WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:05.980 Okay, I'm not going to ask how you're doing because you already told me, and I have a 00:00:05.980 --> 00:00:06.560 pretty good memory. 00:00:10.620 --> 00:00:15.560 So, I need your prayers. 00:00:15.700 --> 00:00:16.199 I'm in trouble. 00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:23.280 I'm way in over my head with the things that God has called me to do. 00:00:24.740 --> 00:00:29.140 To be a dad and to be a husband are things that are just so challenging to me. 00:00:30.820 --> 00:00:33.679 It's funny, I didn't know my kids are going to be in today to listen to this, so we'll 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:34.539 have to talk about this later. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:42.820 But I learned so much from them, you know, and it's just amazing just to see kids grow 00:00:42.820 --> 00:00:47.400 up and trying to figure out how to shepherd them, to build a foundation to where they 00:00:47.400 --> 00:00:49.820 see godly wisdom and they trust the Lord. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:52.340 And just kids, you know, I'm in trouble. 00:00:52.460 --> 00:00:58.400 My kids, I have three high school kids or three kids that are going into the high school or 00:00:58.400 --> 00:00:58.820 age. 00:00:58.820 --> 00:01:03.659 And just the things that I'm learning in our house, it just catches me in awe. 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:10.040 So, this week, about two days ago, one of my kids, who will remain nameless, and you're 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:11.960 going to know right away who it is once I tell this, you know. 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:14.339 So, they came in and they said, look at this. 00:01:15.059 --> 00:01:16.139 And I'm like, what? 00:01:16.339 --> 00:01:17.859 And they go, can you take a picture of this? 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:19.359 I'm like, what? 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:21.359 Well, I got armpit hairs. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:26.019 And I want to send them to my class because I'm the first person with armpit hairs. 00:01:27.159 --> 00:01:27.819 There's three. 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:29.280 Three. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:29.320 Three. 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:31.540 But I don't know why. 00:01:31.579 --> 00:01:33.239 I don't know why they're only on my right side. 00:01:33.659 --> 00:01:34.799 There's none on my left side. 00:01:35.579 --> 00:01:37.500 And I said, that's beyond my pay scale. 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:40.379 Maybe you can ask Uncle Ian, who's the doctor. 00:01:40.460 --> 00:01:43.620 He can tell you why they're growing, you know, irregularly or something like that. 00:01:44.340 --> 00:01:45.740 And so, this morning, we woke up. 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:46.740 And I was trying to get him up. 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:47.299 And he got up. 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:49.159 He's like, oh, man, I got such a bad back. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:50.060 My back is killing me. 00:01:50.060 --> 00:01:51.859 And he goes, well, it's because you're unbalanced. 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:55.640 You have too many armpit hairs on this one side. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:57.859 You need to get some more over here. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:01.040 Now, my wife feels like we don't have three high school kids. 00:02:01.100 --> 00:02:02.640 We have four high school kids, right? 00:02:02.960 --> 00:02:05.600 Because she's considering me as that high school kid also, right? 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:07.780 But you learn a lot, you know. 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:10.300 And I learned lessons about the Lord from my kids. 00:02:11.180 --> 00:02:15.439 I'll never forget one of the biggest lessons God taught me was through my daughter, Rachel. 00:02:15.920 --> 00:02:17.060 We were living in China. 00:02:17.420 --> 00:02:18.960 And Rachel was about two and a half. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:20.800 And she hadn't learned to speak yet. 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:23.340 We think it was because she's learning two different languages. 00:02:23.580 --> 00:02:25.360 Our helper was speaking to her always in Mandarin. 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:31.040 And I can remember her first words she said, of course, which is always daddy. 00:02:31.620 --> 00:02:34.520 We have some argument about this in our house, whether it's dad or mom. 00:02:35.640 --> 00:02:37.460 But I remember her first sentence she said to me. 00:02:37.580 --> 00:02:41.240 And this blew me away because it stuck with me all these years. 00:02:42.100 --> 00:02:44.379 We were at this retreat. 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:45.860 And we were late. 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:48.140 And I had to get her shoes on. 00:02:48.139 --> 00:02:50.259 And so Christina tasked me with getting shoes on. 00:02:50.359 --> 00:02:52.459 And as a dad, you don't want to fail at too many things. 00:02:52.519 --> 00:02:55.000 And so you feel like you could at least get shoes on your kids. 00:02:55.459 --> 00:02:57.659 And so I remember putting shoes on her. 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:02.359 And as I tried to get this first shoe on her and put it on her feet, this two-and-a-half-year-old, three-year-old kid, 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:04.779 what she did next surprised me. 00:03:05.019 --> 00:03:06.279 She grabbed the shoe. 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:09.000 And she said, I do. 00:03:11.379 --> 00:03:13.479 And there was this fury and intensity. 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:14.060 I do. 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:16.139 And I'm sitting there. 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:19.939 And my first reaction is to grab it back and say, I do. 00:03:19.939 --> 00:03:26.960 But at that moment, I know that if I do that, Christina would walk in the room and watch me arguing with a three-year-old. 00:03:27.020 --> 00:03:28.159 So I can't do that, right? 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:30.079 So I have to act more adultish, right? 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:31.900 And so I'm sitting there. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:39.560 And I'm trying to persuade this three-year-old why it's in all of our best interests for me to put her shoes on. 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:47.400 And so after talking for about two minutes, feeling like I got this through her head, I went to put the shoe back on her. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:49.099 And the exact same thing happened. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:49.699 I do. 00:03:51.020 --> 00:03:52.580 And she grabbed it back from me. 00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:55.560 And I sat there, and I go, okay, I'll let you do it. 00:03:55.819 --> 00:03:59.219 And I watched her do it, and I watched her put it on. 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:03.020 Now, in my mind, I'm just thinking, okay, this is this craziness. 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:07.840 But, you know, I thought about that story for all these years. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:12.039 And I ponder it sometimes when I think about my struggle with God. 00:04:13.219 --> 00:04:17.079 And I wonder if God feels that way with us sometimes. 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:22.259 I wonder if God wants to do certain things in our life. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:25.040 And he wants to do some things for us. 00:04:25.060 --> 00:04:26.340 And he wants to change us. 00:04:26.420 --> 00:04:28.040 And he wants to make something amazing. 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:33.560 And when he's trying to do it, we grab it out of his hand, and we say, I do. 00:04:34.980 --> 00:04:35.579 I do. 00:04:35.579 --> 00:04:35.620 I do. 00:04:35.620 --> 00:04:35.660 I do. 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:42.079 The passage today talks about the story I just shared. 00:04:42.860 --> 00:04:46.100 And what Paul says in this Corinthians passage is there's two types of people. 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:47.480 There's people who say, I do. 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:50.939 And there's people who say, God does. 00:04:52.540 --> 00:04:54.280 There's two types of people in the world. 00:04:54.379 --> 00:04:56.759 There are people who live by worldly wisdom. 00:04:57.399 --> 00:04:59.860 And there are people who live by godly wisdom. 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:02.740 There's two types of people in this passage. 00:05:02.840 --> 00:05:03.920 He says it at the very beginning. 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:09.819 There are those who are perishing because they're living by worldly wisdom. 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:14.680 And there are those who are being saved by the power of God. 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:20.819 And I think about this, and I realize that, you know, this isn't new to the New Testament, 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:26.199 but this story has been going on forever and ever and ever. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:31.079 I mean, in the garden, we're told that our parents were there, and they were looking at this tree, 00:05:31.139 --> 00:05:33.240 and they saw this tree, and this tree looked really good. 00:05:33.280 --> 00:05:34.560 And God said, don't do that. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:38.780 But we're told that they looked at it, and they saw the fruit, and the fruit looked good, 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.160 and it looked good to make them wise. 00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:47.439 And in Hebrew, what you understand is that this wisdom is coming apart from God. 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:50.680 It's becoming worldly. 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:53.079 And our parents have this choice. 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:54.959 They can go on this direction and be independent. 00:05:55.079 --> 00:05:56.600 They can find their identity by themselves. 00:05:56.600 --> 00:05:58.540 They can find meaning by themselves. 00:05:58.639 --> 00:05:59.680 They can find purpose by themselves. 00:05:59.779 --> 00:06:00.819 They can find truth by themselves. 00:06:00.899 --> 00:06:02.319 They can do all these things apart from God. 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:03.699 They can, I do. 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:07.240 Or they can let God do. 00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:10.079 And they chose to, I do. 00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:15.040 And what you see right away throughout the creation story is that you and I were never made to be independent. 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:17.639 You and I were never made to be autonomous. 00:06:17.860 --> 00:06:20.519 You and I were never made to do it on our own. 00:06:21.240 --> 00:06:24.000 And because of that, we start this search. 00:06:24.060 --> 00:06:24.980 We start this quest. 00:06:24.980 --> 00:06:26.379 We start to search for our identity. 00:06:26.540 --> 00:06:28.019 We start to search for meaning. 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:29.259 We start to search for purpose. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:34.519 We start to go on this vision quest to look for things that we can anchor our soul to. 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:42.259 Because without God, without godly wisdom, we're looking for meaning and purpose in our life. 00:06:42.300 --> 00:06:45.899 And we're looking for things to anchor our soul to. 00:06:45.899 --> 00:06:51.939 So maybe this would be a great time to ask a question before we even start off is, what do you anchor your soul to? 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:56.600 What is it that brings you? 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:59.740 What is it that brings you purpose? 00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:07.740 What is it that you think about and dream about in the quiet moments in Hong Kong, which are far and in between, that you have free time to think? 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:10.080 What is it that you anchor your soul to? 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:13.759 Is it godly wisdom? 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:15.359 God does. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:16.300 Or is it I do? 00:07:16.379 --> 00:07:17.219 I have to do this. 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:18.120 I got to get this done. 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:19.620 Is it worldly wisdom? 00:07:20.859 --> 00:07:22.459 And Paul's in this church in Corinth. 00:07:22.539 --> 00:07:25.039 Remember, we talked about it last week that he started it in 50 AD. 00:07:25.599 --> 00:07:28.019 And it was going pretty good in the middle of this amazing city. 00:07:28.139 --> 00:07:30.620 Corinth is probably just like Hong Kong. 00:07:30.620 --> 00:07:34.240 I mean, it's probably more corrupt sexually. 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:37.139 And Hong Kong is probably more corrupt business-wise. 00:07:37.420 --> 00:07:39.300 But they're just alike. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:42.240 And in this city, he plants this gospel message. 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:46.579 He plants this message of wisdom, of godly wisdom, and what God's going to do in people's lives. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:49.720 He talks about the cross, and people's lives begin to change. 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:52.939 But then after five years or so, he hears this message. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:57.500 And what he hears is not good because the people have started to take the worldly wisdom, 00:07:57.500 --> 00:08:00.199 and they've started taking the culture and the worldviews, 00:08:00.339 --> 00:08:03.980 and they've tried to integrate it to the gospel message. 00:08:05.139 --> 00:08:12.500 They've realized that the gospel message is so intense and so different and so simple and so plain 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:16.180 that they've tried to weave those wisdoms together. 00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:21.899 And in Paul's day, wisdom just meant knowing how to live life. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:25.439 It meant having this worldview that helped you order all the things in your life, 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:30.540 your priorities, and your values, and the things you did, your life, your death, your universe, your cosmos. 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:34.720 Wisdom was having some kind of world system to put all those things in order 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:37.940 and helped you live consistently, helped you live with integrity. 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:43.139 Now today, I think wisdom just means you're really good with people skills, 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:45.860 and you're talented, and you have a lot of experience. 00:08:46.220 --> 00:08:49.039 But in Paul's day, wisdom was everything. 00:08:49.940 --> 00:08:52.360 And it governed how we lived, and it governed who we are, 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:54.279 and it governed the quality of our life. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:58.320 And so I just want to talk in this time, and we're going to keep this short, 00:08:58.419 --> 00:09:01.180 and everybody that asks when I say that, but I do. 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:02.419 I want to talk about one thing. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:04.419 I just want to talk about the wisdom of God. 00:09:07.539 --> 00:09:13.800 And this passage is interchangeable because it also calls it the foolishness of God. 00:09:14.680 --> 00:09:16.360 So I want to talk about the foolishness of God. 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:20.419 And what we see from the very beginning is that Paul, in this passage, 00:09:20.620 --> 00:09:23.220 he's going back through history, and he's talking through the story, 00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:27.000 and he's saying from that moment in the garden when we said we want to do, I do, 00:09:27.320 --> 00:09:31.039 and worldly wisdom, worldly wisdom didn't work out very well for us. 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:35.759 It didn't really change the quality of our lives. 00:09:35.800 --> 00:09:36.899 It didn't make us better people. 00:09:36.980 --> 00:09:38.860 It didn't help us get rid of things. 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:44.220 And we're told throughout these stories that as we are going farther and farther and farther away from God, 00:09:44.560 --> 00:09:47.560 that God, in his wisdom, is pursuing us. 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:49.120 He's pursuing foolish people. 00:09:49.700 --> 00:09:52.860 And God is on this quest in your life, whether you know it or not. 00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:55.700 God is on this quest in your life to give you godly wisdom, 00:09:55.820 --> 00:09:58.720 to change your life, to change how you think, to change how you live, 00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:00.940 to change your purposes, and to change your values, 00:10:01.560 --> 00:10:03.500 whether you know it or not. 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:08.639 And we fight and we struggle with that because we have this worldly wisdom that we've owned 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:11.639 and we've earned and we have and we value in our lives. 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:15.460 And Paul begins, very beginning in verse 18, 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:22.100 and he says God pursues us and tries to fight off that worldly wisdom through the word of the cross. 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:29.159 And in Greek, the word of the cross just basically means the message of the cross, 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:31.500 the historical fact that the cross is real, 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:33.820 the things that the cross destroys. 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:37.500 And it's this message that in Paul's day and in the church of Corinth, 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:40.080 and I think in Hong Kong too, if you're wise, 00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:44.460 if you're worldly wise, you have a hard time hearing this. 00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:46.600 I mean, let's be honest. 00:10:46.659 --> 00:10:48.820 What did you think the first time you heard the gospel? 00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:52.700 If you're in the family of faith right now, 00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:55.360 what was your reaction the first time someone told you 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:58.500 you needed Jesus to die on a cross to save you? 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:04.279 You know, my first reaction, and this is on, I got in a fight. 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:07.399 I was with my best friend on a basketball court, 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:10.320 and he told me that I needed Jesus Christ in my life, and I punched him. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:15.279 Because the thought of me not being okay and not having my life together 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:16.820 and not being able to do it on my own, 00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:19.440 I was just infuriated. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:23.100 And I got in this massive fight with him. 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:28.780 Because I didn't like hearing the fact that I needed help. 00:11:29.800 --> 00:11:32.700 And when you share the gospel, this message of the cross, 00:11:32.800 --> 00:11:34.600 this foolishness of God to people, 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:37.120 most people's reactions are, well, that's kind of interesting, 00:11:37.260 --> 00:11:38.580 but you know, that's not where I'm at. 00:11:39.260 --> 00:11:40.480 And that's not what I need. 00:11:40.540 --> 00:11:41.640 It doesn't apply to me. 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:45.120 And if you think about it, the message of the Bible, 00:11:45.560 --> 00:11:47.280 I mean, it's pretty messed up, isn't it? 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:54.399 I mean, the message of the Bible is pretty crazy, don't you think? 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:58.100 I mean, when you talk about the Bible and God's written word 00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:00.079 over 4,000 years, over three continents, 00:12:00.459 --> 00:12:03.000 we talk about creation, we talk about our need for forgiveness, 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:05.519 we talk about sacrifice, we talk about judgment, 00:12:05.699 --> 00:12:08.240 we talk about heaven, we talk about sin, we talk about brokenness. 00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:11.480 I mean, to the people who live in Hong Kong, 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:15.659 in the real world, in the business world, 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:20.000 those ideas are foolishness. 00:12:22.299 --> 00:12:24.139 I mean, if you're educated, 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:27.620 I mean, it's easier, and I don't understand why it is, 00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:29.480 but it's easier for people in Hong Kong to understand 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:32.839 and believe in Buddha and feng shui and reincarnations and aliens. 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.980 Maybe it's because there's history channel specials 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.919 about all these things, and you can watch them every week, 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:40.579 and people like it, but that's just easier. 00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:44.220 I think maybe it's also because we get to do something, 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:45.500 and we get to earn our way to God. 00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:48.399 But when we hear the gospel, either you go, 00:12:48.560 --> 00:12:52.300 wow, that's amazing, or that's the dumbest thing 00:12:52.300 --> 00:12:54.420 I've ever heard in my whole, whole life. 00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:58.540 One of the top atheists today said it this way 00:12:58.540 --> 00:13:00.320 when he was presented with the gospel for the first time. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:01.440 This is what he said in his book. 00:13:02.540 --> 00:13:02.759 He said, 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:04.539 many of the teachings of Christianity are, 00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:07.120 as well as being incredible, 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:09.080 they're mythical, 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:11.080 and they're immoral. 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:15.580 The idea of redemption on a cross for my sins 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:17.360 is crazy. 00:13:18.319 --> 00:13:19.740 I would argue in my book 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:21.480 that I can take your place in prison, 00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:24.980 but there's no way I could ever free you 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:28.500 from your responsibility of your sin. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:34.820 To even suggest that is evil and foolishness. 00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:42.519 To even suggest that is evil and foolishness. 00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:45.440 And what we see is the world struggles 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:46.720 with getting rid of I do. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:48.879 The world struggles with letting go of I do. 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:51.960 The world struggles with its wisdom 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:52.800 that it holds onto, 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:54.180 that makes their lives okay. 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.560 And verse 19, 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.700 it's a very famous verse. 00:13:57.780 --> 00:13:58.379 If you look at it, 00:13:58.560 --> 00:13:59.120 for it's written, 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.600 I will destroy the wisdom of the wise 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:01.540 and the cleverness of the clever, 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:02.280 I will set aside. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:04.300 And it comes from Isaiah 29. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:06.160 And what was happening 00:14:06.160 --> 00:14:08.639 in the world of Isaiah at that time 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.320 is there was a king, 00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.300 his name was Hezekiah, 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.580 and all of God's people were in Israel. 00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:14.080 And it was bad. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.160 It was like the worst time ever 00:14:15.160 --> 00:14:16.400 because this Assyrian army 00:14:16.400 --> 00:14:17.879 was coming in on Israel 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:19.780 and they were gonna decimate Israel. 00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:22.659 And so King Hezekiah woke up one day 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:23.819 and he's surrounded by 00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:25.459 like hundreds of thousands of soldiers. 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:28.100 And it looks hopeless. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.179 It looks impossible. 00:14:29.699 --> 00:14:30.000 It looks, 00:14:30.199 --> 00:14:30.980 there's no way. 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.600 And Isaiah comes to them 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:34.039 and he says, 00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:35.059 God has sent me to you 00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:35.919 and God wants you to know 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:36.679 that it's gonna be okay. 00:14:38.339 --> 00:14:38.899 And they're going, 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:39.779 yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:40.939 Okay, yeah, sure, for sure. 00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:41.740 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:14:41.819 --> 00:14:42.779 It's all gonna be okay. 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:43.399 He goes, no, 00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:44.379 God's gonna take care of you. 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:46.059 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:46.480 And he goes, 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.799 no, God is gonna take care of you. 00:14:47.839 --> 00:14:48.559 Will you trust him? 00:14:50.339 --> 00:14:51.419 And the passage says 00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:52.139 that at that time 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:53.399 the people of God have a choice. 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.699 Do they trust in their wisdom? 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:58.899 Or do they trust in God's wisdom? 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:02.179 And you know what happens, right? 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:02.919 What do you think, 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:03.639 who do they trust in, 00:15:03.699 --> 00:15:04.720 their wisdom or God's wisdom? 00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:07.480 Well, they trust in their wisdom, right? 00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.579 Because their wisdom's so much better. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:10.159 So they make these alliances 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:10.720 with Egypt 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:11.679 and all these other countries 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:12.159 that come in 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.220 and help them against the Syrians. 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.779 But God still says, 00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:16.559 hey, I love you so much. 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:18.679 I'm pursuing you so much. 