WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.519 Thank you, Nathan. Wow, what an exciting day. It was just so, so good. And just to see the four of you make that just public declaration. I pray that it's the start of something extremely special. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:43.500 Um, we're going to jump into the word of God now. And as we gather, that's, that's what I want to ask you. What's, what's the thing that you live for? What's the thing that you live for? And has becoming a Christian changed that at all? Is there a before and after for you? Is there a before and after for you? And we've been going, we had last, we had last month, we went through missions in terms of just thinking about it. 00:00:43.520 --> 00:01:12.680 Thinking about what, how we gather and how we scatter. We're going to go back into the book of Thessalonians now. Uh, if you have forgotten, this was a series that we started just prior to the missions month. And we were just going through this book and just to rewind your mind again, this is a small church he's talking to. This is a church that he started two years ago. And then because of some issues, he had to leave. But then this church kept growing. And chapter one, he talked about, Hey, I, I've heard of your labor of love. I've heard of your faith and I've heard of your steadfastness in hope. 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:23.620 And it is great. And you are a model church, man. You are doing well. And actually the rest of Asia is starting to hear about you and they want to copy you. This is a good thing. You are a model church. 00:01:23.900 --> 00:01:37.920 And then the question that I asked was, Hey, if someone modeled after your life, if someone tried to pattern their lives against your life, Wesley, if someone looked at your life and said, I'm going to follow and be like Wesley, would that person end up looking more like Christ? 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:47.219 That's the question that we asked. If someone looks at over here and looks at Z-Way and goes, wow, I love the way Z-Way lives. I want to be more like Z-Way. 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:55.420 Will that lead her to being more like Christ? That was the first question. And then the second chapter, Paul was talking about the motives of a leader. 00:01:55.420 --> 00:02:02.879 He was saying, Hey, there are some of you who have heard some bad stuff about me. People are spreading rumors and lies and scandals about me. 00:02:03.320 --> 00:02:14.960 I want you to remember what I was like when I was with you, that I was a leader. There was one that actually was accountable to God, that I was not here for my own personal gain, but I poured out my life for you. 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:23.240 And then chapter three, he talks about, Hey, you're going to be mistreated. You're going to be mistreated being a Christian because you're going to be different to the world. 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:29.659 They're going to look at you differently and they're going to mistreat you. And your business plans are not going to go as well as you want to. 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:36.040 Your family plans are not going to go as well as you want to because you're identifying with me. Stay strong. Stay the course. 00:02:36.260 --> 00:02:41.480 And that's what he was talking about. And now we move into one Thessalonians four, which is actually really packed. 00:02:41.479 --> 00:02:48.139 And so we're going to split it into two weeks. So this week I'll do the first half and then the second week, next week, we'll do the second half of chapter four. 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:53.659 So right now, as always, if you're here for the first time, what I do now is we're going to read the word of God. 00:02:53.739 --> 00:03:04.879 I'm going to invite you to stand because we truly believe this word, this book here, these letters here have the capacity to speak into every circumstance in our lives and they give life. 00:03:05.219 --> 00:03:10.599 And if we model ourselves after this book, we will live fruitful lives that make us more like Christ. 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:13.379 So can I invite you to stand for the word of the Lord? 00:03:17.379 --> 00:03:19.659 So Lord, we open up your word now. We read. 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:25.560 So may these words just come to life and speak life into ourselves. 00:03:26.340 --> 00:03:27.879 One Thessalonians chapter four. 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:40.099 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you receive from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:43.180 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 00:03:43.659 --> 00:03:52.599 For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor. 00:03:52.599 --> 00:04:01.519 Not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God, that no one transgression wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things. 00:04:01.959 --> 00:04:07.560 As we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you, for God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:13.659 Therefore, whoever disregards this disregards not man, but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 00:04:13.659 --> 00:04:20.939 Now, concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. 00:04:21.420 --> 00:04:24.920 For that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:34.759 But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more and to aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs and to work with your hands as we instructed you, 00:04:35.219 --> 00:04:39.639 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:41.060 This is the word of the Lord. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:42.360 Please take a seat. 00:04:43.660 --> 00:04:44.660 Please take a seat. 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:48.939 So Paul does this a lot. 00:04:49.480 --> 00:04:55.640 He writes this letter to this group of people that he knows, and then he basically just drops theological bombs. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:57.700 He's just telling them who Jesus is. 00:04:58.020 --> 00:05:00.060 He's telling them who they are. 00:05:00.460 --> 00:05:04.120 And then towards the end of every letter, he then says, finally. 00:05:04.760 --> 00:05:09.640 And you all know, you've been there when you've signed sermons, and when the preacher says, oh, finally. 00:05:09.860 --> 00:05:12.180 That's when you usually wake up, oh, finally, he's finishing. 00:05:12.180 --> 00:05:14.379 And so he says, finally. 00:05:14.579 --> 00:05:20.620 And what nearly always happens when he says, finally, is, hey, I've taught you about theology. 00:05:20.900 --> 00:05:25.319 I've taught you about God, and your heads are now filled with theological truth. 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:28.899 Now, finally, I want to show you how to live it out. 00:05:28.899 --> 00:05:32.339 This is when theology turns practical. 00:05:32.339 --> 00:05:34.339 And you all know people. 00:05:34.339 --> 00:05:35.539 You all know people. 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:48.299 I know people who are so filled with head knowledge, who grew up in the church, who understood all the Bible stories, who memorize scripture, but they look nothing like Jesus. 00:05:48.300 --> 00:05:49.340 Have you met those people? 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:51.800 Can you just nod if you've seen someone like that before? 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:56.240 Who just knows the Bible inside out, but just looks nothing like Jesus? 00:05:57.720 --> 00:06:06.439 That's why Paul, each time as he writes a letter, he says, finally, now I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of what I've just taught you. 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:11.180 Basically, what he's saying is, hey, you've got to live out what I'm teaching you. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:16.379 Just because you have this head knowledge doesn't mean that actually you're doing it. 00:06:16.779 --> 00:06:19.540 Just because you know the Bible story doesn't mean you're a Christian. 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:25.920 Or doesn't just because you come to church and listen to someone talk to you about the Bible that you've actually done it. 00:06:26.180 --> 00:06:27.560 Doesn't that happen in church a lot? 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:29.560 Right? 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:36.120 So you hear a preacher talk about the Bible and talk about Jesus and you're like, oh, yeah, yeah, that's good. 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:38.220 And then you pretend you've assumed that you've done it yourself. 00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:42.660 And Paul here says, chapter four, follow along in your Bible. 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:54.740 He says, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that as you receive from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:57.400 The book of James says, hey, don't be just doers. 00:06:57.639 --> 00:06:58.920 Don't be just hearers of the word. 00:06:59.300 --> 00:06:59.860 Be doers. 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:02.019 Actually live it out. 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:09.579 If an alien dropped into your life and did an audit on your life right now, who would that alien think that you're living for? 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:11.019 Who are you trying to please? 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:18.500 If they looked at the way you behave, where you spend your time, the way you spend your money, who are you trying to please? 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:21.040 Who's the most important person in your life? 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:29.819 Maybe there's a boyfriend and a girlfriend here and if someone dropped into your life, they'd be able to see that actually everything that you do is trying to please your girlfriend or boyfriend. 00:07:30.540 --> 00:07:38.680 Or maybe if they drop into your life and they look at how you work, they're like, everything that that person is about is about pleasing his or her boss. 00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:49.459 He's saying here, hey, walk in a way where the only one you are pleasing is God, that you have an audience of one. 00:07:50.459 --> 00:07:53.060 Galatians 1.10, Paul asks that question. 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:56.280 Am I here for the approval of man or of God? 00:07:56.279 --> 00:08:05.659 And now, if we're all honest with ourselves, if we really dig deep and ask why, but why, but why, so often it's actually, we want to please people. 00:08:06.679 --> 00:08:09.279 We want to please people, but why do we want to please people? 00:08:09.779 --> 00:08:10.639 Have you thought about that? 00:08:11.399 --> 00:08:13.599 I usually pick on Gaps first, so I'm going to pick on him again. 00:08:14.299 --> 00:08:18.079 Why do you think we are so obsessed with pleasing people? 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:23.139 Because we're fearful of rejection. 00:08:23.419 --> 00:08:25.899 Because we're fearful of rejection. 00:08:26.419 --> 00:08:27.099 So true. 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:31.959 But actually, we want to please them so that we will be accepted into that community. 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:37.519 And one of the perks of when you get accepted into a community or a club, 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:41.480 you experience pleasure. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:46.220 Because you get to do the, like, I've been wanting to be Ken's friend for the longest time. 00:08:46.620 --> 00:08:47.960 Because Ken loves food. 00:08:48.940 --> 00:08:54.080 And so I know if I become his friend, he'll take me to these nice places to eat this glorious food, 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:55.720 just as he did yesterday evening. 00:08:58.379 --> 00:09:04.240 They say, actually, since the beginning of time, the chief end of humanity has been to take pleasure in life. 00:09:05.180 --> 00:09:11.780 If you think about just every generation of mankind, what have we been trying to do just to get pleasure in life? 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:13.379 But Paul says something different. 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:16.620 He says, hey, it's not about that. 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:25.659 The catechism actually says the chief end of humanity should be to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. 00:09:25.659 --> 00:09:34.779 Is your will, is your bottom line, is your motive to really to please God and to glorify him and to enjoy him forever? 00:09:35.079 --> 00:09:37.439 Only you will know the answer to that question. 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:43.960 But if we're honest, as Kenneth was honest with us, none of us are really that good people. 00:09:44.040 --> 00:09:45.460 We all have selfish desires. 00:09:45.540 --> 00:09:48.980 We are all still selfish, looking for pleasure in our own lives. 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:52.180 Paul's saying, hey, put your money where your mouth is. 00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:55.260 Live in a different kind of way. 00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:57.679 So the question I want to ask you is, are you any different? 00:09:58.539 --> 00:09:59.559 Are you any different? 00:09:59.819 --> 00:10:05.559 If you looked at your life, other than how you spend your Sunday morning, are you any different to if you were a non-Christian? 00:10:06.539 --> 00:10:07.200 Have a think. 00:10:08.220 --> 00:10:14.639 Other than how you spend your Sunday morning, where you go, or maybe your midweek evening group, are you any different at all? 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:16.120 Have you changed? 00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:20.939 Because sometimes I think the church is guilty of actually selling the same product that the world sells. 00:10:20.940 --> 00:10:24.840 If you think about why people go to church, they're like, okay, come to church. 00:10:25.020 --> 00:10:25.280 Why? 00:10:25.560 --> 00:10:27.280 Oh, because there's great coffee there in the morning. 00:10:28.180 --> 00:10:28.900 Come to church. 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:30.380 It's such a nice vibe. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:31.160 There's nice coffee. 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:34.960 And there's someone who's really good at singing, who is going to sing a few songs and lead us in karaoke. 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:36.180 And it's just nice. 00:10:36.380 --> 00:10:38.020 And then you get to hang out with some people. 