WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:02.839 We're going to be going through the book of Luke. 00:00:03.399 --> 00:00:06.580 And we've been tracing our steps through the book of Luke, 00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:08.980 ! being investigators to see what the Holy Spirit is doing. 00:00:09.259 --> 00:00:10.700 Luke is an interesting one, a physician. 00:00:11.179 --> 00:00:14.419 His gospel has things that the other three don't really have. 00:00:14.980 --> 00:00:17.039 And we've been going through going, oh, interesting. 00:00:17.859 --> 00:00:18.960 Why does he put that in there? 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:22.059 And last week we went through the boy Jesus in the temple. 00:00:22.179 --> 00:00:23.879 We asked, why did Luke put that in? 00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:26.460 Maybe he's showing us something about time. 00:00:26.859 --> 00:00:28.839 Maybe he's showing us something about growth 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:30.219 that we should all have. 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:32.420 How we use our time that will allow us to grow. 00:00:32.899 --> 00:00:35.859 And now we move into another part where actually John the Baptist 00:00:35.859 --> 00:00:38.119 and Jesus have now grown up. 00:00:38.179 --> 00:00:40.219 He fast forwards again from chapter 2 to chapter 3. 00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:43.320 They go from tweens to now adults. 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:46.060 And we see John, of course, growing in strength. 00:00:46.100 --> 00:00:47.179 And he moves into the wilderness. 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:49.359 So they actually have very different upbringings 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:51.200 because John goes into the wilderness 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:54.299 and even his fashion sense reflects that. 00:00:54.299 --> 00:00:59.419 And then Jesus grows up actually in Nazareth as a carpenter's son. 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:03.000 And he grows in wisdom and in stature and in favor with man and with God. 00:01:03.059 --> 00:01:06.620 So these two people grow up both filled with the Spirit and they grow. 00:01:07.099 --> 00:01:09.319 And last week I asked us the question, how are we using our time? 00:01:09.579 --> 00:01:11.539 Are we committed to growth? 00:01:11.679 --> 00:01:13.140 And now we move into chapter 3. 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:15.719 As a movie, it kind of changes the scene. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:17.420 And suddenly these guys are old. 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:22.320 And we see this scene with John the Baptist in all his craziness 00:01:22.320 --> 00:01:25.740 have this interesting conversation with a group of people 00:01:25.740 --> 00:01:28.240 that go out into the wilderness to find him. 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:30.060 So we're going to be reading, if you've got your Bibles, 00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:35.099 it's Luke chapter 3, verse 15 to 22. 00:01:35.939 --> 00:01:37.140 15 to 22. 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:42.040 Luke chapter 3, verse 15 to 22. 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:48.600 I'll give you a moment to find it. 00:01:51.100 --> 00:01:53.080 And I'm actually going to put her on the spot. 00:01:53.160 --> 00:01:54.980 I'm going to ask my dear friend Jess. 00:01:56.060 --> 00:01:58.620 Jess, would you mind coming up to read us the Word of God? 00:01:59.320 --> 00:02:00.560 You can come up and join me here. 00:02:00.960 --> 00:02:04.300 Luke chapter 3, verse 15 to 22. 00:02:04.580 --> 00:02:06.240 Can I invite you to stand for the Word of the Lord? 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:09.540 Thank you. 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:14.039 As the people were in expectation and all were questioning in their hearts 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:16.919 concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:18.939 John answered them all saying, 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:23.620 I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, 00:02:24.180 --> 00:02:26.899 the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. 00:02:27.399 --> 00:02:30.039 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:34.780 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor 00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:37.120 and to gather the wheat into his barn, 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:40.140 but the shaft he will burn with unquenchable fire. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:41.879 22. 00:02:42.980 --> 00:02:46.840 So with many other exaltations, he preached good news to the people. 00:02:47.539 --> 00:02:51.980 But Herod the Tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, 00:02:52.340 --> 00:02:56.259 his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 00:02:56.740 --> 00:02:59.900 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison. 00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:02.780 Now, when all the people were baptized, 00:03:03.219 --> 00:03:06.140 and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:07.920 the heavens opened, 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:12.180 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove, 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:14.159 and a voice came from heaven, 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:15.860 You are my beloved Son. 00:03:16.219 --> 00:03:17.759 With you I am well pleased. 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:19.080 Thank you. 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:20.599 This is the Word of the Lord. 00:03:21.060 --> 00:03:21.879 Please take a seat. 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:29.840 So actually, we're just going to do something very, very standard today. 00:03:29.900 --> 00:03:32.719 We're just going to go through what Jess just read, just verse by verse, 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:37.099 and we can see a story unwinding here that is actually really, really interesting. 00:03:37.259 --> 00:03:39.560 So just bear with me and let me set the scene here, 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:41.379 which is John the Baptist is in the wilderness, 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:42.719 and he's gaining hype. 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:43.979 So people are going out to him, 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:47.219 are hearing about this crazy guy who's a prophet, 00:03:47.539 --> 00:03:48.300 and they're wondering. 00:03:48.460 --> 00:03:50.620 And verse 15, so you can just follow me as we go here. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:51.980 Verse 15 says this, 00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:53.659 As the people were in expectation, 00:03:54.099 --> 00:03:55.980 and all were questioning in their hearts, 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:56.840 so they weren't sure. 00:03:56.920 --> 00:03:59.039 They were just asking this question of themselves, 00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:02.080 concerning John, whether he might be the Christ. 00:04:02.180 --> 00:04:02.740 Can you imagine that? 00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:04.439 Just go, oh, this guy's different. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:06.200 This guy is built different. 00:04:06.480 --> 00:04:08.659 Could this be him? 00:04:09.460 --> 00:04:10.939 We've waited 400 years. 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:13.640 We've been under Roman impression for 400 years. 00:04:14.040 --> 00:04:18.019 Could this finally be the one that Isaiah 9-2 talks about? 