WEBVTT

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 All right, y'all love the book of Ephesians?

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 Amen, I do too.

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 It is full of just spiritual meat,

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 and I am loving diving into it in my study

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 and then sharing what God gives me for you all.

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 So let's go there.

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 Let's go to Ephesians chapter two.

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 Once again, this book is about who we are and how we live,

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 and right now we are in the who we are part.

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 So that's exciting.

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 We're discovering our identity in Christ,

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 not according to what man says about us,

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 but according to what we read in God's word,

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 what he says about us.

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 So that's what we're talking about today.

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 Book of Ephesians chapter two,

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 we did the first 11 verses,

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 I'm sorry, 10 verses last Sunday,

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 and today we are doing verses 11

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 through the end of the chapter.

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 For some reason, this isn't working, Floyd.

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 There we go, there we go.

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 Just needed a minute.

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 Kind of like me when I first wake up,

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 so that's good.

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 It just needs a minute sometimes.

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 Much of our series is taken from the Christ-centered exposition,

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 Exalting Jesus in Ephesians by Tony Merida,

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 and that's a great series to avail yourself of

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 if you ever have an opportunity.

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 The background of the book of Ephesians,

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 written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus

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 where he had pastored for three years,

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 and he was written under house arrest in Roman imprisonment

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 off in Rome far away from this church in Ephesus,

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 and it was delivered by courier to this church

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 and then passed around to many other early churches

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 back in those days.

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 The breakdown is the first three chapters,

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 who we are in Christ,

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 the next three chapters,

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 how we live for Christ.

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 So today, we're continuing our series

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 on who we are in Christ.

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 If you see in your bulletin,

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 there's some blanks to fill out,

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 and so try to follow along,

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 and you can fill in those blanks

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 and take that home and look that over later

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 if you'd like to.

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 Ephesians chapter 2,

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 beginning in verse 11.

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 If you're able to physically,

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 would you mind joining me in standing,

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 and we'll read beginning in verse 11.

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 I'm reading from the Christian Standard Bible.

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 So then, remember that at one time,

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 you were Gentiles in the flesh.

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 It is safe for us to place ourselves

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 into this you umbrella, all right?

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 This was written to the church in Ephesus,

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 but it was written for all the early church Christians,

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 and God included it in our New Testament

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 for all of us to benefit from

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 so we can place ourselves into that you

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 that this is written to.

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 So then, remember that at one time,

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 you were Gentiles in the flesh,

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 called the uncircumcised,

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 by those called the circumcised,

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 which is done in the flesh by human hands.

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 At that time, you were without Christ,

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 excluded from the citizenship of Israel,

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 foreigners to the covenants of promise,

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 without hope and without God in the world.

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 But now, in Christ Jesus,

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 you see a parallel there?

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 Back earlier in the first part of chapter 2,

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 when it talked about you previously

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 followed the ways of the world,

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 according to the ruler, the power of the air,

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 the spirit, work, and the disobedient,

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 you were children of wrath,

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 but then in verse 4 it said,

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 but God, who is rich in mercy,

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 made us alive.

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 There is a direct parallel between that,

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 and again, how he emphasizes this point,

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 drives it home for us,

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 here in verse 13.

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 But now, in Christ Jesus,

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 you, who were far away,

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 have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

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 For he is our peace,

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 who made both groups one,

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 and tore down the dividing wall of hostility.

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 In his flesh,

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 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands

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 and expressed in regulations,

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 so that he might create in himself

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 one new man from the two,

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 resulting in peace.

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 He did this so that he might reconcile both

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 to God in one body,

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 through the cross,

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 by which he put the hostility to death.

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 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace

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 to you who were far away,

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 and peace to those who were near.

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 For through him,

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 we both have access in one spirit to the Father.

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 So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers,

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 but now fellow citizens with the saints,

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 and members of God's household,

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 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets

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 with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

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 In him,

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 the whole building being put together

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 grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

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 In him,

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 you are also being built together

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 for God's dwelling in the Spirit.

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 Let's pray together.

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 God, I pray that you would speak to us

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 from Ephesians 2,

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 the latter part of that chapter.

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 I pray that you would drive this home,

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 that you are a God of peace.

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 You are a God of uniting.

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 You are a God of tearing down the walls,

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 reaching across the lines.

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 And we have benefited so greatly from that.

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 And it's in Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 You may be seated.

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 Who we are in Christ,

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 our collective identity.

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 So,

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 let's look at it.

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 Our collective identity.

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 Sorry, y'all.

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 I don't know why it's like that.

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 I think there was some weird way I made the slide,

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 and you know,

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 that's on me.

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 But you're just gonna have to,

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 you know,

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 look a little closer.

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 Like,

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 what is that again?

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 Our collective identity.

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 All right?

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 This is who we are together.

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 Now,

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 this is not

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 our collective identity.

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 This is not who we are together.

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 These are adversaries,

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 right?

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 What do we have here on the left?

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 Come on, y'all.

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 Let's get a little more audience participation.

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 This is the talkback time,

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 okay?

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 On the left,

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 what do we have?

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 Democrats.

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 There you go.

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 On the right,

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 we have

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 Republicans.

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 That's right.

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 Some of the kids

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 who maybe haven't studied

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 and learned these party animals,

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 so to speak,

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 they're looking at it like,

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 what are they talking about?

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 That's a donkey

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 and an elephant.

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 Very patriotic looking

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 and angry at each other.

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 Well,

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 there you go.

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 That's our country,

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 right?

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 We divide.

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 We pit ourselves

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 against one another,

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 and throughout the time,

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 Democrats and Republicans

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 have even stood

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 for different things

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 throughout the years,

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 and so,

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 you know,

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 a hundred years ago,

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 you might have,

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 if you call yourself

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 Republican today,

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 who knows,

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 you might have been

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 a Democrat back then.

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 Man can change his mind

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 about things,

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 but what he doesn't seem

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 to change his mind about

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 is arguing with others.

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 That's what we continue to do.

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 Regardless of what we think,

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 we find somebody

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 who doesn't think like us,

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 and we argue against them,

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 and if we don't find,

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 if we don't have somebody

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 near and close

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 who disagrees with us,

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 we'll go out

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 and find somebody

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 who disagrees with us,

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 and that's what

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 the Internet's for.

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 If you were wondering

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 why the Internet was invented,

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 it's a platform

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 for disagreement

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 and fighting,

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 so,

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 and it fulfills

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 its purpose very well.

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 Obviously,

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 there's a little sarcasm

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 in there,

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 but there's some less,

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 you know,

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 I don't know,

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 less intense.

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 That's pretty intense

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 right there.

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 Rivalries out there.

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 Astros and Rangers,

00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:44.379
 we got any Astros fans

00:07:44.379 --> 00:07:44.879
 in the house?

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 Woo!

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 That are willing

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 to identify

00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:51.079
 as Astro fans right now?

00:07:51.719 --> 00:07:53.039
 How about the Rangers fans?

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 Let's go!

00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:54.139
 Yeah!

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 The,

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 sorry,

00:07:56.539 --> 00:07:57.599
 I shouldn't just say Rangers.

00:07:57.719 --> 00:07:58.439
 I should always say

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 world champion Rangers.

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 There you go.

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 Anybody actually

00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:02.779
 go to that parade?

00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:04.300
 No.

00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:04.839
 Yeah.

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 I was in Dallas

00:08:06.919 --> 00:08:07.699
 on the day

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 of the parade,

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 and I consciously

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 chose not to go.

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 It's like,

00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:11.919
 look,

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 I love my Rangers,

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 but no.

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 That was a madhouse.

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 About 700,000 people,

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 I think,

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 gathered down there.

00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:21.839
 Look,

00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:22.759
 Astros have had

00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:23.279
 a great run.

00:08:23.339 --> 00:08:23.639
 They've won

00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:24.419
 a couple of World Series,

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 so we're going to have

00:08:26.259 --> 00:08:26.939
 this rivalry

00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:28.159
 for years to come.

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 But,

00:08:28.840 --> 00:08:29.040
 you know,

00:08:29.140 --> 00:08:29.560
 we're pitted

00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:30.400
 against one another

00:08:30.400 --> 00:08:31.500
 in the same division.

00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:32.220
 We'll play each other.

00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:33.279
 How about this one?

00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:34.240
 Red River rivalry?

00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:35.980
 Got any Sooner fans

00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:36.320
 in here?

00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:38.940
 Thank God.

00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:42.740
 Got any Longhorn fans?

00:08:42.820 --> 00:08:43.279
 Let's go.

00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:43.840
 Come on.

00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:44.740
 Yes.

00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:47.420
 Y'all got us this year,

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 but overall,

00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:50.399
 we've had a far better season,

00:08:50.540 --> 00:08:52.980
 so let's see what happens.

00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:54.060
 That's the thing.

00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:54.539
 You never know

00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:55.060
 what's going to happen

00:08:55.060 --> 00:08:55.879
 in these rivalries.

00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:56.860
 People get up for them.

00:08:56.920 --> 00:08:58.240
 They feel emotional about them.

00:08:59.100 --> 00:08:59.420
 You know?

00:09:00.340 --> 00:09:01.320
 Oklahoma turned around

00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:03.379
 and lost to Kansas

00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:04.920
 and somebody else

00:09:04.920 --> 00:09:05.580
 that they shouldn't have

00:09:05.580 --> 00:09:06.580
 lost to right after that.

00:09:06.899 --> 00:09:07.120
 So,

00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:07.980
 clearly,

00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:09.480
 Texas was the better team,

00:09:09.659 --> 00:09:10.700
 but why did they lose?

00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:12.200
 Why did they lose that game?

00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:14.080
 Because it's the Red River rivalry

00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:15.060
 because you never know

00:09:15.060 --> 00:09:15.840
 what's going to happen.

00:09:16.180 --> 00:09:17.159
 One team could be ranked

00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:17.899
 in the top five

00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:18.420
 and the other one

00:09:18.420 --> 00:09:19.259
 have a losing record

00:09:19.259 --> 00:09:20.440
 and the losing record

00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:21.639
 comes in and wins that game

00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:22.779
 because everybody gets emotional.

00:09:22.779 --> 00:09:23.539
 They get worked up.

00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:24.220
 They get hyped up

00:09:24.220 --> 00:09:24.779
 and they go out

00:09:24.779 --> 00:09:25.879
 and play better

00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:27.399
 than they usually would otherwise.

00:09:28.179 --> 00:09:29.379
 And that's what happens sometimes

00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:30.240
 with these rivalries

00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:32.740
 because we get emotional about it.

00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:33.839
 We get passionate about it.

00:09:33.959 --> 00:09:34.699
 We pit ourselves

00:09:34.699 --> 00:09:35.559
 against one another.

00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:36.480
 How about this one?

00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:42.179
 We're not going to talk

00:09:42.179 --> 00:09:42.980
 about what happened this year,

00:09:43.100 --> 00:09:44.100
 but we'll get them next year,

00:09:44.139 --> 00:09:44.399
 all right?

00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:44.839
 So,

00:09:44.919 --> 00:09:45.519
 don't worry about it.

00:09:46.019 --> 00:09:46.980
 But y'all understand

00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:48.539
 we've got these rivalries.

00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:50.120
 We draw lines.

00:09:50.819 --> 00:09:52.419
 We draw dividing lines.

00:09:52.779 --> 00:09:54.039
 It's what we do.

00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:55.839
 We'll always do it.

00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:58.000
 I skipped one

00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:59.059
 and I want to get to it.

00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:01.539
 From the history of our country,

00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:02.500
 we did it.

00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:04.740
 We drew dividing lines.

00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:06.620
 We fought a war over it.

