and blameless. 00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:10.879 They carry the sinful nature. 00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:15.879 We need a father who is pure, blameless, and holy to give us birth. 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:21.099 And he says, Nicodemus, it's kind of like this, right? 00:33:22.159 --> 00:33:24.799 The spirit is like the wind. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.179 Okay. 00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:29.299 Now, you cannot actually see wind. 00:33:29.860 --> 00:33:30.100 Okay. 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:31.960 Like, oh, look, there's a lovely little piece of wind. 00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:36.320 You don't see wind, but you see its effects. 00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:39.799 About four weeks ago, we had the typhoon. 00:33:40.060 --> 00:33:40.420 You remember? 00:33:40.600 --> 00:33:41.240 No church. 00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:43.380 We had a typhoon. 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:47.980 I went outside, and the trees are swaying and bending and stuff. 00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:51.580 I cannot see the wind, but I see this effect on them. 00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:54.199 And that's what it's like with the spirit. 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:59.559 You will see, my goodness, there is love and kindness happening there. 00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:02.539 That's the spirit moving inside you. 00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:08.119 You see self-control happening in areas where you had no self-control? 00:34:08.319 --> 00:34:10.819 That's the spirit working inside you. 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.739 You can see its effect. 00:34:12.739 --> 00:34:19.419 And Jesus says to him, Nicodemus, actually, this really shouldn't surprise you. 00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:22.959 You know, you're sitting there with your mouth wide open looking at me. 00:34:25.859 --> 00:34:37.339 You, and by that footnotes, you is plural, meaning everybody must be born again, must be born from above, must be born of the spirit. 00:34:39.339 --> 00:34:41.779 Like, Nicodemus, you need to look at your life, right? 00:34:41.780 --> 00:34:45.420 Like, religion isn't going to get you there. 00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:49.700 Because you've tried, Nicodemus, and you know it hasn't got you there. 00:34:50.140 --> 00:34:53.560 Your religious customs and your religious rules have not worked. 00:34:55.840 --> 00:35:02.660 Nicodemus, you by now should realize that the problem is with your heart. 00:35:06.100 --> 00:35:09.300 The problem is on the inside, Nicodemus. 00:35:09.300 --> 00:35:15.200 I mean, Nicodemus, you've been teaching Israel all these years. 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:17.480 You're the teacher in Israel. 00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:20.120 And you still haven't got there. 00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:23.820 You're teaching others, but you still haven't got there. 00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:26.920 And here's the problem, Nicodemus. 00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:33.240 The more you keep up those religious rules and that religious thing that you have going there, 00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:36.239 the prouder you become on the inside. 00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:39.899 And you start to think of yourself, hey, I'm pretty good. 00:35:41.179 --> 00:35:42.099 I'm pretty good. 00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:46.259 And as soon as you start thinking that, you start thinking other people are not so good. 00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:48.279 And you begin to look down on them. 00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:51.519 You get proud. 00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:56.119 Now, the Bible calls this self-righteousness. 