WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.200 Today's scripture reading is found in Malachi, chapter 1, verses 6 to 14. 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:08.259 Please follow along as I read. 00:00:11.200 --> 00:00:14.939 A son honours his father, and a servant his master. 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:18.500 If then I am a father, where is my honour? 00:00:19.539 --> 00:00:25.019 If I am a master, where is my fear, says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise my name. 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:28.980 But you say, how have we despised your name? 00:00:28.980 --> 00:00:32.859 By offering polluted food upon my altar. 00:00:33.579 --> 00:00:36.179 But you say, how have we polluted you? 00:00:36.980 --> 00:00:40.060 By saying that the Lord's table may be despised. 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:44.460 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:48.859 And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:51.679 Present that to your governor. 00:00:52.380 --> 00:00:55.359 Will he accept you or show you favour, says the Lord of hosts? 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:58.620 And now entreat the favour of God. 00:00:58.979 --> 00:01:00.919 That he may be gracious to us. 00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:07.159 With such a gift from your hand, will he show favour to any of you, says the Lord of hosts? 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:14.739 O that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire upon my altar in vain. 00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:19.339 I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts. 00:01:19.339 --> 00:01:22.939 And I will not accept an offering from your hand. 00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:28.479 For from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name will be great among the nations. 00:01:29.060 --> 00:01:33.119 In every place, incense will be offered to my name and a pure offering. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:37.219 For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. 00:01:37.219 --> 00:01:45.219 But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food, may be despised. 00:01:46.099 --> 00:01:48.939 But you say, what a weariness this is. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:51.640 And you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:58.540 You bring what has been taken by violence, or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering? 00:01:59.420 --> 00:02:01.960 Shall I accept that from your hand, says the Lord? 00:02:03.180 --> 00:02:09.060 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. 00:02:09.780 --> 00:02:14.939 For I am a great king, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:17.620 This is the reading of God's word. 00:02:17.620 --> 00:02:23.480 Please be seated. 00:02:28.020 --> 00:02:28.900 Good morning, everyone. 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:36.800 If you haven't met me before, my name is Alistair, and I'm one of the pastors here at Watermark Church. 00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:41.060 But I've only been here for a short time, maybe three months now. 00:02:41.480 --> 00:02:44.020 So if you haven't met me, then please come and say hello. 00:02:44.620 --> 00:02:45.900 I'd love to come and meet you. 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:58.640 One of my cousin's kids, I asked her once, she went to school, and it was kind of before, it was like a preschool. 00:02:58.800 --> 00:02:59.659 She was only four years old. 00:03:00.300 --> 00:03:03.640 And I said, so, are there many friends at your preschool? 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:09.419 And she said, there are so many friends that I haven't even met them all yet. 00:03:10.619 --> 00:03:12.219 And so that's kind of what it's like with you guys. 00:03:12.799 --> 00:03:15.319 You're all friends, but I haven't met some of you yet. 00:03:15.659 --> 00:03:18.879 So I hope that I will meet all of you as time goes on. 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:25.939 And we have a bunch of people here also that are from overseas and have come and joined us in the elite crowd. 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:27.199 So it's great to see you guys here. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:31.079 When I visited Watermark last year, actually, you guys were here too. 00:03:31.539 --> 00:03:33.959 So if you were here last year, I remember you from then. 00:03:35.799 --> 00:03:42.179 24 hours ago, I was in Singapore, trying to get ready to pack and leave to come back to Hong Kong. 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:49.159 And I've been on it two weeks away in Taipei and Singapore with Aldrin and also with Eric. 00:03:49.819 --> 00:03:55.920 And we were on the City to City Redeemer Church Planning Training and Assessment Program. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:04:01.260 It was a four-week program, two weeks in Hong Kong, a bit in Taipei, a bit in Singapore. 00:04:01.920 --> 00:04:08.080 And it was a fantastic time to get to know different church planners from all around the Asia-Pacific area, 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:14.660 to see different church plants, including Watermark, in action, in Taipei as well and in Singapore, 00:04:15.320 --> 00:04:20.080 and to meet some trainers and people who had been church planners, 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:23.879 who had done it for maybe two years, five years, ten years, twenty years, 00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:26.120 and to learn from these people. 00:04:26.740 --> 00:04:27.639 It was a great opportunity. 00:04:29.139 --> 00:04:32.060 And because I knew that I was preaching back here on Sunday, 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:36.280 I was preparing kind of during the week as I was away as well, 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:39.399 and I thought, oh, that's all right, I've got Saturday to prepare. 00:04:39.859 --> 00:04:44.819 And, you know, I'd always wished when I was working in previous jobs 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:48.459 that I'd had one of those jobs which would send you flying all over the world, you know, 00:04:48.739 --> 00:04:52.139 and you'd be able to, like, work from your laptop, and you'd go wherever you like, 00:04:52.559 --> 00:04:54.319 and you'd see all these different places. 00:04:55.179 --> 00:04:58.779 And so I was kind of experiencing this, and it was really great to be overseas 00:04:58.779 --> 00:05:00.500 and to be learning from these guys. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:05.079 But I've realized it's actually really hard work to try and work while you're on the go. 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:11.419 So, you know, it takes me about probably 15 minutes to really kind of get settled 00:05:11.419 --> 00:05:15.439 and to think and to pray and to get ready to start the creative process 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:17.759 that's required to begin working on a sermon. 00:05:18.719 --> 00:05:23.679 But when you're going from airport lounge to airport lounge to plane to off the plane, 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:26.359 you only really get about 20 minutes at a sitting. 00:05:26.919 --> 00:05:29.099 So you just kind of just barely get started, and they're like, 00:05:29.179 --> 00:05:32.539 okay, final call, Mr. Alistair Chu, kind of thing. 00:05:32.540 --> 00:05:36.800 And then when you get on the plane, you finally have some uninterrupted time. 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:41.920 But if you happen to be sitting next to a 6'8 giant like Eric happens to be, 00:05:42.180 --> 00:05:45.860 there isn't a lot of room to move and to put the laptop up and so on. 00:05:45.939 --> 00:05:48.320 And it's just, yeah, it's just tricky. 00:05:48.580 --> 00:05:52.020 So I really thank you for those who've been praying for today. 00:05:52.220 --> 00:05:53.020 I really need it. 00:05:53.019 --> 00:06:01.839 We all have things that kind of we wished for maybe when we were younger, 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:06.139 but that maybe didn't turn out quite the way that we expected them to. 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:10.079 You know, some kind of disappointment, like with me and the flying thing. 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:15.879 But what if we're disappointed in God? 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:18.279 What would that look like? 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:26.839 Suppose we doubted what God had to say and mistrusted him. 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:33.360 Or suppose that we had grown weary in serving God, or perhaps lazy, 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:36.899 and had a lack of devotion in our hearts. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:41.560 Suppose that we thought that it was futile to serve God, 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:44.480 that there was this futility that we were questioning. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:46.500 You know, is this worth it? 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:49.280 Like, what is the purpose of us doing this? 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:55.340 And so we end up dishonoring or disrespecting the name of God. 00:06:57.060 --> 00:07:00.819 Well, that's the situation which we find ourselves here in Malachi, 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:02.700 the first few chapters, 00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:07.780 where the Israelites have reached a stage 00:07:07.780 --> 00:07:10.020 where they have grown weary of serving God. 00:07:10.019 --> 00:07:12.620 And as a result, 00:07:12.799 --> 00:07:15.579 they bring dishonor and disrespect to, 00:07:15.799 --> 00:07:16.120 as it says, 00:07:16.159 --> 00:07:17.339 the table of the Lord. 00:07:20.139 --> 00:07:21.659 And as Alfie said before, 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:23.779 you can understand it. 00:07:24.479 --> 00:07:26.579 Because it had been some time 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:27.560 since they had seen 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:29.719 kind of the great and marvelous works of God. 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:33.180 And when they came back, 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:36.420 so these Israelites have been away from the land in exile, 00:07:37.260 --> 00:07:38.740 punished by God for their disobedience, 00:07:38.780 --> 00:07:39.780 and they have come back 00:07:39.780 --> 00:07:42.220 expecting to rebuild their land. 00:07:43.400 --> 00:07:44.240 But somehow, 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:46.820 what they saw in front of them 00:07:46.820 --> 00:07:50.140 didn't match up to the expectations which they had. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:52.620 And so they were disappointed. 00:07:53.260 --> 00:07:54.200 They were weary. 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:56.240 They scoffed at God, 00:07:56.459 --> 00:07:59.599 and they wondered whether it was worth it at all to serve Him. 00:08:01.219 --> 00:08:03.639 And this is shown in their sacrifices, 00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:05.920 when they were bringing unworthy sacrifices to God. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:07.620 As it says, 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:12.560 they were bringing blind, lame, or diseased animals to God. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:13.500 You can just imagine, 00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:13.759 you know, 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:15.740 you've got a dinner party, right? 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:16.399 And someone's, 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:16.860 you know, 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:17.800 a friend is coming over. 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:20.159 And let's say you owned a farm, 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:22.040 and you had a bunch of sheep out there, 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:26.600 and you're going to sacrifice or slaughter one of them for the meal. 00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:28.900 And, you know, 00:08:28.960 --> 00:08:30.360 one of them got run over by truck. 00:08:30.900 --> 00:08:31.160 And you're like, 00:08:31.200 --> 00:08:31.580 oh, that one, 00:08:31.700 --> 00:08:32.160 that'll do. 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:33.160 Let's grab that one, 00:08:33.620 --> 00:08:34.779 and we'll take that. 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:35.480 I mean, he's dead anyway, 00:08:35.779 --> 00:08:36.160 so, you know, 00:08:36.300 --> 00:08:37.399 we can just clean it off a bit, 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:38.460 get the tire marks off it, 00:08:38.700 --> 00:08:40.100 and then we'll be good to go. 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:40.740 We'll serve it for dinner. 00:08:44.060 --> 00:08:44.720 What if, 00:08:45.560 --> 00:08:46.540 instead of a friend, 00:08:47.040 --> 00:08:48.180 it was, say, 00:08:48.180 --> 00:08:49.220 the town mayor? 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:53.039 Or a sporting hero of yours? 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:55.899 Or perhaps the Queen of England, 00:08:56.199 --> 00:08:58.620 for those of you who are from Commonwealth countries? 00:09:01.079 --> 00:09:04.679 You show disrespect to your honored guest 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:08.000 by what you present on the table. 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:10.679 And in this case, 00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:11.899 it's not just an honored guest, 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:13.379 but the God of the universe 00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:15.159 that the Israelites are serving, 00:09:15.559 --> 00:09:17.740 who saved them again and again, 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:20.320 who they are showing disrespect. 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:22.659 And they grumble and complain about it as well. 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:23.879 You know, 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:24.460 they say, 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:27.299 this is a weariness. 00:09:28.180 --> 00:09:29.799 And is it worth it to serve God? 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:31.220 You see in chapter 3. 00:09:32.180 --> 00:09:33.759 They question God's love for them 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:35.860 back in verse 2 of chapter 1. 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:38.940 And they felt like it's a burden, 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:40.659 a great burden to serve the Lord 00:09:40.659 --> 00:09:42.360 down there in verse 13. 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:47.539 Why did they keep doing it then? 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:49.680 Why were they bringing these sacrifices, 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:52.060 which clearly their heart was not in, 00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:57.379 out of a sense of obligation, perhaps? 00:09:58.440 --> 00:09:59.440 A sense of duty. 00:10:00.659 --> 00:10:00.940 You see, 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:02.659 verse 9 tells us that 00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:05.580 they actually wanted acceptance from God. 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:07.399 They wanted to gain His favor. 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:11.199 And so they keep doing it 00:10:11.199 --> 00:10:13.199 in such a way as to, 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:13.980 perhaps, 00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:16.019 that God might show favor to them. 00:10:17.299 --> 00:10:18.740 Warning something from His hand. 00:10:20.659 --> 00:10:21.059 Or, 00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:22.659 it could be that they do it 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:23.879 to gain approval from others. 00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:26.399 To be seen to be doing the right thing. 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:28.199 Jesus talks about that 00:10:28.199 --> 00:10:29.860 when He's talking with the Pharisees. 00:10:29.939 --> 00:10:30.199 And He says, 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:31.259 He talks about them 00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:33.879 loving to do their deeds before others. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:35.980 To be seen by others. 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:39.439 You see, 00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:40.079 their practices 00:10:40.079 --> 00:10:43.000 revealed what is inside their hearts. 00:10:44.059 --> 00:10:45.559 Their unworthy hearts. 00:10:47.819 --> 00:10:48.620 Because ultimately, 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:50.059 there's a lack of love for God 00:10:50.059 --> 00:10:51.259 in their hearts. 00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:55.279 Sometimes my dad 00:10:55.279 --> 00:11:00.480 would often clean up the table. 00:11:01.059 --> 00:11:01.939 And when I say clean up, 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:03.179 I don't mean like into the bin. 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:05.159 I would mean clean up the food 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:06.659 left over by his kids, us, 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:08.480 and it would go into his mouth. 