00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:09.139
 It's who we are as people.

00:10:10.319 --> 00:10:10.860
 And so,

00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:14.879
 man draws dividing lines.

00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:17.039
 God erases them.

00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:19.699
 God erases them.

00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:23.419
 You know what divides us ultimately?

00:10:24.699 --> 00:10:25.099
 Sin.

00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:27.659
 Sin is what divides us ultimately.

00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:28.399
 Now,

00:10:28.439 --> 00:10:29.059
 we can have fun

00:10:29.059 --> 00:10:29.699
 and we can choose

00:10:29.699 --> 00:10:30.679
 different sports teams

00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:32.259
 and root against the other one

00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:33.019
 and cheer for ours.

00:10:34.179 --> 00:10:36.439
 But there are very real fractures,

00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:38.259
 very real dividing lines

00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:39.559
 in our country,

00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:41.120
 across our world,

00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:43.200
 and sin is the cause.

00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:45.320
 100% of the time.

00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:49.159
 God created no dividing lines

00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:50.179
 in the Garden of Eden.

00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:55.560
 But sin divided us.

00:10:57.060 --> 00:10:58.879
 Sin divided Cain and Abel.

00:11:00.019 --> 00:11:01.860
 Sin divided all these countries

00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:02.779
 that have gone to war.

00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:05.759
 Sin divided the Gentiles

00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:06.419
 and the Jews.

00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:09.080
 Sin divided those who would follow God

00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:10.180
 and those who would oppose God.

00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:13.200
 Sin divided all these lines.

00:11:14.100 --> 00:11:15.800
 And God steps in and says,

00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:17.940
 I am the answer to the division.

00:11:18.860 --> 00:11:20.040
 I am the solution.

00:11:20.780 --> 00:11:21.080
 So,

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.000
 number one,

00:11:22.560 --> 00:11:23.100
 excluded.

00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:24.280
 Excluded.

00:11:24.660 --> 00:11:27.060
 What we are without Jesus.

00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:29.080
 We read about this in verse 11.

00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:29.960
 So then,

00:11:30.280 --> 00:11:31.560
 remember that at one time

00:11:31.560 --> 00:11:33.200
 you were Gentiles in the flesh,

00:11:33.520 --> 00:11:35.240
 called the uncircumcised,

00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:35.920
 quote on quote.

00:11:36.020 --> 00:11:37.160
 There's two different groups here.

00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:38.919
 The uncircumcised,

00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:39.799
 the circumcised.

00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:41.519
 Without diving into the,

00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:41.959
 you know,

00:11:42.079 --> 00:11:43.799
 medical procedures of all that,

00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:45.699
 back then the Jews

00:11:45.699 --> 00:11:46.799
 were the only ones

00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:48.379
 who practiced circumcision.

00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:49.339
 Which nowadays

00:11:49.339 --> 00:11:51.299
 happens right after a baby is born

00:11:51.299 --> 00:11:52.240
 and is common practice

00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:53.179
 across the United States

00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:53.839
 and around the world

00:11:53.839 --> 00:11:55.500
 because they see the health benefits

00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:56.039
 in that.

00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:57.519
 But this procedure

00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:59.559
 divided people.

00:12:00.079 --> 00:12:01.959
 You were part of the circumcised Jews

00:12:01.959 --> 00:12:04.039
 or the uncircumcised Philistines

00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:04.720
 or Gentiles.

00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:05.860
 And so,

00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:08.399
 that was done in the flesh

00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:09.259
 by human hands.

00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:09.700
 But,

00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:11.279
 at that time,

00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:13.500
 there was a real exclusion happening.

00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:15.360
 There was a real dividing line.

00:12:16.340 --> 00:12:17.259
 There were those

00:12:17.259 --> 00:12:18.660
 who followed Jesus

00:12:18.660 --> 00:12:19.620
 and there were those

00:12:19.620 --> 00:12:21.340
 who were without Christ.

00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:22.519
 Excluded,

00:12:23.160 --> 00:12:23.920
 verse 12 says.

00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:25.740
 Excluded from the citizenship

00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:26.360
 of Israel.

00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:29.139
 Foreigners to the covenants

00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:29.560
 of promise.

00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:30.980
 God made all these promises

00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:31.800
 in the Old Testament.

00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:33.300
 He made all these covenants.

00:12:33.299 --> 00:12:33.919
 He said,

00:12:34.079 --> 00:12:35.419
 I will be with you.

00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:36.459
 I will be your God.

00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:37.419
 You will be my people.

00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:40.299
 And those of us Gentiles

00:12:40.299 --> 00:12:41.879
 were excluded from that.

00:12:42.939 --> 00:12:43.939
 Foreigners to that.

00:12:45.219 --> 00:12:46.199
 Without hope

00:12:46.199 --> 00:12:47.799
 and without God.

00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:48.279
 Now,

00:12:48.319 --> 00:12:49.299
 we had all kinds of things

00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:50.219
 that we would call God.

00:12:50.719 --> 00:12:51.439
 Throughout time,

00:12:51.539 --> 00:12:53.579
 Gentiles have had all sorts of things

00:12:53.579 --> 00:12:54.859
 that they would call God.

00:12:54.939 --> 00:12:55.819
 They'll make up their own.

00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:56.679
 They'll build idols.

00:12:57.179 --> 00:12:59.000
 They'll make their own passions

00:12:59.000 --> 00:12:59.979
 and goals

00:12:59.979 --> 00:13:00.719
 and desires

00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:02.259
 and the objects

00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:02.980
 of their love

00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:03.480
 and affection.

00:13:03.660 --> 00:13:04.560
 They'll raise them

00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:05.820
 to the status of God.

00:13:06.920 --> 00:13:08.139
 So we'll do all kinds of things

00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:08.779
 but in reality,

00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:10.879
 we are without God.

00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:13.600
 So,

00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:14.700
 we were excluded.

00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.540
 Ephesians 4.18,

00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:18.860
 a couple chapters later,

00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:19.360
 it says,

00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:20.420
 they're darkened

00:13:20.420 --> 00:13:21.300
 in their understanding,

00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:22.379
 excluded

00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.440
 from the life

00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:24.460
 of God

00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:26.000
 because of the ignorance

00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:27.240
 that's in them,

00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.139
 the hardness

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:29.159
 of their hearts.

00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:30.299
 That is a reminder

00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:31.659
 of who we are

00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:32.460
 without God.

00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:33.799
 We are ignorant

00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:36.519
 and have hard hearts.

00:13:37.220 --> 00:13:38.080
 That's us.

00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:41.600
 God is the only one

00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:42.379
 that can impart

00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:43.120
 true wisdom

00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.279
 and understanding

00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:44.899
 to us.

00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:46.419
 God is the only one

00:13:46.419 --> 00:13:47.659
 that can soften our hearts.

00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:49.559
 God's the only one

00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:50.399
 that can make us

00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:51.279
 nice.

00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:52.879
 God's the only one

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:53.720
 that can make us

00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:54.500
 lovable.

00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:56.460
 God's the only one

00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.180
 that can make us

00:13:57.180 --> 00:13:58.560
 good and righteous.

00:14:00.400 --> 00:14:01.100
 And so,

00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:02.040
 apart from him,

00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:03.040
 we are excluded

00:14:03.040 --> 00:14:04.780
 from God's life.

00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:06.400
 Why were we excluded?

00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:07.240
 Excluded.

00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:08.639
 We were without Christ,

00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:09.820
 without Jesus.

00:14:10.660 --> 00:14:11.360
 He's the answer.

00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:12.060
 He's the Savior.

00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.139
 He's the only way.

00:14:13.800 --> 00:14:14.700
 So if you don't have him,

00:14:14.780 --> 00:14:15.340
 you're excluded.

00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:17.340
 We are without citizenship.

00:14:19.660 --> 00:14:20.800
 We had citizenship

00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:22.100
 of the world,

00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:23.060
 but we were without

00:14:23.060 --> 00:14:23.700
 citizenship

00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:25.140
 in God's kingdom.

00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:27.480
 All throughout the parable,

00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:28.360
 you see Jesus

00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:30.120
 constantly making reference

00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:32.100
 to the kingdom of God.

00:14:32.700 --> 00:14:32.860
 Right?

00:14:33.800 --> 00:14:34.480
 Jesus says,

00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:35.259
 the kingdom of God

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.100
 is like this,

00:14:36.280 --> 00:14:37.180
 and he tells a parable.

00:14:38.020 --> 00:14:38.840
 The kingdom of God

00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:39.500
 is like this.

00:14:39.560 --> 00:14:40.920
 He came to build

00:14:40.920 --> 00:14:42.600
 his kingdom on earth,

00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:44.080
 but we were excluded

00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:45.400
 from that kingdom

00:14:45.400 --> 00:14:46.820
 until he made a way

00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:47.980
 to have citizenship.

00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:50.100
 We've got some people

00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:51.020
 who recently gained

00:14:51.020 --> 00:14:51.520
 citizenship

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.539
 to the United States

00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:54.000
 right down front here.

00:14:54.699 --> 00:14:54.980
 Yeah.

00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.340
 That's exciting,

00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:57.699
 isn't it?

00:14:59.240 --> 00:14:59.919
 I didn't mean

00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:00.480
 to call him out

00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:01.220
 this morning at all.

00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:02.379
 I'm trying to embarrass him,

00:15:02.439 --> 00:15:03.039
 but I'm on the spot.

00:15:03.579 --> 00:15:04.259
 But that is such

00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:05.120
 an exciting thing

00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:06.220
 when you gain citizenship

00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:07.039
 that you're seeking.

00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:09.819
 But my goodness,

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.179
 it doesn't,

00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:12.740
 it pales in comparison

00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:14.699
 to gaining citizenship

00:15:14.699 --> 00:15:16.659
 into God's heavenly kingdom.

00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:18.819
 And we're excluded

00:15:18.819 --> 00:15:19.879
 from that,

00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:21.839
 apart from Christ.

00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:22.959
 We're without hope.

00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.399
 We have no hope.

00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:25.679
 Then verse 12,

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.319
 that's what it said,

00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.000
 without hope

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:28.139
 and without God.

00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:28.839
 And those two

00:15:28.839 --> 00:15:29.620
 are linked together.

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.480
 Man, if you have,

00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:31.620
 if you don't have God,

00:15:31.699 --> 00:15:32.480
 you have no hope.

00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:33.480
 That's why there's

00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:34.519
 so much suicide out there.

00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:35.019
 There's why there's

00:15:35.019 --> 00:15:36.199
 so much depression out there.

00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:37.120
 That's why there's

00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.339
 so much hopelessness out there.

00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:38.799
 That's why there's

00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.459
 so much anger.

00:15:40.579 --> 00:15:41.579
 People lashing out

00:15:41.579 --> 00:15:42.919
 because they don't have

00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:43.819
 a life.

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.439
 You ever heard somebody

00:15:44.439 --> 00:15:45.339
 tell you to get a life?

00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:48.460
 I've had people tell me

00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:49.259
 to get a life before.

00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:52.580
 We have a life.

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.379
 We have something

00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.019
 to live for.

00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.019
 We have a reason

00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:56.200
 to keep going

00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.420
 if we have God.

00:15:57.560 --> 00:15:59.160
 If we have no God,

00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:00.879
 then what's this

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.840
 ultimately about?

00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:03.639
 Who ultimately gets to say

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.580
 what's right or wrong?

00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:06.320
 Who ultimately gets to say

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:07.320
 what our lives

00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:08.100
 should be about?

00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:10.660
 Unless God is real,

00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:11.940
 God is true,

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:13.220
 God exists,

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:14.420
 and He's here for us.

