WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.179 Good morning, everyone. My name is Nick. I'm Pastor for Discipleship here at St. Paul's. 00:00:04.179 --> 00:00:08.500 ! It's my joy to open the Word with you. 00:00:10.019 --> 00:00:18.179 We've just had Chinese New Year, and many, many Chinese New Years ago in the 80s, there was a little girl 00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:27.960 and she was given some red envelopes. She laid them all out on her bed, but one of them slipped down the back of her bed, 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:35.960 down the side of her bunk bed frame, and was lost, forgotten. Flash forward 40 years, 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:44.900 she was a single mum, battling debts and barely making ends meet, until one day when her old bed frame 00:00:44.900 --> 00:00:52.140 finally broke under the weight of her two sons playing in their room, they pulled down the old 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:58.539 bed to throw it away, and wedged under a wooden slat, she found the red envelope. 00:00:59.780 --> 00:01:07.840 It had been given to her by her grandfather, long passed away now. That year he'd sold his business, 00:01:08.099 --> 00:01:13.340 and he'd done something special for his favourite grandchild. In the envelope wasn't cash, 00:01:13.340 --> 00:01:21.420 but shares in a company he'd just been told about. He'd printed out all the details on this folded A4 00:01:21.420 --> 00:01:28.400 page, put it in the envelope, it was all legally in her name. And at the time, he was very generous. 00:01:28.540 --> 00:01:36.600 He put nearly three, just over $3,000 worth of shares in that envelope. 33,000 shares at 10 cents each. 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:49.479 40 years later, those shares were $290 each. That's what they were worth. Nearly $10 million. Without knowing it, 00:01:49.839 --> 00:01:56.359 this family had been battling to stay afloat while being millionaires the whole time. 00:01:56.359 --> 00:02:09.960 This mirrors the experience of many Christians who come to faith, and yet through their life feel like 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:16.219 the wallets of their strength to keep following Jesus are always emptier than they would like. 00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:23.800 Today, Paul is going to show us where the red envelope of God's strength for his church is. 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:33.020 So far in Ephesians, Paul has been encouraging us to remember the riches that Christians have in Jesus, 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:44.000 in Christ, right now. We have eternity in front of us. God the Father, certain, safe, joyful, glorious, 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:53.600 with him forever. We have each other, the church. God's riches displayed in a family 00:02:53.599 --> 00:03:02.039 of support and love. And we have his grace to us that while we were powerless to save ourselves or do 00:03:02.039 --> 00:03:10.259 anything in our own strength, through Christ, God has saved us and empowers us to live for him 00:03:10.259 --> 00:03:16.639 by the Holy Spirit. We have great hope in Christ. And if you're joining us online or you're in the room 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:25.559 with us and you don't yet follow Jesus, consider the blessings and love available to all people 00:03:25.559 --> 00:03:36.879 in Christ. And last week we heard how Christ has destroyed the walls of hostility that divide humanity 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:48.799 on the cross. Jesus took the Roman punishment for an insurrectionist so that our rebellious lives 00:03:48.799 --> 00:03:58.240 could be exchanged for his life of love for his enemies. But even after this exchange, Christians are 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:08.480 still prone to retaliation, divisions, fears of those unlike us, even racism. So where do we find the 00:04:08.480 --> 00:04:16.180 strength to be a unified church, wrestling with sin and one another in a broken world? 00:04:16.180 --> 00:04:29.500 When Christians experience the riches of Christ's love, God strengthens his people with power 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:39.579 to be his church and achieve his mission. Who is the church? This week we're focusing on the fact 00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:49.579 that we are empowered. Heavenly Father, I pray that you will provide strength for your church through 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:58.360 your spirit to behold the love of Christ for them in such a way that they are empowered to display your 00:04:58.360 --> 00:05:08.360 glory to our city as your church in powerful ways. Amen. Today I have three points. Why do we need to be 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:17.560 empowered? What does it mean to be empowered? And how do we get empowered? First, why do we need to be 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:22.980 empowered? I want to draw your attention to how Paul begins not just this passage but this chapter. 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:29.620 We didn't read it and there's a reason for it. Have a look at chapter one there, verse one there. 00:05:30.520 --> 00:05:38.060 Paul starts, for this reason I, and then he gets completely distracted. He goes on this tangent 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:45.339 and he gets completely distracted. His train of thought gets broken. He was far away from these 00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:52.600 people in Ephesus, writing this letter from a Roman jail cell and he knows that this church is worried 00:05:52.600 --> 00:06:02.579 about him, about what the future might hold without him. Just as Paul shared the boundless riches of 00:06:02.579 --> 00:06:13.219 Christ with them, God's plan is now to do the same thing through the church. The mission that was Paul's, 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:19.879 the mission of God in Ephesus is now in their hands. It's in the hands of the local church. 00:06:20.299 --> 00:06:24.579 And Paul imagined them reading this letter. It's almost like he got to this point and then just 00:06:24.579 --> 00:06:34.620 cast his mind to them and thought, I wonder if they're discouraged. Wondering how they're going to do 00:06:34.620 --> 00:06:44.639 God's mission to face it without me. So how will Paul strengthen the church for their mission? Well, 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:56.319 the prayer that Steve just read out is Paul's answer. It's a prayer. Paul could have asked God to make 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:04.659 things easier for the Ephesians. He could have asked for more receptive hearts in their city to their 00:07:04.659 --> 00:07:12.180 message or even to Christians in their midst. Even for himself to be released to go help them 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:21.340 in Ephesus. But instead, he prays for power from God to see immeasurably more done through them. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:29.379 Verse 16, I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power through his spirit 00:07:29.379 --> 00:07:41.259 in your inner being. Paul knows of a power that God can give Christians that will fill them to the 00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:51.060 measure of all the fullness of God. That's what Paul wants. More than his own freedom, more than changes 00:07:51.060 --> 00:08:04.439 to the circumstances of the church. Real power from God to be his church. But Christian, you might be 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:17.360 asking a good question here. Isn't Christ dwelling in every Christian already? Yes. We are in Christ and 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:26.399 Christ is in us. At the very moment a Christian yields their life to Christ, he lives in them. So what 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:31.980 more do Christians have to draw on than the indwelling presence of Christ by the Holy Spirit? 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:42.039 A kind of change that Paul imagines here isn't more of Christ in us, but a deeper knowledge, a 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:55.060 surpassing knowledge, verse 19, of just how loved they are by Christ, that once experienced gives them power. 