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.360 I'm pretty good. 00:35:59.019 --> 00:35:59.820 They're terrible. 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:04.780 But, you know, the opposite is also true. 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:08.599 The opposite is, well, it doesn't matter how I live, right? 00:36:08.679 --> 00:36:09.780 It doesn't matter how I live. 00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:10.280 Right? 00:36:10.280 --> 00:36:12.780 God doesn't really care about that kind of thing. 00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:16.680 God is not really holy, and he doesn't really require me to be holy. 00:36:17.080 --> 00:36:22.320 The bottom line is, I'll decide for myself what is good and evil. 00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:24.560 I'll make the rules. 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:26.800 Here's the thing, though, right? 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:31.400 When we make the rules, and I know, the only reason I know this is because I do it myself. 00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:38.420 When we make the rules, we'll make them very lenient towards us. 00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:45.760 But, you know, I do it. 00:36:48.180 --> 00:36:51.119 But you tend to be more strict for others. 00:36:51.680 --> 00:36:52.940 So, I'll give you an example. 00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:57.000 So, this is about two weeks ago in my office. 00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:59.079 Now, I just hope none of you are in my office here. 00:36:59.240 --> 00:37:00.360 I'm telling office secrets. 00:37:00.360 --> 00:37:09.820 But it was discovered that one of the managers had taken fake sick leave. 00:37:10.220 --> 00:37:12.500 He called in on a Friday and said, I'm sick. 00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:16.900 And it actually turned out he was on holiday at a beach resort in another country. 00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:21.519 And when people found out, they were, oh, they were indignant. 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:23.660 And you know the word I heard all the time? 00:37:23.659 --> 00:37:25.299 It's wrong. 00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:26.319 It's wrong. 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:32.279 But the thing is, those very people who said, wow, it's terrible that he could take fake sick leave. 00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:35.899 But when you do it yourself, oh, no, that's different. 00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:38.039 I just need a rest. 00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:41.799 I know. 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:42.719 I've been there. 00:37:42.719 --> 00:37:50.279 The Bible refers to this as no righteousness, right? 00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:52.500 A way of license. 00:37:54.899 --> 00:37:57.859 You just decide what you think is right. 00:37:57.939 --> 00:37:59.199 And it's hypocrisy. 00:37:59.619 --> 00:38:01.099 The Bible calls it hypocrisy. 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:04.139 So, what is the answer? 00:38:04.259 --> 00:38:06.059 And Jesus is giving him the answer right here. 00:38:06.119 --> 00:38:09.819 He says, the way that you are to live is the way of liberty. 00:38:09.819 --> 00:38:11.639 It's the way of the Spirit. 00:38:11.639 --> 00:38:16.159 It's the way of God's righteousness in you. 00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:21.079 So, we have this prophet in the Old Testament called Jeremiah. 00:38:21.299 --> 00:38:27.000 Now, if you ask me who my favorite Bible character is, it's Jeremiah. 00:38:27.179 --> 00:38:34.879 Not because I ever wish to live Jeremiah's life, but just something about this prophet that I resonate with and feel with. 00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:38.799 And I almost get emotional when I read Jeremiah. 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:38.880 Jeremiah. 00:38:39.360 --> 00:38:40.539 But here's Jeremiah. 00:38:40.700 --> 00:38:44.720 And he's dealing with exactly these two types of people. 