00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:16.019
 So we're excluded

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:17.019
 without Christ,

00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:17.899
 without citizenship,

00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:18.699
 without hope,

00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:20.000
 and without God.

00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:20.860
 But that's not

00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:21.699
 where He leaves us.

00:16:21.939 --> 00:16:22.419
 Number two,

00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:23.219
 reconciled.

00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:24.659
 This is what Jesus

00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:25.659
 does for us.

00:16:26.079 --> 00:16:27.000
 Verse 13,

00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:28.799
 now in Christ Jesus,

00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:30.620
 you who were far away

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:32.159
 have been brought near

00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:33.639
 by the blood of Christ.

00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:34.479
 Okay?

00:16:34.699 --> 00:16:35.599
 So that's what Jesus

00:16:35.599 --> 00:16:36.399
 does for us.

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:36.979
 All the way down

00:16:36.979 --> 00:16:37.759
 through verse 18,

00:16:37.959 --> 00:16:39.059
 He talks about how

00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:40.159
 He can reconcile us.

00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.360
 How does He do it?

00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:42.620
 Verse 14,

00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.659
 the second part here,

00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:45.379
 it says He tears down walls.

00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:46.940
 He tore down

00:16:46.940 --> 00:16:47.940
 the dividing wall

00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:49.100
 of hostility.

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:50.960
 This is what man does.

00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:52.539
 Man builds up walls.

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:53.960
 We build up walls

00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:55.060
 around our own hearts,

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:55.500
 right?

00:16:55.700 --> 00:16:57.060
 And we don't let people in.

00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:59.000
 We build up walls

00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.080
 between countries,

00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:01.600
 and we don't let people in.

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:03.279
 We build up walls

00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.099
 around ourselves

00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:04.759
 and our houses,

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:06.079
 and we don't let people in.

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:07.940
 We build up privacy fences.

00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:09.279
 We put up walls

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.200
 everywhere we go.

00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:10.680
 Why?

00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:11.980
 Because we don't trust people.

00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:14.299
 Sometimes,

00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:14.980
 a lot of times,

00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:15.720
 with good reason.

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.039
 Right?

00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:20.539
 But God is there

00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:23.080
 to tear down walls.

00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:24.600
 He's not saying

00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:25.380
 you need to go home

00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:26.340
 and tear down your fence

00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:27.460
 and open the door

00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:27.960
 to your house

00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:28.279
 and say,

00:17:28.320 --> 00:17:29.120
 everybody come on in.

00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:29.660
 That's a good way

00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:30.560
 to lose all your stuff

00:17:30.560 --> 00:17:31.720
 and maybe worse.

00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.380
 But,

00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:35.259
 hey,

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.560
 Floyd,

00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:37.120
 I'm going to switch

00:17:37.120 --> 00:17:37.700
 to this handheld.

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:39.500
 Sorry, man.

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:45.180
 This thing's not staying put.

00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.220
 Check, check.

00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:50.620
 Y'all hear me?

00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.039
 There we go.

00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:51.420
 All right,

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:51.940
 this will work.

00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:52.960
 This will work a lot better.

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.019
 So,

00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:57.080
 God

00:17:57.080 --> 00:18:00.060
 tears down those walls

00:18:00.060 --> 00:18:00.600
 that we build.

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.220
 He did it with sin.

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.460
 He tore down

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.180
 the wall

00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:04.960
 through his death

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.580
 on the cross.

00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:06.080
 Now,

00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:06.799
 he didn't just go

00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.119
 and say,

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:07.899
 sin's okay.

00:18:08.399 --> 00:18:09.579
 The things you have done

00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:10.399
 are okay now.

00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:11.899
 I'm changing the rules

00:18:11.899 --> 00:18:12.680
 and you're no longer

00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:13.119
 in trouble.

00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.059
 That's not what he did.

00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:15.859
 Sin is wicked.

00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:17.079
 Sin is terrible.

00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.319
 And something had

00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.159
 to be done about it.

00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:19.919
 A punishment

00:18:19.919 --> 00:18:21.019
 had to be made.

00:18:21.379 --> 00:18:21.960
 A sacrifice

00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:22.740
 had to be made.

00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:24.319
 Jesus made that sacrifice.

00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:25.639
 He took the punishment.

00:18:25.899 --> 00:18:26.240
 So,

00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:26.919
 then he said,

00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:27.480
 I can tear down

00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.019
 the wall now.

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.359
 So,

00:18:29.419 --> 00:18:30.539
 now you can get

00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:31.220
 to God

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:32.399
 because of me.

00:18:33.280 --> 00:18:34.160
 Jesus abolishes

00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:34.800
 legalism.

00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:35.920
 Verse 15,

00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:37.540
 he made of no effect

00:18:37.540 --> 00:18:38.340
 the law

00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.840
 consisting of commands

00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:40.940
 and expressed

00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:42.280
 in regulations.

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.440
 You understand

00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:43.960
 what he's talking

00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.420
 about there?

00:18:44.860 --> 00:18:45.340
 All those

00:18:45.340 --> 00:18:46.640
 Old Testament commands,

00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:47.600
 many of which

00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:48.680
 God gave to

00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.800
 humanity himself.

00:18:50.120 --> 00:18:50.900
 He gave them

00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:51.759
 to his people

00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:55.080
 and established them

00:18:55.080 --> 00:18:56.820
 and then Jesus

00:18:56.820 --> 00:18:58.220
 abolished

00:18:58.220 --> 00:18:59.300
 the legalism.

00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:00.880
 That's what was needed

00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:02.360
 for that time

00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:04.699
 to show us

00:19:04.699 --> 00:19:05.979
 how freedom

00:19:05.979 --> 00:19:06.979
 in Christ

00:19:06.979 --> 00:19:08.199
 would look.

00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:11.039
 How exciting

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.919
 and wonderful

00:19:11.919 --> 00:19:13.359
 it would be

00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:15.439
 when grace

00:19:15.439 --> 00:19:16.219
 replaced

00:19:16.219 --> 00:19:16.919
 the law.

00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:18.799
 You and I

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:20.959
 cannot exist

00:19:20.959 --> 00:19:22.019
 by the law.

00:19:22.859 --> 00:19:23.659
 You and I

00:19:23.659 --> 00:19:24.659
 can't keep the law.

00:19:25.159 --> 00:19:26.079
 We can't follow it.

00:19:27.179 --> 00:19:27.579
 So,

00:19:27.639 --> 00:19:28.179
 I don't know about you

00:19:28.179 --> 00:19:29.179
 but I'm a pretty good person.

00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:30.319
 You're not good enough.

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:33.039
 If you fail the point,

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:34.279
 if you fail the law

00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:35.099
 in one point,

00:19:35.419 --> 00:19:36.339
 you've failed it all.

00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:37.879
 If you've broken

00:19:37.879 --> 00:19:38.279
 the law

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.159
 in one area,

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.960
 you've broken it all.

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.279
 You're guilty

00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:43.619
 and you deserve

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.019
 punishment

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.599
 for your sin.

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.559
 So,

00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:47.319
 Jesus said,

00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:48.460
 that's not the way

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:48.960
 to God

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:50.539
 and we don't need

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.120
 to operate

00:19:51.120 --> 00:19:51.799
 that way

00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:52.740
 as people

00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.180
 of God.

00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:54.980
 Sometimes,

00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:55.740
 Christians have done

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.539
 a poor job of that.

00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:57.840
 Sometimes,

00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:58.860
 we've carried on

00:19:58.860 --> 00:20:00.059
 legalistic practices

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.880
 as though

00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.600
 the law

00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:02.120
 was still

00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:02.519
 the way

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.019
 to God.

00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:04.680
 Sometimes,

00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.440
 we'll preach

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:05.960
 grace.

00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:06.940
 We'll preach

00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:08.220
 salvation by grace

00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:08.740
 through faith

00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:09.259
 in Jesus

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:10.240
 and yet,

00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.500
 we don't actually

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.500
 live that way

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:15.240
 where that grace

00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:15.940
 speaks louder

00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.700
 than the laws

00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:18.600
 we inflict upon people.

00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:20.360
 So,

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.059
 we must be

00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:21.840
 very careful

00:20:21.840 --> 00:20:22.539
 as a church,

00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.660
 as the people of God,

00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:24.580
 to be people

00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:25.600
 of grace,

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:29.120
 people of love,

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:30.259
 people of compassion,

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.319
 people of mercy

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:33.080
 because that's

00:20:33.080 --> 00:20:34.700
 how God treats us.

00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.660
 I grew up

00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:37.360
 around a lot

00:20:37.360 --> 00:20:37.759
 of churches

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.740
 in kind of a movement

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:41.539
 that went really far

00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.519
 into legalism.

00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:43.819
 You know,

00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.640
 there was only

00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.480
 one version

00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:45.799
 of the Bible

00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.319
 you could use.

00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:46.700
 There was only

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.579
 one type of music

00:20:47.579 --> 00:20:48.319
 that was acceptable.

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:48.879
 There was only

00:20:48.879 --> 00:20:50.419
 one type of dress

00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:51.179
 that was acceptable.

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:51.639
 You know,

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.619
 you take it

00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:53.279
 as far as you want

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:53.679
 to go,

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.139
 but we kept

00:20:55.139 --> 00:20:56.500
 moving the needle

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.759
 on what was

00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.259
 acceptable

00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:59.379
 in God's eyes

00:20:59.379 --> 00:21:00.579
 regardless of

00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.099
 whether God

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:01.639
 actually said

00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:02.240
 anything about it

00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:02.639
 in the Bible.

00:21:03.639 --> 00:21:04.460
 And that's not

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:04.919
 the Jesus

00:21:04.919 --> 00:21:06.500
 that came

00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:06.960
 to seek

00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.319
 and save

00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:07.819
 the lost.

00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:08.639
 That's not

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.099
 the Jesus

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:10.339
 that abolished

00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:11.079
 legalism.

00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:12.720
 Instead,

00:21:13.159 --> 00:21:13.639
 that Jesus

00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:14.379
 preached peace.

00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:15.439
 Preached peace.

00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.580
 That first part

00:21:16.580 --> 00:21:17.420
 of verse 14.

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.259
 He is

00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.160
 our peace.

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:19.660
 And then jump

00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.700
 down to verse 17.

00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:21.860
 He came

00:21:21.860 --> 00:21:22.519
 and proclaimed

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.460
 the good news

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.320
 of peace

00:21:24.320 --> 00:21:25.180
 to you

00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.200
 who were far away

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.240
 and peace

00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:27.980
 to those

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.480
 who were near.

00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:29.680
 That's what

00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.420
 Jesus does.

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.440
 He came

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.240
 to preach peace.

00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:32.840
 We're coming

00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:33.380
 into the Christmas

00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:33.820
 season.

00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:34.420
 We're going

00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.100
 to sing songs

00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:35.620
 all about

00:21:35.620 --> 00:21:36.320
 the Prince

00:21:36.320 --> 00:21:36.779
 of Peace,

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.400
 about how

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:38.140
 Jesus came

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:39.279
 to bring peace

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.759
 on earth.

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:41.440
 Jesus

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.519
 didn't come

00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:44.859
 just to bring

00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.980
 peace on earth.

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.079
 The truth is

00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.900
 there's never

00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.740
 ultimately going

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.420
 to be peace

00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:49.859
 on earth.

00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:51.839
 Jesus came

00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.720
 to bring peace

00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:54.240
 to the earth

00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:56.220
 through him.

00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:57.940
 He is the only

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:59.140
 way to have

00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.119
 peace on this

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:00.420
 earth.

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.779
 But we're not

00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.180
 going to stay

00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:02.500
 here.

