WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.960 Good morning. Good morning. On a slightly chillier day, it's great to see you. My name's Chris, if you don't know me. 00:00:11.740 --> 00:00:18.120 I'm on the pastoral staff here at Watermark, and you're just really welcome to Watermark. 00:00:18.120 --> 00:00:26.300 One of the things I'm just so aware of, just even looking around this morning, is just, you guys are amazing. 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:31.900 I don't know if you get that. Like this morning, there's just been so many people just serving in different ways. 00:00:32.439 --> 00:00:38.340 You know, there's people serving the kids. There's people who've been setting up in different ways, and other people serving in CGs. 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:46.980 And really, this is a family. And it's just exciting to see how you guys just really serve each other as part of the family. 00:00:46.980 --> 00:00:56.019 That's just really one of the things this church is here to be, is that family in a performance-based world where everyone's trying to compete against everybody else. 00:00:56.299 --> 00:01:01.799 God has placed us here to be this family who know the grace of God, who are transformed by that. 00:01:01.879 --> 00:01:07.060 So we're not just here to take, but we're here to serve. We're here to love. We're here to reach out to this city with the gospel. 00:01:07.959 --> 00:01:12.679 So that's just really struck me, just even this morning. 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:19.620 So before I stop, before I kind of speak now, I want us just to stop for a second. 00:01:20.060 --> 00:01:25.900 Because last week, we talked about the idea that we have a God who actually wants to speak to us. 00:01:27.240 --> 00:01:30.740 And this morning, I'm convinced that God wants to speak to you. 00:01:31.980 --> 00:01:37.140 And so I want us to stop right now, and I want each of us in our hearts to pray, 00:01:37.140 --> 00:01:42.260 God, living God, I want you to speak to me. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:48.319 I want to hear your voice, and I want to respond and obey whatever you say to me. 00:01:48.739 --> 00:01:50.700 So let's just stop for a second. 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:53.400 And in your heart, just pray that prayer. 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:59.359 Living God, thank you that you speak. 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:07.980 I want to hear your voice this morning, and I want to obey and respond to whatever you say to me. 00:02:08.620 --> 00:02:10.960 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:17.020 So today, we're looking at God's law, okay? 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:23.520 That may not sound the most fun topic for you, but this is an exciting topic, I think. 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:29.780 Because in Deuteronomy, the word Deuteronomy actually means second law. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:37.200 And what's basically happened is Moses is reiterating the laws that God had said 40 years previously 00:02:37.200 --> 00:02:39.180 to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. 00:02:39.620 --> 00:02:41.879 And the people had screwed up time and time again. 00:02:41.980 --> 00:02:42.960 They'd forgotten all the laws. 00:02:43.060 --> 00:02:49.800 And now it's kind of time number two to remind them of what they should have been doing all this time. 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:55.320 And he's telling them that you're about to go into the promised land, and now this is what you need to remember. 00:02:56.060 --> 00:02:57.880 Just like Eric said earlier. 00:02:59.040 --> 00:03:06.160 And when you come to these laws that Moses says to people, you've got to remember, 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:10.460 this is like me listening in to my wife talking to a friend. 00:03:11.160 --> 00:03:14.040 And as I'm listening, she's not directly addressing me. 00:03:14.039 --> 00:03:20.699 But as I'm listening in and I'm getting to know my wife, it's giving me a little extra picture of who she is. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:30.459 And as Christians, we are not under the Old Testament law because there is a new testament, a new covenant which Jesus brings in. 00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:36.919 And if you're not sure about that, well, if any guys here had an eternal emission last night, 00:03:36.979 --> 00:03:39.399 you shouldn't have come to church this morning, okay? 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:40.439 Because that's in the law. 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:49.539 So today, we need to remember that what God is saying to us through his word in the Old Testament 00:03:49.539 --> 00:03:56.659 is run through Jesus, and we understand what he was trying to say to them then 00:03:56.659 --> 00:04:01.240 so that we can understand what through Jesus and through the gospel he wants to say to us, 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:02.479 and we apply it to our lives. 00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:06.120 And Deuteronomy, by the way, is Jesus' favorite book. 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:08.460 It's one of Paul's favorite books. 00:04:08.460 --> 00:04:12.120 Jesus quotes Deuteronomy more than any other book in the Bible. 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:14.960 So we've got to listen to what this is going to say to us. 00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:21.319 Now, one of the things that when I say a law, when you read the Ten Commandments, 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:24.379 I think there's two ways that we kind of tend to respond to them. 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:29.500 Some of us, kind of like me, we're religious Pharisees. 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:32.699 We like rules. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:37.459 You know, we're very obedient externally to the rules we have. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:43.899 I went to see a grandmother dying in a hospital a while back, 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:48.019 and the family WhatsApp chat kind of went round, 00:04:48.100 --> 00:04:49.860 and the unwritten rule was this. 00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:52.139 You have to be at the hospital. 00:04:52.339 --> 00:04:56.019 If you don't go to the hospital, you're a bad family member, okay? 00:04:56.019 --> 00:04:58.859 That's the unwritten rule that went round. 00:04:59.019 --> 00:05:00.459 So everyone turns up to the hospital. 00:05:00.719 --> 00:05:02.120 I turn up at the hospital bed, 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:08.159 expecting this kind of warm, caring time with the grandmother in her last days. 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:11.079 But in 30 minutes of being at her bedside, 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:15.079 nobody talked to her once. 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:17.879 Nobody even acknowledged her existence. 00:05:18.699 --> 00:05:19.959 Everyone just talked to each other. 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:23.180 And I stood there shocked. 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:26.439 But they were all there. 00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:28.579 They had kept the family rule. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:30.139 Everyone was there. 00:05:31.919 --> 00:05:33.079 That's what were counted. 00:05:33.459 --> 00:05:35.379 They kept the rule, but there was no love. 00:05:36.459 --> 00:05:41.099 And often, that can be what my Christian life can be like. 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:44.879 I keep the rules, but there's a love that's missing. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:46.599 You know, that's what some of us are like. 00:05:46.659 --> 00:05:48.759 Some of us are totally the opposite. 00:05:48.759 --> 00:05:51.399 We're like, rules are there to be broken. 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:53.180 You know, it's kind of like the French. 00:05:53.719 --> 00:05:55.039 You know, rules, you know. 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:57.219 Is there anyone French here? 00:05:57.319 --> 00:05:58.159 Sorry, forgive me. 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:04.180 You know, I see parents, and your kids sit there, 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:07.819 and you say, okay, sit and eat your food. 00:06:08.099 --> 00:06:09.060 And they're hungry. 00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:10.579 They want to eat. 00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:14.699 But because mommy or daddy said you need to eat this, 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:16.500 they deliberately refuse to eat. 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:17.959 Have you seen that? 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:19.539 I'm sure some of you experience that. 00:06:19.779 --> 00:06:21.899 I mean, deliberately, and you're like, this is insane. 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:22.939 Right? 00:06:23.099 --> 00:06:23.899 It's crazy. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:25.899 But they have to be the ones who are in control. 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:29.719 Some of us are like that when God tells us something. 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:33.899 We're either the Pharisees or the ones who want to be the ones in control. 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:34.519 We're the rebels. 00:06:34.519 --> 00:06:39.019 So when we're looking at the Ten Commandments, I want you to think about where do you line up? 00:06:39.740 --> 00:06:43.859 Are you the Pharisee, or are you a rebel in your heart? 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:48.560 And so what I want to do is I want to look at this in four different things. 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:54.139 I want to talk about the purpose of the law, the content of the law, the problem of the law, and the goal of the law. 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:54.459 Okay? 00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:59.860 Purpose, content, problem, and then goal of the law. 00:06:59.980 --> 00:07:00.180 Okay? 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:01.139 Tracking with me. 00:07:01.139 --> 00:07:04.060 So let's have a look in the passage. 00:07:04.180 --> 00:07:05.659 So please just have your passage open. 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:08.360 We'll kind of skim through it as we go. 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:10.079 Verse 2. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:11.579 Purpose of the law. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:16.419 Verse 2 tells you, the Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:16.899 Okay? 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:19.819 So Horeb means Mount Sinai. 00:07:19.819 --> 00:07:25.579 Now, a covenant, this kind of covenant is what technically some people call a suzerain vassal treaty. 00:07:25.779 --> 00:07:26.779 You don't need to learn that. 00:07:27.039 --> 00:07:27.120 Okay? 