WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.200
 agricultural excursion for school, staying in a motel in a small country town.

00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:13.320
 This motel, for some of you, this will be familiar. It's one of those motels many years ago where they

00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:18.300
 had the cupboard near the front door where the motel owner or whoever it was could open the door

00:00:18.300 --> 00:00:22.780
 from the outside, slide the breakfast in, and then you open the cupboard from the inside and get your

00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:29.760
 breakfast. I had one of those little cupboards still in operation. And in the wee hours of one

00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:39.500
 morning, a number of my fellow students decided it was a great idea to jump on me, to secure me in my

00:00:39.500 --> 00:00:48.020
 sleeping bag, and to put me in that cupboard, and to lock the door of the cupboard with the cord from

00:00:48.020 --> 00:00:56.240
 the kettle, all against my will and without my prior knowledge. It was in that moment, locked in that

00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:06.599
 cupboard, small cupboard, completely dark, that I realized how much I enjoyed my freedom, and how

00:01:06.599 --> 00:01:17.180
 little I wanted to be buried alive in a coffin. And it's fair to say that in that moment, I went nuts,

00:01:17.180 --> 00:01:29.440
 and I kicked that little cupboard apart, totally apart, in my bid for freedom. Of course, their lack of

00:01:29.440 --> 00:01:36.280
 planning meant that it was their breakfast cupboard, and not the one from my room that got destroyed.

00:01:37.320 --> 00:01:44.180
 They also had further explained to do when a sheep from the agricultural block of the neighboring high

00:01:44.180 --> 00:01:51.820
 school ended up in their room painted green. And the green paint discovered in the main perpetrator

00:01:51.820 --> 00:02:03.260
 of me being placed in that cupboard in his bag. There was a lot of explaining to do. Somehow, I managed to

00:02:03.260 --> 00:02:11.780
 get out of that one scot-free. All of us, no sheep were harmed in the process, I might add.

00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:21.639
 All of us value our freedom. We value the freedom to choose to do what we want, behave how we want.

00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:32.780
 And when that's threatened in any way, there is significant pushback. The importance in the Western

00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:43.319
 world of individual freedom and personal choice is very high. And ironically, it grew out of Protestant

00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:51.439
 theology, especially theology of salvation by faith alone through grace alone, and the call for every

00:02:51.439 --> 00:03:00.060
 person to make a conscious decision to put their faith in Jesus. The culture that we now live in

00:03:00.060 --> 00:03:12.140
 has gone way beyond what it was once the Bible's revolutionary concept of freedom. Freedom of choice

00:03:12.140 --> 00:03:19.960
 is now freedom of choice without any form of limitations. And that has become sacred.

00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:33.200
 There is, in our culture, no concept of objective and absolute truth. In fact, that has been rejected.

00:03:33.960 --> 00:03:41.620
 No concept of absolute or objective truth that must be understood and accepted. It is up to you,

00:03:41.620 --> 00:03:57.920
 the individual, to make up your own truth. So absolute truth is rejected, and it's up to you to make up your own truth,

00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:09.420
 which ironically is itself an absolute truth claim. Freedom from any constraints is the new moral absolute,

00:04:09.419 --> 00:04:17.219
 absolute truth. So that the only sin which is not tolerated is intolerance.

00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:25.360
 And so you have things like the Supreme Court in the United States declaring in a judgment case on abortion

00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:33.839
 that at the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence or meaning

00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:38.519
 of the universe and of the mystery of human life.

00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:45.579
 At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence,

00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:51.620
 even if that concept of existence is to end the life of another.

00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:58.639
 In this worldview, religion is seen as the enemy.

00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:07.099
 Religion is seen as stifling of autonomy and freedom because it seeks to impose a universal worldview.

00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:12.939
 In his recent book on preaching, American pastor and theologian Tim Keller writes,

00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:20.599
 the late modern mind, which is the culture that we exist in, presents itself something like this.

00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:25.920
 We have come to realize that we don't need God to explain the world we see.

00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:28.260
 Science does their job for us.

00:05:29.280 --> 00:05:34.379
 We don't need God or religion to be moral, to love, and to work for a better world,

00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:36.240
 or to have meaning and fulfillment in life.

00:05:36.840 --> 00:05:42.740
 What we need is to be free, to live life as we see fit,

00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:48.020
 and to work together to make the world a better and more just place to live.

00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:52.539
 If religion gets in the way of all of that,

00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:57.299
 it constrains our freedom to live as we see fit,

00:05:57.699 --> 00:06:01.479
 and it divides us so that we cannot work together.

00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:04.779
 So get God and religion out of the equation,

00:06:05.099 --> 00:06:08.319
 and you won't have the external constraints placed on you,

00:06:08.419 --> 00:06:10.719
 and so you're free to live as you see fit,

00:06:11.039 --> 00:06:16.019
 and in that freedom, somehow, as we all live individualistically for our own freedom,

00:06:16.019 --> 00:06:17.620
 we're going to make the world a better place.

00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:25.899
 We as a church exist in a culture that is drifting like a raft

00:06:25.899 --> 00:06:29.459
 in a vast ocean of individual freedom and choice

00:06:29.459 --> 00:06:33.519
 with very few solid anchor points to truth and reality.

00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:39.979
 It wants to exclude God.

00:06:41.899 --> 00:06:47.299
 And freedom appears to be up there as the highest of orders.

