WEBVTT

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 Father, we ask that you would gently but deeply pour out your Holy Spirit upon us at this time.

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 Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us.

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 Father, not so we can have some mystical experience or so all of a sudden we'll have a different emotion.

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 Father, we ask that you would pour out your Holy Spirit upon us so that as we read your word and think about your word,

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 that your Holy Spirit would bring your word to the very center of who we are.

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 That your Holy Spirit would write your word on the command center of our lives, the hearts of our lives,

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 so that in our daily lives we will bear much fruit with great endurance that brings you great glory.

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 And this we ask in Jesus' name, your Son and our Savior. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 Amen.

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 So, for some of you, probably not for most of you, but for some of you, what I'm about to say might strike you all as a little bit weird

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 and maybe make it too weird for you to want to listen to anything else that I have to say.

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 But I believe the devil is real.

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 I believe there really is a devil.

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 And I believe there really are demons.

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 And I not only believe that there is a devil and that there are demons,

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 but I believe that demons have interactions with human beings and human institutions,

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 that demons affect how we live our lives and how even nations live their lives.

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 I believe that human beings can be possessed by a demon,

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 although I think that's probably fairly rare.

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 But I believe that demons can oppress and they, well, once again, they can influence us.

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 In fact, I think every single human being, to some small extent at least,

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 has experienced the demonic demons in their lives.

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 Because I think three of the things that demons do in particular is they speak to us,

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 maybe just by thoughts or impressions.

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 And they focus on accusation, on slander, and on blasphemy.

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 And I know blasphemy is a very, very old-fashioned word,

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 which is very, very easily and very, very commonly mocked.

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 But accusation really just means that when we have seasons in our lives,

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 and maybe some of you are in this season right now,

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 where it seems as if there's thoughts in your head that are just accusing you of things.

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 You're too angry.

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 You're no good.

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 You're too ugly.

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 You're too proud.

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 You're too much of a failure.

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 You're doomed.

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 That's not only accusation.

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 In many cases, it's slander.

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 In some cases, it might not be slander.

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 Maybe you really do have some anger issues that you have to deal with.

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 But the accusatory spirit isn't something that leads you to actually want to try to deal with it

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 or seek repentance.

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 But it's something that as you go through your day,

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 even though you might be standing nice and straight and be very upright,

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 but inside, as you know, it's this message of you're a failure,

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 you're ugly, you're too old, you're too young, you're too poor,

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 nobody notices you, and as you go through your day,

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 increasingly, even if your body is straight,

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 your spirit, your mind, your heart is increasingly bent over and weakened.

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 And blasphemy is just really another way of saying false things about it.

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 That's just describing saying false things against God.

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 And for those of us who are followers of Jesus,

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 that not only does the slander and the accusation come within us,

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 but at the same time, there's this sense that God can't do anything about it.

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 That it might be all right for God to pour out his Holy Spirit

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 or to speak to other people and do mighty things through them,

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 but that's not your fate.

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 Your fate is to be doomed.

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 Your fate is to be bereft.

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 Your fate is to be completely and utterly unhappy

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 and unsuccessful and unnoticed and diminished.

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 And I think some of you might think,

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 George, you're really overdoing it,

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 but I think there's many people here who say,

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 how did he know that that's what my week's been like?

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 And how did he know that that's what it was like

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 for me as I came into this church and even now?

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 And so I think many of us know what it's like

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 to have intercourse, so to speak,

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 with demons and devils and evil spirits.

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 And because the devil doesn't want us to know the truth about ourselves

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 and he doesn't want us to know the truth about God,

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 it's often even harder when we want to do something connected to God.

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 It's often even harder when we come to church.

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 In fact, many people, when they say,

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 you know, when I stopped going to church,

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 I felt so much better.

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 Well, that's not because you are better.

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 It's just because you've listened to blasphemy

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 about who God is and how he sees you

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 and what he can do for you

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 and what he's doing within you.

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 So this text that we're going to look at today,

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 and if you don't have a Bible with you,

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 we're going to look at the Bible.

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 It's 2 Corinthians 6, verse 3.

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 It'd be a great help to you and to me

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 if you were to open your Bibles

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 or fire up your Bibles if you're using phones.

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 And the devil will say when you fire up your Bible,

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 I'm just going to check my Facebook update really quickly

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 or see what's on Twitter.

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 It's the devil speaking.

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 It's not God.

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 If you fire up your phone,

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 that's one of the nice things about having this.

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 It's actually impossible to be tempted to check Facebook

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 when you're using this ancient technology called paper.

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 And by the way, in my daily devotions,

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 I use my phone.

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 So I'm not dissing electronics.

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 There's extra Bibles here

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 if you don't have a Bible of your own

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 or if you know that you're too tempted

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 to check Facebook or Twitter,

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 and then that might help you

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 actually listen to God's Word better.

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 So the text today

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 is a very, very good help to us

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 in just thinking about this.

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 How is it that God sees followers of Jesus?

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 How is it that God sees the world?

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 And so the text begins like this.

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 And by the way,

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 usually I don't say this,

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 and usually the translations are very good,

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 but there's a bit of a mistake in the translation

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 or an unhelpful bit in the early part of this translation

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 that I'm going to point out.

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 It's very rare.

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 One of the reasons I use the ESV,

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 because it's very rare,

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 but there actually is a...

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 they've put the colon in the wrong place

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 in the translation,

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 at least according to the learned commentaries

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 that I have read,

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 not because George is a great Greek scholar.

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 I stand on the shoulders of people

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 who are vastly smarter and more learned than I am.

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 So chapter 6, verse 3,

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 2 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 3,

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 we put no obstacle in anyone's way

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 so that no fault may be found with our ministry.

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 And if, you know, this is part of a book,

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 and he's talking about this new covenant ministry,

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 it's where you tell people about what Jesus has done

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 and how God loves us

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 and sent his son to die on the cross for us

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 and how it's for people

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 and how God has done everything that's required

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 to make human beings right with himself.

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 We add absolutely nothing to it.

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 Human beings want to add something to it.

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 Human beings want to feel worthy,

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 but the message, this ministry is

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 that we don't do anything

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 to make ourselves more worthy to God.

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 We don't do anything to make ourselves less worthy to God.

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 We've already had lots of sin.

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 We contribute nothing.

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 God does everything.

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 It's through Jesus

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 that God reconciles the world to himself.

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 And those who have been reconciled to God,

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 God actually makes his appeal to Ottawa,

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 to Angola, to Zambia,

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 to Hong Kong,

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 to the bee people,

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 to Afghanistan,

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 to Kazakhstan.

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 God makes his appeal

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 to the gay community,

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 the transgendered community,

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 the Rockcliffe community,

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 the university.

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 God makes his appeal

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 through ordinary people like you and me

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 who have been reconciled to God

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 by what Jesus has done on the cross.

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 And that's what he's talking about.

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 That appeal

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 that actually,

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 I know it sounds like God's made a huge mistake

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 using people like us,

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 but that's his plan,

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 not our plan.

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 That's what it says just before this.

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 And so just to go back,

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 verse 3 again,

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 we put no obstacle in anyone's way

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 so that no fault may be found with our ministry,

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 but as servants of God,

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 we commend ourselves in every way.

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 And what that's really meaning here is

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 we're commending ourselves

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 as servants of God.

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 It's as servants of God

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 that we commend ourselves.

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 The emphasis is on what God is doing

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 and what God has called us to.

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 And then here's the mistake.

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 It has the colon after way

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 in the English Standard Version,

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 but it should actually be after

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 by great endurance.

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 In fact, Andrew,

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 do you want to put the first point up?

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 Or when you get back,

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 you can put the first point up.

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 And could you add to that point

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 when you put it up,

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 greatly endure?

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 Eventually.

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 As servants of God,

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 we greatly endure.

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 And that's really how it begins.

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 As servants of God,

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 we greatly endure.

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 And then it's going to look

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 at these terrible things that happen.

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 It's going to look at different things

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 that are part of endurance.

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 It's going to look at the way

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 the world understands us

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 compared to reality.

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 And the emphasis is that

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 as servants of God,

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 we greatly endure

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 in all of these things.

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 The colon's in the wrong place.

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 But now that you sort of just look

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 to all of these things

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 that befall us.

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 Verse 4.

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 In afflictions,

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 in hardships,

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 in calamities,

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 in beatings,

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 in imprisonments,

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 in riots,

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 in labors,

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 and actually in the original language,

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 the word in is before

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 each of these words.

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 And for English style reasons,

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 they've taken it out.

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 But it's,

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 in the original language,

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 it is in afflictions,

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 in hardships,

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 in calamities,

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 in beatings,

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 in imprisonments,

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 in riots,

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 in labors.

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 Another way to understand that

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 is struggles,

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 in sleepless nights,

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 in hunger.

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 Now just sort of pause

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 before we go anywhere further.

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 If we're really dealing

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 with great affliction in our life,

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 if we are going through

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 a very, very hard time,

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 maybe we are going through

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 a great time of hardship

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 as we're trying to deal

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 with our studies.

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 You're worried that you're

00:11:06.040 --> 00:11:06.660
 in engineering

00:11:06.660 --> 00:11:08.480
 and you're just not keeping up

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 and you're going to be kicked

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 out of the program.

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 Maybe,

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 you know,

00:11:13.959 --> 00:11:14.539
 whatever it is,

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 it's a hardship

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 in a relationship.

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 Calamities.

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 I mean,

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 that's just,

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 a calamity happens

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 that you've been promised

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 some money

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 or you've been promised

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 a job

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 and it gets withdrawn

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 from you

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 and it's a calamity.

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 You were counting on that.

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 Not many of us

00:11:31.939 --> 00:11:32.879
 maybe have been beaten

00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:34.740
 or at least not this week.

00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:36.879
 But probably

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 if we were actually

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 to talk with each other

00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:39.600
 for any length of time,

00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:40.220
 we would discover

00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:40.980
 that some people

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 are still dealing

00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:42.799
 with the beatings

00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:43.840
 they had at different points

00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:44.740
 in time in their life.

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 Imprisonments

00:11:47.879 --> 00:11:48.480
 isn't something

00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:49.120
 that many of us

00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:49.740
 have to deal with

00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:50.879
 at least for being Christian.

00:11:51.659 --> 00:11:52.060
 Although,

00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:53.240
 it might very well be

00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:53.860
 that some of you

00:11:53.860 --> 00:11:55.259
 have done time behind jail.

00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:56.480
 The first time

00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:57.039
 that I ever went

00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:57.799
 to visit somebody

00:11:57.799 --> 00:11:58.340
 in a prison,

00:11:58.860 --> 00:11:59.779
 there was another person

00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:00.580
 from my congregation

00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:01.620
 also in the jail.

00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:05.620
 They looked unbelievably shocked

00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:07.500
 that I knew their secret.

00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:11.120
 In many places,

00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:12.139
 I mean,

00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:12.799
 it's now,

00:12:12.940 --> 00:12:13.460
 you know,

00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:14.980
 to be gay or transgender

00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:16.480
 is to be out

00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:17.200
 and to be proud.

00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:18.879
 But even back

00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:19.399
 in those days

00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:19.899
 when people were

00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:20.960
 very deeply ashamed of that,

00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:21.580
 I think people

00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:22.759
 who spent time in jail

00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:23.740
 were families

00:12:23.740 --> 00:12:24.440
 who had members

00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:25.299
 doing a hard time.

00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.500
 They were a far deeper

00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:27.659
 shame about that.

00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:28.940
 When I was in

00:12:28.940 --> 00:12:29.980
 my previous congregation,

00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:31.500
 I learned about people

00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:32.580
 who had children

00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:33.320
 who were gay

00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:35.679
 or transgendered

00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:37.159
 long before I heard

00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:38.860
 of the people

00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:39.759
 whose kids

00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:40.740
 weren't working

00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:41.519
 in Alberta

00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:43.139
 in the oil rigs

00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:43.679
 but in fact

00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:44.679
 were doing hard time

00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:45.120
 in jail.