00:08:55.059 --> 00:09:06.679 There is more to experience of Christ and his love day by day as the Spirit provides. It's the love of 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:20.539 Christ experienced that Paul wants to show empowers the church. Paul fears that Christians in Ephesus will live 00:09:20.539 --> 00:09:32.379 poor even amongst the riches of their salvation, like a mum with millions under the bed. Paul asks the Spirit 00:09:32.379 --> 00:09:40.719 to give us an empowering experience when we remember the love of Christ for us that will strengthen our 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:53.440 discouraged hearts. Second, what does it mean to be empowered? We've used this illustration in a number 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:59.820 of ways, but this week I thought of it from the perspective of a dad with a young child, that's me, 00:10:00.220 --> 00:10:08.920 and I remember one Easter weekend many years ago, we gave our middle child chocolate for the first time. 00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:20.179 We told her she'd like it, but she wasn't excited. Even today, she has the character of someone who will 00:10:20.179 --> 00:10:27.339 doubt first, especially what a parent says is true. She will doubt first, and then she will slowly lean 00:10:27.339 --> 00:10:35.059 into maybe the truth, maybe the experience, maybe how things look. And to this one-year-old, the shiny 00:10:35.059 --> 00:10:42.219 wrapper was far more exciting than what was inside. Our joy wasn't catching on. And we took a video of 00:10:42.219 --> 00:10:48.079 all of this, and I remember ending the video because it was going so badly. She was almost too terrified 00:10:48.079 --> 00:10:58.139 to eat it out of the pressure of how excited people were compared to how she was. But then she tasted it. 00:10:58.139 --> 00:11:06.120 We have this photo of this moment. She has this smile. It's almost an aggressive bite into a piece of 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:13.879 chocolate. It's like, give me more of that. Oh, this is incredible. And also, I'm on camera. I've got a 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:24.439 smile. It's the funniest little photo. The moment she experienced that chocolate is good, she was 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:33.020 convinced. Experiencing the love of Christ is to take the reality of the riches, taste the reality 00:11:33.020 --> 00:11:40.960 of the riches of God. And just like chocolate puts a whirlwind of energy in a toddler, so too does the 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:50.640 love of Christ put a power in the church. Many churches are hesitant to experience something that 00:11:50.639 --> 00:12:03.000 might stir our emotions. Most on the North Shore trust emotions less than we do evidence, data, and truth. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:12.259 But in Christianity, both the knowledge of God and the affections for God always go together. 00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:20.259 There was a philosopher and a mathematician, an inventor, a real head knowledge guy, 00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:28.720 his name was Blaise Pascal, many, many years ago. He was also a Christian. And when he died, 00:12:28.860 --> 00:12:37.240 his coat was found to have a page of his diary, apparently this page, sewn into the fabric so that 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:42.100 any time he wanted, he could look back on something that happened to him, something that he had 00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:48.220 experienced. And on there is a date and a title. The title is Fire. 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:57.500 Fire. Here's what he wrote. Fire. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers 00:12:57.500 --> 00:13:07.899 and the learned, certainty, security, feeling, joy, peace, and on and on the diary entry goes. 00:13:09.860 --> 00:13:16.360 He had experienced the love of Christ that day for him so deeply, emotionally, physically, 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:25.060 that it changed his perspective on his entire life. And he wanted to remember how that day felt. 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:35.459 When the truth of the truth of the love of Christ grabbed him in this experience of wonder, awe, fear, and praise. 00:13:35.460 --> 00:13:47.740 What experiences of the love of Christ have you had? What experiences of the love of Christ have we had together? 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:58.660 Think of the moments we've shared singing where it's like all of a sudden someone's turned up the volume 00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:05.219 of our voices and our emotions are running high in the room. 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:14.279 Think of the tears that you might have shed maybe in someone's home with your Bibles open with someone 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:21.199 or sharing your testimony or hearing their testimony of God's love in Christ. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:27.480 There are experiences of God that stir deep emotions. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:32.820 And Paul knows we need experiences of the love of Christ to empower his church. 00:14:33.660 --> 00:14:36.759 So as you discover more knowledge of the love of Christ for you, 00:14:37.160 --> 00:14:41.740 you may have a Holy Spirit-empowered experience. 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:46.220 Now, this is really important. 00:14:46.220 --> 00:15:09.519 Tim Keller uses a really helpful image here for us to understand this, the image of a kiss. 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:12.720 Imagine someone kisses you. 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:13.860 Woo! 00:15:16.220 --> 00:15:22.600 You hope you are the reason that they want to kiss you, right? 00:15:23.920 --> 00:15:29.500 But if you discover that they're only here for the kiss and that they can get it from another 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:35.460 and you just happen to be there, then that kiss loses all its meaning to you. 00:15:36.180 --> 00:15:41.180 If you go after the kiss and not the person, then the kiss is nothing. 00:15:41.179 --> 00:15:48.099 But if the kiss is about the person, then the kiss means everything. 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:56.459 So if you go after an experience of being deeply moved but do not go after God, 00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:58.919 then your experience is nothing. 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:05.359 But if you experience deep affections as you go after the love of Christ for you, 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:07.979 then that experience means everything. 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:10.740 Keller says, 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:17.279 through the power of the Holy Spirit, information becomes sensation. 00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:23.320 Through the power of the Holy Spirit, information about the love Christ has for you 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:26.960 can become sensation. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:34.200 We can't always hope to experience God's love in Christ with this emotional depth. 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:41.379 But together as God's church, we can ask God to strengthen us regularly in our midst. 00:16:42.300 --> 00:16:48.660 These experiences can happen together or we can share them with one another when they happen, 00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:50.419 when we are together. 00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:59.699 And I pray that you being rooted and established in love may have power together with all the Lord's holy people 00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:06.619 to grasp how wide, how long and how high and how deep is the love of Christ. 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:12.480 The church are the glorious riches of Christ. 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:14.139 We've already heard that in Ephesians. 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:23.440 And they are the location where God's glory will be displayed in power through us. 00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:28.000 There's no individualism in this passage at all. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:38.279 Any experience of Christ's love on our own, shared together, can empower us together. 