WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.139 Psalm 119 verses 57 to 64. 00:00:13.019 --> 00:00:14.740 I'll read it out loud for us. 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:17.460 The Lord is my portion. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:20.760 I promise to keep your words. 00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:24.780 I entreat your favor with all my heart. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:28.339 Be gracious to me according to your promise. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.299 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies. 00:00:34.980 --> 00:00:38.100 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. 00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:43.920 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:49.120 At midnight I rise to praise you because of your righteous rules. 00:00:49.120 --> 00:00:55.460 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. 00:00:55.460 --> 00:00:58.980 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love. 00:00:58.979 --> 00:01:01.479 Teach me your statutes. 00:01:03.479 --> 00:01:08.299 It begins with the affirmation that the Lord is my portion. 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:11.359 And portion means a share, right? 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:16.900 It's like a share of your food, a share of the land, or a share of the inheritance. 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:21.359 So in the Old Testament, it's frequently used to refer to the inheritance of the promised land 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:24.099 that God's people were entitled to. 00:01:24.099 --> 00:01:33.000 And the priestly class, however, and their tribe, the Levites, didn't get an allotment of land. 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:34.459 So they didn't have a share of the land. 00:01:35.199 --> 00:01:38.679 And instead, God told them in Numbers 18, verse 20, 00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:45.700 You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. 00:01:46.300 --> 00:01:50.820 I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel. 00:01:51.520 --> 00:01:59.080 So the Levites and the priests didn't get a land, but they had the Lord himself as their portion. 00:01:59.440 --> 00:02:00.500 He was their inheritance. 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:02.920 And this is the background of what the psalmist is saying. 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:04.820 He's saying, the Lord is my portion. 00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:06.820 It's a profound statement, right? 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:10.659 It's a, I have no share in anything else in the world. 00:02:10.939 --> 00:02:13.280 I'm not invested in any material possession. 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:15.080 The Lord is all my happiness. 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:16.620 The Lord is all my possession. 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:18.280 The Lord is my inheritance. 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:19.840 That's what he's saying. 00:02:19.920 --> 00:02:21.000 The Lord is my portion. 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:24.840 And this was the call of the Old Testament priests, 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:32.480 but also because Christ came as the ultimate high priest so that we now have direct access to God. 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:37.740 We also have the Lord himself as our portion. 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:46.319 And that's why 1 Peter 2, verse 9 says that all of God's people are a royal priesthood. 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:50.219 We have direct access to God, and he is our portion. 00:02:50.219 --> 00:02:55.960 So then I want to ask you guys, what is your share in this world? 00:02:56.340 --> 00:02:57.840 Do you have a share in this world? 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:00.219 Or can you say, the Lord is my portion? 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:03.280 Do you have a share in the wealth of this world? 00:03:03.699 --> 00:03:05.740 Or share in a sports team? 00:03:06.259 --> 00:03:10.659 Or share in a TV series, a family career? 00:03:11.159 --> 00:03:14.199 Or can you honestly say, the Lord is my portion? 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:16.560 Is he the chief end of your life? 00:03:17.020 --> 00:03:19.159 Or is God enough for you? 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:22.599 Or are you clinging to other portions, other shares? 00:03:23.419 --> 00:03:27.319 And this profound idea becomes the basis for the rest of the psalm, 00:03:27.579 --> 00:03:29.019 the rest of this section of the psalm. 00:03:29.519 --> 00:03:33.599 And the main point of this section is that those who have the Lord as their portion 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:35.780 should keep God's worth through all their life. 00:03:36.579 --> 00:03:39.379 And because the Lord is his portion, the psalmist can say, 00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:40.780 I promise to keep your words. 00:03:41.300 --> 00:03:43.620 If our portion is something else or someone else, 00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:46.439 then we can't make God the first priority of our lives 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:48.340 because there is a conflict of interests. 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:51.500 And we cannot promise to keep God's words. 00:03:51.780 --> 00:03:54.700 And so it's only when God is our portion can we promise to keep his words. 