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:20.559 And even though you don't want my wisdom, 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:22.639 I'm gonna pour it upon you 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:24.659 and I'm going to save you 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:25.199 from these people. 00:15:25.239 --> 00:15:25.739 And he does. 00:15:26.699 --> 00:15:27.639 They wake up the next morning 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:28.719 and all the soldiers are dead. 00:15:29.739 --> 00:15:30.739 And the Israelis go out 00:15:30.739 --> 00:15:33.739 and they plunder the bodies. 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:36.299 And so there's this struggle 00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:37.599 within the church of Corinth. 00:15:37.719 --> 00:15:38.500 And I think in the struggle 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:39.859 in the church in Hong Kong 00:15:39.859 --> 00:15:42.079 and maybe even within Watermark, 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:44.159 even though we're not five years old yet. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:46.039 And we struggle with this idea 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:50.079 of God does versus I do. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.279 We struggle with this idea 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:53.419 of worldly wisdom versus godly wisdom. 00:15:54.579 --> 00:15:56.179 He goes on in verse 22 00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:57.980 and he says the Jewish people wanted signs. 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.319 They wanted power. 00:15:59.459 --> 00:16:00.299 They wanted success. 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:01.339 They're like most of the people 00:16:01.339 --> 00:16:02.199 in your office today. 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:03.620 When they hear the gospel, 00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:05.079 the gospel turns them off 00:16:05.079 --> 00:16:07.199 because it just sounds stupid. 00:16:07.899 --> 00:16:08.860 Do we have a slide here? 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:09.480 We have a slide. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:11.419 This is a slide from a house. 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.740 This was in a house 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.819 of one of the churches, 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:15.019 around one of the churches 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.399 was planted about the time of Paul. 00:16:16.979 --> 00:16:18.299 And it's about a guy named Alexander. 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:19.860 And so they found this 00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:20.919 in a carving of a house. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:22.519 And so the archeologists went ahead. 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:23.659 And so this is what people 00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:24.379 thought of Christians. 00:16:24.959 --> 00:16:27.919 And in Greek, it says this. 00:16:27.959 --> 00:16:29.620 It says, this is Alexander 00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:31.079 worshiping his God. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.500 So in the culture 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.799 that the church was being born in, 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:38.599 in the culture that the church 00:16:38.599 --> 00:16:39.459 was growing out there, 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:41.040 this is what the people 00:16:41.040 --> 00:16:42.600 who depended upon the worldly wisdom, 00:16:42.680 --> 00:16:43.840 this is what they thought of Christians. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:46.440 They're worshiping Jesus. 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:48.680 But Jesus has a head of a what? 00:16:50.060 --> 00:16:51.040 He has a head of a donkey 00:16:51.040 --> 00:16:53.700 because he's stupid and he's foolish. 00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:56.420 And what the passage is saying 00:16:56.420 --> 00:16:58.200 is that everybody you go into 00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:59.100 to talk to today, 00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:01.759 everybody who doesn't know the Lord, 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:03.180 everybody in your culture 00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:04.600 and at work and at school 00:17:04.600 --> 00:17:05.420 and at your classroom, 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.980 when they hear this message 00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:08.900 that God wants to save them, 00:17:09.380 --> 00:17:10.400 what they hear 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:11.299 and what they think 00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:13.620 is foolishness, 00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:16.660 stupid, 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:19.660 impossible. 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:22.400 The Greeks in 22, 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.380 they wanted knowledge 00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:24.539 and the Greeks just spent all day 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.599 just listening to new things. 00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:26.140 And, you know, 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:26.940 Socrates said, 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:28.660 Socrates said the key to success 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:29.779 is the key to life. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.339 The key to have a perfect society 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.539 is just to educate everybody. 00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:33.559 So if you educate everybody, 00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:35.220 then society is just going to get better 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:36.559 and better and better. 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:38.600 And this idea of Jesus dying on a cross, 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.480 that's foolish. 00:17:39.620 --> 00:17:42.180 There's no way that anybody could save you. 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:45.779 And what Paul says in his passage 00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:47.240 in verse 21 is what he's saying 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:49.240 is that you and I on our own wisdom, 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:50.940 you and I left to our own, 00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:52.360 we just can't find God. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:55.240 There's no way that you and I 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.180 can even understand God. 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:56.960 There's no way that you and I 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.839 can even think about God. 00:17:57.900 --> 00:17:59.400 There's no way we can even get halfway to Him. 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:02.059 And the only way that we can come to God 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:03.579 is if we trust Him. 00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:04.799 The only way that we can get to God 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:07.779 is if He does it in our lives. 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.960 And this message that you're going to share 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:12.500 and you're going to live by your life with 00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.579 and your work and in your home, 00:18:13.939 --> 00:18:15.199 people are going to think that's foolish 00:18:15.199 --> 00:18:16.039 and that's terrible 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:17.619 and it makes no sense. 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:21.480 In verse 25, Paul goes on 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:21.819 and he says, 00:18:21.919 --> 00:18:22.639 This foolishness, 00:18:23.439 --> 00:18:25.679 the foolishness of God is wiser than men 00:18:25.679 --> 00:18:28.179 and the weakness of God 00:18:28.179 --> 00:18:29.519 is stronger than men. 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:32.579 And what he's saying to the church of Corinth 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:34.639 and what he's saying to you and I 00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:36.259 is that God is doing things in our life 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.179 that are going to look foolish. 00:18:39.159 --> 00:18:40.839 And God is doing things in our life 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:41.980 that are going to look crazy. 00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:43.720 And God is doing things in our life 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:45.679 that are going to attack my pride. 00:18:46.639 --> 00:18:48.119 And God is doing things in our life, 00:18:48.159 --> 00:18:48.759 in our friends' lives, 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.179 that's going to attract their self-centeredness. 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:53.039 And when people hear the message 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.579 that we talk about at Watermark, 00:18:54.659 --> 00:18:56.199 hopefully every day, 00:18:56.399 --> 00:18:57.379 when they hear the message 00:18:57.379 --> 00:18:58.740 that God made a way for them 00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.720 to get back to God, 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:02.980 and that process is independent of them, 00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:05.100 they don't have anything to do with it, 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:07.480 they just go and God does it all for them, 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.620 it bothers them. 