00:11:09.319 --> 00:11:10.219 And often he would say, 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:10.500 you know, 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:12.139 I'm the laptop tongue, 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:13.319 the rubbish bin, right? 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:16.879 And that's what he'd call himself. 00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:17.379 And, you know, 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.860 it was a joke and so on. 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:21.000 But what if, 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:21.339 you know, 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:22.399 say it's Father's Day 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:25.899 or it's birthday, right? 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:27.559 And we kids are like, 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:28.159 you know, 00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:29.199 creating a card 00:11:29.199 --> 00:11:29.879 and we pull out, 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:30.879 you know, 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:31.419 a bit of cardboard 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:32.199 from the rubbish bin. 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:33.640 It's got a bit of food 00:11:33.640 --> 00:11:34.140 all over it 00:11:34.140 --> 00:11:35.100 and kind of scrape it off 00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:36.480 and we write on that 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.180 and present that 00:11:37.180 --> 00:11:38.640 as a gift to him. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:41.040 What kind of, 00:11:41.560 --> 00:11:42.740 how would he take that? 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:43.520 What kind of dishonor 00:11:43.520 --> 00:11:44.080 and disrespect 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:45.759 would that be to him? 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.560 What it would show 00:11:48.560 --> 00:11:49.020 is that 00:11:49.020 --> 00:11:50.120 we didn't really care 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:50.879 about God. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:51.640 Sorry, 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:51.900 about, 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:53.720 we kids wouldn't have cared 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:54.340 about our dad. 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:57.020 We were just going 00:11:57.020 --> 00:11:57.800 through the motions. 00:11:57.799 --> 00:12:00.579 It was just an obligation. 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:03.559 And how do you think 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:04.579 God feels 00:12:04.579 --> 00:12:05.819 about the way 00:12:05.819 --> 00:12:06.899 that the Israelites 00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:08.240 are going about 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:09.539 their sacrifices, 00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:11.279 going through the motions 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:13.240 full of weariness 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:13.879 and laziness, 00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:14.500 full of doubt 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:15.139 and mistrust 00:12:15.139 --> 00:12:15.959 and a lack of devotion? 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:17.799 I'll tell you 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:18.419 how he feels. 00:12:19.719 --> 00:12:20.759 In verse 10, 00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:21.779 he wishes that 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:22.259 they would shut 00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.179 the doors of the temple. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:25.799 They would just 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:26.519 shut the doors 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.500 and close it all up, 00:12:28.860 --> 00:12:29.819 put out the fires, 00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:31.000 forget it, 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:31.519 go home. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:33.419 Don't even bother coming, 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:34.600 he says, 00:12:35.079 --> 00:12:36.679 because your hearts 00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:38.000 are not there. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:39.939 You haven't come 00:12:39.939 --> 00:12:40.639 at all, really. 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:42.879 You've been, 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:43.759 you've left 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.019 your hearts at home 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:46.240 or wherever 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:47.779 they're desiring 00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:49.799 and you're just 00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:50.519 going through the motions. 00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:54.319 A lack of love 00:12:54.319 --> 00:12:54.659 for God 00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:55.340 in their hearts 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:56.540 means that they're 00:12:56.540 --> 00:12:56.899 disobeying 00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:58.000 the greatest commandment, 00:12:58.680 --> 00:12:59.580 that is to love 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:00.320 the Lord your God 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:01.300 with all your heart 00:13:01.300 --> 00:13:01.800 and soul 00:13:01.800 --> 00:13:02.300 and mind 00:13:02.300 --> 00:13:02.800 and strength. 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:05.480 Well, 00:13:05.560 --> 00:13:06.600 have you ever 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:07.300 felt like this? 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:10.080 Who are we serving? 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:12.600 If we're not serving God, 00:13:13.040 --> 00:13:13.600 then we end up 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:14.660 serving ourselves. 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:18.180 There are many things 00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:18.920 that we chase after 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:19.519 in the city 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:21.480 and in the city 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.100 where I'm from, 00:13:22.319 --> 00:13:22.939 in Sydney, 00:13:23.319 --> 00:13:24.179 people chase after 00:13:24.179 --> 00:13:25.379 security 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:27.179 in the form of property 00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:30.159 and they chase after 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:31.379 status and power 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:31.980 and position 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:33.840 as defined by wealth. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:36.419 So the thing 00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:37.419 that Sydney people, 00:13:37.579 --> 00:13:37.960 Sydney scientists 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:38.659 talk about most, 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:39.579 more than anything else, 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:40.720 is property, 00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:41.559 property values 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:43.220 and where's the best place 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:43.919 to buy 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:44.759 and all that kind of thing. 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:46.779 And I think 00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:47.259 it's not that different 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.299 here in Hong Kong. 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:50.860 People chase after 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:51.360 these things 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:52.200 and they get enslaved 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:52.620 to them, 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:54.299 sacrificing their family 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:54.899 and friends 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:55.539 and relationships 00:13:55.539 --> 00:13:56.200 and other things 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:56.799 on the altar 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:58.360 of success, 00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:59.819 of wealth, 00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:01.059 of status, 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:01.600 of power. 