WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.700 Over the past couple of decades, and maybe even for a little bit longer than that, 00:00:04.040 --> 00:00:09.140 there's been a new brand of Christianity that's popping up for a variety of reasons. 00:00:09.939 --> 00:00:12.400 It's kind of a new flavour of church. 00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:20.120 And this movement is led by people who basically say that they couldn't live up to the standards 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:22.379 that the traditional church was holding them to. 00:00:22.379 --> 00:00:30.619 And their response to that is to create churches where sin and failure is almost celebrated. 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:37.179 In these churches, the pastors pride themselves on swearing from the pulpit. 00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:44.379 They pride themselves on gaining street cred with outsiders through drinking exploits, sexual conquests, 00:00:45.420 --> 00:00:51.719 and a bunch of other things that the more conservative churchgoers amongst us might find a little bit embarrassing. 00:00:52.380 --> 00:00:54.300 But here's the thing. 00:00:55.719 --> 00:00:59.740 These people, to their mind, are trying to follow Jesus. 00:01:01.140 --> 00:01:07.799 Their life choices are guided by the understanding that God welcomes sinners on no merit of their own, 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:10.740 so why stress about trying to change? 00:01:11.740 --> 00:01:14.200 And let's especially not put that pressure on anyone else. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:18.560 Their gospel message amounts to something like, 00:01:18.780 --> 00:01:21.340 do whatever you want, God will love you anyway. 00:01:22.379 --> 00:01:27.979 Now, as you can probably imagine, this gospel has been well received. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:34.280 I mean, it's all the perks of God, minus any of the more difficult bits. 00:01:34.939 --> 00:01:35.939 It's all grace. 00:01:36.039 --> 00:01:36.859 It's no holiness. 00:01:38.140 --> 00:01:40.399 And let's be honest, there might be a small part of us 00:01:40.399 --> 00:01:42.599 that hears that and thinks, 00:01:42.939 --> 00:01:45.179 I wouldn't mind that version of following Jesus. 00:01:45.180 --> 00:01:50.520 The version that says, hey, Jesus died for you so that you could be forgiven, 00:01:50.820 --> 00:01:51.980 so don't worry about the rules. 00:01:54.360 --> 00:01:56.380 Well, that's what we're up to in Leviticus. 00:01:57.500 --> 00:02:00.700 Last week, we looked at the Day of Atonement in chapter 16. 00:02:01.420 --> 00:02:06.719 God had provided very strict rules and guidelines for how this day worked, 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:09.060 very strict rules for their worship. 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:11.939 There was priests that had to be dressed certain ways. 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:13.500 There were specific sacrifices, 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:17.639 all for the purpose of making atonement for the sins of the people. 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:22.939 So God has drawn the people into his presence by grace. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:29.280 God has just dealt with the fact that the people are failing at following the rules. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:33.840 He's just overcome their inability to obey him. 00:02:35.180 --> 00:02:39.560 And so you would think that more rules would be a strange place to go. 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:43.520 Having just dealt with the failure of the rules, 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:46.180 to then give more rules seems a little ridiculous. 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:50.740 And yet, chapter 17 begins like this. 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:54.259 The Lord said to Moses, speak to Aaron and his sons, 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:56.199 to all the Israelites and say to them, 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:58.500 this is what the Lord has commanded. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:01.500 Chapter 18 begins, 00:03:01.819 --> 00:03:04.939 the Lord said to Moses, speak to the Israelites and say to them, 00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:06.439 I am the Lord your God. 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:10.259 You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live. 00:03:10.420 --> 00:03:14.139 And you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I'm bringing you. 00:03:14.139 --> 00:03:15.659 Do not follow their practices. 00:03:16.219 --> 00:03:18.020 Chapter 19, the Lord said to Moses, 00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:21.439 speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them, 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:25.759 be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:31.319 Holiness still matters to God even after grace. 00:03:33.019 --> 00:03:36.739 Even after dealing with the problem, holiness still matters. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:42.399 I mean, Israel has just been visibly and ritually, symbolically cleansed. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:46.000 That was the point of the sacrifice of the day of atonement. 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:50.400 Laws and rules are straight away brought back into the equation. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:56.099 So atonement didn't actually remove the law. 00:03:57.640 --> 00:03:59.460 It didn't even make it unimportant. 00:04:01.620 --> 00:04:02.719 So what did it do? 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:10.099 We've got to remember the big picture, the main game of what God is doing here in Leviticus. 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:13.979 And not just here in Leviticus, but in all of the Bible and in all of human history. 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:18.759 God's agenda for Israel is not just to wipe them clean. 00:04:20.459 --> 00:04:22.680 He wants to dwell with them. 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:24.959 Relationship is the goal. 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:28.860 He wants them to be in his presence, to have ongoing relationship. 00:04:28.860 --> 00:04:33.199 And so everything in the Bible up to this point, the rescue from Egypt, 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:36.860 the commandments being given, the clean and unclean food laws, 00:04:36.980 --> 00:04:41.819 the specifics of the priests and how they dress, the tabernacle and how it was to be made, 00:04:42.100 --> 00:04:50.139 the purifying of sacrifices, all of it was to make it possible for people to enter the presence of God. 00:04:50.379 --> 00:04:55.280 That was the whole point, that God wanted them to be able to come and worship him. 00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:59.299 Because that's really what worship means. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:05.679 Worship is entering into the presence of God, drawing near to God through the way that he has opened. 00:05:06.859 --> 00:05:12.279 Worship is relating to God appropriately, the way that he deserves. 00:05:14.219 --> 00:05:16.239 And God wasn't looking for visitors. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:24.639 That wasn't the goal, that Israel would come visit him occasionally and be appropriate or clean or acceptable. 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:32.620 God wanted worshippers, full-time worshippers, people who lived for him and with him. 00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:38.840 And so now that they've been cleansed and already drawn into God's presence, 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:43.280 the law functions to define what worship looks like. 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:51.239 The law's function is to show us what life looks like now that they've been drawn into God's presence. 00:05:52.239 --> 00:05:55.139 It's you've been cleansed, so now live clean. 00:05:56.379 --> 00:06:01.319 It's kind of like God's way of saying, your old life was you playing around in the mud. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:05.539 I've done the hard job of cleaning you off, don't jump back in the mud. 00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:11.000 I've provided some fresh, pristine grass over here, play there. 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:17.439 God is defining what life is like now that you're clean, not do this in order to be clean. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:22.100 Now that Israel is the other side of the Day of Atonement, 00:06:23.139 --> 00:06:28.160 the law is not trying to answer the question, how do I get into the presence of God? 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:35.319 That question's already answered by the Day of Atonement, by the sacrifices repeated annually. 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:42.699 These laws are God defining what day-to-day life looks like for his people. 00:06:44.599 --> 00:06:48.519 It's God showing them what it looks like to be in his presence. 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:53.480 Obedience to the law has now become how you worship God. 00:06:53.600 --> 00:07:00.159 It's become an extension of their gathering, an extension of their formal time together in the tabernacle. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:07.820 This is a part of their response to his holiness and to his grace in drawing them to himself. 00:07:09.300 --> 00:07:14.900 Now for them, that whole connection to go from formal worship to all of life worship would have been kind of obvious. 00:07:15.840 --> 00:07:21.100 See, for them, life was literally built around the tabernacle. 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:24.160 The camp of Israel had the tabernacle at the center. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:26.860 At the center, that was where they met with God. 00:07:26.960 --> 00:07:28.380 That was where the sacrifices happened. 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:29.740 That's where the priests worked. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:34.680 It was at the center of the camp and around that tent was where everybody lived. 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:40.540 And so sure, you went to the tabernacle on specific days and at specific times and for specific reasons. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:45.180 But when you came out the front door of your tent to go and buy bread from next door, 00:07:46.140 --> 00:07:48.980 you were literally in the shadow of God's house. 