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:12.600 And so don't be discouraged 00:19:12.600 --> 00:19:14.720 when you're sharing with people in your family. 00:19:15.100 --> 00:19:15.759 Don't be discouraged 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.880 when you're sharing with your spouses. 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.539 Don't be discouraged 00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.839 when you're sharing with people in your work 00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:22.339 because this message seems so incredible to them 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:24.480 and it assaults every part of them. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:27.299 And it was so strong to the people in Corinth 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.819 that the church started to, 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.799 and it happens in Hong Kong 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.819 and it happens in America, 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:34.420 the church started to change the message of the cross. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:36.860 They started to compromise the message of the gospel. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.099 They started to soften the message of the gospel 00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:42.140 because they really struggled sharing that with the world 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:44.039 because the world thought that that was stupid, 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.319 that it seemed illogical 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:46.880 and that there was no way that that could happen. 00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:50.860 So Paul was concerned about that 00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:52.919 and he goes on and he writes that, 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.859 you know, we walk in darkness 00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:58.079 and that we can't see God 00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:59.119 and we can't comprehend him 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:00.159 and we can't understand him 00:20:00.159 --> 00:20:01.639 and in our own wisdom, 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:03.119 we can't even make it to God. 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:05.579 And now I'm going to offend you by saying this, 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:07.059 but we're going to say it over and over again 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.899 because it should be something that we rejoice in. 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:11.119 But what Paul is going to say in this passage 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:11.579 is he says, 00:20:11.699 --> 00:20:12.479 you and I are broken. 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.479 You and I are rebellious. 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.619 You and I are deceitful. 00:20:17.719 --> 00:20:18.740 You and I are in bondage. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.799 You and I are slaves. 00:20:19.959 --> 00:20:20.779 You and I are selfish. 00:20:20.939 --> 00:20:22.299 You and I are self-centered. 00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:25.879 And when Jesus comes 00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:28.159 and he's crucified for us, 00:20:28.459 --> 00:20:29.479 what he's saying is 00:20:29.479 --> 00:20:32.219 what Jesus does on the cross 00:20:32.219 --> 00:20:34.139 goes right to the heart of our problem 00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:35.959 and the heart of our problem is our heart. 00:20:39.219 --> 00:20:41.159 The heart of our problem is our wisdom. 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:44.039 The heart of our problem is when we first said, 00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:45.719 I do instead of God does. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:48.099 And when the church started to preach this message, 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:50.299 the society kept hitting against it. 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.059 But what about this? 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.379 What about that? 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.919 What about this? 00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:55.220 What about that? 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:57.220 And the church was tempted to compromise. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:59.200 They were tempted to change what was going on 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:01.859 and they were tempted to change the message of the gospel. 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:02.879 And Paul kept telling them, 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.399 don't do it. 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:03.919 Don't do it. 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.419 Don't do it. 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:06.519 Because if you change the message of Jesus crucified, 00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:08.720 you're going to be in trouble. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:14.640 The message of Hong Kong's wisdom is this. 00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:17.120 You can fix everything. 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.240 You can fix the brokenness, 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:25.140 but what Paul is saying here is you can't. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:29.259 Because people in their own wisdom 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:31.920 don't see the main problem. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:39.440 they see the consequences of the problem they see poverty they see abandonment they see abuse they 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:43.900 see broken laws they see all these things out there and so when the world looks at this world 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:48.279 that we live in and they say well the way to fix this is to use worldly wisdom and so what we're 00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:50.920 going to do is we're going to make more laws and we're going to make more regulations and we're 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:54.640 going to make more feed more hungry people we're going to educate more people we're going to do 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:58.039 politics and we're going to do medicine and all of those things are really good things don't hear 00:21:58.039 --> 00:22:06.379 me those are all great things but the message of the gospel isn't about those things what paul is 00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:12.740 struggling to keep this church on focus and what we will always struggle to keep us on focus is that 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:18.839 the message that we present to people is about jesus christ dying on a cross and that message goes right 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:23.639 to the heart of our problem it goes right to your and my heart it goes right to the place where i do 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:32.060 comes out the i do my wisdom comes out of my heart and paul says that when jesus died on the cross 00:22:32.060 --> 00:22:38.780 which is amazing it's scandalous uh it's it's but god in all his wisdom attacks the problem not the 00:22:38.780 --> 00:22:44.400 consequences and jesus comes in and in one step on the cross he destroys our heart problem 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:52.300 he takes away our problems and what we're told in this passage is that jesus frees us from everything 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:57.339 that entangles us jesus frees us from everything that snares us jesus frees us from everything that 00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:58.419 puts us in bondage 00:22:58.419 --> 00:23:06.019 and that the cross helps us it takes away the things that kept us from knowing god it kept away 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:11.000 the things that kept us from seeing god it kept took away the things that kept us from obeying god 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:16.980 and jesus on his cross comes in and he destroys all of our worldly wisdom all of our pride all of our 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:22.740 self-centeredness and the reason he does it by himself is so at the end only god can get the glory 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:30.400 so when people come to christ they don't go i found it like they did in the 70s there was a big 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:34.440 campaign it was a great campaign it was evangelistic campaign and all the cars in america had a bumper 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:38.539 sticker on the back and the bumper sticker said i found it it meant they came to faith 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:43.839 what this passage says is you can never find it 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:48.180 because you have blinders on 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:52.720 and the only way in your own wisdom 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:57.240 that you can find it is god this step visor 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:59.859 and shows you jesus 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:07.399 we've had people come to watermark for