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:04.439 Who are we serving? 00:14:06.319 --> 00:14:07.620 Because what we serve 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.700 is what captures 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:09.319 our hearts. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:11.539 You might have a job 00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:12.279 and you say, 00:14:12.439 --> 00:14:13.319 I'm serving my boss. 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:16.540 But what holds you there, 00:14:17.300 --> 00:14:18.080 binds you 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:19.220 to that position 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:19.780 with chains 00:14:19.780 --> 00:14:20.320 that are stronger 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:20.879 than steel, 00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:24.140 often it's the status 00:14:24.140 --> 00:14:25.640 and the lifestyle 00:14:25.640 --> 00:14:26.700 that come with that job. 00:14:27.760 --> 00:14:28.460 Or perhaps 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:29.320 it's the dream 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:30.160 of a better life 00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:31.660 that might come 00:14:31.660 --> 00:14:32.640 in the future 00:14:32.640 --> 00:14:33.340 from this job. 00:14:35.140 --> 00:14:35.920 And underneath 00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:36.620 all of that, 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:38.280 it's the approval 00:14:38.280 --> 00:14:39.140 of man 00:14:39.140 --> 00:14:40.040 that is driving us. 00:14:42.560 --> 00:14:42.800 You see, 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:43.659 if these are the things 00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:44.679 that have captured 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:45.279 our hearts, 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:46.500 the reason why 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.299 we get up in the morning, 00:14:48.459 --> 00:14:49.039 then these have 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.479 effectively displaced God 00:14:50.479 --> 00:14:51.659 as the number one desire 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.819 in our hearts. 00:14:53.459 --> 00:14:54.179 Because if we're not 00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:54.779 serving God, 00:14:54.859 --> 00:14:55.899 we're serving our idols. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:14:59.939 But you might say, 00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:01.199 some of us are serving God 00:15:01.199 --> 00:15:01.759 in our lives. 00:15:02.199 --> 00:15:03.079 We're heavily involved 00:15:03.079 --> 00:15:03.659 in church. 00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:05.740 We've been following God 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.439 all our lives. 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:09.720 Well, I say, 00:15:10.400 --> 00:15:11.160 like the Israelites, 00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:12.760 we too may be 00:15:12.760 --> 00:15:13.340 serving God 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:14.720 to gain approval 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:16.060 or acceptance 00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:17.340 or out of a sense 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:17.920 of obligation 00:15:17.920 --> 00:15:18.500 or duty. 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:21.900 Obligation means 00:15:21.900 --> 00:15:22.840 that we're doing it 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.520 out of fear. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.620 We feel a deep need 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:27.320 for acceptance, 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:29.100 which is why we continue 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:30.280 to go through the motions. 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:32.519 Or perhaps 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:33.639 our identity 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.699 is so wrapped up 00:15:34.699 --> 00:15:35.339 in what we do 00:15:35.339 --> 00:15:37.019 that we keep on doing 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:37.899 the Christian thing 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:38.759 even though 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:40.639 we might have lost 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.220 the heart for it 00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:41.819 a long time ago. 00:15:41.820 --> 00:15:45.980 This is my story, 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:47.300 actually. 00:15:49.520 --> 00:15:50.240 I've been serving 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:50.660 as a minister 00:15:50.660 --> 00:15:51.360 for five years 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.240 before I came here 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:52.780 to Hong Kong. 00:15:54.040 --> 00:15:55.020 And before that, 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:55.320 of course, 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:55.860 I've been involved 00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.879 in university ministry 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.960 and through Bible 00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:58.780 College and so on. 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:01.120 And I think 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.240 over that time, 00:16:02.760 --> 00:16:04.000 I just felt 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:05.140 my heart slipping 00:16:05.140 --> 00:16:06.020 further and further 00:16:06.020 --> 00:16:06.860 away from 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:08.440 where it should be. 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:09.940 But I was still 00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:10.720 serving God. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.899 I was still 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:12.560 going through 00:16:12.560 --> 00:16:13.019 the motions. 00:16:13.160 --> 00:16:13.620 I was still 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.820 continuing to do 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:15.519 all the things 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:16.860 which were 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:18.019 expected of me. 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.180 But it was 00:16:20.180 --> 00:16:21.080 out of obligation. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.740 Perhaps out of a sense 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:25.100 of identity 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:26.420 that this is who I am 00:16:26.420 --> 00:16:27.160 as someone 00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:27.960 who serves God. 00:16:29.420 --> 00:16:30.279 But by then, 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:30.840 my heart was 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:31.540 no longer in it. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:34.940 And approval, 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.920 I found as well, 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.660 that we might 00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:40.259 try and serve God 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.279 to impress others 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:43.200 or perhaps even 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.240 to impress ourselves 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:46.319 to fulfill our own 00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:49.019 need for self-fulfillment 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:49.679 in this world. 00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:53.100 We serve God, 00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:54.019 if we serve God 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:54.860 out of approval, 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.279 out of a motivation 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:56.860 to look good 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.700 in front of other people, 00:16:58.259 --> 00:17:00.340 and we base 00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.159 our self-concept 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:02.259 and our self-worth 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.139 on being the kind 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:03.639 of person 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:05.220 who is a good person, 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.339 a moral person, 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.759 a person who serves God, 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:10.799 then that can lead 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:12.140 to a couple of things. 