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:40.360 And then you get the warm fuzzies because people start to know you. 00:10:40.400 --> 00:10:41.100 And then you get to hang out. 00:10:41.100 --> 00:10:41.980 And then you go to wine tasting. 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:43.360 And then you go BJJ. 00:10:43.520 --> 00:10:44.980 And then it is just so good. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.700 And then the speaker comes. 00:10:47.880 --> 00:10:50.500 And he's usually quite short. 00:10:51.780 --> 00:10:53.000 Not in height, guys. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:53.740 Just in the talk. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:54.500 And then. 00:10:55.900 --> 00:10:58.240 And it's like a TED talk. 00:10:58.300 --> 00:11:01.280 And the TED talk makes you feel warm and fuzzy because it tells you you are loved. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:02.120 You're a good person. 00:11:02.400 --> 00:11:04.160 But there is purpose and there is meaning in your life. 00:11:04.260 --> 00:11:05.100 And everything's okay. 00:11:05.300 --> 00:11:08.420 And then you sing one more song just to kind of cement what he just said to you. 00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:09.500 And then you all leave. 00:11:09.540 --> 00:11:10.640 And then you go and grab lunch together. 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:11.520 It's such a fun time. 00:11:13.260 --> 00:11:13.500 Whew. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:19.460 Has the church let the values of the world, the pleasures of the world, seep in? 00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:22.460 So I ask again, why are you here? 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:25.340 And how are you different? 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:30.900 So if you weren't a Christian at all, is there anything that's different? 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:35.740 Verse 3 says this, for this is the will of God for your sanctification. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:37.920 What does the word sanctification mean? 00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.860 Francis, what does the word sanctification mean? 00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:45.120 Made clean. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:46.379 It's definitely a part of it. 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:51.159 The process of sanctification is being made clean, being changed. 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:52.659 Changed to what? 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:56.360 What are we supposed to look like as we are being transformed? 00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:58.580 What's the ultimate goal here, Sam? 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:02.419 Sorry, someone like Christ. 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:10.639 Genesis 1.26, from the very beginning, the Trinity, the Godhead, says, let us make man in our image. 00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:14.179 We're supposed to look like him. 00:12:16.459 --> 00:12:22.519 But somewhere along the line, we make decisions and we look nothing like him anymore, even those of us who are sat in the church. 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:27.679 Romans 8.29 says this, that we were predestined to be conformed to the image of his son. 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:33.679 Is this a room filled with people who look like Jesus? 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:42.539 Now, in a family, you all look at baby MJ and you all look at him and then you go, oh, looks just like you. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:44.859 Clearly, you're just influenced by the hairstyle. 00:12:46.359 --> 00:12:50.299 And of course, just by the way, that really confuses me because I stand next to him. 00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:55.199 And then you go to him and then you say, oh, you're so cute. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:56.279 You're so beautiful. 00:12:56.479 --> 00:12:57.939 You look just like your dad. 00:12:59.099 --> 00:13:02.319 Can you just spare a moment just to have a think how that makes me feel? 00:13:03.859 --> 00:13:05.939 It's just so many mixed, confused messages there. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:07.179 My head is already quite big. 00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:11.079 I just got to be careful when you compliment my son and then you tell him he looks just like me. 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:16.700 But if we're children of God, do we look anything like our fathers, our father in heaven? 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.920 If we looked at your life, do you look like God? 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:21.820 That's his will. 00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:25.740 It says here, for this is the will of God, your sanctification. 00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:31.740 And then he goes into, and then he drops some real bombs. 00:13:32.680 --> 00:13:34.920 Because he's like, okay, so you're like, okay, I'm a Christian. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:37.320 I want to be more like Christ. 00:13:37.660 --> 00:13:39.000 What does that even look like? 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:40.580 Where do I even start? 00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:43.259 And then Paul says, let me tell you where it starts. 00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:45.500 Let's talk about sex. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:51.240 And then I'm like, oh, this week I have to talk about sex. 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:53.900 Because this is what the word of God says. 00:13:55.460 --> 00:13:59.160 And so we're going to just, let me just read it to you again and let God himself speak. 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:04.180 For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality. 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:08.280 That each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:11.500 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God. 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:14.759 That no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:19.720 because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:23.559 For God has not called us for impurity and in open holiness. 00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:29.039 Therefore, whoever disregards this disregards not man, but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 00:14:29.419 --> 00:14:30.639 He's talking about sex. 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:33.899 He's like, I want you to look more like Christ, but you don't look like Christ. 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:35.699 And how do I know that you don't look like Christ? 00:14:35.859 --> 00:14:37.799 Because of the way you deal with sex. 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:41.259 And this is one of the topics that, hey, church pastors do not like to talk about. 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:44.099 I assure you, it's not what I really want to talk about today. 00:14:44.239 --> 00:14:44.979 But here it is. 00:14:45.119 --> 00:14:47.539 And I realize there is a message for us here. 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:49.339 But let me just give you a little bit of context. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:52.759 The Greco-Roman world that he was writing this in. 00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:57.599 This world was, in some ways, a very sexual liberal world. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:59.000 Sexually liberal world. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:14:59.779 It was very different. 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:03.159 Men had unlimited rights when it came to sex. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:05.639 So just have a think about a person, okay? 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:07.259 He's a businessman. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:08.620 He's in finance. 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:11.579 And he has different things going on in his life. 00:15:11.599 --> 00:15:12.819 And he travels for work. 00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:15.899 And he has a wife that looks after his household. 00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:20.480 But he also has a concubine where, when he's a bit tired of his wife nagging, 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.379 he can go and stay with his concubine. 00:15:22.579 --> 00:15:23.600 And that's completely okay. 00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:26.500 And then when his concubine is getting a little bit annoying, 00:15:26.819 --> 00:15:28.259 then he'll say, well, actually, I've got a mistress. 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:31.600 So when I'm away for work, I'm going to go hang out with my mistress. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:34.379 And then after that, if he's a little bit bored of that 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.779 and he wants something completely different, 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:38.879 he'll then go to the brothel and then meet someone else there. 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:41.659 I just wanted to imagine that context. 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:47.659 That the men had unlimited rights when it comes to this issue of sex. 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:51.699 Now, imagine that man meets Jesus, 00:15:52.939 --> 00:15:54.139 commits his life to Christ, 00:15:54.439 --> 00:15:56.039 and then sits in this room. 00:15:58.319 --> 00:16:00.659 Of course, we stop there and we think, 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:02.500 oh, that man's going to live happily ever after. 00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:05.360 And he's just going to be more and more like Christ 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:07.199 because he's going to go on this journey of sanctification. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:07.520 No. 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:12.180 Can you imagine all the dilemmas that he has to go through? 00:16:13.300 --> 00:16:15.240 Because all the things that he's used to doing 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:18.060 on a Saturday night, on a Wednesday night, on a Thursday morning, 00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:19.820 now has to change. 00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:23.840 He's got to suddenly be like, wait, oh, wait, that's not okay? 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:26.320 Wait, wait, that's not okay? 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:31.140 And can you imagine from a woman's perspective, 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:33.299 in that kind of society, 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:36.759 where you are treated in such a way, 00:16:36.939 --> 00:16:41.259 where your chief end is to be the one that pleasures man, 00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:41.879 and that's it. 00:16:44.319 --> 00:16:45.899 Can you imagine what that is like? 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:47.960 Every context that a woman walks into, 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.720 she's just wondering, 00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:51.779 how do I protect myself? 00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:54.139 How do I hide from attention? 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:56.980 How do I not get myself abused again? 00:16:56.980 --> 00:17:02.680 That would have been the norm in the culture that he was writing to. 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:06.940 And just before you go, well, that was then, 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:08.799 and now is different. 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:12.319 And yeah, on some levels, it is different. 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:15.960 But if you ask yourself seriously, deep in your heart, 00:17:16.120 --> 00:17:17.000 is it that different? 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.360 There's no kids here now. 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:23.140 Is the addiction to pornography, 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:25.700 the industry that that is? 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:30.440 Isn't it really just doing and saying the same thing? 00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:36.460 If you forget what you find on the internet, 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:38.779 what about just what you find on the MTR? 00:17:39.620 --> 00:17:40.680 The adverts? 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:46.599 What message is that giving to our society? 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:49.140 What are we valuing here? 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:51.519 We're valuing how someone looks, 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:52.620 how someone stays young, 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:56.180 how someone attracts as much attention as possible. 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:58.700 I think about my sons, 00:17:58.860 --> 00:17:59.799 I think about my daughter. 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.740 What, if they walk through the MTR, 00:18:01.860 --> 00:18:02.840 which they do every day, 00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:04.220 and they see these adverts, 00:18:04.820 --> 00:18:07.680 what is the world telling them is important? 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:13.259 And so we may not be as explicit as a society 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.700 in how we deal with sex, 00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:15.840 but in our hearts, 00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:17.039 you know there is a ton of problem. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:20.759 The question here is this, 00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:23.000 are the people here in this room different? 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:28.139 Are the people here in this room different? 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:28.960 Paul is saying, 00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:30.000 please be different. 