weeks and weeks and i met with them and talked to them about the 00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:14.080 gospel and we've intellectualized and we have answered all their questions and in the end they walked away dissatisfied 00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:21.340 i was on a mission trip to thailand i was teaching at probably the most prestigious university in bangkok 00:24:21.340 --> 00:24:25.740 and i had a group of rotc candidates and we were talking about buddhism versus christianity 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:31.800 and in about two hours i was able to in a very kind way to dismantle all their beliefs about buddhism 00:24:31.800 --> 00:24:37.240 and show them why it was so much more reasonable to believe in the cross and jesus christ and that that would free you 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.519 that would make you free 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:41.859 and at the end i asked every one of them so do you want to become a christian 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:44.599 and they looked at me and said no 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:47.180 i'm a buddhist 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:50.960 and that shouldn't bother you 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:55.059 because the greatest miracle that's going to happen in church 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:59.920 the greatest miracle that's going to happen in hong kong the greatest miracle that's going to happen in your life 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:03.000 as the holy spirit comes into your life 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:05.320 opens your eyes 00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:07.340 takes your blinders off 00:25:07.340 --> 00:25:09.039 and frees you up 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:11.460 and the church 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.840 struggled with this 00:25:12.840 --> 00:25:16.720 because it didn't sound nice 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:19.600 and it didn't sound fun 00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:23.800 and it beat against what the culture was telling them 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:26.099 of what success looked like 00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:27.720 and what freedom looked like 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:30.579 so let me ask you a question 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:33.559 are you free? 00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:41.000 have you experienced this freedom that paul's talking about? 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:47.259 i know for a long time as a christian 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:49.799 and i was a christian i didn't feel that freedom 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:54.180 i struggled with doing and being and doing all these things 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:56.599 and making sure that i did everything right and perfect 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:58.339 and that's not the message of the gospel 00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:59.799 that's not what christ is talking about 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:01.339 that's not what paul is talking about 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:03.159 he's talking about at the cross 00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:04.299 christ came 00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:05.839 and he did everything necessary 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:07.720 to bring us to god 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:09.339 and that frees us 00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:10.859 he gives us a new heart 00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:12.859 he gives us a new way to think of god 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:14.220 he takes away our anger 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:15.180 he takes away our guilt 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:16.119 he takes away our shame 00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:17.579 he makes everything new 00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:18.759 and so the question is 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.180 do we 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.600 do we believe it? 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.620 do we believe it? 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:29.880 and that's what the church was struggling with in corinth 00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:32.000 because they had come to faith 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.980 it changed their lives 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.480 but then as they lived with their friends 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.640 and they saw their friends life 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.799 and their friends were great people 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.560 and they were powerful 00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:39.060 and they had wealth 00:26:39.060 --> 00:26:40.120 and they were great speakers 00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:41.140 and they had all these things 00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:42.860 and as they started thinking about this message 00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:43.539 over and over their head 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:43.860 they said 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:46.220 well this message seems kind of crazy to them 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:49.759 this message seems kind of foolish to them 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:52.339 maybe we should start talking about Jesus 00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:54.299 and we should start talking about how to make your life better 00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:57.680 maybe we should do self-help courses 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:59.059 and one, two, three 00:26:59.059 --> 00:27:00.160 and if you do these three things 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.839 you're going to be rich 00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.660 you're going to be a millionaire 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:04.120 and Paul comes in and says 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:04.680 don't do it 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.140 don't do it 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:05.740 because if you do it 00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:07.799 you take away the power of the gospel 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:11.019 does that make any sense? 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:14.659 I've got to end 00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:18.460 but I want you to think about two things 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:21.700 the first thing is this 00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:24.119 today 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:25.859 as you leave here 00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:27.099 in this week 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:28.899 if you're a child of God 00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:31.220 you're going to be tempted 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:33.460 by worldly wisdom 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:37.240 you're going to be thinking about this message 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.059 that we've talked about 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.720 and you're going to say 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.859 it really sounds harsh 00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.839 I don't know if it's going to work 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.980 in the business world in Hong Kong 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.140 I don't know if it's going to work 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.359 in the academic world in Hong Kong 00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:45.839 and you're going to be tempted 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:48.620 to soften the power of the gospel 00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:49.620 in your life 00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:54.500 you're going to be tempted 00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:56.519 to look just like the people in your office 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:58.359 and to talk 00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.680 just like the people in your office 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:03.120 hopefully you're not going to treat your family 00:28:03.120 --> 00:28:04.680 the same way you treat your colleagues 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:07.940 but it will be a struggle 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:10.600 and Paul says if we do that 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:12.279 we've lost the power of the gospel 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:14.140 we've lost God's power 00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:15.779 to change our lives 00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:20.900 you're going to walk into your classroom 00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:23.100 and in your workplace 00:28:23.100 --> 00:28:25.500 and you're going to feel foolish 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:28.039 because of the message of the cross 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:30.380 you will 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:33.920 and when people put you down 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:35.500 for your faith 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:37.180 you're going to struggle 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:38.600 with wanting to compromise 00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:41.980 and what Paul is saying is 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:42.840 if you do that 00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:45.980 you've forgotten who your savior is 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:48.200 if you do that 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:49.440 the message that you're going to share 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.200 with your colleagues 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:50.860 or your friends 00:28:50.860 --> 00:28:52.220 or wherever you're at 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.500 isn't going to be the message 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.820 that's going to change their life 00:28:54.820 --> 00:28:57.880 and it happens everywhere guys 00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:59.140 it happens in the church right? 