00:04:18.340 --> 00:04:19.560 We've been walking in the darkness. 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:21.439 Maybe this is the great light that has shined. 00:04:21.540 --> 00:04:22.660 Maybe this is the Prince of Peace. 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:24.120 Maybe this is mighty God. 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:25.920 Maybe this is wonderful counselor. 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:28.300 And they go, is it him? 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:32.139 Or actually, is today the day? 00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:35.360 And they said, as the prophet Joel said, 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:36.600 that the day of the Lord will come, 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:38.660 and he will pour out his spirit onto all people. 00:04:39.340 --> 00:04:41.060 Is, are we finally here? 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:43.399 Are we going to be able to see freedom? 00:04:44.199 --> 00:04:46.060 Freedom in our generation? 00:04:46.060 --> 00:04:48.980 And maybe the passage that I want to highlight today, 00:04:49.060 --> 00:04:51.920 where it's just to dip our feet into the Old Testament, 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:54.480 we're going to, I'm going to take you to the book of Malachi. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:57.120 Turn with me. 00:04:57.180 --> 00:04:58.620 If you've got that, turn to Malachi. 00:04:58.819 --> 00:05:00.420 If you want to hit, it's actually just the last, 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:03.600 the last book in the Old Testament. 00:05:03.779 --> 00:05:05.120 So that's fairly easy to find. 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:09.920 Malachi is this, the final book in the Old Testament. 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:12.860 So this is kind of the final word that we hear from God before. 00:05:13.020 --> 00:05:16.140 He goes kind of quiet, radio silent for 400 years. 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:19.020 And so you can imagine these last words are pretty strong, 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:20.199 and they're hanging off it. 00:05:20.420 --> 00:05:22.300 And in Malachi chapter 3, it says this. 00:05:22.840 --> 00:05:25.420 Again, he's prophesying about the messenger of the Lord. 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:26.980 Malachi chapter 3, 00:05:26.980 --> 00:05:48.759 So you can imagine those words are ringing through the community. 00:05:49.379 --> 00:05:49.520 Okay. 00:05:50.140 --> 00:05:50.960 There's a messenger coming. 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:52.500 In fact, there's two messengers. 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:55.140 Which one is this crazy guy out in the wilderness? 00:05:55.139 --> 00:05:56.240 Is he the one? 00:05:56.539 --> 00:05:57.060 Is he him? 00:05:57.259 --> 00:05:59.919 Or is he the messenger who is preparing the way? 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:04.039 Of course, then John actually completely just eases them and goes, 00:06:04.099 --> 00:06:05.680 Hey, guys, chill. 00:06:05.860 --> 00:06:06.680 I'm not him. 00:06:07.259 --> 00:06:08.579 I'm not that guy. 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:11.719 He says, I am the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness. 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:13.879 Prepare the way for the Lord. 00:06:13.979 --> 00:06:15.719 I am not the groom. 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:17.120 I am simply the best man. 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:19.099 I'm here to tell you that he's coming. 00:06:19.159 --> 00:06:21.800 And I'm here to get you ready. 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:23.519 And so he tells them that. 00:06:23.599 --> 00:06:24.779 And he says, Hey, I am nothing. 00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:26.699 Nothing compared to him. 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:31.099 And he says later, we're going back to Luke now. 00:06:31.159 --> 00:06:31.680 Chapter 3. 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:33.300 He says, John answered them. 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:34.519 I baptize you with water. 00:06:34.620 --> 00:06:36.300 But he who is mightier than I is coming. 00:06:36.379 --> 00:06:38.300 The strapper whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. 00:06:38.339 --> 00:06:39.399 I can't even touch his shoes. 00:06:40.300 --> 00:06:42.079 I can't even get anywhere near him. 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:43.180 I am nowhere close. 00:06:43.180 --> 00:06:48.279 In the book of John, we see John the Baptist saying, Hey, he is the one who's going to become greater. 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:49.619 I will become less. 00:06:49.679 --> 00:06:50.279 He must increase. 00:06:50.359 --> 00:06:51.019 I must decrease. 00:06:51.599 --> 00:06:54.259 I'm actually just the best man just standing on the side. 00:06:54.339 --> 00:06:55.199 Just so happy. 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:57.139 My joy will be complete when the groom comes. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:58.379 So it's not about me. 00:06:58.459 --> 00:07:00.639 You've all come out to me, but it's not about me. 00:07:01.239 --> 00:07:02.539 There is someone who is greater. 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:04.419 And then that's what he gets. 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:05.759 He then moves into the sentence. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:09.639 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:12.180 Whereas I baptize you with water. 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:14.819 And I wanted to kind of focus on this a little bit today. 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:20.300 The difference between what John was doing and the difference between what Jesus came to do. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:24.079 John says, I'm here to baptize you with water. 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:30.279 But here, there's a guy coming who's going to baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:33.740 Now, if you've grown up in the church, you'll have heard that before. 00:07:33.740 --> 00:07:39.480 But I wonder how much you've actually really spent time processing that and asking, okay, what does that actually mean? 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:40.920 What does that actually mean to you? 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:42.819 How do we differentiate between the two? 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:43.220 Okay. 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:48.139 If this guy is down here and he's only baptizing people with water and this guy is up here, he's the goat. 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:51.540 He's the OG and he's baptizing with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:53.160 What does that actually mean? 00:07:53.180 --> 00:07:59.280 And I'm going to try and see if today we can unpack that and actually come out here thinking, okay, what is the difference between John and Jesus? 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:00.939 What did they both do that was different? 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:02.379 And how does that apply to me today? 00:08:02.379 --> 00:08:02.780 Okay. 00:08:02.779 --> 00:08:06.559 So, again, I said last week, we're going to try and do a little bit of interaction here. 00:08:06.819 --> 00:08:12.259 So, can we actually turn to the person next to us and go, well, actually, what do you think is the difference? 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:12.799 Have a guess. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:16.019 There is, well, I was just about to say there is no wrong answer, but I guess there is. 