00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:49.820
 In riots

00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:50.379
 and labors

00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:51.220
 and sleepless nights

00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:51.779
 and hunger.

00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:54.019
 If you're dealing

00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:54.840
 with any of these things

00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:56.139
 in even the smallest way,

00:12:59.019 --> 00:12:59.899
 the devil

00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:01.179
 is going to work you

00:13:01.179 --> 00:13:02.919
 over like crazy.

00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:05.079
 And maybe right now

00:13:05.079 --> 00:13:05.839
 he's working you

00:13:05.839 --> 00:13:06.719
 over like crazy.

00:13:07.239 --> 00:13:08.479
 If I was a real Christian,

00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:09.239
 I wouldn't be going

00:13:09.239 --> 00:13:09.939
 through this time.

00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:11.379
 If I actually

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:12.519
 was really a success,

00:13:12.719 --> 00:13:13.419
 I wouldn't be going

00:13:13.419 --> 00:13:14.159
 through this time.

00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:15.459
 If I actually

00:13:15.459 --> 00:13:16.359
 prayed more

00:13:16.359 --> 00:13:17.479
 and just was,

00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:17.719
 you know,

00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:18.339
 far better

00:13:18.339 --> 00:13:19.339
 at following holiness,

00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:20.359
 my marriage wouldn't be

00:13:20.359 --> 00:13:21.079
 in the hard time

00:13:21.079 --> 00:13:21.879
 it is right now.

00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:23.299
 If I,

00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:23.839
 you know,

00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.079
 there's just something

00:13:25.079 --> 00:13:26.039
 wrong with me,

00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:26.679
 there's something

00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:27.740
 cursed about me,

00:13:27.839 --> 00:13:28.339
 there's something

00:13:28.339 --> 00:13:29.419
 broken about me,

00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:30.019
 there's something

00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:30.960
 twisted in me

00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.000
 that can never

00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:33.519
 possibly change.

00:13:33.819 --> 00:13:34.740
 I am doomed.

00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:37.279
 And if you're going

00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:38.139
 through any of those

00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:39.039
 things in that list,

00:13:39.079 --> 00:13:39.740
 and it's a pretty

00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:40.840
 terrible list

00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:42.000
 of nine things,

00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:43.840
 then the devil

00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.519
 will speak

00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:45.840
 in very powerful

00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:46.799
 ways about you.

00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.759
 But how did it begin?

00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.360
 Just look up again.

00:13:51.579 --> 00:13:51.860
 And Andrew,

00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:52.259
 do you have that

00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:52.919
 point up there now?

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.279
 Yeah.

00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:56.519
 As servants of God,

00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.639
 we greatly endure.

00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.240
 I'm going to talk

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:00.720
 about this

00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:01.299
 a little bit more,

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:02.220
 but it's not saying

00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:04.019
 I greatly endure

00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:04.539
 because,

00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:05.019
 you know,

00:14:05.199 --> 00:14:06.620
 I'm well educated.

00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:07.500
 I'm not greatly

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:08.139
 enduring because

00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:08.639
 I'm really good

00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.059
 at praying.

00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:10.019
 I'm not greatly

00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:10.500
 enduring

00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.699
 because I'm

00:14:11.699 --> 00:14:12.279
 a superstar.

00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:13.639
 I'm not greatly

00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:14.460
 enduring because

00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:15.460
 I'm male,

00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:16.100
 or because

00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:16.759
 I'm female,

00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:17.439
 or because

00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:18.059
 I'm white,

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:18.620
 or because

00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:19.340
 I'm not white,

00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:19.799
 or because

00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:20.480
 I'm straight,

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:21.340
 or because

00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:21.919
 I'm gay.

00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:23.259
 I'm not enduring

00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:23.799
 because of

00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:24.419
 any of these

00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:24.860
 things.

00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:30.700
 and it's not, it's when we take our eyes off of who we are in Christ

00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:32.600
 that we have a hard time enduring.

00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:35.940
 It's as a servant of God that I endure.

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.580
 Talk about this more in a moment.

00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:45.580
 I mean, Jesus didn't pick me because I'm a superstar.

00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:46.659
 I'm not a superstar.

00:14:47.340 --> 00:14:49.580
 He doesn't pick you because you're a superstar.

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:53.600
 I know your mom told you you were a superstar, but you're not.

00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:57.139
 That's one of the hard things.

00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:59.720
 You go on a date and relationship or something and you get married.

00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.919
 Your mommy told you you were a superstar,

00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:05.620
 but why is it the other person doesn't think you're quite the same superstar

00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:08.419
 after you've been married for a certain length of time?

00:15:08.560 --> 00:15:09.539
 You're not a superstar.

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:12.399
 It's not that we have this great endurance

00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:14.580
 because there's something special about us.

00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:19.840
 It's because God has made me his servant

00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:22.180
 and called me to be his servant.

00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:29.000
 And it's when, as the gospel grips me

00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:34.219
 and I understand that I'm not called to tower like a superhero

00:15:34.219 --> 00:15:37.559
 or cower like a loser,

00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:40.359
 like a doomed person.

00:15:41.079 --> 00:15:42.899
 But God has chosen people.

00:15:42.959 --> 00:15:45.699
 If you go back and read 1 Corinthians chapter 6,

00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:46.979
 it's very, very powerful.

00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:50.360
 One of the things that's very powerful in 1 Corinthians chapter 6

00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:53.159
 is he mentions people who are prostitutes,

00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.279
 you know, who are gay,

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.000
 you know, who are straight,

00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:56.800
 who are like robbers,

00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:58.800
 a whole pile of this,

00:15:59.060 --> 00:16:00.600
 you know, all these terrible things.

00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:02.259
 And then he ends it by saying,

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:03.600
 and such were some of you.

00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:07.940
 And such were some of you.

00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.860
 And then he goes on to talk about ministry

00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:11.220
 and change life in Christ.

00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:14.240
 He doesn't call people

00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:16.500
 because they're so brilliant,

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.399
 super star.

00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:19.840
 He calls you because he loves you.

00:16:22.660 --> 00:16:24.519
 And he knows better than you

00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:27.100
 your failings and your shames.

00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:29.220
 God knows those better than you do.

00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:30.580
 And still,

00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:33.019
 and Jesus knew those better than you do.

00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:33.800
 He knows them now,

00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:36.080
 and still he went to the cross to die for you.

00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.740
 But the matter is,

00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:40.000
 is that the devils,

00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:40.700
 the demons,

00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:43.320
 actually don't tell you

00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:46.120
 how bad the doom was

00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:48.080
 before you gave your life to Christ.

00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:51.279
 They just have you

00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:53.000
 dabble in the puddles,

00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:55.139
 the shallow puddles

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:56.960
 of your trouble,

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.879
 just enough

00:16:57.879 --> 00:17:00.580
 to depress you.

00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:03.200
 But at the same time,

00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.819
 the devils don't tell you

00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:07.119
 how greatly

00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:08.599
 and eternally

00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:11.379
 how the heights

00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:12.480
 and the depths

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.899
 of God's love for you

00:17:13.899 --> 00:17:16.719
 and Jesus' death

00:17:16.719 --> 00:17:17.980
 upon the cross for you.

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:22.039
 That's part of the devil's blasphemy

00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:24.219
 to keep from you.

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:24.759
 In fact,

00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:26.679
 your doom was vastly worse

00:17:26.679 --> 00:17:28.199
 than your worst nightmare.

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:31.440
 and your destiny

00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.080
 in Jesus

00:17:32.080 --> 00:17:35.680
 is unimaginably greater

00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:37.600
 than your most proud thought.

00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:42.600
 Let's continue.

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:43.580
 Verse 6.

00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:46.059
 He does these nine things,

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:48.180
 but then he takes a pause

00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:50.000
 before going into some of the other things

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:52.160
 by what it means to endure

00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:53.759
 and how it is

00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:55.000
 that we learn to endure

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.500
 and what we hold on to

00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.100
 in endurance

00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:57.940
 by purity,

00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.960
 by knowledge.

00:18:00.540 --> 00:18:01.960
 And that primarily means

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:03.519
 knowledge of God

00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:05.900
 and knowledge of ourselves

00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:07.300
 in light of who God is.

00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.900
 By patience

00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:10.220
 and kindness,

00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:11.720
 fruits of the Holy Spirit.

00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:14.820
 By the Holy Spirit himself.

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:17.059
 By genuine love.

00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:19.559
 Also a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.579
 By truthful speech.

00:18:21.919 --> 00:18:23.259
 And there in the original language

00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:25.759
 the idea is

00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:27.439
 it's not just mere truthful speech,

00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.579
 although it is truthful speech.

00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.759
 It's a fine translation.

00:18:30.679 --> 00:18:33.299
 But it's not only truthful speech in general.

00:18:33.439 --> 00:18:34.500
 It's truthful speech

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.399
 in telling people

00:18:35.399 --> 00:18:37.299
 about what the word actually says

00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:40.419
 and who Jesus actually is.

00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:44.940
 But through truthful speech,

00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:45.640
 where was I?

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:47.279
 And the power of God.

00:18:48.360 --> 00:18:49.840
 And the power of God.

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:53.340
 You endure by the power of God.

00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:54.539
 You are the servant

00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:56.320
 of the God

00:18:56.320 --> 00:18:58.039
 who formed the universe,

00:18:58.300 --> 00:18:59.740
 who keeps it in its courses

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:01.080
 and will bring all things

00:19:01.080 --> 00:19:02.160
 to its proper end.

00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:06.840
 And then it gets back,

00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:09.000
 well it sort of pauses,

00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.539
 verse 7,

00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.940
 with the weapons of righteousness

00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.819
 for the right hand

00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:13.460
 and for the left.

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.779
 Those of you who know your Bible,

00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:15.819
 it's a bit of an image

00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:17.240
 to Ephesians,

00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:18.640
 a letter he's going to write

00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.720
 a little bit after this

00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.559
 where he develops it

00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.920
 in Ephesians chapter 6.

00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:23.480
 But then he goes back

00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.400
 to this whole thing

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.220
 and the different ways

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.339
 that the demons,

00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:27.339
 and not just demons,

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.220
 the world itself,

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.359
 which I'll talk about in a moment,

00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.480
 can talk about us

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:32.059
 through honor and dishonor,

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.920
 through slander and praise.

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:36.059
 We are treated as imposters.

00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:37.380
 And yet,

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.900
 we're not imposters.

00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.500
 God knows that we're true.

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.799
 We're treated as if we're unknown,

00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:44.819
 completely and utterly invisible,

00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:46.099
 unimportant.

00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:48.160
 The eyes of the world,

00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.000
 we are unknown,

00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:49.859
 we are invisible,

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:50.920
 we are unimportant.

00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:51.940
 And yet,

00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.079
 well known by God.

00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:55.039
 As dying,

00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:55.539
 in other words,

00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.259
 we're just beginning,

00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:57.079
 we're diminishing,

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.859
 we're diminishing,

00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.920
 we're getting less

00:19:58.920 --> 00:19:59.680
 and less and less.

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.700
 But behold,

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.279
 we live.

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.539
 Read chapter 3 and 4 and 5

00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.759
 of 2 Corinthians,

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.980
 and so our outer self,

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:09.779
 from the perspective of the world,

00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.579
 is wasting away,

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:11.619
 our inner self,

00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.420
 that part of us,

00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.740
 which is grasped by God,

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.900
 which will live for eternity,

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:19.200
 is being prepared

00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.359
 for an eternal way to glory.

00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:24.740
 Behold,

00:20:24.939 --> 00:20:25.799
 as punished,

00:20:26.439 --> 00:20:28.459
 and yet not killed,

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.359
 as sorrowful,

00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.919
 yet always rejoicing,

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.240
 as poor,

00:20:32.879 --> 00:20:34.379
 yet making many rich,

00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.819
 as having nothing,

00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:38.079
 yet possessing everything.