00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:49.419
 It appears that we've got freedom,

00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:55.479
 and yet at the same time, purpose and meaning and hope are declining.

00:06:55.480 --> 00:07:01.819
 And so rather than taking God out of the picture to find purpose and meaning and freedom,

00:07:02.200 --> 00:07:04.580
 here at St. Paul's, we want to put God at the center.

00:07:06.460 --> 00:07:08.200
 It's in our mission statement.

00:07:08.759 --> 00:07:09.960
 It's a purpose statement.

00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:16.240
 It is a statement that describes the reason why we exist as a church.

00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:21.160
 It says that we as a church exist to know Jesus, to treasure Jesus,

00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:26.400
 to represent Jesus for God's glory and the joy of all people.

00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:29.680
 And that's what we're going to look at in the next five weeks.

00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:36.460
 And I want to spend the rest of my time here this morning exploring as to why we want to make that statement

00:07:36.459 --> 00:07:41.159
 shape our corporate and personal lives here in this church.

00:07:41.359 --> 00:07:44.099
 And I want to focus on the first bit this morning, just the first bit,

00:07:44.379 --> 00:07:47.339
 that we exist to know Jesus.

00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:54.779
 If religion, and especially Christianity, is such a stench in our culture,

00:07:55.199 --> 00:08:00.979
 why would we say amongst that culture that we exist to want to know the heart of Christianity,

00:08:01.099 --> 00:08:02.819
 want to know Jesus?

00:08:02.819 --> 00:08:07.839
 Well, to answer that question, we need to go back to the beginning.

00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:10.939
 And as Deb has read from Genesis chapter 1,

00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:18.800
 Genesis 1 makes the very significant point that there was no reality before God.

00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:23.899
 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

00:08:24.180 --> 00:08:27.439
 Now the earth was formless and empty.

00:08:27.939 --> 00:08:31.920
 Before creation, God was.

00:08:32.820 --> 00:08:37.000
 He stands outside of all things that are created.

00:08:37.540 --> 00:08:41.400
 God is from everlasting to everlasting, no beginning, no end.

00:08:41.900 --> 00:08:44.960
 He spoke the universe into existence.

00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:46.400
 He speaks.

00:08:46.680 --> 00:08:48.940
 He's a God who speaks and who creates.

00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:52.440
 He is the one who never had a beginning,

00:08:53.500 --> 00:08:59.440
 but has always been, always is, always will be,

00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:02.420
 and therefore he defines all things.

00:09:03.780 --> 00:09:08.800
 God himself, in himself, is ultimate reality.

00:09:09.800 --> 00:09:15.480
 The absoluteness of God's existence is incredible for us to consider and ponder.

00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:19.300
 The fact that he never had a beginning, never will have an ending,

00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:21.240
 never becoming, never improving,

00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:27.220
 simply and absolutely there to be dealt with on his terms,

00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:28.899
 or not at all.

00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:36.040
 Reality is created, defined, determined by God,

00:09:36.040 --> 00:09:41.080
 which means that when God speaks as he does,

00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:44.820
 what he does is he reveals reality.

00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:53.740
 That is, when he speaks, he reveals truth.

00:09:54.700 --> 00:09:56.080
 That's what truth is.

00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:56.960
 It's reality.

00:09:57.140 --> 00:09:59.580
 It's the way things actually are.

00:09:59.580 --> 00:10:05.980
 Listen to what Psalm 119, verse 160 says about God when he speaks.

00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:06.300
 It says,

00:10:06.540 --> 00:10:11.480
 All your words are true, all your righteous laws are eternal.

00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:16.220
 What that Psalm says, verse 160 says,

00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:20.259
 is that the sum total of the word of God is truth,

00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:22.720
 but it also says,

00:10:22.940 --> 00:10:25.000
 All your righteous laws are eternal,

00:10:25.340 --> 00:10:28.200
 which is not just the sum total is truth,

00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:32.000
 but all the individual parts are truth as well.

00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:36.639
 The whole and the parts are all truth.

00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:39.639
 They are true because when God,

00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:42.259
 who is ultimate reality, speaks,

00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:47.259
 he reveals things the way they actually are.

00:10:49.500 --> 00:10:54.919
 And truth is when ultimate reality,

00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:58.039
 the way things actually are,

00:10:58.039 --> 00:11:02.139
 and the revealing of ultimate reality,

00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:05.039
 align with each other.

00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:08.639
 A lie is the opposite.

00:11:08.839 --> 00:11:11.120
 A lie is when this is reality,

00:11:11.839 --> 00:11:14.339
 and what I say about reality,

00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:15.579
 don't connect.

00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:19.519
 So if you had a corpse here today,

00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:20.459
 someone was dead,

00:11:20.959 --> 00:11:22.579
 and I said the person's alive.

00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:25.120
 That's a lie.

00:11:26.079 --> 00:11:27.559
 There's no beat there.

00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:28.439
 There's no breath.

00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:29.379
 The person's dead.

00:11:31.959 --> 00:11:35.619
 And the astounding claim of the Bible

00:11:35.619 --> 00:11:38.559
 is that the place where reality

00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:42.219
 and the communication of reality

00:11:42.219 --> 00:11:45.699
 come together most profoundly

00:11:45.699 --> 00:11:49.359
 is in the person of Jesus Christ.