00:03:55.480 --> 00:03:56.840 And because the Lord is his portion, 00:03:56.980 --> 00:03:58.640 the psalmist promises to keep his word. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:00.939 And for the same reason, the psalmist calls upon God 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:03.879 to keep his promise to him as well in verse 58. 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:06.699 I entreat your favor with all my heart. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:09.300 Be gracious to me according to your promise. 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:14.800 He's saying, I promise to keep your words. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:18.240 And now he's asking God to be gracious to him according to his promise. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:23.079 So he doesn't go about, you know, currying favor with men. 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:28.720 Rather, he goes before the face of God to entreat his favor, his grace. 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:31.579 Asks him to be gracious according to his promise. 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:37.240 And if we know that the Lord really is, right, the sovereign Lord, 00:04:37.540 --> 00:04:41.060 if we know that he is our portion, that we are his special possession, 00:04:41.060 --> 00:04:44.839 if we know that really we belong to him and he belongs to us, 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:52.860 then we don't have to, you know, go to curry favor with other things or other people 00:04:52.860 --> 00:04:56.300 or to, you know, and depend on the whims of wicked, sickle men. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:58.819 We know that God holds all the keys. 00:04:58.939 --> 00:04:59.800 He has all the answers. 00:04:59.939 --> 00:05:01.240 He has all the authority and power. 00:05:01.860 --> 00:05:05.800 And so we can go to him and pray to him, call upon him, entreat him, 00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:07.579 ask him to be gracious to us. 00:05:07.579 --> 00:05:14.180 And this is challenging for me because we're so often entreating other people, right? 00:05:14.859 --> 00:05:21.339 We're always, you know, entreating other people for favors or recommendations or assistance. 00:05:22.339 --> 00:05:27.399 And, of course, there's a place for that in the way the Lord makes us interdependent 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:28.819 as the body of Christ, for example. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:34.579 But in terms of our primary allegiance and orientation, do we entreat God? 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:36.120 Do we go to him? 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:41.259 Do we ask for him, his favor, him to be gracious to us? 00:05:41.540 --> 00:05:46.120 Because that's our prime orientation, should be vertical before it is horizontal. 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:49.939 And so those who have the Lord as their portion should pray to him. 00:05:51.220 --> 00:05:53.480 And that's what the psalmist does. 00:05:53.620 --> 00:05:55.699 He continues in verses 59 to 60. 00:05:55.840 --> 00:05:59.480 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies. 00:05:59.879 --> 00:06:02.660 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. 00:06:03.540 --> 00:06:05.300 It's a really interesting expression. 00:06:05.300 --> 00:06:07.560 I had to think for a second to figure out what it means. 00:06:07.699 --> 00:06:10.060 When I think on my ways, what does that mean? 00:06:11.020 --> 00:06:14.100 He's saying he reflects on the ways of his life. 00:06:14.660 --> 00:06:16.540 He evaluates his priorities. 00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:18.660 He thinks about his habits. 00:06:19.580 --> 00:06:23.759 And then after he has done that, he turns his feet to God's testimonies. 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:28.560 He says, we have had really good early fall weather. 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:31.800 I mean, it's not technically fall, but today was beautiful. 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:36.920 It's like a perfect time to go out for a nice stroll and walk around. 00:06:37.379 --> 00:06:38.899 It's a little breeze, gentle breeze. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:40.360 And the sun's not too oppressive. 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:44.340 And I don't know if you've ever done this, but sometimes I just get lost in thought. 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:46.319 And then I lose. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:48.939 Like, I don't remember where I'm going. 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:49.720 I just keep walking. 00:06:50.939 --> 00:06:57.920 I think a couple times after we moved, like, I remember just walking to our old apartment. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:00.960 And just because I wasn't thinking about it. 00:07:01.580 --> 00:07:03.740 And then, so, like, that happens to us, right? 00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:07.379 And it can happen in a figurative sense, too, right? 00:07:07.420 --> 00:07:11.759 It's that if we don't think on our ways, we can lose our way. 00:07:12.220 --> 00:07:15.139 We can default to our old habits, sinful habits. 00:07:15.580 --> 00:07:16.500 We can get distracted. 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:19.780 And so we must stop to think on our ways. 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:21.980 So you're thinking about your ways. 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:26.439 And then when you think about your ways, then we can turn deliberately our feet to God's testimony 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:28.519 so we can walk on that path. 