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:40.359
 Very, very, very powerful

00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:41.939
 passage of scripture.

00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:43.460
 And you know,

00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.279
 not only is it,

00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:44.559
 you know,

00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.519
 it's not just the reason

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.379
 that the demons

00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:47.339
 and our own flesh

00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:49.059
 can be so beat up,

00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:50.179
 that when we're in fact

00:20:50.179 --> 00:20:51.639
 being treated as invisible,

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.460
 when people overlook us,

00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.720
 when they don't notice us,

00:20:55.199 --> 00:20:56.419
 and you know,

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.679
 this is especially a problem

00:20:57.679 --> 00:20:58.379
 for people as,

00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:58.980
 you know,

00:20:59.000 --> 00:20:59.299
 it's funny,

00:20:59.399 --> 00:21:00.119
 it's a problem for people

00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:00.720
 when they're young,

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.359
 they feel like

00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.199
 when they're teenagers,

00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:03.819
 or maybe young adults,

00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:05.659
 that the people don't notice you,

00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:05.919
 you know,

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.480
 you go into a work placement,

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.839
 and the boss comes in,

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:11.120
 where the workers come in,

00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:12.019
 and the workers are coming in,

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.900
 they're looking for the boss,

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.700
 the boss comes in,

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:15.039
 he's looking for the important people,

00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:16.279
 and the student interns

00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:17.160
 are like,

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:17.500
 well,

00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:17.839
 well,

00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:18.559
 they're wall weeds,

00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.400
 wall flowers,

00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.299
 but not as pretty,

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.980
 and they're like wall weeds,

00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:23.279
 and nobody notices them,

00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:23.559
 in fact,

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.940
 all you do is you try to trim the weeds,

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:25.680
 get rid of the weeds,

00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.000
 they wonder,

00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:27.160
 who are those people doing here?

00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.960
 I don't know who they are,

00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:28.940
 are they important?

00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:30.140
 We feel invisible,

00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:30.960
 the same thing happens

00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:31.819
 as we go older,

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.079
 in fact,

00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:33.099
 most of our life

00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:34.019
 we're living with the fact

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.140
 that we're going to be viewed

00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:35.860
 as invisible,

00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:38.479
 and in the eyes of the world,

00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:39.659
 the option is,

00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.799
 you tower,

00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.099
 where you,

00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:46.159
 and there's two different versions of this,

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:46.979
 you cower,

00:21:47.679 --> 00:21:48.659
 where you become less,

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.000
 and less,

00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.359
 and less,

00:21:49.439 --> 00:21:50.479
 so in the eyes of the world,

00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:51.859
 the goal is to tower,

00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:53.799
 to tower over your marriage,

00:21:53.899 --> 00:21:55.639
 to tower over your social circle,

00:21:55.899 --> 00:21:57.639
 to tower over your place of work,

00:21:57.719 --> 00:21:59.099
 to tower in the society,

00:21:59.459 --> 00:22:01.879
 that the entire goal is to tower,

00:22:02.139 --> 00:22:03.079
 and in our minds,

00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:04.319
 we've internalized this,

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:07.000
 so it seems as if the only options before us

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:09.079
 is either to seek to tower,

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.980
 or that we become nothing,

00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:11.980
 or at worst,

00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:14.960
 that we cower under the powerful people,

00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:16.419
 and the Bible here is saying

00:22:16.419 --> 00:22:18.639
 there is a completely different option,

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.639
 because in fact,

00:22:20.699 --> 00:22:22.679
 it's completely and utterly ridiculous

00:22:22.679 --> 00:22:24.000
 that any human being,

00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:26.059
 in the words of Ecclesiastes,

00:22:27.679 --> 00:22:30.379
 a pillar of dust,

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.919
 that has a longing for God,

00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:34.519
 at its center,

00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:38.039
 a creature,

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:42.899
 that a microscopic presence,

00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:45.539
 that literally we can't see,

00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:47.139
 unless we have powerful microbes,

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:47.500
 that can,

00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:49.059
 microscopes that come into us,

00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:51.139
 can completely and utterly ruin our lives,

00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:51.679
 kill us,

00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:54.480
 and yet we believe,

00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.879
 that we can be like God,

00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:57.720
 we believe that we can be,

00:22:57.879 --> 00:22:59.859
 and tower over the world like God's,

00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:01.759
 and if we cannot tower,

00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:03.199
 then there is nothing left,

00:23:03.299 --> 00:23:05.179
 there is only diminishment,

00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.619
 there is only cowering,

00:23:06.699 --> 00:23:08.339
 there is only invisibility,

00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:09.699
 and so the devil,

00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:10.539
 he, you know,

00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.099
 you're poor,

00:23:11.199 --> 00:23:11.799
 you're not rich,

00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:13.299
 you're not towering over money,

00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:15.039
 you're not towering in the world of honor,

00:23:15.139 --> 00:23:17.199
 you're not towering in terms of being known,

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.399
 you're not towering,

00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.340
 and the Bible said,

00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:21.040
 there's a completely different option,

00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:23.540
 which is to recognize,

00:23:23.540 --> 00:23:24.840
 that there is a God,

00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.500
 who does exist,

00:23:25.600 --> 00:23:26.480
 who's created all things,

00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:27.480
 sustains all things,

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:29.000
 will bring all things to their end,

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.840
 a God that does exist,

00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:31.700
 who is our creator,

00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:32.340
 that we are,

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:34.320
 we are alienated from,

00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:36.259
 and we cannot fix for ourselves,

00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.900
 and this same God,

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:39.420
 who created all things,

00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:41.140
 and brings all things to their completion,

00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:43.100
 and all things to their end,

00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:44.600
 this same God,

00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:46.180
 who knows us perfectly,

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.420
 with perfect knowledge,

00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:50.000
 when he knew us with perfect knowledge,

00:23:50.100 --> 00:23:51.580
 and knew our helplessness,

00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:53.640
 and knew how ludicrous,

00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.860
 our pretensions,

00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.539
 and our ambitions were,

00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:57.960
 this same God,

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:59.580
 not because human beings,

00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:01.160
 called out to him to do mercy,

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.299
 but in the face,

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:04.080
 of human hostility,

00:24:04.340 --> 00:24:05.060
 and enmity,

00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:07.580
 without wanting God to save us,

00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:09.980
 God still loved us so much,

00:24:10.060 --> 00:24:12.740
 he sent his one and only son,

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:14.340
 to die upon the cross,

00:24:14.620 --> 00:24:15.980
 that whoever puts their faith,

00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.779
 and trust in him,

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.880
 will not perish,

00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:19.120
 but have eternal life,

00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:21.539
 that is a different option,

00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.559
 than tower or cower,

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:24.039
 and that same God,

00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:24.819
 who loves us,

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:26.559
 and sends his son to die for us,

00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.319
 and does everything,

00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:28.420
 that's required to do,

00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.660
 to reconcile us to God,

00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:31.500
 he calls me to be his servant,

00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:35.380
 and in my flesh,

00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.279
 I want a tower,

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:38.180
 and in my flesh,

00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.259
 I want a tower,

00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:40.160
 in my flesh,

00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:40.920
 I want a tower,

00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:42.300
 and being gripped,

00:24:42.300 --> 00:24:43.100
 by the gospel,

00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:43.700
 is learning,

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.320
 that the goal of life,

00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:46.279
 is not to tower,

00:24:46.560 --> 00:24:48.480
 and you don't have to listen,

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:50.000
 to the devil in the world,

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:50.580
 that says,

00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.779
 that if you do not tower,

00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.680
 you are invisible,

00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.980
 and you are going to cower,

00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:54.779
 or you are worthless,

00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:56.100
 there's another option,

00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:58.079
 I am the servant,

00:24:58.219 --> 00:24:59.099
 of the most high God,

00:24:59.699 --> 00:25:02.359
 not because I'm a superstar,

00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.599
 but because he loved me,

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.639
 and he did everything,

00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:06.639
 that needed to be done,

00:25:06.699 --> 00:25:07.879
 for me to be reconciled,

00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:08.119
 to him,

00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:09.359
 I can add nothing to,

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.019
 my service,

00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:12.980
 adds nothing to it,

00:25:14.199 --> 00:25:15.839
 and there's a very different,

00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.539
 way to live,

00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:18.619
 there's a very different,

00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.359
 way to endure,

00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:21.219
 I do not endure,

00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.039
 as a superstar,

00:25:22.939 --> 00:25:24.119
 I endure,

00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.299
 as a servant,

00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:27.059
 of the most high God,

00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:31.680
 could you put up the prayer,

00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:32.500
 Andrew please,

00:25:33.399 --> 00:25:34.379
 here's a take home,

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.559
 and if you can't get these,

00:25:36.659 --> 00:25:37.500
 if you're interested in them,

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.460
 they all go up on the webpage,

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.839
 on Monday,

00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:41.480
 or some early this week,

00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:42.059
 dear Lord,

00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.480
 please make me a disciple,

00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.440
 of Jesus gripped,

00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.279
 by the gospel,

00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:46.919
 who is learning,

00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:48.059
 to see myself,

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.079
 as your servant,

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.480
 and then endure,

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:53.619
 in living for your glory,

00:25:53.619 --> 00:25:59.439
 now just before,

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.339
 we go into the next part,

00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.219
 you see there's another,

00:26:01.219 --> 00:26:02.139
 thing about this,

00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:03.419
 not only the towering,

00:26:03.459 --> 00:26:04.079
 the cowering,

00:26:04.219 --> 00:26:06.339
 but here's the question,

00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:09.299
 does how I feel,

00:26:09.959 --> 00:26:11.299
 tell me who I am,

00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.459
 or what I should do,

00:26:12.959 --> 00:26:13.439
 like I think,

00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:14.579
 I've answered that question,

00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:16.419
 but it's a very,

00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.599
 very powerful thing,

00:26:17.639 --> 00:26:18.399
 in our culture,

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:20.319
 that how I feel,

00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.720
 tells me who I am,

00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.599
 and how I feel,

00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:26.220
 tells me what I should do,

00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:29.139
 I mean partly,

00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.460
 it's because in our culture,

00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:32.240
 institutions have so much,

00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.019
 failed us,

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:35.199
 in our culture,

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.659
 like you know,

00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.879
 the institution of marriage,

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.159
 has failed so many people,

00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:41.359
 universities fail us,

00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:43.439
 the media fails us,

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:46.980
 you know,

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.160
 I mean I put it in the bulletin,

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:50.240
 basically the entire knowledge class,

00:26:50.340 --> 00:26:51.960
 got everything about the US election,

00:26:52.080 --> 00:26:52.920
 completely wrong,

00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:54.960
 and virtually nobody,

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.940
 in the knowledge class,

00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.440
 is saying,

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:56.860
 you know what,

00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.779
 we got everything wrong,

00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:02.080
 like virtually nobody,

00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:03.000
 in the knowledge class,

00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.360
 is saying,

00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.880
 we were completely wrong,

00:27:05.320 --> 00:27:07.059
 maybe we have a problem,

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.779
 with hubris,

00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.100
 that's excessive pride,

00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:10.220
 have to show off,

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:10.940
 I went to university,

00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:11.799
 every once in a while,

00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:14.799
 as an aside,

00:27:15.919 --> 00:27:16.579
 anyway never mind,

00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:17.819
 I don't go down that road,

00:27:17.919 --> 00:27:18.180
 anyway,

00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:20.759
 where was I,

00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.480
 it's a very,

00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:22.539
 very powerful belief,

00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:23.240
 in our culture,

00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:25.700
 that how I feel,

00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:27.039
 tells me who I am,

00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:28.879
 and how I feel,

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:30.159
 tells me how I should live,

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.980
 and what I should do,

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:32.339
 and the Bible here is saying,

