WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.100 Okay, this morning I am super excited. 00:00:03.339 --> 00:00:07.419 We are diving into a study of the new book of the Bible. 00:00:07.560 --> 00:00:08.279 Well, new for us. 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:09.800 It's been there 2,000 years. 00:00:10.200 --> 00:00:13.540 It's not new to the Bible, but we are starting this morning. 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:16.219 We're going to be diving into the book of Colossians. 00:00:16.940 --> 00:00:22.580 It's a book in the New Testament, and I have been praying for us as a church over the last 00:00:22.580 --> 00:00:23.140 few weeks. 00:00:23.460 --> 00:00:28.600 I've been asking some friends to pray for us as a church, and I really have been praying 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:33.500 that as we go through the book of Colossians, we'll get to see and understand something 00:00:33.500 --> 00:00:39.100 more of who God is and what it means to be a Christian, what it means to be infused and 00:00:39.100 --> 00:00:41.020 to find our life in Him. 00:00:41.620 --> 00:00:45.100 And so for the next eight weeks, we're going to be looking at the book of Colossians. 00:00:45.299 --> 00:00:49.960 Now, if you're here this morning and you wouldn't call yourself a follower of Jesus, that's fine. 00:00:50.020 --> 00:00:51.140 You're so welcome. 00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:52.500 We're glad that you are with us. 00:00:52.900 --> 00:00:57.920 And my hope for you in this series is that you too will understand more of what the Bible 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:03.219 says about who Jesus is, what He came to do, and what it means for those that have put 00:01:03.219 --> 00:01:04.620 their faith in Christ. 00:01:04.740 --> 00:01:10.599 And so whether you are a seeker or a skeptic or a follower of Jesus, I'm hoping and trusting 00:01:10.599 --> 00:01:14.340 that the next eight weeks is going to be good for us as a church. 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:19.420 Now, what I'm going to do this morning is I want to take the next couple of minutes to 00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:23.640 explain some of the background to the story of Colossians, how it got into the Bible. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:27.740 Then we're going to hear, Christina's going to read Colossians chapter 1 to us, and then 00:01:27.739 --> 00:01:29.659 I'm going to preach the first half of chapter 1. 00:01:30.119 --> 00:01:31.239 Okay, so this is the story. 00:01:31.939 --> 00:01:36.619 So the year is around 52 to 55 AD, okay? 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:41.959 Over a three-year period, the Apostle Paul, the man who wrote much of the New Testament, 00:01:42.280 --> 00:01:45.259 is in the city of Ephesus in modern-day Turkey, okay? 00:01:45.379 --> 00:01:48.519 Chris and Fiona and a couple of others were just there last week or so. 00:01:49.099 --> 00:01:51.919 So Paul's in this city called Ephesus. 00:01:51.919 --> 00:01:53.519 It's a major trading city. 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:55.700 It's a major port town. 00:01:56.679 --> 00:01:58.920 And he's there preaching for three years. 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:03.879 And he starts off in the synagogue, but pretty soon he's kicked out of the synagogue because 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:05.119 he's telling everyone about Jesus. 00:02:05.539 --> 00:02:09.159 And so what he does is he rents a hall in the city of Ephesus. 00:02:09.359 --> 00:02:13.359 And every day he's preaching and teaching and telling people about Jesus. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:19.120 And what he's specifically doing is he's showing from the Old Testament scriptures how Jesus of 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:22.219 Nazareth really is the Christ, the promised Messiah. 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:28.020 But not only that, he's showing and proving from the scriptures how Jesus came to die, 00:02:28.180 --> 00:02:30.300 to bear the sins of the world upon himself. 00:02:30.460 --> 00:02:31.719 But he didn't stay dead. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:37.680 He rose again, which vindicates his claim that he really is the Lord of all creation, okay? 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:40.939 So Paul's doing this for three years in Ephesus. 00:02:40.939 --> 00:02:48.159 Now somewhere in that time, a wealthy businessman, a Gentile, so not a Jewish man, a Gentile called 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:52.000 Philemon from a town a hundred miles away called Colossae. 00:02:52.079 --> 00:02:52.759 Have we got Philemon? 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:53.979 Okay, here we've got Philemon. 00:02:54.620 --> 00:02:56.659 He's our wealthy businessman, okay? 00:02:57.219 --> 00:03:00.280 And so Philemon, he happened to be Chinese. 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:01.000 How's that, eh? 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:05.020 Okay, I'm not going to make a comment. 00:03:05.020 --> 00:03:11.180 So Philemon is this wealthy businessman from a town a hundred miles away, a town called Colossae. 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:13.980 And Philemon does a lot of business in Ephesus. 00:03:14.200 --> 00:03:18.980 And so he comes to Ephesus, he's doing business, and while he's there, he hears about this man called 00:03:18.980 --> 00:03:23.200 Paul that's causing a real stir and uproar in the city of Ephesus. 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:26.000 And so he goes to hear what Paul is talking about. 00:03:26.540 --> 00:03:33.000 And while he's there, he hears the message of Jesus, but not only that, he sees the demonstration 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:36.939 of the power of God, because people that are sick are getting healed miraculously. 