00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:03.559
 Eventually,

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:03.940
 we're going

00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.460
 to get to go

00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.579
 up and be

00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:05.940
 with him

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.519
 forever in

00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:06.720
 heaven.

00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.519
 So yes,

00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.000
 he said,

00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:09.539
 I came

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.480
 to bring

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.039
 peace on

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.380
 earth and

00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:11.759
 have good

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.279
 will toward

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:12.579
 men,

00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.220
 but that's

00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.960
 only found

00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:14.799
 in him.

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.160
 And someday,

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.620
 this earth

00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:18.039
 will be

00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.460
 destroyed.

00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:20.000
 We read

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.299
 about it

00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:20.480
 in the book

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.059
 of Revelation.

00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.079
 Lanny's

00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.559
 teaching about

00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:24.019
 it on Wednesday

00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:24.559
 nights in the

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.160
 book of Revelation,

00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:25.839
 but someday,

00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:26.500
 this earth's

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:26.799
 going to go

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.079
 away.

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:28.900
 God's going

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:29.200
 to start

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.539
 over with

00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:29.740
 a new

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.059
 heaven and

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.259
 a new

00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:30.600
 earth,

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.819
 and there

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.140
 will be

00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:32.500
 peace.

00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:33.799
 But until

00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.180
 then,

00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:35.360
 he is the

00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:35.700
 Prince of

00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.100
 Peace for

00:22:36.100 --> 00:22:36.380
 us.

00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:37.260
 He preaches

00:22:37.260 --> 00:22:37.820
 the gospel

00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:38.260
 of peace,

00:22:38.360 --> 00:22:38.840
 and he's

00:22:38.840 --> 00:22:39.360
 given us

00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:39.900
 that gospel

00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.340
 of peace

00:22:40.340 --> 00:22:41.180
 to go

00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:41.580
 preach to

00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:41.900
 others.

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:42.520
 Isn't it

00:22:42.520 --> 00:22:42.860
 good that

00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:43.120
 we have

00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:43.520
 a message

00:22:43.520 --> 00:22:44.060
 of peace?

00:22:45.340 --> 00:22:45.700
 You know,

00:22:46.340 --> 00:22:47.040
 we're not

00:22:47.040 --> 00:22:47.760
 the terrorists

00:22:47.760 --> 00:22:48.240
 who are going

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:48.720
 around trying

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.140
 to recruit

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.680
 people to

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.120
 a message

00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:50.540
 of war

00:22:50.540 --> 00:22:51.000
 and hate.

00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:52.520
 We have

00:22:52.520 --> 00:22:52.920
 a message

00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:53.540
 of peace.

00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.120
 We have

00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:54.480
 a message

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.100
 of love.

00:22:55.300 --> 00:22:55.620
 We have

00:22:55.620 --> 00:22:55.980
 a message

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.500
 of grace.

00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.040
 That's what

00:22:57.040 --> 00:22:57.360
 we get

00:22:57.360 --> 00:22:57.840
 to go tell

00:22:57.840 --> 00:22:58.480
 people about.

00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.420
 The good

00:22:59.420 --> 00:22:59.820
 news.

00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.440
 That's why

00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:00.800
 we call

00:23:00.800 --> 00:23:01.400
 it the gospel.

00:23:01.760 --> 00:23:02.060
 That's why

00:23:02.060 --> 00:23:02.340
 we call

00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:02.760
 it the good

00:23:02.760 --> 00:23:03.100
 news.

00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:03.780
 It's not

00:23:03.780 --> 00:23:04.320
 bad news

00:23:04.320 --> 00:23:04.620
 you're going

00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:08.380
 to be

00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:10.440
 a way

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:12.940
 out of it.

00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:14.160
 You're

00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:14.600
 just giving

00:23:14.600 --> 00:23:15.320
 them a way

00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:15.760
 out of it.

00:23:15.860 --> 00:23:16.200
 You're giving

00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:16.540
 them a way

00:23:16.540 --> 00:23:17.100
 of escape.

00:23:17.580 --> 00:23:17.980
 You're giving

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.340
 them a way

00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:19.120
 of deliverance

00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:19.960
 and freedom.

00:23:21.060 --> 00:23:21.460
 And Jesus

00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.200
 gives access

00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:22.800
 to God.

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:23.460
 Verse 18,

00:23:24.100 --> 00:23:24.660
 for through

00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:25.840
 him we

00:23:25.840 --> 00:23:26.380
 both,

00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:27.940
 Israelites,

00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:29.840
 Gentiles,

00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.500
 the people

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:31.940
 that God

00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.620
 chose and

00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:33.440
 all the rest

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:33.940
 of us,

00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:35.220
 we both

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:36.140
 have access

00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:36.759
 in one

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.160
 spirit,

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:37.560
 the Holy

00:23:37.560 --> 00:23:37.940
 Spirit,

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.060
 to the

00:23:39.060 --> 00:23:39.400
 Father.

00:23:40.780 --> 00:23:41.140
 So,

00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:42.500
 he gives

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.300
 access to

00:23:43.300 --> 00:23:43.580
 God.

00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:44.520
 Now,

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.560
 there we

00:23:46.560 --> 00:23:46.740
 go.

00:23:47.560 --> 00:23:47.840
 I want

00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.360
 to read

00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:48.680
 this to

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.040
 you guys.

00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:49.400
 James

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:49.880
 Denny was

00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.360
 a Scottish

00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:51.020
 theologian.

00:23:52.320 --> 00:23:52.820
 He says,

00:23:53.020 --> 00:23:53.960
 the cross,

00:23:54.280 --> 00:23:54.660
 the cross

00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.100
 of Jesus

00:23:55.100 --> 00:23:55.940
 is the

00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.180
 meeting

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:56.900
 place not

00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.380
 only of

00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:57.940
 God and

00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:58.259
 man,

00:23:58.520 --> 00:23:58.840
 but of

00:23:58.840 --> 00:23:59.580
 all races,

00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.740
 all conditions

00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.259
 of men

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.680
 with each

00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:01.900
 other.

00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:02.480
 There's

00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:02.700
 neither

00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:03.340
 Greek nor

00:24:03.340 --> 00:24:03.700
 Jew,

00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:04.580
 male nor

00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:05.080
 female,

00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:05.960
 bond,

00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:06.419
 meaning

00:24:06.419 --> 00:24:06.939
 slaves,

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:07.559
 nor free.

00:24:07.939 --> 00:24:08.539
 The cross

00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.019
 is the

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.799
 basis of

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.480
 a universal

00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.720
 religion and

00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.519
 has in it

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.220
 the hope

00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.539
 of a universal

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.659
 peace.

00:24:16.199 --> 00:24:16.679
 You understand

00:24:16.679 --> 00:24:16.980
 that?

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:19.059
 Of all the

00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:20.059
 Christian truths

00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:20.899
 which are

00:24:20.899 --> 00:24:21.699
 confessed in

00:24:21.699 --> 00:24:22.199
 words,

00:24:22.939 --> 00:24:24.139
 this is the

00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:24.439
 one.

00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:26.000
 The one that

00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.019
 the cross is

00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:27.679
 the basis of

00:24:27.679 --> 00:24:28.199
 a universal

00:24:28.199 --> 00:24:29.299
 religion has

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.099
 this idea of

00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:30.659
 the universal

00:24:30.659 --> 00:24:31.199
 peace.

00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.500
 this is the

00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.319
 Christian truth

00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:34.240
 which is most

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.259
 outrageously

00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:36.279
 denied

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:37.200
 indeed.

00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:38.940
 There's not a

00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.600
 Christian church

00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:40.180
 in the world

00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:41.640
 which believes

00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:43.380
 heartily in

00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:44.220
 the atonement.

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.000
 You understand

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.380
 we're saying

00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.120
 the atonement,

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.660
 Jesus' death

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.400
 on the cross

00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:49.980
 which took

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.460
 the place

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.140
 for us

00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:53.440
 in that

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.220
 atonement

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:54.759
 as the

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.380
 extinction

00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:56.580
 of privilege

00:24:56.580 --> 00:24:57.420
 and the

00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.120
 leveling up

00:24:58.120 --> 00:24:58.660
 of all

00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.000
 men

00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.640
 to the

00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.019
 same

00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.740
 possibility

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.440
 of life

00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.080
 in Christ

00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:02.680
 to the

00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.060
 same

00:25:03.060 --> 00:25:03.620
 calling

00:25:03.620 --> 00:25:04.180
 to be

00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:04.640
 saints.

00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:05.640
 The spirit

00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:06.140
 of privilege

00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:06.680
 if you're not

00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.320
 tracking with me

00:25:07.320 --> 00:25:07.560
 yet,

00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:08.340
 watch this

00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:08.980
 last sentence.

00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:09.840
 The spirit

00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:10.700
 of privilege

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.980
 in spite

00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.500
 of the

00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:12.920
 cross

00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:14.620
 is obstinately

00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:15.040
 rooted

00:25:15.040 --> 00:25:15.640
 everywhere

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:17.259
 even among

00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:17.940
 Christians.

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.360
 It's calling

00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:19.920
 us out a little

00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.200
 bit.

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:20.880
 Okay?

00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:22.200
 You understand

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:22.519
 what he's

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:22.800
 saying?

00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:24.759
 We have

00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.640
 this idea

00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:27.680
 of privilege

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.320
 privilege

00:25:28.320 --> 00:25:28.900
 just like

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.400
 the Jews

00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:29.799
 had

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.460
 when they

00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:30.779
 were the

00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.519
 circumcised

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:31.840
 and they're

00:25:31.840 --> 00:25:32.279
 looking down

00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.680
 on everybody

00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:33.140
 who's not

00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:33.960
 circumcised.

00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:35.000
 Paul deals

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.400
 with it

00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:36.259
 all throughout

00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:37.240
 the New Testament

00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:37.860
 letters to

00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:38.360
 those early

00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:38.740
 churches.

00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:41.100
 You and I

00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:41.980
 have the same

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.860
 spirit of

00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:43.340
 privilege

00:25:43.340 --> 00:25:44.299
 that puts

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.720
 us up

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.360
 above everybody

00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:46.000
 else and looks

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.640
 down our noses

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.000
 at everybody

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.360
 else.

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:48.779
 Why?

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:50.060
 Because we

00:25:50.060 --> 00:25:50.799
 draw dividing

00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.220
 lines.

00:25:51.640 --> 00:25:52.220
 It's what we

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.500
 do.

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:54.000
 We love our

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.580
 rivalries.

00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:56.420
 We love our

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.200
 this is our

00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:57.620
 tribe,

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.200
 this is our

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.759
 crowd and

00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.240
 you can't

00:25:59.240 --> 00:25:59.580
 sit with

00:25:59.580 --> 00:25:59.920
 us.

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.400
 That's what

00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:02.980
 we do.

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.539
 And God

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.539
 is God

00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.100
 continually

00:26:06.100 --> 00:26:06.860
 having to

00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:07.519
 remind us

00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.440
 that that's

00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:08.840
 not who

00:26:08.840 --> 00:26:09.400
 he is.

00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:10.440
 He tears

00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.000
 down those

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.299
 walls.

00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:12.220
 He blurs

00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:12.900
 those dividing

00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.259
 lines.

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.140
 And so it's

00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:14.759
 absolutely

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:16.660
 essential for

00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:17.100
 the people

00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:18.799
 of God to

00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.960
 be reconciled

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:21.539
 to God and

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.220
 to one another.

00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:22.940
 And that's

00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:23.360
 what we come

00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:23.840
 to on the

00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:24.560
 last point

00:26:24.560 --> 00:26:24.779
 here,

00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.259
 unified.