00:11:52.359 --> 00:11:55.979
 First, it's because Jesus communicates truth.

00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:59.539
 Jesus says in John chapter 18, verse 37,

00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:01.860
 For this I came into the world,

00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:05.120
 to testify to the truth.

00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:09.139
 Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.

00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:10.920
 And so what Jesus is saying there

00:12:10.920 --> 00:12:12.420
 is that he speaks truth.

00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:16.440
 He speaks things the way they actually are.

00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:18.180
 And if you want to know reality,

00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:19.580
 you want to know the way things actually are,

00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:20.899
 you listen to Jesus.

00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:25.539
 He says something somewhat more profound

00:12:25.539 --> 00:12:27.500
 a couple of chapters earlier in John.

00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:29.679
 In John 14, verse 6,

00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:30.059
 he says,

00:12:30.179 --> 00:12:31.139
 I am the way,

00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:32.840
 the truth,

00:12:33.459 --> 00:12:34.840
 and the life.

00:12:36.179 --> 00:12:38.120
 No one comes to the Father

00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:40.059
 except through me.

00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:41.980
 That is,

00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:43.740
 he doesn't just speak truth,

00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:45.139
 but he says,

00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:48.259
 I am the truth.

00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:50.720
 Not just communicate the truth,

00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:52.539
 I am the truth.

00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:55.940
 And the only reason that he could claim

00:12:55.940 --> 00:12:57.240
 that he was the truth

00:12:57.240 --> 00:12:58.560
 or that he is the truth,

00:12:59.139 --> 00:13:00.600
 that is that I'm absolute

00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:02.620
 and I'm universal in truth,

00:13:03.060 --> 00:13:05.139
 is that he is in fact God.

00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:08.060
 Because that's what God is.

00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:09.700
 He is truth.

00:13:09.700 --> 00:13:13.960
 which is exactly what John 1 affirms,

00:13:14.020 --> 00:13:15.100
 which was just read out to us.

00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.840
 So if you've got John 1 there in front of you,

00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:19.620
 let's just have a look at what it affirms.

00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:23.420
 It says,

00:13:23.660 --> 00:13:25.759
 in the beginning was the Word.

00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:26.300
 That is,

00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:29.080
 the Word existed before anything was made.

00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:32.660
 In the beginning was the Word.

00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:35.340
 And the Word was with God.

00:13:36.060 --> 00:13:38.560
 And the Word was God.

00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:42.080
 He was with God in the beginning,

00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:43.340
 through Him,

00:13:43.400 --> 00:13:43.759
 that is,

00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:44.500
 the Word.

00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:46.879
 All things were made.

00:13:47.280 --> 00:13:48.259
 Without Him,

00:13:48.640 --> 00:13:49.879
 nothing was made

00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.500
 that has been made.

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:54.160
 So the Word existed

00:13:54.160 --> 00:13:55.620
 before anything was created.

00:13:56.180 --> 00:13:58.120
 The Word made everything.

00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:00.120
 This Word is God.

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:02.500
 Therefore, this Word is ultimate reality.

00:14:02.640 --> 00:14:05.040
 This Word is absolute truth.

00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:07.340
 And then down in verse 14,

00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:08.759
 we see something startling.

00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:13.540
 This Word became flesh

00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:17.000
 and made His dwelling amongst us.

00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:20.120
 And we have seen His glory.

00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:22.980
 The glory of the one and only

00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:24.419
 who came from the Father,

00:14:24.819 --> 00:14:27.299
 full of grace and truth.

00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:30.199
 And so you're left with a question.

00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:33.339
 Who is the Word?

00:14:33.719 --> 00:14:35.259
 Who is God?

00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:37.719
 Who existed before creation?

00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:39.600
 Who created everything?

00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:42.279
 Who is full of grace and truth?

00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:44.680
 Who's it talking about?

00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:47.120
 Verse 15.

00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:49.960
 John testifies concerning Him.

00:14:50.560 --> 00:14:51.840
 He cries out saying,

00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:54.019
 This was He of whom I said,

00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:56.000
 He who comes after me

00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:57.899
 has surpassed me

00:14:57.899 --> 00:14:59.480
 because He was before me.

00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:02.700
 From the fullness of His grace,

00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:04.580
 we have all received

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:06.899
 one blessing after another.

00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:09.560
 For the law was given through Moses.

00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:12.340
 Grace and truth

00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:15.200
 came through Jesus Christ.

00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:20.600
 See, Jesus doesn't just communicate

00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:21.740
 the truth.

00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:23.280
 He doesn't just communicate

00:15:23.280 --> 00:15:24.720
 God's Word.

00:15:25.040 --> 00:15:27.340
 He is the Word of God.

00:15:27.420 --> 00:15:29.120
 He is the center of God's

00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:31.480
 self-revelation

00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:33.379
 to His created order.

00:15:33.920 --> 00:15:35.020
 And that is why

00:15:35.020 --> 00:15:36.740
 we here at church,

00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:37.860
 at St. Paul's,

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.620
 say that we exist

00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:41.580
 to know Jesus.

00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:46.360
 That's why we exist

00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.100
 to know Jesus.

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:54.300
 And so if that's why

00:15:54.300 --> 00:15:55.700
 we exist to know Jesus,

00:15:56.160 --> 00:15:57.280
 the question is,

00:15:57.420 --> 00:15:59.180
 how do we get to know Jesus?