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:53.620 When you were yelling at your kids for making too much noise and waking you up early, 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:56.140 you were literally in the shadow of God's house. 00:07:56.840 --> 00:08:02.480 God is saying, my presence is especially in the tabernacle, but it's more than that now. 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:06.580 You've been brought into my presence, into a relationship with me. 00:08:07.900 --> 00:08:13.939 God is saying, if you want to worship me, it can't be limited to a set of rituals, 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:16.640 a set of formal gatherings. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:21.319 They're important, they're even essential, but it can't be just that. 00:08:23.219 --> 00:08:33.699 Daily holiness, daily obedience, full-time worship is what God desires and what he deserves. 00:08:35.179 --> 00:08:39.539 And the law is the gift that he gives us to show us what that will look like, 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:45.100 to show us how we're supposed to function now that we're in his presence full-time. 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:51.720 It's obedience to his standards, holy living in response to his grace. 00:08:53.379 --> 00:09:00.639 Grace came first, but law remains because of who God is. 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:05.879 Law remains to help us understand more of his character. 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:13.340 Israel has been brought into the presence of God, but he remains a holy God. 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:19.240 And so holiness is required for life lived in his presence. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:23.779 But how much more for us now compared to them? 00:09:23.779 --> 00:09:30.720 We live on the good side, not just of Israel's Day of Atonement Festival with the goats and the bulls and the priests and all that sort of stuff. 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:32.059 We're on the good side of Easter. 00:09:33.579 --> 00:09:39.059 We're on the good side of God providing the once-for-all sacrifice for sin in Jesus. 00:09:40.019 --> 00:09:46.139 We're on the good side of God saying that I can deal with all of your sins irreversibly in the sacrifice of my son. 00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:57.199 We're on the good side of God saying Jesus is now the only priest forever who sits at God's right hand interceding for us. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:02.720 And because of him, we have confidence, the New Testament says, 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:08.500 confidence to march into the throne room of a holy God and call him Father. 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:17.360 How much more with the access that we have, which is far greater than they ever enjoyed in the Leviticus. 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:26.679 How much more do we need God's law as a guide for us for how we might best live in his presence? 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:34.379 How we might best worship this God who has done everything to draw us into relationship with him. 00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:40.220 How much more do we need and should we appreciate this gift of the law? 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:44.720 Because it gives us the answer to the question, how do I love? 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:50.919 How do I reflect and communicate gratitude to the God who gave his son so that I could know him? 00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:55.679 Jesus himself says when you get to the New Testament, 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:59.480 if you love me, you will obey my commands. 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:06.639 The evidence of love for God, the evidence of worship, 00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:11.039 is not just how holy you seem on a Sunday night, 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:15.399 how focused you seem, how many notes you took, 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:19.019 how many weeks in a row you've been here, how loud you sang. 00:11:19.920 --> 00:11:20.980 They're all good things. 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:25.899 But the evidence of a holy life, the evidence of worship, 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:28.940 is what the rest of your week looks like. 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:33.899 How conscious you are of the presence of God in your day to day. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:39.820 Now, if obedience is the evidence, we need to make a quick detour, 00:11:39.920 --> 00:11:41.220 a quick side point here. 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:43.539 So obedience matters. 00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:44.779 That's clear. 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:47.340 But obedience to what? 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:50.580 Obedience to what? 00:11:50.800 --> 00:11:53.820 For us who are living on this side of Jesus' death and resurrection, 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:55.519 which laws still count? 00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:58.240 Which ones do we have to do? 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:00.480 How do we figure it out? 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:03.960 Or, as Steve put it in week one of this series, 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:05.179 in case you missed it, 00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:07.579 if I can eat prawns, 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:09.439 why is gay sex wrong? 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:12.340 Because just a couple of chapters ago, 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:14.079 there was all these rules about what to eat and not eat. 00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:15.919 And in chapter 18 that we didn't read today, 00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:16.600 in chapter 20, 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:18.100 which is the other side of today's passage, 00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:21.500 there's a whole bunch of specific rules about sexual purity, 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:25.320 including the call not to have gay sex. 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:28.899 So how do we figure out which ones we have to listen to? 00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:33.159 Well, firstly, and this is really important, 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:38.019 grace, Jesus, doesn't delete the law. 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:42.899 Jesus says in Matthew 5, 00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:44.500 he's come to fulfill the law, 00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:45.480 every bit of it. 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:48.299 He says we're not allowed to remove even a word from it. 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:50.639 So as a starting point, 00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:52.259 all of it matters. 00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:56.620 But even though grace hasn't deleted it, 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:59.139 it has done something to it. 00:13:01.079 --> 00:13:02.899 It has transformed it. 00:13:03.439 --> 00:13:04.220 What do we mean? 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:06.480 What does Jesus mean when he says he's fulfilled it? 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:08.480 Well, let's look at three different kinds. 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:09.420 First of all, 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:12.480 there's the laws about clean and unclean. 00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:14.759 Laws around foods and different things. 00:13:14.920 --> 00:13:17.159 Those laws are superseded. 00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:18.639 They're replaced. 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:24.180 They existed to create a distinction between God's people 00:13:24.180 --> 00:13:27.659 who did one thing and everybody else who did something else. 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:29.860 They were physical markers. 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:34.100 But Jesus makes it explicitly clear in the New Testament. 00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:35.519 In Mark 7, 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:37.960 he says food doesn't have the power to make you unclean. 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:38.399 In fact, 00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:40.059 he declares all food clean. 00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:43.480 So he explicitly tells us we can leave those ones behind. 00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:45.860 But the reason we can is because 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:49.799 the physical marker has been replaced by a spiritual marker. 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:54.379 Because uncleanness is not a dirt issue. 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:56.519 It's a heart issue. 00:13:56.519 --> 00:14:03.159 And it's an issue that can only be overcome through Jesus' death in our place. 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:06.439 So the cleaning work is a work of the Holy Spirit, 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.579 not a work of your diet. 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:12.280 And so we can leave those things behind. 00:14:12.400 --> 00:14:13.800 Cleanness still matters. 00:14:14.020 --> 00:14:16.100 Clean and unclean distinction still matters. 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:18.940 But it's just not expressed in diet anymore. 00:14:18.940 --> 00:14:24.060 It's expressed through those who trust Jesus and have been made clean 00:14:24.060 --> 00:14:27.000 and those who are trying to make themselves clean. 00:14:27.800 --> 00:14:28.780 And it's not working. 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.920 That's the first one, 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:31.360 the clean, 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:32.160 unclean laws. 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:35.520 The second kind of laws that we've looked at as we've been through Leviticus 00:14:35.520 --> 00:14:36.920 is ritual laws. 