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:42.819 There were 35 of us gathered around Steve on Wednesday night 00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:48.380 as we explored God's vision for St. Paul's Chatswood towards 2030. 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:50.559 And we shared big goals. 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:55.819 Steve's just shared the summary of those this morning. 00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:59.259 We want to make a big impact in our city. 00:17:59.439 --> 00:18:03.779 Not to be known, but for Christ's love for our city to be known. 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:06.059 We want to see him do incredible things. 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:08.980 And we can't do that unless God empowers us. 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:14.500 Just like the church in Ephesus couldn't do that unless God empowers them. 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:21.480 So Paul's huge goal for the Ephesian church and for us is that God will, 00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:25.119 and another tangent it seems, 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:31.740 but God who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or even imagine, 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:40.359 will empower his church to glorify God throughout all generations forever and ever. 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:49.000 What it means to be empowered by God is for the church to regularly, purposefully pray 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:55.959 that God might strengthen them through his spirit as they experience the love of Christ. 00:18:55.960 --> 00:19:02.759 So how do we get empowered? 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:09.059 There are many practical ways that we can pursue the love of Christ, 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:12.319 but let me give you four, and then we'll do one of them together. 00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:15.079 First, yield. 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:17.360 Look at verse 14. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:24.259 Paul's posture, he tells us, and he may have been as he dictated this letter, 00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:26.740 is that he is on his knees. 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:29.059 Or he might have been saying, 00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:31.179 I am doing this regularly. 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:34.259 I'm on my knees praying this prayer for you. 00:19:35.159 --> 00:19:39.099 But in Paul's day, people didn't pray kneeling. 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:43.059 That might be what we see on TV or what you might have experienced 00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:45.419 as a more traditional way of praying. 00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:49.940 But no, in Paul's day, they stood to pray. 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:56.620 So it's important that we realise Paul's telling them this to show them something. 00:19:57.940 --> 00:20:01.060 It's actually an act of submission. 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:08.060 God is our Father, and ours is a relationship of intimacy and love, 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.960 but also of authority. 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:14.160 To submit to God's authority to you, 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:16.480 to change you, 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:19.000 is an act of obedience. 00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:23.460 You may not want God to change you. 00:20:23.840 --> 00:20:27.480 You might not feel like you need changing. 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:31.559 Or to feel deep emotions. 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:35.220 But trust your Father. 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:37.419 Yield to Scripture, 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.139 and find out more, 00:20:39.379 --> 00:20:40.139 and more, 00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:42.460 and more about the love of Christ 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:43.619 for you. 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:45.879 And be open to the Spirit 00:20:45.879 --> 00:20:47.399 to empower you, 00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:48.759 and change you. 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.599 Yield, 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.099 and 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:54.059 meditate. 00:20:55.679 --> 00:20:57.379 Look at verse 18 with me. 00:20:57.380 --> 00:21:01.300 What do you notice about the verb there? 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.040 It doesn't say read 00:21:03.040 --> 00:21:04.720 about the 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:07.180 depth and height and width 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:09.140 and of the love of Christ. 00:21:09.260 --> 00:21:10.640 It says grasp. 00:21:11.780 --> 00:21:12.380 Grasp. 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:14.780 That word literally means 00:21:14.780 --> 00:21:15.780 wrestle 00:21:15.780 --> 00:21:16.820 or 00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:17.920 ambush. 00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:19.840 It's a very 00:21:19.840 --> 00:21:20.960 intense, 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.640 strong word. 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:22.840 What Paul's saying 00:21:22.840 --> 00:21:24.180 is it's a wrestling 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.780 with 00:21:25.780 --> 00:21:27.080 the truth 00:21:27.080 --> 00:21:28.440 of the love of Christ 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:30.920 into your own heart. 00:21:31.560 --> 00:21:32.340 An active, 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:32.960 reflective, 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.460 purposeful activity 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:36.100 that the Bible calls 00:21:36.100 --> 00:21:37.259 meditation. 00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:39.340 If you want to get a picture 00:21:39.340 --> 00:21:40.960 of what this looks like 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.700 in the Bible, 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.620 Psalm 103 00:21:42.620 --> 00:21:43.740 is really helpful. 00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:47.020 It's a talking 00:21:47.020 --> 00:21:48.000 to your soul 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.200 prayer. 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:49.279 prayer. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:51.920 It's to yourself, 00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:53.880 examining your own life, 00:21:54.080 --> 00:21:55.319 beliefs and understanding 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:56.100 and desires 00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:57.240 and loves 00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:59.059 and comparing them 00:21:59.059 --> 00:22:00.279 to God's perspective 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:00.980 of the world 00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:02.200 and yourself 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:04.940 like a wrestling match 00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:05.980 between your will 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.920 and the will of God. 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.160 Your priorities 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:08.980 and the priorities 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.620 of God. 00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.819 And by the Spirit, 00:22:12.080 --> 00:22:12.980 it's an experience 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:13.620 that can 00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:15.160 happen to you. 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.700 You can grasp it 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:19.480 and even as you do, 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.380 you can be grasped 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.080 by it. 