00:16:00.420 --> 00:16:01.520
 And it turns out

00:16:01.520 --> 00:16:02.620
 the answer to that question

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.620
 is exactly what

00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.400
 we've just been doing.

00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:08.740
 We've already seen briefly

00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:10.460
 in Psalm 119,

00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:12.180
 God speaks.

00:16:13.060 --> 00:16:14.560
 God reveals Himself

00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:15.700
 to His created order.

00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:19.600
 And 2 Timothy 3.16

00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:21.200
 is pretty explicit

00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:23.980
 on God's revelation

00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:24.900
 to His created order.

00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:26.519
 It says that all Scripture,

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:27.900
 that's referring there

00:16:27.900 --> 00:16:28.879
 to the whole Bible,

00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:31.019
 is God-breathed

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:32.900
 and useful for teaching,

00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:34.000
 rebuking, correcting,

00:16:34.160 --> 00:16:35.100
 and training in righteousness.

00:16:35.920 --> 00:16:36.720
 You see, the Bible

00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:40.920
 is not just

00:16:40.920 --> 00:16:43.500
 the record

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.860
 of God speaking,

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:46.899
 it is the means

00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:48.220
 of God speaking,

00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:50.639
 of what is real

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.519
 and absolute

00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.779
 to His world,

00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.440
 His created world.

00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:57.420
 Jesus made the claim

00:16:57.420 --> 00:16:59.019
 that this Bible

00:16:59.019 --> 00:17:01.759
 testifies to who He is.

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.240
 It says this

00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:04.299
 in John 5,

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.480
 verse 39,

00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:06.720
 you diligently

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:08.079
 study the Scriptures

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.299
 because you think

00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.099
 that by them

00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:10.920
 you possess

00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:12.400
 eternal life.

00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.460
 These are the Scriptures

00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:15.859
 that testify

00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:17.119
 about me,

00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:18.859
 and yet you refuse

00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:20.000
 to come to me

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:21.339
 to have life.

00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:24.099
 That assumption

00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:25.319
 there in John 5

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:26.379
 lies behind

00:17:26.379 --> 00:17:27.319
 our core value

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.519
 of Christ-centered

00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:29.379
 Bible saturation.

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.580
 The Bible

00:17:30.580 --> 00:17:31.200
 is the way

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:31.920
 that God,

00:17:32.340 --> 00:17:32.860
 the ultimate

00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:34.780
 and all-important

00:17:34.780 --> 00:17:35.800
 reality,

00:17:36.020 --> 00:17:37.520
 reveals Jesus

00:17:37.520 --> 00:17:38.200
 to us

00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:38.860
 with clarity

00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:39.620
 and authority

00:17:39.620 --> 00:17:40.060
 today.

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.100
 If God

00:17:42.100 --> 00:17:42.740
 is more important

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:43.260
 than anything,

00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:45.300
 then the Bible

00:17:45.300 --> 00:17:46.600
 is more important

00:17:46.600 --> 00:17:47.040
 than anything

00:17:47.040 --> 00:17:47.600
 but God.

00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.740
 And so we desire

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.620
 here at St. Paul's

00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:52.380
 to be saturated

00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:52.920
 in it,

00:17:53.540 --> 00:17:54.900
 to be shaped

00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:55.240
 by it,

00:17:55.300 --> 00:17:55.720
 to be corrected

00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:56.120
 by it,

00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:57.100
 trained by it,

00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:58.640
 rebuked by it,

00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.960
 instructed by it.

00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:01.920
 Everything that we face

00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:03.580
 in this world

00:18:03.580 --> 00:18:04.520
 is touched

00:18:04.520 --> 00:18:06.220
 by the Bible.

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.380
 It is either

00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:08.680
 directly touched

00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:09.960
 because it's in the Bible

00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:11.800
 or it's indirectly touched

00:18:11.800 --> 00:18:12.660
 because the Bible

00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:13.259
 shapes

00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.800
 the attitude

00:18:14.800 --> 00:18:16.200
 and the criteria

00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.600
 in which we deal

00:18:17.600 --> 00:18:17.960
 with it.

00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:21.160
 It gives light,

00:18:21.600 --> 00:18:22.640
 it gives perspective

00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:23.580
 and meaning,

00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:24.700
 its truth

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:26.000
 needs to permeate

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.800
 everything,

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:28.819
 all things

00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:29.799
 in this world

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.879
 will find meaning

00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:32.819
 in the worldview

00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:34.220
 that's built

00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:35.279
 by the Scriptures.

00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:38.819
 And so the Bible

00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:41.419
 has a dominant place

00:18:41.419 --> 00:18:43.079
 in the corporate life

00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:43.980
 of St. Paul's.

00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.359
 Dominant place

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.659
 in our corporate worship.

00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:48.159
 We have community groups

00:18:48.159 --> 00:18:48.579
 that gather

00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:49.480
 to study the Bible

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.180
 and apply it

00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:51.220
 and we want to encourage

00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:52.539
 every single person

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:54.240
 to pursue

00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:55.659
 regular habits

00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:57.379
 of Bible reading

00:18:57.379 --> 00:18:58.399
 and meditation.

00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:01.420
 As you look forward

00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:03.139
 into 2016,

00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:05.799
 how are you going to grow

00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.500
 in that area?

00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.720
 Notice, however,

00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:13.440
 the warning

00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.420
 that Jesus gives

00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.460
 in John 5.