00:28:59.140 --> 00:29:01.020 I mean in the church 00:29:01.020 --> 00:29:02.340 when I first started working for a church 00:29:02.340 --> 00:29:03.180 I was given this book 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:04.080 and it was an interesting book 00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:05.780 it was Dynamic Church Growth 00:29:05.780 --> 00:29:06.160 and it said 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:07.780 if you do these ten things 00:29:07.780 --> 00:29:08.460 in your church 00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.520 your church will grow 00:29:09.520 --> 00:29:11.840 and so it said 00:29:11.840 --> 00:29:13.280 examine all the ten things you're doing 00:29:13.280 --> 00:29:14.700 and if any of these things are wrong 00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.640 then keep doing it better 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.759 and if you get bigger 00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.640 then it will get higher 00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:18.759 and you can have more capacity 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.500 to fill people in 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.500 and if you do that 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.540 then your church is going to grow 00:29:21.540 --> 00:29:23.980 now is that 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.600 is that worldly wisdom 00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:26.500 or godly wisdom? 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:28.660 now all those things 00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.700 might be good things 00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:32.240 but if we're depending on those things 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.740 instead of the cross 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:35.299 to grow the church 00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:36.140 then we're going to fail 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:40.319 I mean in your workplace 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:42.880 you're going to go into your workplace 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:43.319 this week 00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:44.220 and you're going to be tempted 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:48.519 to display business behavior 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:50.579 as opposed to normal behavior 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:54.419 business behavior 00:29:54.419 --> 00:29:55.619 where things aren't said 00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:56.599 is it right or wrong 00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:57.279 but the question is 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.199 is it permissible? 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:02.419 and what Paul says 00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:03.559 is if you do that 00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:06.720 you're compromising the message 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:08.179 that God saved you with 00:30:08.179 --> 00:30:11.279 and even if those people 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.659 happen to listen to you 00:30:12.659 --> 00:30:15.439 the message that you're giving them 00:30:15.439 --> 00:30:16.139 isn't the message 00:30:16.139 --> 00:30:17.339 that's going to give them life 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:20.339 it's going to be the message 00:30:20.339 --> 00:30:21.559 that's going to put them in bondage 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.379 and kill them 00:30:22.379 --> 00:30:26.000 worldly wisdom 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:33.279 in your home 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:38.480 it used to mean 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:40.059 to train up a child 00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:41.439 in the way he shall go 00:30:41.439 --> 00:30:43.319 and that should not depart from him 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:45.399 that used to mean 00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:46.179 to give your child 00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:47.500 a foundation of the gospel 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:50.180 and God's word 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:52.700 and build their life 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.640 on that foundation 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:56.580 today in Hong Kong 00:30:56.580 --> 00:30:57.120 it means 00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:58.680 give your kid 00:30:58.680 --> 00:31:00.039 the best education possible 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:02.160 and give them everything 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:03.220 materially they need 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:07.640 is that godly wisdom? 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:13.400 I'm just getting to the age now 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:14.180 where I'm counseling 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:15.220 some of your kids 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:17.720 who've had everything 00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:19.960 and they've had the best education 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:22.079 and what I realize 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:23.000 is that most of them 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.039 are lost 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:27.720 because they have no anchor 00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:28.680 for their soul 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:33.539 my prayer for us 00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.920 is that we wouldn't compromise 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:37.100 God's message 00:31:37.100 --> 00:31:40.220 because the culture around us 00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:42.259 makes us look foolish 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:44.000 and stupid 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:47.740 one last thought 00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:50.980 what does it look like 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:52.039 for you to live this message out 00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.779 in your workplace 00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:56.220 what does it look like 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:56.920 for you to live out 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:58.119 the message of the word 00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:59.019 of the cross 00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:00.920 in your workplace 00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:03.819 or your home 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:06.559 or in the university 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:09.259 or wherever God sends you there 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:10.079 what does that look like? 