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.099 First of all, 00:17:13.140 --> 00:17:13.980 we can look down 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:15.299 upon those 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.920 who don't serve God 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:18.279 in as good a way 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:18.740 as we do, 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:19.920 who don't have 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:20.500 the compassion, 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:21.619 who don't meet 00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:23.000 our standards of service. 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:25.180 We'll begin to feel 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.700 like we deserve 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.700 acceptance 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.940 and a better life 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:29.359 from God 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.539 because of what we do 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.400 and who we are. 00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:33.240 You see, 00:17:33.300 --> 00:17:34.120 we're actually doing it 00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:35.280 to get favor 00:17:35.280 --> 00:17:35.880 from God, 00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.420 much like the Israelites 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:37.780 were. 00:17:39.320 --> 00:17:40.040 Oh, and if, 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:40.900 somehow, 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:43.560 God doesn't favor us 00:17:43.560 --> 00:17:44.580 as we think we deserve, 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:45.580 what happens then? 00:17:47.540 --> 00:17:48.019 Well, 00:17:48.320 --> 00:17:49.840 we get angry at Him, 00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:50.820 deeply angry. 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.300 When trials 00:17:53.300 --> 00:17:54.200 and hardships come 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:54.980 as God has said 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.680 that they will come, 00:17:56.560 --> 00:17:57.280 we might say, 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.400 God, 00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.160 it wasn't supposed 00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.820 to be this way. 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.879 Didn't I do everything? 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:02.439 Didn't I give up 00:18:02.439 --> 00:18:03.259 everything to serve you? 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.319 Why aren't you 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.079 blessing my ministry, 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:06.700 my life? 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:11.439 Our unworthy sacrifices 00:18:11.439 --> 00:18:12.619 also reveal 00:18:12.619 --> 00:18:13.460 something deeper 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.519 that is going on. 00:18:15.379 --> 00:18:16.359 It is our hearts 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:17.299 which are unworthy. 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:21.279 So what do we do about it? 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:22.099 Or what do we try 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:22.639 and do about it? 00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:25.559 There's two things we try. 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.259 First of all, 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:27.200 is we try harder 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:28.659 and then secondly, 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.220 we give up. 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:31.700 We try harder 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.299 and that's the path 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:32.899 of moralism. 00:18:33.639 --> 00:18:34.779 We strap on our boots 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:36.740 and get out there 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:38.439 and think that we can 00:18:38.439 --> 00:18:39.899 strive ourselves 00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:42.240 back into service. 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:44.500 And that might work 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:44.899 for a while. 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:47.119 But what that leads to 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:48.839 is a joyless Christianity. 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:51.039 One where we've lost 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.599 the heart of it 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:52.559 and we're simply doing it. 00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:53.259 We're simply forcing 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:54.779 ourselves to do that. 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:57.279 And it's a Christianity 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.240 that condemns others 00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.079 as well because we look 00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.660 down our noses 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:01.539 at those who can't meet 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:01.940 those standards 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.399 that we do. 00:19:04.180 --> 00:19:05.980 But it's tiring 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.720 living that way. 00:19:07.879 --> 00:19:08.619 And eventually, 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:10.460 we get tired 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.599 and we give up. 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.639 God hasn't given us 00:19:14.639 --> 00:19:15.160 what we wanted 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:16.399 and so we walk away. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:18.900 And what we're really 00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:19.980 saying in our hearts 00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.759 is, 00:19:21.280 --> 00:19:22.500 God, 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:24.620 this thing that I wanted 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:25.200 from you, 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:27.140 this thing that I wanted 00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:28.120 is greater than my love 00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:28.420 for you 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:30.200 and if I don't get it, 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.460 then I will abandon you 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.120 and walk away. 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:34.419 because something else 00:19:34.419 --> 00:19:35.139 has displaced God 00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:35.719 in our hearts. 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.159 Whether it's the approval 00:19:37.159 --> 00:19:37.859 of humans, 00:19:38.699 --> 00:19:39.899 whether it's a certain status 00:19:39.899 --> 00:19:40.779 that we wanted, 00:19:41.399 --> 00:19:42.279 a certain lifestyle, 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:43.579 a certain friendship. 00:19:45.179 --> 00:19:45.919 And we forget 00:19:45.919 --> 00:19:46.519 that even though God 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.379 has given us everything 00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:48.339 in our lives 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:50.659 and He's been generous 00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:51.819 upon generous to us, 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:56.000 we feel that He's distant 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:59.099 and we feel that He's 00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:00.059 withholding from us 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:01.659 and we feel that He's 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.400 not generous at all. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:03.960 And like the Israelites, 00:20:04.540 --> 00:20:06.140 we lose our sense of love 00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:07.759 and thankfulness 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.980 and we think of God 00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:09.740 as a miser 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:11.440 withholding from us. 00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.540 And when we think that, 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:15.820 then we turn into misers too. 00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:17.580 We keep things for ourselves. 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:19.120 I'm willing to share ourselves 00:20:19.120 --> 00:20:20.340 with God and with others. 00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:23.720 Well, I've gone down 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.519 both of these paths. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:26.700 Trying harder 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:28.180 and then giving up. 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.660 And I started to think of God 00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:33.100 as one who blessed other people, 00:20:33.300 --> 00:20:34.100 but not me. 00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.680 And so I turned away 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:37.400 from the God 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.200 who gave me life 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.759 and breath 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.380 and everything. 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.680 My unworthy heart 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.259 was shown 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.620 in my actions. 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.900 What will God do 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:49.720 about our unworthy hearts? 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:54.640 He will send one 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.839 who is worthy 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:57.440 to be the sacrifice 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:59.019 that we couldn't make. 00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:01.100 He sent His Son 00:21:01.100 --> 00:21:02.420 to redeem us 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.400 from our unworthiness. 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:05.839 You see, 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.799 Christ came to do 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:08.200 what we could not. 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.799 When He came, 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.799 He served God 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.220 fully 00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:14.600 and wholeheartedly 00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:17.099 without turning away, 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.399 without giving up, 00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:20.459 all the way 00:21:20.459 --> 00:21:21.359 to the end, 00:21:21.919 --> 00:21:23.219 without self-seeking. 00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:25.859 And He became 00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:29.319 the truly worthy sacrifice 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:31.159 that covered all 00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:32.419 of the unworthy sacrifices 00:21:32.419 --> 00:21:33.480 that the Israelites made 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:35.279 and all of the unworthy sacrifices 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:36.039 that we make. 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:39.579 We're told 00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:40.799 to look to Christ 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:43.079 as our sacrifice. 00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.420 We're told 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.319 to look to Christ 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.039 where we have 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:48.279 full acceptance 00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:49.220 from God. 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.759 We're told 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.599 to look to Christ 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:52.379 where we have, 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.200 where we see 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:54.740 divine approval 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.960 from God. 00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.759 As Christ 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.339 is the one 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:01.720 who sacrificed Himself 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.720 on the cross, 00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:05.000 so we see 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.899 that we can 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.460 come to Him 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.600 and be accepted 00:22:07.600 --> 00:22:08.040 by God. 00:22:08.080 --> 00:22:08.400 No longer 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.259 do we have to fear 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:11.380 God's anger, 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.019 God's punishment. 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:13.920 No longer 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.720 do we have to fear 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.700 the approval, 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:17.800 gaining or not gaining 00:22:17.800 --> 00:22:18.800 the approval 00:22:18.800 --> 00:22:21.759 of our fellow human beings. 00:22:23.360 --> 00:22:24.700 Because in the cross, 00:22:25.540 --> 00:22:26.960 God declares that, 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.900 God declares His love 00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:30.380 for a people 00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:31.400 that have walked away 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:31.759 from Him. 00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:34.340 For a humanity 00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:35.340 that has turned 00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:35.959 their back on Him, 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:37.859 God reaches down 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:38.980 and rescues us. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:40.839 It's not enough 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:42.799 that God has created us, 00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:43.619 created the world 00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:44.159 that we live in, 00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:45.919 created the stars 00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:46.379 and the heavens 00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:47.579 and the trees 00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.119 that we see, 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:49.099 the air that we breathe. 00:22:49.699 --> 00:22:50.919 It's not enough for us. 00:22:51.459 --> 00:22:52.500 We're still turned away. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.939 And so God came 00:22:54.939 --> 00:22:55.839 into the world, 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:57.919 became one of us, 00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.839 died for us 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.859 to win us back. 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:03.659 That's the kind of God 00:23:03.659 --> 00:23:04.279 that we serve. 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.480 The kind of God 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.339 who wins us, 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.740 whose acceptance 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:10.220 we don't need to 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:12.519 try and achieve. 