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:23.120 The disciple, 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:23.740 Peter, 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.819 he was ambushed 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:27.440 by God's word 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.600 in Acts 10. 00:22:31.100 --> 00:22:31.799 Last week, 00:22:31.840 --> 00:22:32.360 we were talking 00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:33.000 about the topic 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.900 of unity 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:34.860 in the church 00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:36.220 and one of the, 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:36.799 well, 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.019 the leader 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:38.960 of God's church, 00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:39.400 Peter, 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:40.819 failed 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.900 immediately 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.940 when it came 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:44.559 to allowing 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.180 Gentiles 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.740 to be fully 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.160 a part 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:46.700 of the church, 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.700 non-Jews 00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.360 to be fully 00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:49.000 a part 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.960 of what God 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.460 was doing. 00:22:51.060 --> 00:22:51.840 He knew 00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:53.320 God loved them. 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.660 He knew 00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.440 they should be 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.160 a part of the church 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:57.039 but he didn't live it. 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.220 He was ambushed 00:22:59.220 --> 00:22:59.960 by a revelation 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.640 from God 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.740 and to accept 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.920 all people 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:05.200 in the church. 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:08.480 To grasp 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.140 the love 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:09.779 of God, 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.500 we reach out 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.240 and grasp 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:12.960 the pages 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.759 of scripture, 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:14.759 not just 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.559 to read it 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:17.460 but to always 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:18.539 meditate on it. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:19.519 There is no, 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:21.160 and let me just 00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:21.579 say here, 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.579 this is not 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.160 meditation 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:24.079 where you empty 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:24.960 everything out 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.600 of your mind 00:23:25.600 --> 00:23:27.259 and sit 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:27.799 blank. 00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:31.720 Christian 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.120 meditation 00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:32.900 instead 00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:33.759 is to fill 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.380 our minds 00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:35.079 with God's 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:35.640 words 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:37.100 and reflect. 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.799 Seek to connect 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.340 with God 00:23:41.340 --> 00:23:41.840 daily. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.879 That's one 00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:43.559 of our seven 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.899 rhythms of grace. 00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:46.199 What it means 00:23:46.199 --> 00:23:46.819 to live 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:47.579 in Chatswood 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.559 as his people, 00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:49.819 regularly connecting 00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:50.459 with God. 00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.339 And here's a 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.079 starting point 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:52.720 if you've never 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.240 done this. 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:54.699 Read, 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.480 meditate 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.240 and pray. 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.240 Read the word 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.679 of God. 00:23:59.139 --> 00:23:59.699 Give yourself 00:23:59.699 --> 00:24:00.480 time 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.899 to wrestle 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:02.959 with what 00:24:02.959 --> 00:24:03.699 you have read. 00:24:04.699 --> 00:24:05.039 Meditate 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:05.679 on it 00:24:05.679 --> 00:24:07.439 and pray. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.220 Behold 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:08.619 the love 00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.099 of Christ 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:09.899 in Scripture 00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:11.459 and grasp 00:24:11.459 --> 00:24:12.019 it in your 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.439 soul 00:24:12.439 --> 00:24:12.959 as the 00:24:12.959 --> 00:24:13.539 information 00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:14.240 you read 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:14.819 becomes 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:16.059 sensation 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.659 by the 00:24:16.659 --> 00:24:17.059 power 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.759 of the 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.059 Spirit. 00:24:18.459 --> 00:24:18.879 And yes, 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:19.899 thirdly, 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:20.719 pray. 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:23.039 This passage 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.119 itself is a 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:24.539 prayer 00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:26.219 and it's a 00:24:26.219 --> 00:24:26.619 prayer for 00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:27.299 experience. 00:24:27.679 --> 00:24:27.839 And 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.759 it is not 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.379 the only 00:24:30.379 --> 00:24:30.980 thing you 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.519 should pray 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.079 for. 