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:18.579
 It is possible

00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.860
 to search

00:19:19.860 --> 00:19:20.519
 the Bible

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.460
 for God

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:23.799
 and miss God.

00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:26.819
 If we pursue

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.840
 knowledge of Jesus

00:19:27.840 --> 00:19:29.559
 for its own sake,

00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:31.279
 it is bound

00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.180
 to go bad

00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.860
 for us.

00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:35.019
 It will make us proud

00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:36.059
 and it will make us

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:36.620
 conceited.

00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:38.400
 As the great theologian

00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.980
 J.I. Packer

00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:40.940
 has written,

00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:43.240
 to be preoccupied

00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:43.700
 with getting

00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:44.620
 biblical knowledge

00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:45.440
 as an end

00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.200
 in itself,

00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:48.140
 to approach

00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:49.019
 Bible study

00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:50.640
 with no higher motive

00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:51.480
 than a desire

00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.960
 to know the answers

00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:55.220
 is the direct route

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.600
 to a state

00:19:56.600 --> 00:19:58.120
 of self-satisfied

00:19:58.120 --> 00:19:59.320
 self-deception.

00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:03.360
 That's a warning

00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:05.920
 for

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:09.320
 high-value Bible people

00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:11.379
 Bible.

00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:12.960
 What is the ultimate

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.460
 aim

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.599
 in wanting to know

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:15.720
 Jesus through the Bible?

00:20:17.179 --> 00:20:18.539
 The supreme desire

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.319
 of the writer

00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:20.539
 of Psalm 119

00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:22.079
 was to know

00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:23.159
 and enjoy

00:20:23.159 --> 00:20:24.399
 God himself.

00:20:25.679 --> 00:20:26.619
 And he valued

00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:27.679
 knowledge about God

00:20:27.679 --> 00:20:28.319
 simply

00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:29.559
 as a means

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:30.519
 to that end.

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:32.079
 He wanted to know

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:33.519
 about God

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.419
 in order to

00:20:34.419 --> 00:20:35.179
 know God.

00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:36.919
 He wanted to know

00:20:36.919 --> 00:20:38.259
 the truth about God

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:40.579
 so that his heart

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.660
 might respond

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.299
 to it

00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:43.319
 and his life

00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:44.059
 be conformed

00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.379
 to it.

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.359
 And so friends,

00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.940
 it's not good enough

00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.779
 to simply know

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.339
 your Bible.

00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.500
 Our aim

00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.180
 is to seek

00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:52.220
 to know Jesus

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.859
 through the Bible

00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.740
 to be led

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.619
 to Jesus

00:20:55.619 --> 00:20:57.720
 and in being led

00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.500
 to Jesus

00:20:58.500 --> 00:20:59.680
 have life

00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.579
 in Jesus.

00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:02.640
 Our concern

00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.180
 must be

00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:04.440
 to enlarge

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.740
 our acquaintance

00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:07.599
 with the God

00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.240
 who defines

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.980
 all things.

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:11.640
 And so one

00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.240
 quick tip

00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:15.079
 on how to turn

00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:16.779
 that knowledge

00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:18.099
 about God

00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:20.160
 into knowledge

00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:21.039
 of God.

00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:24.839
 It is both

00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:25.460
 demanding

00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:26.620
 and simple

00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:27.859
 at the same time.

00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:30.639
 it's just

00:21:30.639 --> 00:21:31.359
 simply this.

00:21:32.219 --> 00:21:32.559
 Turn

00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:34.179
 every truth

00:21:34.179 --> 00:21:35.259
 that we learn

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:36.299
 about God

00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:38.599
 into a matter

00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:39.759
 of meditation

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:41.379
 before God

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:43.919
 which leads

00:21:43.919 --> 00:21:44.799
 to prayer

00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.879
 and praise

00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:47.099
 to God.

00:21:48.179 --> 00:21:49.279
 I'll say it again.

00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:50.679
 Turn

00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:51.519
 every truth

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:52.179
 that we learn

00:21:52.179 --> 00:21:53.279
 about God

00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.539
 into a matter

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:56.139
 of meditation

00:21:56.139 --> 00:21:58.079
 before God

00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.480
 leading to

00:21:59.480 --> 00:21:59.879
 prayer

00:21:59.879 --> 00:22:00.779
 and praise

00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.740
 to God.

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.539
 Meditation

00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.700
 is the activity

00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.500
 of calling

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.200
 to mind

00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.240
 lingering

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:08.960
 over

00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.879
 dwelling

00:22:09.879 --> 00:22:10.440
 on

00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:11.700
 and applying

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.659
 to yourself

00:22:12.659 --> 00:22:14.059
 what you've

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.500
 learned from

00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.039
 the Bible

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.099
 about the works

00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:16.980
 and the ways

00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.700
 and the purposes

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.399
 and the promises

00:22:18.399 --> 00:22:19.059
 and the character

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.539
 of God.

00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:22.399
 And the effect

00:22:22.399 --> 00:22:23.039
 will be

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:26.159
 humility.

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.740
 That will be

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.259
 the impact.

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.119
 It will

00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.879
 humble us

00:22:32.879 --> 00:22:33.359
 as we

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:33.960
 contemplate

00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.319
 God's

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:34.720
 greatness

00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.259
 and his

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.759
 glory

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:37.220
 and our

00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.480
 own

00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.000
 littleness

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.579
 and our

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.139
 sinfulness.