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:33.759 And then once we have the right direction, we have to hasten to obey. 00:07:34.459 --> 00:07:37.779 The psalmist says, I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:42.240 We shouldn't be slack or lazy about obeying God's commandments. 00:07:42.459 --> 00:07:44.680 We should be diligent and quick to obey. 00:07:45.980 --> 00:07:49.920 And it's because the Christian life is not an afternoon stroll. 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:52.600 It's a race we must run. 00:07:52.600 --> 00:08:01.760 And I think sometimes we as Christians can treat our life like the cool-down walk, right, after a race. 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:04.000 You guys have done that before, right? 00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:08.160 You run a hard race and then you have to cool down, you know? 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:08.560 Yeah. 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:13.060 So, I mean, if you just stop, like, you lie down, you're going to start throwing up, right? 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:14.420 So you have to kind of cool your body down. 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:15.560 You have to walk it off. 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:18.600 Sometimes I feel like as Christians, we treat life like that. 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:20.199 We act like we finished the race. 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:21.180 Oh, yeah, I'm baptized. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:23.220 Oh, yeah, I believe in the Lord. 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:24.280 So I'm done. 00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:26.959 Like, now it's just a nice stroll. 00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:27.840 Walk it off. 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:28.639 Cool off. 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:30.660 But we're not done, right? 00:08:30.840 --> 00:08:32.240 The race isn't done, right? 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:34.759 The finish line, we haven't crossed the finish line. 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:38.000 And we have to persevere to the end in order to be saved. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:44.259 And so that's, it's no time to coast, as it says in Hebrews 12, verse 1, 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:49.559 Let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:53.340 and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:59.519 There are worldly weights and clingy sins in our lives that slow us down 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:03.399 and threaten to derail us and prevent us from finishing our race. 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:07.360 So all the more when we have to set, think on our ways, set the direction, 00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:11.480 our feet toward God's ways, and hasten to obey and not to delay 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:13.139 and keep God, keeping God's commandments. 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:15.679 Like a disciplined soldier, right? 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:18.379 I mean, I don't know if, I don't know if when you went to boot camp, 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:21.480 Zach, they actually used the phrase, like, what did they say? 00:09:21.620 --> 00:09:25.139 It's a, if I say jumps, ask how high or something, right? 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:26.720 Do they actually do that? 00:09:27.299 --> 00:09:27.699 No? 00:09:27.699 --> 00:09:28.000 Yeah. 00:09:30.100 --> 00:09:32.319 So, yeah, okay. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:36.379 I mean, but that should be, you know, like, people could, you know, give us bad commands, 00:09:36.500 --> 00:09:38.440 but the Lord's commands are always good, right? 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:39.300 That should be our attitude. 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:41.080 If he commands it, hasten to obey. 00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:41.940 Let's do it. 00:09:43.220 --> 00:09:45.900 But, of course, it's easier said than done, right? 00:09:46.260 --> 00:09:47.740 It's because there's opposition. 00:09:48.520 --> 00:09:50.020 There are enemies who are hunting us. 00:09:50.040 --> 00:09:51.040 It says in verse 61, 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:54.080 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, 00:09:54.700 --> 00:09:56.060 I do not forget your law. 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:59.840 Ensnare, it's a reference to a trap like that a hunter uses. 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:01.399 It's the cords. 00:10:01.560 --> 00:10:03.700 They try to use a cord to encircle us, 00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:07.100 to try to grab a hold of our leg or trip us, whatever it may be. 00:10:07.580 --> 00:10:10.139 There are enemies of God who oppose him, 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:11.740 who will set traps for us. 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:13.399 But he says even in that, 00:10:13.560 --> 00:10:16.580 even when the evil people surround him, 00:10:17.060 --> 00:10:17.700 to trap him, 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:18.220 the psalmist says, 00:10:18.280 --> 00:10:20.080 I do not forget your law, 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:22.060 which reveals his character, right? 