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:39.000 But what that meant was in their times there was a great king who would reach out to a smaller king and offer him protection in return for loyalty. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:43.540 And the language they'd use was kind of father and son language. 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:45.879 The great king would say, I'll be your father. 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:48.100 And the son would be, I'll be your son. 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:50.819 You know, you would be, I'd be the strong one. 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:55.060 You'd be the one who enjoys my relationship as long as you're obeying me. 00:07:55.459 --> 00:07:56.819 That's the way it worked. 00:07:56.819 --> 00:08:00.839 And the laws would be the kind of stipulations of how the relationship was going to work. 00:08:01.339 --> 00:08:01.579 Okay? 00:08:01.620 --> 00:08:05.000 And there's a little bit of connection here with the Ten Commandments. 00:08:06.180 --> 00:08:09.779 But it's different from the way other people did their treaties. 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:12.339 What's the first part of the Ten Commandments? 00:08:12.659 --> 00:08:14.259 First part of the Ten Commandments. 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:21.600 You shall have no other gods before you. 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:22.600 That's good. 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:22.620 That's good. 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:23.800 But that's not the beginning. 00:08:27.420 --> 00:08:27.900 Yes. 00:08:28.220 --> 00:08:30.280 I am the Lord your God. 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:31.200 I'm Yahweh. 00:08:31.320 --> 00:08:31.800 That's what we said. 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:33.060 That's the name Israel's God. 00:08:33.340 --> 00:08:38.220 I'm the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the land of slavery. 00:08:38.379 --> 00:08:39.620 That comes first. 00:08:40.420 --> 00:08:41.519 Now, we've got to get this. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:47.360 Because what he's saying is, before you have to do anything, I'm going to tell you who I am. 00:08:47.699 --> 00:08:50.620 I'm the God who takes the initiative in this relationship. 00:08:51.079 --> 00:08:56.679 I'm the God who brings you into relationship with myself. 00:08:56.819 --> 00:08:57.679 I save you. 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:02.399 I rescue you out of slavery in Egypt. 00:09:02.959 --> 00:09:04.620 Relationship comes before morality. 00:09:04.959 --> 00:09:09.359 Before you have to do anything, realize, I save you first. 00:09:09.479 --> 00:09:10.719 I accept you first. 00:09:10.819 --> 00:09:13.339 I bring you into relationship with me first. 00:09:13.699 --> 00:09:14.659 Then you obey. 00:09:16.059 --> 00:09:19.159 And you obey as a response out of grateful obedience. 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:26.639 And also what he's saying is, so it's not just know who I am and that I brought you and I've saved you. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:31.759 He's also saying, God brought you to himself that you may be free. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:38.159 You see, the Egyptian king Pharaoh set himself up as a god. 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:42.539 And when you lived under his rule, you were a slave. 00:09:43.539 --> 00:09:49.139 But when I come and I tell you don't have any other gods before me, 00:09:49.259 --> 00:09:53.379 the reason I tell you that is because I don't want you to go back in slavery. 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:56.559 You put any other god before me, you'll become a slave. 00:09:56.699 --> 00:09:58.799 But you let me be your god. 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:03.379 And I want to set you free to be who I designed you to be. 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:05.279 Because I kind of know how this thing works. 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:06.559 Because I created you. 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:07.460 Right? 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:15.160 And God says, this law is to be the kind of constitution of this community. 00:10:15.660 --> 00:10:20.660 They're kind of like the freedom constitution of how you're to live in this land under me. 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:31.680 And three times in this chapter, 16, verse 29, verse 33, he tells you the motivation for these laws is that it may go well with you. 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:33.059 Did you get that? 00:10:33.219 --> 00:10:34.819 That it may go well with you. 00:10:34.939 --> 00:10:37.359 He's saying that your life can flourish. 00:10:37.359 --> 00:10:42.059 That you can enjoy true, satisfying, fulfilled life. 00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:43.899 That is what my commandments are about. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:45.000 Okay? 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:53.820 When you make life about him more than about you, you'll get freedom to be who you were always meant to be. 00:10:55.080 --> 00:11:01.840 You see, sometimes I think we think God's salvation, it's kind of a bit like he opens the prison cell for us to go out. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:08.600 But then he kind of lets us come back in, like brings us back into the prison cell with a lot of restrictive, repressive rules. 00:11:08.680 --> 00:11:11.139 Because, you know, he doesn't want us to have too much freedom, really. 00:11:13.220 --> 00:11:15.420 But actually, that's not what he's saying. 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:25.440 And I think as Christians, and I know for myself this has been very true, many of us as Christians and even non-Christians, we're actually scared of obeying God. 00:11:26.420 --> 00:11:27.580 If we're really honest. 00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:34.500 Because what we really think is, if I really obey what God tells me to do, I'm going to miss out. 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:36.280 You know, we say, God is good. 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:37.400 Yeah, I know he's good. 00:11:37.800 --> 00:11:44.980 But if I actually follow him, like really follow him, like get serious about him, then he's going to make my life miserable. 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:46.900 Right? 00:11:47.580 --> 00:11:54.720 He's going to call me to be like a poor single nun in North Korea, like sleeping on a bed of nails or something like that in my life. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:12:03.120 But, and that's why we don't want to obey him, because that's sometimes how we think God is like. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:07.779 But David, in the Psalms, when he's looking at this law, do you know what he says? 00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:12.680 He says, I lie awake at night kind of salivating over this law. 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:13.759 He says, I delight in it. 00:12:13.800 --> 00:12:14.980 He says, I pant after it. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:16.040 I'm longing for it. 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:18.639 And he says, these are my joy. 00:12:18.939 --> 00:12:20.559 These are my delight. 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:22.219 And we think, what are you on, David? 00:12:25.339 --> 00:12:28.500 And because we're like, okay, how far can I go before I sin? 00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:29.879 You know, where's the line? 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:30.439 There. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:32.120 Okay, I'll get just up to the edge. 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:37.419 Because we don't realize that this is for our joy and our freedom. 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:39.279 I mean, just take sex, for example. 00:12:39.719 --> 00:12:40.179 Take sex. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:46.219 The Bible's contention is sex is reserved for one woman, one man in a marriage relationship. 00:12:46.599 --> 00:12:53.279 But our society says, any God who says that is restrictive, outdated, just trying to spoil your fun. 00:12:53.339 --> 00:12:55.899 He's kind of Hitler in the sky kind of thing, right? 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.620 That's what our society says. 00:12:58.419 --> 00:13:03.539 But I had a colleague, and we were on a conference in Hungary, actually. 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:05.079 We know we've got some Hungarians here. 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:10.120 I was in Hungary, and I was dating Fiona at the time. 00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:14.540 And he asked me, kind of out of the blue, okay, have you had sex together? 00:13:15.800 --> 00:13:17.379 And I said, no. 00:13:17.900 --> 00:13:26.280 I said, sexual intimacy is so precious that I want to reserve it only for someone that I've committed the whole of my life to in marriage. 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:27.759 And do you know how he replied? 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:31.000 He said, I wish I was like you. 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:36.919 He said, I wish I could do that. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:37.620 But do you know what? 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:38.320 I just can't. 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:39.620 I can't help myself. 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:45.360 Whenever I see a pretty girl, I just have to try and sleep with her because I can't control myself. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:50.639 And he said to me, I guess I'm kind of like a slave to my desires, aren't I? 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:52.480 And I wish I wasn't. 00:13:52.480 --> 00:14:06.100 You see, I could not tell you how many people think that God's laws are repressive in the short term, but in the long term, they wish they knew the freedom that he calls them to give. 00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:13.220 God is not looking for miserable Christians who are like, I love Jesus, but I wish he didn't. 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.940 He wasn't so harsh. 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:21.019 Because that doesn't give him any glory or any honor if we just think he's a miserable, tight so-and-so. 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:31.300 God's laws, like a good father wants good things for their children, is he wants your joy and he wants a community to live in freedom. 00:14:31.560 --> 00:14:32.660 That's why he gives the law. 00:14:33.660 --> 00:14:33.800 Okay? 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:35.819 So that's the purpose of the law. 00:14:36.599 --> 00:14:38.939 Now, the content of the law. 00:14:39.839 --> 00:14:41.359 And this is one sermon. 00:14:41.459 --> 00:14:42.240 There are ten commandments. 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:44.899 We could spend like all year going through this, but we won't. 