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.680
 What Jesus

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.560
 saved us to

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:27.940
 become.

00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:29.419
 We are to

00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:30.399
 become unified

00:26:30.399 --> 00:26:31.440
 in him.

00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:33.000
 Because he

00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.579
 tears down

00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.079
 the walls,

00:26:34.179 --> 00:26:34.599
 because he

00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:35.519
 has reconciled

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.200
 us to

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.779
 himself,

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.940
 we now have

00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:38.539
 this common

00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:38.980
 bond,

00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:40.819
 which is more

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.859
 important than

00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:42.659
 any other

00:26:42.659 --> 00:26:44.279
 division that

00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.200
 we find between

00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:45.679
 ourselves.

00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:46.940
 Our common

00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.519
 bond and

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.599
 reconciled with

00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:50.119
 God is what

00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:51.279
 can unify us

00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:52.259
 despite our

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.740
 differences.

00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:52.880
 promises.

00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:53.900
 So,

00:26:54.120 --> 00:26:55.120
 what are we

00:26:55.120 --> 00:26:55.680
 talking about?

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.140
 We're

00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:57.039
 citizens of

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.559
 the same

00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.180
 kingdom.

00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.019
 Citizens of

00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.359
 the same

00:26:59.359 --> 00:26:59.700
 kingdom.

00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.299
 Look at

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:00.940
 verse 19.

00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:02.859
 So then,

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.740
 you are no

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.539
 longer citizens

00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:05.000
 with the

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.319
 saints,

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.220
 but members

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.120
 of God's

00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.500
 household.

00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:08.599
 So,

00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.220
 we live

00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:09.640
 together,

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.140
 okay?

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:10.920
 We live

00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.400
 together in

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:11.799
 the household

00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.319
 of God.

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.220
 Now,

00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:14.579
 sure,

00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.200
 we all have

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.500
 our own

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:15.960
 houses that

00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.500
 we go to.

00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:19.079
 we don't

00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:19.640
 all wake up

00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.000
 in the morning

00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:20.500
 and see each

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:20.880
 other at the

00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:21.519
 breakfast table.

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:24.180
 But we are

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:24.900
 all members

00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:25.819
 of the same

00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.539
 household,

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.380
 and so these

00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:29.599
 truths should

00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.480
 bind us

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.559
 together because

00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:32.640
 we realize we

00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:33.579
 are citizens of

00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.119
 the same

00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:34.680
 kingdom,

00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.519
 not an

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.200
 earthly kingdom,

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.000
 a heavenly

00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.400
 kingdom.

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.920
 And that is

00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.660
 far more

00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:41.500
 important than

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:41.960
 the earthly

00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:42.359
 kingdom.

00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:46.679
 today,

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.039
 we have

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.559
 people that

00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.899
 went and

00:27:48.899 --> 00:27:49.579
 literally paid

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.319
 the ultimate

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.299
 sacrifice to

00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:52.159
 keep us free

00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:52.519
 here in

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:52.839
 America.

00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:55.219
 But you

00:27:55.219 --> 00:27:55.559
 know what the

00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:56.219
 ultimate example

00:27:56.219 --> 00:27:56.879
 of that is?

00:27:57.959 --> 00:27:59.000
 Jesus paid the

00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.819
 ultimate sacrifice

00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:01.939
 to give us

00:28:01.939 --> 00:28:03.399
 freedom that we

00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:03.859
 could never

00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:05.299
 achieve and no

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.019
 one else could

00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.740
 ever find for

00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.039
 us.

00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.459
 No one else

00:28:08.459 --> 00:28:09.059
 could ever pay

00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.599
 that penalty.

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.619
 No one else

00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.479
 could ever make

00:28:11.479 --> 00:28:12.299
 that level of

00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.000
 sacrifice for

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.619
 us, but

00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:14.579
 Jesus made

00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:14.819
 it.

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.159
 That is what

00:28:17.159 --> 00:28:17.720
 gives us

00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:19.079
 freedom at the

00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:19.940
 spiritual level

00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:21.319
 in the heavenly

00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.700
 kingdom, not

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.200
 this earthly

00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:23.519
 kingdom.

00:28:23.639 --> 00:28:23.940
 So we're

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:25.019
 citizens of

00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.500
 the same

00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:25.879
 kingdom.

00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.500
 Philippians

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.119
 chapter 3

00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.659
 and verse 20

00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:28.200
 talks about

00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:28.460
 that.

00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:28.899
 Our

00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.500
 citizenship,

00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:30.139
 lest we

00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:31.259
 forget, is

00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:31.859
 in heaven.

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:32.859
 And we

00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.839
 eagerly wait

00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.500
 for a savior

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.940
 from there,

00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:35.299
 the Lord

00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:36.039
 Jesus Christ.

00:28:36.659 --> 00:28:37.180
 You know, I

00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:37.980
 fly my flag on

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.579
 4th of July.

00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:39.440
 I'm proud to be

00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:40.079
 an American, and

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.619
 I got to see

00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:41.159
 Lee Greenwood

00:28:41.159 --> 00:28:42.079
 seen that live

00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.519
 at a Dallas

00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:43.199
 Cowboys game, and

00:28:43.199 --> 00:28:43.720
 that was so

00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.159
 much fun.

00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:45.539
 Y'all ever

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.259
 heard Lee Greenwood

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:46.859
 sing proud to be

00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:47.220
 an American?

00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.379
 All right, I'm

00:28:48.379 --> 00:28:48.980
 just making sure

00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.460
 you're looking at

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:49.859
 me like I don't

00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:50.139
 know what you're

00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:50.480
 talking about.

00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.539
 So I love it.

00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.819
 I'm patriotic.

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:55.259
 Thank God every

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.059
 day that I got to

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.839
 be born in

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.240
 America.

00:28:58.179 --> 00:28:58.720
 There are people

00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.359
 who might walk

00:28:59.359 --> 00:28:59.960
 into our church

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.699
 that didn't get to

00:29:00.699 --> 00:29:01.179
 be born in

00:29:01.179 --> 00:29:02.679
 America, and they

00:29:02.679 --> 00:29:03.500
 don't have that

00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.859
 bond with us.

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.000
 But you know what

00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.960
 bond we do have?

00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:07.519
 God's love.

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:09.079
 Our citizenship is

00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:09.519
 in the same

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:09.840
 kingdom.

00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:12.039
 Our citizenship is

00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:12.420
 in heaven.

00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:14.680
 So we thank God

00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.660
 for our earthly

00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.900
 citizenship, and we

00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.779
 try to be as good

00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.660
 a citizens as we

00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.920
 can in our earthly

00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:22.980
 countries, remembering

00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:24.039
 that our real

00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:25.360
 citizenship is in

00:29:25.360 --> 00:29:25.620
 heaven.

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.980
 And someday, when

00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:29.319
 earthly nations will

00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:31.500
 have passed, God

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.279
 will still remain.

00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:34.059
 Heaven will still

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.380
 remain.

00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:36.060
 And our citizenship

00:29:36.060 --> 00:29:36.860
 will be there.

00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.100
 And so we thank

00:29:38.100 --> 00:29:38.660
 him for that.

00:29:39.260 --> 00:29:40.200
 2 Timothy 1 and

00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:41.260
 verse 9, he has

00:29:41.260 --> 00:29:41.920
 saved us.

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.940
 He's called us with

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:44.400
 a holy calling, not

00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:45.200
 according to our

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.580
 works, but according

00:29:46.580 --> 00:29:47.840
 to his own purpose

00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:49.240
 and grace, which was

00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.580
 given to us in Christ

00:29:50.580 --> 00:29:52.500
 Jesus before time

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.140
 began.

00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:56.540
 He's called us to a

00:29:56.540 --> 00:29:57.680
 higher calling, a

00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.340
 higher plane.

00:29:59.100 --> 00:30:00.320
 He's got his own

00:30:00.320 --> 00:30:02.240
 purpose for us, and

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:03.220
 we're members of the

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.200
 same family.

00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:05.779
 Verse 19, we saw

00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.059
 that.

00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:07.019
 We're no longer

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.940
 foreigners and

00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.360
 strangers.

00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.900
 We're members of

00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:11.039
 God's household.

00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:12.720
 Now, what is

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.380
 something that is

00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:14.319
 always true about

00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:14.759
 family?

00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:18.500
 Y'all start throwing

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.220
 some things at me.

00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:21.400
 What's that?

00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:23.519
 Always get along, he

00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.500
 says tongue-in-cheek,

00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:27.660
 sarcastically, and

00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:28.600
 immediately his kids

00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:29.319
 say no.

00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:31.680
 That's funny.

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:33.019
 No, families don't

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:33.900
 always get along, do

00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:34.160
 they.

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.080
 That's right.

00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:37.640
 They're there for

00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.060
 each other.

00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:40.019
 Families can feud

00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:42.320
 within themselves, but

00:30:42.320 --> 00:30:43.259
 they sure will unite

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.100
 against anybody else

00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:44.920
 trying to attack them,

00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:45.160
 right?

00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:47.240
 That's my brother to

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:47.640
 fight with.

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.460
 You can't fight with

00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:48.680
 him.

00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:52.519
 We are members of the

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.300
 same family.

00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:54.200
 I'm trying to teach

00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:55.220
 Austin a bow right now,

00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:55.920
 and they're home sick,

00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:57.519
 so I'm not going to, I

00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:58.420
 can pick on them, and

00:30:58.420 --> 00:30:59.380
 you know, it's fine.

00:30:59.800 --> 00:31:01.760
 But I'm trying to teach

00:31:01.760 --> 00:31:03.120
 them right now, you

00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:04.140
 guys are brothers, you're

00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:05.460
 two years apart, you've

00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:06.540
 got to have each other's

00:31:06.540 --> 00:31:06.880
 backs.

00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:08.480
 You've got to have each

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.080
 other's backs.

00:31:09.600 --> 00:31:10.660
 My brother was six years

00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:12.020
 older than I am, well,

00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:12.700
 still is.

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:17.040
 He always had my back, and

00:31:17.040 --> 00:31:18.100
 I always had his back.

00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:20.560
 And that was just, you

00:31:20.560 --> 00:31:21.260
 know, we had that

00:31:21.260 --> 00:31:21.800
 relationship.

00:31:22.320 --> 00:31:23.120
 And I want my kids to

00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:23.820
 have the same thing.

00:31:24.179 --> 00:31:25.779
 And the truth is, you

00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:26.519
 and I should have the

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.220
 same thing with each

00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:27.419
 other.

00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:28.619
 We should have each

00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:29.159
 other's backs.

00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:30.579
 We should pray for each

00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:30.779
 other.

00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:32.980
 We should not be out

00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:33.819
 there to undermine each

00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:33.960
 other.

00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:34.679
 Yes, thank you.

00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.200
 God bless you.

00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:36.460
 I know.

00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:39.200
 It's, I had a cold for

00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.000
 like a week, and now

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:41.019
 this cough just won't go

00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.299
 away.

00:31:43.899 --> 00:31:44.579
 Pardon me for a

00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:44.740
 second.

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.500
 Don't look at me.

00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:50.299
 I feel self-conscious.

00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:56.960
 All right.

00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.000
 Here we go.

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.659
 Thank you.

00:31:59.220 --> 00:31:59.639
 I'm going to wet the

00:31:59.639 --> 00:31:59.819
 whistle.

00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:02.559
 But we are members of

00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:03.259
 the same family.

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:03.899
 We've got to remember

00:32:03.899 --> 00:32:04.220
 that.

00:32:04.419 --> 00:32:06.200
 And so we must love each

00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:07.319
 other like family.

00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.819
 Understand there's going

00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.740
 to be disagreements.

