WEBVTT 00:00:00.780 --> 00:00:02.980 It's really easy to lose perspective. 00:00:03.780 --> 00:00:08.660 When I was younger, I think I was a fairly typical kid, and I basically thought that 00:00:08.660 --> 00:00:10.200 the world revolved around me. 00:00:10.779 --> 00:00:17.280 I saw all the people in my life as existing to serve me, not like consciously or explicitly, 00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:20.839 but that's basically the way I thought things were supposed to work. 00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:25.039 And the result of that approach is that I didn't do very well when things didn't go 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:25.500 my way. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:30.699 I could throw a tanty with the best of them, pretty good at sulking, pretty good at holding 00:00:30.699 --> 00:00:31.320 a grudge. 00:00:31.940 --> 00:00:37.539 And as just an icing on the cake, I also had a violent temper that would flare fairly easily. 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:40.579 So generally, I was pretty much a delight to have around. 00:00:41.519 --> 00:00:46.820 And as a young kid, the major source of frustration in my life, the thing that was most likely 00:00:46.820 --> 00:00:49.840 to spark me, was the lack of McDonald's. 00:00:50.519 --> 00:00:53.260 So I would ask my parents all the time to take me to McDonald's. 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:54.120 I just loved it. 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:57.959 And we'd be driving past McDonald's, and I'd be sitting in the seat behind my parents 00:00:57.959 --> 00:01:02.659 making indicator sounds to try and subliminally tell my parents to hit the indicator and turn 00:01:02.659 --> 00:01:02.859 in. 00:01:03.199 --> 00:01:04.039 So we'd be driving along. 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:05.659 There'd be this tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:07.679 You can imagine how joyful that was for my parents. 00:01:08.420 --> 00:01:12.560 And look, every time we drove past, where we lived, there was a McDonald's in every direction 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:13.560 that you would possibly go. 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:17.599 So any outing that we went on as a family, that's twice that trip, I would be going tick, 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:17.840 tick, tick. 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:20.079 And McDonald's expansion has been impressive. 00:01:20.219 --> 00:01:21.519 So sometimes it was more than twice. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:24.200 Every time we'd drive past the McDonald's, I'd be like tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, and 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:25.799 getting more intense as we got closer. 00:01:26.259 --> 00:01:27.679 I love McDonald's. 00:01:27.739 --> 00:01:29.979 And let's be honest, I still love McDonald's. 00:01:30.599 --> 00:01:35.039 But I remember one time in particular, we're driving past McDonald's on the way home, and 00:01:35.039 --> 00:01:39.099 I'm sitting in the back making indicator noises as fiercely as I can. 00:01:39.099 --> 00:01:46.640 And Dad, who's driving, completely sick of it, decides that instead of yelling at me, he'll 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:49.219 put the indicator on and turn into McDonald's. 00:01:49.679 --> 00:01:53.759 And I'm internally doing cartwheels, but trying to play it cool, like, I don't mind either 00:01:53.759 --> 00:01:53.959 way. 00:01:54.019 --> 00:01:54.839 This is nice of you, Dad. 00:01:54.919 --> 00:01:56.579 You know, it's really good that we can have some McDonald's. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:03.199 Dad pulls into the car park, finds a spot, gets in there, turns the keys off, turns the 00:02:03.199 --> 00:02:06.479 keys back on, reverses out and drives home, thinking it's the funniest thing ever. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:12.400 Now, it's fair to say that I did not handle this situation with much poise. 00:02:13.159 --> 00:02:14.980 There was a fairly substantial tantrum. 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:16.379 There may have been some swearing. 00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:19.140 I may have cried about the injustice. 00:02:19.379 --> 00:02:20.360 It's okay, I was only about 15. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:23.000 And I still haven't fully recovered. 00:02:23.060 --> 00:02:24.300 I was younger than 15, just to clarify. 00:02:24.379 --> 00:02:25.460 I haven't fully recovered. 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:29.400 It still is a point of damage in my early childhood and relationship with my parents. 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:33.980 But once I settled down, Dad sat me down because he figured this had gotten to a point where 00:02:33.979 --> 00:02:36.739 we actually need to deal with this crazy child. 00:02:37.379 --> 00:02:42.859 And I remember when he sat me down to talk about it, he explained what it was like for 00:02:42.859 --> 00:02:44.319 kids living in poverty. 00:02:44.899 --> 00:02:50.719 Now, my dad, for a job, would spend six months of every year traveling around Africa filming 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:56.019 to make documentaries and ads, the kind of ones you see for 40-hour famine and sponsored 00:02:56.019 --> 00:02:57.060 children and that sort of stuff. 00:02:57.060 --> 00:03:02.360 So he would literally spend one day looking at a child who was dying of starvation through 00:03:02.360 --> 00:03:07.680 a camera and two days later have some whingy kid in the back having a tantrum about not 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:09.120 being allowed to eat McDonald's. 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:14.640 And I remember hearing this and thinking, it makes sense to me. 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:18.219 I understand how ridiculous my actions sound. 00:03:18.580 --> 00:03:24.939 But it's hard to hold on to that reality of that child starving when it just seems so far 00:03:24.939 --> 00:03:25.300 away. 00:03:25.300 --> 00:03:31.280 And it wasn't until I was about 13 that I got to go on a work trip with Dad to Africa. 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:36.439 And I got to see with my own eyes what it was like for children living in poverty who 00:03:36.439 --> 00:03:38.000 were my age on the other side of the world. 00:03:38.660 --> 00:03:44.220 And I remember really distinctly that on this trip, I was sitting on the floor of a mud hut. 00:03:44.520 --> 00:03:47.320 A family had us over in the village where we were filming. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:53.200 And they served us some rice and some chicken that this family had cooked for us. 00:03:53.200 --> 00:03:55.100 And it tasted absolutely disgusting. 00:03:55.300 --> 00:03:59.980 But I knew enough sitting there that I needed to eat it and not complain. 00:04:00.660 --> 00:04:04.320 Because as I'm sitting there with a bowl of rice and chicken and my dad as well and the 00:04:04.320 --> 00:04:09.320 other people on the film crew that were there, the family is sitting watching us eat because 00:04:09.320 --> 00:04:12.680 there's not enough food for both us and them to eat. 