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:31.639 Why? 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:32.960 How do I know that? 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:34.059 In verse 7 he says this, 00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:35.980 for God has not called us for impurity, 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:37.099 but in holiness. 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:38.019 That word holiness, 00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:38.319 Aidan, 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.799 what's the word holy mean to you? 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.240 Set apart. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.000 Set apart. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:45.000 What does the word set apart mean to you? 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:47.160 Something that, 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.400 say something sacred. 00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:52.420 It feels like it has importance. 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:53.579 Yeah. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:55.799 Something sacred. 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.279 Something that is important. 00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.920 Something that is different. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:03.320 What Paul is doing here is, 00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:05.400 he is casting a vision for a community where, 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:05.640 hey, 00:19:06.580 --> 00:19:08.160 do you think we can be a place 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:12.100 where women can feel safe coming into this community? 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:15.160 Where they don't feel as though there are predators all around. 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.600 Can we come into a place, 00:19:17.860 --> 00:19:18.820 can we be a community 00:19:18.820 --> 00:19:20.960 where men are respectable 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:22.300 and respectful? 00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:25.279 That we treat one another 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:27.519 with the highest regard. 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:27.880 Why? 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.380 Because that brother 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:31.020 and that sister sat next to you 00:19:31.020 --> 00:19:34.640 is made in the image of God. 00:19:36.600 --> 00:19:38.580 Can we be that kind of group? 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:41.300 Can we be that kind of people? 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:44.760 I was talking to my son recently. 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:46.400 As you've all noticed, 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:49.700 my son is undergoing some transformations himself. 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:51.200 He's going to be taller than me 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.920 probably within the next 12 months. 00:19:54.260 --> 00:19:55.680 And I asked him a question 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.500 and I ask a lot of young people this question. 00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:59.599 Tell me about sex. 00:19:59.720 --> 00:19:59.900 Tell me, 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.059 what do you know about sex? 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.160 And he's like, 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.240 oh, 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:03.759 actually, 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.960 the reason why is, 00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:05.579 Christina and I, 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:06.240 we've been doing this 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.220 since our kids have been young. 00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:08.279 Literally six. 00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:10.079 Because we believe in something called 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.099 the law of first mention. 00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:12.059 Which is, 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.099 if you're the first one 00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:13.920 that mentions something, 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.799 you have authority on that subject. 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:19.799 You all know where you heard about sex from. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.240 I heard about it 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.920 from my grade six friend at school. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:23.840 And he, 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:25.120 I have now since found out, 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:26.640 is not the authority on sex. 00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:29.580 But he was the one that told me about it. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.000 And it's funny, 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:33.539 because where you hear it first, 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:34.820 you will go, 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.759 subconsciously, 00:20:35.800 --> 00:20:37.320 you will go back to that source 00:20:37.320 --> 00:20:38.560 for reference, 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.180 for information. 00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:41.019 So we try and beat the crowd, 00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:41.980 we try and beat the world, 00:20:42.060 --> 00:20:42.200 and we, 00:20:42.320 --> 00:20:43.360 so we will start first. 00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:44.180 And they had no idea 00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:44.940 what we were talking about, 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.360 but I was like, 00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:45.700 you know what, 00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:47.840 the only thing that you need to remember 00:20:47.840 --> 00:20:49.120 is that I got there first. 00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:51.200 So whenever you have any question, 00:20:51.340 --> 00:20:52.400 you come to me first. 00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:54.600 But isn't that true? 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.720 Because if we don't disciple 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.740 the next generation, 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:57.380 the world will. 00:20:58.860 --> 00:21:00.019 Because they will have questions, 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:01.299 just like you and I had questions, 00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.539 but if they don't come to us 00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.100 for the answers, 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:04.059 and they go somewhere else, 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.940 then they will tell something different. 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.840 And he said something interesting, 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:07.120 he said, 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:07.340 oh, 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:07.500 well, 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.319 it can be used for bad. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:09.660 I was like, 00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:11.480 yes and no, 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:11.840 that is, 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:13.600 that is so true. 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:15.799 But my goodness, 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.539 it is not a bad thing. 00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:21.319 Sex is not a bad thing. 00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:23.059 But yes, 00:21:23.439 --> 00:21:25.779 what we've used it to become, 00:21:26.219 --> 00:21:27.659 what we've twisted it to become, 00:21:27.899 --> 00:21:28.839 is now a wicked thing. 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.240 Actually, 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:29.619 interestingly, 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.579 the word wicked, 00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:31.939 the Anglo-Saxon, 00:21:32.179 --> 00:21:32.639 kind of just, 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.939 the background of that word, 00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:36.019 the word wicked simply means twisted. 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:39.619 If you think about a candle wick at the top, 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.379 it's just something that's twisted. 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:43.500 So there's no such thing as darkness 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.539 there's no such thing as evil, 00:21:44.619 --> 00:21:46.980 it's just good that has been twisted. 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:48.680 Interestingly, 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:50.900 the word judgment simply means to straighten out. 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:54.319 And so what you have here is, 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:56.779 we've taken something that God has created 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:58.059 that is beautiful, 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:58.779 that is good, 00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:00.480 and then we have twisted it. 00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:03.099 We have weaponized it. 00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:08.559 What's your relationship like with sex? 00:22:10.399 --> 00:22:12.039 Do you have a high view of sex, 00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:14.740 or do you have a low view of sex? 00:22:14.879 --> 00:22:15.139 Because, 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:16.279 God knows, 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.859 if we've grown up in the church, 00:22:17.919 --> 00:22:19.159 and there's the whole purity thing, 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.299 culture that went around, 00:22:20.379 --> 00:22:21.819 maybe in the 90s and the early noughties, 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:23.799 as Christians growing up, 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:26.740 you've been conditioned to think that sex is a bad thing. 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.980 Now, 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:30.460 everyone's thinking about it, 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:34.019 and behind the scenes, 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.640 we're doing all kinds of things, 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:36.740 but in church, 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.700 in any other context, 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.559 we don't talk about it. 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.980 We've simply twisted. 00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.819 We've simply twisted 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:46.160 what is supposed to be a good thing. 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.440 There's a couple of really interesting quotes 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.299 that I wanted to read you. 00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:50.599 Our sexualities, 00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:51.980 our capacity to love, 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:52.839 and be loved, 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:55.019 is intimately related to our creation 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:56.279 in the image of God. 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:59.339 What a high view of sexuality. 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.299 Sexuality, 00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:01.359 our sexuality, 00:23:01.659 --> 00:23:01.960 sex, 00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:03.440 was created for our pleasure, 00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:04.759 and for procreation. 00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:07.960 I won't linger on this point too much, 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:09.339 but we are all sat here, 00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:10.000 products, 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.980 of two people having sex. 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:14.720 Procreation. 00:23:15.659 --> 00:23:17.700 But there is pleasure in it as well, 00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.720 but we have twisted it. 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.779 And what we think now to do 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.559 is just to kind of just 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.600 keep it under the rules 00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:24.819 and don't talk about it, 00:23:24.840 --> 00:23:25.600 don't think about it, 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.680 pretend it doesn't exist, 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:27.640 pretend it doesn't happen. 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:30.000 When in reality, 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.340 the quote continues, 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.600 and I love this, 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:32.980 but it says, 00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:34.700 notice that the biblical stress 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.600 upon relationship 00:23:35.600 --> 00:23:37.420 helps to enlarge our understanding 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:38.420 of human sexuality. 