WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.839 This morning's reading is found in Galatians 4, verses 8 through 20. 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:07.799 Please follow along in your bulletin. 00:00:15.939 --> 00:00:21.039 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:24.920 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:29.280 how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.659 Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:38.359 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years. 00:00:38.859 --> 00:00:43.179 I fear for you that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:49.320 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:51.179 You did me no wrong. 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:56.120 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 00:00:56.119 --> 00:01:01.780 And even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. 00:01:02.599 --> 00:01:08.140 Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 00:01:09.039 --> 00:01:11.379 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:17.659 I can testify that if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:20.920 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:25.620 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:31.280 What they want is to alienate you from us so that you may have zeal for them. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:39.240 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:46.839 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you. 00:01:47.379 --> 00:01:53.839 How I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you. 00:01:54.659 --> 00:01:56.359 This is the reading from God's Word. 00:01:58.859 --> 00:02:00.060 Good morning, Watermark. 00:02:01.019 --> 00:02:02.159 How are you guys doing? 00:02:03.479 --> 00:02:06.579 I guess you can't start a sermon without asking that question anymore here. 00:02:06.579 --> 00:02:09.620 We are in the church plant, but we have a lot of traditions starting. 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:10.859 My name is Mike. 00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:15.300 I am working with the university students here at Watermark. 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:20.579 Let me just say thank you for all the people that have helped over the past two days. 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:25.419 We had an amazing outreach to the college students with Gangor from the U.S. 00:02:25.419 --> 00:02:27.079 There were a lot of people helping with that. 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:31.599 Also, a lot of people have supported us on making the mission trip possible. 00:02:31.819 --> 00:02:34.159 We are going to the Philippines next Saturday with a group of students. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:39.780 So I just want to start out saying thank you to so many people who have been praying and supporting and helping out. 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:47.159 So I've been a part of Watermark and just seeing how we've come together as a family really has been humbling and amazing to see. 00:02:48.579 --> 00:02:51.199 We've been on a journey of studying the book of Galatians. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:57.599 And I've studied the book of Galatians many times before, but this is the first time studying Galatians while being a part of a church plant. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:09.159 And it's interesting how many new dimensions and layers of the scripture are revealed when you look at Galatians just through the lens of church planting and being a newly formed community. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:12.979 To quickly recap, we are on that journey. 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:16.500 We are now in the third week of looking into Galatians. 00:03:17.019 --> 00:03:24.379 And just to recap for those who either have not been here or are new to the church, I just want to give you a brief overview of what we've been looking at. 00:03:24.379 --> 00:03:29.000 So the book of Galatians is actually a record of a letter written by Paul. 00:03:29.579 --> 00:03:34.500 And the letter was written about 20 years after the death and resurrection of Christ. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:39.359 Paul had become to believe in Jesus as the one true God. 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:45.039 And now he has been starting to travel through the Roman Empire and sharing this message of Christ. 00:03:45.620 --> 00:03:50.199 And the people that started believing in the message formed communities, churches. 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:55.780 And so one of these churches starts in Galatia, which nowadays is central Turkey. 00:03:56.839 --> 00:04:04.179 And so there is a community that starts gathering and they are like-minded followers of the message that Paul has been passing on. 00:04:05.819 --> 00:04:11.199 Now, what Paul is addressing in the letter of Galatians is that there's a conflict arising. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:20.120 Now, the conflict is that there are new people stepping into the community and they are bringing a message in that is contradicting to what Paul has been sharing. 00:04:20.459 --> 00:04:24.000 And so there's a struggle over, so what message should we follow? 00:04:24.099 --> 00:04:25.519 What's really the truth about this? 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:34.399 Paul's message that really united that community is called the gospel. 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:36.120 The gospel means the good news. 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:38.259 Now, what was good about this news? 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:39.240 Why was it a good news? 00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:45.259 The news was basically that as we look around, the world is broken and we see injustice and hurting people. 00:04:46.060 --> 00:04:50.400 And ultimately, this brokenness in our world, we see a sin. 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:56.319 Now, the good news is that God didn't leave it with that, but that he actually came in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:04:56.740 --> 00:04:59.000 And he died on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins. 00:04:59.300 --> 00:05:01.139 He reconciled everything back to himself. 00:05:01.139 --> 00:05:09.659 And so by his love and grace and not by our own good deeds and anything that we can add to that, that's what we are saved by. 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:15.339 The conflict arises because these people that are stepping in, they're looking at this message and they are saying, 00:05:15.899 --> 00:05:18.740 yeah, that's not really the whole message. 00:05:19.219 --> 00:05:21.159 No, you actually have to do a lot of things. 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:28.160 You have to observe these like dietary laws and rituals and traditions and Jesus' death on the cross is not really all that there is. 00:05:28.700 --> 00:05:32.400 So here we are now in chapter four and starting in verse eight, it says, 00:05:32.399 --> 00:06:02.379 Now, just last night I experienced that, that there are these things that I've learned, 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:06.239 that there are not gods that try to pull you in. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:09.859 They are by nature not god, but we treat them like a god. 00:06:10.159 --> 00:06:12.699 The god that I'm talking about is the god of football. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:18.319 For those who know that sport is soccer, let me explain about last night. 00:06:18.859 --> 00:06:25.120 Because last night, exactly between like three and six a.m. in the morning, there was a Champions League final. 00:06:26.099 --> 00:06:28.079 Now, the Champions League is like the Super Bowl, right? 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:29.779 But a lot more interesting and exciting. 00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:39.479 So, last night there were these temptations of these weak and miserable forces that wanted to enslave me, 00:06:39.799 --> 00:06:48.919 getting up in the middle of the night, watching TV, despite having had a really busy week, not a lot of sleep, having a cold. 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:53.340 And on the other side, there was God saying, no, you should get some rest. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:54.620 You should take care of yourself. 00:06:55.660 --> 00:06:58.939 The message that you should give, you should be rested for that and you should focus. 00:06:59.379 --> 00:07:04.500 And so I leave it up to you, your imagination, whether the miserable force is one or God. 00:07:05.300 --> 00:07:10.680 Just that much, when you start to follow the miserable forces, they have a habit of disappointing you. 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:20.319 So, there are countless gods trying to grab our attention. 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:22.480 They want to enslave us. 00:07:23.100 --> 00:07:24.360 They want us to worship them. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:26.259 They want us to devote our time. 00:07:26.699 --> 00:07:29.819 They want us to devote our resources, our passion. 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:33.840 But really, by nature, they are no gods at all. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:41.479 Let me share you a story that, throughout the seminar, I'll use it to illustrate a little bit more what I'm talking about. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.719 The recent conflict between China and the Philippines reminded me of that story. 00:07:47.579 --> 00:07:52.839 Actually, in the year 1944, there was an island in the Philippines, the island of Lubang. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:08:00.299 And a person, Lieutenant Hiro Onoda from the Japanese Army, was sent to this island of Lubang, 00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:06.520 just about 100 miles south of where the current conflict about an island is happening in the Philippines. 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:10.420 And so he was on that island, sent in the Second World War, 00:08:10.660 --> 00:08:15.800 to gather intelligence and coordinate guerrilla attacks out of the jungle during the Second World War. 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:19.560 Now, here's his mission report and what it said. 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:23.879 Your mission may take three years, it may take five, 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:27.500 but whatever happens will come back for you. 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:31.399 Until then, so long as you have one soldier, you are to continue to lead him. 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:33.480 You may have to live on coconuts. 00:08:34.019 --> 00:08:36.220 If that's the case, then live on coconuts. 00:08:36.299 --> 00:08:39.139 Under no circumstances are you to give up your life voluntarily. 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:42.700 Now, soon after he arrived on this island, 00:08:43.460 --> 00:08:46.659 the island was overrun by the Allied forces. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:49.820 The surviving men, they retreated to the jungle, 00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:53.519 and Onoda actually joined with three others, and they formed a little unit. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:58.799 And there they started to organize attacks on the people that were going by 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:03.699 and tried to survive on coconuts, as the mission report basically stated to them. 00:09:04.579 --> 00:09:06.419 Now, there was something happening in 1945. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.299 They found a little leaflet, and the leaflet said, 00:09:08.819 --> 00:09:10.179 the war is over, come back out. 00:09:11.319 --> 00:09:12.860 But they were very smart. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:14.919 It's a trick from the enemy. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:16.139 They are just trying to get us out. 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:17.720 We're staying right here where we are. 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:19.639 So they stayed. 