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:17.780 I was basically taking a meal that this family would have had as their only meal for the day. 00:04:17.780 --> 00:04:21.459 And in reality, I was probably having their best meal of the month because they would have had to 00:04:21.459 --> 00:04:23.280 kill a chicken to make this happen. 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:28.859 And I remember sitting there feeling incredibly guilty about every time that I complained that there was 00:04:28.859 --> 00:04:29.859 mushrooms on my plate. 00:04:30.299 --> 00:04:33.299 Or whinge to my parents that I couldn't have a second glass of Coke. 00:04:33.619 --> 00:04:38.519 Or sat in the back of the car making indicator noises or having tantrums because I wasn't getting 00:04:38.519 --> 00:04:39.119 McDonald's. 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:47.139 This new perspective that I had when I returned home lasted about a week. 00:04:47.139 --> 00:04:51.539 Before long, I'm in the back of the car. 00:04:51.659 --> 00:04:52.919 I'm making indicator sounds. 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:54.879 I'm whinging that we didn't go to McDonald's. 00:04:55.539 --> 00:04:57.560 It's not that I didn't care about what I'd seen. 00:04:58.379 --> 00:05:00.879 It's not that it didn't have a real impact on me. 00:05:00.939 --> 00:05:06.959 It's just that it's really easy to lose perspective when things like that go out of your field of vision. 00:05:07.860 --> 00:05:13.099 I mean, that situation felt so far away and all I could see was the big golden arches on the 00:05:13.099 --> 00:05:16.639 side of the road and a mental image of me enjoying a cheeseburger. 00:05:17.139 --> 00:05:20.300 It's easy to lose perspective. 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:28.300 It's easy to lose sight of the reality of the things that are supposed to shape and define who we are and the way that we function. 00:05:29.939 --> 00:05:36.379 Last week, when we were looking at Galatians in the section just before this, Paul was trying to remind the Galatians 00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:39.259 what God has already done for them in Jesus. 00:05:39.819 --> 00:05:45.659 He was reminding them about how they were rescued out of slavery, how they were adopted into God's family, 00:05:45.660 --> 00:05:48.560 how they were made sons and daughters and heirs. 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:51.380 But they've lost perspective. 00:05:52.880 --> 00:05:56.200 It's not that they're going back to their old pattern of life. 00:05:56.280 --> 00:05:58.100 It's not that they're turning back to that slavery. 00:05:58.100 --> 00:06:02.640 But as they lose sight of what God has done, they lose sight of the cross. 00:06:03.280 --> 00:06:08.500 They're turning away from him and towards a new slave master. 00:06:09.780 --> 00:06:13.800 They're essentially exchanging one slavery for another slavery. 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:20.079 In this book of Galatians, over and over and over, there's two things that Paul is pushing against, 00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:21.939 two different types of slavery. 00:06:22.139 --> 00:06:27.379 And they're equally wrong, equally dangerous, equally useless when it comes to approaching God. 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:29.520 But they're also quite distinct. 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:31.600 Have a look at the first one there in verse 8. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:33.220 Paul says, 00:06:33.220 --> 00:06:46.020 Now, this slavery is a slavery that masquerades as freedom. 00:06:47.020 --> 00:06:49.379 It's the attitude that says to the God, 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:51.800 you're not going to be my God, I'm going to be in charge. 00:06:51.900 --> 00:06:54.040 I'm going to choose who I worship. 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:55.540 I'm going to choose how I function. 00:06:55.620 --> 00:06:57.000 I'm going to choose how I live. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:02.959 And for the Galatians, they were literally, physically worshipping other gods. 00:07:03.500 --> 00:07:04.500 Think temples. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:05.720 Think sacrifices. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:07.139 Think gods for rain. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:08.519 Gods for fertility. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:09.980 Gods for harvest. 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:11.560 Gods for whatever else they needed. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:13.120 Gods that aren't really gods. 00:07:13.899 --> 00:07:15.500 Gods that are powerless to deliver. 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:22.579 Powerless to provide the significance and the purpose for life and the satisfaction that we as humans desire. 00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:25.779 And it was slavery for them. 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:31.180 It was slavery because it demanded much from them. 00:07:31.899 --> 00:07:36.240 They still had to go through jumping through the hoops of sacrifice and all these other things. 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:38.220 It promised a lot. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:41.279 Promised fertility and harvest and prosperity. 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:43.899 But it only delivered frustration. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:47.540 It didn't actually get them anywhere. 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:52.160 It didn't actually deliver the satisfaction and the purpose that they were after. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:57.600 That's the slavery that God rescued them from by sending Jesus to die on the cross. 00:07:59.200 --> 00:08:07.800 In dying in their place, he takes the punishment they deserve for substituting the God who creates all things for made up, no gods that are powerless and ineffective. 00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:14.879 God had rescued them from that and invited them to become his children. 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:17.819 That's slavery one in the book of Galatians. 00:08:18.199 --> 00:08:19.199 It's irreligious. 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:20.400 It's rebellious. 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:22.259 It's God gets stuffed. 00:08:22.840 --> 00:08:23.879 That's slavery one. 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:27.639 But the second one is a bit more subtle. 00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:29.540 Have a look at verse 9. 00:08:29.540 --> 00:08:40.539 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, let's just stop there quickly for a sec, because this is an anthem that Paul keeps hitting in this book. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:41.740 What's happened? 