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:50.459 So I'm just going to very briefly show you something we may not have noticed about all of these ten commandments. 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:53.019 And you've, you know, you've seen them a hundred times. 00:14:53.819 --> 00:14:57.620 But one thing we often fail to notice is that all of them are actually interconnected. 00:14:58.519 --> 00:14:59.879 They're all interconnected. 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:07.019 Our society says we want morality, but we don't kind of want religion. 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:07.939 Right? 00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:17.000 I mean, we want kind of to send our kids to kind of Christian schools and even come to church so they learn some nice moral values. 00:15:17.420 --> 00:15:19.880 But don't get too serious about the God stuff. 00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:20.860 Right? 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:22.160 That's kind of what we say. 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:30.539 I read a great book, actually, by a guy called, actually by, I've forgotten his name, but it's a book called Good Without God. 00:15:31.199 --> 00:15:34.059 And his idea was that you don't need religion to be moral. 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:35.959 And it's true in many ways. 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.519 My aunt is an amazing woman. 00:15:37.719 --> 00:15:42.939 She's an atheist, but she's very kind, very caring in many ways. 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:47.500 But there's something, I think, that is missing there. 00:15:47.540 --> 00:15:51.600 And I want to show you two things of how these laws are interconnected. 00:15:51.880 --> 00:15:53.620 You can't distinguish them. 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:59.020 The laws are connected vertically and horizontally, and they're connected inwardly and outwardly. 00:15:59.300 --> 00:15:59.460 Okay? 00:15:59.680 --> 00:16:01.900 Vertically, horizontally, inwardly, outwardly. 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:03.400 Vertically and horizontally. 00:16:04.580 --> 00:16:06.620 Just keep the commandments in front of you. 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:14.419 Jesus takes the Ten Commandments, and he says, you can summarize them in two. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.220 What are the two? 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:20.060 Okay, this is kind of, yeah, it's good. 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:20.940 I know it's Sunday morning. 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:21.659 Okay? 00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:24.960 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:25.360 Okay? 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:27.539 And love your neighbor as yourself. 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:30.340 That basically summarizes all the Ten Commandments. 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:31.080 Simple. 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:33.379 How can he summarize them? 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:39.679 Well, you look at the first four, and the first four are all about how do you love God? 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:40.779 How do you worship God? 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:42.740 You know, no images, no other gods before him. 00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:43.840 Don't take his name in vain. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.299 All of those different things. 00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:50.620 The second six are all about relationships. 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:52.799 You know, loving your neighbor. 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.720 Honor your father and mother. 00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:54.320 Don't murder. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:54.879 That's loving. 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:56.639 Don't commit adultery. 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.820 That's also quite loving. 00:16:58.139 --> 00:16:58.419 Okay? 00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:59.539 It's all relational. 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:02.080 Some people say, I don't want laws. 00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:03.080 I believe in love. 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:05.779 But the thing is, these laws are actually love in action. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:08.019 How you love people in action. 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:14.019 And you can't separate the first law from the second law. 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:16.059 The vertical and the horizontal go together. 00:17:16.840 --> 00:17:20.500 Let me show you how that can work with just going to the fourth commandment. 00:17:21.100 --> 00:17:21.220 Okay? 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:24.840 Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:27.700 Because the Sabbath day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:30.640 And the reason for keeping it? 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:32.059 Verse 15. 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:34.839 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:38.139 And God brought you out from there. 00:17:38.639 --> 00:17:38.879 Okay? 00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:46.500 What he's saying is, the motivation for resting in the Sabbath is God's redemption. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.220 God's salvation of you. 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:50.799 That's the motivation for you to keep a rhythm of rest. 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:51.299 Okay? 00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:52.139 How does that work? 00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:57.740 He's saying, in your work week, you've got to recognize that God is the Lord of your productivity. 00:17:58.860 --> 00:17:59.600 He is the Lord. 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:01.180 He's the Lord of all your productivity. 00:18:01.780 --> 00:18:01.900 Okay? 00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:05.360 You ought to be ruled by Him, not by your work. 00:18:06.040 --> 00:18:07.180 Work is a good thing. 00:18:07.300 --> 00:18:08.220 It's a great thing. 00:18:08.860 --> 00:18:09.640 You can be busy. 00:18:10.060 --> 00:18:11.320 But don't let it rule you. 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:14.700 The Sabbath is to God, but it's for us. 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:15.420 Okay? 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:20.300 Now, I don't know if you realize how inconvenient this law is. 00:18:20.900 --> 00:18:21.019 Okay? 00:18:21.080 --> 00:18:22.320 This law is very inconvenient. 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:25.779 You see, Israel was an agricultural society. 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:28.220 That meant they were farmers. 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:34.180 And if you stop working for one day on the farm, do you know what happens? 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:36.039 You have no idea. 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:38.240 Slugs can come along and eat your crops. 00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:43.079 The hail, birds, any kinds of things could come along, and you're just sitting there watching. 00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:46.559 And you can't do anything. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:52.779 And, you know, for them, it's like, if you stop, you don't have control. 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.240 Right? 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:56.759 And it's life and death for them. 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:58.019 Like, for us, it's not life and death. 00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:59.359 For them, it was life and death. 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:07.759 For us, it's more like, you know, if I stop and rest for a little while from my work, it's like my reputation, my achievements, my financial security. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:09.720 That's what I feel like is on the line. 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.579 And we fear. 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.140 Don't we? 00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:18.259 Some of us who just, we live in a culture which tells us just to keep working and keep working and keep working. 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:21.700 And you know what often keeps me just keep working? 00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:24.619 It's those what ifs. 00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:28.819 Because this command is a command to trust God and let Him have control of my productivity. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.919 But I have these what ifs. 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:32.319 What if I'm in the field? 00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:36.579 And what if I'm not in the field and there's a wind and it blows all my olives away? 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:39.679 What if that email comes in and I miss it? 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:41.500 What if that WhatsApp, I don't see it? 00:19:41.659 --> 00:19:43.259 And I've got to keep going from my phone. 00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:45.519 I've got to keep doing these things and we become these slaves. 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:49.899 What do we, do we ever live with what ifs? 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:57.759 You see, it's my idolatry of things like success, the boss's approval, the control. 00:19:57.840 --> 00:20:02.800 I want to have them, which means that drives me to sometimes overwork. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:13.059 And if you don't have a God who's big enough to trust with all the other what ifs in your life, 00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:17.799 if you don't have a God who's loving enough to trust with all of those things, 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:23.619 then you'll just get drawn back to be a slave to your work again, to your phone, to your computer, 00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:26.239 to whatever it is that gets you. 00:20:26.699 --> 00:20:31.419 When maybe you're supposed to be spending time with your kids or spending time with your community group 00:20:31.419 --> 00:20:33.059 or spending time with other people. 00:20:35.899 --> 00:20:40.759 But the call of Sabbath is to trust God and rest and leave him to take care of the what ifs. 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:46.239 Now the vertical affects the horizontal because look at who else has to rest in this passage. 00:20:48.739 --> 00:20:49.179 Everyone. 