00:09:20.779 --> 00:09:22.399 And the years passed by. 00:09:23.700 --> 00:09:28.580 And after several years, all his friends had either died or surrendered. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:35.500 But Hiro Onoda stayed true to his calling till the year 1974. 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:40.259 After almost 30 years in hiding in the jungle, 00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:45.220 a college student from Japan got on the plane, 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:47.139 went to the Philippines, 00:09:47.460 --> 00:09:49.159 and he followed the myth of Onoda, 00:09:49.419 --> 00:09:50.779 trying to figure out what happened to him. 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:52.879 And he found him in the jungle. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:56.500 Now, when he told him that the war had long been over, 00:09:56.980 --> 00:10:02.539 he did not believe what Norio Suzuki, the young college student, had to say. 00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:10.159 So he said, not till I get from my commander the report that says that my task is over, 00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:11.339 will I leave this jungle. 00:10:11.459 --> 00:10:14.179 So he flies back, gets him, comes back, 00:10:14.839 --> 00:10:16.360 and there his commander tells him, 00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:19.079 yeah, it's true, the war has long been over. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:21.860 Freedom had come, 00:10:23.079 --> 00:10:25.480 but Onoda did not believe in the message of peace. 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:28.959 Instead, he has wasted many years of his life, 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:30.599 enslaved by the lie that he believed, 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:35.899 not realizing that he had just had to step out of the jungle into freedom. 00:10:37.340 --> 00:10:38.279 Galatians 4 says, 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:39.800 formerly you did not know God, 00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:42.200 you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 00:10:42.300 --> 00:10:43.360 And then, how is it? 00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:45.259 You are turning back to those weak and miserable forces. 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:48.320 Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 00:10:49.040 --> 00:10:51.040 So what is Paul talking about here? 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:54.660 We are all slaves to countless gods. 00:10:54.659 --> 00:10:57.899 We are slaves to idols, 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:00.500 lies that we believe. 00:11:01.719 --> 00:11:06.879 And Paul describes these idols as not being God in nature. 00:11:07.719 --> 00:11:09.500 They actually are weak and miserable forces. 00:11:10.439 --> 00:11:12.399 In my own life, I've seen that a lot. 00:11:12.899 --> 00:11:14.100 When I worked in banking, 00:11:14.259 --> 00:11:16.740 I had an idol lifted up of success and money. 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:18.079 Now, as a pastor, 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:20.839 it's what status and how people think about you. 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:23.160 We all build up these idols in us. 00:11:24.040 --> 00:11:25.840 Idols desire our passion. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:29.240 They desire our devotion and everything about us. 00:11:30.920 --> 00:11:33.240 And ultimately, they control our life. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:37.960 Let me share one other story that happened about two years ago. 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:40.900 One of my new friends here in Hong Kong, 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:41.660 from mainland China, 00:11:41.780 --> 00:11:43.879 he studied at a university here as well. 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:45.420 He came to Christ. 00:11:46.400 --> 00:11:48.460 Now, I'd been discipling him for a while, 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:51.180 and we were sitting up on a pond up in Kallun Park. 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:54.060 And we were just talking about the gods we worship. 00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:54.660 And he says, 00:11:54.940 --> 00:11:55.820 I'm from mainland China. 00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:56.740 I am an atheist. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:58.220 Until the day that I became a Christian, 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:00.040 I did not have any gods in my life. 00:12:01.160 --> 00:12:03.420 So I need to continue talking about what it really means 00:12:03.420 --> 00:12:06.700 to having idols and having things we worship 00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:07.720 to have a Christian. 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:11.700 I asked him whether he has anything that ever brought him good luck. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:12.519 He said, oh, yeah, yeah. 00:12:12.660 --> 00:12:13.720 And he pulls out of his pocket 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:15.460 this little jade coin or like circle. 00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:18.980 He said, my mom gave that to me before I left to Hong Kong. 00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:20.820 And every time I had an exam, 00:12:20.920 --> 00:12:21.879 I took it into the exam. 00:12:22.060 --> 00:12:23.040 And I did really well. 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:24.340 I've been really lucky. 00:12:25.560 --> 00:12:27.759 So I took that coin and I said, 00:12:28.139 --> 00:12:29.740 so do you mind if I just like throw it in the lake? 00:12:30.540 --> 00:12:31.600 And he, no, no, no. 00:12:32.180 --> 00:12:33.320 And I, what? 00:12:33.420 --> 00:12:34.680 Like, why do you react so strongly? 00:12:34.680 --> 00:12:36.860 Like, I thought you don't have any idols. 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:40.320 Oh, and as we are starting talking about, 00:12:41.220 --> 00:12:43.800 he realized that he had assigned something very powerful, 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:45.800 something divine to this little thing. 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:50.120 And he had given that little thing a power over him. 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:52.139 And he put his hope in it. 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:56.480 Paul talks about these weak and miserable forces, 00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:58.820 which are no gods by nature, 00:12:58.899 --> 00:13:01.320 but we do assign power to them. 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:03.720 And we let them rule over us. 00:13:04.660 --> 00:13:07.300 There's a leading theologian from the 18th century, 00:13:07.420 --> 00:13:08.200 and this is a little tongue-breaker, 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:09.340 Friedrich Schleiermacher. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:14.360 And he talked about this whole concept in detail. 00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:17.160 So he has these different levels that he talks about 00:13:17.160 --> 00:13:19.960 to help us understand how many gods we actually create. 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:22.340 So the first level that he talks about 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:25.140 is what he would kind of describe as talismanism. 00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:27.659 So a talisman is a man-made thing, 00:13:27.699 --> 00:13:28.259 a little item, 00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:30.960 that we assign something powerful, 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:32.000 something divine to. 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:35.019 Now, it's like my friend's jade coin. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.240 Well, when I was young, 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:38.360 I had a little stuffed animal 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:40.080 that I would actually take to my exams as well, 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:41.600 so I could relate to how my... 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:43.500 It was my good luck monkey 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:44.879 that I took into all my exams, 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:45.779 and I did really well. 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:46.600 I was very lucky. 00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:50.939 Now, you may have a little necklace you wear. 00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:53.039 You may have a pen that you use 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:54.399 to sign all your important papers, 00:13:54.579 --> 00:13:55.819 make sure that all your contracts go well. 00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:57.519 You may have red underwear. 00:13:58.459 --> 00:13:59.839 Some people do, I heard, in China. 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:02.919 Or you may have a little golden statue in your home. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:05.159 Even the banks and police stations, 00:14:05.259 --> 00:14:06.099 actually, in Hong Kong, 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:08.679 you see they have cannons or dragons in the entrance. 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:11.259 And they actually are man-made idols 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:12.860 to keep the evil spirits out. 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:15.759 The police station, the cannons were set up 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:18.159 so that the police would not be depressed. 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:20.360 And the dragons were set up 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.899 to keep the spirits from coming in 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:24.179 and bringing bad fortune to the bank. 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:27.039 Now, it's pretty obvious 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.340 that we have man-made idols 00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:29.620 all around us in this city. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:33.779 But it's not just man-made things 00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:36.299 that we can assign the divine to 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:38.500 and lift up as idols over us. 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:39.579 There's also people. 00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:42.299 So the second level that Schleiermacher 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.980 talks about is shamanism. 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:47.919 Now, a shaman is a divine person. 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:50.259 Like, we assign the divine to a human being 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:52.819 and lift them up as being something powerful. 00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:56.819 In Hong Kong, you see that at Temple Street, for example. 00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:58.460 You go to the fortune teller, 00:14:58.559 --> 00:14:59.460 they'll read your hand, 00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:01.620 or they'll look in the stars or your birth date, 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:02.899 and ultimately, 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:05.980 they will point you to what you need to do, 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:09.139 and you assign the divine power to them 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:10.279 over your life. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:11.939 You may adjust your life according to it, 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:14.200 or you call the Feng Shui master into your home. 