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:43.779 They do know God now. 00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:45.800 Because of what Jesus has done, they do know God. 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:49.560 But he wants to make it clear, never for a second are they to take credit for that. 00:08:50.420 --> 00:08:54.259 They do know God, but what's really going on is they're now known by God. 00:08:54.980 --> 00:08:57.980 He's the one who's done the work to welcome them into a relationship. 00:08:57.980 --> 00:09:01.879 That's worth picking out, that he makes the effort to make sure we don't get confused there. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:09.620 Now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? 00:09:10.620 --> 00:09:12.940 Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:17.600 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years. 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:22.720 I fear for you that somehow I've wasted my efforts on you. 00:09:23.659 --> 00:09:25.500 It's there in verse 10, the second slavery. 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:30.700 Observing special days, months, seasons and years. 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:33.259 So it's different to straight up pagan worship. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:37.740 It's different to statues and sacrifices and that sort of stuff. 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:38.700 But it's connected. 00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:42.460 Because Paul says, why would you turn back? 00:09:43.740 --> 00:09:45.080 Why would you return? 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:49.440 It says, to the same weak and miserable forces that enslaved the Galatians. 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:54.580 Now, when he says seasons, months, years, etc. 00:09:55.020 --> 00:09:57.680 That's shorthand for Jewish stuff. 00:09:58.660 --> 00:10:03.600 That's shorthand for Jewish festivals like Passover, for Sabbath, all those sorts of things. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:10.000 He's basically saying that these people who've come in, these false teachers who've turned up in your churches and said, 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:15.159 look, we know you were forgiven by Jesus, but now you've got to be Jewish if you're going to really stay in the family. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:17.700 Now you've got to obey our festivals. 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:19.080 You've got to do things our way. 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:20.519 You've got to follow our customs. 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:27.259 He's saying that that is the same kind of slavery as this. 00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:42.659 Paul sees these churches, these people that he loves and cares for, being led back into a slavery that will just disappoint and frustrate and hurt them. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:47.200 And he responds with this emphatic, no, don't turn back. 00:10:47.939 --> 00:10:50.120 Don't swap one slavery for another. 00:10:50.259 --> 00:10:51.539 Don't lose perspective. 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:55.419 Don't forget the situation that you're in before Jesus saved you. 00:10:55.419 --> 00:10:57.839 Don't forget that Jesus saved you. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:00.139 Don't forget how Jesus saved you. 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:02.639 Because there's no other gospel. 00:11:03.939 --> 00:11:05.039 There's no other good news. 00:11:05.199 --> 00:11:09.639 This thing they're selling where you have to follow Jewish tradition, that's not good news. 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:12.379 Not for sinful people like us. 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:18.099 Jesus alone can free you from slavery. 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:26.180 Jesus' death on the cross and his rising to life alone can set us free and make us sons and daughters. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:29.040 Now it's really important that you catch what's going on here. 00:11:31.060 --> 00:11:38.120 I would hazard a guess that there's not a lot of us in this room who are actively engaged in this kind of pagan worship. 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:43.759 Not a lot of us probably have statues in our living room that we're burning incense to. 00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:48.100 I don't know that we're making animal sacrifices, those sorts of things, although you might be. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:55.100 And if you are, I want to say that this passage and many other places in Scripture make it clear that if you are in that place, 00:11:55.159 --> 00:12:01.159 you are currently enslaved by weak, miserable non-gods that can't deliver. 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:10.079 But I would guess that for the majority of us in this room, the idea of literally worshipping another god like that, 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:11.699 we know that's bad. 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:14.360 We know that's not a good idea. 00:12:14.439 --> 00:12:23.399 But what Paul is saying here is that religion, religious activities, can be just as bad. 00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:32.860 The non-god demonic forces that exist over here that aren't gods but are still evil and are still sucking us in 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:38.079 are the same ones that are going to try and suck us in over here to do religious things. 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:47.980 So if church attendance or serving in ministry or trying to be moral or holy are things that you think will make God love you more 00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:57.100 or you think will be enough to save you, then you are just as enslaved as the person who's bowing down to the statue. 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:06.220 In our context, this is a trap for so many people. 00:13:08.800 --> 00:13:13.840 Think about how many extra people turn up and sit in these seats twice a year at Easter and Christmas. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:21.180 Now I want to make it clear that our church is a safe place for people to come in whether they're following Jesus or not. 00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:23.700 This is a good place to come and hear the gospel. 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:25.399 You are welcome if you're not a Christian. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:26.740 We are glad that you're here. 00:13:27.780 --> 00:13:35.240 But can you see the danger that for those people, Easter and Christmas is their annual keep God happy, tick the box trip. 00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:39.320 God's not impressed. 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:49.320 That is worshipping the non-God of your own effort, your own goodness, your own jumping through the hoops and being religious. 00:13:50.420 --> 00:13:54.420 The only thing that brings freedom is Jesus. 