00:20:49.959 --> 00:20:50.559 Did you get that? 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:53.159 I mean, this is pretty comprehensive. 00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:57.240 I mean, sons, daughters, such as children, servants, employees, even animals. 00:20:57.819 --> 00:21:00.179 Okay, I don't know how you make a donkey rest, but anyway. 00:21:00.659 --> 00:21:07.079 Okay, animals, immigrants, the whole lot, they're meant to rest on a day. 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:09.720 Because why does he say that? 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:13.940 If you trust God, then actually you will not exploit the workers around you. 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:17.519 Because what happens normally is if I'm resting, then I'm going to make somebody else do the work. 00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:18.619 Right? 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:18.720 Right? 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.980 But do you see what he's saying? 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:26.379 If you put God first, do you see what that change comes in the whole community? 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:29.079 Because think about Hong Kong. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:33.519 Why does it groan under the slavery of working hours, which are ridiculous, 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:38.399 and of this culture which keeps driving us to kind of work more and work more and work more? 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:39.400 Why do we do that? 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:46.000 Because as individuals in Hong Kong, including me, we worship the gods of money. 00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:49.080 We worship the gods of convenience and self-promotion. 00:21:49.360 --> 00:21:53.019 We make idols out of them, and that's what drives us. 00:21:53.019 --> 00:22:00.680 Because when work consumes your waking thoughts, you actually stop loving people around you. 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:05.220 And all of us are culture shapers. 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:09.400 We all shape it by the way that we do and deal with our work. 00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:20.560 But you see, if we trust in a God who takes care of us, we can actually take time out to rest with our families, with our friends, with other people. 00:22:21.300 --> 00:22:23.680 And didn't you think it would actually be a much healthier community? 00:22:25.040 --> 00:22:26.320 Physical health would be better. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:28.220 Your productivity at work would be better. 00:22:28.300 --> 00:22:29.460 In fact, you're less stressed. 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:31.360 God wants a community like that. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:36.940 And the challenge is, where in my life am I making my work more than him? 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:40.460 Because that's actually flowing out and affecting the horizontal. 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:50.100 Because actually, when you do that, you break the first commandment, don't have any other gods, right? 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:52.039 And then it's working that all the way. 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.819 What that also means is this. 00:22:53.819 --> 00:23:00.579 You cannot say, I'm a spiritual person. 00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:02.079 Read your Bible every day. 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:04.399 Look all holy on Sundays. 00:23:05.139 --> 00:23:08.000 And then also treat your parents like crap. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:12.899 Or treat your spouse or your helper terribly. 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:19.359 You cannot do that because God is not impressed by quoting Bible verses or singing songs. 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:24.319 If in my heart and in my relationships, I am not reaching out in love. 00:23:24.379 --> 00:23:26.379 Because the vertical and the horizontal are connected. 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:29.959 And this is so challenging for me. 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:36.879 Because actually, the sign of my spiritual health is often shown in the way I'm doing my relationships with others. 00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:40.740 So how am I treating the people around me? 00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:44.500 Because that may be a window into where you are in your relationship with God. 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:48.940 And the inward, sorry, the vertical and the horizontal go together. 00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:53.079 But secondly, the inward and the outward go together. 00:23:55.059 --> 00:24:03.619 Most religions, and, you know, most people really, would say the Ten Commandments are pretty good. 00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:04.200 Okay? 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.420 Most of them, they're not bad. 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:08.160 Don't murder, don't steal, don't commit perjury in court. 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.400 All fairly common stuff. 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:11.319 You go to prison for things like that, right? 00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:17.339 Honestly, looking at these, I feel pretty okay about the lack of murder in my life. 00:24:18.679 --> 00:24:18.919 Okay? 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:19.919 Just being real. 00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:20.799 Stealing. 00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:24.059 The odd watermark pen, but nothing in particular major. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.200 Okay? 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:30.419 I know that was a guilty laugh, that was. 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:35.259 You know God's talking to you right now. 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:43.920 But, you know, in James, in James, the book of James in the New Testament, it says, 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:47.680 when you break one command, you break all of them. 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:52.339 Which, to me, sounds pretty unfair, you know? 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:55.779 Because 90% on an exam is kind of like an A, you know? 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:56.720 Right? 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:59.039 It's only 10% I didn't get. 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:07.500 Yet, you and I can seem nicer on the outside and kid ourselves that we're doing okay, 00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:09.059 but then you get to the 10th commandment. 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:12.240 We often forget the 10th commandment. 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:13.700 Have a look at the 10th commandment for me. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:16.839 You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. 00:25:17.899 --> 00:25:21.379 You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:23.819 his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:26.639 or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:29.340 Ooh, okay. 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:32.100 Now, think about that for a second. 00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:35.640 You can't legislate for that command, right? 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:38.120 You can't imprison someone for saying, 00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:40.320 you looked at my handbag with jealousy. 00:25:40.600 --> 00:25:42.320 You can't do that, right? 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:44.000 Five years in Stanley Prison. 00:25:44.280 --> 00:25:45.100 No, you can't. 00:25:47.560 --> 00:25:53.660 Because this command is a command to be content in your heart. 00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:59.740 And I imagine the religious Israelite who's listening to this, 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:01.620 and like the rich time ruler in the New Testament, you know, 00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:03.400 he said, I've done all of those commands. 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:06.600 And then he gets to this one thing. 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:08.240 Jesus tells him this one thing. 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:09.940 He gets to this one thing, you know, 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:14.779 and he's listening to Moses' teaching, 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:17.420 and he goes home after, you know, he's done his Bible study, 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.960 he's done his great sermon, he goes home, 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:22.039 and what he does, his wife's been nagging him all day, 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:24.299 and he looks over at his neighbor's hot young wife, 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:27.340 and he looks over into the field next door to him, 00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:29.640 and that's kind of his business, and he's got more than him. 00:26:30.120 --> 00:26:33.319 And then he looks over and he's got more employees, 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:36.140 and he's doing far more successful than he is his neighbor. 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:39.480 And then he looks at the new cattle he's got in, 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:41.319 that's a Maserati in the drive. 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.680 Okay, and he looks at all of these things, 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:45.100 the holidays his neighbor's going on, 00:26:45.100 --> 00:26:46.299 and he looks at his life and he thinks, 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.380 ooh, it's not fair. 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:51.000 Discontent begins to come in. 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.880 Maybe I should have more than this. 00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:55.620 Anyone relate to that? 00:26:56.940 --> 00:27:00.400 Because I think coveting, 00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:03.660 lusting after something that you don't have for yourself, 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:07.400 is kind of a national sport in Hong Kong, right? 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:11.980 I mean, studies show that people on Facebook 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:15.680 who go on Facebook for a long time end up miserable 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:18.059 because they're always comparing their life to somebody else's, 00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:20.779 and everybody else's life always looks better than yours, right? 