00:22:40.139 --> 00:22:40.920
 It will

00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:41.539
 encourage

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.159
 and comfort

00:22:42.159 --> 00:22:42.559
 us

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.500
 and reassure

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:43.920
 us

00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.819
 as we

00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.440
 contemplate

00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:45.659
 the

00:22:45.659 --> 00:22:46.519
 unsearchable

00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:46.899
 riches

00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:48.180
 of the

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:48.399
 Lord

00:22:48.399 --> 00:22:48.759
 Jesus'

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.240
 mercy

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:49.879
 to us.

00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:52.879
 So how

00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.100
 do you

00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:53.360
 know

00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:53.660
 if

00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:53.840
 you're

00:22:53.840 --> 00:22:54.060
 making

00:22:54.060 --> 00:22:54.740
 progress

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.960
 in

00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.820
 knowing

00:22:56.820 --> 00:22:57.660
 Jesus?

00:22:57.660 --> 00:23:04.519
 Those who are making progress in knowing Jesus have great energy for Jesus.

00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:10.180
 Those who are making progress in knowing Jesus have great thoughts of Jesus.

00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:15.960
 Those who are making progress in knowing Jesus have great boldness for Jesus.

00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:23.380
 Those who are making progress in Jesus have great contentment and joy in Jesus,

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:26.100
 no matter what the circumstances of life.

00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:36.400
 so maybe you're sitting there now and you're thinking well why would i be bothered finding

00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:45.440
 out about jesus and becoming acquainted with jesus what's the take home for me what's the

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:52.380
 take home for our world jesus said another astounding thing a little later in john's gospel

00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:59.240
 john chapter 8 he says if you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples

00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:06.740
 then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:12.580
 know jesus and you know freedom

00:24:12.580 --> 00:24:22.360
 jesus promises promises us the very thing that we are all striving for

00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:29.199
 in this secular individualistic culture true freedom freedom indeed he says

00:24:29.199 --> 00:24:35.639
 and i take it that every single person in this room wants to be free

00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:41.439
 free in the in the deepest and fullest sense

00:24:41.439 --> 00:24:49.079
 i once spoke to a man in hospital many many years ago on a hospital visit

00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:56.779
 uh he was dying of emphysema hooked up to the tanks i shared jesus with him he said no thanks not for me

00:24:56.779 --> 00:25:04.099
 and i asked him don't mean to be rude but looks like there's only one way out of here for you

00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:15.059
 uh why why reject jesus he said to me i don't want to lose my freedom

00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:23.219
 he's hooked up to oxygen tanks i want to suggest to him that freedom was an illusion

00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:32.140
 i'm assuming that every single person here wants freedom in the deepest and fullest sense

00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:37.980
 and that is if the opposite of freedom is bondage and slavery no one here wants that

00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:48.079
 now i also acknowledge that it's possible that you are enslaved to some habits that are very pleasurable

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:52.000
 and in that sense you might enjoy your slavery

00:25:52.000 --> 00:26:02.480
 even so all of us here would rather be happy in freedom rather than enslaved to pleasant addictions

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:09.399
 we all want to be truly free and so jesus makes this walloping statement

00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:14.620
 if you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples then you will know the truth

00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:18.060
 and the truth will set you free

00:26:18.060 --> 00:26:25.320
 and the people gathered around said to jesus

00:26:25.320 --> 00:26:29.280
 something that we might say to jesus in that moment

00:26:29.280 --> 00:26:34.240
 what are you talking about jesus i'm not a slave to anyone

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:41.620
 they answered him we are abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone how can you say

00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:48.559
 that we shall be set free you see they're thinking about one aspect of freedom but jesus something

00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:53.180
 think about something completely different and he immediately clarifies i tell you the truth

00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:56.700
 everyone who sins is a slave to sin

00:26:56.700 --> 00:27:01.759
 that is a walloping statement right there

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:05.840
 and it would take ages to unpack all the implications of it

00:27:05.840 --> 00:27:09.660
 and to put it briefly jesus is saying that everyone sins

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:12.620
 and therefore everyone is enslaved to sin

00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:17.779
 and that means that sin is not just some bad act that i do here and there occasionally

00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:23.420
 but it is a power that controls my heart and rules my life

00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:32.340
 and it makes us do bad acts and sets us up against god and sets us up against other people

00:27:32.340 --> 00:27:37.820
 that's the reason why we cannot work together for a better world

00:27:37.820 --> 00:27:45.200
 there are many kinds of freedoms that we can make for ourselves in this world

00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:48.039
 but not this one

00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:53.759
 this slavery is too deep and all of us are entangled by it

00:27:53.759 --> 00:28:01.680
 sin enslaves by making anything in this world look more desirable than knowing jesus

00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:06.200
 just dig a bit deeper and find out what the real treasures are in your heart

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:09.240
 that's the real issue for sin

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:12.480
 i value this more than jesus

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:19.059
 and it also enslaves us by eventually damning us

00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:23.500
 it enslaves us unless something intervenes

00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:26.519
 and that's why jesus says in verse 36 of john 8

00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:31.019
 if the son sets you free you will be free indeed

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:36.400
 because jesus truth reality is the only one who can set us free

00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:41.800
 he frees us from the damnation of slavery by becoming damned for us