00:13:56.280 --> 00:13:59.440 And these Galatians have tasted the goodness of being loved and forgiven. 00:14:00.280 --> 00:14:01.500 They've started the journey. 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:05.140 They've been released once already and have been adopted into God's family. 00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:08.080 And so Paul is pleading with them, don't turn back. 00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:10.580 Don't choose slavery. 00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:13.480 Instead, verse 12, 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:18.279 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me. 00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:20.620 For I became like you. 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:24.819 Paul says, be like me. 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:27.379 He's not being vain. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:30.019 He's not saying, I'm really holy. 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:31.580 Try and be holy like me. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.519 Try and do good things like me. 00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:34.879 That's not what he's doing. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:37.639 He's saying, in Jesus, I'm free. 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:42.679 He's saying, because of what Jesus has done, I am free. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:47.759 Paul is living with the reality of the cross front and center in all he does. 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:55.759 The way he sees himself, the way he sees his circumstances, the way he sees the world around him is defined by what Jesus has done. 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:58.919 We won't get the chance to go into it too much. 00:14:58.919 --> 00:15:06.539 But just down a bit, you'll see that the reason Paul preached to the Galatians in the first place was not because it was the next step on his missionary journey. 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:08.539 But he got stuck there with an illness. 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:24.839 And because he knew the gospel and because he knew that Jesus was sitting on the throne and he was in control, because he'd listened to Ash's puppet show last week, that God's word about the risen Jesus cannot be stopped or whatever it was. 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:27.720 Because he said, OK, this is where I am. 00:15:27.920 --> 00:15:29.320 So this is where I'll preach. 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:35.500 The gospel defined how he viewed his situation, how he viewed his own life. 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:36.640 And so he was free. 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:42.420 And he's looking at these Galatians and they're turning to the slavery that he was rescued from. 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:44.180 See, Paul existed over here. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:50.600 He was the Jew who went to church 10 times a day, who memorized all his scriptures, who was a leader in the ministries. 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:53.440 He was doing all those things, but he was enslaved. 00:15:53.660 --> 00:15:58.100 And now because of Jesus, he knows what it is to be free and to be adopted. 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:16.100 And when he turned up to these Gentiles who didn't have the law, who didn't have the Jewish tradition, who didn't have all the things that he was used to, because of Jesus, he was free to let go of a whole bunch of this stuff and live with them. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:26.400 Because of Jesus, he was able to let go of the things that he used to think would save him so that he could show these people who are nothing like him that Jesus was enough. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:29.879 That in fact, only Jesus was enough. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:39.059 Paul has such security in the gospel that he can let go of everything else. 00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:43.199 When he says, be like me, he's saying, be free. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:47.540 He's saying, always trust Jesus. 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:49.400 Never lose perspective. 00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:50.340 Never turn back. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:51.400 Jesus is alive. 00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:52.879 Jesus is on the throne. 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:53.740 You are forgiven. 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:55.020 You are adopted. 00:16:56.040 --> 00:17:00.420 Never lose that gospel perspective. 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:07.420 And remember that gospel perspective doesn't just look back to what God has already done. 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:08.620 It takes us forward as well. 00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:10.160 Have a look at verse 19. 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:27.560 Remember the goal. 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:32.200 Christ formed in you. 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:34.799 Having rescued you. 00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:36.220 Having forgiven you. 00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:37.240 Having adopted you. 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:41.860 God is now in the business of transforming you progressively to be more like Jesus. 00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:44.600 Not just for the sake of it. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:52.519 But so that you can one day fully and forever enjoy the benefits of being a son or daughter of God. 00:17:52.519 --> 00:18:02.240 As Christians for us today and for the Galatians back when this was written, we exist in this in-between bit. 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:09.319 Jesus has turned up and he's died on the cross and he has risen and he has forgiven those who put their trust in him. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:11.500 He has adopted us to be sons or daughters. 00:18:11.639 --> 00:18:12.720 That is done and finished. 00:18:12.879 --> 00:18:17.779 But on this side, we still drag some of our old slavery with us, don't we? 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:21.819 We still sometimes live like slaves. 00:18:22.139 --> 00:18:24.579 We still sometimes sin and ignore God. 00:18:24.639 --> 00:18:26.339 We still sometimes do the wrong thing. 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:30.319 But the gospel also promises that over here Jesus is coming back. 00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:39.700 That when he returns, he will finally and fully get rid of all the sin, the slavery, the death, all the things that are in between us. 