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:39.720 The laws that tell us about who can be priests, 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:41.020 what the priests have to wear, 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:42.760 what day they should go to the tabernacle, 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:44.540 what shape the tabernacle should be, 00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:46.879 what material for the temple in the tabernacle, 00:14:47.219 --> 00:14:49.699 what material for the utensils in the tabernacle, 00:14:49.839 --> 00:14:50.759 how to clean them, 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.559 who cleans them, 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.299 when they clean them, 00:14:52.339 --> 00:14:53.059 that sort of stuff. 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:56.939 All of that stuff has been superseded by Jesus. 00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:58.759 It's been replaced by Jesus. 00:14:58.939 --> 00:14:59.399 Again, 00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:01.179 in Hebrews in the New Testament, 00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:02.159 it's explicit. 00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:08.779 Jesus has become the once for all sufficient sacrifice for sin, 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:12.659 which means there's no more sacrifices required. 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:18.039 So laws about sacrifices are redundant because the complete sacrifice is done. 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.000 The account is settled. 00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:19.959 And then on top of that, 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:22.379 we know that he's our high priest forever. 00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:23.779 So you don't need priests anymore, 00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:28.559 which means you don't need someone standing at the front in special clothes. 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:32.539 Jesus has replaced that. 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:39.579 But the third group within that law in the Old Testament, 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:45.580 which is sometimes referred to as the moral laws or the ethical code, 00:15:46.540 --> 00:15:49.580 the laws about sexual purity, 00:15:50.180 --> 00:15:52.180 about caring for the poor, 00:15:52.540 --> 00:15:54.200 about respecting your parents, 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:55.060 that sort of thing. 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:58.780 Those are the ones that we have more trouble with, 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:01.840 the ones that might be more controversial. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.840 Firstly, 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:05.360 how are those laws fulfilled? 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:08.639 Well, 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:13.879 what Jesus does is live in perfect obedience to them in a way that we never could. 00:16:15.940 --> 00:16:19.540 What he does is perfectly tick the box, 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:21.440 more than tick the box, 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:26.560 so that he has passed the standard that the law sets. 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:30.179 And then what he does is for the person who comes to him seeking forgiveness, 00:16:30.459 --> 00:16:33.739 he takes his perfect obedience and puts it onto them, 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:37.739 so that they have a past level of obedience. 00:16:41.839 --> 00:16:46.679 And so our inability to live up to those standards 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:50.799 no longer is a barrier to keep us away from God, 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:56.859 because Jesus has dealt with that by being perfectly obedient. 00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:58.559 But, 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:02.519 this law still matters, 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:03.539 and let me tell you why. 00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:06.779 See, for Israel here in Leviticus, 00:17:06.919 --> 00:17:09.119 having just been made clean, 00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:13.740 already now in a relationship with God as his people, 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:20.159 the laws are there to reflect and reveal God's character to them. 00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:24.259 We don't get to the New Testament 00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:28.819 and have Jesus start flicking away these moral laws as outdated or unimportant. 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:35.180 The function of the law was for Israel to see what God cared about, 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:37.059 see what mattered to him, 00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:40.539 to see that he is a pure God who requires purity. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:44.960 He is a preeminent God who requires exclusive worship. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:53.920 These laws shift from being oppressive standards that we have to reach 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:59.180 to being a model of what it looks like to live the life that God has designed. 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:03.559 A model of what it looks like to live in the presence of God, 00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:05.519 because these are the expressions of him, 00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:07.039 the extensions of his character. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:12.779 God's grace to his people in the day of atonement, 00:18:12.879 --> 00:18:14.079 and ultimately in Jesus, 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:19.539 drags worship out of a formal ritualistic setting 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:22.839 and spills it out into the day-to-day life of people. 00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.559 And so now, 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:28.000 through obedience to these laws, 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:31.619 we worship God. 00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:36.240 We don't convince him to take us into his presence. 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:37.099 He's done that. 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:39.880 But these laws are there to show us, 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.099 if you love me, 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:42.880 this is what it looks like to love me. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:46.000 If you want to worship me, 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:48.259 this is what it looks like to worship me. 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:51.559 Now all of life can be lived 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:54.759 and must be lived worshipping God for those who belong to him. 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:57.720 Now at first, 00:18:58.119 --> 00:19:00.099 this blurring of lines between 00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:02.059 formal worship in the temple 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.500 and all of life worship 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:05.859 might feel like this is a little oppressive. 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:09.819 Like there's even more opportunities for you to stuff this up now. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.720 You can kind of understand those churches that are thinking 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:14.859 this would be easier if we just pushed the laws to the side 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:16.619 and focused on the forgiveness stuff. 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:20.839 Because if we're supposed to worship God all the time, 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:24.240 if these laws matter that much, 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:27.160 it feels like there's more pressure. 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:30.500 That is except for one thing. 00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:37.339 Worship doesn't just include this all of life daily obedience. 00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:40.180 It empowers it. 00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:46.400 Worship doesn't just include every minute of every day 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:47.980 and the obedience to these laws. 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:51.299 Worship, being in the presence of God, 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:53.880 empowers obedience to these laws, 00:19:54.120 --> 00:19:56.060 motivates obedience to these laws. 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:59.519 Now what made Israel holy 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.940 here in Leviticus 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:02.880 is not what they did. 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.200 It's God. 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:07.799 It's what he was doing. 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:10.120 He is the basis for their holiness. 00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:14.360 Holiness means being set apart, 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.240 being chosen. 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:16.620 When God chose them, 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.819 he made them holy. 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:22.360 It was he who chose them 00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.759 and in choosing them, 00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:25.860 set them apart as his, 00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:27.580 belonging to him as holy. 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:31.099 And it's through the ongoing meeting with him 00:20:31.099 --> 00:20:34.899 that they progressively become 00:20:34.899 --> 00:20:38.139 more sanctified or more holy in their actions. 00:20:39.679 --> 00:20:40.599 God's holiness, 00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:42.839 his purity rubs off on them 00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:44.460 as they spend time with him. 