00:28:41.800 --> 00:28:44.140
 on his death on the cross as our substitute

00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:48.560
 and he frees us from the dominion of sin over our hearts

00:28:48.560 --> 00:28:51.160
 by changing our hearts in such a way

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:53.860
 that we see him as infinitely valuable

00:28:53.860 --> 00:28:55.720
 and desirable

00:28:55.720 --> 00:29:00.440
 and he frees us to truly love him and love other people

00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:05.759
 it may be here

00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:07.660
 you're still here and you're still saying

00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:09.960
 steve i am already free

00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:14.920
 you know it's you christians who all get tied up in moral knots

00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:19.200
 you know i just do what i like

00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:20.500
 i do what i feel all i like

00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:22.740
 and i'm thankful a country where i can do that

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:25.519
 you know i can go to coles and i can have

00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:28.620
 eight different peanut butters

00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:30.799
 it's my choice

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:35.039
 it makes the shopping long

00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:39.319
 and that's all the freedom i care about

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:44.519
 so let me just give you a fuller definition of freedom

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:47.099
 you are fully free

00:29:47.099 --> 00:29:48.919
 and what it means to be totally and fully free

00:29:48.919 --> 00:29:50.759
 you are fully free

00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:52.659
 when you have the desire

00:29:52.659 --> 00:29:54.239
 the ability

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:56.299
 the opportunity

00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:59.339
 to do what you want

00:29:59.339 --> 00:30:03.660
 and it leaves you no regrets forever

00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:06.039
 that's total freedom

00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:11.579
 if you don't have the desire to actually do something

00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:13.859
 you're not fully free to do it

00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:16.359
 that is you've been coerced or forced to do something

00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:17.680
 that you don't want to do

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:19.700
 so desire is essential for freedom

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:23.720
 and if you have the desire to do something

00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:25.720
 but you have no ability to do it

00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:28.700
 then you're not free to do it

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:34.039
 i want to travel the world

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:35.200
 but i'm hooked up to

00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:39.799
 a machine that doesn't get on planes

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:41.680
 might want to do it

00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:42.740
 but you can't do it

00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:46.000
 so if you have the desire

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.000
 and the ability to do something

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.779
 but no opportunity to do it

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:51.880
 so i'm not hooked up to a machine

00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:53.019
 i want to travel the world

00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.880
 i'm free to do it

00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:55.720
 but i've got no money in my pockets

00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:58.440
 i'm a backpacker

00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:59.480
 maybe

00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:01.500
 you're not free to do it

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:03.200
 and so if you have the desire to do something

00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:04.200
 the ability to do something

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:05.299
 the opportunity to do something

00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:07.140
 but it destroys you in the end

00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:08.620
 then you're no longer free

00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:12.879
 so let me just expand that with an illustration

00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:13.619
 if you like

00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:16.119
 let's take parachuting

00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:19.339
 you make it to the airport

00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.859
 without having an accident in the car

00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:21.779
 okay

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.459
 tick that box

00:31:22.459 --> 00:31:24.419
 you've got the freedom of opportunity

00:31:24.419 --> 00:31:27.779
 you've done the classes

00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:30.899
 and you know how to parachute

00:31:30.899 --> 00:31:32.500
 tick that box

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:34.699
 you have the freedom of opportunity

00:31:34.699 --> 00:31:36.079
 and the freedom of ability

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:39.500
 you're up there in the plane

00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:41.480
 a couple of kilometers up

00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:43.199
 you're hovering along

00:31:43.199 --> 00:31:44.119
 you look out the door

00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:45.759
 tiny clusters of houses

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:47.199
 and sheds and dams

00:31:47.199 --> 00:31:51.919
 and you can't wait to jump out of the plane

00:31:51.919 --> 00:31:54.279
 tick that box

00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:55.679
 you have the freedom of desire

00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:58.839
 you're not frozen by fear in that moment

00:31:58.839 --> 00:32:01.059
 and so you jump

00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:04.259
 and as you free fall

00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:06.720
 every second of it

00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:07.859
 you're loving it

00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:09.400
 loving it

00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:11.460
 unknown to you

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:14.480
 your parachute is defective

00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:18.980
 and it's not going to open

00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:20.279
 no matter how hard you try

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:24.980
 even though you don't know it yet

00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:26.240
 you are in fact

00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:27.299
 enslaved

00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.579
 to

00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.619
 destruction

00:32:29.619 --> 00:32:33.599
 and it will be a regret

00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:36.980
 it feels like freedom

00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:38.639
 but very soon

00:32:38.639 --> 00:32:39.339
 the whole thing

00:32:39.339 --> 00:32:40.939
 all the exhilaration

00:32:40.939 --> 00:32:43.219
 will prove to be

00:32:43.219 --> 00:32:44.319
 an illusion

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:46.939
 I was not

00:32:46.939 --> 00:32:47.799
 truly

00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.699
 free

00:32:48.699 --> 00:32:50.719
 in 30 seconds

00:32:50.719 --> 00:32:51.599
 you

00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:52.480
 will be

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.039
 dead

00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:56.219
 it

00:32:56.219 --> 00:32:57.819
 baffles me

00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:59.500
 every time

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.339
 on the news

00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:02.240
 some bloke

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:02.959
 is interviewed

00:33:02.959 --> 00:33:04.019
 because his mate

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.039
 has just been killed

00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.839
 he's just been eaten