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:45.839 And being with our heavenly father face to face in a perfect new creation for all eternity. 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:47.639 That's the goal of the gospel. 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.599 That's why Jesus came. 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:50.559 That's why he forgives us. 00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:52.119 That's why he draws us into the family. 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:56.139 That we might be face to face with God forever. 00:18:57.500 --> 00:19:00.579 Enjoying all that he is and all that he has prepared for us. 00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:09.579 And so every step between now, between what Jesus has done and between that future is an opportunity for us to be transformed a little bit more. 00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:16.079 For us to be prepared a little bit better for the eternity that God has for those who belong to him. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:18.740 That's the goal. 00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:22.460 Face to face with God, enjoying him forever. 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:26.940 And every day now is an opportunity to take a step towards that goal. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.740 Gospel perspective. 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:38.700 The thing that makes us lose that perspective is insecurity. 00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:43.039 This is the issue in the whole book of Galatians. 00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:45.779 This is the issue that keeps coming up sermon after sermon. 00:19:45.860 --> 00:19:47.840 It's going to keep coming up for the last couple of chapters. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:50.039 This is the issue throughout scripture. 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.860 This is the issue throughout our lives. 00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:54.439 This is our default position. 00:19:55.439 --> 00:20:03.539 Is that in spite of what Jesus has already done, in this bit in the middle, we begin to wonder if he still loves us. 00:20:04.439 --> 00:20:08.979 We begin to feel a bit unsure about whether we're actually his children. 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:11.039 Whether we're still his children. 00:20:11.199 --> 00:20:12.339 Whether we're holding on. 00:20:12.339 --> 00:20:15.279 And the issue is that insecurity. 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:18.039 And what we do with it when we feel it. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:22.240 Because it comes from a place that's half true. 00:20:23.419 --> 00:20:26.879 The things that were true of us before we met Jesus that make us unsure. 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:29.119 We think, I'm sinful and I'm unworthy. 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:30.099 Yes, you are. 00:20:31.199 --> 00:20:34.639 But Jesus has died and forgiven you and adopted you into the family. 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.519 So you're secure. 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:38.619 You think, but I'm still sinning. 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.779 Yeah, you probably are. 00:20:42.179 --> 00:20:43.659 But you're in the family now. 00:20:43.739 --> 00:20:47.019 And God's doing a work to progressively get rid of that sin in you. 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:55.659 See, what insecurity does is it pushes us in one of three equally dangerous but different directions. 00:20:57.139 --> 00:21:00.559 The first place it might push you is into effort. 00:21:01.459 --> 00:21:02.339 Into religion. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:05.599 So what you do is you know you're not good enough. 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:14.259 And what your insecurity does is drive you to try and do enough good things to make up for the bad things to somehow balance your ledger. 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:19.079 So you start observing special days and months and seasons and festivals. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:22.639 You start going to church that little bit more. 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:24.199 Serving that little bit more. 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.679 Reading your Bible that little bit more. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:30.019 Hoping that it will settle the account and you'll have covered the bad stuff. 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:32.199 But it doesn't work. 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:38.259 So you just end up digging yourself deeper and deeper and feeling more insecure because you can't quite catch up. 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:42.660 Plus the gospel says that doesn't work. 00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:50.120 The gospel says that when we go to that place of effort and thinking we're somehow going to be able to do it ourselves, 00:21:50.340 --> 00:21:52.759 we haven't actually understood what the problem is. 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:58.840 We haven't actually understood that the reason we were enslaved, the reason we were cut off from God is our sin. 00:21:58.839 --> 00:22:01.659 That that's not something that you can fix with effort. 00:22:02.959 --> 00:22:05.319 Sin is so offensive to God. 00:22:05.459 --> 00:22:10.119 Sin is so serious and so costly that it requires death. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:20.619 If you're somebody who's following Jesus and the word effort echoes with what it feels like for you to be a Christian, 00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:26.639 it could be that you've lost sight of just how serious the problem is. 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:31.479 And you've begun to think maybe I can deal with it myself. 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:35.139 The gospel releases you from that. 00:22:35.739 --> 00:22:37.919 The gospel says this is too big for you. 00:22:39.199 --> 00:22:41.099 But God has provided a savior. 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:44.959 God has provided somebody to deal with what you cannot. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:49.920 The first dangerous direction that insecurity will push you is effort. 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:53.160 The second is rejection. 00:22:54.340 --> 00:22:56.360 You just give up because it's too hard. 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:59.980 Maybe this is something that you've said yourself. 00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:03.980 I try but I fail and I'm just not comfortable. 00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:06.360 I don't like being reminded that I'm not good enough. 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:08.640 I don't like being told that I'm sinful. 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:09.880 So I'm out. 