00:27:33.419 --> 00:27:33.720
 yes,

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:36.379
 you have this basic sense,

00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:37.440
 that you need,

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:39.259
 some type of transcendence,

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.759
 you need to be connected,

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:42.240
 to transcendence,

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.240
 in some way,

00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:44.480
 to understand,

00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:45.119
 who you are,

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.720
 you have,

00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:47.900
 that proper insight,

00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.140
 that there's a clue,

00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:51.099
 and for many of us,

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.440
 sexual knowing,

00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:54.319
 is a type of transcendence,

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.039
 and so therefore,

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.779
 and other things,

00:27:55.900 --> 00:27:57.220
 connected to sexuality,

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.980
 must be that source,

00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.879
 of transcendence,

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:01.420
 that transcendent,

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:01.900
 emotion,

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:02.799
 or experience,

00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.519
 that helps me,

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.879
 to understand who I am,

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.400
 or some other,

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.339
 longing,

00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.139
 or yearning,

00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:08.399
 that,

00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.099
 but it's,

00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:11.159
 those are hints,

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:13.759
 that we need to listen to God,

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:17.399
 could you put up the second,

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:17.699
 sorry,

00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:19.039
 did I put that point up,

00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:20.599
 yes,

00:28:20.679 --> 00:28:20.959
 you're good,

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.939
 and could you put up the prayer,

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.119
 very simple prayer,

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.259
 it's a conversion prayer,

00:28:24.379 --> 00:28:25.539
 it's a discipleship prayer,

00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.619
 dear Lord,

00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:28.359
 please make me a disciple,

00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:28.879
 of Jesus,

00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:30.059
 gripped by the gospel,

00:28:30.199 --> 00:28:31.199
 and living for your glory,

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:33.439
 because it's only in God,

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.079
 that we ultimately,

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.339
 understand our identity,

00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:38.639
 in fact,

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:40.539
 as many of us know,

00:28:40.699 --> 00:28:42.359
 if you do what feels right,

00:28:42.439 --> 00:28:43.859
 you're normally doing what's wrong,

00:28:46.199 --> 00:28:46.959
 is this really,

00:28:48.199 --> 00:28:50.599
 there's this deep paradox,

00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.599
 that,

00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:55.240
 if you do what feels right,

00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:58.139
 it's probably something wrong,

00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:00.819
 but if you go against,

00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.619
 how you feel,

00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:03.159
 to do that which is right,

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:04.740
 you end up feeling better,

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:06.779
 at least in the long run,

00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.599
 because goodness,

00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.759
 is good for you,

00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:11.140
 we were made,

00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:12.799
 to be at one,

00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:14.259
 with the created order,

00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.839
 in fact,

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.160
 you know,

00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:17.960
 when it's talking about,

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:18.980
 the righteousness,

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.779
 and all here,

00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:20.920
 weapons of righteousness,

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:23.140
 in that text,

00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:24.740
 it's really talking about,

00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:26.880
 the word righteousness there,

00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.079
 is talking about,

00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:29.160
 being right,

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.839
 with God,

00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:32.180
 and with his created order,

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:34.660
 because we have a basic sense,

00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:36.700
 that we should fit,

00:29:37.120 --> 00:29:38.680
 with the created order,

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.900
 that we should fit,

00:29:40.060 --> 00:29:41.019
 with our creator,

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:43.680
 and so,

00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:45.200
 righteousness here,

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.320
 isn't just talking about,

00:29:46.320 --> 00:29:47.140
 rule keeping,

00:29:47.820 --> 00:29:49.019
 and it's not talking about,

00:29:49.160 --> 00:29:50.860
 calculating harm,

00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:52.859
 it's talking about,

00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:54.159
 as you get connected,

00:29:54.159 --> 00:29:54.759
 to God,

00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:56.219
 and as you start to learn,

00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:57.759
 to set aside,

00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.379
 the towering,

00:29:58.439 --> 00:29:59.000
 the cowering,

00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:00.240
 and listening to his word,

00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.799
 and as the gospel,

00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.619
 shapes us,

00:30:02.699 --> 00:30:03.399
 to be able to,

00:30:03.399 --> 00:30:04.740
 to want to do,

00:30:04.879 --> 00:30:05.919
 his word,

00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:07.359
 and as the gospel,

00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:08.539
 draws us,

00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:09.919
 and as the gospel,

00:30:09.919 --> 00:30:10.799
 models it,

00:30:10.879 --> 00:30:11.479
 and that we start,

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.659
 to live certain ways,

00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.919
 what we're actually doing,

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:15.119
 is starting to live,

00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:15.679
 in a way,

00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.679
 that fits,

00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:19.200
 with the created order,

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:20.920
 and with the creator,

00:30:21.580 --> 00:30:22.779
 who created that order,

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.779
 and sustains it,

00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:27.900
 now some of you might say,

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:30.140
 George,

00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:30.920
 that sounds really,

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.680
 really wonderful,

00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:33.759
 but you know,

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:35.920
 then isn't there,

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.920
 that text that,

00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:38.220
 you didn't say anything about it,

00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.580
 but didn't Ken read something,

00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.400
 about not being,

00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:41.519
 unequally yoked,

00:30:41.580 --> 00:30:42.200
 with believers,

00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:43.600
 like George,

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.440
 this is the problem,

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.920
 I have with Christian people,

00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:47.340
 is you know,

00:30:47.600 --> 00:30:49.019
 you say things like that,

00:30:49.060 --> 00:30:49.360
 and yeah,

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.100
 my heart starts,

00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:50.860
 to get stirred,

00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:51.800
 but then you know,

00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:52.360
 and I don't think,

00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.440
 it's the devil George,

00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:54.240
 I think it's just,

00:30:54.580 --> 00:30:55.360
 I start to you know,

00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:56.200
 look at Christians,

00:30:56.320 --> 00:30:57.360
 and so many Christians,

00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:58.519
 they live narrow,

00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:01.220
 fearful lives,

00:31:01.820 --> 00:31:02.539
 narrow,

00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:05.680
 fearful lives,

00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:06.940
 and then it goes ahead,

00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:07.460
 and tells you,

00:31:07.560 --> 00:31:09.259
 not to be unequally yoked,

00:31:09.300 --> 00:31:09.700
 and George,

00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:11.000
 that sounds elitist,

00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:11.740
 you know,

00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.279
 it sounds like,

00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:13.140
 those people,

00:31:13.300 --> 00:31:13.460
 you know,

00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.180
 they don't want to try,

00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:15.019
 hummus,

00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:15.840
 because it's like,

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:17.259
 it's like ethnic food,

00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:17.860
 hummus,

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.440
 good grief,

00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.440
 why wouldn't you try that,

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:20.920
 they don't want to try Thai food,

00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:21.640
 you know,

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.620
 they don't want to do anything,

00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:23.160
 you know,

00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:24.779
 it's like all those baby boomers,

00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:25.980
 that still listen to music,

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:27.200
 from when they were teenagers,

00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:27.880
 come on,

00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:28.779
 give me a break,

00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:30.039
 why are those baby boomers,

00:31:30.100 --> 00:31:31.080
 so filled with fear,

00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:33.120
 they're still listening to music,

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.240
 from when they were 16,

00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:36.120
 and so many Christians,

00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:37.420
 are like that George,

00:31:39.800 --> 00:31:40.820
 like doesn't it go against,

00:31:40.820 --> 00:31:41.700
 what you just said,

00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.279
 let's look,

00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:45.099
 verse 11,

00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:46.940
 chapter 6,

00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.559
 verse 11,

00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:49.799
 it's very interesting,

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.960
 because in fact,

00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:53.920
 it's a very good translation,

00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:54.700
 but the individual,

00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:56.700
 the literal word,

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.039
 underneath,

00:31:57.899 --> 00:31:59.119
 these next couple of words,

00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.599
 it doesn't make good English,

00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.480
 so they don't use it,

00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:02.500
 but it's actually what,

00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:03.460
 we'll read it,

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:03.940
 verse 11,

00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:04.519
 chapter 6,

00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:04.920
 verse 11,

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:06.500
 we have spoken freely to you,

00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:08.079
 and actually the word freely,

00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:08.819
 is openly,

00:32:08.819 --> 00:32:11.599
 like our goal,

00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:13.139
 Paul is saying,

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.539
 is that,

00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:14.039
 you know,

00:32:14.099 --> 00:32:14.919
 if you folks knew,

00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:16.099
 what I was like,

00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:18.119
 before I met Jesus,

00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:19.539
 if you knew,

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.299
 how narrow,

00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.419
 and full of fear,

00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:22.200
 I was,

00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:23.059
 and condemnation,

00:32:23.139 --> 00:32:24.220
 before I met Jesus,

00:32:25.179 --> 00:32:26.939
 and I'm a really sinful guy,

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:28.220
 I have so many problems,

00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:28.879
 I fight with,

00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.000
 I have all these problems,

00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:31.500
 but as the gospel grips me,

00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.599
 it creates within me,

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.119
 openness,

00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.339
 and wideness,

00:32:35.879 --> 00:32:37.179
 it's translated here,

00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:37.700
 is freely,

00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:40.860
 we have spoken freely to you,

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:41.940
 Corinthians,

00:32:42.120 --> 00:32:43.460
 our heart is wide open,

00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:46.539
 you are not restricted by us,

00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.380
 and the word is,

00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:48.700
 in the original language,

00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:50.380
 it's the image of being narrowed,

00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:51.539
 narrowing,

00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:54.480
 restricted is a good translation,

00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:56.440
 and narrowing would sound like weird,

00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:56.840
 right,

00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:58.019
 but that's actually the idea,

00:32:59.120 --> 00:33:00.140
 but it's not as if,

00:33:00.140 --> 00:33:01.580
 as I go on in Christ,

00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.759
 I want to become narrower,

00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:03.400
 and narrower,

00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:04.039
 and narrower,

00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:04.740
 and narrower,

00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:05.460
 and narrower,

00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:07.440
 my goal is,

00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:09.900
 an open proclamation,

00:33:10.380 --> 00:33:12.039
 and,

00:33:12.120 --> 00:33:13.920
 and have this sense of the world,

00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:15.180
 as an open place,

00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:16.279
 that we can go into,

00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.400
 so we read again,

00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.120
 we have spoken,

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:19.640
 verse 11,

00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.900
 spoken freely to you,

00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.240
 Corinthians,

00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:22.299
 our heart is wide open,

00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:23.539
 you are not restricted,

00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:25.180
 narrowed by us,

00:33:25.240 --> 00:33:26.380
 but you are narrowed,

00:33:26.380 --> 00:33:27.700
 in your own affections,

00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.100
 restricted,

00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:29.840
 and narrowed,

00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:30.920
 in your own affections,

00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:31.420
 in return,

00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.320
 I speak as to children,

00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:34.140
 widen your hearts also,

00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:36.980
 doing what is wrong,

00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:38.279
 and serving idols,

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.539
 narrows hearts,

00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:41.300
 but the gospel,

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.480
 as it's gripped,

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.800
 widens our hearts,

00:33:45.800 --> 00:33:49.080
 and what happens,

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:49.539
 you see,

00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.320
 is that we,

00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:51.480
 in churches,

00:33:51.660 --> 00:33:52.320
 what happens,

00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:53.460
 is we want to turn,

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.320
 from being shaped,

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.140
 by the gospel,

00:33:55.360 --> 00:33:56.100
 and we want to turn it,

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.800
 into religion,

00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:58.720
 or we want to turn it,

00:33:58.820 --> 00:33:59.640
 into spirituality,

00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:00.900
 which just narrows us,

00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:03.340
 but let's get to that text,

00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.180
 the problem text,

00:34:04.280 --> 00:34:05.000
 verse 14,

00:34:05.840 --> 00:34:07.400
 do not be unequally yoked,

00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:08.260
 with unbelievers,