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.699 So if you think of it like 00:20:46.699 --> 00:20:48.079 God is the sun. 00:20:49.399 --> 00:20:50.879 Now when you lie in the sun, 00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.659 its radiance will bring you color 00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:53.679 and warmth. 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.699 Different colors depending on your skin type. 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:57.279 But it will bring you color 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.620 and warmth and heat 00:20:58.620 --> 00:20:59.819 and health to your body. 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.980 Case in point is 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:02.980 the two fairly tanned, 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:04.259 relaxed, healthy looking people 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:04.860 in the front row. 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.279 Now in the same way, 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:10.680 basking in God's presence, 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:13.460 basking in his glory and holiness 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.700 in the formal gatherings 00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:16.120 at the temple, 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:17.000 at the tabernacle, 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.519 using the forms that God 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:22.000 had prescribed for Israel 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:25.440 was designed to make them holy. 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:28.680 to progressively transform them. 00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:30.500 In fact, 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.740 we can push this analogy 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.539 a little bit further. 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:34.720 Having just understood 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:36.319 that worshiping God's presence 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:38.440 now kind of flow through all of life, 00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:41.500 what's the uniqueness of gathering then? 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:45.259 It's almost like the difference 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.360 between sunbaking 00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:48.319 and just walking to work 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.080 when the sun is out. 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:52.659 Now if the sun is out both times, 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:54.359 you will get some heat, 00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:55.480 some light, 00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:56.159 some warmth. 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.419 You will get some awareness 00:21:57.419 --> 00:21:58.199 of its benefit. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:00.159 But when you sunbake, 00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:02.159 you focus your attention 00:22:02.159 --> 00:22:02.960 on the sun. 00:22:03.659 --> 00:22:05.199 You position yourself. 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:06.759 You pour your energy 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:08.359 towards the sun. 00:22:08.919 --> 00:22:10.079 You limit your other activities 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.720 so that you can absorb 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.779 as much as possible 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.379 from the sun. 00:22:13.419 --> 00:22:14.179 And the result is 00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:15.460 you will get more from the sun. 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:18.059 You'll get more red or brown. 00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:20.559 You'll get more warmth, 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:21.960 more vitamin D. 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.380 Likewise, 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:29.160 everything that God has established 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:31.180 in terms of the rituals for Israel, 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.460 the Sabbath gathering requirements, 00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:35.819 function as an opportunity for Israel 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:38.460 to sunbake in His radiance. 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:42.200 to focus themselves 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.380 on His holiness 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.880 and His majesty 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.980 and His power. 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.880 Now He specified 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.799 how it happens, 00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:49.620 when it happens, 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:51.559 and everything that He specified 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.200 in Leviticus. 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:52.980 You thought they were just 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.740 random details 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.759 about which material 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:56.700 and what shape things should be. 00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:58.299 Every detail 00:22:58.299 --> 00:23:00.660 was supposed to focus them 00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:01.480 on Him. 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:04.840 From the shape of utensils 00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:06.039 to who was up the front, 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:08.039 everything was to focus 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:09.440 on God Himself 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:12.740 so that the result would be 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:15.299 an encounter with God 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:17.279 that transformed them, 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:20.859 that progressively made them 00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:21.440 more holy. 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.819 God is the active party 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:26.680 and He has been the whole time. 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.759 He's the only one 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:29.379 who can sanctify people, 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.460 who can wash them, 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:31.460 who can make them holy, 00:23:31.659 --> 00:23:32.960 even in the Day of Atonement 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:34.519 which God gave them instructions 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.379 on how to do. 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:37.000 In the sacrifices, 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:37.720 in the ritual, 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:39.300 it's God who must 00:23:39.300 --> 00:23:40.120 cleanse the people. 00:23:41.260 --> 00:23:42.880 The goat's not getting it done. 00:23:45.280 --> 00:23:46.760 The rituals themselves 00:23:46.760 --> 00:23:48.680 don't guarantee God's action. 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:51.020 They can't achieve cleansing 00:23:51.020 --> 00:23:52.040 in and of themselves. 00:23:52.540 --> 00:23:53.880 They are absolutely dependent 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:55.320 on God's decision, 00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:58.000 on God's power. 00:23:59.340 --> 00:24:00.240 God is the key. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:03.420 And that's why every aspect 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:05.660 of Israel's corporate worship 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:07.380 was directed towards 00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:09.299 showing God's holiness, 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.720 revealing His glory 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:15.220 so that as they dwelt 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:16.720 in that glorious presence, 00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:17.819 they would be changed 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.779 progressively 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:21.620 and they would be better equipped 00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:23.240 to be the priest nation 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.200 they were supposed to be. 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:27.559 be glowing with His wonder 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.840 and majesty and power 00:24:28.840 --> 00:24:29.840 so that the world around 00:24:29.840 --> 00:24:30.420 would look 00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:32.180 and see the sun 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:34.420 that they were basking under. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:37.600 The corporate worship of Israel 00:24:37.600 --> 00:24:38.980 was the key means 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:40.700 by which God would achieve 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:42.059 the day-to-day holiness 00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.900 of His people. 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:46.039 Time in His presence 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.799 equipped them 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:48.120 to live with Him 00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:49.640 during the week. 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:51.860 Now this side of Jesus, 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:53.100 we've taken a big step forward 00:24:53.100 --> 00:24:54.040 when it comes to gathering 00:24:54.040 --> 00:24:54.840 as God's people. 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:58.000 There's a lot less blood. 00:24:59.780 --> 00:25:01.340 We did have it in our mind 00:25:01.340 --> 00:25:03.160 to decorate the Leviticus backdrop 00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:04.520 with animal carcasses, 00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:06.020 but we thought better of it 00:25:06.020 --> 00:25:06.600 at the last minute. 