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:16.819 Now, there may just be an architectural thing about it, 00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:19.640 but ultimately, there's a whole spiritual dimension behind it. 00:15:20.040 --> 00:15:22.180 And you may want to adjust everything in your home 00:15:22.180 --> 00:15:25.379 according to how the spiritual balance 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:27.400 and harmony in your home should come through that. 00:15:28.280 --> 00:15:30.020 And then you may actually pay money for it, 00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:31.080 and suddenly you realize 00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:33.160 how you've elevated a person 00:15:33.160 --> 00:15:36.100 with something divine to your own life. 00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:41.560 But I would say we even do that with pastors in Hong Kong. 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:46.860 The way that I have sometimes seen pastors being viewed 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:48.320 as this powerful person 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:49.700 that has something that I cannot have, 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:51.259 and I need to go to that pastor 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:55.860 for not just wisdom and a pointer to God's power, 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:58.740 but that somehow this person has power that I cannot have, 00:15:58.800 --> 00:16:01.879 but Christ has come to be the mediator for us. 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:04.840 So we see that even there, 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:07.200 we begin to assign something powerful, 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:08.439 something divine to people, 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:12.220 but it may be as subtle as your spouse, your children, 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:14.740 and you begin to find more hope in your own family 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.779 than you find in Christ. 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.279 And suddenly you realize 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:19.600 how much you have elevated people in your lives. 00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:22.039 Now, the third thing, 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:24.480 the third level that this guy talks about 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:28.679 is nature and the unseen. 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:31.139 So we've talked about things or people, 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:33.000 but there are also unseen things 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:36.620 that all around us we assign something powerful to. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:45.299 It may be something like a spirit of a mountain 00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:46.460 or of a river, 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.840 but even if you look around in Hong Kong, 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.080 if we could look this way, 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:52.980 you know that there's a spirit of a dragon in this mountain, 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:54.840 and in the Bel Air, 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:58.720 one of the most expensive real estate pieces in the world, 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:00.200 they had to cut out holes 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:02.440 so that the dragon actually will not get upset 00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:05.279 and bring bad fortune to the people living there. 00:17:06.120 --> 00:17:09.740 Now, when you think about how expensive real estate is over there, 00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:13.000 why would an architect ever cut out a place for 20 apartments 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.559 that's like 50 million Hong Kong dollars 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:16.140 just to please a dragon spirit? 00:17:16.860 --> 00:17:18.480 Now, or the number four, 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:22.200 how many people would not want to pay the same price 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:25.319 for an apartment on the fourth level of a building? 00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:27.700 So you suddenly realize that there are forces 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:30.840 that we assign the divine to that we don't see, 00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:32.319 but we give them power. 00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:34.980 This morning, I stepped out of my door, 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:36.200 and there's my neighbor, 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.740 and he does his thing in the morning. 00:17:37.860 --> 00:17:40.319 He has a little pot right in the middle in front of my door, 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:44.359 and he burns all that stuff for the ancestors. 00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:46.799 He has a little sticker that he put next to our lift 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.259 so that the ghosts don't come up. 00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:50.339 And in Sai Yen Poon, 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:52.279 you know that there has been a mental institution 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:53.720 that there are a lot of ghosts in that area. 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:58.240 So he's very thorough. 00:17:58.399 --> 00:17:59.980 Every morning, he goes through the ritual, 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:02.099 and you see how he has been enslaved 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:05.279 by pleading the spirits by the unseen forces. 00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.599 And don't hear me wrong. 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:09.539 I'm not saying that these forces don't exist 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.379 and that they are not real 00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:12.639 and that they are something to joke about. 00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:15.539 I very much believe that there are forces 00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:18.559 that can be assigned to people or to the unseen 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:20.599 and that there's a spiritual world all around us. 00:18:21.219 --> 00:18:22.139 But in the words of Paul, 00:18:22.199 --> 00:18:23.740 I believe that these powers are not of God, 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:26.059 that they are weak and miserable forces 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:29.379 that ultimately try to enslave us. 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:33.459 As you think about your own life, 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:37.640 what and whom are you assigning divine power to? 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.620 What resonates with you? 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:42.700 What idols are there that are a part in your life? 00:18:43.620 --> 00:18:45.680 Are there tangible things in your life 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:46.880 that you put your hope in? 00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:49.259 Maybe you have good luck chumps, 00:18:49.340 --> 00:18:52.500 but maybe it's just your flat, your money, your status, 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:54.079 and you put your hope in the security 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:55.039 that comes through that. 00:18:56.620 --> 00:18:58.980 Or are there people that you seek out 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:01.000 for your well-being? 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:03.319 It can be a monk or a fortune teller, 00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:04.920 but it could be your spouse 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:07.640 that you put in more hope than Christ. 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:10.599 Or unseen forces, 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.900 spiritual forces like the chi 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:14.700 and everything that's related to the chi 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:17.099 and ghosts and ancestors, 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:21.900 but maybe also the unseen spirits of pride and lust 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:24.400 and being in control of everything. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:28.820 Now, I spent a lot of time unpacking some of these idols, 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:32.880 but I think it is important to just stop 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:34.560 and not just look at Galatians 00:19:34.560 --> 00:19:35.500 and what it was for them, 00:19:35.580 --> 00:19:37.080 but what does it mean for us now, 00:19:37.360 --> 00:19:38.200 here in Hong Kong, 00:19:38.780 --> 00:19:39.960 right here in this year? 00:19:41.080 --> 00:19:42.080 It's easy for us to say, 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:43.980 I don't really have the same kind of idols. 00:19:44.280 --> 00:19:45.340 Actually, if I look at my life, 00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:46.560 I don't really think I struggle so much 00:19:46.560 --> 00:19:48.100 with gods that I lift up. 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:51.679 But are you sure that you are not like 00:19:51.679 --> 00:19:52.740 Lieutenant Onoda? 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:56.679 That after years and years living in the jungle, 00:19:57.179 --> 00:19:58.559 one day you look back at your life 00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.240 and you realize, 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:02.019 money enslaved me, 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:03.599 studies enslaved me, 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:05.899 I had idols in my life that I lifted up 00:20:05.899 --> 00:20:07.719 and they controlled every one of my steps. 00:20:09.439 --> 00:20:11.000 Paul reminds the Galatians of the truth 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:12.279 that freedom has come 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.779 and Christ has set him free. 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:17.440 For Lieutenant Onoda, 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.480 when he was in the jungle, 00:20:18.899 --> 00:20:21.420 there were flyers that were dropped in the forest. 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:23.460 There were cars going around the jungle 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:25.399 with big speakers announcing peace. 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:29.019 But every time when they were starting to talk 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:30.220 about these things that were happening, 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:32.160 they talked to each other 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.559 and confirmed to each other that, 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.960 oh no, this is all a lie. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.579 They were so caught up after some years 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:39.180 of living this false reality 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:41.920 that it became their truth. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:44.600 He could not really flee. 00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:45.600 He couldn't really step out 00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:47.060 and was completely uncaptured 00:20:47.060 --> 00:20:48.460 by the lie he was living. 00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:49.840 And I wonder, 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:52.720 so when I look at the Galatian church 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.920 and being a young church, 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:56.820 what does it mean for us? 00:20:57.640 --> 00:20:59.340 Like Watermark is only a year and a half old 00:20:59.340 --> 00:21:01.440 and we are on a new journey. 