00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:11.839
 We're going to feud

00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:12.519
 sometimes.

00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:14.519
 But don't let it get to

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.440
 the point of breaking up

00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:15.879
 the family.

00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:16.599
 You understand?

00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:18.200
 At some point,

00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.180
 somebody's got to humble

00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:20.119
 themselves and go and say,

00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:20.559
 you know what?

00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.119
 I was wrong.

00:32:21.459 --> 00:32:23.259
 I got to make this right.

00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:25.019
 I have to do that.

00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:26.619
 I've had to do that a

00:32:26.619 --> 00:32:27.439
 couple times in the last

00:32:27.439 --> 00:32:27.899
 few weeks.

00:32:29.699 --> 00:32:30.399
 It happens.

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.279
 I got to do that with my

00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:31.759
 own family.

00:32:32.159 --> 00:32:32.859
 I got to do that with

00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:33.319
 this family.

00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:34.819
 We've got to do that

00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:35.439
 with one another.

00:32:36.879 --> 00:32:38.559
 God's household is the

00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.000
 church.

00:32:39.239 --> 00:32:40.559
 1 Timothy 3 reminds us of

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:40.779
 this.

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:42.039
 God's household is the

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:43.539
 church of the living God,

00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:44.859
 the pillar and foundation

00:32:44.859 --> 00:32:45.699
 of the truth.

00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:46.719
 You understand that last

00:32:46.719 --> 00:32:47.079
 part there?

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.359
 The pillar and foundation

00:32:48.359 --> 00:32:48.979
 of the truth?

00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:50.500
 It means the church is

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.180
 really important.

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.240
 The church is essential

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:53.940
 to the community.

00:32:55.120 --> 00:32:56.940
 If we don't have a strong

00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:58.200
 church in the community,

00:32:58.860 --> 00:33:00.319
 then the community will

00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:02.299
 suffer because the pillar

00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:03.400
 and foundation of the

00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:04.400
 truth is crumbling.

00:33:05.620 --> 00:33:07.960
 So we've got to be a

00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:10.099
 strong pillar that can't

00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:10.559
 be broken.

00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:12.339
 We've got to have a strong

00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:14.039
 foundation that can't be

00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:16.779
 shaken of the truth.

00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:18.099
 Who's the truth?

00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.579
 Who's the truth?

00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.039
 Jesus.

00:33:22.379 --> 00:33:23.759
 He said, I am the way, the

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:25.240
 truth, and the life, right?

00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:28.680
 So we are the expression of

00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:29.980
 Jesus on earth.

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.480
 Again, that's a terrifying

00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:32.559
 thought, right?

00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:35.440
 If you and I are the ones who

00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:36.720
 are supposed to express Jesus

00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:38.759
 on the earth, we do that so

00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:39.660
 poorly sometimes.

00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:41.759
 It's no wonder the world around

00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:43.519
 us is going to hell in a

00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:44.559
 handbasket, so to speak.

00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:48.059
 But when we are a strong

00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:49.619
 pillar and foundation as the

00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:51.279
 church, then the truth is

00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:52.779
 able to go out and be

00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:54.059
 received and make a

00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:55.379
 difference and change lives.

00:33:55.919 --> 00:33:57.679
 So we must remember that we

00:33:57.679 --> 00:33:58.859
 are part of the same family,

00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:01.039
 part of God's household.

00:34:01.639 --> 00:34:02.700
 That's our church.

00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:06.059
 Romans 12, verse 5.

00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:08.440
 We who are many are one body

00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.739
 in Christ and individually

00:34:09.739 --> 00:34:12.219
 members of one another.

00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:14.399
 It doesn't just say that we're

00:34:14.399 --> 00:34:15.679
 members of God's body.

00:34:15.779 --> 00:34:17.480
 It says we're members of one

00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:18.139
 another.

00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:20.379
 Man, God just takes it a step

00:34:20.379 --> 00:34:20.719
 further.

00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:22.779
 He says you've got to get along

00:34:22.779 --> 00:34:24.859
 because you are members of one

00:34:24.859 --> 00:34:25.259
 another.

00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:28.879
 If there is strife within the

00:34:28.879 --> 00:34:30.199
 body where the members are

00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:32.019
 fighting with each other, then

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:33.699
 the whole body suffers.

00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:35.500
 And then the whole community

00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:36.039
 suffers.

00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:37.899
 And then the whole county

00:34:37.899 --> 00:34:38.379
 suffers.

00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:40.139
 And the whole state suffers.

00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:41.339
 And the whole nation suffers.

00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:42.500
 And the whole world suffers.

00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:44.039
 And you start to see why

00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:45.299
 there's so much turmoil and

00:34:45.299 --> 00:34:46.879
 strife because often the

00:34:46.879 --> 00:34:47.879
 church drops the ball.

00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:51.039
 Ultimately, we are the light

00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:52.019
 in the dark world.

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:54.059
 So when the light shines

00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:56.559
 brightly, people are drawn to

00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:56.779
 it.

00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:00.379
 When it's dim or when it's kind

00:35:00.379 --> 00:35:02.519
 of flickering, it's not as

00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:02.879
 effective.

00:35:03.879 --> 00:35:06.940
 And when it turns out, the

00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.819
 community is lost.

00:35:07.820 --> 00:35:10.640
 So we pray that God would not

00:35:10.640 --> 00:35:12.400
 extinguish our light, that we

00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:14.059
 would get along, that we would

00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:15.940
 be members of one another,

00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:18.700
 united as God's household.

00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:20.920
 We are stones in the same

00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:21.300
 temple.

00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:24.080
 Verse 20 through verse 22.

00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:25.720
 Verse 20, we're built on the

00:35:25.720 --> 00:35:27.080
 foundation of the apostles and

00:35:27.080 --> 00:35:28.900
 prophets with Christ Jesus

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:31.120
 himself as the cornerstone.

00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:33.080
 In Christ Jesus, the whole

00:35:33.080 --> 00:35:35.580
 building being put together

00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:38.259
 grows into a holy temple in the

00:35:38.259 --> 00:35:38.519
 Lord.

00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:41.420
 In him, you also are being built

00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:43.599
 together for God's dwelling in

00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:44.059
 the spirit.

00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:46.059
 He's not just working on me.

00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:47.579
 He's working on all of us

00:35:47.579 --> 00:35:48.119
 together.

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.460
 Okay?

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:51.219
 They couldn't have said together

00:35:51.219 --> 00:35:53.099
 more times than they did.

00:35:53.639 --> 00:35:55.039
 It's like every sentence had the

00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:56.000
 word together in it.

00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:58.599
 We are being built together.

00:35:58.779 --> 00:36:01.059
 We're stones in the same temple.

00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:02.639
 So we're supposed to fit.

00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:06.519
 God's building us into what he

00:36:06.519 --> 00:36:08.239
 wants us to be and he's

00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:09.400
 building us together.

00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:11.360
 So we are stones in the same

00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:11.659
 temple.

00:36:11.779 --> 00:36:13.279
 Look at 1 Peter chapter 2

00:36:13.279 --> 00:36:14.179
 verses 4 and 5.

00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:16.539
 As you come to him, Jesus, a

00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.340
 living stone.

00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:19.079
 He is the living stone we're

00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:19.659
 talking about here.

00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:21.940
 There's this typology that we're

00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:22.360
 reading here.

00:36:22.860 --> 00:36:24.460
 Jesus is the living stone

00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:26.299
 rejected by people but chosen

00:36:26.299 --> 00:36:27.259
 and honored by God.

00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:29.340
 Then, verse 5, view yourselves

00:36:29.340 --> 00:36:30.720
 as living stones.

00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:32.980
 We're also living stones like

00:36:32.980 --> 00:36:33.360
 Jesus.

00:36:33.900 --> 00:36:36.460
 A spiritual house are being

00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:38.600
 built to be a holy priesthood.

00:36:39.240 --> 00:36:42.059
 God is building us together into

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:44.800
 this beautiful spiritual house.

00:36:47.300 --> 00:36:48.660
 But we've got to fit together.

00:36:50.059 --> 00:36:50.240
 Okay?

00:36:51.200 --> 00:36:52.860
 If we get all bent out of shape,

00:36:53.019 --> 00:36:54.160
 then the stones don't fit.

00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:56.820
 And the house doesn't get built.

00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:59.300
 So, what's our takeaway?

00:37:00.539 --> 00:37:03.340
 We should daily trade our earthly

00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:05.360
 identities for our heavenly

00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:05.960
 identities.

00:37:06.440 --> 00:37:07.380
 That's our takeaway.

00:37:08.340 --> 00:37:10.519
 Daily trade my earthly identity

00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:12.660
 for my heavenly identity.

00:37:13.019 --> 00:37:14.760
 That is a daily action.

00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:16.720
 It's a daily realization.

00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:19.660
 Adopting my heavenly identity.

00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:20.180
 Why?

00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:21.860
 Why do we have to remind ourselves

00:37:21.860 --> 00:37:22.220
 daily?

00:37:22.420 --> 00:37:24.120
 Because we're trapped in this body.

00:37:24.119 --> 00:37:26.159
 We're trapped in this flesh.

00:37:26.359 --> 00:37:27.859
 We're not going to come by it

00:37:27.859 --> 00:37:28.339
 naturally.

00:37:29.099 --> 00:37:30.679
 You're not going to wake up

00:37:30.679 --> 00:37:32.119
 and be filled with the Spirit.

00:37:32.819 --> 00:37:34.299
 You'll have the Spirit of God

00:37:34.299 --> 00:37:35.759
 if you put your faith in Jesus

00:37:35.759 --> 00:37:37.099
 and are His child.

00:37:37.219 --> 00:37:37.980
 He's there.

00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:41.500
 But you've got to consciously

00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:43.759
 turn to Him

00:37:43.759 --> 00:37:44.539
 and say,

00:37:44.719 --> 00:37:46.659
 I'm taking on my heavenly identity

00:37:46.659 --> 00:37:47.119
 today

00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:50.920
 because the people around me

00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:52.279
 don't need earthly me.

00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:52.880
 Right?

00:37:53.159 --> 00:37:54.460
 They need heavenly me.

00:37:54.980 --> 00:37:56.239
 I can always tell

00:37:56.239 --> 00:37:57.019
 when my family

00:37:57.019 --> 00:37:58.400
 is getting earthly Sam

00:37:58.400 --> 00:37:59.739
 as opposed to heavenly Sam.

00:38:00.299 --> 00:38:01.559
 And they usually suffer

00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:02.619
 a little bit for that.

00:38:03.619 --> 00:38:04.440
 I can always tell

00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:05.359
 when I'm dealing with people

00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:08.279
 in my earthly self

00:38:08.279 --> 00:38:10.159
 as opposed to my heavenly self.

00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.500
 And then I've got to go

00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:12.179
 make that right.

00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.519
 And you've got to do

00:38:14.519 --> 00:38:15.079
 the same thing.

00:38:15.079 --> 00:38:17.239
 So we must daily trade

00:38:17.239 --> 00:38:18.699
 our earthly identities

00:38:18.699 --> 00:38:20.559
 for our heavenly identities.

00:38:21.239 --> 00:38:22.299
 Real quick and we're done.

00:38:26.199 --> 00:38:27.239
 What does this look like?

00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:29.699
 Identity switch.

00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:30.159
 Okay?

00:38:30.819 --> 00:38:31.519
 Identity switch.

00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:31.900
 Here we go.

00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:34.119
 I give up earthly privileges.

00:38:35.019 --> 00:38:37.119
 I give up earthly privileges.