00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.599
 by a shark

00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.339
 out surfing

00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:08.939
 and his mate

00:33:08.939 --> 00:33:09.399
 says

00:33:09.399 --> 00:33:10.220
 well at least

00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:11.039
 he's died

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.359
 doing what he loved

00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:16.299
 like that

00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:17.359
 was on his mind

00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:18.000
 as the great

00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.299
 white

00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:18.959
 was gnawing

00:33:18.959 --> 00:33:19.519
 on him

00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:29.400
 tick the box

00:33:29.400 --> 00:33:30.379
 at everything else

00:33:30.379 --> 00:33:30.819
 except

00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.980
 that one

00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:34.220
 it cost him

00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:34.980
 his life

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:41.480
 as a predecessor

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:41.940
 of mine

00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:43.259
 said in this pulpit

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.660
 over 20 years ago

00:33:44.660 --> 00:33:46.900
 self-preoccupation

00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.900
 is a terminal

00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:48.639
 illness

00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:50.180
 it will kill you

00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:50.920
 in the end

00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:52.820
 you're not

00:33:52.820 --> 00:33:53.480
 truly free

00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:56.600
 to be fully free

00:33:56.600 --> 00:33:57.500
 we must have

00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:58.040
 the desire

00:33:58.040 --> 00:33:58.520
 the ability

00:33:58.520 --> 00:33:59.080
 the opportunity

00:33:59.080 --> 00:33:59.580
 to do

00:33:59.580 --> 00:34:00.780
 what will make us

00:34:00.780 --> 00:34:01.200
 happy

00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:02.040
 forever

00:34:02.040 --> 00:34:03.500
 no regrets

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:06.320
 it will never

00:34:06.320 --> 00:34:06.820
 come back

00:34:06.820 --> 00:34:07.740
 and bite us

00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:10.700
 and only Jesus

00:34:10.700 --> 00:34:11.980
 the son of God

00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:12.960
 who died

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.519
 and rose

00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.140
 for us

00:34:14.140 --> 00:34:15.119
 can make

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:16.300
 that possible

00:34:16.300 --> 00:34:17.800
 if Jesus

00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:18.660
 sets you

00:34:18.660 --> 00:34:19.300
 free

00:34:19.300 --> 00:34:20.620
 you are

00:34:20.620 --> 00:34:21.240
 free

00:34:21.240 --> 00:34:22.000
 indeed

00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:23.280
 to be happy

00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:23.860
 forever

00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.880
 our sins

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.940
 must be forgiven

00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:26.660
 and God's

00:34:26.660 --> 00:34:26.900
 wrath

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.740
 removed

00:34:27.740 --> 00:34:28.320
 and Christ

00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.120
 must become

00:34:29.120 --> 00:34:29.840
 our supreme

00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:30.260
 treasure

00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.320
 only Jesus

00:34:31.320 --> 00:34:31.900
 can do that

00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:32.340
 for us

00:34:32.340 --> 00:34:33.160
 in fact

00:34:33.160 --> 00:34:33.860
 he has

00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:34.580
 already

00:34:34.580 --> 00:34:35.100
 done it

00:34:35.100 --> 00:34:35.480
 for us

00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:35.960
 he died

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.760
 on the cross

00:34:36.760 --> 00:34:37.960
 he absorbed

00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:38.780
 God's wrath

00:34:38.780 --> 00:34:39.880
 he rose

00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:40.640
 from the dead

00:34:40.640 --> 00:34:41.680
 and today

00:34:41.680 --> 00:34:42.440
 therefore

00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:43.720
 is supremely

00:34:43.720 --> 00:34:44.580
 precious

00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:47.719
 and he

00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:48.360
 offers us

00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:48.940
 life

00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:50.519
 forever

00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:52.239
 as a free

00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:52.659
 gift

00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:56.460
 that's why

00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:56.960
 we exist

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.279
 to know

00:34:57.279 --> 00:34:57.739
 Jesus

00:34:58.199 --> 00:35:04.939
 by Brother

00:35:04.939 --> 00:35:05.179
 I

00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:05.439
 deinem

00:35:05.439 --> 00:35:05.959
ond

00:35:06.399 --> 00:35:06.679
 how

00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:07.239
 you

00:35:07.239 --> 00:35:07.919
 are

00:35:07.919 --> 00:35:08.519
 the

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:09.359
 shark

00:35:09.359 --> 00:35:09.479
 under

00:35:09.479 --> 00:35:09.959
 us

00:35:09.959 --> 00:35:11.159
 is

00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:11.459
 you

00:35:11.959 --> 00:35:12.819
 can제

00:35:12.819 --> 00:35:13.559
 nasıl

00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:13.699
 ever

00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:14.319
 what

00:35:14.319 --> 00:35:14.939
 you

00:35:14.939 --> 00:35:15.439
 you

00:35:15.439 --> 00:35:16.539
 can제

00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:17.199
 yeah

00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:17.859
 ban

00:35:17.879 --> 00:35:18.000
 going

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:18.679
 this

00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.579
 rock

00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:20.039
í

00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:20.619
 and

00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:21.599
 going

00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:24.319
 I

00:35:24.319 --> 00:35:24.599
 can제

00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:25.379
beat

00:35:25.379 --> 00:35:26.019
 you

00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:26.599
 you

00:35:26.599 --> 00:35:27.099
 can제