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:09.560 We have come a long way 00:25:09.560 --> 00:25:10.680 when it comes to gathering 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.520 as God's people. 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:13.400 We've already reminded ourselves 00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:14.400 that we have confidence 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:16.340 to enter the most holy place, 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:18.080 the throne room of God, 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.540 because of the blood of Jesus, 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:21.840 who died once for all 00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:23.080 that we might be forgiven 00:25:23.080 --> 00:25:23.940 and cleansed. 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:26.560 But God still encourages us 00:25:26.560 --> 00:25:27.080 to gather. 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:30.000 In fact, in Hebrews 10, 00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:31.140 just after telling us 00:25:31.140 --> 00:25:31.960 that we have confidence 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:33.240 to enter the holy place, 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:35.280 the writer goes on to say, 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:35.780 therefore, 00:25:36.780 --> 00:25:38.320 don't stop meeting together. 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:42.320 God is present among His people 00:25:42.320 --> 00:25:44.280 by His Spirit all the time. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.759 Always present, 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:48.840 and yet there still seems to be 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.959 something unique 00:25:49.959 --> 00:25:51.480 about when we gather. 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:55.279 Some unique opportunity for us 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.419 as the gathered people 00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:57.720 around God's Word 00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:59.179 to encounter His presence 00:25:59.179 --> 00:26:01.399 in a special way. 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:04.259 And in fact, 00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:05.519 that's the whole point of gathering. 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:08.840 That's why we bother doing this. 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:12.700 So that you might encounter 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:14.840 God among His people. 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:18.200 So that you might see His glory, 00:26:19.780 --> 00:26:20.900 taste His glory, 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.200 feel His glory, 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:25.440 and then be transformed by it. 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.580 Is that what you're expecting 00:26:29.580 --> 00:26:31.580 when you came to church tonight? 00:26:34.360 --> 00:26:35.700 Is that what you were hoping for? 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.340 When you walked in the doors, 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:39.640 that you would get to encounter 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:41.600 God's holiness and glory? 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:45.799 Were you expecting to come here 00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.899 and walk out different, 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:47.899 transformed, 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.099 because you'd encountered 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:50.119 the living God? 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.740 Or were you hoping for a service 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.859 that finishes on time? 00:26:58.619 --> 00:26:59.500 Good supper? 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:03.399 Maybe a half-decent conversation? 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:09.340 God gathers His people 00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:11.340 so that they might encounter Him 00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:12.380 and be transformed. 00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:16.940 Now, I think that our church, 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:17.960 our tradition, 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.800 we get nervous 00:27:19.800 --> 00:27:21.740 about some of this sort of language. 00:27:23.040 --> 00:27:25.080 Some people have misused ideas 00:27:25.080 --> 00:27:27.200 like experience when it comes to God. 00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:29.620 And the point isn't that you come to church 00:27:29.620 --> 00:27:31.100 chasing an experience. 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.220 The point is, 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:35.720 you come to church chasing God. 00:27:36.800 --> 00:27:38.480 And that will be an experience 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:40.740 when you encounter Him. 00:27:41.820 --> 00:27:43.480 But what I'm trying to say here is, 00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:45.280 the goal for us gathering 00:27:45.280 --> 00:27:46.480 is not that you know 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.500 that God loves you. 00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:50.400 The goal of us gathering 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:52.360 is that you feel loved by God. 00:27:54.800 --> 00:27:56.460 The goal is that you come here 00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:58.620 not to gather some new information, 00:27:58.619 --> 00:28:03.519 but that you taste 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:06.839 and feel God's love. 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:11.500 That you know His holiness 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.539 and His purity. 00:28:14.219 --> 00:28:15.399 That you get a vision 00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:16.739 of who this God is 00:28:16.739 --> 00:28:17.500 who has drawn you 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.899 into a relationship with Him 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:20.139 so that you walk out the door 00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:22.299 just busting with desire 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.919 to love and serve that God 00:28:23.919 --> 00:28:24.879 for the rest of the week 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:25.859 and the rest of your life 00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:26.399 and every day 00:28:26.399 --> 00:28:27.419 until He calls you home 00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.100 to be with Him. 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.539 God has designed this 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:33.519 to be your taste of heaven. 00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:37.420 However imperfectly 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:38.539 we might execute it. 00:28:42.060 --> 00:28:43.660 God gathers His people 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:45.480 so that they might encounter Him 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:47.140 and be transformed 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.320 and that's the key 00:28:48.320 --> 00:28:49.800 to growing in holiness. 00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:52.740 Doesn't matter how many strategies 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.440 you have, 00:28:53.560 --> 00:28:54.880 how self-disciplined you are, 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:56.120 how many books you read, 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:57.699 if you're going to grow 00:28:57.699 --> 00:28:58.879 to be more like Jesus, 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:02.239 you need to spend time with Him. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:07.279 And one of the key ways 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.159 that you can do that 00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:10.139 is by gathering with His people. 00:29:12.719 --> 00:29:13.939 This matters because 00:29:13.939 --> 00:29:16.699 holiness is not a behavioral issue. 00:29:19.179 --> 00:29:20.599 It's not an effort issue. 00:29:20.679 --> 00:29:21.079 It's not something 00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:22.439 you've got to try harder at 00:29:22.439 --> 00:29:23.959 if you're not doing it well. 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:25.960 It's a heart issue. 00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.660 In the New Testament 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:31.059 in Luke chapter 10 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:32.299 there's this story 00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:33.100 where a young man 00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:33.980 comes to Jesus 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.620 and says, 00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.720 Rabbi, 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:36.840 what must I do 00:29:36.840 --> 00:29:37.519 to be saved? 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:40.000 The end point 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.640 of the story 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:41.460 is that Jesus 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:43.759 tells the story 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.740 of the Good Samaritan 00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:46.420 and basically says 00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:47.000 to this guy, 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:47.519 you've got to 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.500 love your neighbor. 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:50.759 which is exactly 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.700 what Leviticus 19 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.819 said to Israel. 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.579 But before Jesus 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.559 gets into this story 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.480 of the Good Samaritan, 00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:58.900 his first response 00:29:58.900 --> 00:29:59.819 to this guy is, 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.519 keep the commandments. 