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.060 Because when we're in danger, 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:26.059 when people are panicking, 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:28.000 they often forget their way, right? 00:10:28.579 --> 00:10:30.059 And when we're tempted by Satan, 00:10:30.599 --> 00:10:32.179 when we're threatened by his schemes, 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:35.199 that's when we have to remember God's law most 00:10:35.199 --> 00:10:36.259 and stand by our principles. 00:10:36.819 --> 00:10:38.279 Because it's easy to keep God's law 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:41.839 when keeping God's law seems to be in our own selfish interests, right? 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:45.959 If keeping God's law leads to social acceptance and respect, 00:10:46.119 --> 00:10:47.699 then it's easy, right? 00:10:47.700 --> 00:10:50.540 But when keeping God's law actually means sacrifice, 00:10:51.140 --> 00:10:52.820 maybe when it means financial loss, 00:10:53.400 --> 00:10:54.720 when it means social ridicule, 00:10:54.800 --> 00:10:55.940 it's tempting to compromise, 00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:59.000 but we must not let the snares of temptations 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:00.600 derail us from the path of God. 00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:04.280 The psalmist is able to do that, 00:11:04.680 --> 00:11:07.840 and he kind of gives us a clue as to why he's able to do that, 00:11:08.020 --> 00:11:09.240 to remember God's law, 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:11.180 even when he's surrounded by the cords of the wicked. 00:11:11.660 --> 00:11:13.540 And it's because he has disciplined himself 00:11:13.540 --> 00:11:15.200 to remember God's law always. 00:11:15.900 --> 00:11:17.320 We can see that in verse 62. 00:11:17.320 --> 00:11:20.240 At midnight, I rise to praise you 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.200 because of your righteous rules. 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:26.480 That's something that I can't really relate to 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:29.360 because I can't stay up at night. 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:32.480 But maybe he was the type of guy 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.080 who just kind of wakes up in the middle of the night 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:35.740 and then decided to use that time every day 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:37.980 to think about God and praise him and whatnot. 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:40.480 So it doesn't have to be at midnight, 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:44.680 but do you have a regular time and place 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:45.839 to praise him, 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:47.500 to read his word, 00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:48.379 to pray. 00:11:49.479 --> 00:11:52.459 He rises to praise God at midnight 00:11:52.459 --> 00:11:54.000 because of God's righteous rules. 00:11:54.579 --> 00:11:56.879 He's developed a habit. 00:11:57.399 --> 00:12:01.000 He's trained his mind to remember God's word 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:03.279 and to focus on the race before him. 00:12:03.860 --> 00:12:05.639 And so that guides him when he's, 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:09.279 even when he's surrounded by the schemes of the enemy, 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:10.799 he's able to remember God's law. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:13.759 And so those who have the Lord as their portion 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.299 should keep God's worth through all of life. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:18.580 And we can't do that by being slack 00:12:18.580 --> 00:12:19.960 and running sloppily. 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:21.460 We have to discipline ourselves. 00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:26.000 And this is something we can't do on our own. 00:12:27.040 --> 00:12:28.379 And it says in verse 63, 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:31.860 I am a companion of all who fear you, 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:33.860 of those who keep your precepts. 00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:35.759 And we know this from our experience. 00:12:35.900 --> 00:12:36.680 We need each other. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:39.700 God's people need each other, right? 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:42.000 And we need the mutual encouragement. 00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:44.600 We need one another's gifts. 00:12:45.280 --> 00:12:48.000 We need mutual correction and rebuke. 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:50.040 We need one another's example. 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:53.319 We have to run side by side 00:12:53.319 --> 00:12:55.659 so that we can push each other's pace, 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:58.699 so that we can exhort one another 00:12:58.699 --> 00:13:00.519 to keep on running, to endure. 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:04.339 And so that's what it means to keep company 00:13:04.339 --> 00:13:06.039 with those who fear God and keep his precepts. 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:10.339 This is why the local church and membership is important. 00:13:11.059 --> 00:13:12.879 We can't run the race alone, right? 00:13:13.219 --> 00:13:16.039 And Satan's tactic, kind of like the predators 00:13:16.719 --> 00:13:19.319 that hunt prey in wildlife, 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:21.800 is to divide and conquer, right? 