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:33.980 but we 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.720 can 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:36.099 ask the 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.359 Spirit 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:37.039 to empower 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.319 us 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:37.659 as we 00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:38.139 reflect 00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:38.480 on the 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:38.799 love 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.799 of Christ 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.639 for us. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.119 Hudson 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:42.519 Taylor, 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.159 who was 00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:43.839 the 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:44.379 founding 00:24:44.379 --> 00:24:44.899 missionary 00:24:44.899 --> 00:24:46.220 of the 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.480 gospel 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.019 going into 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.460 China, 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:48.759 he prayed 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.579 every day 00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.960 starting like 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.240 this. 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:51.720 It's actually 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.220 a longer 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:52.599 poem, 00:24:52.699 --> 00:24:52.939 but the 00:24:52.939 --> 00:24:53.460 start of 00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:53.859 the poem 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:54.220 that he 00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:54.599 wrote 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.500 in the 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.960 top of 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.919 his diary 00:24:57.919 --> 00:24:58.579 was this, 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.000 Lord Jesus, 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.439 make thyself 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.080 to me 00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:03.799 a living 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:04.460 bright 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.420 reality. 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.700 Lord Jesus, 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:09.160 make yourself 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:10.000 to me 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.340 a living 00:25:11.340 --> 00:25:11.940 bright 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.019 reality. 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:14.880 God 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:15.860 can make 00:25:15.860 --> 00:25:16.820 us more 00:25:16.820 --> 00:25:17.860 receptive 00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:18.860 to the 00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.559 bright love 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.059 of Jesus 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:21.100 through 00:25:21.100 --> 00:25:22.180 his Spirit. 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.740 Praying 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.100 in step 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:25.440 with this 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:25.980 passage 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:28.660 is like 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:29.920 asking God 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.600 to change 00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:31.080 us 00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:32.439 as if 00:25:32.439 --> 00:25:32.720 we're 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.199 a normal 00:25:33.199 --> 00:25:33.659 boring 00:25:33.659 --> 00:25:34.019 piece 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.740 of A4 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.199 paper 00:25:35.199 --> 00:25:35.960 like this. 00:25:36.619 --> 00:25:37.119 Change 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.579 us into 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:37.839 a 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.679 photosensitive 00:25:38.679 --> 00:25:40.139 chemically 00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:40.919 treated 00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:42.039 piece of 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.379 paper, 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.319 receptive 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.619 and ready 00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:45.379 to receive 00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:46.279 the light 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:47.899 of Christ, 00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:49.879 seen in 00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:50.359 his word 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:50.919 and heard 00:25:50.919 --> 00:25:51.419 in the 00:25:51.419 --> 00:25:51.919 church, 00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:53.480 experienced 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.039 in Christian 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.500 friendships, 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:55.319 and then 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:55.799 have it 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.899 come to 00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:57.460 life on 00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:57.779 us, 00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.900 like a 00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.299 photo 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:00.900 instead of 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.960 a blank 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.259 white 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:02.779 page. 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:03.940 Pray for 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.380 God to 00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:04.880 give you 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.100 an 00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:06.220 experience 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.259 of the 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:07.680 love 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.579 of 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.059 Christ. 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:10.860 And then 00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.380 fourthly, 00:26:11.579 --> 00:26:11.960 together. 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:13.799 If you want 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.120 to know 00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:14.640 the love 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.079 of Christ 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:15.640 deeply, 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:17.360 you need 00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:17.640 to be 00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:18.039 deeply 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.640 involved 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.100 in the 00:26:19.100 --> 00:26:19.400 church 00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:20.220 community. 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:22.180 the 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:22.700 promised 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:24.920 power 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:25.559 of this 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.000 passage 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.960 involves 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.420 other 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:27.880 Christians. 