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:19.339 But in this context here, let's just have a go. 00:08:19.599 --> 00:08:20.039 Have a go. 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:28.520 Because I think we will remember what the right answer is if we've had a go at kind of processing and asking ourselves, well, what do we actually think we are reading as we're reading that bit? 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:28.760 Okay. 00:08:28.960 --> 00:08:32.519 What's the difference between being baptized with water and being baptized with the Holy Spirit? 00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:33.340 Two minutes. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:34.920 The people next to you, go. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:36.399 And I will ask some questions afterwards. 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:36.860 Go, go, go. 00:08:36.860 --> 00:08:40.919 Oh, it is. 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:41.740 Interesting. 00:08:42.620 --> 00:08:43.300 All right, all right. 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:43.639 Okay. 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:46.340 Introverts, I'm here to save you. 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:47.480 All right. 00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:51.139 Sonny? 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:52.620 Oh. 00:08:52.620 --> 00:09:00.080 okay well i think water is more of a symbol and when you get baptized by the holy spirit is where 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:04.919 actual change happens where he actually purifies you water is like telling people oh i'm being 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:10.240 baptized right now but you should be already baptized by the holy spirit or while you're doing 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:14.399 it i guess there we go good good job good job study which is the same as actually what hither 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:19.000 said over here water is actually just a is a symbolization of actually what we're going to be 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:23.720 undergoing so uh john the baptist is saying i'm preparing the way for you i'm actually just 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:26.899 getting your heart ready i'm getting your heart ready and we're going to do something symbolic 00:09:26.899 --> 00:09:32.600 so that when the holy spirit comes that's when you'll actually be cleansed it is just it is just 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:37.700 water ocean sea water salty water that we're going in here right here but when the holy spirit comes 00:09:37.700 --> 00:09:40.759 it's going to be different what else is there is was there was there any of the differentiation 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:44.759 uh jaywon kim fresh off a new haircut uh 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:52.519 yeah 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:56.600 yeah 00:09:56.600 --> 00:10:07.559 yeah 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:13.220 the holy spirit fire is something that happens to you to kind of sanctify you to refine you 00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:18.639 whereas again the um the water is just a symbol symbol of what might i ask 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:29.040 symbol of cleansing i like it uh whilst i whilst whilst i'm on talking to jaywon uh just as a very 00:10:29.040 --> 00:10:35.000 very brief sidetrack uh jaywon asked a very very important question this week uh and thankfully the 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:39.259 answer is yes uh can we just can we just have you have you stand so they can see who you are 00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:43.639 just to embarrass you a little bit jaywon kim and emily 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:54.639 so so proud of him uh ask him how he did it and ask him about the weak knees that he had 00:10:54.639 --> 00:11:02.960 the water is a symbol of repentance 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:10.899 is when you say okay i'm a sinner and what does the word repent actually even mean 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:13.019 darren what does the word repent actually mean to you 00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:25.279 decide not to do something that is i think i heard it the word come here to turn to turn around 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:28.899 when you know that you are heading in the wrong direction and you want to 00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:32.579 kind of address it the thing you have to do is really you have to turn around 00:11:32.579 --> 00:11:36.679 uh maybe we hear about the stereotype here especially with gentlemen who are driving 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:40.620 uh looking for a place uh maybe this was before the invention of google maps 00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:47.500 and we insist we know where it is and so we drive and then our lovely uh loving gracious 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:51.100 spouse will ask do you know where do you know where you're going yeah yeah absolutely 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:56.080 i know where i'm going you you just sit tight uh we're gonna get there 00:11:56.080 --> 00:12:02.720 and then you just keep going repenting is going okay okay this is a dead end we have to turn around 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:07.279 and we have to go 180 it is turning it's stopped doing it's stopped going in one direction 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:12.240 stop and turn on 180 and when you when you say you want to be baptized by water you're saying hey i've 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:17.379 been heading in the wrong direction and i need to stop i need to do a 180 and i need to turn around 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:22.179 and john the baptist is calling people to repentance saying hey it's okay to be heading in the wrong 00:12:22.179 --> 00:12:26.159 direction earlier in chapter three he says he is proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:30.419 forgiveness of sins he's saying hey it's okay to be admitting that you are heading in the wrong 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:35.819 direction stop turn around and you'll be forgiven and you'll be okay and you will find your way 00:12:35.819 --> 00:12:41.039 that's okay and so that's really what that is talking about and he's preparing for you he's 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:47.120 saying i'm only getting ready i'm getting you ready for that guy if you think i'm scary then you should 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:54.039 see what's coming next i'm here just to get you ready to get your heart ready because when the holy 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:59.459 spirit comes it will be a very very different thing the holy spirit of course is the actual 00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:05.480 salvation of the soul it's the actual cleansing of the soul it's being refined it's being and i think 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:10.080 i used that word just as i was talking to jay there but what's that word that theologians or christians 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:13.980 use there's long and begins with s where it talks about the whole process of uh refinement 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:20.620 sanctification when you're being sanctified uh what's actually happening kelly what's happening when you're 