00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:03.579 Now, 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:05.180 undeterred by this response, 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:07.039 not feeling shut down 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:07.299 at all, 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:07.839 the young man 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.539 presses Jesus 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.119 and says, 00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:11.680 all these I've kept 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.460 since I was a boy. 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:13.700 He's like, 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:13.960 yep, 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:14.980 done. 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:16.940 Box ticked. 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:17.720 Now, 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.380 you might be thinking 00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:19.140 he's just an idiot 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:20.700 and doesn't know 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.539 how bad he is 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.080 and he's ignorant 00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:23.640 of his sinfulness 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:25.360 but Jesus doesn't 00:30:25.360 --> 00:30:25.980 argue with him. 00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.259 Jesus doesn't go, 00:30:28.360 --> 00:30:28.440 hey, 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.320 you think you're holy 00:30:29.320 --> 00:30:29.920 but nah. 00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:32.299 He just kind of 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.100 moves on 00:30:33.100 --> 00:30:33.860 and talks about 00:30:33.860 --> 00:30:35.320 loving your neighbor 00:30:35.320 --> 00:30:36.720 as the true 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:37.759 fulfillment of the law. 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.180 Now, 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:40.160 there's two things 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:40.980 that we need 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.640 to grab there. 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.200 Firstly, 00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:44.700 it seems like 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.559 it's possible 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:47.980 to tick the box 00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:49.059 of keeping the law 00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:51.099 without actually 00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:52.000 being holy. 00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:54.519 I mean, 00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:55.179 it's possible 00:30:55.179 --> 00:30:55.779 that this guy 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.659 had done the, 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:56.960 you know, 00:30:57.159 --> 00:30:58.059 only God, 00:30:58.399 --> 00:30:59.559 not lied, 00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.919 respected his parents, 00:31:01.659 --> 00:31:02.940 not given false testimony, 00:31:03.179 --> 00:31:03.859 not coveted, 00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:05.000 not committed adultery. 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.679 It seems that 00:31:08.679 --> 00:31:09.399 you can actually 00:31:09.399 --> 00:31:10.179 tick the box 00:31:10.179 --> 00:31:10.779 of obedience, 00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:11.679 you can do 00:31:11.679 --> 00:31:12.679 the right actions 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:15.200 but not actually 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:15.980 be holy 00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:16.700 or honor God 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.039 in the way 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.799 that you're doing them 00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:19.360 which gives us 00:31:19.360 --> 00:31:19.759 a clue 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.759 that that was never 00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.620 the point of the law 00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:22.580 in the first place. 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.420 If you can meet 00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:25.920 the standard 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.779 and Jesus says, 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:27.000 yep, 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.779 not quite there, 00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:30.519 the law wasn't 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.620 designed to get you there. 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.220 That's the first thing. 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:35.160 The second thing is 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:36.080 it shows us 00:31:36.080 --> 00:31:36.779 what's missing. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.360 For this guy, 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:40.180 the missing element 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.200 is his heart. 00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.940 Because the laws 00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:44.460 were there 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:46.160 as a display, 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:46.900 a revealing 00:31:46.900 --> 00:31:47.900 of God's character. 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:50.400 The point of the law 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.299 is not to give you 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.200 boxes to tick 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:53.560 or a bar 00:31:53.560 --> 00:31:54.320 to jump over. 00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:57.380 That's why Jesus, 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.140 when he gets to 00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:59.259 Matthew 5, 00:32:00.100 --> 00:32:00.640 going through 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:01.500 a whole bunch of laws, 00:32:01.620 --> 00:32:02.460 sets up this pattern 00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.240 where he starts with, 00:32:03.320 --> 00:32:04.180 you've heard it said 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:05.480 to the people long ago, 00:32:05.840 --> 00:32:06.759 you shall not murder 00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:08.160 and anyone who murders 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:08.840 will be subject 00:32:08.840 --> 00:32:09.519 to judgment. 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.600 This is the box 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:11.299 that this young guy 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:11.720 was ticking. 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.080 Yep, 00:32:12.320 --> 00:32:12.580 done. 00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:15.080 But Jesus continues. 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:15.460 He says, 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.200 but I tell you 00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:17.600 that anyone who is angry 00:32:17.600 --> 00:32:19.039 with a brother or sister 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.700 will be subject 00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.320 to judgment. 00:32:22.600 --> 00:32:23.700 The point of the law 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.539 wasn't to give you 00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.180 a baseline. 00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:27.039 It wasn't just 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:28.000 to limit the act 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:28.640 of physically 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:30.080 ending someone's life. 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.440 What it was 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:32.100 communicating 00:32:32.100 --> 00:32:33.519 was that people 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.400 and life 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:35.360 matter to God. 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:37.160 And not just 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:37.960 whether that life 00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:39.080 is alive or not, 00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:41.439 but the day-to-day 00:32:41.439 --> 00:32:42.799 experience of living 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:44.279 and even anger 00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:45.599 flies in the face 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:46.559 of a God 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:47.259 who cares 00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.319 and cares for 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:48.939 and values 00:32:48.939 --> 00:32:49.619 that individual. 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:53.779 God's grace 00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.639 and specifically 00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:55.359 his grace 00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:56.539 in atoning for sin, 00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:58.119 in offering forgiveness, 00:32:58.839 --> 00:33:00.299 transforms the law. 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:03.220 Now when we come to it, 00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:04.159 we need to read it 00:33:04.159 --> 00:33:04.819 through the lens 00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:05.399 of Jesus. 00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:07.099 We need to read it 00:33:07.099 --> 00:33:08.480 hearing Jesus' words, 00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:10.200 I have fulfilled it. 00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:12.599 Which isn't the same 00:33:12.599 --> 00:33:13.079 as deleting 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.839 or cancelling. 