00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:11.039
 the Bible does say that,

00:34:12.180 --> 00:34:12.599
 that Andrew,

00:34:12.660 --> 00:34:13.300
 could you put that up,

00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:13.800
 as the point,

00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:15.640
 we're not hiding it,

00:34:15.680 --> 00:34:16.539
 we're going to talk about it,

00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:17.500
 it's an important point,

00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:18.640
 for people to see,

00:34:18.720 --> 00:34:20.039
 do not be unequally yoked,

00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:20.800
 with unbelievers,

00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.340
 for what partnership,

00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.119
 has righteousness,

00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.039
 with lawlessness,

00:34:24.200 --> 00:34:24.800
 that's this word,

00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.300
 righteousness,

00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:27.220
 being fitted,

00:34:27.820 --> 00:34:28.440
 to fit,

00:34:28.680 --> 00:34:29.400
 in the created order,

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:29.900
 and fit,

00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:30.639
 with our creator,

00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:32.480
 or what fellowship,

00:34:32.619 --> 00:34:33.099
 and the word there,

00:34:33.180 --> 00:34:34.119
 is actually communion,

00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:34.900
 koinonia,

00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:35.880
 those of you,

00:34:35.940 --> 00:34:36.460
 who know a little bit,

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.280
 about the Christian,

00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:38.539
 terms,

00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:40.059
 what koinonia,

00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:40.780
 or fellowship,

00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:41.840
 has light with darkness,

00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.660
 what accord,

00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:44.720
 has Christ with Belial,

00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:45.660
 which is the devil,

00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:46.460
 and the word,

00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:47.440
 for accord there,

00:34:47.559 --> 00:34:48.400
 in the original language,

00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.160
 is the same word,

00:34:49.220 --> 00:34:50.500
 that we get symphony from,

00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:57.539
 so what symphony,

00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:58.800
 has Christ,

00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.460
 with the devil,

00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:01.420
 or what portion,

00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:02.380
 what in common,

00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:02.980
 does a believer,

00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:03.860
 share with an unbeliever,

00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.480
 what agreement,

00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.500
 has the temple of God,

00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:06.039
 with idols,

00:35:07.279 --> 00:35:08.360
 for we are the temple,

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:09.239
 of the living God,

00:35:09.739 --> 00:35:11.940
 that's the big idea,

00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:12.639
 if you were to,

00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:13.779
 actually try to follow,

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.759
 if this was to be,

00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.480
 like not,

00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:17.739
 like written in a way,

00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:18.699
 that's sort of more,

00:35:18.779 --> 00:35:19.279
 the way,

00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:20.940
 like as teenagers write,

00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:22.420
 or kooky people write,

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.480
 with lots of bolding,

00:35:23.559 --> 00:35:24.460
 and everything like that,

00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.880
 it would be bolded,

00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:27.119
 because it's actually,

00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:28.860
 from a literary point of view,

00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:30.480
 it's like the key idea,

00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:31.780
 of this whole big text,

00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:33.420
 for we are the temple,

00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:34.300
 of the living God,

00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:35.500
 as God said,

00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:36.500
 I will make my dwelling,

00:35:36.619 --> 00:35:37.019
 among them,

00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:37.860
 and walk among them,

00:35:37.900 --> 00:35:39.000
 and I will be their God,

00:35:39.079 --> 00:35:40.300
 and they shall be my people,

00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:41.840
 therefore go out,

00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:42.559
 from their midst,

00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:43.840
 and be separate from them,

00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.539
 says the Lord,

00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:46.059
 and touch no unclean thing,

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.619
 then I will welcome you,

00:35:47.720 --> 00:35:48.599
 and I will be a father,

00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:49.039
 to you,

00:35:49.400 --> 00:35:50.279
 and you shall be,

00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:51.739
 sons and daughters to me,

00:35:51.819 --> 00:35:52.699
 says the Lord,

00:35:53.099 --> 00:35:53.579
 almighty,

00:35:54.259 --> 00:35:55.139
 since we have,

00:35:55.319 --> 00:35:56.420
 these promises beloved,

00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:58.400
 let us cleanse ourselves,

00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.559
 from every defilement,

00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:00.699
 of body and spirit,

00:36:00.839 --> 00:36:01.579
 bringing holiness,

00:36:01.759 --> 00:36:02.420
 to completion,

00:36:03.099 --> 00:36:04.079
 in the fear of God,

00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:07.219
 so this text,

00:36:07.299 --> 00:36:08.679
 do not be unequally yoked,

00:36:08.759 --> 00:36:09.380
 with unbelievers,

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.199
 it's not promoting,

00:36:10.319 --> 00:36:10.940
 church splits,

00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:11.799
 it's not saying,

00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:12.400
 that we should live,

00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:12.819
 in the ghetto,

00:36:13.339 --> 00:36:14.019
 and it's not,

00:36:14.279 --> 00:36:15.719
 it's not saying,

00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:17.819
 that we shouldn't get jobs,

00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:18.880
 that we shouldn't live,

00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:19.660
 amongst the community,

00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:20.360
 that we shouldn't go,

00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:21.600
 to a whole pile of restaurants,

00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:23.300
 what it's telling us,

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.940
 is that in three,

00:36:25.100 --> 00:36:26.500
 particularly deep areas,

00:36:26.500 --> 00:36:27.360
 of our lives,

00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:30.160
 we don't enter,

00:36:30.160 --> 00:36:31.900
 into formative relationships,

00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.480
 in these three areas,

00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:34.280
 of our lives,

00:36:36.840 --> 00:36:37.920
 not because,

00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:38.700
 we're better,

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:39.519
 not because,

00:36:39.660 --> 00:36:40.280
 it's not saying,

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.200
 it's not like reading,

00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:41.720
 an English,

00:36:41.880 --> 00:36:42.660
 it's not like watching,

00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:44.100
 an English period drama,

00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:46.960
 where a noble person,

00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:48.159
 would never marry,

00:36:48.260 --> 00:36:48.940
 a commoner,

00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:50.840
 what is it in the crown,

00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:52.320
 with her common,

00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:53.440
 piggish nose,

00:36:53.539 --> 00:36:54.139
 and face,

00:36:55.079 --> 00:36:55.260
 right,

00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:57.139
 if you watch the crown,

00:36:57.240 --> 00:36:58.480
 and I think that's episode three,

00:36:58.780 --> 00:36:59.579
 the way one of the,

00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:01.039
 people describe,

00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:02.139
 what we now refer to,

00:37:02.280 --> 00:37:02.400
 as the,

00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:04.260
 as Queen Elizabeth's mother,

00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:06.099
 and it's,

00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:06.579
 it's not,

00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:07.720
 Downton Abbey,

00:37:07.780 --> 00:37:08.280
 it's not,

00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:09.480
 unequally yoked,

00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:10.539
 because we're superior,

00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:13.280
 what it's just telling you,

00:37:13.280 --> 00:37:13.480
 is,

00:37:13.659 --> 00:37:13.820
 you know,

00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:14.440
 if in the very,

00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:15.460
 very central areas,

00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:16.360
 of your life,

00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:18.019
 you can't be going,

00:37:18.099 --> 00:37:19.180
 opposite directions,

00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:23.260
 you can't be going,

00:37:23.320 --> 00:37:24.220
 opposite directions,

00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:25.480
 like,

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.099
 so one of those,

00:37:26.260 --> 00:37:27.180
 three intimate areas,

00:37:27.180 --> 00:37:27.700
 of your life,

00:37:27.780 --> 00:37:28.180
 it's marriage,

00:37:28.260 --> 00:37:28.840
 it's talking about,

00:37:28.840 --> 00:37:29.519
 sexual knowing,

00:37:29.620 --> 00:37:30.240
 in particular,

00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:31.480
 it's talking about marriage,

00:37:34.140 --> 00:37:34.880
 I,

00:37:39.300 --> 00:37:40.519
 you know,

00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:42.180
 in the financial post,

00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:43.820
 on Saturdays,

00:37:43.820 --> 00:37:44.760
 I have this odd habit,

00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:45.800
 on the financial post,

00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:45.980
 I,

00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:46.940
 I look at this thing,

00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:47.820
 about retirement,

00:37:48.300 --> 00:37:48.539
 it's,

00:37:48.620 --> 00:37:48.820
 I don't,

00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:49.880
 I'm not interested in retirement,

00:37:49.960 --> 00:37:50.900
 I just look at the profile,

00:37:50.900 --> 00:37:51.480
 of the person,

00:37:52.420 --> 00:37:52.740
 and it,

00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:54.180
 there's a different story,

00:37:54.300 --> 00:37:54.640
 every week,

00:37:54.680 --> 00:37:55.340
 in this past week,

00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:56.680
 there was a 60 year old woman,

00:37:56.780 --> 00:37:58.780
 making $11,000 a month,

00:37:59.360 --> 00:37:59.680
 and,

00:37:59.760 --> 00:38:00.480
 worth,

00:38:00.600 --> 00:38:00.840
 you know,

00:38:00.900 --> 00:38:01.920
 a million and a half,

00:38:02.059 --> 00:38:02.320
 and,

00:38:02.440 --> 00:38:03.600
 it was all about her,

00:38:03.740 --> 00:38:05.440
 retirement preparedness,

00:38:05.900 --> 00:38:07.120
 and I always look down,

00:38:07.200 --> 00:38:07.420
 the thing,

00:38:07.500 --> 00:38:08.039
 and one of the things,

00:38:08.100 --> 00:38:08.900
 it gives you in the column,

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.740
 is how much money,

00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:10.559
 a person spends,

00:38:10.620 --> 00:38:11.180
 on average,

00:38:11.300 --> 00:38:11.920
 on gifts,

00:38:12.600 --> 00:38:13.039
 gifts,

00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:14.900
 or charity,

00:38:15.380 --> 00:38:16.219
 and or charity,

00:38:16.739 --> 00:38:17.659
 so this person,

00:38:17.739 --> 00:38:19.320
 making $11,000 a month,

00:38:20.360 --> 00:38:21.559
 sure she's a great person,

00:38:21.619 --> 00:38:21.900
 by the way,

00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:22.980
 I don't mean to put her down,

00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:23.559
 I don't know her,

00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.139
 guess how much money,

00:38:25.199 --> 00:38:26.300
 she gives to gifts,

00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.340
 or charity,

00:38:27.619 --> 00:38:28.300
 every month,

00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:30.539
 if you guess zero,

00:38:30.699 --> 00:38:31.199
 you're right,

00:38:32.559 --> 00:38:34.940
 $11,000 a month,

00:38:35.199 --> 00:38:37.340
 worth over one and a half million dollars,

00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:39.099
 she gives zero dollars,

00:38:39.300 --> 00:38:39.960
 a year,

00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:41.519
 in gifts,

00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:43.820
 zero dollars,

00:38:43.940 --> 00:38:44.679
 a year,

00:38:45.320 --> 00:38:46.000
 to charity,

00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:48.059
 now let's say,

00:38:48.179 --> 00:38:49.300
 a huge tragedy,

00:38:49.400 --> 00:38:50.280
 befell me,

00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:51.239
 and,

00:38:51.340 --> 00:38:52.340
 and my wife died,

00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:53.440
 and I have to remarry,

00:38:53.619 --> 00:38:54.280
 and this woman,

00:38:54.420 --> 00:38:55.259
 maybe she's very pretty,

00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:56.280
 maybe she's very witty,

00:38:56.440 --> 00:38:57.780
 and she's making a lot of money,

00:38:57.860 --> 00:38:58.900
 my life would be more comfortable,

00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:01.000
 how could I live with her,

00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:03.259
 I strive to give away,

00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:04.460
 10% of what I make,

00:39:04.579 --> 00:39:05.599
 she gives nothing away,

00:39:06.219 --> 00:39:08.259
 and the 10% of what I give,

00:39:08.380 --> 00:39:09.280
 I try to give to God,

00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:10.360
 that doesn't count the money,