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:21.420 being sanctified 00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:30.399 long lasting change what are you changing into 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:40.819 the whole process of sanctification is that you're being refined and changed so you will look more 00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:47.620 like jesus and the baptism of the holy spirit when he comes is going to be the one that starts that 00:13:47.620 --> 00:13:53.379 journey off for you now when i last sunday night when i looked at this passage and i was like okay 00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:58.039 i'm going to be talking about the baptism of the holy spirit i was like oh boy oh boy it's going to 00:13:58.039 --> 00:14:02.419 be one of those topics because actually this has been debated for centuries about what the baptism of 00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:06.240 the holy spirit is and how many baptisms you get of the holy spirit and i was like oh no we're 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:08.860 going to have to talk about this we're going to have to talk about tongues and gifts and all these 00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:13.500 kinds of things and then actually i realized that's not what john is trying to say here 00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:18.779 that's not what he's actually highlighting it but maybe i will say one thing just as a 00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:23.820 short one which is i believe that when you are baptized with the holy spirit which only 00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:27.659 happens once that is when you are able to confess that jesus is lord 00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:33.740 1 corinthians 12 3 says you can't even say jesus is lord without the holy spirit the fact that you can 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:38.659 even acknowledge who jesus is and say that he is lord that means you already have the holy spirit 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:40.320 and you have been baptized by the holy spirit 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:45.580 now the subsequent ones that other people may call being baptized by the holy spirit i would 00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:49.360 call actually just being filled with the holy spirit being filled with the gifts being empowered 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:53.820 by the holy spirit to do certain things and we can unpack that a whole nother day maybe in a much 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:59.080 smaller context but in the context of his of this um i'm gonna say the moment you are baptized with 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:04.000 the holy spirit is the moment you confess that jesus is lord you can't even you don't even know who 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:08.540 jesus is you don't even know that he is your king unless the holy spirit is working inside you so if 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:12.379 you're wondering have i been baptized by the holy spirit the fact that if you can confess that jesus 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:18.120 is your lord and savior then the holy spirit is already within you okay and so that we'll just 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:23.379 move on from there and then now why do i think he's not talking about the gifts and the tongues 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:28.879 is because straight after he taught he says this um you can follow me here verse 16 he will baptize 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:34.779 you with the holy spirit and fire his winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to 00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:40.879 gather the wheat into his barn but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire that sounds fun 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:46.639 doesn't it so straight away he talks about something and what he talks about is judgment 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:54.120 he talks about salvation he's going actually there's going to come a time when you're we will know whether 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:58.159 you're baptized by the holy spirit or not we'll know whether it was whether you confess that jesus is 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:04.079 or not and he uses this kind of uh harvesting farming example who's held a winnowing fork before 00:16:04.079 --> 00:16:10.139 i suspect no one in the city of hong kong uh has held it's kind of like just a giant fork i guess you 00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:15.279 and what they would do is to separate the wheat from the chaff is actually it's all a pile on the 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:18.879 floor during harvest and they would use this winnowing fork to lift it all up into the air 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:23.600 and the light bits the chaff would then be blown away by the wind and what would fall to the ground 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:28.899 would be the heavy wheat which they can then actually use so that's the kind of idea what 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:33.779 he's talking about is this this basically this filtering this this discerning between actually 00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:40.740 who is saved and who is not in in this regard he's talking about judgment and so i have to be very 00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:45.340 careful here because we had a lovely wedding yesterday so i had two talks to to prepare and 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:50.160 one was about love and one was about judgment and in my head in the morning before the wedding i was 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:55.620 like don't mix the two messages up do not so i'm going to follow my notes a little bit more because 00:16:55.620 --> 00:17:00.199 i only wrote this last night just to make sure that i didn't overlap and tell the uh the wedding 00:17:00.199 --> 00:17:06.440 bride and groom that they were going to be judged um why do i also know that it's about judgment the 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:11.299 context of the conversation here we only started from verse 15 but if i just ask you just to have a 00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:17.339 little glance up to uh the conversation just before that it's one of my i think it's a humorous 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:22.019 passage here uh chapter 3 verse 8 he's talking to these people who have gone out a lot of them are 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:25.919 pharisees a lot of them people who are religious type they're like i hear about the hype of this guy 00:17:25.919 --> 00:17:30.779 i want to go find out what he's all about i'm going to go test his theology i'm going to go see what 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:35.619 he's actually talking about and then he calls and then john uh true to form calls of a brood of vipers 00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:40.819 who warned you to flee from the wrath of to come and verse that he says is bear fruits in keeping with 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:46.500 repentance bear fruits in keeping with repentance if you truly have turned around and repented 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:53.480 then it should look different your life should look different to before you repented is what he's 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:58.079 saying and then he says this and do not begin to say to yourselves we