00:23:39.580 --> 00:23:39.880 And here's, 00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:41.259 just pay attention to this next line. 00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:43.120 The problem with the topless bars 00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:44.340 and the pornographic literature 00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:44.940 of our day 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.299 is not that they emphasize 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.660 sexuality too much, 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.840 but that they do not 00:23:48.840 --> 00:23:49.819 emphasize it enough. 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.539 The problem with the topless bars 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:54.600 and the pornographic literature 00:23:54.600 --> 00:23:55.140 of our day 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:56.100 is not that they emphasize 00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:57.500 sexuality too much, 00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:58.759 but that they do not 00:23:58.759 --> 00:24:00.600 emphasize it enough. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.759 We've reduced sex 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.759 to something which is simply 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.720 just a physical thing 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:06.039 when it should be so much more. 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:07.059 As children of God 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:08.000 who bear his image 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.980 for procreation 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.960 and for pleasure purposes, 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.000 it's supposed to be 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:12.259 this incredibly beautiful, 00:24:12.580 --> 00:24:13.480 indescribable thing, 00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:14.740 yet we turn it into 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.539 a series of images 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.259 that we scroll through 00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:16.740 on our phones. 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.960 The problem isn't 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:22.740 that we have too low 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:25.059 a view of sexuality, 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.920 it's that we don't have 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.779 a high enough one 00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:28.559 to what it is supposed to be. 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:30.000 We have turned something good 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.779 and we have twisted it. 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:34.740 I've often said, 00:24:34.859 --> 00:24:36.240 Richard Foster is the one 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:36.859 who said the three 00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:37.879 big idols of the world 00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.899 are money, sex, and power, 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:42.099 which per se 00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:42.940 are not necessarily 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.619 wrong things. 00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:46.200 Money is not a bad thing. 00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:47.740 The love of money 00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:49.099 is the root of all evil. 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.859 Sex was a good thing 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.700 that has been twisted. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:54.119 Power, authority, dominion 00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:55.240 was what he gave mankind 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:56.519 and it was supposed to be good, 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.799 yet we have abused it 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:58.940 for our own good. 00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:01.840 Are we any different 00:25:01.840 --> 00:25:02.840 in the church? 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.779 We've taken something 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.080 as beautiful as love. 00:25:06.820 --> 00:25:08.759 Now, the biblical interpretation 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.660 of love is 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.940 what you can give, 00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:12.360 what you can sacrifice. 00:25:12.820 --> 00:25:13.240 John 15, 00:25:13.320 --> 00:25:14.220 there is no greater love 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:14.559 than this, 00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:15.620 that someone would lay down 00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.380 his own life. 00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:17.400 That is love. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.500 But now we've reduced 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.059 the word love 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:20.120 to what we can take. 00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:23.279 When I love something, 00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:24.340 it's what it can give me. 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.240 All right? 00:25:27.199 --> 00:25:29.319 We've twisted that word again. 00:25:29.399 --> 00:25:30.099 And it's interesting 00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:30.699 and it's fascinating. 00:25:30.899 --> 00:25:32.240 And you hear a lot about this 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.159 amongst the next generation 00:25:33.159 --> 00:25:33.819 that are struggling 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:35.699 with the issue of pornography 00:25:35.699 --> 00:25:36.779 and of loneliness. 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.519 And so they've given up 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.459 on relationship altogether. 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.379 Why do I need 00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:41.199 to go through 00:25:41.199 --> 00:25:42.199 this whole process 00:25:42.199 --> 00:25:43.099 of courting 00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:43.779 and relationship 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:44.419 and friendship 00:25:44.419 --> 00:25:45.500 when I can just find 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:47.179 satisfaction by myself 00:25:47.179 --> 00:25:47.720 at home 00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.519 without any trouble 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.199 from any people? 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.319 And so you know, 00:25:51.419 --> 00:25:52.259 you can see now, 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.779 there are tons and tons 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.379 of the next generation 00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:55.000 who have just basically 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.940 given up on engaging 00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:56.619 in relationship, 00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.119 in friendship 00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:57.819 with other people 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.740 because they thought, 00:25:58.879 --> 00:26:00.680 well, that is so much trouble, 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.359 I'm just going to stay 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:01.960 at home myself. 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.500 But then the problem is 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.779 it hasn't really satisfied us. 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.200 Loneliness is at 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:07.920 an all-time high. 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:08.980 Suicide rates 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:10.019 are at an all-time high. 00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:10.920 We thought, 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:11.879 we cracked the code 00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:13.039 that we can have 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.819 the friends 00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:15.079 with the benefits 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:16.440 and without any of 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.339 the challenges 00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:17.940 that come with it 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.779 and yet somehow 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.879 it's left us more lonely. 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.759 Have you thought about that? 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:22.680 Somehow, 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.880 it has left us 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:24.380 more lonely. 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.960 We've simply twisted 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:27.200 something that God 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.980 created for good, 00:26:28.360 --> 00:26:29.400 tried to do a shortcut 00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:30.960 and we realized 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.900 we've run into a dead end. 00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.980 That is where we're at. 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:35.900 And of course, 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:37.220 one of my favorite verses, 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.680 only just for comedic value, 00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:40.480 is verse six, 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:42.140 the Lord is an avenger. 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:43.820 That's it. 00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:44.759 Just, 00:26:45.100 --> 00:26:47.200 the Lord is an avenger. 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:47.460 Just, 00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.080 just, 00:26:48.080 --> 00:26:48.380 just, 00:26:48.380 --> 00:26:49.840 just interpret that, 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.600 take it where you will. 00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:53.319 But it speaks to something, 00:26:53.419 --> 00:26:53.899 which is this. 00:26:54.459 --> 00:26:54.859 James, 00:26:55.219 --> 00:26:55.799 leave me alone. 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.719 The stuff that I do 00:26:57.719 --> 00:26:58.599 in my own time, 00:26:58.919 --> 00:27:00.279 it's not hurting anybody. 00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:02.359 It's not affecting anybody. 00:27:03.419 --> 00:27:04.159 Just leave me alone. 00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:06.819 What we've done 00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:09.259 is we've separated sexuality 00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.480 from spirituality, 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.779 which is something 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.319 that the people 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:12.980 in this day did 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:13.619 and that was a group 00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.000 that was called 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.579 the Gnostics, 00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:15.779 which were basically saying, 00:27:15.879 --> 00:27:16.000 hey, 00:27:16.139 --> 00:27:17.439 you can do anything you want 00:27:17.439 --> 00:27:18.219 with your physical body 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:19.720 and it won't affect your soul. 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:21.079 It won't affect your spirituality. 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.160 So go ahead 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:23.200 and do whatever you want 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.759 in this life. 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:25.319 It won't affect your next life. 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.839 Go ahead 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.720 and do whatever you want 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.420 in your own time. 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.799 It won't affect the other people 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.779 because they'll never know. 00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:32.759 And somehow, 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:34.019 and somehow, 00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:35.839 what we need 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.799 to really understand 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.440 is man, 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.680 sexuality and spirituality 00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:39.579 are connected. 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.360 And every time 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:42.100 we think 00:27:42.100 --> 00:27:42.980 about someone 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:43.480 in a way 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.500 that God doesn't want us 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.059 to think about, 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.480 it's taking something 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.000 from them 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.799 and they've not even 00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.640 agreed to it. 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:51.779 And when you 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.400 give yourself 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:52.940 to someone 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.339 in a way 00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:53.940 that you shouldn't 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.440 give yourself to, 00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.360 you're giving, 00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:56.819 you're taking yourself 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.599 away from someone 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.279 in your future 00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.180 who is going to be 00:27:59.180 --> 00:27:59.700 your future spouse. 