00:23:15.399 --> 00:23:16.220 What that means 00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:16.939 is that we can now 00:23:16.939 --> 00:23:17.539 be free. 00:23:18.659 --> 00:23:19.919 Freed from that sense 00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:20.519 of obligation, 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:21.980 of duty. 00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:24.799 Freed from that sense 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.939 that I had before 00:23:25.939 --> 00:23:27.059 of feeling like 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.700 I had to go 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.419 through the motions 00:23:28.419 --> 00:23:30.599 to just continue 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:31.319 doing this thing 00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:32.000 because this was 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.220 my identity. 00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.279 My identity 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.179 is now in Christ. 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:40.539 And what that means 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:40.859 for me 00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:41.480 is that 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.679 I'm free 00:23:42.679 --> 00:23:44.799 to worship Him 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:46.899 regardless of 00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:47.740 whether 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:49.339 I'm a pastor, 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.059 regardless of 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:53.139 whether I'm teaching 00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:53.559 or not, 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.059 regardless of 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.819 of what I'm doing. 00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:58.480 I'm a child of God 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.720 first and foremost. 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:04.220 We can now be free 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:05.720 to offer our sacrifices 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.859 whether it's time, 00:24:07.419 --> 00:24:07.720 money, 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:08.659 gifts, 00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:09.559 labor, 00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.539 even our families. 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.500 We can offer it 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:13.759 to Him 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.379 without fear. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.119 We can offer it 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.319 to Him 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:17.919 without fear 00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:18.599 of missing out 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:21.019 because in Christ 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.659 we see that 00:24:21.659 --> 00:24:22.599 God is 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.460 generous. 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:26.299 we don't need 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:26.639 to worry 00:24:26.639 --> 00:24:27.079 or fear 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.940 about missing out 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.899 of what God 00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:30.319 gives to us. 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:33.000 As Jesus said, 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.700 those who follow me, 00:24:35.139 --> 00:24:36.399 those who have given up 00:24:36.399 --> 00:24:36.940 much for me 00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:38.039 will receive many times 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.639 in this world 00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:40.220 and then eternal life 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:40.899 in the world to come. 00:24:42.179 --> 00:24:42.839 And we don't need 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.720 to fear punishment 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:46.059 because in Christ 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.980 we see that God 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.859 is forgiving. 00:24:49.399 --> 00:24:50.399 And these were the things 00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:51.000 that the Israelites 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.119 were worried about. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:52.779 They were worried 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:54.980 that they would miss out 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.839 if they gave 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:57.200 more of what they had 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:57.599 to God 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.940 because they saw God 00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.399 as somebody 00:24:59.399 --> 00:25:01.039 who was holding 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.680 stuff tight 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:04.899 and they were afraid 00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:05.339 of punishment. 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:05.779 You see, 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:07.180 it's a totally different 00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:08.399 way of relating to God. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.440 I call it thankfulness 00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.960 and it's kind of 00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.619 like a jealousy. 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.579 A jealousy, 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.359 a kind of a, 00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:16.759 what kids do, 00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:16.980 you know, 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.899 when they snatch things 00:25:17.899 --> 00:25:18.779 away from one another. 00:25:19.399 --> 00:25:19.779 They say, 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:20.319 this is mine, 00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:20.899 this is mine. 00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:23.720 We do that to God 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.640 because we feel like 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:27.600 He hasn't provided for us. 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:29.860 If He hasn't given us enough, 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.180 then we have to, 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:32.560 with our own two hands, 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:35.180 take what is ours. 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:38.920 Instead of being 00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:39.400 like the Israelites 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.440 who grumbled 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.880 and complained about God, 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:44.120 bringing their diseased 00:25:44.120 --> 00:25:45.060 and crippled sacrifices 00:25:45.060 --> 00:25:45.540 to God, 00:25:45.620 --> 00:25:46.640 having hardened hearts 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.500 that lost their love 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:48.340 for God long ago, 00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:50.419 we can see afresh 00:25:50.419 --> 00:25:51.299 the love of God 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:51.779 for us. 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.579 We can realize 00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:54.419 that He has given us 00:25:54.419 --> 00:25:54.819 everything 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.579 and withheld 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.740 not even His own Son. 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.119 And what happens is 00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:00.799 that as our vision 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.659 of God changes, 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:04.419 as we see God 00:26:04.419 --> 00:26:05.519 who He truly is, 00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:08.079 as we turn away 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.980 from seeing God 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:10.559 as some kind of miser 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:12.199 who holds on to things 00:26:12.199 --> 00:26:13.439 and refuses to give them 00:26:13.439 --> 00:26:13.879 to us, 00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:16.019 to being one who 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:17.859 abundantly and generously 00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:18.779 and overflowingly 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.959 gives us of His love 00:26:19.959 --> 00:26:21.419 and His acceptance 00:26:21.419 --> 00:26:22.339 and His favor, 00:26:23.699 --> 00:26:24.679 then we too 00:26:24.679 --> 00:26:25.819 can change 00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:27.119 from being miserly 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:28.439 to overflowing 00:26:28.439 --> 00:26:29.219 with thankfulness, 00:26:29.879 --> 00:26:30.979 to being generous 00:26:30.979 --> 00:26:31.539 of spirit. 