have abraham as our father he's 00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:03.960 talking to these jews who think they are saved regardless why because they're jews that's what they 00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:08.379 think and everyone else is inferior and everyone else won't be saved but we will be saved and he's 00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:15.260 saying hey don't rely on just because you're a jew and then have nothing to show for it bear fruits in 00:18:15.260 --> 00:18:20.180 keeping with repentance and he says for i tell you god is able from these stones to raise up children 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:27.880 for abraham just because you're a jew just because your family is christian just because you've been 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:33.840 attending church all your life if your life hasn't changed at all it doesn't really mean much 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:39.859 behold god can make new children for him from these stones it's not a direct translation i have a 00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:44.740 little chuckle to myself because i just imagine it in the chinese version would be something like 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:55.319 it's just you're used like you're no use to anyone you're no use to anyone if you haven't changed your 00:18:55.319 --> 00:19:00.579 life and so bear fruits in keeping with repentance it doesn't matter if your dad is abraham it doesn't 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:05.939 matter any of these things because actually there is an axe that is ready to cut down every tree that 00:19:05.939 --> 00:19:12.039 doesn't bear good fruit again so he's talking about judgment he's talking about is your life different 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:16.559 at all and then he gives some examples and so the crowd asked him okay then what does that actually 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:22.099 mean and then he says what shall we do and verse 11 he says whoever has two tunics is to share with 00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:25.960 him who has none and whoever has food is to do likewise the first thing is if you've repented you 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:31.340 should suddenly have a generous heart that you should be marked by generosity we as a people 00:19:31.340 --> 00:19:35.400 should be marked by generosity when we look at someone who is in need our first thought must be 00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:40.660 how can i share what i have with you and if you're not generous then maybe that's the first sign of hey 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:47.120 have you truly repented and then he carries on and then he says tax collectors also came and they 00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:51.160 were asking what should we do and he said to them collect no more than you are authorized to do 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:57.840 bear in mind this was politically sensitive area here these tax collectors come and go oh well what 00:19:57.840 --> 00:20:01.960 should we do do you want us to give up our jobs so we don't work for this evil empire he doesn't say 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:07.320 any of that john the baptist doesn't jesus jesus doesn't he kind of just says hey whatever job hey 00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:15.300 ej whatever job you've been assigned just do it properly be generous live with generosity and live 00:20:15.300 --> 00:20:20.420 with honesty live with honesty and then he says hey what about the soldiers and the soldiers also came 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:25.940 and asked him hey we what shall we do and he asked and he said to them do not extort money from anyone 00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:32.480 by threats or by false accusation and be content with your wages don't abuse your power live with 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:39.259 integrity isn't it interesting soldiers tax collectors uh everyone's just asking what should we do 00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:45.860 we repent we want to we we know this road that we're heading down is a dead end how do we turn around 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:51.899 that's what he's saying repent and live with generosity live with honesty and live with integrity 00:20:51.899 --> 00:20:58.199 why because judgment is coming that winnowing fork is coming and soon you'll be separated 00:20:58.199 --> 00:21:05.279 i'm baptizing you with water which is just a symbol but the holy spirit is going to come and baptize you 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:12.459 with fire what does that mean it's not going to be about outward behavior the christian life 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:17.940 repentance isn't about behavior modification necessarily it's about a posture of the heart 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:22.500 he's going to see beyond how you act just because you're sat here today 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:26.759 doesn't mean you're going to get a free pass if jesus was to show up 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:33.539 he's going to look into your heart and he's going to see do you truly believe that he 00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:38.759 is lord and savior do you truly repent and do you truly recognize and confess that you were heading 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:44.400 the wrong way uh jesus talks a lot about the holy spirit towards the end john chapter 14 to 16 he 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:49.180 talks a lot about it and 16 8 he says and he will he will be the helper and he said jesus says it is 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:54.240 better for me to leave and for this guy to come and what will he do he will convict the world of sin 00:21:54.240 --> 00:22:02.559 and righteousness he will decide what is right and what is wrong that should scare you a little bit i'm 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:08.420 not going to lie that should scare us a little bit because that means the judge the judgment the 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:15.100 measuring stick isn't just a tick box of the things that we've done it isn't how much time we spent 00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:21.900 doing this that or the other if the holy spirit comes this is out of this world this is in the 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:26.779 spiritual realm that isn't just anything of the flesh this is he's going to look into the depths of 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:32.759 our hearts and souls and there is a judgment that is coming it should scare you it should scare me a 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:36.800 little bit because jesus also talks about this in matthew 15 he says there are people here who are 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:45.039 honoring me with their lips but their hearts are far from me so we're singing songs worthy is your name 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:53.779 be exalted but your heart is not even there you're you're thinking about what episode of the tv show 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:57.700 that you're actually going to be watching tonight you're thinking about what you have your heart's 00:22:57.700 --> 00:23:04.740 just not there well there's others of you who make sure that your outside of your life looks nice and 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:13.660 holy and righteous and clean but inside it is so messed up and you're just pretending now