00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:23.359 I don't meet many people who come to me and say, 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:26.319 I am so content, I don't want anything else. 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:30.119 My kids want nothing else, I'm fine, right? 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:33.379 We're all the time looking over our shoulder 00:27:33.379 --> 00:27:34.799 and looking at somebody else and saying, 00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:36.359 yeah, but I can just, 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:38.240 and you were happy before, 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.339 and then you see what they've got. 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:41.440 You know, it's like Christmas presents, right? 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:42.919 You were happy with what you got, 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.759 and then you see what they get, 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:46.279 and you're like, why did I not get that? 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:49.740 But the thing is, you know, 00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:52.140 you can look over your shoulder at your classmate 00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:53.799 who got better grades than you, 00:27:54.379 --> 00:27:56.299 you know, the person who's got a boyfriend, a girlfriend, 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:58.740 a husband or wife, and you don't. 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:00.099 And you know what happens? 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:02.160 When you start coveting discontentment, 00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:03.359 it never leads to joy. 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:07.720 Do you know, miserable people are discontent, right? 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:11.600 Have you met anybody who covets who's filled with joy? 00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:14.440 I never have. 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:17.240 Which is why the commandment says, 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:22.059 don't, because contentment is for your joy and your freedom. 00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:24.620 And what does coveting lead to? 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:26.680 Because that's the inward thing that's going in your heart. 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:28.079 What does that lead to? 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:34.220 Coveting your neighbor's wife leads to adultery, right? 00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:35.839 Whether that's what Jesus said, 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:37.819 whether that's physical or whether that's in your heart, 00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:39.279 because Jesus says you commit adultery 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.919 and lust over someone in your heart, 00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:41.980 you've already committed it. 00:28:42.679 --> 00:28:46.279 What does coveting property lead to? 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:52.419 Stealing, maybe lying, maybe even murder. 00:28:53.179 --> 00:28:54.699 Do you see what's going on? 00:28:55.659 --> 00:28:57.919 You see the heart of everything is what Jesus says. 00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:59.980 Out of the heart, all these other things flow. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.720 And he says, if you don't, 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.980 if you just focus on the outward, 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.179 you've missed the root. 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:06.700 And the root is actually where all of these come out of. 00:29:07.340 --> 00:29:09.440 Because the 10 commandment is telling you, 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:11.860 you've actually broken the first commandment. 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:13.080 Because what coveting is, 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:15.440 coveting is wanting something more than God. 00:29:16.060 --> 00:29:17.560 Because God's given you your life now, 00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:18.440 and you're saying, yeah, but God, 00:29:18.560 --> 00:29:19.299 I don't want that. 00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:20.940 I want this more than what you're giving me. 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.700 And so coveting, 00:29:23.840 --> 00:29:26.480 it reveals we've broken the first commandment, 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:27.539 and actually we break all of them. 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:32.500 And if you put your trust in something other than God 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.420 to give you joy, 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:34.279 to give you freedom, 00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:35.460 it will enslave you. 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.980 Long term, it will make you miserable. 00:29:37.159 --> 00:29:38.220 That's why God says, 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:40.839 don't do it. 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:45.399 Because morality is vertical, horizontal, 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.859 it's inward and outward. 00:29:47.399 --> 00:29:50.119 But let's come to the problem. 00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:52.119 Because you break one, 00:29:52.219 --> 00:29:52.939 you break them all. 00:29:53.879 --> 00:29:55.299 And there's a problem with this, isn't there? 00:29:55.659 --> 00:29:57.959 The purpose is for our good and our joy. 00:30:00.679 --> 00:30:02.439 It's all of life, this law. 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.639 But the problem is this. 00:30:06.119 --> 00:30:07.739 Verse 22 to 27, 00:30:07.899 --> 00:30:10.779 Moses writes these laws on two tablets 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:13.599 as a permanent mirror 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:15.659 up on the wall, 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:17.039 up by the covenant, 00:30:17.439 --> 00:30:18.279 the Ark of the Covenant, 00:30:18.659 --> 00:30:21.099 for the people to measure themselves by these. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:23.240 Wake up in the morning, 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:24.059 and every morning, 00:30:24.179 --> 00:30:25.559 look at yourself in these laws 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:26.679 and see how you're doing. 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:33.119 And there's a problem. 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:37.099 Because the moment I tell you, 00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:41.000 don't covet Justin and Chris 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:43.259 who are going on honeymoon to the Maltese soon. 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.699 Don't covet that. 00:30:46.439 --> 00:30:47.740 Don't covet that guy 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.879 who's got that extra bonus, 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:50.539 which is so much more than your bonus. 00:30:50.719 --> 00:30:51.439 Don't covet it. 00:30:53.179 --> 00:30:54.519 Don't covet that person 00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:56.139 whose life is just going so much better 00:30:56.139 --> 00:30:57.279 than your life is going at the moment. 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:58.079 Don't covet it. 00:30:58.859 --> 00:30:59.779 What starts happening? 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.740 You want it? 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.159 Right? 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:08.359 You know, it's like you have a box of chocolates 00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:08.759 and I say, 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:09.899 don't eat this. 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.759 What do you want to do? 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:14.099 Even if you're not hungry. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:16.859 You see, 00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:18.960 what the law does, 00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:19.819 it's this mirror 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:21.000 which begins to show you 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.960 what your heart is like, 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:23.559 that your heart actually can't obey 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:24.740 what it's telling you to do. 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:29.819 And verse 29 says, 00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:31.939 God says, 00:31:32.659 --> 00:31:34.519 all that their hearts 00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:36.759 would be inclined to fear me 00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:39.859 and keep my commands always 00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:41.399 so that it might go well 00:31:41.399 --> 00:31:43.220 with them and their children forever. 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:45.240 Why does God have this longing 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:47.939 that they might keep his commands? 00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:48.819 It's because he knows 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.799 that they're not going to keep them. 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.539 And the rest of the story, 00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:52.519 if you've read the Old Testament, 00:31:52.639 --> 00:31:53.679 you know it doesn't end well. 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:55.380 And actually, 00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:56.720 that's our story too. 00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.360 Because God knows 00:31:58.360 --> 00:32:00.220 that they're going to completely disregard 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:01.720 everything that he's ever told them, 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:04.019 which was meant to help them flourish. 00:32:04.060 --> 00:32:05.000 Because you know why? 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:06.580 We think we're better than God. 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.940 We think we know more than God. 00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:09.340 And our hearts have a problem. 00:32:10.560 --> 00:32:11.900 Our hearts have a problem. 00:32:13.120 --> 00:32:13.660 God says, 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:13.940 forgive, 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:14.700 and we say, 00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:14.900 yeah, 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.620 that's difficult. 