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.480 You're taking something 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.120 away from them 00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:02.160 as you give yourself 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:02.860 to something else 00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:03.519 and someone else. 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.960 What it's saying here 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:06.740 is that sexuality, 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:07.460 spirituality 00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.360 and community 00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:10.079 are all intertwined. 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.160 And the Lord 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:13.200 is an avenger, 00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:14.740 which means 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.360 he sees. 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.420 the conversation 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.079 with the young person 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:18.319 will go, 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:18.519 well, 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.140 sex is kind of 00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:20.519 like a bad thing. 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:22.579 I was like, 00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:22.660 oh, 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.240 why is it so bad? 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:23.420 Oh, 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.599 well, 00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:24.200 because people, 00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.319 okay, 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:25.579 well, 00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:27.460 so what do you do 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:27.779 with it then? 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:27.940 Well, 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.140 just avoid it. 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.380 Don't really talk 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:30.860 about it 00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:32.180 and just leave it. 00:28:33.860 --> 00:28:34.819 clearly that's not 00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:35.720 the solution. 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.180 And then you say, 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.339 well, 00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:37.000 what is bad? 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.240 Oh, 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:37.420 well, 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:37.940 you're not supposed 00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:38.440 to have sex 00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:38.980 before marriage. 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:40.420 Oh, 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:40.599 well, 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.220 why is that? 00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:42.079 Oh, 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.900 because God said so. 00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.880 Why am I not 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:45.360 allowed to do this? 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:45.500 Oh, 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.339 because God said so. 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:47.599 And really, 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:47.940 actually, 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.460 that's what Paul 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.339 is kind of saying here. 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:49.779 He's saying, 00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:51.539 for God has called us 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.420 not for impurity 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:53.039 but in holiness. 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:53.420 Therefore, 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.380 whoever disregards this 00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:55.200 disregards not man 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:55.620 but God 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.880 who gives his Holy Spirit 00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.200 to you. 00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:57.620 You see, 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.700 sometimes you go into church 00:28:58.700 --> 00:28:58.920 and you say, 00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.779 I don't want to be a Christian. 00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:00.640 I don't want to go to church 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:01.360 because people have 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:02.700 such conservative values here 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.460 and you're not allowed 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:03.940 to do this 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.440 and you're not allowed 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.039 to do that. 00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:05.900 And Paul's saying, 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.220 hey, 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:06.900 it's not about what 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.880 we tell you not to do. 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:09.620 God tells you not to do it. 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.120 It's different. 00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:12.700 This isn't just a person 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:13.819 trying to have authority 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.440 over you. 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:15.700 This is God telling you 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.240 not to do it. 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.519 And God isn't doing it 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.519 in a way just because 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.240 he's a stickler, 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.460 just because he's here 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.740 to ruin your pleasure. 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.320 Why does God tell you 00:29:23.320 --> 00:29:24.100 not to do those things? 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.080 Because he knows 00:29:25.080 --> 00:29:26.140 that they're bad for you. 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.680 Because he knows 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.660 that if you go down 00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.299 this path, 00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:31.880 it doesn't end well. 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:33.299 Because he knows 00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:34.600 that if you just choose 00:29:34.600 --> 00:29:35.580 your own pleasure 00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:37.360 and ignore everyone else, 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.380 sadly, 00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:39.720 you won't get that pleasure 00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.700 that you're looking for. 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:42.600 And we've all been there. 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.980 And I'm not here to say 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.559 as your pastor, 00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.759 I've been completely, 00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:47.360 completely with a perfect record. 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.740 But so I can tell you 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.360 that I know 00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:50.720 and I know that you know 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:52.080 every time you choose 00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:53.279 something for yourself 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:54.559 and you know 00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.580 it's not God wants 00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:57.440 and it might be nice 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.200 for that moment, 00:29:59.420 --> 00:30:00.680 but you know the feeling 00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.420 that happens afterwards. 00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:04.000 I don't need to convince you 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.319 of that. 00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:07.220 What God is saying is, 00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:08.299 I don't want you to do it 00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:09.680 because this hurts you. 00:30:11.919 --> 00:30:12.899 Don't have sex 00:30:12.899 --> 00:30:14.019 with someone before marriage 00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:14.720 because when you, 00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.339 when you, 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.299 when you connect 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:16.899 with someone 00:30:16.899 --> 00:30:17.879 at that deepest, 00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:19.299 most vulnerable level, 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.980 but you're not even sure 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.759 whether you're going to commit 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.740 to each other in the future, 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:24.259 then you will hurt one another. 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:26.259 That sex was created 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:26.859 for a place, 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:28.000 so there's a place 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:28.839 where two people 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:30.299 can feel completely known, 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.480 completely loved, 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.859 and completely safe. 00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:35.819 And it's only then 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.639 will you enjoy 00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:37.439 all the pleasures 00:30:37.439 --> 00:30:38.119 that I created, 00:30:38.199 --> 00:30:39.079 that he created. 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.919 So before we just kind of say, 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:42.500 well, we're not allowed 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:42.879 to do this, 00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:43.299 that or the other 00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:44.139 because God says no, 00:30:44.479 --> 00:30:45.879 think about why he says no. 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.159 Think about why 00:30:49.159 --> 00:30:50.159 I as a parent 00:30:50.159 --> 00:30:51.740 don't let my children 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.639 eat McDonald's 00:30:52.639 --> 00:30:53.479 three times a day. 00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:56.039 As much as, 00:30:56.139 --> 00:30:56.619 well, it's because 00:30:56.619 --> 00:30:57.559 my wife wouldn't let me. 00:31:00.699 --> 00:31:01.959 Because it's not good for me. 00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:03.299 It's not healthy. 00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.120 And then he carries on, 00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:07.640 and this is where 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.299 we're going to kind of 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:09.039 quickly fly through. 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:10.120 Verse 9 to 12, 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:11.700 he jumps into something else. 00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:12.539 He says, 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.759 now concerning brotherly love, 00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:15.460 you have no need 00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.579 for anyone to write to you. 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:17.519 For you yourselves 00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:18.200 have been taught by God 00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:19.420 to love one another. 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.319 So he jumps into 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.180 a second part, 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:22.120 and he's talking about 00:31:22.120 --> 00:31:22.700 brotherly love. 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.700 The word he uses there 00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:24.640 is Philadelphia. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.279 Okay, so that's where 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:26.600 we're here, 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:27.759 the city of brotherly love. 00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:29.180 And so he moves 00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:29.840 into a second part, 00:31:29.840 --> 00:31:30.059 and he says, 00:31:30.120 --> 00:31:30.840 hey, I want you to be 00:31:30.840 --> 00:31:31.799 different when it comes 00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.200 to sex. 