just a 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:19.120 disclaimer that it's not saying that it's a problem that there's we're messed up inside because we are we 00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:23.880 have to acknowledge that we are all messed up romans 3 we all fall short of the glory of god but it's the 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:28.299 pretending it's the pretending it's a saying oh but i am clean on the outside 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:35.819 and so john the baptist is saying hey be careful you think i'm serious i'm only baptizing you with 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:39.539 your seawater there's a guy who's coming with the holy spirit with fire and he's going to see right 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:45.379 into the depths of your soul and the holy spirit is going to come and refine you but here's the thing 00:23:45.379 --> 00:23:50.480 verse 18 says this so just when you're about to go oh my goodness unquenchable fire i don't want 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:54.519 to know what that means that doesn't sound good i don't really want it uh verse 18 says this 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:59.379 so with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people kind of assuming okay well that 00:23:59.379 --> 00:24:04.039 was good news hey there's going to be a judge who's going to come and see the very depths of your heart 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:11.559 and soul and it's good news now if you're sat here just like i was i'll be like oh i don't know 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:14.720 someone comes and sees the depths of my soul i don't know if it's going to be good news for me 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:21.559 so why is it good news why is it what does the word exhorting mean juju what does the word exhorting mean 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:33.980 love it strongly encourage them moving your heart honestly i can say that's what i'm trying to do 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:38.519 with you right here as i open up the word of god i'm like lord would you would you use whatever i'm 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:44.119 about to say to exhort these people to strongly move their heart to encourage them so that they 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:48.879 would receive this good news because it is good news we talk about judgment in a bad way often hey 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:54.260 judgment is coming but i think months ago i told you if wicked the word wicked really comes from hey 00:24:54.260 --> 00:25:00.240 something has been crooked has been twisted the word judgment seems it actually means to make right 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:05.840 to straighten out we have this idea that judgment is a bad thing it is a punitive thing 00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:11.940 if you get a speeding ticket you will be judged and you will be punished if you run a red light you will 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:17.280 be punished but that's not the judgment we're actually talking about here because scripture also 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:21.720 says he did not send his son to come to condemn the world but to save the world the judgment isn't 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:28.039 punitive it is restorative he's come to judge to make things right to straighten us out in a way so 00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:34.740 it will be good that's why it's good news but more importantly it's not just because of what we can do 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:41.399 later on we'll see a little bit more about what that actually means verse 18 so it is good news he is 00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:46.660 here to transform you what he's really saying to all the people to the tax collectors to the soldiers to the 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:54.259 pharisees to the jews he's saying no one is safe but all can be saved that's the message of the bible 00:25:54.259 --> 00:26:00.240 that no one is safe everyone falls short of the glory of god but all can be saved that is the good 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:06.340 because there would have been some people sat here sat upright and gone john the baptist what do you know 00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:12.540 do you have an mdiv do you have you studied like i were you the top of the class like i was 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:21.200 i know what the prophet joel and malachi says off the top of my heart it's off of my head how what do 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:25.559 you know and so can you see how outrageous it was when he was telling them this he's like none of you 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:30.700 are safe none of you tax collectors soldiers pharisees none of you are safe but all of you will 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:36.000 be saved can be saved it is good news and it won't be because of you religion won't save you 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:40.420 the only thing that will save you is a person now interestingly i'm not going to spend too much time 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:45.880 on this verse 19 to 20 as you're tracking we're nearly done but the herod um wasn't happy about 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:51.660 this and so they have him locked up which tells me one thing the message of christianity is actually 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:58.580 really offensive it's saying you're a sinner you can't save yourself that's what it's saying 00:26:58.580 --> 00:27:06.340 people won't like that especially in this day and age because everything is hey you you do you you are 00:27:06.340 --> 00:27:10.400 whatever you think you are you will you can feel whatever you feel you are as long as you feel good 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:15.240 and you're okay you're good keep going you're not lost keep heading in that direction it's 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:21.200 completely fine oh it's a dead end it's okay it's where you're supposed to be just just celebrate 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:28.440 enjoy be okay i affirm you the message of christianity is not that it is you are a sinner 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:31.060 that you can't save yourself 00:27:31.060 --> 00:27:39.500 and you see here john the baptist keeps saying it and then sadly it leads to him being in prison 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:45.940 and now when all the people were baptized so they do repent um something fascinating happens 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:55.019 and you can see why jesus has arrived and tim keller says this the gospel really is 00:27:55.019 --> 00:28:00.400 actually you are far worse than you ever imagined but you are far more loved than you ever dare dream 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:06.160 that's it you're a sinner you're a sinner you can't save yourself you are far and you are you may think 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:09.759 you're a bad person but you are far worse than you imagined like far worse 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:19.300 and i affirm that but you are far more loved than you ever dare dream that's the message of the gospel 00:28:19.300 --> 00:28:24.320 no one is safe but all of you can be saved and you all of you will be saved 00:28:24.320 --> 00:28:30.160 and so they repent and so they get baptized and then jesus walks in 