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:16.740 God says, 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.460 love your spouse, 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:17.840 and you say, 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.519 I'm tired, 00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:20.060 and I just want to watch the news. 00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:23.740 And you know what the law says? 00:32:23.879 --> 00:32:25.319 It says more than anything else, 00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:26.759 you can't keep this. 00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.799 Because that mirror, 00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:30.119 every day you look in it, 00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:31.559 and if you see that it's 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.980 vertical and horizontal, 00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:34.659 if you see it's inward and outward, 00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:35.519 there's nowhere to run, 00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:36.440 there's nowhere to hide. 00:32:37.679 --> 00:32:38.960 And that's pretty depressing. 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:42.119 Alan de Botton, 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:42.799 he's an atheist. 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.659 He wrote a great book 00:32:44.659 --> 00:32:46.339 called Religion for Atheists. 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.019 Okay? 00:32:47.159 --> 00:32:48.019 It's well worth reading. 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.440 And in it, 00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:50.039 he says this, 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:51.039 he says, 00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:52.119 we face temptations 00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:52.819 which we hate 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:53.679 in those moments 00:32:53.679 --> 00:32:56.179 in which we can attain 00:32:56.179 --> 00:32:57.460 a sufficient distance 00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.440 from the temptations, 00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.539 but we lack 00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.659 any encouragement 00:33:00.659 --> 00:33:02.440 to resist these temptations, 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.539 much to our eventual 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:05.159 self-disgust 00:33:05.159 --> 00:33:06.000 and disappointment. 00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.819 The mature sides of us 00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:08.839 watch in despair 00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:10.659 as the childish aspects 00:33:10.659 --> 00:33:12.039 of us trample upon 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:14.019 our more elevated principles 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:14.859 and ignore 00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:16.859 what we most fervently revere. 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.559 He says, 00:33:18.619 --> 00:33:19.079 and he finishes, 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:19.519 he says, 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.740 our deepest wish 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:22.059 may be that someone 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:22.779 would come along 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.559 and save us 00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:25.059 from ourselves. 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.799 Do you know what 00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:29.519 my biggest problem is? 00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:31.619 Me. 00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:33.200 Do you know what 00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:34.319 your biggest problem is? 00:33:35.420 --> 00:33:35.940 You. 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:37.859 I've lied to myself 00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:39.259 more than anybody else 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.180 has ever lied to me. 00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:42.160 I've screwed my life up 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:43.299 more than anybody else has. 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:43.660 Every, 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:44.079 you know, 00:33:44.119 --> 00:33:45.079 there's a common denominator 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:46.339 and all the poor choices 00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:47.059 that I make. 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:47.759 Do you know what 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:48.939 that common denominator is? 00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:50.779 Me. 00:33:52.379 --> 00:33:53.439 And that's, 00:33:53.679 --> 00:33:55.379 we don't like to get that, 00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:56.460 but that's what the law 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.079 shows you. 00:33:57.439 --> 00:33:58.159 It's this mirror 00:33:58.159 --> 00:33:58.759 to show you 00:33:58.759 --> 00:33:59.619 what you're really like. 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:02.179 And it shows you 00:34:02.179 --> 00:34:03.339 that you're powerless 00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:04.079 to keep it. 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:06.399 And the problem is, 00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:06.759 as many, 00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:07.899 many of us as Christians, 00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.920 when you read 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:11.880 a command in the Bible, 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:16.299 sometimes you read it 00:34:16.299 --> 00:34:17.179 and you realize, 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.039 man, 00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:19.000 I just don't measure up. 00:34:19.779 --> 00:34:20.619 Anyone get that? 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:23.900 Love your parents. 00:34:24.860 --> 00:34:25.500 And you're like, 00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:25.840 oh. 00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.000 Right? 00:34:29.200 --> 00:34:29.440 Or, 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:30.360 yeah, 00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:31.500 I love my parents. 00:34:31.660 --> 00:34:31.780 Don't, 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.780 if they're listening to this, 00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:34.840 I obey that one all the time. 00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:37.740 But, 00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:39.460 but we read all these laws, 00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:39.800 forgive, 00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:40.280 you know, 00:34:40.340 --> 00:34:40.660 do this, 00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:41.280 help these people, 00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:41.780 and we're like, 00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:42.160 oh. 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:43.880 And, 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:45.059 and what it can do is, 00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:46.800 it can just make you feel like, 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:47.099 okay, 00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:48.200 I'm never going to be good enough. 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:48.599 So, 00:34:48.780 --> 00:34:49.139 so we, 00:34:49.200 --> 00:34:50.300 we do this thing where, 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.260 as Christians, 00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:52.460 we're running around, 00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:53.240 kind of, 00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:55.079 miserably trying to push the car 00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:56.719 of our own spiritual life forward, 00:34:56.899 --> 00:34:57.979 but the handbrake's on. 00:34:58.459 --> 00:35:00.819 The law continually stops you. 00:35:01.759 --> 00:35:02.679 And we're exhausted 00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:03.679 with trying to match up 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.659 to the expectations, 00:35:04.919 --> 00:35:05.059 you know, 00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:05.879 trying to serve enough, 00:35:05.979 --> 00:35:06.639 trying to do enough, 00:35:06.739 --> 00:35:07.899 trying to get everywhere enough. 00:35:08.419 --> 00:35:09.959 And we haven't seen a glimpse of joy 00:35:09.959 --> 00:35:11.019 in Jesus for months. 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:13.559 And the worst thing is, 00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.639 when a preacher comes along 00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:15.139 and says to you, 00:35:15.179 --> 00:35:16.279 Christians should be joyful. 00:35:16.779 --> 00:35:18.099 And that makes you feel even worse, 00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:18.679 because you don't know, 00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:19.279 you know, 00:35:19.279 --> 00:35:20.419 you're not supposed to be joyful, 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.679 but you can't work up joy. 00:35:22.619 --> 00:35:22.859 Right? 00:35:24.219 --> 00:35:25.139 But the problem is, 00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:26.919 we're trying to make it all about ourselves. 00:35:29.959 --> 00:35:31.259 If you're not a Christian, 00:35:31.899 --> 00:35:33.399 and you think you're moral enough, 00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.899 the problem is, 00:35:34.939 --> 00:35:36.399 you're always going to be altering the standard 00:35:36.399 --> 00:35:38.839 to fit your own standard. 00:35:39.139 --> 00:35:39.339 You see, 00:35:39.419 --> 00:35:40.299 when you tell a lie, 00:35:40.399 --> 00:35:40.839 and you read, 00:35:40.899 --> 00:35:41.500 do not lie, 00:35:41.699 --> 00:35:42.239 you'll be saying, 00:35:42.319 --> 00:35:42.479 well, 00:35:42.679 --> 00:35:44.019 it was just an exaggeration, 00:35:44.179 --> 00:35:44.939 just a small lie, 00:35:45.379 --> 00:35:46.139 nothing serious, 00:35:46.199 --> 00:35:46.859 didn't harm anyone. 00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:48.819 But then when someone lies to you, 00:35:49.259 --> 00:35:49.679 it'll be like, 00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:51.119 I can't believe they're such a liar. 00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:52.460 Right? 