00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:16.139 What he's done 00:33:16.139 --> 00:33:16.919 is explicitly 00:33:16.919 --> 00:33:17.659 put the law 00:33:17.659 --> 00:33:18.180 and the rules 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.599 where they were 00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:19.099 supposed to be 00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:19.740 the whole time. 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:22.119 Not as a standard 00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:23.039 to be lived up to, 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:25.619 but as a description 00:33:25.619 --> 00:33:26.639 of the heart of God. 00:33:29.879 --> 00:33:31.000 As a revelation 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.879 of what matters 00:33:31.879 --> 00:33:32.399 to him. 00:33:34.200 --> 00:33:35.619 As an invitation 00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:37.639 to love 00:33:37.639 --> 00:33:38.759 what God loves. 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.680 To care about 00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:40.659 what matters to him. 00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:43.639 And as an invitation 00:33:43.639 --> 00:33:45.039 to set our hearts 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.599 apart 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:46.559 for him. 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:51.480 That's the heart 00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:53.319 of what true 00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:54.339 and right worship 00:33:54.339 --> 00:33:55.319 of God looks like. 00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:58.579 That's real holiness. 00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:01.099 Not simple rule keeping 00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:01.980 or box ticking, 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.819 but a heart 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:05.000 that loves God. 00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:07.380 A heart that loves 00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:08.400 what matters to God. 00:34:10.219 --> 00:34:11.500 It looks like 00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:13.219 treasuring Jesus. 00:34:15.800 --> 00:34:16.880 Living every minute 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:17.940 of every day for him. 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:19.260 Not 65 minutes 00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:20.280 a week on a Sunday. 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:23.340 But treasuring Jesus 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.119 in the way you treat 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:24.719 your family. 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:28.380 Loving and treasuring 00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:29.039 him in the way 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.920 you treat other 00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:30.840 commuters on your way 00:34:30.840 --> 00:34:31.699 to work or uni. 00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:34.940 Loving and treasuring 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:36.159 him in the way 00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:37.039 you eat your breakfast. 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:41.240 Every moment 00:34:41.240 --> 00:34:43.599 lived consciously 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.760 in the presence 00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:45.760 of the God 00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.780 of heaven and earth 00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:48.039 who gave his son 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:49.760 so that you could 00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:50.699 live in his presence. 00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:53.940 what he requires 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.960 is your heart. 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:57.159 The very center 00:34:57.159 --> 00:34:57.699 of you. 00:34:59.000 --> 00:34:59.920 He's not keeping 00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.699 a scorebook 00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:01.500 of what you have 00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:02.400 and haven't done. 00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:05.199 He wants your heart. 00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:07.119 The bit that drives 00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:07.820 your decisions. 00:35:08.760 --> 00:35:09.800 Your reactions. 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.579 And laws 00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:14.860 can't change hearts. 00:35:16.340 --> 00:35:16.860 Rules 00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:18.059 won't make you love. 00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:18.159 love. 00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:21.279 But time 00:35:21.279 --> 00:35:22.739 basking in the grace 00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:23.599 of God to you. 00:35:24.940 --> 00:35:25.639 Time spent 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:26.340 focusing 00:35:26.340 --> 00:35:27.559 on how majestic 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.699 and powerful 00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:29.639 and holy 00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:31.000 our God is. 00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:33.519 Time spent 00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:34.179 with your eyes 00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:34.679 fixed 00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:35.799 on Jesus. 00:35:37.179 --> 00:35:37.799 That 00:35:37.799 --> 00:35:38.799 produces love. 00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:41.059 That produces 00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:41.820 a desire 00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:42.980 for holiness. 00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:43.920 A desire 00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.579 for obedience. 00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:45.319 That produces 00:35:45.319 --> 00:35:45.759 the kind 00:35:45.759 --> 00:35:46.319 of security 00:35:46.319 --> 00:35:47.039 that means 00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:47.900 we can receive 00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:48.279 the law 00:35:48.279 --> 00:35:49.099 as a gift 00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:50.400 rather than 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:50.880 carry it 00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:51.480 as a burden. 00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:55.420 We opened 00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:56.199 tonight 00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:57.019 reflecting on 00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:57.840 the relative 00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:58.440 appeal 00:35:58.440 --> 00:35:59.079 of a new 00:35:59.079 --> 00:35:59.799 brand of 00:35:59.799 --> 00:36:00.480 Christianity. 00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:03.159 Built 00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:03.579 around the 00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:04.239 concept of 00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:04.900 conceding 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:05.860 on holiness, 00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.179 giving up 00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:07.639 and even 00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.340 affirming 00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:08.920 the presence 00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:09.380 of sin. 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:12.980 And it 00:36:12.980 --> 00:36:13.760 does sound 00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:14.200 appealing. 00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:16.760 But it 00:36:16.760 --> 00:36:17.240 just doesn't 00:36:17.240 --> 00:36:17.740 work. 00:36:19.260 --> 00:36:19.920 Because what 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:20.460 it reflects 00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:21.300 is a 00:36:21.300 --> 00:36:21.680 complete 00:36:21.680 --> 00:36:22.220 misunderstanding 00:36:22.220 --> 00:36:22.880 of what 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:23.360 God has 00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:23.900 done in 00:36:23.900 --> 00:36:24.480 Jesus and 00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:25.119 how secure 00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:25.700 that makes 00:36:25.700 --> 00:36:25.960 us. 00:36:26.220 --> 00:36:26.360 I mean, 00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:26.880 it misses 00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.500 the whole 00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:28.099 point. 00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:30.599 God wants 00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.000 you to be 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.559 holy for 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.280 your sake. 00:36:35.140 --> 00:36:35.980 God wants 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:36.360 you to be 00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:37.059 able to be 00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:37.720 with him. 00:36:38.160 --> 00:36:38.599 That's the 00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:39.119 work he's 00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:39.519 doing in 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:39.859 the life 00:36:39.859 --> 00:36:40.139 of a 00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:40.500 Christian. 00:36:41.779 --> 00:36:42.339 He's 00:36:42.339 --> 00:36:43.059 progressively 00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:43.940 making them 00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.639 holy in 00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:45.059 preparation 00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:45.920 for heaven. 00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:49.239 In 00:36:49.239 --> 00:36:49.599 preparation 00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:50.219 for 00:36:50.219 --> 00:36:51.039 completely 00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:52.000 uninhibited 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:52.799 joy in 00:36:52.799 --> 00:36:53.519 his presence. 