00:38:44.820 --> 00:38:49.000 Those who are so self-righteous and look down on everyone else. 00:38:49.060 --> 00:38:50.960 And you've got those who just couldn't care. 00:38:51.200 --> 00:38:53.400 They're going to live exactly how they want to live. 00:38:53.900 --> 00:38:58.300 And this is Jeremiah in the midst of that mess and that pain and all that. 00:38:58.400 --> 00:38:59.640 Jeremiah says this. 00:38:59.700 --> 00:39:00.880 It comes from Jeremiah 31. 00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:07.539 He said, this is my covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. 00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:09.300 And here it is. 00:39:09.820 --> 00:39:12.579 I will put my law in their minds. 00:39:13.340 --> 00:39:17.240 And I will write it on their hearts. 00:39:17.239 --> 00:39:22.279 I will be their God and they will be my people. 00:39:22.379 --> 00:39:27.139 Because Jeremiah knew that the problem was with their hearts. 00:39:27.259 --> 00:39:32.619 They needed God's spirit inside them in order to live God's way. 00:39:33.319 --> 00:39:41.579 We cannot expect people to live God's way unless they have the spirit of God inside of them, leading them to live that way. 00:39:41.579 --> 00:39:54.059 Jesus is saying to Nicodemus, Nicodemus, I need to make you a new creation. 00:39:55.799 --> 00:40:07.799 The same way I stood before the beginning of time as my spirit hovered over this world and I breathed my ruach into it, my spirit into it, and it began to form and become beautiful. 00:40:07.799 --> 00:40:11.299 I need to do the same with your life. 00:40:12.539 --> 00:40:17.699 See, Nicodemus, you don't just need a new start in life. 00:40:18.279 --> 00:40:21.679 You need a new life to start with. 00:40:23.799 --> 00:40:25.000 Let's hear that again. 00:40:25.079 --> 00:40:28.539 Nicodemus, you don't need just a new start in life. 00:40:28.819 --> 00:40:32.519 You need a new life to start with. 00:40:33.799 --> 00:40:35.599 But here's the amazing difference, right? 00:40:35.599 --> 00:40:43.920 So the first time God creates this world, he makes the earth, he makes the animals, the mountains. 00:40:44.039 --> 00:40:45.759 He's preparing it for man. 00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:50.500 The final thing he makes is man to inhabit it. 00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:53.059 This time he's changing the order of things. 00:40:53.619 --> 00:40:55.619 He's making men new. 00:40:55.719 --> 00:40:57.639 He's making mankind new. 00:40:57.639 --> 00:41:02.319 And then he's preparing a new heaven and a new earth for us. 00:41:03.259 --> 00:41:06.699 Guys, I know this is church, but you are allowed to be excited. 00:41:07.219 --> 00:41:08.859 That's pretty awesome, right? 00:41:08.860 --> 00:41:12.920 There's this verse. 00:41:13.720 --> 00:41:15.500 Because God is making all things new. 00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:18.680 There's this verse in 2 Corinthians 5. 00:41:19.019 --> 00:41:19.900 It says this. 00:41:19.900 --> 00:41:35.019 Now, in the Greek, the article a new creation is not there. 00:41:35.660 --> 00:41:39.940 So it should literally just read, he is new creation. 00:41:40.660 --> 00:41:43.619 You are part of the new creation. 00:41:43.619 --> 00:41:50.639 And when we realize that God's spirit breathes into us, we become part of his new creation, 00:41:50.880 --> 00:41:53.579 it should change the way we live. 00:41:54.119 --> 00:41:56.239 Because the spirit of God's inside us. 00:41:56.279 --> 00:41:58.579 It changes our purpose. 00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:05.279 When we wake up tomorrow morning and we're prepared to go about our day, 00:42:05.339 --> 00:42:07.279 and we're going to go to work, and we're going to go to school, 00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:13.260 do you know that you are carrying part of you, if you believe in Christ, 00:42:13.340 --> 00:42:14.760 and you're born again of the spirit, 00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:20.519 you are carrying new creation with you into your workplace, into your family. 