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:35.500 and in another account john just looks at him and goes behold 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:41.120 the lamb who takes away the sin of the world that sin that i was just telling you about about you 00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:45.880 how you are not safe how you are a sinner behold here comes the guy who has no debt 00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:51.160 who's going to come and clear your debt for you behold the lamb who takes away the sin of the world 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:55.540 and he gets jesus gets baptized and people then ask well why did jesus get baptized because he didn't 00:28:55.539 --> 00:29:01.299 have to repent because he was sinless well this was his act again we see here luke is trying to show 00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:07.379 us the divinity and the humanity of jesus as a boy jesus growing up and asking questions still growing 00:29:07.379 --> 00:29:14.680 identifying with mankind and this baptism again is a symbol just i'm going to identify with mankind 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:22.500 it's what paul says later he made him to be sin who knew no sin in this baptism jesus saying i am with you 00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:30.660 i am with you i am the word that became flesh eugene peterson says god moving into the neighborhood 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:39.339 i'm here to be with you and i'm back being i'm being baptized to identify with your sin 00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:47.299 and actually only luke says this so verse 21 jesus also had been baptized and was praying and the heavens opened 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:51.559 only luke says that he was praying and so you can just imagine this scene where jesus comes he's like 00:29:51.559 --> 00:30:01.519 it begins i've waited 30 years patiently helping my dad in the workshop finally mom calls me out 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:08.539 at the wedding and we need more wine i guess it's time to go and then he gets baptized and he's praying 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:12.919 i don't know what he's praying but it's as he's praying the heavens open 00:30:12.919 --> 00:30:17.299 i don't want to shortchange how that must feel 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:23.500 to be able to see the heavens open and to hear the father's voice booming down 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:29.579 terrifies a lot of people maybe whatever your perception of god is growing up 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:34.680 you can imagine that's not a that's a scary thing that's thunder that darkness that's lightning 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:42.259 but then the words he says will shock you when that heaven opens it will tell you that judgment is not 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:49.640 punitive but it is restorative because he says this you are my beloved son with you i am well pleased 00:30:49.640 --> 00:30:54.859 god we don't really hear god opening up the heavens to speak that much 00:30:54.859 --> 00:31:03.500 but most of the time it's just with that message of love of affirmation and you see the holy spirit 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:08.359 here here's he's the one we're trying to trace right verse 22 and the holy spirit descended on him in bodily 00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:16.659 form like a dove maybe as a tribute to genesis 1 where the spirit hovers above the water 00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:24.019 ready to speak life into creation you now have the holy spirit coming again descending ready to bring 00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:29.679 life back to a people who have chosen the wrong way who have set their minds on the flesh and that has 00:31:29.679 --> 00:31:37.000 led to death and decay you now have the holy spirit come heaven invades earth one more time and as the 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:44.880 spirit descends life is about to pass through the whole of mankind once again and it's a fascinating 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:51.119 encounter because you see the trinity right here the father speaks the holy spirit descends and of 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:58.319 course the son is the one being baptized and it's just a beautiful beautiful account of what god is 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:02.819 actually trying to do here he's not trying to condemn he's trying to save mankind 00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:14.500 what does that mean for us that means actually romans 8 you see this when we have the holy spirit 00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:22.460 within us we get to become children of god we get to share in that message that god says to his son 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:27.279 you are my beloved son with whom i am well pleased when the holy spirit comes into each one of us we are 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:31.799 now children of god for all who are led by the spirit of god are sons of god and what can we cry out 00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:39.240 in romans 8 abba father which is would have been completely revolutionary and shocking again at that 00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:44.220 time because no religion would refer to god as abba which is daddy which is this intimate relationship 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:50.940 no one would no one would no one would even say that god would say such loving things such as you are my 00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:56.879 beloved son but now as the holy spirit descends on us and fills us and we are baptized with the holy 00:32:56.880 --> 00:33:06.680 spirit we now get to say abba father thank you for loving me thank you for saving me thank you for 00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:12.780 turning me around from a life that will end up in death and leading me by your spirit to a place that 00:33:12.780 --> 00:33:18.140 is life and peace if you want to read and find out more about that romans 8 is where it's at 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:28.280 and if you have extra time then memorize romans 8 because that is deep truth right there about how 00:33:28.280 --> 00:33:33.080 when you set your mind on the spirit that is that thing that will give you life and the very spirit 00:33:33.080 --> 00:33:38.980 that brought jesus back to life is the same spirit that gives you life and so you won't have the spirit 00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:43.640 of fear anymore but when the holy spirit comes inside you you are now adopted and now you are now children 00:33:43.640 --> 00:33:51.440 of god co-heirs with christ provided provided that you suffer with him which means what provided that 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:56.860 you die to yourself provided that you acknowledge hey i'm a sinner i've been heading in the wrong 00:33:56.860 --> 00:34:02.400 direction in fact i don't even know where i'm going anymore that's the best moment that's exactly where 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:06.960 you it's a great place to be because that's when you turn around and that's when the holy spirit comes 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:11.940 and refines now i'm going to finish here on what j1 was talking to us about in terms of just being 00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:15.619 refined and what does that mean as the holy spirit and how does that change our lives and i'm going 