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.420 And a lot of people, 00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.700 maybe young believers, 00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:05.480 some of you, 00:21:06.820 --> 00:21:08.680 you may have still like a lot of questions 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.880 about the truth of the gospel. 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:13.140 So what does it mean for us? 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.340 How can we find out 00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:17.040 whether we're living in the truth 00:21:17.040 --> 00:21:18.280 or whether we're living a lie? 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:23.020 So I want to just look at a couple of things 00:21:23.020 --> 00:21:26.660 and how we can maybe protect ourselves, 00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:29.060 how we can evaluate that. 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:32.220 How do we not fall into that trap 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:33.560 that the Galatians fell into 00:21:33.560 --> 00:21:35.900 and how do we identify these lies 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:37.000 that come at us? 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:39.019 So one of the first things 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.099 that I would suggest is 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:41.960 that we can do as a church 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:43.559 is to simply know the gospel. 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:45.799 Like if you know what the truth is 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:48.480 and you match it with what not as truth, 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:50.640 then you can like know where to go. 00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:53.519 But the point is, 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.779 knowing the gospel 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:57.740 is not like knowing the right answer to your exam. 00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.859 The gospel is all of life. 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:01.740 There's so much about this message. 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:04.200 And you saw the Galatians being very confused 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:05.400 as soon as like a new twist 00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:08.079 and a new little bend to that message came. 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:08.380 They said, 00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.799 oh, maybe that's still true. 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.740 So I grew up in Germany 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:16.859 and I lived in a culture 00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:18.740 that supposedly is Christian. 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:21.559 But as I grew up, 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.759 I actually went to Christmas services. 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:24.680 I also went to Easter stuff, 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.460 but it had more to do with the bunny 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:29.000 and not so much with the real message. 00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:30.539 So ultimately, 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:32.019 as I went through that, 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:35.319 I realized that the DNA of the gospel 00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.579 was so hidden. 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.980 The truth of the gospel 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:39.720 was so hidden beyond all this other stuff 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:41.380 that I couldn't really see it. 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:46.440 Now, when I was 19 years old, 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:48.340 I started to think about it more. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:50.319 And I was confronted with the gospel. 00:22:50.860 --> 00:22:51.980 And step by step, 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:53.799 I realized that the gospel message 00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:55.500 about God coming to this world 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.660 in the person of Jesus Christ 00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:58.160 being 100% God, 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.099 100% man, 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:00.759 dying on the cross for my sin. 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:02.599 And that there was no way around 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:04.519 to twist that message 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:08.180 and that this God is not a distant God, 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:10.220 but that he longs for a relationship with me. 00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:13.460 I wrestled with that. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:15.519 I started to study archaeology and history 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:18.119 and I did not want to embrace this message. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:20.920 But all my searching and wrestling with it 00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:22.759 ultimately led me after several years 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.519 when I was 23 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:25.660 to ultimately give my heart to that message. 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:28.960 And the deeper you begin to understand 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:31.619 and allow the gospel to sink into your lives, 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:33.519 the more you become rooted in the message. 00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:37.519 I've been thinking about what it means for us 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:40.539 and one of the things that has come to my heart 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:42.839 was like seeing Eric work with the youth. 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:44.440 I've been a youth minister for three years 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.579 when I first stepped into ministry 00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:47.259 and started to think about 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:48.680 what does it mean for your kids 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:51.660 and the youth in this church. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:54.519 Because one of the things that I have seen 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:56.100 and that I've wrestled with 00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:57.279 while being in Hong Kong 00:23:57.279 --> 00:24:01.400 is that sometimes you see parents 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:03.080 dropping their kids off at church 00:24:03.080 --> 00:24:03.799 on Sunday morning, 00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:05.360 maybe sending them to youth group 00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:06.539 and the hope is that somehow 00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.779 they'll become good kids 00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:09.720 and they'll do the right things. 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.840 But there are like these three, four hours 00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:12.480 of exposure. 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:14.720 And as they go back into the world, 00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:16.500 into their schools 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:18.059 and into their families, 00:24:18.860 --> 00:24:20.140 is that the same message? 00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:22.360 Will they come back 00:24:22.360 --> 00:24:24.420 and will their parents pray with them? 00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:27.120 Will the kids look at their own parents? 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:29.380 Will they see the gospel message, 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.819 the truth being lived out 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:32.099 on a day-to-day basis? 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:35.500 And I don't know how it is for you. 00:24:37.120 --> 00:24:39.539 And there's a tension obviously 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:41.019 in looking at this message 00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:42.440 and realizing that there's freedom, 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:44.460 but there's also responsibility for us 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:46.700 to live out this message. 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:47.940 So I'm not, 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:50.180 I not want to put that guilt 00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.460 and responsibility on parents, 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.660 but for us as a church family 00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:54.000 to ask this question together, 00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:55.900 how can we expose, 00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.819 how can we make the gospel known 00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:59.500 not just on two hours on Sunday morning, 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:01.799 but in every aspect of our lives? 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.500 How in the school, 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.220 in your family, 00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:06.319 how can we come alongside each other 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:07.900 and exposing each other 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:09.079 and rubbing that DNA 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:11.179 on each other of the gospel? 00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:15.699 Now the second thing 00:25:15.699 --> 00:25:21.379 that I think is pretty significant 00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.199 is community. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.799 Now who is the community 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.679 that surrounds you? 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.799 What do they tell you? 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:29.259 In verse 17, 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:31.480 it says that those people 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.720 are zealous to win you over, 00:25:33.859 --> 00:25:34.639 but for no good. 00:25:35.399 --> 00:25:37.220 What they want is to alienate you from us 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:39.079 so that you may have zeal for them. 00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.500 It is fine to be zealous, 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:42.759 provided the purpose is good. 00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:45.380 And to be so always, 00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:46.440 not just when I'm with you, 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:48.819 I have had people in my life 00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:51.940 that I was very close with, 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.720 very close friends, 00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:54.039 and as I look back, 00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:57.539 I realize they did not have a good purpose. 