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:42.819 People who have been oppressed by spiritual forces and spiritual darkness are being set free. 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:50.159 And so to his own astonishment, Philemon believes the gospel, and God enters his heart and changes him. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:57.439 And so over the next three years, he's discipled by Paul, and he travels between Colossae and Ephesus, 00:03:58.300 --> 00:03:59.900 you know, doing business. 00:03:59.900 --> 00:04:05.379 Now at the same time, there's another man who also comes from the town of Colossae. 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:08.759 This is a young man who's a bit more rugged, a bit more feisty. 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:10.240 His name is Epaphras, right? 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:12.040 Can you see Epaphras there? 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:17.800 So Epaphras also comes from the city of Colossae, and he's doing business in Ephesus. 00:04:18.459 --> 00:04:23.759 And while he's there, he too goes to hear Paul, he hears the message of Jesus, the Holy Spirit 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:26.120 changes his heart, and he becomes a follower of Jesus. 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:32.300 Now Epaphras goes back to the city of Colossae, and he starts telling everyone about what 00:04:32.300 --> 00:04:36.019 Jesus has done, that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Christ. 00:04:36.280 --> 00:04:40.280 And his friends and his family start to believe the gospel and become Christians as well. 00:04:40.980 --> 00:04:42.899 Now Epaphras doesn't just go to Colossae. 00:04:42.980 --> 00:04:48.100 He goes to all the surrounding towns, like Laodicea and Hierapolis, telling everyone about 00:04:48.100 --> 00:04:48.420 Jesus. 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:53.640 And so pretty soon, there's this little church that starts to form in the city of Colossae. 00:04:54.080 --> 00:04:59.240 And this church meets in the house of Philemon, the wealthy businessman, right? 00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:02.720 Well, this goes on for a couple of years. 00:05:03.420 --> 00:05:07.180 Now, there's a side story, a little cameo that's happening here. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:08.520 Let me tell you about it. 00:05:08.939 --> 00:05:13.980 Philemon, the wealthy businessman, he had a big estate, and he had some slaves that worked 00:05:13.980 --> 00:05:14.600 on his estate. 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:17.580 And one of his slaves was called Enesimus, okay? 00:05:17.700 --> 00:05:19.340 We have Enesimus, here's Enesimus. 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:22.780 And so Enesimus means useful. 00:05:23.140 --> 00:05:26.300 But actually, he didn't live up to his name because he wasn't very useful. 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:28.879 He was a runaway slave. 00:05:29.300 --> 00:05:34.180 So one day, he runs away from his master, Philemon, stealing some money in the process. 00:05:34.400 --> 00:05:37.780 So he steals some household goods, steals some gold, and he runs away. 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:41.360 Now that wasn't that uncommon, but it was dangerous. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:44.600 If you were a runaway slave and you got caught, you were in serious trouble. 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:50.319 So Enesimus runs a thousand miles away to the city of Rome, okay? 00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:51.540 And there he goes into hiding. 00:05:51.660 --> 00:05:52.379 It's a big city. 00:05:52.520 --> 00:05:53.720 No one's going to recognize him. 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:55.600 He thinks he's a free man forever. 00:05:56.340 --> 00:05:58.540 Jump forward six or seven years later. 00:05:59.180 --> 00:06:01.540 Six or seven years later, Paul's no longer in Ephesus. 00:06:01.939 --> 00:06:05.420 He's been traveling around, and Paul finds himself in the city of Rome. 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:09.220 But he's there arrested because he's been preaching the gospel. 00:06:09.580 --> 00:06:11.379 In fact, he's under house arrest, okay? 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:12.920 So he lives in his own house. 00:06:12.980 --> 00:06:14.580 He's under house arrest for two years. 00:06:15.020 --> 00:06:19.520 And while he's there for two years, people are allowed to come visit him and talk to him. 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:23.520 And Paul tells everyone that he can about the wonder of Jesus. 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:28.360 And one day, he meets this man called Enesimus, this runaway slave. 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:29.840 And he tells him about Jesus. 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:31.480 God does something in his heart. 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:33.020 Enesimus becomes a Christ follower. 00:06:33.019 --> 00:06:36.000 And then Paul puts two and two together and says, hang on. 00:06:36.659 --> 00:06:40.279 Your old master, Philemon, is he in Colossae by any chance? 00:06:40.379 --> 00:06:41.099 I know him. 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:46.339 And so Paul now knows his former master and this runaway slave, right? 00:06:47.039 --> 00:06:49.399 And so Paul writes a letter to Philemon. 00:06:49.579 --> 00:06:51.039 There's a book in the Bible called Philemon. 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:52.000 It's one chapter. 00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:52.680 It's very short. 00:06:53.099 --> 00:06:57.039 He writes a letter to Philemon saying, you'll never know who I've just run into in Rome. 00:06:57.399 --> 00:06:59.039 Your former slave, Enesimus. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:04.780 I'm sending him back to you, but this time receive him no longer as a slave, but as a brother. 00:07:05.780 --> 00:07:09.920 An amazing letter about how God changes people and changes relationships. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:14.939 Anyway, while Paul's in Rome, someone else comes to visit him. 00:07:15.640 --> 00:07:17.840 Epaphras, okay, the long-bearded guy. 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:20.140 Epaphras comes to visit him in Rome. 00:07:20.620 --> 00:07:22.320 And Paul hasn't seen him for years. 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:24.700 And so he says, Epaphras, how are things going? 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:28.539 How's Philemon and how's the church in Colossae doing? 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:30.659 And Epaphras gives him an update. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:32.099 And he tells them this. 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:34.099 He says, things are going great. 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:35.699 The church is doing really well. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:38.259 The church, they love Jesus and they love one another. 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:39.539 It's an amazing church. 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:40.879 Paul, you'd be so proud of them. 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:43.060 But there's a couple of challenges as well. 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:48.620 In fact, the main challenge that this church in the town of Colossae is facing is that the 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:52.560 surrounding culture of Colossae is influencing the church. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:58.000 And so the church is being more influenced by the culture than the culture being influenced 00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:58.660 by the church. 00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:00.800 And so there's two things in particular. 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:06.920 The one is that there's a religious group of people in the town of Colossae that are 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:09.160 telling the Christians, listen, Jesus is good. 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:14.100 But if you really want to know God, you've got to add Jesus plus all the Old Testament 00:08:14.100 --> 00:08:14.860 laws, right? 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:16.740 You've got to observe this Sabbath. 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:18.340 You've got to worship at this festival. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:21.060 You've got to observe this new moon feast. 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:24.459 You've got to do all these religious things plus Jesus, right? 00:08:25.139 --> 00:08:27.280 But there's another challenge. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:31.280 The secular Roman culture is influencing the church. 00:08:31.420 --> 00:08:36.159 And they say, listen, Jesus is good, but he's like one of all the other gods, Apollos 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:38.220 and Dionysus and all these other gods. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:42.240 And if you really want to know who God is, you've got to worship the angels and you've 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:44.700 got to engage in ascetism. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:48.559 You've got to flog yourself and fast and you've got to really seek the gods. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:51.139 And Jesus is good, but he's just one of all these other gods. 00:08:51.859 --> 00:08:56.919 And so Paul writes a letter back to the Colossians to help them understand. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:58.619 And he says, this is what I want you to know. 00:08:58.679 --> 00:09:02.699 I want you to see the supremacy of Jesus, that Christ is Lord of all things. 00:09:03.119 --> 00:09:05.339 I want you to understand the power of the gospel. 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:10.619 And I want you to know what your life in Christ looks like, what it means to be a follower 00:09:10.619 --> 00:09:11.059 of Jesus. 00:09:11.059 --> 00:09:15.739 And so Paul gets his other friend, this is his fourth friend called Tychicus. 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:17.139 Okay, there's Tychicus. 00:09:17.699 --> 00:09:22.779 Paul gets his friend Tychicus and he sends him a thousand miles away back to the town 00:09:22.779 --> 00:09:24.599 of Colossae with three things. 00:09:25.119 --> 00:09:30.159 He sends him with a letter to Philemon, the master, okay, the wealthy businessman. 00:09:30.459 --> 00:09:33.139 He sends him with Onesimus, his former slave. 00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:35.779 And then he sends a letter to the Colossians. 00:09:35.779 --> 00:09:41.500 And he sends these two letters and Anesimus with Tychicus to the Colossians and encouraging 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:45.939 them to be deep in their understanding of who Christ is, deep in their understanding 00:09:45.939 --> 00:09:49.019 of the gospel and what their life in Christ looks like. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:52.779 And that letter is the letter to Colossians that we're going to look at for the next eight 00:09:52.779 --> 00:09:53.059 weeks. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:57.600 So on that note, Christina, will you come and read God's word to us this morning? 00:09:57.639 --> 00:10:01.759 Let's listen to Colossians chapter one, verses one to 12, I think it is. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:02.240 Yeah. 00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:06.179 Please follow along in your bulletin or on the screen. 00:10:08.179 --> 00:10:15.179 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother, to the saints 00:10:15.179 --> 00:10:21.439 and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae, grace to you and peace from God, our Father. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:30.520 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith 00:10:30.520 --> 00:10:37.820 in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints because of the hope laid out for you 00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:38.360 in heaven. 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:48.620 Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:55.519 whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing as it also does among you, since the day you heard it 00:10:55.519 --> 00:11:02.179 and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow 00:11:02.179 --> 00:11:02.580 servant. 00:11:03.659 --> 00:11:10.560 He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:18.679 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with knowledge 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:25.319 of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:32.559 fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:39.919 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:46.799 with joy, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of saints 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:47.379 in light. 00:11:47.879 --> 00:11:49.099 This is the word of God. 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:50.459 Great. 00:11:50.619 --> 00:11:50.819 Okay. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:52.119 Thank you, Christina. 00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:53.739 Okay. 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:57.219 So, let's actually pray. 00:11:57.459 --> 00:11:59.099 Let me just ask God to really speak to us. 00:11:59.099 --> 00:12:00.839 Father, we come before your word this morning. 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:03.300 Father, we come because we want to meet with you. 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.540 We want to encounter you. 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:07.840 God, won't you bless the preaching of your word? 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:09.720 God, won't your word get inside of us? 00:12:09.800 --> 00:12:16.320 And just as the Colossians, those 2,000 years ago, needed a revelation of your supremacy and 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:18.519 your wonder, God, won't you do the same for us? 00:12:19.160 --> 00:12:21.860 We ask you to be with us now in your name. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:22.780 Amen. 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:23.780 Amen. 00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:24.100 Okay. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:28.080 So, there's three sections to this passage of Scripture. 00:12:28.280 --> 00:12:28.400 Okay. 00:12:28.400 --> 00:12:29.259 Three kind of paragraphs. 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:31.759 The first one is a pretty standard greeting. 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:32.539 Paul says, 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:37.620 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother, to the saints 00:12:37.620 --> 00:12:42.019 and faithful brothers in Christ in Colossae, grace and peace to you from God our Father. 00:12:42.319 --> 00:12:45.419 Now, there's a whole lot of good stuff in there, but we're not going to get into it. 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:49.220 If we had to get into every good thing, we'd be here for a long, long time. 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:49.559 Okay. 00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:53.000 So, Paul greets this church in Colossians. 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:55.860 The next two paragraphs we're going to look at today. 00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:55.899 Okay. 00:12:56.180 --> 00:13:00.960 Now, when we read the Bible, we want to know what is God saying in the Bible. 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:01.560 Okay. 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:05.960 We don't just read the Bible and say, this is what it says to me, because that might not 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:07.200 be what God is saying at all. 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:07.580 Right? 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:11.120 The Bible is not just a book of inspirational thoughts and ideas. 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:13.940 The authors that wrote it had an idea. 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:17.379 They were trying to communicate something, and God is trying to communicate something. 00:13:17.800 --> 00:13:22.060 So, what we want to do is understand, God, what are you saying in the Bible, not just what 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:23.719 I think it might be saying. 00:13:24.219 --> 00:13:26.059 And there's a couple of ways to work that out. 00:13:26.219 --> 00:13:30.899 If you know Greek and Hebrew, you can study the structure and the sentences and all that 00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:31.459 kind of stuff. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:36.359 But if you don't know Greek and Hebrew, like most of us, one of the ways you can do it is 00:13:36.359 --> 00:13:41.339 say, what are the literary devices that the author is using to help us understand or to 00:13:41.339 --> 00:13:43.119 help get his main points across? 