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:21.440 to take us back to malachi um remember that last chapter in the old testament that i began in the 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:29.019 sermon today malachi chapter 3 says this behold i send my messenger and he will prepare the way before 00:34:29.019 --> 00:34:33.780 me and the lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple and the messenger of the covenant and 00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:40.099 whom you delight behold he is coming chapter 2 then says this for he is like a refiner's fire and 00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:48.239 like fuller so verse 3 says this he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver this is exactly 00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:52.679 what jay was alluding to when the holy spirit comes inside you and this process of sanctification starts 00:34:52.679 --> 00:35:00.619 you you will start become you will start being molded refined just like that winnowing fork separates the 00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:08.579 chaff and the wheat actually a silversmith uh refining silver does essentially the same thing and i 00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:12.739 wanted to finish by reading you an account it's from a devotional that i had actually read years ago but 00:35:12.739 --> 00:35:17.739 i've always liked this story and this is where i want to finish um the story goes like this and i'm 00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:23.579 just going to read it so there's a lady who reads this verse from malachi chapter 3 verse 3 he will sit 00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:31.340 as a refiner and purifier of silver a woman had read this verse and was puzzled by it so she decided to go 00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:37.800 and visit a silversmith to find out how he did his work as she watched the silversmith he held a piece of 00:35:37.800 --> 00:35:45.600 silver over the fire and let it heat up he explained that in refining silver one needed to hold the silver in 00:35:45.600 --> 00:35:51.960 the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest that way it would burn out all the impurities she began 00:35:51.960 --> 00:36:00.280 to think about god often placing us in really hot spots then she thought again about the verse that he sits he sits as a 00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:06.320 refiner and purifier of silver so then she asked the silversmith if it was true that he actually had 00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:12.240 to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined the silversmith said yes 00:36:12.240 --> 00:36:18.120 he'd not only had to sit there holding the silver but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire 00:36:18.120 --> 00:36:24.820 time it was in the fire because if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames it would be 00:36:24.820 --> 00:36:31.700 destroyed the woman was shocked and was silent for a moment thinking about how hot it would be to sit 00:36:31.700 --> 00:36:40.860 in that fire then she asked him how do you know when the silver is fully refined he said oh that's easy 00:36:40.860 --> 00:36:51.240 when i see my image in it when i see myself in the silver i will know that's when all the impurities 00:36:51.239 --> 00:36:58.679 are gone that this silver is what it's supposed to be brothers and sisters we sit 00:36:58.679 --> 00:37:01.979 the silver being refined 00:37:01.979 --> 00:37:07.179 by a savior who sits there with us in the fire 00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:15.739 waiting till we become just like him waiting till he can see his image in us 00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:23.419 that's what the holy spirit does when he comes sets us off on this process of sanctification 00:37:23.419 --> 00:37:30.519 that makes us become more like him as you sit here confessing that jesus is lord i ask you does 00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:38.559 your life look any different from before you followed him just real talk just honestly other 00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:43.359 than how you spend your sunday morning or maybe your thursday night where you do your life group does 00:37:43.360 --> 00:37:48.099 your life look any different just like the soldiers and the tax collectors and the pharisees were asking 00:37:48.099 --> 00:37:51.579 well what does that do should we quit our job should we change no he said just do your job properly 00:37:51.579 --> 00:37:56.680 just do it with integrity just do it with honesty just do it with generosity because 00:37:56.680 --> 00:38:04.039 you're changed you're a changed woman you're a changed man and maybe in this new year this is a 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:08.780 good time for us to go well what's changed about me what's different about me to the next guy 00:38:08.780 --> 00:38:17.240 honestly when someone watches when one of my colleagues watches how i deal with an unfair boss 00:38:17.240 --> 00:38:27.060 when my family look at how i'm dealing with a miscarriage when friends look at me dealing with 00:38:27.060 --> 00:38:35.940 failures do i look different do i accept them as a process of refinement do i accept them because i 00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:42.320 know that this isn't the end goal that the lord is taking me on a journey refining me so that one day 00:38:42.320 --> 00:38:51.460 he can look at me and see himself in me let us welcome that process we're going to move into time 00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:56.619 of um communion now which is the time where believers sit and really remember what the lord did for us and 00:38:56.619 --> 00:39:03.280 maybe there's no better time than this than for us to examine 1 corinthians 11 the apostle paul says sit 00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:09.380 and as we take this bread and drink this wine that we would examine our own hearts is there any part of 00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:15.680 us that still hasn't repented but actually we say that we are christians we we commit our sunday 00:39:15.680 --> 00:39:23.440 mornings to church but we are still actually trying to find our own way and we keep heading to the same 00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:30.679 dead end every time we just won't admit it well there is no chance better than this right now for 00:39:30.679 --> 00:39:37.820 us to sit and go lord there's this part of my life that is still heading in the wrong direction 00:39:37.820 --> 00:39:40.420 and i repent i stop i turn back 00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:48.659 and i trust in you the good news is that i won't be able to find my own way back 00:39:48.659 --> 00:39:54.019 the good news is that i'm a sheep that is lost but you've come to save me 00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:58.500 let's just spend a moment now in quiet as we reflect on 00:39:58.500 --> 00:40:06.539 any any areas in our lives that we still need to repent for again and again 00:40:10.420 --> 00:40:15.900 we thank you that you speak a message of love 00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:20.059 and affirmation to us 00:40:20.059 --> 00:40:23.599 that we are your children whom you love 00:40:23.599 --> 00:40:31.539 so we trust you continue to mold us refine us to be more like you 00:40:31.539 --> 00:40:35.019 that we trust you 00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:38.619 that let's not just hear a message be exhorted in the heart and 00:40:38.619 --> 00:40:41.019 not be led and spurred to action 00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:46.099 show us holy spirit show us what we need to do what we need to change 00:40:46.099 --> 00:40:51.259 give us the strength to obey to follow 00:40:51.259 --> 00:40:54.699 thank you