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:14.159 what Paul's going to tell us later 00:32:14.159 --> 00:32:15.019 in this book of Corinthians 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.579 he's going to say 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.740 this is what it looks like 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:18.980 it looks like love 00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:22.460 it looks like joy 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:24.960 it looks like peace 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:27.299 it looks like patience 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:29.899 it looks like kindness 00:32:29.899 --> 00:32:32.519 it looks like gentleness 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:35.200 it looks like self-control 00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:38.460 as you and me go out 00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:40.500 and we live this message 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.480 of the cross out 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:43.579 what we're told 00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:45.220 is that God is going to use us 00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:47.539 because there's a world 00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.339 desperate 00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:50.319 for meaning 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:52.139 for truth 00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:53.799 for identity 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:55.839 and they're trying to anchor 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:57.200 their souls to anything 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:59.799 and they're lost 00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:02.980 they're lost 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:05.220 let's pray 00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:07.000 Father we thank you 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.720 for your word 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:09.299 we thank you 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:10.059 that it is living 00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:10.680 and active 00:33:10.680 --> 00:33:12.379 and that it changes us 00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:14.839 Father I pray for us 00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:17.139 I pray for me 00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:18.220 and the staff 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.079 that we would never 00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:20.639 become so enamored 00:33:20.639 --> 00:33:21.359 with numbers 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:22.339 and finances 00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:24.079 and competition 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:25.159 that we would lose 00:33:25.159 --> 00:33:25.619 the message 00:33:25.619 --> 00:33:26.220 that your son 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.159 came to give us 00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:30.019 I pray for those 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:30.519 of us in here 00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:31.320 who are living 00:33:31.320 --> 00:33:32.340 by worldly wisdom 00:33:32.340 --> 00:33:33.019 I pray that you 00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:33.700 would show them 00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:35.160 that this worldly wisdom 00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:35.960 is folly 00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:37.800 and the only way 00:33:37.800 --> 00:33:38.560 you can do that 00:33:38.560 --> 00:33:39.120 is if you open 00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:39.640 their eyes 00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:40.420 to your son 00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:41.279 Jesus Christ 00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:43.820 Lord I pray 00:33:43.820 --> 00:33:44.340 there's anybody 00:33:44.340 --> 00:33:44.960 in here right now 00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.800 who's on that search 00:33:45.800 --> 00:33:46.300 that they would just 00:33:46.300 --> 00:33:46.960 pray this prayer 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.400 that God 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:48.360 will you show yourself 00:33:48.360 --> 00:33:49.120 to me this week 00:33:49.120 --> 00:33:52.040 if you're real 00:33:52.040 --> 00:33:53.080 will you open your eyes 00:33:53.080 --> 00:33:54.940 open my eyes 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.380 to you 00:33:55.380 --> 00:33:55.920 will you help me 00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:56.500 see you 00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.779 will you show me 00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:59.220 will you bring people 00:33:59.220 --> 00:33:59.940 into my life 00:33:59.940 --> 00:34:00.799 that can talk to me 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:01.539 about Christ 00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:02.160 and what he's done 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:02.740 and the power 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.380 of the gospel 00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:06.420 and what I pray 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:07.039 for those of us 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.759 who are on this 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:08.559 journey of world 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:10.260 godly wisdom 00:34:10.260 --> 00:34:12.219 and sometimes 00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:12.920 we are like the 00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:13.619 church of Corinth 00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.300 and we tend to 00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:14.699 compromise 00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:16.699 and we mix 00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:17.840 and we match 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:19.280 because we don't 00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:20.260 want to seem stupid 00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:21.019 and strange 00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:21.539 and weird 00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.139 and harsh 00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.860 I pray for us 00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:23.219 Lord that you 00:34:23.219 --> 00:34:24.079 would guard our hearts 00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:26.139 help us to go 00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:26.900 back to the beginning 00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.880 and help us to realize 00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:28.619 that the only reason 00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:29.360 that we're here 00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:30.960 is because of your mercy 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:31.679 and your grace 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:32.860 and you opened our eyes 00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:35.360 help us not to get prideful 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:36.380 like the church at Corinth 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:36.719 did 00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:37.819 and they started boasting 00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:38.819 of all the great things 00:34:38.819 --> 00:34:39.119 they did 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:39.759 and all the great 00:34:39.759 --> 00:34:40.619 accomplishments they did 00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:42.059 but they realized 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:43.639 they missed the focus 00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.219 of the cross 00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:45.079 and the cross is saying 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:46.679 that it's not about us 00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:48.340 it's about God 00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:49.099 getting the glory 00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:49.860 and it's about God 00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:50.360 doing 00:34:50.360 --> 00:34:52.559 and about God 00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.039 boasting 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:55.019 and I pray for us 00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:55.500 Lord I pray 00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:56.180 that if any of us 00:34:56.180 --> 00:34:56.640 are boasting 00:34:56.640 --> 00:34:57.320 in ourselves 00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:57.860 or we're boasting 00:34:57.860 --> 00:34:58.579 in this church 00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:59.240 that you would 00:34:59.240 --> 00:35:00.160 just rebuke us 00:35:00.160 --> 00:35:03.420 and we'd realize 00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:03.880 that you 00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:04.660 and you alone 00:35:04.660 --> 00:35:05.820 get the glory 00:35:05.820 --> 00:35:07.840 and so we come 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:08.220 before you 00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:08.740 as a church 00:35:08.740 --> 00:35:09.360 as your people 00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:09.900 and we just 00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.760 we are so 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:12.240 humbled 00:35:12.240 --> 00:35:14.079 by your mercy 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.539 and grace 00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:15.079 to us 00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:17.019 may Hong Kong 00:35:17.019 --> 00:35:17.599 be different 00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:19.220 as we love 00:35:19.220 --> 00:35:19.980 those around us 00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:20.320 well 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:21.900 love them 00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.380 through the power 00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:22.820 of your son 00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:23.500 and through your spirit 00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:25.420 Father we love you 00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:27.900 we need you desperately 00:35:27.900 --> 00:35:30.240 we pray these things 00:35:30.240 --> 00:35:31.140 in your son Jesus name 00:35:31.140 --> 00:35:32.500 Amen