00:26:28.360 --> 00:26:28.539 God 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.400 pours 00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:30.539 out 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:32.100 his 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:32.660 power 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.259 over 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:33.480 the 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:33.799 church 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:34.640 together 00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:35.740 with 00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.279 all the 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:36.600 Lord's 00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:36.839 holy 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.259 people. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:37.940 This 00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:38.339 whole 00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:38.799 letter 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.539 is all 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:40.900 about 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:41.180 the 00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:41.480 church 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.019 and 00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:42.240 it's 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:42.600 evidence 00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:42.980 enough 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.539 for any 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:43.980 Christian 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.700 to dig 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.279 roots 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.160 and 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:47.120 foundations 00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:48.420 in a 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:48.799 church. 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:50.000 And if 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.379 we take 00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:50.720 our lead 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.079 from this 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:51.579 passage, 00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.319 together 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:54.379 as God's 00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:54.680 church, 00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.440 we can 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.159 grasp 00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:57.019 the love 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.680 of Christ 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.700 deeper 00:26:58.700 --> 00:27:00.500 together. 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.500 So let's 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:03.899 do it. 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:05.659 Let's 00:27:05.659 --> 00:27:06.379 explore the 00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:06.720 love of 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:06.960 Christ 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.319 together 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:08.539 now and 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:08.980 answer 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.759 this 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.220 question. 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.220 How 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:12.419 wide 00:27:12.419 --> 00:27:13.659 and 00:27:13.659 --> 00:27:14.359 long 00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:15.500 and 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.079 high 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:16.819 and 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.180 deep 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:17.799 is the 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.200 love of 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:18.659 Christ? 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.659 for you. 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.079 How 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.639 wide 00:27:23.639 --> 00:27:24.139 is the 00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:24.480 love of 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:24.700 God 00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:25.119 for you? 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:27.720 Jesus 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.139 said, 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:29.279 when I 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:29.899 am lifted 00:27:29.899 --> 00:27:31.279 up at 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:31.779 the cross, 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.639 I will 00:27:32.639 --> 00:27:33.579 draw all 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.059 people 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:35.279 to 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:35.859 myself. 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.119 All 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:37.500 people 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.180 can come 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:38.659 to Jesus. 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:40.759 His 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:40.980 love 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.519 reaches to 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.259 all people 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.359 of every 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:43.940 nation. 00:27:45.159 --> 00:27:45.480 His 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.119 love is 00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:47.259 to all 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:47.759 nations. 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.539 And 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:49.919 Isaiah 00:27:49.919 --> 00:27:50.779 1.18 00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.220 says, 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:51.839 though your 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.399 sins be 00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:53.099 as scarlet, 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.839 you shall 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:54.559 be whiter 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:55.399 than snow. 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.019 This 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:57.159 vivid image 00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:58.759 of scarlet 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.299 to white 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.019 or red 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:00.599 to white 00:28:00.599 --> 00:28:01.559 is actually 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:01.859 about 00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.519 blood. 00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:04.099 Even 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:05.139 if you've 00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:06.139 killed, 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:09.220 you can 00:28:09.220 --> 00:28:09.819 be forgiven 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:12.480 no matter 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:12.839 what you've 00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:13.079 done. 00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:13.740 That is 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.700 how wide 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.519 the love 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.099 of Christ 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:17.159 is for 00:28:17.159 --> 00:28:17.459 you. 00:28:18.959 --> 00:28:19.839 How long 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.179 is the 00:28:20.179 --> 00:28:20.539 love of 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:20.859 God? 