00:42:20.760 --> 00:42:24.700 You are showing people what the new creation would look like. 00:42:25.840 --> 00:42:30.640 In a world where there's no hope, you bear what the spirit is able to do. 00:42:30.740 --> 00:42:33.640 The same way it formed the heavens and the earth and created, 00:42:33.900 --> 00:42:35.620 it's creating something in me. 00:42:35.619 --> 00:42:44.119 It's creating a life that is full of love and gentleness and self-control and forbearance. 00:42:44.279 --> 00:42:47.639 And when we mess up, it's full of forgiveness too and grace. 00:42:50.900 --> 00:42:54.119 So I said to you right at the beginning, I said there are two hurdles. 00:42:56.039 --> 00:42:58.799 One is God is creator. 00:42:59.960 --> 00:43:03.759 And it's a battle that we have to engage in, right? 00:43:03.760 --> 00:43:06.940 I think we have to engage in the battle that God is creator. 00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:08.220 He created. 00:43:08.360 --> 00:43:09.600 There is intelligence behind there. 00:43:09.680 --> 00:43:15.560 We have to engage in it graciously, intelligently, and scientifically. 00:43:16.920 --> 00:43:20.960 But you can spend all your time, and you might be able to convince someone. 00:43:21.400 --> 00:43:26.220 And to be honest with you, I haven't met too many actual atheists who believe 00:43:26.220 --> 00:43:29.400 something was created out of nothing. 00:43:29.620 --> 00:43:31.500 It takes the hang of a lot of faith to believe that. 00:43:31.500 --> 00:43:37.320 But actually, there are very few genuine atheists that probably call themselves agnostic. 00:43:37.480 --> 00:43:40.340 Yeah, there's some being out there. 00:43:40.900 --> 00:43:42.119 Yeah, there must be something. 00:43:43.780 --> 00:43:49.159 But a lot of people live as functional atheists, that there is no God. 00:43:49.280 --> 00:43:50.760 There's no accountability to God. 00:43:50.900 --> 00:43:52.639 They can't see His work in anything. 00:43:52.639 --> 00:44:00.559 So rather, what we engage in, and where our focus should be, is that Jesus is creator. 00:44:00.739 --> 00:44:04.299 His spirit inside me changes my life. 00:44:04.379 --> 00:44:06.379 It brings about a new creation. 00:44:06.519 --> 00:44:07.779 His spirit working in me. 00:44:08.139 --> 00:44:11.659 Far greater testimony to the world. 00:44:12.699 --> 00:44:15.179 It's like Jesus changed me. 00:44:15.359 --> 00:44:16.460 He is changing me. 00:44:16.460 --> 00:44:19.740 And people will see its effect in your life. 00:44:22.079 --> 00:44:23.880 Okay, I said this at the beginning. 00:44:24.800 --> 00:44:26.119 I said, I showed you this picture. 00:44:27.960 --> 00:44:35.720 And I said to you that I know there's an artist behind it because I look at the picture, 00:44:36.179 --> 00:44:38.900 and it tells me there is an artist. 00:44:38.900 --> 00:44:45.200 But more important than that is that I actually know the artist. 00:44:47.320 --> 00:44:48.240 It's my son. 00:44:49.079 --> 00:44:50.200 He drew this picture. 00:44:50.920 --> 00:44:56.660 So when you guys went, wow, for me, it really is wow when I first saw that picture. 00:44:56.740 --> 00:44:57.160 It's beautiful. 00:44:57.280 --> 00:45:00.400 It's got Blu-Tac because we stick it on our fridge and our wall. 00:45:01.340 --> 00:45:07.619 This picture means so much more to me than it does to you because I know the artist. 00:45:08.900 --> 00:45:11.180 And that's far more important. 00:45:11.280 --> 00:45:12.559 I want to know him. 00:45:12.680 --> 00:45:14.440 I want to be intimate with the artist. 00:45:14.980 --> 00:45:21.800 And then when I see his creation and his created work, wow, that's where our focus should be. 00:45:24.320 --> 00:45:26.840 I want to know Christ. 00:45:27.059 --> 00:45:27.920 That's what Paul said. 00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:29.860 I want to know Christ. 00:45:31.220 --> 00:45:33.579 I see his handiwork. 00:45:34.039 --> 00:45:38.059 But more important than that, I want to see and know him. 00:45:38.059 --> 00:45:40.500 And that's what changes my life. 00:45:43.759 --> 00:45:46.239 I have a challenge for us, and I have a challenge for me, 00:45:46.340 --> 00:45:50.440 that we should read John 3 again. 00:45:51.579 --> 00:45:55.599 And in that little conversation, who do we identify with? 00:45:55.659 --> 00:46:01.639 Are we more like Nicodemus and we're asking little questions that get us distracted? 