00:13:22.140 --> 00:13:25.379 And an isolated believer is a vulnerable believer. 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:30.900 And contrary to what some people, 00:13:31.280 --> 00:13:32.480 some believers even think, 00:13:33.800 --> 00:13:35.960 sign of maturity is not independence. 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:37.580 It's interdependence. 00:13:38.280 --> 00:13:40.320 And that's the sign of maturity, 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:42.400 when a Christian is truly interdependent 00:13:42.400 --> 00:13:43.220 with the body of Christ 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:46.100 and they're growing in that community, 00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:47.040 in that context. 00:13:47.920 --> 00:13:49.779 And so how are you involved? 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:51.899 Do you have such companions 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:55.220 who keep God's precepts, 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:57.980 who are running with you, 00:13:58.660 --> 00:14:01.120 who are pushing your pace? 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:04.600 Are you in discipling relationships with people? 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:07.560 And that doesn't have to be like a hierarchical thing. 00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:10.279 You could just meet with someone to pray, 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:10.959 to read the Bible, 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:12.179 or from the church, 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.559 or are you involved in a community group? 00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:16.419 You should initiate these things 00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:18.819 and follow up. 00:14:19.839 --> 00:14:21.719 And then lastly, 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.099 it says, 00:14:22.619 --> 00:14:24.919 not only do we remind each other 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:25.559 of God's precepts, 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:26.239 precepts, 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:28.319 even the world that God has created 00:14:28.319 --> 00:14:30.679 can remind us of his steadfast love. 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:31.699 It says in verse 64, 00:14:31.839 --> 00:14:32.639 the earth, the Lord, 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:34.699 is full of your steadfast love. 00:14:35.299 --> 00:14:36.799 It shows how God sustains. 00:14:37.939 --> 00:14:40.959 It reveals the God who sustains the world, 00:14:41.119 --> 00:14:43.799 who provides for his creatures. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:46.679 He's the one that makes the world go round. 00:14:47.199 --> 00:14:49.019 And all of this attests to God's 00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:51.079 unchanging, steadfast love for us. 00:14:51.439 --> 00:14:53.079 And that makes us cry all the more to God, 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.059 teach me your statutes. 00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:56.559 And we as Christians, 00:14:57.039 --> 00:15:00.459 especially have stronger evidence 00:15:00.459 --> 00:15:02.500 than even what the psalmist is talking about, 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:03.959 about God's steadfast love, 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:06.399 and even sure a sign that the Lord is our portion. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:08.979 And that's the gift of God's Son, 00:15:09.219 --> 00:15:09.839 Jesus Christ. 00:15:10.479 --> 00:15:11.439 And through faith in him, 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.959 the gift of his Spirit, 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:14.439 who indwells us, 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:17.199 who is described right in Ephesians 1, 00:15:17.239 --> 00:15:18.019 13 to 14, 00:15:18.119 --> 00:15:18.279 it says, 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.659 in Christ you also, 00:15:20.339 --> 00:15:22.000 when you heard the word of truth, 00:15:22.079 --> 00:15:23.239 the gospel of your salvation, 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:24.799 and believed in him, 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:27.879 you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:30.500 who is the guarantee of our inheritance, 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:33.460 until we acquire possession of it, 00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:35.120 to the praise of his glory. 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:38.480 So Jesus dies for our sins, 00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:40.159 rises to life again, 00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:41.500 saves us, 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:42.919 and through faith in him, 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:44.599 we are indwelled by the Spirit of God. 00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:46.699 And that Spirit is the guarantee 00:15:46.699 --> 00:15:49.259 that we have God as our possession, 00:15:49.719 --> 00:15:51.519 that we are possessed by the Spirit of God, 00:15:51.579 --> 00:15:53.519 that we have the Lord as our portion. 00:15:54.199 --> 00:15:55.319 And so all the more, 00:15:55.579 --> 00:15:57.479 as people who have the Lord as our portion, 00:15:57.599 --> 00:16:00.139 we should seek to keep God's word 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:00.839 through all of life.