00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:11.440
 I want to spend on gifts,

00:39:12.580 --> 00:39:14.340
 like how would we actually,

00:39:14.340 --> 00:39:16.500
 manage life together,

00:39:16.900 --> 00:39:17.960
 in that situation,

00:39:18.680 --> 00:39:21.960
 and I'm a pastor,

00:39:22.040 --> 00:39:22.580
 it's a bit different,

00:39:22.660 --> 00:39:23.300
 if she married me,

00:39:23.360 --> 00:39:24.360
 she'd know I have to go,

00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:26.260
 and do things on Sunday morning,

00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:27.220
 I know,

00:39:27.219 --> 00:39:29.719
 you know,

00:39:29.759 --> 00:39:30.719
 it's your job,

00:39:30.959 --> 00:39:31.759
 she'd tell her friends,

00:39:31.839 --> 00:39:32.819
 it's his job,

00:39:33.659 --> 00:39:35.279
 but for you,

00:39:35.339 --> 00:39:36.199
 who aren't pastors,

00:39:37.239 --> 00:39:38.359
 and the text tells you,

00:39:38.399 --> 00:39:39.059
 to not forsake,

00:39:39.139 --> 00:39:40.019
 the assembling together,

00:39:40.279 --> 00:39:40.819
 of yourselves,

00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:42.419
 how's it going to work,

00:39:43.699 --> 00:39:43.919
 you know,

00:39:43.939 --> 00:39:45.299
 you go into that marriage relationship,

00:39:45.500 --> 00:39:45.879
 say yeah,

00:39:45.879 --> 00:39:46.000
 yeah,

00:39:46.139 --> 00:39:46.939
 and she says,

00:39:47.019 --> 00:39:47.159
 okay,

00:39:47.219 --> 00:39:47.819
 well how's our money,

00:39:47.919 --> 00:39:49.219
 well where's all money going,

00:39:49.839 --> 00:39:51.059
 well I wrote all those checks,

00:39:51.259 --> 00:39:51.879
 to you know,

00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:53.039
 to compassion,

00:39:53.419 --> 00:39:54.879
 and to a missionary,

00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:57.019
 and to the church,

00:39:58.800 --> 00:40:02.700
 you gave $800,

00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:04.300
 away this month,

00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:06.300
 and on top of that,

00:40:06.380 --> 00:40:07.579
 every Sunday morning,

00:40:07.680 --> 00:40:08.920
 when I would just like to sleep in,

00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:11.019
 you go to that bleepity bleep church,

00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:12.559
 and on top of that,

00:40:12.640 --> 00:40:13.820
 you want to go have this,

00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:14.940
 mentoring relationship,

00:40:15.160 --> 00:40:16.180
 with a friend at lunch hour,

00:40:16.260 --> 00:40:17.539
 rather than being on the phone with me,

00:40:17.780 --> 00:40:18.640
 and on top of that,

00:40:18.880 --> 00:40:19.720
 some other night of the week,

00:40:19.760 --> 00:40:21.180
 you want to go to a Bible study,

00:40:21.960 --> 00:40:23.059
 are you crazy,

00:40:23.820 --> 00:40:24.539
 how can you be married,

00:40:24.880 --> 00:40:28.079
 how can you be married,

00:40:28.660 --> 00:40:30.900
 if your lives are going,

00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:32.240
 very very different directions,

00:40:32.380 --> 00:40:33.579
 if you have very different values,

00:40:33.680 --> 00:40:34.579
 how can you be married,

00:40:36.579 --> 00:40:37.280
 this is a very,

00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:37.760
 it's,

00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:39.360
 I mean in a lot of circles,

00:40:39.480 --> 00:40:40.720
 it's not a very popular text,

00:40:40.760 --> 00:40:42.119
 it's a very important text,

00:40:42.660 --> 00:40:43.840
 and that doesn't even go on,

00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:44.619
 to talk about the fact,

00:40:44.700 --> 00:40:45.539
 that that's why Christians,

00:40:45.680 --> 00:40:46.320
 should have nothing to do,

00:40:46.420 --> 00:40:47.039
 with Ouija boards,

00:40:47.180 --> 00:40:48.079
 they should have nothing to do,

00:40:48.180 --> 00:40:48.700
 with astrology,

00:40:48.900 --> 00:40:49.780
 they should have nothing to do,

00:40:49.860 --> 00:40:50.340
 with anything,

00:40:51.019 --> 00:40:51.940
 it's one of the reasons,

00:40:52.059 --> 00:40:53.019
 what if you take yoga,

00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:54.320
 you should be deeply careful,

00:40:54.320 --> 00:40:54.900
 about yoga,

00:40:54.900 --> 00:40:56.300
 because yoga is completely,

00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:57.400
 and utterly designed,

00:40:57.800 --> 00:40:59.280
 to try to connect you,

00:40:59.500 --> 00:41:00.539
 to certain states,

00:41:00.539 --> 00:41:01.220
 of consciousness,

00:41:01.380 --> 00:41:01.980
 and relationships,

00:41:02.200 --> 00:41:03.580
 with Hindu gods,

00:41:04.200 --> 00:41:05.980
 with repeating certain words,

00:41:06.160 --> 00:41:07.039
 even the postures,

00:41:07.140 --> 00:41:07.380
 I know,

00:41:07.500 --> 00:41:07.960
 I'm not saying,

00:41:08.100 --> 00:41:09.340
 that you can't do yoga,

00:41:09.400 --> 00:41:09.920
 in such a way,

00:41:09.980 --> 00:41:10.740
 that it's just a type,

00:41:10.740 --> 00:41:11.420
 of stretching,

00:41:11.420 --> 00:41:12.380
 and Pilates,

00:41:12.820 --> 00:41:14.900
 only spelt easier,

00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:20.380
 but it goes on,

00:41:20.480 --> 00:41:21.019
 to these other,

00:41:21.220 --> 00:41:22.280
 deep intimate relationships,

00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:22.760
 and that's why,

00:41:22.880 --> 00:41:23.380
 it's telling us,

00:41:23.500 --> 00:41:24.180
 and it's telling us,

00:41:24.220 --> 00:41:25.320
 because God loves us,

00:41:25.880 --> 00:41:27.420
 because he wants you,

00:41:27.559 --> 00:41:28.619
 to endure greatly,

00:41:29.099 --> 00:41:30.599
 in making a difference,

00:41:30.700 --> 00:41:31.519
 in being fruitful,

00:41:32.460 --> 00:41:32.780
 Andrew,

00:41:32.840 --> 00:41:33.680
 could you put up the prayer,

00:41:33.679 --> 00:41:35.960
 dear Lord,

00:41:36.319 --> 00:41:37.079
 please make me,

00:41:37.079 --> 00:41:38.059
 a disciple of Jesus,

00:41:38.219 --> 00:41:39.179
 gripped by the gospel,

00:41:39.319 --> 00:41:39.759
 who is learning,

00:41:39.859 --> 00:41:40.480
 to say no,

00:41:40.599 --> 00:41:41.559
 to the relationships,

00:41:41.759 --> 00:41:42.500
 and involvements,

00:41:42.559 --> 00:41:43.500
 which take me away,

00:41:43.500 --> 00:41:44.399
 from the freedom,

00:41:44.399 --> 00:41:45.779
 that comes,

00:41:45.899 --> 00:41:47.339
 from being led by you,

00:41:47.539 --> 00:41:48.539
 to live well,

00:41:48.879 --> 00:41:50.119
 as I live for your glory,

00:41:50.119 --> 00:41:53.299
 let me tell you folks,

00:41:54.539 --> 00:41:56.759
 it is so much more freeing,

00:41:56.900 --> 00:41:57.839
 to be generous,

00:41:58.159 --> 00:41:59.079
 with your money,

00:41:59.759 --> 00:42:00.619
 than to be cheap,

00:42:02.579 --> 00:42:03.139
 sorry,

00:42:03.239 --> 00:42:03.579
 I don't want to,

00:42:03.579 --> 00:42:04.719
 I don't want to offend people,

00:42:04.839 --> 00:42:05.380
 who are cheap here,

00:42:05.400 --> 00:42:06.279
 I didn't mean to do that,

00:42:06.799 --> 00:42:09.659
 I just want to bear witness to it,

00:42:10.039 --> 00:42:11.980
 there is something freeing,

00:42:12.139 --> 00:42:13.400
 about not having money,

00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:14.599
 as an idol in your life,