00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:54.460 To reject 00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:54.920 the call 00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:55.460 to holiness, 00:36:56.319 --> 00:36:57.059 to reject 00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:57.420 the law 00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:57.759 like it 00:36:57.759 --> 00:36:58.019 doesn't 00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:58.339 matter, 00:36:59.719 --> 00:37:00.079 is to 00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:00.679 reject the 00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:01.299 invitation 00:37:01.299 --> 00:37:02.380 to live 00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:02.980 with God. 00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:06.779 To 00:37:06.779 --> 00:37:07.179 reject 00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:07.759 obedience 00:37:07.759 --> 00:37:08.400 and law 00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:08.599 as 00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:09.260 unimportant 00:37:09.260 --> 00:37:10.059 is to 00:37:10.059 --> 00:37:10.579 reject 00:37:10.579 --> 00:37:10.920 the 00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:11.340 grace 00:37:11.340 --> 00:37:11.559 that 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:11.820 God 00:37:11.820 --> 00:37:12.019 has 00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:12.360 worked 00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:12.599 in 00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:12.920 sending 00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:13.380 Jesus 00:37:13.380 --> 00:37:15.160 to die 00:37:15.160 --> 00:37:15.559 so that 00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:15.920 you can 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:16.519 be in 00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:16.700 his 00:37:16.700 --> 00:37:17.220 presence. 00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:20.660 The call 00:37:20.660 --> 00:37:20.940 to be 00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:21.680 holy is a 00:37:21.680 --> 00:37:22.139 call to 00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:22.500 pursue 00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:22.980 God. 00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:25.220 It's not a 00:37:25.220 --> 00:37:25.680 call to be 00:37:25.680 --> 00:37:26.000 good. 00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:28.599 It's a 00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:29.019 call to 00:37:29.019 --> 00:37:29.820 love God. 00:37:29.820 --> 00:37:29.860 God. 00:37:32.019 --> 00:37:32.780 So lack 00:37:32.780 --> 00:37:33.340 of holiness 00:37:33.340 --> 00:37:33.820 in your 00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:34.120 life, 00:37:34.180 --> 00:37:34.420 if you're 00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:34.800 not more 00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:35.380 like Jesus 00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:35.820 than you 00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:36.340 were 12 00:37:36.340 --> 00:37:36.860 months ago 00:37:36.860 --> 00:37:37.200 or two 00:37:37.200 --> 00:37:37.620 years ago 00:37:37.620 --> 00:37:38.000 or 10 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.460 years ago, 00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:40.100 lack of 00:37:40.100 --> 00:37:40.700 holiness is 00:37:40.700 --> 00:37:40.980 not a 00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:41.660 behavioural 00:37:41.660 --> 00:37:42.100 issue that 00:37:42.100 --> 00:37:42.519 you need to 00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:42.920 fix with 00:37:42.920 --> 00:37:43.700 self-discipline 00:37:43.700 --> 00:37:45.500 or with 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:46.100 guilt or 00:37:46.100 --> 00:37:46.700 with scolding 00:37:46.700 --> 00:37:47.160 yourself. 00:37:48.600 --> 00:37:49.220 It's a 00:37:49.220 --> 00:37:49.920 heart issue. 00:37:52.860 --> 00:37:53.539 And so if 00:37:53.539 --> 00:37:54.039 you're not 00:37:54.039 --> 00:37:55.500 growing more 00:37:55.500 --> 00:37:56.059 like Jesus, 00:37:56.180 --> 00:37:56.660 the question 00:37:56.660 --> 00:37:57.100 you've got to 00:37:57.100 --> 00:37:57.780 ask is not 00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:58.340 have I been 00:37:58.340 --> 00:37:58.820 trying? 00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:00.519 The question 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:01.519 is am I 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:02.460 pursuing God 00:38:02.460 --> 00:38:03.260 in my life? 00:38:05.660 --> 00:38:06.360 Am I 00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:07.080 getting myself 00:38:07.080 --> 00:38:07.700 into his 00:38:07.700 --> 00:38:08.420 presence? 00:38:12.580 --> 00:38:13.340 And if the 00:38:13.340 --> 00:38:14.080 answer is no, 00:38:15.300 --> 00:38:16.080 then the only 00:38:16.080 --> 00:38:16.740 place you can 00:38:16.740 --> 00:38:17.420 go to change 00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:18.380 that, to fix 00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:19.000 that, the only 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.620 place you can 00:38:19.620 --> 00:38:20.080 go to have 00:38:20.080 --> 00:38:20.560 your heart 00:38:20.560 --> 00:38:21.480 reshaped and 00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:24.300 moulded and 00:38:24.300 --> 00:38:25.420 set on fire 00:38:25.420 --> 00:38:26.280 with love for 00:38:26.280 --> 00:38:26.620 God, 00:38:27.780 --> 00:38:28.960 is to 00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:29.880 bask in 00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:30.519 the glory 00:38:30.519 --> 00:38:31.220 of God 00:38:31.220 --> 00:38:33.660 revealed in 00:38:33.660 --> 00:38:34.220 the face 00:38:34.220 --> 00:38:35.140 of Jesus 00:38:35.140 --> 00:38:36.840 who died 00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:37.340 and rose 00:38:37.340 --> 00:38:38.620 again so 00:38:38.620 --> 00:38:38.920 that we 00:38:38.920 --> 00:38:39.400 might know 00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:39.720 him. 00:38:43.640 --> 00:38:44.460 Let's pray. 00:38:48.460 --> 00:38:49.240 Father God, 00:38:49.300 --> 00:38:49.920 we want to 00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:51.000 concede that 00:38:51.000 --> 00:38:53.040 laws are 00:38:53.040 --> 00:38:53.700 intimidating, 00:38:54.340 --> 00:38:55.800 that often 00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:56.220 we're known 00:38:56.219 --> 00:38:56.959 as hypocrites 00:38:56.959 --> 00:38:57.559 because we 00:38:57.559 --> 00:38:58.879 speak about 00:38:58.879 --> 00:38:59.299 how we're 00:38:59.299 --> 00:38:59.759 supposed to 00:38:59.759 --> 00:39:00.259 be but we 00:39:00.259 --> 00:39:00.679 don't back 00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:01.099 it up with 00:39:01.099 --> 00:39:01.439 how we 00:39:01.439 --> 00:39:01.719 live. 00:39:03.459 --> 00:39:04.139 We want to 00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:04.799 thank you that 00:39:04.799 --> 00:39:05.639 our failures 00:39:05.639 --> 00:39:06.659 are completely 00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:07.659 covered by 00:39:07.659 --> 00:39:08.039 Jesus. 00:39:09.379 --> 00:39:10.059 We want to 00:39:10.059 --> 00:39:10.539 thank you that 00:39:10.539 --> 00:39:11.079 there is nothing 00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:11.719 that we could 00:39:11.719 --> 00:39:12.459 do that would 00:39:12.459 --> 00:39:13.759 undo what has 00:39:13.759 --> 00:39:14.239 already been 00:39:14.239 --> 00:39:14.719 done on the 00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:15.119 cross. 00:39:17.939 --> 00:39:18.579 And Father, 00:39:18.659 --> 00:39:19.299 we want to ask 00:39:19.299 --> 00:39:19.699 that you would 00:39:19.699 --> 00:39:20.359 help us to 00:39:20.359 --> 00:39:21.119 see you, 00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:22.559 to encounter 00:39:22.559 --> 00:39:22.939 you, to 00:39:22.939 --> 00:39:23.980 experience you 00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:24.719 in such a 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:25.300 way that we 00:39:25.300 --> 00:39:25.960 would see the 00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:26.500 law as the 00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:27.059 gift that it 00:39:27.059 --> 00:39:28.420 is, that we 00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:28.900 would desire 00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:29.900 holiness not so 00:39:29.900 --> 00:39:30.460 that we could be 00:39:30.460 --> 00:39:31.240 good but so 00:39:31.240 --> 00:39:32.039 that we could be 00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:35.340 with you, so 00:39:35.340 --> 00:39:35.820 that we might 00:39:35.820 --> 00:39:36.440 enjoy your 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:37.340 presence even in 00:39:37.340 --> 00:39:37.820 the mundane 00:39:37.820 --> 00:39:38.679 details of 00:39:38.679 --> 00:39:39.179 catching a 00:39:39.179 --> 00:39:39.820 train or eating 00:39:39.820 --> 00:39:40.320 a meal. 00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:43.400 God, open our 00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:44.440 eyes to the 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:45.420 invitation that 00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:46.579 sits behind the 00:39:46.579 --> 00:39:49.639 law, the 00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.639 invitation to be 00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:52.859 with you, to 00:39:52.859 --> 00:39:53.500 love you as 00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:54.179 you deserve. 00:39:55.779 --> 00:39:56.819 Father, make us 00:39:56.819 --> 00:39:57.519 more like your 00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:57.839 sun. 00:39:59.079 --> 00:39:59.839 Shine on us in 00:39:59.839 --> 00:40:00.619 such a way that 00:40:00.619 --> 00:40:01.619 we glow so 00:40:01.619 --> 00:40:02.099 that the world 00:40:02.099 --> 00:40:02.819 around us might 00:40:02.819 --> 00:40:04.339 see the joy and 00:40:04.339 --> 00:40:05.199 peace and hope 00:40:05.199 --> 00:40:05.719 that is offered 00:40:05.719 --> 00:40:06.159 in you. 00:40:08.400 --> 00:40:09.259 Father, thank you 00:40:09.259 --> 00:40:09.940 for gathering us 00:40:09.940 --> 00:40:10.779 tonight that we 00:40:10.779 --> 00:40:12.339 might sunbake in 00:40:12.339 --> 00:40:13.219 your radiance. 00:40:17.159 --> 00:40:17.980 Please reveal 00:40:17.980 --> 00:40:18.839 yourself to us 00:40:18.839 --> 00:40:20.259 tonight and don't 00:40:20.260 --> 00:40:20.940 let us walk out of 00:40:20.940 --> 00:40:21.460 this room the 00:40:21.460 --> 00:40:21.680 same. 00:40:23.500 --> 00:40:23.820 Amen.