00:38:38.739 --> 00:38:39.539
 That's what that guy

00:38:39.539 --> 00:38:40.119
 was talking about,

00:38:40.179 --> 00:38:40.699
 James Denny,

00:38:40.779 --> 00:38:41.799
 that Scottish theologian.

00:38:41.900 --> 00:38:42.039
 You know,

00:38:42.099 --> 00:38:43.819
 we carry around this idea

00:38:43.819 --> 00:38:44.840
 of privilege with us.

00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:48.179
 And I'm not even referencing

00:38:48.179 --> 00:38:49.440
 the, you know,

00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:49.759
 this,

00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:52.739
 the woke ideology out there

00:38:52.739 --> 00:38:53.679
 of white privilege

00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:54.299
 and, you know,

00:38:54.319 --> 00:38:54.799
 that kind of stuff.

00:38:54.840 --> 00:38:55.699
 That's not what I'm talking about.

00:38:56.139 --> 00:38:56.880
 I'm talking about

00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:57.900
 this Christian privilege

00:38:57.900 --> 00:38:59.179
 that comes into our minds.

00:39:00.139 --> 00:39:01.199
 This Christian privilege

00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:02.279
 of I'm above that.

00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:04.079
 I'm a good person

00:39:04.079 --> 00:39:05.299
 because I go to church.

00:39:06.539 --> 00:39:07.659
 I've been going to church

00:39:07.659 --> 00:39:08.619
 my whole life.

00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:09.719
 I'm a deacon.

00:39:09.719 --> 00:39:12.339
 I give my tithe.

00:39:13.099 --> 00:39:13.279
 You know,

00:39:13.319 --> 00:39:14.000
 we get this idea

00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:15.059
 of earthly privilege

00:39:15.059 --> 00:39:15.679
 in our heads.

00:39:15.879 --> 00:39:16.959
 We've got to get that out

00:39:16.959 --> 00:39:18.480
 and remind ourselves

00:39:18.480 --> 00:39:19.459
 that we are

00:39:19.459 --> 00:39:20.500
 who God says we are.

00:39:20.599 --> 00:39:21.299
 We are wicked,

00:39:21.939 --> 00:39:22.819
 evil sinners

00:39:22.819 --> 00:39:24.559
 on our way to hell.

00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:27.039
 But God came in

00:39:27.039 --> 00:39:28.019
 and rescued us

00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:29.359
 and changed us.

00:39:29.719 --> 00:39:31.339
 And now the only good in us

00:39:31.339 --> 00:39:32.439
 is because of him.

00:39:33.099 --> 00:39:34.159
 So now we are

00:39:34.159 --> 00:39:35.199
 simply stones

00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:36.119
 being built

00:39:36.119 --> 00:39:37.019
 into the building

00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:38.039
 that he wants us to be.

00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:38.960
 We are lights

00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:39.960
 shining in the darkness.

00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:41.440
 We give up our privileges

00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:42.739
 and we take on

00:39:42.739 --> 00:39:43.619
 his responsibility,

00:39:43.860 --> 00:39:46.079
 his mission for us,

00:39:46.119 --> 00:39:47.159
 his purpose for us.

00:39:47.719 --> 00:39:49.559
 I give up earthly preferences.

00:39:50.139 --> 00:39:50.519
 Number two,

00:39:50.599 --> 00:39:52.079
 I give up earthly preferences.

00:39:53.099 --> 00:39:53.300
 Okay?

00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:57.460
 You might feel one way about it.

00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:00.880
 What did we say

00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:01.579
 back in our series

00:40:01.579 --> 00:40:02.159
 on the church?

00:40:02.759 --> 00:40:04.119
 Don't let secondary things

00:40:04.119 --> 00:40:05.139
 become primary.

00:40:05.719 --> 00:40:06.380
 Anybody remember that?

00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:06.659
 Good.

00:40:06.659 --> 00:40:08.579
 Don't let secondary things

00:40:08.579 --> 00:40:09.239
 become primary.

00:40:09.420 --> 00:40:10.659
 We've got to at some point

00:40:10.659 --> 00:40:13.179
 give up our earthly preferences

00:40:13.179 --> 00:40:15.339
 out of preference

00:40:15.339 --> 00:40:16.219
 for others.

00:40:17.179 --> 00:40:18.119
 Say, you know,

00:40:18.420 --> 00:40:20.319
 this is what I would prefer,

00:40:21.319 --> 00:40:23.259
 but that's not

00:40:23.259 --> 00:40:24.159
 what really matters.

00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:25.879
 What really matters

00:40:25.879 --> 00:40:27.319
 is we fit together.

00:40:27.879 --> 00:40:28.719
 We are unified

00:40:28.719 --> 00:40:30.159
 and we can go forward.

00:40:30.579 --> 00:40:31.460
 It doesn't matter

00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:32.099
 if I win.

00:40:32.539 --> 00:40:33.719
 I don't have to win

00:40:33.719 --> 00:40:35.519
 as long as Jesus wins.

00:40:35.519 --> 00:40:37.820
 I give up earthly preferences

00:40:37.820 --> 00:40:38.619
 and then I give up

00:40:38.619 --> 00:40:39.599
 earthly priorities.

00:40:40.340 --> 00:40:41.280
 Your priority

00:40:41.280 --> 00:40:42.320
 about the music

00:40:42.320 --> 00:40:43.019
 might be something.

00:40:43.780 --> 00:40:44.400
 Your priority

00:40:44.400 --> 00:40:45.500
 about how the church looks

00:40:45.500 --> 00:40:46.139
 might be something.

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:47.679
 Your priority

00:40:47.679 --> 00:40:48.739
 about how you spend

00:40:48.739 --> 00:40:49.300
 your time

00:40:49.300 --> 00:40:50.400
 might be one way.

00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:52.039
 Your priority

00:40:52.039 --> 00:40:52.840
 about what you spend

00:40:52.840 --> 00:40:53.440
 your money on

00:40:53.440 --> 00:40:54.300
 might be one way.

00:40:54.860 --> 00:40:55.199
 God,

00:40:55.280 --> 00:40:55.820
 I can tell you,

00:40:55.860 --> 00:40:56.659
 I can promise you,

00:40:56.739 --> 00:40:57.719
 is here to rearrange

00:40:57.719 --> 00:40:58.300
 your priorities.

00:40:59.199 --> 00:41:00.000
 God will do that.

00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:01.199
 The closer you walk

00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:01.639
 with God,

00:41:01.960 --> 00:41:02.539
 he will give you

00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:03.139
 new priorities.

00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:05.840
 And if you give up

00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:07.000
 your earthly identity

00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:07.699
 and you take on

00:41:07.699 --> 00:41:08.579
 your heavenly identity,

00:41:08.920 --> 00:41:09.719
 your priorities

00:41:09.719 --> 00:41:10.539
 will change.

00:41:10.880 --> 00:41:11.059
 Alright?

00:41:11.559 --> 00:41:12.139
 But they'll change

00:41:12.139 --> 00:41:12.559
 for the better.

00:41:12.920 --> 00:41:13.659
 God will make something

00:41:13.659 --> 00:41:14.519
 so much more beautiful

00:41:14.519 --> 00:41:15.199
 out of your life

00:41:15.199 --> 00:41:18.119
 through that reordering

00:41:18.119 --> 00:41:18.779
 of your priorities

00:41:18.779 --> 00:41:19.460
 than you ever could.

00:41:19.759 --> 00:41:20.599
 I can promise that.

00:41:20.679 --> 00:41:21.519
 I can testify that.

00:41:21.619 --> 00:41:22.360
 He's done it in mine.

00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:23.820
 And then I give up

00:41:23.820 --> 00:41:24.880
 earthly passions.

00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:25.900
 I give up

00:41:25.900 --> 00:41:26.579
 earthly passions.

00:41:27.259 --> 00:41:27.920
 You might be

00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:28.960
 passionate about something

00:41:28.960 --> 00:41:30.420
 that God doesn't want

00:41:30.420 --> 00:41:31.300
 you to be passionate about.

00:41:31.300 --> 00:41:34.660
 You might be

00:41:34.660 --> 00:41:35.820
 dominated or controlled

00:41:35.820 --> 00:41:36.600
 by the lusts

00:41:36.600 --> 00:41:37.320
 of your flesh.

00:41:38.140 --> 00:41:38.800
 You might have

00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:40.340
 worldly sinful appetites

00:41:40.340 --> 00:41:41.440
 that are driving you

00:41:41.440 --> 00:41:42.840
 away from God.

00:41:43.039 --> 00:41:43.860
 And that's a constant

00:41:43.860 --> 00:41:44.820
 battle going on

00:41:44.820 --> 00:41:45.640
 between the flesh

00:41:45.640 --> 00:41:46.260
 and the spirit

00:41:46.260 --> 00:41:47.039
 in your life.

00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:48.420
 When you take on

00:41:48.420 --> 00:41:49.460
 your heavenly identity,

00:41:49.820 --> 00:41:50.440
 you give up

00:41:50.440 --> 00:41:51.380
 those earthly passions.

00:41:52.900 --> 00:41:53.120
 Say,

00:41:53.200 --> 00:41:53.360
 God,

00:41:53.420 --> 00:41:54.740
 I love how it makes me feel.

00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:56.280
 I love doing this.

00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:57.620
 It's my go-to.

00:41:57.760 --> 00:41:58.640
 It's my escape.

00:41:58.639 --> 00:42:00.719
 But instead,

00:42:01.559 --> 00:42:02.000
 you're going to have

00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:03.440
 to provide a new escape

00:42:03.440 --> 00:42:03.900
 for me.

00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:04.539
 He will.

00:42:05.379 --> 00:42:06.000
 You're going to have

00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:07.440
 to provide release

00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:08.019
 for me,

00:42:08.400 --> 00:42:09.579
 deliverance for me,

00:42:09.819 --> 00:42:10.759
 freedom for me.

00:42:10.839 --> 00:42:11.259
 He will.

00:42:12.019 --> 00:42:12.539
 He'll give you

00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:13.219
 new passions.

00:42:14.079 --> 00:42:14.639
 You can become

00:42:14.639 --> 00:42:15.319
 passionate about

00:42:15.319 --> 00:42:16.079
 your family.

00:42:16.299 --> 00:42:16.819
 You can become

00:42:16.819 --> 00:42:17.500
 passionate about

00:42:17.500 --> 00:42:18.639
 his will for your life.

00:42:18.699 --> 00:42:19.099
 You can become

00:42:19.099 --> 00:42:19.739
 passionate about

00:42:19.739 --> 00:42:21.000
 the people in your life

00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:21.859
 that don't know Jesus

00:42:21.859 --> 00:42:23.099
 and helping them

00:42:23.099 --> 00:42:24.199
 meet him for the first time.

00:42:24.759 --> 00:42:25.579
 He'll give you

00:42:25.579 --> 00:42:26.539
 new passions.

00:42:26.539 --> 00:42:28.820
 Galatians 3.28.

00:42:29.239 --> 00:42:29.699
 It's printed

00:42:29.699 --> 00:42:30.480
 in your bulletin there.

00:42:30.579 --> 00:42:31.340
 There is no Jew

00:42:31.340 --> 00:42:31.860
 or Greek.

00:42:32.159 --> 00:42:33.139
 There's no slave

00:42:33.139 --> 00:42:33.599
 or free.

00:42:33.860 --> 00:42:34.599
 There's no male

00:42:34.599 --> 00:42:35.179
 and female

00:42:35.179 --> 00:42:36.340
 since you are

00:42:36.340 --> 00:42:37.239
 all one

00:42:37.239 --> 00:42:39.539
 in Christ Jesus.

00:42:40.539 --> 00:42:40.960
 All right?

00:42:42.239 --> 00:42:42.800
 You got that?