00:42:15.599 --> 00:42:18.179
 and trusting God,

00:42:18.319 --> 00:42:19.139
 for part of having,

00:42:19.259 --> 00:42:20.099
 your needs met,

00:42:21.039 --> 00:42:22.619
 it's God,

00:42:22.859 --> 00:42:24.299
 these words of God,

00:42:24.339 --> 00:42:25.039
 are for our freedom,

00:42:25.920 --> 00:42:26.859
 and I already described,

00:42:27.299 --> 00:42:28.039
 if you're connecting,

00:42:28.039 --> 00:42:29.219
 to idols and demons,

00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:29.699
 it's what,

00:42:29.900 --> 00:42:31.259
 this whole sermon began,

00:42:31.359 --> 00:42:32.239
 with what demons say,

00:42:32.299 --> 00:42:33.179
 into our ears,

00:42:33.639 --> 00:42:36.679
 and the complete,

00:42:36.779 --> 00:42:37.920
 and utter difference,

00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:42.319
 I mean,

00:42:42.380 --> 00:42:43.400
 so many people,

00:42:43.619 --> 00:42:43.859
 who do,

00:42:44.319 --> 00:42:45.960
 I bet if you discovered,

00:42:46.139 --> 00:42:46.900
 that that man,

00:42:46.980 --> 00:42:47.819
 who just attacked,

00:42:47.900 --> 00:42:49.159
 those two young girls,

00:42:49.159 --> 00:42:50.699
 in Abbotsford,

00:42:50.819 --> 00:42:51.719
 I bet he was listening,

00:42:51.819 --> 00:42:52.339
 to voices,

00:42:52.339 --> 00:42:54.679
 and demons,

00:42:54.960 --> 00:42:56.519
 want you to kill people,

00:42:56.679 --> 00:42:57.819
 and they want you to die,

00:42:57.940 --> 00:42:58.559
 but the God,

00:42:58.639 --> 00:42:59.199
 of the Bible,

00:42:59.359 --> 00:43:00.339
 dies for you,

00:43:00.879 --> 00:43:02.799
 the world,

00:43:03.019 --> 00:43:04.639
 is completely different,

00:43:05.039 --> 00:43:06.879
 between the world,

00:43:06.960 --> 00:43:08.179
 of the devil,

00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:09.219
 and the demons,

00:43:09.420 --> 00:43:10.179
 and of darkness,

00:43:10.460 --> 00:43:11.299
 and of idols,

00:43:11.420 --> 00:43:12.239
 it is completely,

00:43:12.399 --> 00:43:13.099
 and utterly different,

00:43:13.099 --> 00:43:13.899
 from the world,

00:43:13.980 --> 00:43:14.879
 of the living God,

00:43:14.880 --> 00:43:15.800
 it is the culture,

00:43:15.800 --> 00:43:16.400
 of death,

00:43:16.700 --> 00:43:17.920
 versus the culture,

00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:18.480
 of life,

00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:19.840
 and he does it,

00:43:19.860 --> 00:43:20.539
 because he wants you,

00:43:21.160 --> 00:43:21.840
 to be free,

00:43:23.200 --> 00:43:24.700
 sort of running out of time,

00:43:24.780 --> 00:43:25.700
 just want to be clear,

00:43:26.260 --> 00:43:26.960
 this is not,

00:43:27.079 --> 00:43:28.340
 just a pep talk,

00:43:30.019 --> 00:43:31.500
 if you just be patient,

00:43:31.500 --> 00:43:32.740
 with me for an extra second,

00:43:32.920 --> 00:43:33.079
 here,

00:43:33.880 --> 00:43:34.920
 I've heard this,

00:43:34.960 --> 00:43:36.180
 at lots of funerals,

00:43:36.680 --> 00:43:37.780
 and I just heard it,

00:43:37.800 --> 00:43:38.940
 at a very recent funeral,

00:43:39.940 --> 00:43:41.400
 and a person,

00:43:41.640 --> 00:43:42.240
 who just,

00:43:42.640 --> 00:43:43.660
 in their talk,

00:43:43.659 --> 00:43:45.579
 because they want to say,

00:43:45.579 --> 00:43:46.559
 something about the deceased,

00:43:46.679 --> 00:43:47.139
 they say,

00:43:47.739 --> 00:43:50.599
 I just want to tell you all,

00:43:51.759 --> 00:43:52.539
 that the deceased,

00:43:52.940 --> 00:43:54.319
 let's call him Bob,

00:43:55.259 --> 00:43:56.339
 that as I was walking,

00:43:56.579 --> 00:43:57.559
 thinking about what to say,

00:43:57.599 --> 00:43:58.319
 at this funeral,

00:43:59.500 --> 00:44:00.500
 Bob wanted me,

00:44:00.559 --> 00:44:01.279
 to let you know,

00:44:01.319 --> 00:44:01.859
 he's fine,

00:44:02.940 --> 00:44:06.899
 Bob wanted me,

00:44:06.940 --> 00:44:07.480
 to let you know,

00:44:07.519 --> 00:44:07.960
 he's fine,

00:44:08.039 --> 00:44:09.179
 don't worry about Bob,

00:44:10.259 --> 00:44:10.940
 now okay,

00:44:12.139 --> 00:44:12.779
 time out,

00:44:12.780 --> 00:44:14.100
 like really,

00:44:14.800 --> 00:44:16.380
 really,

00:44:16.700 --> 00:44:18.160
 but you know,

00:44:18.260 --> 00:44:19.000
 they mean very,

00:44:19.080 --> 00:44:19.260
 very,

00:44:19.360 --> 00:44:19.560
 very,

00:44:19.640 --> 00:44:20.160
 very well,

00:44:21.080 --> 00:44:22.019
 people who say that,

00:44:22.160 --> 00:44:23.120
 and maybe one of you,

00:44:23.180 --> 00:44:23.660
 have said that,

00:44:23.800 --> 00:44:24.200
 and I don't,

00:44:24.380 --> 00:44:25.700
 how many people,

00:44:25.800 --> 00:44:26.980
 have I offended this morning,

00:44:27.500 --> 00:44:28.100
 you can have a little,

00:44:28.180 --> 00:44:28.640
 maybe you should have,

00:44:28.700 --> 00:44:29.780
 a chart up there Andrew,

00:44:30.140 --> 00:44:31.580
 people could send in texts,

00:44:31.720 --> 00:44:32.019
 offended,

00:44:32.300 --> 00:44:32.640
 offended,

00:44:32.900 --> 00:44:33.220
 offended,

00:44:33.320 --> 00:44:34.400
 we have a little chart,

00:44:35.040 --> 00:44:36.040
 George keeps speaking,

00:44:36.160 --> 00:44:36.400
 whoa,

00:44:36.580 --> 00:44:38.560
 it's been a real offensive morning,

00:44:38.559 --> 00:44:39.519
 this week,

00:44:39.559 --> 00:44:40.799
 at Church of the Messiah,

00:44:42.019 --> 00:44:43.239
 people mean well,

00:44:43.299 --> 00:44:44.019
 when they say that,

00:44:44.099 --> 00:44:44.440
 but it's,

00:44:44.579 --> 00:44:45.480
 we all know it's,

00:44:46.259 --> 00:44:46.559
 crap,

00:44:47.480 --> 00:44:50.299
 and so maybe,

00:44:50.440 --> 00:44:51.000
 when I'm telling you,

00:44:51.059 --> 00:44:51.820
 that God loves you,

00:44:51.840 --> 00:44:52.679
 and all of these types,

00:44:52.719 --> 00:44:53.039
 of things,

00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:53.579
 in fact Andrew,

00:44:53.659 --> 00:44:54.440
 could you put up the next,

00:44:54.579 --> 00:44:55.360
 the final point,

00:44:56.279 --> 00:44:57.019
 we are the temple,

00:44:57.079 --> 00:44:58.000
 of the living God,

00:44:58.699 --> 00:44:59.980
 that's verse 16,

00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:00.500
 what agreement,

00:45:00.659 --> 00:45:01.440
 has the temple of God,

00:45:01.480 --> 00:45:01.980
 with idols,

00:45:02.099 --> 00:45:02.920
 for we are the temple,

00:45:02.920 --> 00:45:03.860
 of the living God,

00:45:03.860 --> 00:45:05.220
 that means,

00:45:05.420 --> 00:45:06.800
 that God himself,

00:45:06.940 --> 00:45:07.640
 dwells,

00:45:08.200 --> 00:45:09.260
 amongst each of us,

00:45:09.280 --> 00:45:09.940
 as individuals,

00:45:10.140 --> 00:45:11.099
 and amongst Christians,

00:45:11.360 --> 00:45:12.099
 as a group,

00:45:13.220 --> 00:45:14.460
 and that I will be their God,

00:45:14.500 --> 00:45:15.780
 and they shall be my people,

00:45:16.940 --> 00:45:18.260
 that I will welcome you,

00:45:18.660 --> 00:45:20.200
 I will be a father to you,

00:45:20.500 --> 00:45:21.400
 you will be my sons,

00:45:21.480 --> 00:45:22.019
 and daughters,

00:45:22.620 --> 00:45:23.519
 it is the Lord Almighty,

00:45:23.620 --> 00:45:24.240
 who is speaking,

00:45:24.880 --> 00:45:25.800
 it is the Lord Almighty,

00:45:25.800 --> 00:45:26.880
 who meets with us,

00:45:26.920 --> 00:45:28.300
 in the center of who we are,

00:45:28.300 --> 00:45:29.559
 that dwells there,

00:45:30.380 --> 00:45:31.760
 this is not me,

00:45:31.900 --> 00:45:33.220
 being sane,

00:45:33.219 --> 00:45:34.599
 wishful thinking,

00:45:35.719 --> 00:45:39.319
 if this is God,

00:45:39.399 --> 00:45:39.959
 correcting me,

00:45:40.019 --> 00:45:41.039
 then I am in real trouble,

00:45:41.239 --> 00:45:41.459
 no,

00:45:42.739 --> 00:45:43.339
 sorry,

00:45:43.480 --> 00:45:43.939
 you didn't know,

00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:44.959
 I had my phone up here,