00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:00.019 And I look at my life 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:01.000 and I realize sometimes 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:03.200 I haven't had a good purpose 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.840 about being around people. 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:09.140 When I think of a true friend, 00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:13.880 I would ask myself the question, 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.660 do I have people in my life 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:17.860 that would really tell me the truth? 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.900 Honestly, that's difficult stuff. 00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:22.440 Like think of you being upset 00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.059 with your boss 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:24.160 or with your wife 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:25.920 or you have a conflict with a friend. 00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:27.160 What do you want them to say? 00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.200 What do you want them to say? 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:29.819 You are right. 00:26:30.120 --> 00:26:30.840 He's a jerk. 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:32.199 Your boss treats you bad. 00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:33.619 You are right. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:35.859 Your spouse just should respect you more 00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:37.139 and do this better 00:26:37.139 --> 00:26:38.019 and love you more. 00:26:39.439 --> 00:26:40.399 Or do you have friends 00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:41.599 that actually will tell you, 00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:42.459 you know what? 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.559 You really messed up. 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.559 You need to go to apologize. 00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:50.000 Stop treating people that way. 00:26:51.459 --> 00:26:52.699 Stop being prideful. 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:55.359 Stop with your unethical business practices. 00:26:57.919 --> 00:26:59.459 Now, which friend would you prefer? 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:01.740 And I have to say in my heart, 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:04.140 I want people to like me, support me. 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:06.100 But what does the gospel say? 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:09.759 Now, in verse 16, Paul says, 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.160 have I now become your enemy 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:12.680 by telling you the truth? 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:17.420 I think it is a very clear indicator 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:19.200 of how honest community looks like. 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.200 At Watermark, you know, 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:22.059 we talk about Watermark Community Church, 00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:23.440 so community is the center 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:25.100 of where we want to go. 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:27.119 So how we can protect ourselves 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:30.139 from not falling into lies 00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:32.759 and living out these wrong messages 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:34.759 is to be in a community 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:36.099 where we tell each other the truth. 00:27:36.459 --> 00:27:37.859 So we have community groups 00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:38.599 all over the city. 00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:41.179 And so I would encourage you 00:27:41.179 --> 00:27:41.859 to think about, 00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:43.240 if you're not a part of a community group, 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:44.699 to step into a community group. 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.619 And I'm not saying that 00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:47.419 they will all have a good purpose, 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:50.359 but hopefully we will move step by step 00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:51.759 and go on this journey together 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.919 that we become people 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:54.519 that will have a good purpose for each other, 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.580 speaking the truth to each other. 00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:57.640 And when we fail, 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.900 that we can approach each other again 00:27:58.900 --> 00:28:00.680 and become step by step 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:02.300 more transparent and real with each other. 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:05.160 That's my hope for what it means 00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:05.800 to stay true. 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:07.180 Like, I don't want to sit in the jungle 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:09.140 with three people that wrestle with, 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.140 oh, I think it's a lie, 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:12.140 and then ultimately wake up and say, 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.779 I wasted my life. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.460 I have been following these idols. 00:28:18.580 --> 00:28:20.300 The third thing that strikes me 00:28:20.300 --> 00:28:21.060 about Galatians 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:22.659 is that I don't see anything mentioned 00:28:22.659 --> 00:28:24.079 about an outward focus. 00:28:25.679 --> 00:28:27.379 Now, we talk about upward, 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:29.079 inward, and outward here a lot at Watermark. 00:28:29.399 --> 00:28:31.220 Upward is your relationship with God, 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:33.000 and that's an important part. 00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:33.539 And then inward, 00:28:33.659 --> 00:28:34.519 that you are a part of community 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.319 and you grow deeper. 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:37.119 But this outward part, 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:39.099 I think, is very essential. 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.440 You know, 00:28:42.679 --> 00:28:44.220 when I think about being outward, 00:28:44.399 --> 00:28:46.359 I think about being missional 00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:48.379 and being in the workplace, 00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.319 being in the family, 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:50.439 and living out the gospel, 00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.819 not just in the Christian Bible, 00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:53.299 but there where I may not have 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.159 Christian community. 00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:57.099 Sometimes when you talk about maturity 00:28:57.099 --> 00:28:58.379 in the Christian faith, 00:28:58.740 --> 00:29:00.339 we think about coming to church 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.740 and how much Bible knowledge we have. 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:04.119 But I would suggest a different question. 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.799 A question of Christian maturity 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.419 could be, 00:29:08.139 --> 00:29:08.919 who do you disciple? 00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:11.200 Who do you mentor? 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.399 Who do you pass on 00:29:13.399 --> 00:29:15.179 the message of Christ? 00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.779 Who do you rub Christ on? 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:19.180 And if you have a hard time 00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:20.980 thinking about who these people are, 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:25.660 then maybe you need to ask yourself, 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.879 like, how can I take steps 00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:27.599 into being outward? 00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.859 And again, remember, 00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:29.799 there's freedom, 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:31.440 not a burden in this. 00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:33.180 It's not to walk away 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.519 and feel like, 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:34.539 I have to do these things. 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:35.779 No, Christ has set you free. 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.700 Now, how do you go 00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:38.059 in a community together 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.639 on the journey 00:29:38.639 --> 00:29:40.680 that we become more outward focused? 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:44.820 I like this phrase of saying, 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.840 maturity is not 00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:48.500 how much solid food you can eat, 00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:50.600 but how much milk 00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:52.740 you can give to the immature. 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:56.880 So how much do you feed the babies, 00:29:57.100 --> 00:29:57.799 the young people? 00:29:58.120 --> 00:29:59.200 How much do you pass on? 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.580 Is your life centered around, 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:02.519 oh, I go to all these Bible studies, 00:30:02.620 --> 00:30:03.799 I know so many things. 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.140 Or do you ultimately say, 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.299 because I know these things, 00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:07.880 I now want to go outward 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:09.340 and impact people around me. 00:30:09.339 --> 00:30:11.459 I look at the Galatian community 00:30:11.459 --> 00:30:12.659 and I wonder, 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.519 where are the people? 00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.899 And when Paul writes 00:30:15.899 --> 00:30:17.279 that letter to the Galatians, 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.319 like, why is he not saying, 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:20.659 hey, listen to your elders. 00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:21.919 Listen to the people 00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:22.399 that tell you 00:30:22.399 --> 00:30:23.179 what you need to do. 00:30:24.179 --> 00:30:25.539 No, it's him who has to write 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.980 and direct people. 00:30:28.139 --> 00:30:28.819 So I wonder, 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:29.799 where were the people 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:31.679 that took that leadership? 00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:32.879 But it was probably, 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.879 like Watermark, 00:30:33.939 --> 00:30:34.939 a very young community. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.500 So we just need to hope 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.039 and pray 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:39.240 that as we all take steps forward, 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:40.619 that we grow in maturity, 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.939 that more and more people 00:30:41.939 --> 00:30:42.759 will become people 00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:44.599 that are not just eating solid food, 00:30:44.939 --> 00:30:46.359 but begin to pass things on, 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.359 care for those 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:49.199 who are not as far down 00:30:49.199 --> 00:30:49.699 in the journey. 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:51.899 And finally, 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.399 ask yourself 00:30:53.399 --> 00:30:54.220 whether you actually 00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:55.079 want to be free 00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:58.139 or do you want to be enslaved? 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.679 Now, you may say 00:31:02.679 --> 00:31:03.679 that's a ridiculous question. 00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:04.059 Of course, 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:04.899 I don't want to be a slave. 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:05.600 I want to be free. 00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:08.900 But when I look at my life, 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.460 I have to say, 00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:10.640 do I really want to? 00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.580 Now, let me explain that. 00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:14.900 In Galatians, 00:31:15.580 --> 00:31:16.380 that was a big question. 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:16.900 On the one hand, 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:18.240 the message of grace was there. 00:31:19.560 --> 00:31:20.320 God did everything. 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.700 He came down. 00:31:22.140 --> 00:31:23.000 He died on the cross. 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:24.480 By grace, 00:31:24.560 --> 00:31:25.160 by his mercy, 00:31:25.560 --> 00:31:26.040 you are freed. 00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:26.820 That's it. 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.019 Now, 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:29.780 the other guys step in 00:31:29.780 --> 00:31:30.080 and say, 00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:30.580 hey, 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.680 that's not really 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.519 the full message. 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:34.039 It's actually also 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.960 what you need to do. 00:31:35.560 --> 00:31:35.680 You know, 00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.220 you can observe 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:37.060 these dietary laws 00:31:37.060 --> 00:31:38.480 and go get circumcision 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:40.160 and follow these festivals 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:41.720 and it's all that you can do 00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.720 and you can control 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:44.200 how you're saved. 00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:46.140 And somehow, 00:31:46.320 --> 00:31:46.759 it's in us 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.500 that we want to be 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.200 our own savior. 00:31:48.840 --> 00:31:50.560 And I think we all 00:31:50.560 --> 00:31:51.120 have that in us 00:31:51.120 --> 00:31:51.740 that we somewhat 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:53.000 want to control areas 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.680 in our lives. 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.060 Do we really want to be 00:31:55.060 --> 00:31:56.019 in that freedom? 00:31:57.320 --> 00:31:58.560 Paul writes in verse 20 00:31:58.560 --> 00:32:00.019 that I'm perplexed by you. 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.559 Why would you ever 00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:02.539 want to turn back to that? 00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:03.599 It's like, 00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.960 Lieutenant Onoda, 00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:06.460 after coming out 00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:06.819 of the jungle 00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:07.599 after 30 years, 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:08.680 he would have said, 00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:09.359 oh, 00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:10.759 okay, 00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:11.240 there's freedom, 00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:11.619 but actually, 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:12.000 let me go back 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.440 to the jungle. 00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.759 The funny thing is, 00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:16.859 he wrestled with that. 00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:20.180 The jungle had become 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:20.680 his dear home 00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.480 for 30 years. 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.980 That's where he functioned. 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:24.139 The world had changed so much. 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.799 So how to adjust to that? 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:27.420 Or some studies have shown 00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:28.480 that when people 00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.579 have spent years and years 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:30.099 in prison, 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:32.119 they have a hard time 00:32:32.119 --> 00:32:32.980 living in freedom again. 00:32:33.199 --> 00:32:34.139 They prefer the controlled 00:32:34.139 --> 00:32:35.759 environment of prison. 00:32:36.919 --> 00:32:37.899 So the responsibility 00:32:37.899 --> 00:32:38.960 of really living 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:40.019 and wanting freedom 00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:41.579 is big. 00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:45.299 We much rather want 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.519 to have a religious system 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.119 where we know, 00:32:47.379 --> 00:32:48.379 if I just go to church 00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:49.599 and I go through 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:51.059 my daily Bible reading plan 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:52.379 and then I tithe 00:32:52.379 --> 00:32:53.019 a certain amount, 00:32:53.099 --> 00:32:53.599 then I'm good 00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:54.399 and I've done 00:32:54.399 --> 00:32:55.119 what I need to do. 00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:59.679 But Christ has done it all 00:32:59.679 --> 00:33:00.799 already. 00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:03.459 Nothing for you and I 00:33:03.459 --> 00:33:04.059 to add, 00:33:04.939 --> 00:33:06.119 but to live out the gospel 00:33:06.119 --> 00:33:06.899 in all its beauty. 00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:08.519 And that's freedom. 00:33:10.179 --> 00:33:11.259 And so the only challenge 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:12.819 I can leave you with today 00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:14.479 is embrace your freedom. 00:33:15.159 --> 00:33:15.619 Let's pray. 00:33:15.619 --> 00:33:20.099 Father, 00:33:21.439 --> 00:33:22.500 we just come before you 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.519 realizing that 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.719 that freedom 00:33:24.719 --> 00:33:26.059 that you want to give us 00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:26.639 is not something 00:33:26.639 --> 00:33:28.000 that we run after 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:28.839 and that we really 00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:30.379 desire all the time. 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.579 So we just pray 00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:34.239 that if we don't know 00:33:34.239 --> 00:33:34.739 that freedom 00:33:34.739 --> 00:33:35.739 that the gospel message 00:33:35.739 --> 00:33:37.139 really talks about, 00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:39.199 that you would reveal it 00:33:39.199 --> 00:33:39.919 and really show 00:33:39.919 --> 00:33:41.000 the lies we're living, 00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:41.919 that we would step out 00:33:41.919 --> 00:33:42.379 of the jungle 00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:43.199 in our life, 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.900 realizing the idols 00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:45.519 that we follow, 00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:47.480 that we are 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:50.100 enslaved by so many things 00:33:50.100 --> 00:33:50.660 in this world. 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.120 Father, 00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:53.860 that you would just 00:33:53.860 --> 00:33:55.180 reveal that to us 00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:56.600 and help us see 00:33:56.600 --> 00:33:57.120 the beauty 00:33:57.120 --> 00:33:57.779 of the freedom 00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:59.880 that is in you 00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:01.299 and in what you have done 00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:01.900 on the cross. 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:05.420 Father, 00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:06.019 I just pray 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:07.380 that no one 00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:08.480 would walk away today 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:09.260 with the burden 00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:10.579 of guilt 00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:11.340 and responsibility 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:12.300 and I need to do 00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:12.920 all these things 00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:13.840 and I do these things 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.139 wrong, 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:16.139 but what you hear 00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:16.659 is your message 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.220 of freedom. 00:34:19.200 --> 00:34:19.940 The freedom 00:34:19.940 --> 00:34:21.260 that you invite people 00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:21.900 into community 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.400 with you 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:22.960 and community 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:23.740 with one another 00:34:23.740 --> 00:34:25.980 just take steps 00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:26.900 forward at a time 00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.800 to really embrace 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:28.619 the fullness 00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:29.159 of the freedom 00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:29.980 that you have given us, 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:30.240 Father. 00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:33.980 And so help us 00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:35.019 see the idols 00:34:35.019 --> 00:34:35.700 that we worship. 