00:35:54.359 --> 00:35:55.380 Anyone a liar here? 00:35:57.839 --> 00:35:58.179 I am. 00:35:59.239 --> 00:35:59.699 Anyone, 00:35:59.699 --> 00:36:03.219 anyone a murderer here? 00:36:03.219 --> 00:36:05.399 Now, 00:36:05.439 --> 00:36:06.019 we wouldn't say that, 00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:06.679 but Jesus says, 00:36:06.819 --> 00:36:08.419 if you've been angry in your heart, 00:36:08.699 --> 00:36:09.679 you've murdered somebody. 00:36:11.839 --> 00:36:13.319 Anyone murdered anyone this week? 00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:16.439 Right? 00:36:16.900 --> 00:36:18.960 And do you know what should happen to murderers? 00:36:20.220 --> 00:36:21.320 Murderers get punished. 00:36:22.200 --> 00:36:22.519 Right? 00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:25.599 And we fear that. 00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:27.179 That's why we think God's out to get us, 00:36:27.220 --> 00:36:28.039 because actually, 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:30.159 he does punish murderers. 00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:31.159 And that's good. 00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:32.099 Right? 00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:32.840 That's not a bad thing. 00:36:32.860 --> 00:36:33.619 That's a good thing. 00:36:34.720 --> 00:36:35.119 Except, 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:35.780 for me, 00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.440 that's not good. 00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:38.880 You see, 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.940 the law is good. 00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:41.679 It's out for your freedom and joy. 00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:43.000 It examines you vertically, 00:36:43.239 --> 00:36:43.679 horizontally, 00:36:43.879 --> 00:36:44.319 inwardly, 00:36:44.359 --> 00:36:45.000 and outwardly, 00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:46.559 but exposes you as inadequate 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.719 and deserving, 00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:49.739 not of God's grace, 00:36:49.839 --> 00:36:50.739 but of his judgment. 00:36:51.279 --> 00:36:52.719 But where do we go with that? 00:36:52.779 --> 00:36:53.219 Then finally, 00:36:53.319 --> 00:36:53.699 we come 00:36:53.699 --> 00:36:57.179 to the thing 00:36:57.179 --> 00:36:59.460 which captures Paul 00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:01.059 in the New Testament, 00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:01.779 the thing which 00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:02.879 the whole New Testament 00:37:02.879 --> 00:37:03.940 centers around. 00:37:04.179 --> 00:37:04.460 It says, 00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:06.500 Romans 10 00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:07.780 says, 00:37:09.300 --> 00:37:09.840 Christ 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.619 is 00:37:10.619 --> 00:37:11.800 the end 00:37:11.800 --> 00:37:12.219 or 00:37:12.219 --> 00:37:13.559 the goal 00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:15.239 of the law 00:37:15.239 --> 00:37:16.360 for righteousness. 00:37:18.039 --> 00:37:19.480 Because this law 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.579 is meant to leave you 00:37:20.579 --> 00:37:22.079 desperate for a savior. 00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:25.119 How can I be free 00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:25.900 from this 00:37:25.900 --> 00:37:27.119 is meant to be 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:27.860 the question. 00:37:29.139 --> 00:37:30.320 And the answer 00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:31.139 is meant to come 00:37:31.139 --> 00:37:32.360 as Jesus comes 00:37:32.360 --> 00:37:33.519 and on the cross, 00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:34.420 he said, 00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:35.500 I didn't come 00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:36.380 to save the healthy. 00:37:36.500 --> 00:37:37.000 I came 00:37:37.000 --> 00:37:38.059 to save the sick. 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:39.219 And normally, 00:37:39.300 --> 00:37:39.380 you say, 00:37:39.420 --> 00:37:39.539 yeah, 00:37:39.559 --> 00:37:40.360 I'm not too sick. 00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:41.099 I'm just a little bit 00:37:41.099 --> 00:37:41.639 under the weather. 00:37:42.360 --> 00:37:42.780 But he says, 00:37:42.820 --> 00:37:42.940 no, 00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:43.159 you know, 00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:44.019 you're really sick. 00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:46.440 And on the cross, 00:37:46.440 --> 00:37:47.079 he says, 00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:48.340 there's a great exchange 00:37:48.340 --> 00:37:49.360 that takes place. 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:50.920 He takes 00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:51.940 the punishment 00:37:51.940 --> 00:37:52.840 that you and I 00:37:52.840 --> 00:37:53.380 deserve 00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:54.559 for the murder 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:55.380 that we do 00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:56.699 day after day 00:37:56.699 --> 00:37:57.559 after day. 00:37:57.880 --> 00:37:58.800 Just linger on that 00:37:58.800 --> 00:37:59.320 for a moment. 00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:00.619 He took 00:38:00.619 --> 00:38:02.460 your punishment. 00:38:03.099 --> 00:38:03.880 He took 00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:05.400 your guilt. 00:38:05.400 --> 00:38:06.700 He took 00:38:06.700 --> 00:38:08.400 your shame. 00:38:08.780 --> 00:38:09.680 You may say, 00:38:10.039 --> 00:38:10.660 there are so many 00:38:10.660 --> 00:38:11.660 things that I've done, 00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:12.500 I don't know whether 00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:14.039 I can ever be forgiven. 00:38:14.380 --> 00:38:15.079 And he says, 00:38:15.260 --> 00:38:15.980 I've taken 00:38:15.980 --> 00:38:16.820 the train wreck 00:38:16.820 --> 00:38:17.500 of your life. 00:38:17.579 --> 00:38:18.079 I've taken 00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:19.059 the poor shame 00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:20.119 and the decisions 00:38:20.119 --> 00:38:20.579 you've made. 00:38:20.660 --> 00:38:21.780 I've taken it 00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:24.660 because I love you 00:38:24.660 --> 00:38:25.360 that much. 00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:29.579 And the cross 00:38:29.579 --> 00:38:30.200 is the greatest 00:38:30.200 --> 00:38:30.820 confirmation 00:38:30.820 --> 00:38:31.680 that you and I 00:38:31.680 --> 00:38:32.340 are messed up. 00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:33.960 Jesus wouldn't have 00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:34.860 to die if we weren't. 00:38:36.140 --> 00:38:37.180 But the great thing 00:38:37.180 --> 00:38:37.660 is this. 00:38:37.740 --> 00:38:37.980 You see, 00:38:38.059 --> 00:38:39.519 there's a great exchange. 00:38:41.120 --> 00:38:42.160 I don't know why 00:38:42.160 --> 00:38:42.579 as Christians 00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:43.280 we keep thinking 00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:43.940 we've got to kind of 00:38:43.940 --> 00:38:44.900 try and pretend 00:38:44.900 --> 00:38:45.579 that we're okay 00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:46.460 when the very heart 00:38:46.460 --> 00:38:47.420 of our Christian faith 00:38:47.420 --> 00:38:48.160 says you're not. 00:38:50.640 --> 00:38:51.460 But he says, 00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:52.039 what happens 00:38:52.039 --> 00:38:53.140 in this great exchange 00:38:53.140 --> 00:38:53.800 is when you look 00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:54.280 in the mirror 00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:54.740 and you see 00:38:54.740 --> 00:38:55.800 what you're really like, 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:57.820 he exchanges 00:38:57.820 --> 00:39:00.300 your wretched clothes, 00:39:00.600 --> 00:39:01.820 your sinful nature 00:39:01.820 --> 00:39:03.180 and he places 00:39:03.180 --> 00:39:04.740 his own righteousness, 00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:06.220 his own right standing 00:39:06.220 --> 00:39:07.039 on you. 00:39:07.800 --> 00:39:09.019 So that when he looks, 00:39:09.240 --> 00:39:10.340 you look in the mirror, 00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:13.660 when God looks at you, 00:39:13.980 --> 00:39:15.080 he sees Christ. 00:39:16.600 --> 00:39:17.380 And do you know what? 00:39:17.640 --> 00:39:19.080 He likes what he sees. 00:39:21.160 --> 00:39:22.980 This is the gospel 00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:23.880 which means 00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:25.960 God doesn't just love you 00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:27.000 because he has to. 00:39:28.380 --> 00:39:29.599 He loves you. 00:39:30.039 --> 00:39:30.219 You know, 00:39:30.420 --> 00:39:31.380 we think he gives, 00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:32.420 he has to love me 00:39:32.420 --> 00:39:33.500 and then he gives me laws 00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:34.199 just to kind of 00:39:34.199 --> 00:39:35.280 keep me in my place. 00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:38.699 But through Jesus, 00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:39.800 not through you, 00:39:40.139 --> 00:39:41.260 he actually doesn't 00:39:41.260 --> 00:39:41.860 just love you, 00:39:41.940 --> 00:39:42.699 he likes you. 00:39:44.139 --> 00:39:44.659 Do you get that? 00:39:45.300 --> 00:39:46.760 He actually likes you 00:39:46.760 --> 00:39:47.960 if you are a Christian. 00:39:48.760 --> 00:39:49.960 If you are a Christian. 00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:51.980 not because of your conduct, 00:39:52.099 --> 00:39:53.760 because of his conduct. 00:39:55.639 --> 00:39:56.340 And you see, 00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:57.019 his law 00:39:57.019 --> 00:39:58.039 is a gift 00:39:58.039 --> 00:39:59.119 given to you 00:39:59.119 --> 00:39:59.480 for you 00:39:59.480 --> 00:40:00.360 to have to live 00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:01.840 in freedom, 00:40:02.440 --> 00:40:03.300 in the love 00:40:03.300 --> 00:40:04.519 that he wants for you. 00:40:06.519 --> 00:40:08.019 But some of us 00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:09.760 think, 00:40:10.320 --> 00:40:11.619 some of us are right now 00:40:11.619 --> 00:40:12.679 ignoring what God 00:40:12.679 --> 00:40:13.900 is saying to us 00:40:13.900 --> 00:40:15.199 because we think 00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:15.820 we know better. 