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:32.859 I want you to be 00:31:32.859 --> 00:31:34.180 different as a community, 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.359 and recognize that 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:35.720 actually, 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.899 sexuality and spiritually 00:31:36.899 --> 00:31:37.639 are not enemies, 00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.460 they are friends. 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.659 And then he moves 00:31:39.659 --> 00:31:40.419 into a second part, 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:40.919 which is this, 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:42.139 hey, you guys, 00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:44.159 can you love one another 00:31:44.159 --> 00:31:45.700 as though you are siblings? 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.440 Of course, 00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.099 if you have a sibling, 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:48.379 you're like, 00:31:48.419 --> 00:31:48.619 actually, 00:31:48.659 --> 00:31:49.379 I don't love my sibling 00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:50.980 in a good way. 00:31:51.139 --> 00:31:52.819 But love each other 00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:53.440 in a way where 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:54.039 you're not here 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:54.720 to kind of just 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:55.779 satisfy your own 00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.480 personal agenda. 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:58.420 live in a way 00:31:58.420 --> 00:32:00.259 that is different. 00:32:00.620 --> 00:32:01.400 Now, here's another 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:02.220 problem that I think 00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:03.059 we in the church 00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:03.920 have really struggled 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:04.099 with. 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:05.240 When we preach 00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:06.460 from the pulpit, 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:08.299 what we're actually 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.079 doing constantly 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.960 is we're trying 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:10.839 to help you feel 00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:11.920 better about yourself. 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.500 And this is not, 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.539 this should not be 00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:14.339 our own goal, 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.180 our only goal. 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.319 But what happens here, 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:16.900 and this is a quote 00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.759 that maybe sums it 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.420 up way better than I, 00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:20.200 most of our pulpits, 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.720 Protestant and Catholic 00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:22.039 alike, 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:22.980 have read scripture, 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.920 but then preached 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:24.620 a psychological 00:32:24.620 --> 00:32:26.440 personalism for decades 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.900 with sin as a 00:32:27.900 --> 00:32:28.960 psychological dysfunction 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.880 and salvation as 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:32.539 inward good feeling. 00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:34.660 What it's saying here 00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:35.700 is it's too long. 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.779 We've taken this book 00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:38.279 that keeps telling you 00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.140 love one another, 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:40.519 that you cannot separate 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:42.240 spirituality from community. 00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:44.519 And yet what we've done 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.099 is we've basically 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:45.880 just preached the gospel 00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:46.299 where, hey, 00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:46.980 sin is bad, 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:48.079 it's making you feel down. 00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:49.099 And so, hey, 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:49.640 you're saved. 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:50.880 So feel better about yourself. 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.880 Have some warm fuzzies 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:52.579 on your own, 00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.079 and that's it. 00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:55.240 But what he's saying here 00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:57.240 is love one another together. 00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:59.059 You can't do life, 00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.159 your spiritual life, 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:01.359 on your own. 00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:04.460 I look at Ken, 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:04.939 and I'm thinking, 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.740 I don't know 00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.819 if I can imagine 00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:08.879 a life here in Hong Kong 00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:09.819 without the friendship 00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.879 of him and Hillary. 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:12.399 I look at him 00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:13.059 and his group, 00:33:13.819 --> 00:33:14.859 which I won't share you 00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:15.519 the name of his group 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:17.000 because it's... 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.199 Anyway. 00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:21.279 And I saw the picture 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:22.259 of them this morning. 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:22.519 I'm like, 00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.220 I don't know 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:25.079 if Ken can do 00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:26.139 his spiritual life 00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:27.220 without his brothers 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:27.879 around him. 00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:29.740 I look at Joyce 00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.539 and I see the group 00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.079 of girls 00:33:31.079 --> 00:33:32.319 that is now around her. 00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:32.559 I'm like, 00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.960 this is the only way 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:36.079 to do spiritual living, 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:38.039 to have people around. 00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:38.759 I look at Sigmund 00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:39.099 and I'm like, 00:33:39.180 --> 00:33:39.759 how did Sigmund 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.619 even get to churches 00:33:40.619 --> 00:33:41.599 because there were people 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:42.579 around him 00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:43.579 that bore him 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.720 who are now with him. 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:46.099 I look at Ebenezer 00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:46.359 and go, 00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:46.819 man, 00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:48.660 I love that man. 00:33:48.660 --> 00:33:50.060 and I can see 00:33:50.060 --> 00:33:50.500 other men 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.279 that love him too. 00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:56.380 Let us not separate 00:33:56.380 --> 00:33:57.000 spirituality 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.920 from community. 00:33:59.300 --> 00:34:00.100 Let us live 00:34:00.100 --> 00:34:00.880 in a way 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:01.940 that actually 00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:02.720 knows that they are 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:03.259 intertwined, 00:34:03.340 --> 00:34:04.360 that we need 00:34:04.360 --> 00:34:04.900 each other. 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:06.080 Not in a dependent, 00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:07.440 needy kind of way, 00:34:07.840 --> 00:34:09.000 but that we wouldn't be 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.920 where we are right now 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:10.519 without the people 00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:11.019 around us. 00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:13.199 And just a shout out 00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:14.559 to Victor and Mavis 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:16.199 for your different strategies 00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:17.920 of just relentlessness 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:18.639 over the years 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.159 of praying 00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.920 and just inviting 00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:22.119 and then at the right time 00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:23.340 dropping words of wisdom. 00:34:25.059 --> 00:34:25.840 And then it says 00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:26.639 something really interesting 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:27.000 and this is where 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.599 I'm going to finish 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:28.280 just in case 00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:29.179 you're keeping track of time. 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:30.840 Verse 11, 00:34:31.259 --> 00:34:31.980 and to aspire 00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.920 to live quietly 00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:34.019 and to mind 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.780 your own affairs 00:34:34.780 --> 00:34:35.920 and to work 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:36.440 with your hands 00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.320 as we instructed you. 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:38.480 Something was happening 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:39.099 in the church 00:34:39.099 --> 00:34:40.179 as they were growing 00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:40.639 in hype, 00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.219 as they were growing 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:41.679 in number 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:42.500 and they were like, 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.539 Jesus is coming back. 00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:45.039 So straight away 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:45.739 if you're a kind of 00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:46.259 lazy person, 00:34:46.339 --> 00:34:46.539 you'd be like, 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:47.219 oh, well if Jesus 00:34:47.219 --> 00:34:47.960 is coming back, 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:49.079 then I kind of don't 00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:50.000 really need to work anymore. 00:34:50.859 --> 00:34:51.940 I'm just going to hang out. 00:34:52.819 --> 00:34:53.539 I'm just going to hang out 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.420 and get my Jesus on 00:34:54.420 --> 00:34:55.239 and pray and sing 00:34:55.239 --> 00:34:57.079 and just going to be here. 00:34:57.199 --> 00:34:57.719 And Paul's saying, 00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:57.960 no. 00:34:59.799 --> 00:35:00.460 Don't do that. 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.599 Be the best worker 00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:03.339 that you can be 00:35:03.339 --> 00:35:04.400 and live a life 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.239 that is worthy 00:35:05.239 --> 00:35:05.900 of the calling. 00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:07.400 Be different. 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:09.980 So here's my second question 00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:10.379 to you. 00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:11.599 Maybe especially 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:12.759 in your workplace 00:35:12.759 --> 00:35:13.739 or in your school, 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.279 do people look at you 00:35:15.279 --> 00:35:15.659 and go, 00:35:15.839 --> 00:35:16.819 man, that person, 00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.839 that person is different. 00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:21.019 It says live quietly 00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:22.199 and work hard 00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:23.239 is what it's saying. 00:35:23.799 --> 00:35:24.739 I think the challenge here 00:35:24.739 --> 00:35:25.759 is can you be 00:35:25.759 --> 00:35:27.019 the best worker 00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:27.960 that you can be? 00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.980 If you're a teacher, 00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:31.339 can your colleagues 00:35:31.339 --> 00:35:31.739 look at you 00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:31.960 and go, 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.759 you know what? 