00:46:01.639 --> 00:46:08.879 Are we genuinely looking at what Jesus said and how he is speaking to us? 00:46:08.880 --> 00:46:13.559 So I want us to finish a little bit differently today. 00:46:14.360 --> 00:46:19.519 Usually we finish and I stand up here and I pray and we all say amen. 00:46:20.200 --> 00:46:22.140 This time I want us to do it differently. 00:46:23.039 --> 00:46:28.519 I've asked Alfie very graciously to prepare Psalm 19. 00:46:28.519 --> 00:46:33.000 And we are going to read it, but we are not just going to read it. 00:46:33.039 --> 00:46:35.400 We're going to pray it together. 00:46:36.039 --> 00:46:43.059 It's a psalm that declares the fact that God is creator, but it also declares that God is intimate. 00:46:43.239 --> 00:46:44.039 He knows you. 00:46:44.159 --> 00:46:45.300 He wants to know you. 00:46:45.639 --> 00:46:47.699 His way is true and just. 00:46:47.699 --> 00:46:51.859 So as we read it, we are going to read it, but as a prayer. 00:46:51.980 --> 00:46:53.960 And that's how the psalms were meant to be written. 00:46:54.079 --> 00:46:56.839 They weren't meant to be thought about and dissected. 00:46:56.899 --> 00:46:59.980 They were meant to be a prayer language that is powerful. 00:47:01.439 --> 00:47:03.099 So I'm going to ask you to stand. 00:47:04.619 --> 00:47:06.139 And we're going to read this together. 00:47:06.739 --> 00:47:12.739 And then if I can ask you to stay standing and we're going to worship the Lord. 00:47:13.899 --> 00:47:14.419 Okay, you ready? 00:47:16.199 --> 00:47:17.139 Let's go together. 00:47:17.699 --> 00:47:21.179 The heavens declare the glory of God. 00:47:21.379 --> 00:47:24.980 The skies proclaim the work of His hands. 00:47:25.819 --> 00:47:28.859 Day after day, they pour forth speech. 00:47:29.679 --> 00:47:32.039 Night after night, they reveal knowledge. 00:47:33.039 --> 00:47:34.339 They have no speech. 00:47:34.500 --> 00:47:35.899 They have no words. 00:47:36.439 --> 00:47:38.439 No sound is heard from them. 00:47:39.159 --> 00:47:42.579 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth. 00:47:43.119 --> 00:47:45.519 Their words to the end of the world. 00:47:45.519 --> 00:47:50.219 In the heavens, God has pitched a tent for the sun. 00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:54.320 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber. 00:47:54.759 --> 00:47:59.059 Like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 00:47:59.460 --> 00:48:04.860 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other. 00:48:04.860 --> 00:48:08.340 Nothing is deprived of its warmth. 00:48:08.340 --> 00:48:11.820 The law of the Lord is perfect. 00:48:11.820 --> 00:48:11.840 The Lord is perfect. 00:48:12.019 --> 00:48:13.579 Refreshing the soul. 00:48:13.820 --> 00:48:16.960 The statues of the Lord are trustworthy. 00:48:17.579 --> 00:48:19.900 Making wise the simple. 00:48:19.900 --> 00:48:23.139 The precepts of the Lord are right. 00:48:23.139 --> 00:48:25.400 Giving joy to the heart. 00:48:25.680 --> 00:48:28.300 The commands of the Lord are radiant. 00:48:28.680 --> 00:48:30.639 Giving light to the eyes. 00:48:31.180 --> 00:48:33.599 The fear of the Lord is pure. 00:48:33.960 --> 00:48:35.420 Enduring forever. 00:48:36.119 --> 00:48:38.559 The decrees of the Lord are firm. 00:48:38.559 --> 00:48:41.119 And all of them are righteous. 00:48:41.539 --> 00:48:43.960 They are more precious than gold. 00:48:44.199 --> 00:48:46.460 Much more than pure gold. 00:48:47.299 --> 00:48:48.900 They are sweeter than honey. 00:48:49.119 --> 00:48:51.099 Than honey from the honeycomb. 00:48:51.860 --> 00:48:53.759 But then your servant is warned. 00:48:54.239 --> 00:48:56.900 In keeping them, there is great reward. 00:48:57.460 --> 00:48:59.980 But who can discern their own errors? 00:49:00.820 --> 00:49:02.500 Forgive my hidden faults. 00:49:03.279 --> 00:49:06.619 Keep your servant also from willful sins. 00:49:06.619 --> 00:49:09.400 May they not rule over me. 00:49:10.000 --> 00:49:11.799 Then I will be blameless. 00:49:12.139 --> 00:49:14.239 Innocent of great transgression. 00:49:15.179 --> 00:49:16.940 May these words of my mouth. 00:49:17.420 --> 00:49:19.339 And this meditation of my heart. 00:49:19.739 --> 00:49:21.699 Be pleasing in your sight. 00:49:22.659 --> 00:49:25.159 Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 00:49:26.039 --> 00:49:26.339 Amen.