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:24.879 Revelation 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:25.659 13.8 00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:26.279 says that 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:27.099 Christ was 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:27.599 ready to 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:27.980 die for 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.379 you before 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:28.939 the universe 00:28:28.939 --> 00:28:29.500 was made. 00:28:30.879 --> 00:28:31.399 In 00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:31.899 eternity 00:28:31.899 --> 00:28:32.559 past, 00:28:32.679 --> 00:28:33.119 God had 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:33.519 a plan 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.019 for you. 00:28:35.919 --> 00:28:36.159 And 00:28:36.159 --> 00:28:36.439 Jesus 00:28:36.439 --> 00:28:36.839 said, 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.639 I give 00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:37.859 them 00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:38.779 eternal 00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:40.619 life and 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:41.439 no one 00:28:41.439 --> 00:28:41.959 can pluck 00:28:41.959 --> 00:28:42.339 them out 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:42.619 of my 00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:43.079 hand. 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.480 Jesus 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:44.759 will 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.059 never 00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:45.339 let 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:45.720 go 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.279 of 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.399 the 00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:46.619 ones 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:46.799 he 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.240 loves. 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:48.159 And 00:28:48.159 --> 00:28:48.679 Philippians 00:28:48.679 --> 00:28:49.279 1.16 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.699 says, 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:50.359 the one 00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:51.119 who began 00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:51.460 a good 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:51.899 work in 00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:52.159 you 00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:52.759 will 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.139 bring 00:28:53.139 --> 00:28:53.299 it 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:53.500 to 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.059 completion. 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:54.639 His 00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:54.960 love 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.359 is with 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:55.519 you 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.059 every 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.819 step 00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:57.339 you 00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:57.720 take. 00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:58.740 God's 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:58.939 love 00:28:58.939 --> 00:28:59.359 is that 00:28:59.359 --> 00:28:59.859 long. 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.259 How deep 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.899 is the 00:29:03.899 --> 00:29:04.319 love of 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:04.740 God 00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.799 for you? 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:07.859 How deep 00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:08.359 is his 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:08.679 love? 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:09.579 The 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:09.939 depth 00:29:09.939 --> 00:29:10.119 of 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:10.579 Christ's 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:10.879 love 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:12.220 is seen 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.660 in how 00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:14.340 far he 00:29:14.340 --> 00:29:15.140 will go 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:16.280 to show 00:29:16.280 --> 00:29:16.580 you. 00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:17.800 What did 00:29:17.800 --> 00:29:18.280 it cost 00:29:18.280 --> 00:29:19.020 you? 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:20.440 What does 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:20.720 it cost 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.360 anyone 00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:23.800 for God 00:29:23.800 --> 00:29:24.200 to love 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:24.380 you? 00:29:24.540 --> 00:29:24.880 Nothing. 00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:26.460 What did 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:26.780 it cost 00:29:26.780 --> 00:29:27.360 God to 00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:27.720 show you 00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.100 his love? 00:29:28.820 --> 00:29:29.300 Everything. 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.620 Death of 00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:32.100 his son 00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:32.440 on a 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:32.820 cross. 00:29:34.300 --> 00:29:34.540 Jesus 00:29:34.540 --> 00:29:35.200 died your 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:35.740 death and 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.120 went to 00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:36.660 hell for 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:36.960 you, 00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:37.520 as Peter 00:29:37.520 --> 00:29:37.940 taught. 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.480 Christ's 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:40.040 love is 00:29:40.040 --> 00:29:40.720 as deep 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.620 as deep 00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.500 can go. 00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.400 God's 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:44.980 love is 00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.360 that 00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:46.240 deep. 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:47.519 And 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:47.759 our 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.500 high 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.480 is the 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:49.839 love of 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.240 Christ 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.120 for you. 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.100 John 17, 00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:53.700 Jesus 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.319 prays, 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:54.980 Father, 00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:55.420 I want 00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:55.680 them to 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.019 have the 00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.620 glory 00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:57.220 that we 00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:57.620 have. 00:29:58.620 --> 00:29:58.960 Christ 00:29:58.960 --> 00:29:59.759 loves us 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.640 up into 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.360 the status 00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:02.039 and riches 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:02.980 and glory 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:03.779 that he 00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.380 has with 00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:04.740 God the 00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.100 Father. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:06.559 And 00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:06.900 John, 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:07.240 in 1 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:07.440 John, 00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:07.839 says, 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:08.660 we will 00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.200 be like 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.059 him and 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.440 we will 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.139 see him 00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:11.700 as he 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.419 is. 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.339 God 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.240 lifts us 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.179 into holiness 00:30:16.179 --> 00:30:17.139 and nearness 00:30:17.139 --> 00:30:18.379 with the 00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:18.819 highest 00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.539 king. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:20.279 That's 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:21.200 how high 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.859 the love 00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:23.319 of Christ 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:23.759 is for 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.039 you. 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:25.879 The love 00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:26.539 of Christ 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:28.519 is the 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.000 red 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.859 envelope 00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:30.599 of the 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:30.980 Christian. 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.759 But is 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.679 it lost 00:30:33.679 --> 00:30:34.259 under your 00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:34.679 bed? 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.140 God 00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:37.400 or are 00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:37.580 you 00:30:37.580 --> 00:30:38.320 experiencing 00:30:38.320 --> 00:30:38.820 the love 00:30:38.820 --> 00:30:39.320 of Christ 00:30:39.320 --> 00:30:39.660 each 00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.039 day? 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.180 Yield 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:42.620 yourself 00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:42.840 to 00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:43.279 Christ 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:43.700 and 00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.220 connect 00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.680 with 00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:44.900 him 00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:45.299 daily 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:45.519 in 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:45.640 the 00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:45.920 word 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:46.120 and 00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:46.580 meditate 00:30:46.580 --> 00:30:47.019 on 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.180 it. 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:47.759 Seek 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:47.980 to 00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.740 grasp 00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.900 Christ's 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.160 love 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:50.840 for you 00:30:50.840 --> 00:30:51.840 and pray 00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:52.259 that the 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:52.680 spirit 00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.640 would move 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:53.840 you 00:30:53.840 --> 00:30:54.180 deeply, 00:30:54.320 --> 00:30:54.539 even 00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:54.820 knock 00:30:54.820 --> 00:30:54.980 you 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.120 off 00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:55.279 your 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:55.539 feet 00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:55.720 onto 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:55.900 your 00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:56.580 knees 00:30:56.580 --> 00:30:57.400 like 00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:57.840 Paul 00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:58.980 and 00:30:58.980 --> 00:30:59.519 prioritize 00:30:59.519 --> 00:30:59.980 being 00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.500 together, 00:31:01.939 --> 00:31:02.240 seeking 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.639 the love 00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.220 of Christ 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.019 with the 00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.419 church. 00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:05.839 Where do 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.279 we find 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:06.699 strength 00:31:06.699 --> 00:31:07.059 to be 00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.480 united 00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:07.939 church? 00:31:08.459 --> 00:31:08.859 Wrestling 00:31:08.859 --> 00:31:09.419 with sin 00:31:09.419 --> 00:31:09.779 and one 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.059 another 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.299 in a 00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:10.519 broken 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:10.919 world? 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.319 In 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:13.159 the love 00:31:13.159 --> 00:31:13.839 of Christ 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:15.000 for us. 00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:15.859 God 00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:16.299 empowers 00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:16.740 his people 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.000 to be 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.659 his church 00:31:17.659 --> 00:31:19.059 as we 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.639 behold 00:31:19.639 --> 00:31:20.639 the love 00:31:20.639 --> 00:31:21.459 of Christ. 00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:23.000 Who is 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.480 the church? 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:25.119 We are 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:26.240 empowered. 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.099 And what 00:31:27.099 --> 00:31:27.279 are we 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.679 empowered 00:31:27.679 --> 00:31:28.379 to do? 00:31:29.139 --> 00:31:29.379 Well, 00:31:29.419 --> 00:31:29.740 you have 00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:30.159 to join 00:31:30.159 --> 00:31:31.639 us in 00:31:31.639 --> 00:31:32.079 Ephesians 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:33.279 4 from 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:33.799 next week 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.119 on. 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:36.240 We need 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:36.699 the power 00:31:36.699 --> 00:31:37.279 of God 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:37.879 working 00:31:37.879 --> 00:31:38.419 within us 00:31:38.419 --> 00:31:39.399 to experience 00:31:39.399 --> 00:31:39.959 the love 00:31:39.959 --> 00:31:40.579 of Christ, 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.419 to do 00:31:41.419 --> 00:31:42.199 more in 00:31:42.199 --> 00:31:42.559 God's 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:42.939 mission 00:31:42.939 --> 00:31:44.579 than we 00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:45.439 can ask 00:31:45.439 --> 00:31:46.079 for or 00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:46.619 even 00:31:46.619 --> 00:31:47.579 imagine.