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:15.240 Maybe that's something you've heard from people who used to sit next to you in church. 00:23:17.780 --> 00:23:20.160 And it all flows out of an insecurity. 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.700 Out of a fear. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:28.040 But the gospel says to those who would reject Jesus, 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:30.380 you haven't understood grace. 00:23:32.560 --> 00:23:35.580 You haven't understood that God loves you at your worst. 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:39.259 You haven't understood that before you did good or bad things, 00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:42.460 God had already decided he was going to love you before the creation of the world. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:45.839 You haven't understood that he knows your deepest, darkest secrets. 00:23:45.939 --> 00:23:48.960 You haven't understood that there's an ongoing work in you. 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.740 He doesn't demand perfection now. 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:56.439 He loves you as you are and he begins the process of forgiving you. 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:59.539 If you are someone who feels hopeless, 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.519 like it's all too hard, 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:10.059 the gospel says you need to look again at the grace that God has shown you. 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:12.980 The last direction, 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:14.680 and one I just want to focus on for a couple of minutes, 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:20.200 is insecurity can push you into denial. 00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:24.400 I think this is a danger for a lot of us sitting in churches today. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:28.359 Listen to what Paul says about the Galatians in verse 13. 00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:31.259 As you know, 00:24:31.379 --> 00:24:34.279 it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:36.919 And even though my illness was a trial to you, 00:24:36.979 --> 00:24:39.259 you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. 00:24:40.159 --> 00:24:40.559 Instead, 00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:43.299 you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:45.599 as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 00:24:46.719 --> 00:24:52.039 It's a little snapshot of just how loving these people were towards Paul when they first met him. 00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:54.119 When they first heard the gospel, 00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:58.339 they were so thankful to know that they were sinful and that God had provided a savior. 00:24:58.659 --> 00:25:04.339 They were rejoicing at even this offensive message that they needed a savior because there was one on offer. 00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:07.119 They were so moved by that, 00:25:07.219 --> 00:25:09.659 so secure in God's love that they would gladly, 00:25:09.919 --> 00:25:14.859 sacrificially bear the cost of caring for Paul and looking after him in his illness. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:16.059 But then, 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:18.000 we hit verse 15. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:22.859 Where then is your blessing of me now? 00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:26.220 I can testify that if you could have done so, 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:28.319 you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:34.119 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:40.799 The Galatians didn't like feeling insecure. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:43.559 And that's perfectly reasonable. 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:48.559 But their solution was denial. 00:25:49.899 --> 00:25:50.859 Their solution was, 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.599 we don't want to hear the truth anymore. 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:58.139 This other option that these people are offering to us of doing religious stuff sounds easier. 00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.859 All we've got to do there is just, 00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:01.099 you know, 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:02.299 church a couple of times a week, 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:03.179 get circumcised, 00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:04.240 only eat certain foods, 00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:05.779 and then God has to love us. 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:08.240 It was a delusion, 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:10.279 but it sounded easier. 00:26:10.419 --> 00:26:12.179 And so they stopped listening to the truth. 00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:17.059 I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Facebook. 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:20.799 I get myself in trouble if I post too often or if I comment things. 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:23.059 I have to check them with my wife now before I go online. 00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:27.379 But something has become clear to me about Facebook and social media recently, 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:29.139 after reading a few articles about it. 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.079 When you're on Facebook, 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:32.119 when you're on social media, 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:35.980 you have access to opinions and articles and news. 00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:41.079 But of the billions of things that are out there floating around online, 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:43.480 the ones that you see 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:49.500 are the ones that your friendship network posts, likes, or shares. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:53.140 And what sorts of people are in your friendship network? 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.860 People like you. 00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:59.659 That is, people who think like you. 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.779 Who like the things that you like. 00:27:03.379 --> 00:27:06.319 And what that means is that without some self-awareness, 00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:09.719 social media can become this massive echo chamber 00:27:09.719 --> 00:27:15.659 that just affirms and reinforces what we have already decided we think. 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:19.980 So we convince ourselves that we're engaged in this critical analysis, 00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:23.340 but deep down we're just looking for people to say the stuff that we were thinking 00:27:23.340 --> 00:27:26.019 so that we can then just be firmer in thinking that. 