00:40:16.780 --> 00:40:17.920 We think we know 00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:19.240 how to run our world 00:40:19.240 --> 00:40:19.940 our way. 00:40:20.820 --> 00:40:21.440 And sometimes 00:40:21.440 --> 00:40:22.400 God in his grace, 00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.100 do you know what he does? 00:40:23.180 --> 00:40:23.980 Sometimes he brings 00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:25.440 tragedy into our lives 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:27.720 to bring us 00:40:27.720 --> 00:40:28.240 to the point 00:40:28.240 --> 00:40:29.220 where we realize 00:40:29.220 --> 00:40:31.120 it's us 00:40:31.120 --> 00:40:31.820 who are screwing 00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:32.620 our lives up 00:40:32.620 --> 00:40:34.120 and we need a savior. 00:40:34.580 --> 00:40:35.400 Sometimes he's 00:40:35.400 --> 00:40:36.240 gracious enough 00:40:36.240 --> 00:40:37.240 to allow relationships 00:40:37.240 --> 00:40:38.019 to fail, 00:40:38.360 --> 00:40:39.340 to allow your work 00:40:39.340 --> 00:40:40.000 to fail 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:40.640 because 00:40:40.640 --> 00:40:42.600 he wants to bring you 00:40:42.600 --> 00:40:43.180 to the point 00:40:43.180 --> 00:40:43.660 of seeing 00:40:43.660 --> 00:40:44.960 you need a savior. 00:40:45.820 --> 00:40:46.720 And some of us, 00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:48.120 like if that's you today, 00:40:48.300 --> 00:40:49.640 don't get to that point. 00:40:49.780 --> 00:40:50.160 Today, 00:40:50.280 --> 00:40:51.200 if you're not a Christian, 00:40:51.500 --> 00:40:52.740 even if you are a Christian 00:40:52.740 --> 00:40:53.240 and you'll know 00:40:53.240 --> 00:40:54.100 you're walking away, 00:40:54.200 --> 00:40:54.900 he says to you, 00:40:55.120 --> 00:40:56.019 run today 00:40:56.019 --> 00:40:56.980 to me. 00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:58.680 Come back 00:40:58.680 --> 00:40:59.440 in forgiveness 00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:00.760 and receive him. 00:41:02.140 --> 00:41:03.080 But there's one more thing 00:41:03.080 --> 00:41:03.780 I want to tell you, 00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:04.200 let's see. 00:41:06.800 --> 00:41:07.860 As Christians, 00:41:08.680 --> 00:41:11.800 we know this stuff. 00:41:11.800 --> 00:41:15.160 there's an advert, 00:41:15.240 --> 00:41:15.680 there was an advert 00:41:15.680 --> 00:41:16.160 in the UK 00:41:16.160 --> 00:41:16.940 which said, 00:41:17.539 --> 00:41:18.539 a dog is not just 00:41:18.539 --> 00:41:19.080 for Christmas, 00:41:19.220 --> 00:41:19.860 he's for life. 00:41:21.660 --> 00:41:22.800 The idea was that 00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:23.400 people would just 00:41:23.400 --> 00:41:25.440 buy the dog 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:26.340 and then they abandon him 00:41:26.340 --> 00:41:27.280 after kind of like 00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:28.700 getting the exciting puppy 00:41:28.700 --> 00:41:29.260 and then they forget 00:41:29.260 --> 00:41:29.840 all about him. 00:41:31.740 --> 00:41:32.140 Jesus 00:41:32.140 --> 00:41:33.680 is not just 00:41:33.680 --> 00:41:34.660 for your salvation 00:41:34.660 --> 00:41:35.800 and kind of wiping away 00:41:35.800 --> 00:41:36.900 some of your sins 00:41:36.900 --> 00:41:39.260 so that you can kind of 00:41:39.260 --> 00:41:39.800 leave him behind 00:41:39.800 --> 00:41:40.380 and then get on 00:41:40.380 --> 00:41:41.000 with trying to just 00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:41.820 keep all the external 00:41:41.820 --> 00:41:42.780 rules afterwards. 00:41:43.760 --> 00:41:45.120 Every single day, 00:41:46.140 --> 00:41:48.460 that great exchange 00:41:48.460 --> 00:41:49.760 means Jesus 00:41:49.760 --> 00:41:51.039 is not just 00:41:51.039 --> 00:41:52.420 your forgiveness 00:41:52.420 --> 00:41:53.100 from sins, 00:41:53.200 --> 00:41:53.940 he's your life. 00:41:54.080 --> 00:41:55.039 Paul says it like this, 00:41:55.080 --> 00:41:55.539 he says, 00:41:56.180 --> 00:41:57.560 I no longer live 00:41:57.560 --> 00:41:59.240 but Christ lives in me. 00:41:59.300 --> 00:42:00.080 What he means by that 00:42:00.080 --> 00:42:00.539 is this, 00:42:00.940 --> 00:42:01.680 I struggle, 00:42:01.760 --> 00:42:02.980 when I read one of these laws 00:42:02.980 --> 00:42:03.760 and it says 00:42:03.760 --> 00:42:04.220 you've got to be 00:42:04.220 --> 00:42:05.039 self-controlled 00:42:05.039 --> 00:42:06.100 or it says 00:42:06.100 --> 00:42:07.980 you've got to 00:42:07.980 --> 00:42:09.180 trust me 00:42:09.179 --> 00:42:10.199 and rest 00:42:10.199 --> 00:42:10.980 and I want to be 00:42:10.980 --> 00:42:12.119 in control of my world 00:42:12.119 --> 00:42:12.759 but do you know what? 00:42:12.859 --> 00:42:13.359 Jesus 00:42:13.359 --> 00:42:16.619 submitted to his father 00:42:16.619 --> 00:42:19.339 when I didn't 00:42:19.339 --> 00:42:21.219 and Jesus says 00:42:21.219 --> 00:42:22.199 I give you 00:42:22.199 --> 00:42:23.000 my submission. 00:42:24.579 --> 00:42:24.940 Jesus, 00:42:25.239 --> 00:42:26.379 I'm not self-controlled 00:42:26.379 --> 00:42:27.059 but Jesus 00:42:27.059 --> 00:42:29.179 was the ultimate one 00:42:29.179 --> 00:42:30.659 who lived with self-control 00:42:30.659 --> 00:42:31.339 and put others 00:42:31.339 --> 00:42:32.159 before himself 00:42:32.159 --> 00:42:33.159 and he says 00:42:33.159 --> 00:42:34.319 I give you 00:42:34.319 --> 00:42:34.919 that. 00:42:35.419 --> 00:42:37.000 That's part of the package 00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:39.320 and your choice 00:42:39.320 --> 00:42:41.239 and your everyday 00:42:41.239 --> 00:42:44.380 way that you're 00:42:44.380 --> 00:42:44.880 going to obey 00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:45.599 my commands 00:42:45.599 --> 00:42:46.400 is not by trying 00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:47.139 to keep them, 00:42:47.420 --> 00:42:48.199 push the car 00:42:48.199 --> 00:42:48.760 of your life 00:42:48.760 --> 00:42:49.239 by yourself, 00:42:49.320 --> 00:42:49.900 it's by running 00:42:49.900 --> 00:42:50.380 to him 00:42:50.380 --> 00:42:51.300 as I see 00:42:51.300 --> 00:42:52.440 you should love 00:42:52.440 --> 00:42:52.940 your parents 00:42:52.940 --> 00:42:53.340 and I'm like, 00:42:53.420 --> 00:42:53.619 oh, 00:42:54.059 --> 00:42:54.699 but then I say 00:42:54.699 --> 00:42:55.039 Jesus, 00:42:55.219 --> 00:42:56.179 I need 00:42:56.179 --> 00:42:57.619 your love 00:42:57.619 --> 00:42:58.340 in me. 00:42:58.579 --> 00:42:59.820 I cannot do that 00:42:59.820 --> 00:43:01.139 but you have given me 00:43:01.139 --> 00:43:01.679 the spirit 00:43:01.679 --> 00:43:02.420 to enable me 00:43:02.420 --> 00:43:02.920 to do that 00:43:02.920 --> 00:43:03.400 and do you know 00:43:03.400 --> 00:43:03.720 what? 00:43:03.940 --> 00:43:05.300 That's like rocket fuel 00:43:05.300 --> 00:43:07.860 that propels you 00:43:07.860 --> 00:43:08.900 so it's not about me 00:43:08.900 --> 00:43:09.599 it's about him. 00:43:09.680 --> 00:43:10.360 When I mess up 00:43:10.360 --> 00:43:10.980 I run back 00:43:10.980 --> 00:43:11.639 to the cross 00:43:11.639 --> 00:43:12.639 I receive 00:43:12.639 --> 00:43:13.559 that grace 00:43:13.559 --> 00:43:14.519 and his delight 00:43:14.519 --> 00:43:14.920 in me 00:43:14.920 --> 00:43:15.480 his love 00:43:15.480 --> 00:43:15.900 in me 00:43:15.900 --> 00:43:17.019 propels me 00:43:17.019 --> 00:43:17.980 to obey 00:43:17.980 --> 00:43:19.180 not out of being 00:43:19.180 --> 00:43:19.780 a miserable 00:43:19.780 --> 00:43:21.500 follower of Christ 00:43:21.500 --> 00:43:22.380 but as someone 00:43:22.380 --> 00:43:23.180 who realizes 00:43:23.180 --> 00:43:24.420 his love 00:43:24.420 --> 00:43:25.260 is for me 00:43:25.260 --> 00:43:26.220 his power 00:43:26.220 --> 00:43:27.019 is with me 00:43:27.019 --> 00:43:28.039 so I obey 00:43:28.039 --> 00:43:28.940 because that 00:43:28.940 --> 00:43:30.139 is my life. 00:43:30.139 --> 00:43:33.859 So let's just pray. 00:43:34.599 --> 00:43:35.480 What is God 00:43:35.480 --> 00:43:36.259 speaking to you 00:43:36.259 --> 00:43:36.819 right now? 00:43:38.379 --> 00:43:39.339 I want you to think 00:43:39.339 --> 00:43:40.019 what's the one 00:43:40.019 --> 00:43:40.619 thought 00:43:40.619 --> 00:43:41.659 today 00:43:41.659 --> 00:43:42.859 that you need 00:43:42.859 --> 00:43:43.819 to go away with? 00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:47.460 Let's just pray. 00:43:58.659 --> 00:43:59.139 Father, 00:43:59.139 --> 00:43:59.739 I realize 00:43:59.739 --> 00:44:00.500 that so much 00:44:00.500 --> 00:44:01.799 of my Christianity 00:44:01.799 --> 00:44:02.719 can be 00:44:02.719 --> 00:44:03.920 a theoretical 00:44:03.920 --> 00:44:04.699 knowledge 00:44:04.699 --> 00:44:06.019 that you 00:44:06.019 --> 00:44:06.679 saved me 00:44:06.679 --> 00:44:07.500 in the past 00:44:07.500 --> 00:44:10.420 when every day 00:44:10.420 --> 00:44:11.199 you want to save 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:12.039 me from myself. 00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:14.639 Forgive me 00:44:14.639 --> 00:44:15.519 where I kind of 00:44:15.519 --> 00:44:16.379 try and do it 00:44:16.379 --> 00:44:17.059 by myself. 00:44:17.679 --> 00:44:18.440 I try and think 00:44:18.440 --> 00:44:18.879 that either 00:44:18.879 --> 00:44:20.119 I can obey 00:44:20.119 --> 00:44:20.779 by myself 00:44:20.779 --> 00:44:21.400 and so I just 00:44:21.400 --> 00:44:22.119 grip my teeth 00:44:22.119 --> 00:44:22.639 but that only 00:44:22.639 --> 00:44:23.079 leaves me 00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:23.559 to feeling 00:44:23.559 --> 00:44:27.400 proud of myself 00:44:27.400 --> 00:44:28.099 and that's 00:44:28.099 --> 00:44:29.039 sinful. 00:44:29.139 --> 00:44:30.619 or condemned 00:44:30.619 --> 00:44:32.199 and that doesn't 00:44:32.199 --> 00:44:32.980 propel me 00:44:32.980 --> 00:44:33.539 to obey 00:44:33.539 --> 00:44:34.900 but Lord, 00:44:34.980 --> 00:44:35.859 I pray for me 00:44:35.859 --> 00:44:36.559 I pray for each 00:44:36.559 --> 00:44:37.299 one of us 00:44:37.299 --> 00:44:38.779 that we would see 00:44:38.779 --> 00:44:39.519 that Christ 00:44:39.519 --> 00:44:41.000 is our life 00:44:41.000 --> 00:44:42.799 that your 00:44:42.799 --> 00:44:43.759 strength 00:44:43.759 --> 00:44:44.900 is our strength 00:44:44.900 --> 00:44:46.759 that your 00:44:46.759 --> 00:44:47.259 patience 00:44:47.259 --> 00:44:47.879 is our 00:44:47.879 --> 00:44:48.579 patience 00:44:48.579 --> 00:44:50.819 that your hope 00:44:50.819 --> 00:44:51.779 is our hope 00:44:51.780 --> 00:44:53.519 and that we 00:44:53.519 --> 00:44:54.220 would walk 00:44:54.220 --> 00:44:55.040 in obedience 00:44:55.040 --> 00:44:55.720 to you. 00:44:58.620 --> 00:44:59.480 So what's 00:44:59.480 --> 00:45:00.160 the one thing 00:45:00.160 --> 00:45:00.960 God is saying 00:45:00.960 --> 00:45:01.300 to you 00:45:01.300 --> 00:45:01.900 right now? 00:45:05.620 --> 00:45:06.340 What is 00:45:06.340 --> 00:45:06.700 he saying 00:45:06.700 --> 00:45:07.140 to you? 00:45:08.900 --> 00:45:09.680 Take that 00:45:09.680 --> 00:45:10.080 away 00:45:10.080 --> 00:45:11.480 share that 00:45:11.480 --> 00:45:12.000 with somebody 00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:12.519 else 00:45:12.519 --> 00:45:13.620 and let's 00:45:13.620 --> 00:45:14.300 together be a 00:45:14.300 --> 00:45:14.740 community 00:45:14.740 --> 00:45:16.220 that encourages 00:45:16.220 --> 00:45:16.640 him 00:45:16.640 --> 00:45:17.780 encourages each 00:45:17.780 --> 00:45:18.400 other and looks 00:45:18.400 --> 00:45:18.840 to him. 00:45:18.840 --> 00:45:19.420 Father, 00:45:19.500 --> 00:45:19.840 we love 00:45:19.840 --> 00:45:20.039 you. 00:45:20.480 --> 00:45:20.760 In Jesus' 00:45:20.940 --> 00:45:21.120 name, 00:45:21.460 --> 00:45:21.700 Amen.