00:42:42.900 --> 00:42:43.460
 Did we get it

00:42:43.460 --> 00:42:44.179
 across this morning?

00:42:44.820 --> 00:42:45.759
 That's who we are.

00:42:45.860 --> 00:42:46.619
 We are one

00:42:46.619 --> 00:42:47.719
 in Jesus.

00:42:48.739 --> 00:42:49.579
 That's who God

00:42:49.579 --> 00:42:50.139
 says we are.

00:42:50.199 --> 00:42:50.960
 We sang it earlier.

00:42:51.099 --> 00:42:51.579
 I am

00:42:51.579 --> 00:42:52.800
 who you say I am.

00:42:53.340 --> 00:42:54.460
 Who he says we are

00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:55.320
 is one

00:42:55.320 --> 00:42:56.360
 in Christ Jesus.

00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:57.860
 There's this song

00:42:57.860 --> 00:43:00.659
 that was written

00:43:00.659 --> 00:43:04.039
 by this guy

00:43:04.039 --> 00:43:06.000
 who said his name

00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:07.059
 was John Oxenham.

00:43:07.219 --> 00:43:08.279
 That wasn't his real name

00:43:08.279 --> 00:43:09.340
 but that was the name

00:43:09.340 --> 00:43:10.199
 he wrote music under.

00:43:10.860 --> 00:43:11.500
 And so he says

00:43:11.500 --> 00:43:12.300
 in Christ

00:43:12.300 --> 00:43:13.239
 there is

00:43:13.239 --> 00:43:13.779
 no

00:43:13.779 --> 00:43:14.460
 east

00:43:14.460 --> 00:43:15.579
 or west.

00:43:16.139 --> 00:43:16.539
 It's in our

00:43:16.539 --> 00:43:17.199
 Baptist hymnal.

00:43:18.219 --> 00:43:18.759
 In Christ

00:43:18.759 --> 00:43:19.179
 there is

00:43:19.179 --> 00:43:19.599
 no east

00:43:19.599 --> 00:43:19.940
 or west.

00:43:20.039 --> 00:43:20.519
 If you don't believe me

00:43:20.519 --> 00:43:21.079
 you can pull it out

00:43:21.079 --> 00:43:22.119
 and search in the back

00:43:22.119 --> 00:43:22.599
 it'll be there.

00:43:23.699 --> 00:43:24.259
 In him

00:43:24.259 --> 00:43:25.099
 no south

00:43:25.099 --> 00:43:25.699
 or north.

00:43:26.119 --> 00:43:27.119
 The whole song

00:43:27.119 --> 00:43:27.699
 I encourage you

00:43:27.699 --> 00:43:28.339
 to look at it

00:43:28.339 --> 00:43:29.139
 when you get home

00:43:29.139 --> 00:43:29.460
 tonight

00:43:29.460 --> 00:43:31.119
 it's 12 o'clock

00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:31.480
 we're not going

00:43:31.480 --> 00:43:31.899
 to take time

00:43:31.899 --> 00:43:32.299
 to go through

00:43:32.299 --> 00:43:32.899
 it all right now.

00:43:34.559 --> 00:43:35.159
 But the principle

00:43:35.159 --> 00:43:35.679
 is there

00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:36.199
 in Christ

00:43:36.199 --> 00:43:36.599
 there is

00:43:36.599 --> 00:43:37.059
 no east

00:43:37.059 --> 00:43:37.480
 or west

00:43:37.480 --> 00:43:37.939
 in him

00:43:37.939 --> 00:43:38.639
 no south

00:43:38.639 --> 00:43:39.119
 or north.

00:43:39.759 --> 00:43:40.679
 Man draws

00:43:40.679 --> 00:43:41.539
 these divisions.

00:43:42.159 --> 00:43:42.519
 Man back

00:43:42.519 --> 00:43:43.000
 in the time

00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:43.500
 in the day

00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:44.839
 when this song

00:43:44.839 --> 00:43:45.299
 was written

00:43:45.299 --> 00:43:46.019
 the north

00:43:46.019 --> 00:43:46.480
 and south

00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:46.799
 that was

00:43:46.799 --> 00:43:47.559
 a major division.

00:43:48.519 --> 00:43:48.619
 Right?

00:43:49.719 --> 00:43:50.699
 Man has always

00:43:50.699 --> 00:43:51.559
 throughout time

00:43:51.559 --> 00:43:52.639
 drawn lines

00:43:52.639 --> 00:43:54.039
 drawn dividing lines.

00:43:54.900 --> 00:43:55.819
 God is here

00:43:55.819 --> 00:43:57.839
 to blur those lines.

00:43:58.000 --> 00:43:58.559
 God is here

00:43:58.559 --> 00:43:59.480
 to tear down

00:43:59.480 --> 00:44:00.159
 those walls.

00:44:00.359 --> 00:44:01.679
 We must daily trade

00:44:01.679 --> 00:44:03.599
 our earthly identity

00:44:03.599 --> 00:44:05.179
 and all that goes

00:44:05.179 --> 00:44:05.799
 along with it

00:44:05.799 --> 00:44:06.900
 all that baggage

00:44:06.900 --> 00:44:08.179
 that makes up

00:44:08.179 --> 00:44:09.199
 our earthly identity

00:44:09.199 --> 00:44:10.619
 lay it down

00:44:10.619 --> 00:44:11.559
 and take on

00:44:11.559 --> 00:44:12.400
 our heavenly identity

00:44:12.400 --> 00:44:13.119
 and say God

00:44:13.119 --> 00:44:14.239
 as best I can

00:44:14.239 --> 00:44:14.679
 with the help

00:44:14.679 --> 00:44:15.299
 of your spirit

00:44:15.299 --> 00:44:16.480
 I'm going to be

00:44:16.480 --> 00:44:17.339
 who you say

00:44:17.339 --> 00:44:18.039
 I am today.

00:44:18.179 --> 00:44:18.980
 Would you pray with me?

00:44:18.980 --> 00:44:19.960
 Let's bow our heads.

00:44:20.900 --> 00:44:21.340
 Lord Jesus

00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:22.019
 I thank you

00:44:22.019 --> 00:44:23.159
 for teaching us

00:44:23.159 --> 00:44:23.760
 from your word.

00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:24.460
 I thank you

00:44:24.460 --> 00:44:25.500
 for convicting me

00:44:25.500 --> 00:44:26.179
 for convicting

00:44:26.179 --> 00:44:27.760
 I'm sure many hearts

00:44:27.760 --> 00:44:28.159
 in here

00:44:28.159 --> 00:44:29.079
 by your spirit

00:44:29.079 --> 00:44:31.460
 that we don't always

00:44:31.460 --> 00:44:32.219
 act like who

00:44:32.219 --> 00:44:33.260
 we actually are.

00:44:33.619 --> 00:44:34.579
 We often

00:44:34.579 --> 00:44:36.099
 act out of our

00:44:36.099 --> 00:44:36.800
 earthly identity

00:44:36.800 --> 00:44:37.420
 instead of our

00:44:37.420 --> 00:44:38.099
 heavenly identity.

00:44:39.539 --> 00:44:40.740
 And our priorities

00:44:40.740 --> 00:44:41.639
 and our passions

00:44:41.639 --> 00:44:43.280
 and our preferences

00:44:43.280 --> 00:44:46.179
 always come up

00:44:46.179 --> 00:44:46.740
 to the forefront.

00:44:46.739 --> 00:44:51.779
 I pray that we would

00:44:51.779 --> 00:44:54.819
 confess that to you.

00:44:56.139 --> 00:44:57.539
 Thank you for your forgiveness

00:44:57.539 --> 00:45:00.299
 and walk forward

00:45:00.299 --> 00:45:01.199
 by the power

00:45:01.199 --> 00:45:01.799
 of your spirit.

00:45:03.799 --> 00:45:05.239
 Church with every head bowed

00:45:05.239 --> 00:45:06.079
 and every eye closed

00:45:06.079 --> 00:45:06.639
 right now

00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:08.259
 let me ask you

00:45:08.259 --> 00:45:08.899
 this question.

00:45:09.939 --> 00:45:10.419
 How many of you

00:45:10.419 --> 00:45:10.839
 would say

00:45:10.839 --> 00:45:11.699
 there's some things

00:45:11.699 --> 00:45:12.739
 that God needs to change

00:45:12.739 --> 00:45:13.299
 in my heart?

00:45:16.739 --> 00:45:18.339
 to become that heavenly

00:45:18.339 --> 00:45:19.359
 version of me

00:45:19.359 --> 00:45:20.379
 that he wants me to be

00:45:20.379 --> 00:45:21.739
 instead of that

00:45:21.739 --> 00:45:22.319
 earthly version?

00:45:22.399 --> 00:45:23.019
 There's some things

00:45:23.019 --> 00:45:23.979
 he needs to change in me.

00:45:24.059 --> 00:45:24.899
 Would you slip your hand up

00:45:24.899 --> 00:45:25.599
 and I'll pray for you?

00:45:26.199 --> 00:45:27.119
 All across the room

00:45:27.119 --> 00:45:27.539
 thank you.

00:45:27.699 --> 00:45:28.639
 You can put your hands down.

00:45:31.059 --> 00:45:31.879
 How many of you would say

00:45:31.879 --> 00:45:33.239
 I don't even know Jesus yet.

00:45:33.719 --> 00:45:34.659
 I need to be saved.

00:45:35.479 --> 00:45:36.939
 I need to confess my sins

00:45:36.939 --> 00:45:38.479
 and turn from my sin

00:45:38.479 --> 00:45:39.779
 and turn to Jesus

00:45:39.779 --> 00:45:40.759
 to forgive me

00:45:40.759 --> 00:45:41.759
 become his child.

00:45:41.839 --> 00:45:42.659
 Would you slip your hand up?

00:45:42.959 --> 00:45:43.839
 I'll pray for you as well.

00:45:44.839 --> 00:45:45.319
 Thank you.

00:45:45.320 --> 00:45:48.220
 God you've seen the hands

00:45:48.220 --> 00:45:49.059
 you know what's going on

00:45:49.059 --> 00:45:49.519
 in each heart.

00:45:50.480 --> 00:45:51.700
 I ask that you would

00:45:51.700 --> 00:45:53.120
 embolden us

00:45:53.120 --> 00:45:53.920
 give us the courage

00:45:53.920 --> 00:45:54.960
 and give us the strength

00:45:54.960 --> 00:45:56.559
 to take the steps necessary

00:45:56.559 --> 00:45:58.280
 to lay down

00:45:58.280 --> 00:45:59.740
 ourselves

00:45:59.740 --> 00:46:01.539
 and take on our identity

00:46:01.539 --> 00:46:01.900
 in you.

00:46:02.720 --> 00:46:03.900
 Make us fit together

00:46:03.900 --> 00:46:05.320
 as a beautiful

00:46:05.320 --> 00:46:07.860
 holy building

00:46:07.860 --> 00:46:08.700
 of a church

00:46:08.700 --> 00:46:11.780
 that can go out

00:46:11.780 --> 00:46:12.460
 in this community

00:46:12.460 --> 00:46:13.740
 and truly show off

00:46:13.740 --> 00:46:14.120
 Jesus

00:46:14.119 --> 00:46:15.559
 and not ourselves.

00:46:16.400 --> 00:46:17.159
 We'll trust you

00:46:17.159 --> 00:46:17.599
 to do it

00:46:17.599 --> 00:46:18.500
 it's in Jesus name

00:46:18.500 --> 00:46:18.920
 we pray.

00:46:19.679 --> 00:46:19.920
 Amen.

00:46:19.920 --> 00:46:49.900
 Thank you.