00:45:45.000 --> 00:45:46.219
 I use it to try to keep track,

00:45:46.259 --> 00:45:47.239
 of how long I am talking,

00:45:47.959 --> 00:45:51.079
 that has never happened,

00:45:51.159 --> 00:45:51.779
 to me before,

00:45:54.859 --> 00:45:56.459
 and really the funny thing is,

00:45:56.500 --> 00:45:57.299
 it is from a Christian,

00:45:57.299 --> 00:45:57.859
 who should know,

00:45:58.000 --> 00:45:58.739
 that I am in church,

00:46:00.139 --> 00:46:03.059
 I mean,

00:46:03.219 --> 00:46:05.179
 he goes to an evangelical,

00:46:05.179 --> 00:46:06.799
 Bible teaching church,

00:46:06.839 --> 00:46:07.519
 he should know,

00:46:07.599 --> 00:46:08.679
 that I am probably in church,

00:46:08.759 --> 00:46:08.980
 anyway,

00:46:09.059 --> 00:46:09.359
 I don't know,

00:46:09.439 --> 00:46:10.159
 what is going on there,

00:46:10.359 --> 00:46:11.299
 so anyway,

00:46:12.399 --> 00:46:14.279
 maybe somebody stole his phone,

00:46:14.379 --> 00:46:15.099
 and pressed that,

00:46:15.179 --> 00:46:16.239
 that must be the case,

00:46:16.439 --> 00:46:16.679
 that is,

00:46:16.859 --> 00:46:17.480
 it couldn't have been,

00:46:17.559 --> 00:46:18.419
 that person actually,

00:46:18.519 --> 00:46:19.000
 calling me,

00:46:19.500 --> 00:46:20.000
 here we are,

00:46:20.079 --> 00:46:20.659
 we are the temple,

00:46:20.719 --> 00:46:21.359
 of the living God,

00:46:21.599 --> 00:46:21.980
 here is the thing,

00:46:22.039 --> 00:46:23.519
 why is this not just a fantasy,

00:46:23.519 --> 00:46:26.199
 because Jesus,

00:46:26.739 --> 00:46:29.940
 walked amongst us,

00:46:30.719 --> 00:46:32.340
 Jesus claimed,

00:46:32.780 --> 00:46:33.639
 that all of the,

00:46:33.679 --> 00:46:35.280
 that all of the Old Testament,

00:46:35.840 --> 00:46:38.039
 claimed that God would send a deliverer,

00:46:38.079 --> 00:46:39.559
 that God would send a Messiah,

00:46:40.039 --> 00:46:41.420
 and Jesus came and said,

00:46:41.559 --> 00:46:42.900
 I am that one,

00:46:43.000 --> 00:46:44.219
 that God has promised,

00:46:44.400 --> 00:46:44.780
 that would,

00:46:45.239 --> 00:46:46.440
 he would send a Messiah,

00:46:46.960 --> 00:46:48.780
 and all of the wisdom,

00:46:48.780 --> 00:46:49.659
 of the Old Testament,

00:46:49.820 --> 00:46:50.579
 and all of the goodness,

00:46:50.739 --> 00:46:51.480
 of the Old Testament,

00:46:51.480 --> 00:46:52.280
 it's all connected,

00:46:52.400 --> 00:46:53.019
 and Jesus says,

00:46:53.119 --> 00:46:53.780
 all of the things,

00:46:53.860 --> 00:46:54.539
 in the Old Testament,

00:46:54.679 --> 00:46:55.480
 that are good and true,

00:46:55.840 --> 00:46:56.920
 they point to me,

00:46:57.219 --> 00:46:58.019
 and to prove it,

00:46:58.340 --> 00:46:59.079
 I am going to die,

00:46:59.119 --> 00:46:59.800
 upon the cross,

00:46:59.860 --> 00:47:01.139
 because I came to die,

00:47:01.219 --> 00:47:02.039
 and on the third day,

00:47:02.099 --> 00:47:02.760
 I will rise,

00:47:02.800 --> 00:47:03.659
 and he said it time,

00:47:03.740 --> 00:47:04.179
 and time,

00:47:04.280 --> 00:47:04.679
 and time,

00:47:04.760 --> 00:47:05.500
 and time again,

00:47:05.980 --> 00:47:07.059
 and then in history,

00:47:07.179 --> 00:47:08.659
 he did die upon the cross,

00:47:08.980 --> 00:47:09.820
 and in history,

00:47:09.960 --> 00:47:10.840
 on the third day,

00:47:10.940 --> 00:47:12.059
 just as he promised,

00:47:12.460 --> 00:47:13.659
 the grave was empty,

00:47:14.059 --> 00:47:14.880
 the tombstone,

00:47:14.880 --> 00:47:15.579
 was rolled away,

00:47:15.579 --> 00:47:16.900
 not so he could get out,

00:47:17.000 --> 00:47:18.519
 but so people could look in,

00:47:18.880 --> 00:47:19.940
 and the tombstone,

00:47:20.199 --> 00:47:20.659
 was gone,

00:47:21.239 --> 00:47:22.819
 the tomb was empty,

00:47:23.119 --> 00:47:24.359
 the body was gone,

00:47:24.639 --> 00:47:25.440
 and it wasn't just,

00:47:25.559 --> 00:47:26.659
 that the body was gone,

00:47:26.940 --> 00:47:28.519
 but that over the next 40 days,

00:47:28.659 --> 00:47:30.420
 Jesus appeared to 500 people,

00:47:30.460 --> 00:47:31.099
 at one time,

00:47:31.159 --> 00:47:32.179
 he appeared to his mother,

00:47:32.299 --> 00:47:33.219
 he appeared to people,

00:47:33.559 --> 00:47:34.739
 the Bible is very clear,

00:47:34.819 --> 00:47:35.940
 all of the historical records,

00:47:36.019 --> 00:47:36.519
 are very clear,

00:47:36.639 --> 00:47:37.420
 nobody believed,

00:47:37.460 --> 00:47:38.339
 he would actually do it,

00:47:38.440 --> 00:47:39.199
 nobody believed,

00:47:39.259 --> 00:47:40.239
 he would rise from the dead,

00:47:40.599 --> 00:47:41.599
 everybody believed,

00:47:41.679 --> 00:47:42.199
 that that would be,

00:47:42.199 --> 00:47:43.319
 a complete and utter failure,

00:47:43.319 --> 00:47:44.639
 that it was the end of Jesus,

00:47:44.859 --> 00:47:46.539
 but the stone was rolled away,

00:47:46.639 --> 00:47:47.779
 the grave was empty,

00:47:48.139 --> 00:47:49.279
 the body's gone,

00:47:49.280 --> 00:47:50.680
 and Jesus appears,

00:47:50.800 --> 00:47:51.580
 and he convinces,

00:47:51.740 --> 00:47:52.800
 hundreds and hundreds,

00:47:52.940 --> 00:47:53.820
 of skeptics,

00:47:53.940 --> 00:47:55.300
 that he is still alive,

00:47:55.620 --> 00:47:57.160
 and his death,

00:47:57.240 --> 00:47:58.180
 and resurrection,

00:47:58.519 --> 00:47:59.320
 vindicates,

00:47:59.560 --> 00:48:00.800
 that he in fact,

00:48:01.400 --> 00:48:02.540
 is God's provision,

00:48:02.940 --> 00:48:04.220
 to make us right with him,

00:48:05.400 --> 00:48:06.300
 it is God,

00:48:06.460 --> 00:48:07.840
 it is vindication,

00:48:08.840 --> 00:48:11.260
 that when his followers,

00:48:11.260 --> 00:48:12.560
 say that we are the temple,

00:48:12.620 --> 00:48:13.380
 of the living God,

00:48:13.460 --> 00:48:14.519
 it is not like a person,

00:48:14.519 --> 00:48:14.980
 at the funeral,

00:48:15.059 --> 00:48:16.219
 saying that Bob is alright,

00:48:16.980 --> 00:48:19.920
 in history,

00:48:20.159 --> 00:48:20.960
 in reality,

00:48:21.500 --> 00:48:23.599
 he is vindicated,

00:48:24.340 --> 00:48:25.639
 and he can be known,

00:48:26.199 --> 00:48:27.139
 with our mind,

00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:28.820
 and with our faith,

00:48:29.219 --> 00:48:29.820
 please stand,

00:48:31.980 --> 00:48:32.679
 Andrew,

00:48:32.759 --> 00:48:33.259
 could you put up,

00:48:33.340 --> 00:48:34.320
 the final prayer please,

00:48:35.980 --> 00:48:39.039
 the final prayer is,

00:48:39.119 --> 00:48:39.500
 dear Lord,

00:48:39.619 --> 00:48:40.219
 please make me,

00:48:40.239 --> 00:48:41.259
 a disciple of Jesus,

00:48:41.440 --> 00:48:42.360
 gripped by the gospel,

00:48:42.360 --> 00:48:43.039
 who is growing,

00:48:43.220 --> 00:48:43.780
 in remembering,

00:48:43.980 --> 00:48:44.960
 that you live,

00:48:45.500 --> 00:48:46.480
 within us,

00:48:46.800 --> 00:48:47.980
 as we live for your glory,

00:48:48.079 --> 00:48:49.140
 that you live,

00:48:49.599 --> 00:48:50.320
 within us,

00:48:50.500 --> 00:48:51.579
 as we live for your glory,

00:48:52.579 --> 00:48:53.000
 friends,

00:48:53.740 --> 00:48:55.360
 maybe you have been,

00:48:55.480 --> 00:48:56.160
 really struggling,

00:48:56.420 --> 00:48:57.019
 the devil has been,

00:48:57.220 --> 00:48:57.740
 beating you up,

00:48:58.280 --> 00:48:59.340
 maybe you are like me,

00:48:59.680 --> 00:49:01.260
 the devil likes to beat me up,

00:49:01.500 --> 00:49:02.539
 and then puff me up,

00:49:02.720 --> 00:49:03.579
 he likes to play me,

00:49:03.740 --> 00:49:04.240
 like a yo-yo,

00:49:04.539 --> 00:49:07.039
 I go from despair,

00:49:07.220 --> 00:49:07.800
 to pride,

00:49:09.200 --> 00:49:10.599
 can all be in the same,

00:49:10.720 --> 00:49:11.360
 car drive,

00:49:11.360 --> 00:49:12.559
 and I'm not talking,

00:49:12.559 --> 00:49:13.440
 about driving to Toronto,

00:49:13.940 --> 00:49:14.740
 I'm talking about,

00:49:14.820 --> 00:49:15.720
 driving 10 minutes,

00:49:16.360 --> 00:49:17.420
 and maybe you're like me,

00:49:17.940 --> 00:49:19.420
 there's no better time,

00:49:19.519 --> 00:49:20.140
 than just to say,

00:49:20.380 --> 00:49:20.720
 once again,

00:49:20.880 --> 00:49:21.180
 Father,

00:49:21.800 --> 00:49:22.860
 thank you for Jesus,

00:49:23.079 --> 00:49:23.960
 thank you for what he did,

00:49:24.039 --> 00:49:24.880
 for me on the cross,

00:49:25.039 --> 00:49:25.780
 please make me,

00:49:25.820 --> 00:49:26.260
 a disciple,

00:49:26.420 --> 00:49:27.300
 gripped by the gospel,

00:49:27.460 --> 00:49:27.960
 who is living,

00:49:28.079 --> 00:49:28.680
 for your glory,

00:49:29.200 --> 00:49:29.760
 and Father,

00:49:29.920 --> 00:49:31.340
 please silence the devil,

00:49:32.160 --> 00:49:32.700
 some of you,

00:49:32.780 --> 00:49:33.599
 if you're really struggling,

00:49:33.599 --> 00:49:34.300
 with accusation,

00:49:34.380 --> 00:49:35.039
 one of the best things,

00:49:35.039 --> 00:49:35.500
 you can do,

00:49:35.579 --> 00:49:36.720
 is tell another brother,

00:49:36.820 --> 00:49:37.320
 or sister,

00:49:37.440 --> 00:49:38.120
 that you're struggling,

00:49:38.120 --> 00:49:38.460
 with it,

00:49:38.480 --> 00:49:39.460
 and ask them to pray,

00:49:39.620 --> 00:49:40.180
 for you,

00:49:41.360 --> 00:49:43.700
 and for some of us,

00:49:43.740 --> 00:49:44.620
 it's a long obedience,

00:49:44.820 --> 00:49:45.019
 God,

00:49:45.400 --> 00:49:46.340
 the devil has his grip,

00:49:46.420 --> 00:49:47.360
 since he can keep playing us,

00:49:47.519 --> 00:49:48.019
 like a yo-yo,

00:49:49.019 --> 00:49:49.960
 but we,

00:49:50.120 --> 00:49:51.620
 can greatly endure,

00:49:52.200 --> 00:49:53.000
 as we remember,

00:49:53.160 --> 00:49:53.900
 that we are servants,

00:49:53.900 --> 00:49:55.400
 of the most high God,

00:49:56.079 --> 00:49:57.340
 that God himself,

00:49:57.640 --> 00:49:58.500
 lives within,

00:49:58.680 --> 00:49:59.940
 those who put their faith,

00:49:59.980 --> 00:50:00.840
 and trust in Jesus,

00:50:01.000 --> 00:50:01.720
 and if you have not,

00:50:01.720 --> 00:50:02.420
 given your faith,

00:50:02.420 --> 00:50:03.260
 and trust to Jesus,

00:50:03.519 --> 00:50:04.860
 there is no better time,

00:50:05.200 --> 00:50:06.000
 than right today,

00:50:06.360 --> 00:50:07.539
 ignore all my other prayers,

00:50:07.660 --> 00:50:08.220
 ignore the rest,

00:50:08.260 --> 00:50:08.780
 of the service,

00:50:08.780 --> 00:50:09.920
 and just call out to God,

00:50:09.960 --> 00:50:10.160
 and say,

00:50:10.180 --> 00:50:11.060
 I don't know the words,

00:50:11.780 --> 00:50:12.480
 I need you,

00:50:12.600 --> 00:50:13.380
 I need your son,

00:50:13.420 --> 00:50:14.580
 as my savior and Lord,

00:50:15.640 --> 00:50:16.120
 forever,

00:50:16.760 --> 00:50:17.640
 right now,

00:50:17.960 --> 00:50:18.320
 forever,

00:50:18.860 --> 00:50:19.400
 let's pray,

00:50:20.500 --> 00:50:21.540
 Father,

00:50:23.160 --> 00:50:27.040
 in the name of Jesus,

00:50:28.040 --> 00:50:29.920
 not because of our righteousness,

00:50:29.920 --> 00:50:30.560
 or power,

00:50:30.700 --> 00:50:31.720
 but in the name of Jesus,

00:50:32.660 --> 00:50:33.760
 by his shed blood,

00:50:33.920 --> 00:50:35.100
 as his adopted children,

00:50:35.240 --> 00:50:35.700
 by grace,

00:50:35.800 --> 00:50:36.600
 we ask that if there are,

00:50:36.599 --> 00:50:37.639
 any demons present,

00:50:38.699 --> 00:50:39.579
 that in the name of Jesus,

00:50:39.699 --> 00:50:40.420
 they will be bound,

00:50:41.739 --> 00:50:42.960
 in the name of Jesus,

00:50:43.079 --> 00:50:44.339
 they will be cast from here,

00:50:45.139 --> 00:50:46.279
 in the name of Jesus,

00:50:46.400 --> 00:50:47.440
 that they will not return,

00:50:48.539 --> 00:50:49.460
 and Father,

00:50:49.559 --> 00:50:50.980
 we ask that you do not leave us,

00:50:50.980 --> 00:50:52.119
 swept empty,

00:50:52.880 --> 00:50:54.239
 but that you would pour out,

00:50:54.319 --> 00:50:55.099
 your Holy Spirit,

00:50:55.219 --> 00:50:55.819
 deep within us,

00:50:55.880 --> 00:50:57.119
 with an even greater power,

00:50:57.880 --> 00:50:59.699
 that as your Holy Spirit,

00:50:59.699 --> 00:51:00.299
 falls,

00:51:00.400 --> 00:51:01.960
 and as we dwell in your word,

00:51:02.059 --> 00:51:03.119
 that you will make us,

00:51:03.599 --> 00:51:04.199
 grow in us,

00:51:04.319 --> 00:51:05.099
 day by day,

00:51:05.299 --> 00:51:06.199
 more increasingly,

00:51:06.659 --> 00:51:07.859
 disciples of Jesus,

00:51:08.059 --> 00:51:09.159
 gripped by the gospel,

00:51:09.679 --> 00:51:10.659
 learning to live,

00:51:10.699 --> 00:51:11.879
 as your servants,

00:51:12.199 --> 00:51:13.279
 to bring you glory,

00:51:13.839 --> 00:51:14.659
 and this we ask,

00:51:14.739 --> 00:51:15.699
 in Jesus' name,

00:51:16.339 --> 00:51:16.679
 Amen.