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:37.559 Give us the freedom 00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:38.639 to step out of it 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:40.980 as we find 00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.420 the freedom 00:34:41.420 --> 00:34:41.940 and the beauty 00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:42.780 of what you have 00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.619 done for us 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.680 and we would 00:34:44.680 --> 00:34:45.460 fully embrace it. 00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:46.760 I pray this 00:34:46.760 --> 00:34:47.440 in Christ's name. 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.260 Amen. 00:34:49.260 --> 00:34:49.659 Wow. 00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:50.760 You want to be free, 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:51.079 right? 00:34:51.180 --> 00:34:51.840 That's the question 00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:53.360 we have to ask ourselves 00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:53.720 today. 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:54.559 What does it look like 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.320 in our lives? 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.500 What does it look like 00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:57.480 to walk out of here 00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:58.860 different and free 00:34:58.860 --> 00:35:00.440 and not go back 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.079 to the jungle 00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.420 that so easily 00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:03.700 kind of beckons us 00:35:03.700 --> 00:35:04.840 back? 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:06.700 I kind of feel like 00:35:06.700 --> 00:35:07.340 I don't need to do 00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:07.980 announcements right now 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.760 but just continue 00:35:08.760 --> 00:35:09.700 worshiping a little 00:35:09.700 --> 00:35:10.240 or just thinking 00:35:10.240 --> 00:35:11.480 about the message 00:35:11.480 --> 00:35:13.039 and what God 00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:13.800 wants for us 00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:14.519 in our relationship 00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:15.059 with Him. 00:35:15.120 --> 00:35:15.980 What does it look like 00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:17.360 to be free? 00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.280 Do we want 00:35:20.280 --> 00:35:21.760 that in our lives? 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:25.000 Honestly, 00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:26.059 do you want that? 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:27.960 Or do you want 00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.380 to go back? 00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:32.559 There's a lot 00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:33.140 of neat things 00:35:33.140 --> 00:35:34.220 going on in the church, 00:35:34.219 --> 00:35:34.759 in the community. 00:35:34.879 --> 00:35:35.500 I want to encourage you 00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.599 to get into a community group. 00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:37.459 It's the next step. 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:37.980 It's the only thing 00:35:37.980 --> 00:35:39.719 we want you to do here. 00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:41.939 It's where life 00:35:41.939 --> 00:35:42.559 is lived out. 00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:43.599 It's where people wrestle. 00:35:43.799 --> 00:35:44.279 It's where people 00:35:44.279 --> 00:35:45.399 are honest, hopefully. 00:35:46.099 --> 00:35:46.879 Again, we've always said 00:35:46.879 --> 00:35:47.399 we're young 00:35:47.399 --> 00:35:48.439 and we make a lot 00:35:48.439 --> 00:35:48.939 of mistakes. 00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:49.759 We're not perfect. 00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:51.639 We're trusting the Lord 00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:52.519 as we go on this journey 00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:53.059 with Him. 00:35:53.819 --> 00:35:54.639 I wanted to ask 00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:55.779 Natalie Mann 00:35:55.779 --> 00:35:56.480 to come up 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:59.319 and share a little bit 00:35:59.319 --> 00:36:00.179 about what's going on 00:36:00.179 --> 00:36:02.000 with the children's ministry 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:02.500 for the summer. 00:36:02.899 --> 00:36:03.299 So, 00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:04.440 summer is here 00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:06.320 and it feels good 00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:07.120 and our church 00:36:07.120 --> 00:36:07.780 is growing 00:36:07.780 --> 00:36:08.940 which is another 00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:10.120 great thing 00:36:10.120 --> 00:36:10.860 happening here 00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:11.460 at Watermark. 00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:12.840 And I wanted to share 00:36:12.840 --> 00:36:13.860 that we are looking 00:36:13.860 --> 00:36:14.860 for new volunteers. 00:36:15.560 --> 00:36:16.000 So, 00:36:16.100 --> 00:36:16.960 we're not just looking 00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.360 for them, 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.840 we actually need them. 00:36:19.420 --> 00:36:19.760 So, 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:21.220 I wanted you guys, 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:21.980 those of you 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:22.900 who had a feeling 00:36:22.900 --> 00:36:23.180 like, 00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:23.440 wow, 00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:24.280 I love kids 00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:25.180 but I just don't know 00:36:25.180 --> 00:36:26.860 if I have that energy 00:36:26.860 --> 00:36:27.760 or I just don't know 00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:28.780 if I want to give up, 00:36:29.080 --> 00:36:29.260 you know, 00:36:29.300 --> 00:36:30.240 my Sunday service. 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:31.719 It's actually 00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:32.879 a really great opportunity. 00:36:33.159 --> 00:36:34.059 We're only asking 00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:36.679 for once every month. 00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:37.699 So, 00:36:37.879 --> 00:36:38.559 for those of you 00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:38.979 who think, 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:39.299 hey, 00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:40.319 I can give up 00:36:40.319 --> 00:36:41.239 one Sunday a month, 00:36:42.079 --> 00:36:43.799 we really do need you. 00:36:43.800 --> 00:36:44.260 So, 00:36:44.340 --> 00:36:45.940 parents who have kids 00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:47.160 in the nursery 00:36:47.160 --> 00:36:48.780 or in the three 00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:49.760 and four year old class, 00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:50.780 whoever you are, 00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:51.880 we're looking for you. 00:36:52.220 --> 00:36:52.539 And so, 00:36:52.680 --> 00:36:53.519 please approach me 00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.420 after service. 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:55.560 The great thing 00:36:55.560 --> 00:36:56.560 about this opportunity 00:36:56.560 --> 00:36:57.460 is we have training 00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:58.080 this week. 00:36:58.320 --> 00:36:58.500 So, 00:36:58.620 --> 00:36:59.539 Thursday night, 00:36:59.680 --> 00:37:00.460 dinner provided, 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:01.360 it's going to be 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:02.240 an amazing time, 00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:03.620 7 to 9 p.m. 00:37:03.620 --> 00:37:04.440 if you can come 00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:05.060 for an hour, 00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:06.000 that's great too. 00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:07.440 Saturday morning 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:09.140 from 10 to 12 p.m., 00:37:09.140 --> 00:37:10.039 breakfast provided. 00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:11.019 So, 00:37:11.060 --> 00:37:11.720 you won't miss a meal. 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:13.879 It's all about the food, 00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.179 right? 00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:15.359 It's all about the food. 00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.480 And so, 00:37:16.619 --> 00:37:16.959 please, 00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:18.139 if you have any questions, 00:37:18.379 --> 00:37:19.299 if you're kind of 00:37:19.299 --> 00:37:19.859 on the brink 00:37:19.859 --> 00:37:20.779 and thinking about it, 00:37:20.839 --> 00:37:22.219 please just ask me questions. 00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:23.719 But we do need you. 00:37:23.779 --> 00:37:23.959 So, 00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:24.459 we're saying 00:37:24.459 --> 00:37:25.219 we need you. 00:37:25.980 --> 00:37:26.659 That's at the 00:37:26.659 --> 00:37:27.259 community center. 00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.559 At the community center, 00:37:28.659 --> 00:37:29.679 Watermark Community Center 00:37:29.679 --> 00:37:30.439 in Sying Poon. 00:37:30.619 --> 00:37:30.839 So, 00:37:30.919 --> 00:37:31.819 thank you so much 00:37:31.819 --> 00:37:33.459 and happy summer. 00:37:33.879 --> 00:37:34.239 That's great. 00:37:34.359 --> 00:37:34.679 Thank you. 00:37:38.459 --> 00:37:39.439 We have just a couple 00:37:39.439 --> 00:37:40.119 of really quick things 00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:40.679 I just want to run through. 00:37:40.759 --> 00:37:41.459 Next week is the 00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:42.000 beach party. 00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:42.300 So, 00:37:42.360 --> 00:37:42.980 you want to come. 00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:44.139 There's buses 00:37:44.139 --> 00:37:44.980 that will be available 00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:45.980 to take you out of here. 00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:47.539 There's places to eat there. 00:37:47.639 --> 00:37:48.539 We've already told them 00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.300 to be careful 00:37:49.300 --> 00:37:50.340 and be ready 00:37:50.340 --> 00:37:50.800 because there will be 00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:51.260 a lot of people 00:37:51.260 --> 00:37:52.199 coming to visit them. 00:37:53.220 --> 00:37:53.699 And so, 00:37:53.800 --> 00:37:54.659 we'd love for you to come 00:37:54.659 --> 00:37:55.179 and get a pick up 00:37:55.179 --> 00:37:56.220 a ticket on the way out. 00:37:56.579 --> 00:37:57.380 There's two or three buses 00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:57.880 that will leave 00:37:57.880 --> 00:37:59.059 immediately after this. 00:37:59.240 --> 00:37:59.400 And so, 00:37:59.579 --> 00:38:01.440 bring your beach clothes. 00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:02.679 If you don't know 00:38:02.679 --> 00:38:03.400 what those look like, 00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:04.300 just revert back 00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:05.400 to my birthday picture 00:38:05.400 --> 00:38:06.059 two weeks ago. 00:38:06.139 --> 00:38:06.820 That's what it looks like. 00:38:07.019 --> 00:38:07.340 Colorful, 00:38:07.500 --> 00:38:07.880 loud, 00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:10.079 and just easy to wear 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:10.860 in the hotness. 