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.059 That person 00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:35.099 is such a good teacher. 00:35:35.819 --> 00:35:37.039 She works so hard 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:38.339 and she loves the Lord 00:35:38.339 --> 00:35:38.859 so much 00:35:38.859 --> 00:35:39.279 and the kids 00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:40.100 love her so much 00:35:40.100 --> 00:35:42.280 that is so good. 00:35:43.080 --> 00:35:43.700 It's what Jesus says 00:35:43.700 --> 00:35:44.300 in Matthew 5, 00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:45.100 let others see 00:35:45.100 --> 00:35:46.019 your good works 00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:47.360 and see your light 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.260 and give thanks 00:35:48.260 --> 00:35:49.180 to your Father in Heaven. 00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:51.540 And I know this is convicting 00:35:51.540 --> 00:35:52.140 for some of us 00:35:52.140 --> 00:35:52.540 because we're like, 00:35:52.620 --> 00:35:53.040 hey, look, 00:35:54.180 --> 00:35:55.120 work is just work. 00:35:55.240 --> 00:35:55.820 It's just a job. 00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:57.400 I don't need to be great at it. 00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:58.200 I just need to be good 00:35:58.200 --> 00:35:59.120 because Jesus is the center 00:35:59.120 --> 00:35:59.560 of everything 00:35:59.560 --> 00:35:59.980 and I'm saying, 00:36:00.060 --> 00:36:00.900 he's going to come back anyway 00:36:00.900 --> 00:36:01.800 so it's all going to be okay. 00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:03.920 I know what Paul is saying, 00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:04.560 what Jesus is saying, 00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:06.120 be the best person 00:36:06.120 --> 00:36:08.580 that you can be at work. 00:36:09.740 --> 00:36:10.940 If you're in finance, 00:36:11.039 --> 00:36:11.920 can you be 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:13.800 the hardest worker 00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:14.360 in finance 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:15.320 that still maintains 00:36:15.320 --> 00:36:16.740 a healthy work-life balance 00:36:16.740 --> 00:36:18.220 that makes deals 00:36:18.220 --> 00:36:18.980 that are 00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:20.519 with integrity 00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:21.920 and with honesty? 00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:23.440 If you sell houses, 00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:24.200 can you sell 00:36:24.200 --> 00:36:25.039 the most houses 00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:26.640 in the history of mankind? 00:36:28.039 --> 00:36:28.920 But people look at you 00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:29.140 and go, 00:36:29.220 --> 00:36:30.039 there's something different 00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:30.440 about you. 00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:31.320 There is a humility 00:36:31.320 --> 00:36:32.739 and a diligence about you 00:36:32.739 --> 00:36:33.800 that can only come 00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:34.539 from Christ. 00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:38.579 If you are someone 00:36:38.579 --> 00:36:39.179 who's at home 00:36:39.179 --> 00:36:40.019 looking after kids, 00:36:40.179 --> 00:36:41.360 can people look at you 00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:41.519 and go, 00:36:41.619 --> 00:36:41.980 man, 00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:43.960 that dad or that mom 00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:45.699 just loves their kids 00:36:45.699 --> 00:36:46.920 in just this godly, 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:47.880 holy way. 00:36:49.719 --> 00:36:50.980 Can people look at us 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.500 and go, 00:36:51.639 --> 00:36:51.920 wow, 00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:52.840 they are different? 00:36:53.340 --> 00:36:54.139 And I'll share with you 00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:55.460 and Ken was being 00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:56.440 over-flattering and kind 00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:56.900 when he says, 00:36:57.199 --> 00:36:58.900 James just seems to have 00:36:58.900 --> 00:36:59.779 this peace about him 00:36:59.780 --> 00:37:00.480 and I'll tell you this 00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:01.720 and this is just a little 00:37:01.720 --> 00:37:03.140 opening of the window, 00:37:03.560 --> 00:37:04.700 I rarely feel peace. 00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:06.620 I rarely feel peaceful. 00:37:07.480 --> 00:37:08.340 When I was training 00:37:08.340 --> 00:37:09.140 as a school teacher, 00:37:09.560 --> 00:37:10.680 the analogy that was given 00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:11.100 to me was, 00:37:11.180 --> 00:37:12.140 you've got to be like a swan 00:37:12.140 --> 00:37:13.500 where on the top 00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:14.400 you're just floating 00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:15.660 and regal 00:37:15.660 --> 00:37:16.880 but under the water 00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:17.680 you're just flapping. 00:37:20.440 --> 00:37:21.240 So maybe you need 00:37:21.240 --> 00:37:21.940 to hear it from me, 00:37:22.019 --> 00:37:22.160 hey, 00:37:22.680 --> 00:37:23.540 it's okay that you're 00:37:23.540 --> 00:37:23.980 not perfect. 00:37:24.160 --> 00:37:25.440 Sanctification is a progress. 00:37:25.600 --> 00:37:26.260 We are a work 00:37:26.260 --> 00:37:27.240 in progress 00:37:27.239 --> 00:37:28.739 but God is good 00:37:28.739 --> 00:37:30.319 and he can take 00:37:30.319 --> 00:37:31.059 what you're flapping 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:31.679 underneath 00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:33.479 and still bless others 00:37:33.479 --> 00:37:35.419 on the outside. 00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:37.559 Can you be 00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:38.419 that person 00:37:38.419 --> 00:37:39.179 in your workplace 00:37:39.179 --> 00:37:39.639 and I'm going to 00:37:39.639 --> 00:37:40.279 here to challenge you 00:37:40.279 --> 00:37:40.759 because some of you 00:37:40.759 --> 00:37:41.219 are working 00:37:41.219 --> 00:37:42.359 in really tough environments 00:37:42.359 --> 00:37:43.559 with really tough colleagues 00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:44.759 with really annoying bosses. 00:37:47.259 --> 00:37:47.919 Can you, 00:37:48.699 --> 00:37:49.479 because of Christ, 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:51.539 live in a different way? 00:37:51.539 --> 00:37:53.380 So when others 00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:53.739 look at you 00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:53.920 and you go, 00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:54.199 oh, 00:37:56.219 --> 00:37:57.079 Jay has a really 00:37:57.079 --> 00:37:57.779 annoying boss 00:37:57.779 --> 00:38:00.239 but my goodness, 00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:01.759 Jay just treats her 00:38:01.759 --> 00:38:03.539 in such a supernaturally 00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:04.259 different way. 00:38:05.300 --> 00:38:05.699 Why? 00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:07.059 Because he trusts in God 00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:08.519 because he knows 00:38:08.519 --> 00:38:09.219 that someone else 00:38:09.219 --> 00:38:10.219 is in control, 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:11.119 not his boss. 00:38:12.980 --> 00:38:13.719 And live quietly 00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:14.279 and you might ask, 00:38:14.360 --> 00:38:15.360 what does living quietly mean? 00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:15.800 I don't know 00:38:15.800 --> 00:38:16.759 what living quietly means. 00:38:17.279 --> 00:38:18.039 I think for those of us 00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:19.340 who live on social media, 00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:20.239 living quietly 00:38:20.239 --> 00:38:21.699 is kind of 00:38:21.699 --> 00:38:22.719 counterintuitive 00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:23.519 to what social media 00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:24.000 is about 00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:25.239 because social media 00:38:25.239 --> 00:38:25.859 is kind of like 00:38:25.859 --> 00:38:26.699 living as loud 00:38:26.699 --> 00:38:27.439 as you possibly can 00:38:27.439 --> 00:38:28.099 to show everyone 00:38:28.099 --> 00:38:29.119 the latte that you're drinking, 00:38:29.439 --> 00:38:30.399 the party that you're going to, 00:38:30.459 --> 00:38:31.359 the holiday you're going to. 00:38:31.779 --> 00:38:32.699 But how can you live 00:38:32.699 --> 00:38:33.199 in a way 00:38:33.199 --> 00:38:35.259 where people don't know 00:38:35.259 --> 00:38:36.039 what you're up to? 00:38:38.179 --> 00:38:39.000 That you may be 00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:39.839 the most successful 00:38:39.839 --> 00:38:40.779 in your field 00:38:40.779 --> 00:38:43.219 but on a Sunday morning 00:38:43.219 --> 00:38:44.559 they know that you're 00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:45.299 ushering at church, 00:38:45.699 --> 00:38:46.639 doing something 00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:47.519 completely quiet, 00:38:48.399 --> 00:38:49.259 filled with humility, 00:38:49.260 --> 00:38:51.360 filled with integrity. 00:38:53.280 --> 00:38:54.100 Maybe we look at 00:38:54.100 --> 00:38:55.120 the way we even manage 00:38:55.120 --> 00:38:56.240 our social media accounts, 00:38:56.440 --> 00:38:57.160 who we're following. 00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:00.420 Scripture says, 00:39:00.560 --> 00:39:01.440 live a quiet life 00:39:01.440 --> 00:39:03.420 because actually 00:39:03.420 --> 00:39:04.360 if God is for you, 00:39:04.780 --> 00:39:05.500 he will be the one 00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:06.200 that promotes you. 00:39:07.240 --> 00:39:08.240 My mom used to tell me this, 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:08.480 she said, 00:39:08.720 --> 00:39:08.980 I think, 00:39:09.200 --> 00:39:10.420 correct me if my Chinese is wrong, 00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:14.180 I think it just means 00:39:14.180 --> 00:39:15.040 that actually flowers, 00:39:15.140 --> 00:39:15.920 if they are just, 00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:16.880 they smell nice, 00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:17.700 they would just naturally 00:39:17.700 --> 00:39:19.680 just exude this aroma. 00:39:20.380 --> 00:39:21.019 You don't need to 00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:21.840 promote it out. 00:39:22.300 --> 00:39:22.820 You don't need to 00:39:22.820 --> 00:39:23.660 shout about it 00:39:23.660 --> 00:39:24.519 all the time. 00:39:24.619 --> 00:39:25.539 Live a quiet, 00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:26.400 humble, 00:39:27.039 --> 00:39:27.980 hardworking life 00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:29.980 and people will notice 00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:32.119 that you are different. 00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:34.039 Can we be people 00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:35.480 who are heavenly minded 00:39:35.480 --> 00:39:36.619 but also earthly good? 00:39:36.619 --> 00:39:39.960 What he's not saying here is, 00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:40.139 hey, 00:39:40.199 --> 00:39:41.400 when you follow Jesus, 00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:43.759 move out into the desert 00:39:43.759 --> 00:39:45.960 and just live a life 00:39:45.960 --> 00:39:47.279 of recluse on your own 00:39:47.279 --> 00:39:48.940 because people are annoying, 00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:50.019 the world is on fire, 00:39:50.420 --> 00:39:52.239 so stay in your little gathering 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:53.880 with your warm fuzzies 00:39:53.880 --> 00:39:54.639 and your karaoke 00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:55.639 and your TED talk 00:39:55.639 --> 00:39:57.159 and just feel better 00:39:57.159 --> 00:39:57.920 about yourself. 00:39:58.699 --> 00:39:59.359 He's saying, 00:39:59.480 --> 00:40:00.679 you have to be in this world 00:40:00.679 --> 00:40:01.699 but not of this world. 00:40:01.859 --> 00:40:02.139 Even, 00:40:02.299 --> 00:40:03.099 there was a group of people 00:40:03.099 --> 00:40:04.000 called the Desert Fathers 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:05.420 who were so disillusioned 00:40:05.420 --> 00:40:06.159 and so disappointed 00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:07.360 with the way the world 00:40:07.360 --> 00:40:07.780 and with the way 00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:08.360 the church would go. 00:40:08.500 --> 00:40:09.440 They moved out 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:10.139 into the desert 00:40:10.139 --> 00:40:11.300 and they're like, 00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:12.119 we don't want anything 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:12.780 to do with this 00:40:12.780 --> 00:40:14.119 but even then, 00:40:14.760 --> 00:40:15.659 they would spend time 00:40:15.659 --> 00:40:16.460 praying for the world. 00:40:17.739 --> 00:40:19.239 We cannot be heavenly minded 00:40:19.239 --> 00:40:20.199 but not earthly good. 00:40:20.860 --> 00:40:22.079 We have to live in a way 00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:23.300 where our eyes are on heaven 00:40:23.300 --> 00:40:24.179 but we are, 00:40:24.300 --> 00:40:26.679 we are the best event planner, 00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:28.460 we are the best actor, 00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:29.780 we are the best financer, 00:40:29.820 --> 00:40:30.820 we are the best teachers. 00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:33.760 I think that's Paul's vision. 00:40:34.460 --> 00:40:38.119 That he sees a group of people 00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:39.300 standing up who are different, 00:40:40.539 --> 00:40:41.880 who are the best at what they do 00:40:41.880 --> 00:40:43.199 but live quietly, 00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:44.719 live with integrity, 00:40:45.559 --> 00:40:46.280 live with purity, 00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:48.400 live with holiness. 