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:34.439 And we won't hold on tight 00:26:34.439 --> 00:26:36.039 with clenched fists 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:38.039 the things that we have 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:39.039 to protect ourselves, 00:26:39.379 --> 00:26:41.000 but instead we'll be open, 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.099 open-hearted 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:44.179 with our friendship, 00:26:44.939 --> 00:26:46.579 with our relationships, 00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:47.639 with our service, 00:26:47.939 --> 00:26:48.659 with our wealth, 00:26:49.659 --> 00:26:50.679 regardless of whether 00:26:50.679 --> 00:26:51.419 we have much 00:26:51.419 --> 00:26:52.179 or little. 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:54.720 Will we open 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:56.359 with our very hearts 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:58.059 because our very hearts 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.799 will have been captured 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:00.119 by the wonder 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.079 of the heart of God 00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:02.740 who came, 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.139 who sent His Son 00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:05.539 to come and die for us. 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:09.180 And I need to hear this 00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:10.159 as much, 00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.200 if not more, 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.460 than any of you. 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.019 And it's a journey 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:15.039 that we're all on together. 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.819 And one of the great things 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.539 that I love about 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.819 our church here at Watermark 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:20.039 is that we are on 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:20.899 this journey together. 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.720 You see, 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.539 we learn the gospel 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.599 in community 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:26.980 and we help each other on 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:28.180 knowing that 00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:29.619 none of us have yet made it, 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:31.119 but that we're all heading 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:32.220 towards the same goal 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.680 and that is Christ. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:35.400 And so, 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.539 won't you join me 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:39.039 in heading towards Christ, 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:42.080 in giving up 00:27:42.080 --> 00:27:43.019 the loves 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.460 that take us away 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:44.980 from God 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:48.720 and in following 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.680 after the things 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.440 of our own hearts 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:51.440 instead of having 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.299 our hearts captured 00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:53.519 by the wonder of God. 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:55.000 Let's pray. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:28:02.480 Father God, 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:03.440 we thank you so much 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:05.160 that even though 00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:06.700 we come to you 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.700 with unworthy hearts, 00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:10.680 you are one 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:13.180 who is worthy. 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.200 And we pray 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.299 that you would help us 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.720 to be captured 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:20.799 by your love, 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.579 your worthiness, 00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:24.919 and your son. 00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:26.740 We thank you 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.559 that Jesus came 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:29.500 to sacrifice himself 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.159 for us. 00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:31.939 We thank you 00:28:31.939 --> 00:28:32.759 that we 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:34.199 are people 00:28:34.199 --> 00:28:35.279 that even though 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:35.980 we bring nothing 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:37.059 to you, 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.279 you've done everything 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:38.919 for us. 00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.119 Father, 00:28:40.159 --> 00:28:40.759 we know that even 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.879 the sacrifices 00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.519 that we make 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:43.859 are not worthy 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.259 of you 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:46.500 and our hearts 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.940 are often mixed 00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:48.879 in their motivations. 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:51.140 But Father, 00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:51.799 we ask that you 00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.619 would purify us, 00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:53.940 that you give us 00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.440 such a vision 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.779 of who you are 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:57.460 that would never 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.039 leave us, 00:28:58.700 --> 00:29:00.240 that would encourage 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.640 us when we're feeling 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:03.480 the things 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:03.980 of this world. 00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:05.619 Father, 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.400 help us instead 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:08.019 to overflow 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.799 with thankfulness 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:10.059 as a response 00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:10.879 to who you are 00:29:10.879 --> 00:29:11.920 and what you've 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.519 done for us. 00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:14.720 we pray that we 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:16.079 would also reflect 00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:16.680 that love 00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:17.859 towards one another 00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:19.940 and to this world. 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.519 Amen.