00:38:11.400 --> 00:38:11.579 So, 00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:12.779 that will be next Sunday. 00:38:13.340 --> 00:38:13.579 Also, 00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.400 someone asked me 00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:15.920 last week, 00:38:15.980 --> 00:38:16.179 they said, 00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:16.619 okay, 00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:17.239 you don't talk about 00:38:17.239 --> 00:38:18.099 tithing anymore. 00:38:18.500 --> 00:38:19.219 Are we not supposed 00:38:19.219 --> 00:38:19.779 to tithe? 00:38:20.420 --> 00:38:21.380 And just so you hear 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:21.760 our heart, 00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:21.980 you know, 00:38:22.019 --> 00:38:22.880 we haven't talked about it 00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:23.900 for about three or four weeks 00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:24.540 because we feel like 00:38:24.540 --> 00:38:25.380 it's a journey 00:38:25.380 --> 00:38:26.260 that we're going on 00:38:26.260 --> 00:38:27.300 as a church, 00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:28.720 but it's a response 00:38:28.720 --> 00:38:30.760 to God 00:38:30.760 --> 00:38:31.380 and what God's done 00:38:31.380 --> 00:38:31.980 in your life. 00:38:33.260 --> 00:38:33.480 And so, 00:38:33.640 --> 00:38:34.540 we need you to tithe. 00:38:34.660 --> 00:38:34.820 I mean, 00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:35.820 the scariest time 00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:36.760 for churches sometimes 00:38:36.760 --> 00:38:37.280 is the summer 00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:38.200 because everybody leaves, 00:38:38.300 --> 00:38:39.820 but ministry keeps going on 00:38:39.820 --> 00:38:41.000 and community keeps going on 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:42.220 and outreaches keep going on 00:38:42.220 --> 00:38:43.320 and training keeps going on. 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:44.900 But sometimes we forget 00:38:44.900 --> 00:38:47.360 about how that happens. 00:38:48.160 --> 00:38:49.099 But we want tithes 00:38:49.099 --> 00:38:50.400 to be a response 00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:51.740 on your part 00:38:51.740 --> 00:38:52.480 to what God has done 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:53.180 in your life. 00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:54.559 So as you think 00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:55.320 about the message, 00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:56.160 as you think about 00:38:56.160 --> 00:38:57.019 the church, 00:38:57.099 --> 00:38:58.079 as you think about Galatians, 00:38:58.140 --> 00:38:58.579 as you think about 00:38:58.579 --> 00:38:59.300 what God has done 00:38:59.300 --> 00:38:59.900 in your life, 00:39:00.200 --> 00:39:00.900 we want you then 00:39:00.900 --> 00:39:02.680 to respond in that fashion. 00:39:03.680 --> 00:39:04.640 And everything you give 00:39:04.640 --> 00:39:06.480 to God is already His. 00:39:08.019 --> 00:39:08.940 It's already His. 00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:11.260 But Scripture says 00:39:11.260 --> 00:39:12.059 that's probably 00:39:12.059 --> 00:39:13.039 one of your highest 00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:14.320 forms of worship 00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:16.840 because it's the thing 00:39:16.840 --> 00:39:18.100 that grabs our heart 00:39:18.100 --> 00:39:19.700 the most. 00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:21.860 So there's little 00:39:21.860 --> 00:39:23.260 purple envelopes. 00:39:23.300 --> 00:39:24.180 You can fill those out 00:39:24.180 --> 00:39:25.019 and put them in the boxes 00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:27.059 and worship God. 00:39:29.120 --> 00:39:29.519 Blue. 00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:32.660 We have this little discussion 00:39:32.660 --> 00:39:33.340 in our office 00:39:33.340 --> 00:39:33.900 all the time. 00:39:36.600 --> 00:39:37.240 We're going to do 00:39:37.240 --> 00:39:38.880 an Israel trip next May. 00:39:39.140 --> 00:39:40.300 We're already planning that. 00:39:40.400 --> 00:39:41.240 We already got the dates, 00:39:41.320 --> 00:39:41.660 so we want you 00:39:41.660 --> 00:39:42.660 to pray about that. 00:39:43.120 --> 00:39:44.320 We think it's a great opportunity 00:39:44.320 --> 00:39:45.100 for the church. 00:39:45.099 --> 00:39:45.819 Christine and I 00:39:45.819 --> 00:39:47.699 have had the incredible privilege 00:39:47.699 --> 00:39:48.279 of taking people 00:39:48.279 --> 00:39:49.039 every other year. 00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:50.059 My mentor will be 00:39:50.059 --> 00:39:50.719 taking us again. 00:39:50.819 --> 00:39:51.380 We have, I think, 00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:52.539 the best tour guide 00:39:52.539 --> 00:39:53.880 and one of the top 00:39:53.880 --> 00:39:54.579 church historians 00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:55.179 in the world. 00:39:55.699 --> 00:39:56.219 And so we'll be praying 00:39:56.219 --> 00:39:57.480 about being a part of that. 00:39:57.559 --> 00:39:58.500 We'll give you more information, 00:39:58.980 --> 00:39:59.839 but it'll be in May. 00:40:00.659 --> 00:40:01.739 And I just want to pray 00:40:01.739 --> 00:40:02.299 right now. 00:40:02.759 --> 00:40:03.659 I'm kind of a little hesitant 00:40:03.659 --> 00:40:04.079 in doing this, 00:40:04.139 --> 00:40:05.460 but we have the university 00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:06.319 students going out, 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:07.599 and I think that we talk 00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:09.000 about missions, right? 00:40:10.239 --> 00:40:11.259 There's one other person 00:40:11.259 --> 00:40:12.079 here I wanted to pray for, 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:12.739 but they're not here, 00:40:12.819 --> 00:40:13.539 so I think they're serving 00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:14.779 in the youth because 00:40:14.779 --> 00:40:15.340 they're going to be going 00:40:15.340 --> 00:40:16.579 out to another city, 00:40:16.759 --> 00:40:17.440 another country. 00:40:18.360 --> 00:40:18.960 But Scripture says 00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:20.059 that we're all missionaries, 00:40:21.139 --> 00:40:22.400 that we're all on a mission. 00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:24.880 And so the minute you leave here, 00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:25.659 you are a missionary. 00:40:26.059 --> 00:40:27.000 The minute you go to work, 00:40:27.059 --> 00:40:27.639 you're a missionary. 00:40:27.860 --> 00:40:28.380 Wherever you go back 00:40:28.380 --> 00:40:28.900 to your family, 00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:29.579 for some of us, 00:40:30.420 --> 00:40:31.719 our families are the hardest 00:40:31.719 --> 00:40:33.759 mission field we'll ever be in. 00:40:35.300 --> 00:40:37.380 But we're called to be missionaries 00:40:37.380 --> 00:40:38.159 and to point people 00:40:38.159 --> 00:40:39.440 to the gospel and to Jesus. 00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:41.420 So I'm going to pray 00:40:41.420 --> 00:40:42.360 for the university students 00:40:42.360 --> 00:40:43.679 as they go to be missionaries 00:40:43.679 --> 00:40:44.679 in another country 00:40:44.679 --> 00:40:45.940 as opposed to their university 00:40:45.940 --> 00:40:46.599 where they already 00:40:46.599 --> 00:40:47.380 are missionaries. 00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:49.119 But I want to pray 00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:49.940 for all of us 00:40:49.940 --> 00:40:51.440 as we head out. 00:40:52.700 --> 00:40:53.940 Remember the great 00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:55.880 responsibility we have 00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:56.780 and the privilege 00:40:56.780 --> 00:41:00.079 of throwing out flyers 00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:02.019 and saying there's freedom. 00:41:03.019 --> 00:41:03.679 There's freedom. 00:41:04.780 --> 00:41:05.360 You don't have to live 00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:05.740 in a jungle. 00:41:05.739 --> 00:41:08.239 You don't have to be in bondage. 00:41:11.259 --> 00:41:11.959 That's why God 00:41:11.959 --> 00:41:12.579 has called us here 00:41:12.579 --> 00:41:13.079 as church. 00:41:14.339 --> 00:41:16.399 Father, I pray for this family, 00:41:16.479 --> 00:41:17.099 our family. 00:41:17.899 --> 00:41:18.919 What an amazing privilege 00:41:18.919 --> 00:41:20.299 to come and just worship you. 00:41:21.879 --> 00:41:22.679 To feel your spirit 00:41:22.679 --> 00:41:23.419 in our life. 00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:25.899 Father, I pray for us 00:41:25.899 --> 00:41:26.759 as we leave here 00:41:26.759 --> 00:41:27.500 that we're different 00:41:27.500 --> 00:41:28.419 than when we came. 00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:30.839 I pray that we wouldn't 00:41:30.839 --> 00:41:32.379 so easily be entangled 00:41:32.379 --> 00:41:35.039 by the jungle around us 00:41:35.039 --> 00:41:37.659 help us to be friends 00:41:37.659 --> 00:41:38.779 and yell out at friends 00:41:38.779 --> 00:41:39.840 who jump into the jungle 00:41:39.840 --> 00:41:40.599 and remind them 00:41:40.599 --> 00:41:41.360 get out of there 00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:41.940 because you're going 00:41:41.940 --> 00:41:42.460 to get caught. 00:41:44.159 --> 00:41:46.619 Help us to be missionaries 00:41:46.619 --> 00:41:48.659 wherever you send us 00:41:48.659 --> 00:41:49.739 because you've called us 00:41:49.739 --> 00:41:50.800 to do that as a church 00:41:50.800 --> 00:41:52.719 and that's our chief purpose 00:41:52.719 --> 00:41:54.019 is to glorify you 00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:56.000 and to make you known 00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:57.059 to the nations 00:41:57.059 --> 00:41:59.759 wherever our nations are 00:41:59.759 --> 00:42:01.320 and wherever you send us. 00:42:03.139 --> 00:42:04.279 So I pray for the 00:42:04.279 --> 00:42:04.860 university students. 00:42:04.860 --> 00:42:05.640 I pray for safety 00:42:05.640 --> 00:42:06.300 and travel 00:42:06.300 --> 00:42:08.220 and just an amazing time. 00:42:08.300 --> 00:42:08.720 I thank you 00:42:08.720 --> 00:42:10.059 that you've given us 00:42:10.059 --> 00:42:10.420 the privilege 00:42:10.420 --> 00:42:11.400 of sending them out 00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:13.039 to minister 00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:14.140 in a different country 00:42:14.140 --> 00:42:15.539 as opposed to Hong Kong. 00:42:16.680 --> 00:42:16.920 But Lord, 00:42:16.960 --> 00:42:17.360 in the same way 00:42:17.360 --> 00:42:18.400 I pray for all of us 00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:19.280 that as we go out 00:42:19.280 --> 00:42:20.120 of here today 00:42:20.120 --> 00:42:21.640 that we just realize 00:42:21.640 --> 00:42:22.860 that we're all missionaries 00:42:22.860 --> 00:42:25.320 and we're all called 00:42:25.320 --> 00:42:26.860 to love well 00:42:27.420 --> 00:42:28.980 and to share well 00:42:28.980 --> 00:42:29.860 and to serve well 00:42:30.400 --> 00:42:32.260 and to give well 00:42:32.260 --> 00:42:34.620 because of what your son 00:42:34.620 --> 00:42:35.740 has done for us already. 00:42:37.740 --> 00:42:38.340 So Lord, 00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:39.020 we love you 00:42:39.020 --> 00:42:40.880 and we need you desperately. 00:42:45.480 --> 00:42:46.760 We pray all these things 00:42:46.760 --> 00:42:47.160 in your son, 00:42:47.240 --> 00:42:48.100 Jesus' holy name. 00:42:49.320 --> 00:42:49.680 Amen. 00:42:50.940 --> 00:42:51.800 God bless you 00:42:51.800 --> 00:42:52.960 and have a great week. 00:42:53.520 --> 00:42:54.240 We'll see you next Sunday. 00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:54.919 God bless you. 00:42:55.079 --> 00:42:55.439 Thank you. 00:42:55.639 --> 00:42:55.919 Amen. 00:42:55.959 --> 00:42:56.159 Amen. 00:42:56.179 --> 00:42:56.339 Amen. 00:42:56.759 --> 00:42:57.219 Amen. 00:42:57.219 --> 00:42:57.699 oria