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:29.000 Case in point. 00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:33.180 The current same-sex marriage debate, plebiscite, vote, 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:34.140 whatever you want to call it. 00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:37.860 If you move in conservative Christian circles, 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:41.300 the commentary that you'll be seeing on social media 00:27:41.300 --> 00:27:44.440 is that the no case is gaining ground. 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:50.640 If you move in slightly more liberal or left-leaning circles, 00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:54.200 you'll be seeing a commentary that says that the yes vote 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:56.620 is going to win this with close to a three-to-one majority. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:01.340 Now, which of those is true is irrelevant for this point right now? 00:28:03.040 --> 00:28:04.460 The point is, 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:07.200 we now exist in a world 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:11.360 that only hears and only wants to hear 00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:13.900 what we already believe to be true. 00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:17.060 That's our starting point. 00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:20.140 We don't want to hear truth that might challenge us 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:21.259 or make us uncomfortable. 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.640 And what happens is, 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:25.340 as we hear this truth that we've already pre-selected, 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:27.200 is we get a false security. 00:28:28.360 --> 00:28:30.720 It affirms a wrong perspective of us 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:32.220 that we must be in the majority 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.779 because everybody thinks what I think. 00:28:34.340 --> 00:28:37.460 That everybody is all the people who I have selectively chosen 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.759 because they think what I think, 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:40.620 but we don't think that deeply about it. 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:43.299 And so we get a false security 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:45.339 and a wrong perspective of ourselves 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.599 and of the gospel 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:50.019 and we become hardened to hearing truth. 00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:53.459 The Galatians don't like being insecure 00:28:53.459 --> 00:28:55.459 and neither do we. 00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:59.660 But we must be careful not to take 00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:01.460 what seems like the easy way out 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:03.900 of just ticking boxes 00:29:03.900 --> 00:29:05.480 and doing religion 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:08.299 and observing festivals to make God happy. 00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:10.680 Granted, 00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:12.759 it's easier 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:14.860 than facing the reality 00:29:14.860 --> 00:29:16.500 that you and I are still sinful 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:19.140 and that that is deeply offensive 00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:20.680 to the God who gave his son 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:22.319 that we might be part of the family. 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:25.960 It's easier than facing the reality 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:27.000 that in this moment 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.839 I need grace 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:29.240 as much as the first moment 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.159 that I discovered it. 00:29:34.419 --> 00:29:35.919 For the Galatian Christians 00:29:35.919 --> 00:29:36.980 and for a lot of us, 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:39.299 when we first start following Jesus, 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:42.179 there is this period of drastic change 00:29:42.179 --> 00:29:44.700 where we're so secure in the gospel 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:48.759 that we just enjoy loving people sacrificially. 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:51.240 Where we're so secure in God's love for us 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.660 that we delight in things like 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:54.500 confessing sin and repenting 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.960 and wanting to be changed 00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:57.440 and wanting to be more like Jesus. 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:01.559 But for so many of us, 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:04.440 that period eventually slides back 00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:06.099 into insecurity 00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:08.420 because that's our default setting. 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:10.420 We just work our way back 00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:11.279 into insecurity 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.660 and then into denial. 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:14.299 Into, 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.579 you can't tell me I'm wrong. 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:17.500 That's what you think. 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:21.380 We stop wanting to change. 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.640 We settle into a, 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:23.940 you know, 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:25.380 I'm better than I was at the beginning. 00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:27.500 We forget that the gospel 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.660 has a goal for us. 00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:30.279 That the goal is not me 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.099 being pretty good 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:31.940 or better than I was. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.720 The goal is that I will be face to face 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:35.259 with a holy, pure God 00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.460 and there is so much more 00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.799 that needs to be done in us 00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:38.880 if we're going to be ready for that. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:42.540 We forget that Christ 00:30:42.540 --> 00:30:45.220 is not yet fully formed in us. 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:48.000 There's more growth to come. 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:51.100 We lose perspective. 00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:55.100 As a 13 year old, 00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:56.960 I quickly had my perspective 00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:58.200 defined by the things 00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:59.300 that were right in front of me. 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:02.440 So starving kids faded out 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.720 and was quickly replaced 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:05.680 with cheeseburgers. 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:10.000 It wasn't until I returned to Africa 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.880 a few years later 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:11.259 with, 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:12.360 again with my dad, 00:31:12.900 --> 00:31:14.960 that my perspective was realigned. 00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:17.180 Reality hadn't shifted 00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:18.200 in those few years 00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:19.320 but my perspective had. 00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:21.560 And now 20 years later, 00:31:21.600 --> 00:31:22.259 I'm conscious 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.340 of how quickly 00:31:23.340 --> 00:31:24.120 those realities 00:31:24.120 --> 00:31:25.500 fade out of my view 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:27.180 if I don't make myself 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:28.340 see and acknowledge 00:31:28.340 --> 00:31:29.019 what is true. 00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:32.240 When we forget, 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:34.680 we lose perspective. 00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.400 It's the same for us 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.019 as Christians. 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:42.420 Insecurity is the default setting 00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:42.920 for us 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:44.320 between these two points. 00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.840 It is where our heart 00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:47.940 will naturally go 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:49.200 as we look at a world around us 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:50.279 full of pain and suffering, 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.259 as we look at the sin 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.019 in our own lives 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:53.080 and the repeated failure. 00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:55.160 Insecurity is our default setting 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:56.880 and it will drive us back 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:58.320 into the slavery of effort, 00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.700 the slavery of denial, 00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:01.060 the slavery of even rejection 00:32:01.060 --> 00:32:01.779 of God 00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:04.440 only if 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:06.720 we allow the gospel 00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:07.879 to slip out of our view. 00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:14.399 Because nobody feels 00:32:14.399 --> 00:32:16.220 insecure in God's love 00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:17.500 when they first encounter it. 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:21.220 No one feels unsure 00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:22.279 about God's forgiveness 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:23.160 when they're kneeling 00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:23.819 in the shadow 00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:25.240 of the empty cross 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:26.639 or when they're standing 00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:28.420 in front of an empty tomb. 00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:33.120 We lose perspective 00:32:33.120 --> 00:32:33.860 when we leave 00:32:33.860 --> 00:32:34.840 the gospel behind. 00:32:36.580 --> 00:32:38.279 And we need Jesus 00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.340 in every moment 00:32:39.340 --> 00:32:39.980 of every day. 00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:41.360 We need to know 00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:42.279 that he's on the throne. 00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:43.539 We need the cross 00:32:43.539 --> 00:32:44.320 as the lens 00:32:44.320 --> 00:32:45.200 through which we view 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:45.759 everything, 00:32:45.860 --> 00:32:46.340 ourselves, 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.440 our circumstances, 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:48.560 the people around us, 00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:49.660 the world around us. 00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:53.560 we have been rescued. 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:56.400 We have been adopted. 00:32:57.300 --> 00:32:58.400 We have a goal 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:59.400 face to face 00:32:59.400 --> 00:32:59.960 with Jesus. 00:33:02.820 --> 00:33:04.380 The gospel gives us 00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:05.080 perspective 00:33:05.080 --> 00:33:09.160 because Jesus 00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:10.060 is on the throne. 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.600 We know 00:33:11.600 --> 00:33:12.700 who we used to be. 00:33:14.820 --> 00:33:15.600 We know 00:33:15.600 --> 00:33:16.100 what God 00:33:16.100 --> 00:33:16.720 has done. 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.620 We know 00:33:18.620 --> 00:33:19.580 where we're going. 00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:23.440 So hear the encouragement 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:24.460 of Paul this morning. 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.960 Don't turn back. 00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:30.180 Don't lose perspective. 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:35.860 Keep your eyes fixed 00:33:35.860 --> 00:33:37.160 on Jesus. 00:33:39.860 --> 00:33:40.680 Let's pray. 00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:40.700 Let's pray. 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:46.100 Let's pray.