00:40:49.179 --> 00:40:49.559 And you, 00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:50.860 this is my final thing, 00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:51.420 you might go, 00:40:51.500 --> 00:40:52.099 well that's impossible. 00:40:53.699 --> 00:40:54.460 That's too hard. 00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:57.500 And this is my final message to you. 00:40:58.760 --> 00:40:59.719 It's not about you. 00:41:01.559 --> 00:41:02.440 Jesus is the one 00:41:02.440 --> 00:41:02.980 that's going to do it. 00:41:02.980 --> 00:41:04.400 You think Ken saved himself? 00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:08.900 You think Joyce 00:41:08.900 --> 00:41:11.340 decided to save herself? 00:41:11.460 --> 00:41:13.139 The whole message of Christianity 00:41:13.139 --> 00:41:15.820 is that we can save ourselves. 00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:19.400 That we can't become the people 00:41:19.400 --> 00:41:20.159 we want to become. 00:41:20.300 --> 00:41:22.039 That's why God needed to intervene 00:41:22.039 --> 00:41:23.480 and send his son down 00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:24.460 to save us. 00:41:24.460 --> 00:41:28.579 the whole message of Christianity 00:41:28.579 --> 00:41:30.539 is let go and let God. 00:41:32.059 --> 00:41:33.920 Even that process of sanctification, 00:41:35.019 --> 00:41:35.679 Jesus will do. 00:41:36.260 --> 00:41:37.519 Philippians 1, 6 says this, 00:41:37.579 --> 00:41:38.800 and he will bring to completion 00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:39.880 the work that he started. 00:41:40.119 --> 00:41:41.059 Hebrews 12 says this, 00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:42.199 Jesus is the author 00:41:42.199 --> 00:41:44.039 and perfecter of your faith, 00:41:44.240 --> 00:41:44.900 not you. 00:41:46.500 --> 00:41:47.519 Would you let him? 00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:51.420 Because one thing is true 00:41:51.420 --> 00:41:51.960 in John 2, 00:41:52.019 --> 00:41:52.440 it says this, 00:41:52.500 --> 00:41:53.980 Jesus knows the heart of man. 00:41:54.119 --> 00:41:55.980 Jesus knows your heart. 00:41:56.280 --> 00:41:57.219 He knows the challenges 00:41:57.219 --> 00:41:57.940 that you're going through. 00:41:58.159 --> 00:41:59.940 He knows how wicked you are. 00:42:00.199 --> 00:42:02.019 He knows how twisted you are 00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:03.360 in all the things. 00:42:04.019 --> 00:42:04.900 But thank God, 00:42:05.239 --> 00:42:05.900 thank God, 00:42:06.079 --> 00:42:07.440 that even though he knows 00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:07.980 all of that, 00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:08.659 Romans 7, 00:42:09.420 --> 00:42:10.239 that what we should do, 00:42:10.300 --> 00:42:10.719 we don't do, 00:42:10.739 --> 00:42:11.380 and what we don't do, 00:42:11.420 --> 00:42:11.860 we do do, 00:42:12.159 --> 00:42:13.400 what wretched people we are. 00:42:14.260 --> 00:42:15.079 But thank goodness 00:42:15.079 --> 00:42:16.380 that even though he sees 00:42:16.380 --> 00:42:17.519 how we've twisted everything, 00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:19.039 he then takes to the cross 00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:20.740 to straighten it all out. 00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:22.360 That he takes on 00:42:22.360 --> 00:42:24.039 all of the judgment for us. 00:42:25.880 --> 00:42:26.840 And through that, 00:42:27.380 --> 00:42:28.260 we are now made right. 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.639 We have now been 00:42:29.639 --> 00:42:30.260 straightened out. 00:42:30.900 --> 00:42:31.960 So if you're sat here going, 00:42:32.059 --> 00:42:32.680 I don't even know 00:42:32.680 --> 00:42:33.260 where to start, 00:42:33.260 --> 00:42:34.039 well then just start 00:42:34.039 --> 00:42:36.320 with your hands wide open. 00:42:38.460 --> 00:42:39.940 And say what the word 00:42:39.940 --> 00:42:41.200 in Galatians 2 says, 00:42:41.280 --> 00:42:42.320 it is no longer I 00:42:42.320 --> 00:42:43.460 who live, 00:42:44.660 --> 00:42:45.340 but Christ 00:42:45.340 --> 00:42:46.660 who lives 00:42:46.660 --> 00:42:47.780 in me. 00:42:48.760 --> 00:42:49.320 Let's pray. 00:42:57.640 --> 00:42:58.280 We're going to move 00:42:58.280 --> 00:42:59.539 into a time of communion now. 00:42:59.600 --> 00:43:00.100 So as we 00:43:00.100 --> 00:43:01.140 close our eyes 00:43:01.140 --> 00:43:01.380 and 00:43:01.380 --> 00:43:04.340 just respond to the word 00:43:04.340 --> 00:43:05.440 in our hearts, 00:43:07.559 --> 00:43:08.320 can we ask, 00:43:08.840 --> 00:43:09.820 can we together 00:43:09.820 --> 00:43:10.800 as a family ask God, 00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:11.300 what is there 00:43:11.300 --> 00:43:12.059 that has been good 00:43:12.059 --> 00:43:12.719 that we've twisted? 00:43:15.320 --> 00:43:16.519 What is the wickedness 00:43:16.519 --> 00:43:17.299 inside us? 00:43:19.460 --> 00:43:20.440 How have we 00:43:20.440 --> 00:43:21.659 ended up looking 00:43:21.659 --> 00:43:22.420 exactly like 00:43:22.420 --> 00:43:23.219 the world outside? 00:43:29.460 --> 00:43:30.619 As I invite the stewards 00:43:30.619 --> 00:43:32.199 to help distribute 00:43:32.199 --> 00:43:32.820 the elements, 00:43:33.619 --> 00:43:34.119 let's just spend 00:43:34.119 --> 00:43:34.659 a few moments 00:43:34.659 --> 00:43:35.579 just to reflect on that. 00:43:35.579 --> 00:43:45.599 Lord Jesus, 00:43:45.759 --> 00:43:46.159 as we 00:43:46.159 --> 00:43:48.079 hear your word, 00:43:49.559 --> 00:43:50.319 that you call us 00:43:50.319 --> 00:43:51.039 to live lives 00:43:51.039 --> 00:43:52.299 of purity, 00:43:54.039 --> 00:43:58.259 restore to us 00:43:58.259 --> 00:43:59.159 a higher view 00:43:59.159 --> 00:44:00.460 of what sexuality is, 00:44:01.519 --> 00:44:02.380 a higher view 00:44:02.380 --> 00:44:03.179 of who you are. 00:44:03.179 --> 00:44:06.419 as you call us 00:44:06.419 --> 00:44:06.859 to live 00:44:06.859 --> 00:44:07.679 quiet lives, 00:44:09.739 --> 00:44:10.460 diligent lives, 00:44:11.460 --> 00:44:15.139 lives with integrity, 00:44:16.419 --> 00:44:16.960 humility. 00:44:16.960 --> 00:44:24.559 We sit here this morning 00:44:24.559 --> 00:44:25.339 and this afternoon 00:44:25.339 --> 00:44:25.699 and we 00:44:25.699 --> 00:44:27.440 confess 00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:29.579 that we fall short. 00:44:32.900 --> 00:44:34.119 That we have twisted 00:44:34.119 --> 00:44:37.700 what you intended 00:44:37.700 --> 00:44:39.159 sex to be. 00:44:43.380 --> 00:44:44.500 We have twisted 00:44:44.500 --> 00:44:46.300 what you intended 00:44:46.300 --> 00:44:47.300 community to be. 00:44:47.300 --> 00:44:51.039 we have twisted 00:44:51.039 --> 00:44:52.320 what you intended 00:44:52.320 --> 00:44:53.039 work to be. 00:45:01.620 --> 00:45:02.420 And the truth is 00:45:02.420 --> 00:45:03.260 we've gotten to a point 00:45:03.260 --> 00:45:04.060 where we can't 00:45:04.060 --> 00:45:04.980 untwist ourselves. 00:45:04.980 --> 00:45:14.260 So if the Lord 00:45:14.260 --> 00:45:15.019 is revealing 00:45:15.019 --> 00:45:15.380 to you 00:45:15.380 --> 00:45:15.659 anything 00:45:15.659 --> 00:45:16.219 that you 00:45:16.219 --> 00:45:17.400 have twisted, 00:45:18.820 --> 00:45:23.199 would you bring 00:45:23.199 --> 00:45:23.900 that to him now? 00:45:24.420 --> 00:45:24.820 And would you 00:45:24.820 --> 00:45:25.480 surrender it 00:45:25.480 --> 00:45:25.800 to him? 00:45:31.980 --> 00:45:32.460 Actually, 00:45:32.579 --> 00:45:33.820 with all eyes 00:45:33.820 --> 00:45:35.200 closed and heads bowed, 00:45:35.840 --> 00:45:37.700 if you know 00:45:37.700 --> 00:45:38.220 there is something 00:45:38.220 --> 00:45:38.760 that's twisted 00:45:38.760 --> 00:45:39.660 in your own heart 00:45:39.660 --> 00:45:40.640 and in your own life 00:45:40.640 --> 00:45:42.120 and you would like 00:45:42.120 --> 00:45:42.940 to just confess it, 00:45:43.940 --> 00:45:44.840 would you join me 00:45:44.840 --> 00:45:45.620 in just raising your hand 00:45:45.620 --> 00:45:46.260 if that's one of you, 00:45:46.559 --> 00:45:47.400 if that's you, 00:45:47.780 --> 00:45:48.720 if you're one of those people 00:45:48.720 --> 00:45:49.160 that have 00:45:49.160 --> 00:45:51.100 twisted something 00:45:51.100 --> 00:45:52.300 that isn't 00:45:52.300 --> 00:45:55.960 what God intended, 00:45:56.120 --> 00:45:56.580 would you raise 00:45:56.580 --> 00:45:57.200 your hand with me 00:45:57.200 --> 00:45:57.620 and just, 00:45:57.920 --> 00:45:58.660 just as a sign 00:45:58.660 --> 00:46:00.740 of confession. 00:46:00.739 --> 00:46:00.799 confession. 00:46:11.119 --> 00:46:11.879 And this is not 00:46:11.879 --> 00:46:12.479 to embarrass 00:46:12.479 --> 00:46:13.079 one another 00:46:13.079 --> 00:46:13.579 in any way, 00:46:13.679 --> 00:46:14.500 this is simply just 00:46:14.500 --> 00:46:17.099 there is freedom 00:46:17.099 --> 00:46:18.759 in repentance, 00:46:19.299 --> 00:46:20.439 there is kindness 00:46:20.439 --> 00:46:21.259 in repentance. 00:46:26.919 --> 00:46:27.719 It's just a way 00:46:27.719 --> 00:46:28.199 of saying, 00:46:28.199 --> 00:46:30.079 Lord, 00:46:30.099 --> 00:46:30.639 would you help 00:46:30.639 --> 00:46:32.859 me untangle 00:46:32.859 --> 00:46:37.779 and untwist 00:46:37.779 --> 00:46:46.859 and we sit here, 00:46:46.939 --> 00:46:47.419 we stand here 00:46:47.419 --> 00:46:48.019 as a community 00:46:48.019 --> 00:46:49.039 of broken people, 00:46:49.139 --> 00:46:49.679 wicked people 00:46:49.679 --> 00:46:51.519 who couldn't 00:46:51.519 --> 00:46:52.179 save ourselves, 00:46:52.179 --> 00:46:55.199 but around this table, 00:46:55.719 --> 00:46:58.359 we take the bread, 00:46:59.319 --> 00:47:02.679 we take the bread 00:47:02.679 --> 00:47:03.719 as a symbol 00:47:03.719 --> 00:47:04.819 of your body, 00:47:04.940 --> 00:47:05.099 Lord, 00:47:06.059 --> 00:47:09.159 broken for us. 00:47:12.919 --> 00:47:13.759 You paid 00:47:13.759 --> 00:47:18.199 the wages of sin. 00:47:18.199 --> 00:47:19.659 you allowed 00:47:19.659 --> 00:47:20.059 your body 00:47:20.059 --> 00:47:20.679 to be broken, 00:47:22.759 --> 00:47:23.679 nailed to the cross, 00:47:24.639 --> 00:47:25.239 straightened out 00:47:25.239 --> 00:47:25.679 for us. 00:47:33.079 --> 00:47:33.899 And so we take 00:47:33.899 --> 00:47:34.519 this body now 00:47:34.519 --> 00:47:35.359 in remembrance 00:47:35.359 --> 00:47:35.759 of you. 00:47:35.760 --> 00:47:47.480 and then around 00:47:47.480 --> 00:47:47.880 the table, 00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:48.720 you took this cup 00:47:48.720 --> 00:47:51.600 and you raised it 00:47:51.600 --> 00:47:52.140 and you said, 00:47:53.080 --> 00:47:55.700 this cup is a symbol 00:47:55.700 --> 00:47:57.540 of the new covenant, 00:47:57.539 --> 00:48:01.019 that the debt 00:48:01.019 --> 00:48:01.599 has been paid, 00:48:02.860 --> 00:48:05.019 that he straightened 00:48:05.019 --> 00:48:05.800 everything out 00:48:05.800 --> 00:48:07.519 and this new covenant 00:48:07.519 --> 00:48:08.079 with him 00:48:08.079 --> 00:48:09.500 and with each other 00:48:09.500 --> 00:48:11.840 is now available 00:48:11.840 --> 00:48:12.420 and accessible 00:48:12.420 --> 00:48:13.179 to each of us 00:48:13.179 --> 00:48:15.360 and we seek 00:48:15.360 --> 00:48:16.119 as a community 00:48:16.119 --> 00:48:17.340 together 00:48:17.340 --> 00:48:17.960 to look more 00:48:17.960 --> 00:48:18.420 like him. 00:48:20.019 --> 00:48:20.800 Let's take 00:48:20.800 --> 00:48:21.659 this cup 00:48:21.659 --> 00:48:22.159 in remembrance 00:48:22.159 --> 00:48:22.500 of him. 00:48:22.500 --> 00:48:22.500 00:48:22.500 --> 00:48:22.500 00:48:22.500 --> 00:48:22.500 00:48:22.500 --> 00:48:22.500 00:48:27.539 --> 00:48:32.880 Let me say 00:48:32.880 --> 00:48:33.500 a final prayer. 00:48:39.739 --> 00:48:40.539 So Lord Jesus, 00:48:40.639 --> 00:48:41.179 would you continue 00:48:41.179 --> 00:48:41.880 to work in us? 00:48:42.380 --> 00:48:43.579 We are not done. 00:48:44.119 --> 00:48:45.059 We know we're not done. 00:48:45.139 --> 00:48:45.699 We are a work 00:48:45.699 --> 00:48:46.239 in progress. 00:48:47.440 --> 00:48:48.259 And your will 00:48:48.259 --> 00:48:48.860 to make us 00:48:48.860 --> 00:48:49.440 more like you, 00:48:51.000 --> 00:48:54.199 we know it's slow, 00:48:54.199 --> 00:48:57.319 but we pray 00:48:57.319 --> 00:48:57.699 that it would 00:48:57.699 --> 00:48:58.339 just keep moving, 00:48:59.359 --> 00:48:59.719 that we would 00:48:59.719 --> 00:49:00.259 keep growing 00:49:00.259 --> 00:49:01.219 to be more like you, 00:49:02.559 --> 00:49:04.399 that we here 00:49:04.399 --> 00:49:05.119 in this community 00:49:05.119 --> 00:49:06.059 would be part 00:49:06.059 --> 00:49:06.739 of a mosaic 00:49:06.739 --> 00:49:08.960 that bears your image, 00:49:10.119 --> 00:49:11.179 that each one 00:49:11.179 --> 00:49:11.599 of us here 00:49:11.599 --> 00:49:12.239 plays a role 00:49:12.239 --> 00:49:13.259 as a part 00:49:13.259 --> 00:49:13.739 of your body, 00:49:15.019 --> 00:49:15.960 that points people 00:49:15.960 --> 00:49:16.339 to you. 00:49:19.899 --> 00:49:20.519 We seek 00:49:20.519 --> 00:49:21.019 to be holy, 00:49:21.559 --> 00:49:22.079 set apart, 00:49:22.859 --> 00:49:23.179 sacred, 00:49:24.199 --> 00:49:25.000 different, 00:49:26.039 --> 00:49:29.259 bearing your image, 00:49:29.399 --> 00:49:30.079 declaring your name. 00:49:31.480 --> 00:49:32.000 Show us how 00:49:32.000 --> 00:49:32.739 to love one another 00:49:32.739 --> 00:49:35.460 and then remind us 00:49:35.460 --> 00:49:36.399 to love one another. 00:49:38.839 --> 00:49:39.719 And when we forget, 00:49:39.819 --> 00:49:40.399 remind us again. 00:49:44.859 --> 00:49:45.779 Thank you for this day. 00:49:46.139 --> 00:49:47.059 Thank you for the sun 00:49:47.059 --> 00:49:48.279 that is breaking 00:49:48.279 --> 00:49:49.059 through the darkness 00:49:49.059 --> 00:49:49.599 and the cloud. 00:49:49.599 --> 00:49:54.019 allow this community 00:49:54.019 --> 00:49:54.900 here as we finish 00:49:54.900 --> 00:49:55.420 this gathering, 00:49:55.519 --> 00:49:56.319 as we scatter out 00:49:56.319 --> 00:49:59.559 to be children 00:49:59.559 --> 00:50:00.000 of light 00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:03.360 in a dark, 00:50:03.699 --> 00:50:03.980 twisted, 00:50:04.139 --> 00:50:04.679 crooked world, 00:50:05.519 --> 00:50:07.900 declaring that 00:50:07.900 --> 00:50:08.480 there is a savior. 00:50:11.920 --> 00:50:12.659 There is hope, 00:50:12.759 --> 00:50:13.179 there is joy, 00:50:13.179 --> 00:50:15.299 there is peace. 00:50:21.059 --> 00:50:21.559 Thank you, 00:50:21.599 --> 00:50:21.719 Lord. 00:50:25.419 --> 00:50:26.319 It's in your name, 00:50:26.559 --> 00:50:27.239 your precious name 00:50:27.239 --> 00:50:27.599 we pray. 00:50:29.239 --> 00:50:29.579 Amen. 00:50:33.019 --> 00:50:33.759 So this is the end 00:50:33.759 --> 00:50:34.539 of our time here. 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:34.699 00:50:34.859 --> 00:50:34.859 00:50:34.859 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