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:47.980 And one of the ways that authors do this is through repetition of words and phrases. 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:48.600 Okay? 00:13:49.060 --> 00:13:52.200 So, remember two weeks ago, we saw this in Ruth chapter three. 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:54.580 Remember, Ruth chapter three starts off like this. 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:58.860 Naomi says to Ruth, should I not seek rest for you, my daughter? 00:13:59.220 --> 00:13:59.440 Okay? 00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:02.039 Then it goes through this whole story, and then it ends. 00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:10.019 The last line is, Naomi saying to Ruth again, don't worry, the Redeemer will not rest until 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:11.180 he's sorted out the problem. 00:14:11.179 --> 00:14:16.679 So, the first sentence and the last sentence both have this idea of rest. 00:14:17.199 --> 00:14:21.839 And so, we know that Ruth chapter three is talking about finding rest in the great Redeemer 00:14:21.839 --> 00:14:23.559 because there's this repetition. 00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:25.699 It's a literary device the authors use. 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:32.299 Now, when we look at our passage today, are there any phrases or any words that are repeated 00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:34.559 in the first paragraph and the second paragraph? 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:36.899 Anything that stands out to you? 00:14:37.979 --> 00:14:39.459 Look at verse six. 00:14:39.459 --> 00:14:40.299 Paul writes, 00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:50.019 And then in verse 10, he says, 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:54.699 We've been praying that you'll be filled with the gospel, God's will and His understanding 00:14:54.699 --> 00:15:00.639 of the grace of God, so that you can walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:02.240 to Him, bearing fruit. 00:15:02.299 --> 00:15:03.279 There's the same phrase. 00:15:03.699 --> 00:15:06.519 In every good work, as you increase in the knowledge of God. 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:08.600 So, here Paul gives us a clue. 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:13.939 He's talking about, Paul's writing to these Colossian Christians and he's reminding them 00:15:13.939 --> 00:15:19.240 that the gospel message is not just a message that you hear and understand with your head. 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:27.179 He's reminding them that the gospel is a life-changing, life-transforming power that when it gets inside 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:32.559 of you, it changes you and it impacts you in such a way that there's fruit in your life. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:34.639 There's evidence that other people can see. 00:15:35.239 --> 00:15:35.479 He says, 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:51.039 And so, this is Paul's big idea. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:57.500 That when you become a Christian, it changes you, the gospel changes you. 00:15:57.579 --> 00:16:01.679 But then he's going to go on to say that as you grow as a Christian, you've got to get 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:05.899 the gospel deeper into you that it continues to change you to bear fruit. 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:11.919 And so, these Christians in Colossae, the thing that differentiates them from secular culture 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:16.799 or from worshippers of other gods is not the intensity of their worship. 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:19.339 It's not how dedicated they are. 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.960 It's got nothing to do with them. 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:26.200 What separates them is that the gospel, the power of God, came from outside of them, got 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:31.360 into them, changed them, and is now bearing fruit for all to see all over the world. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:36.180 And there's two sections here. 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:40.820 And so, Paul is going to talk about in the first section how the fruit or the impact of 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:43.180 the gospel has on people when they come to Christ. 00:16:43.560 --> 00:16:48.460 And the second section, the fruit or the impact that the gospel has on us as we continue to walk 00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:48.960 with Christ. 00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:49.540 Okay? 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:51.080 So, that's where we're going this morning. 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:53.780 So, let's look at the first section together. 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:56.000 Verses 3 to 8. 00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:57.660 Look at what Paul says. 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.379 Look at verse 3. 00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:58.740 He says, 00:16:58.800 --> 00:17:01.220 We thank God whenever we pray for you. 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:01.840 Why? 00:17:01.920 --> 00:17:02.900 Why does he thank God? 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.019 Well, two reasons. 00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:08.960 We thank God because of your love that you have for Christ, your faith that you have in 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:11.660 Christ, and the love that you have for all the saints. 00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:12.100 Okay? 00:17:12.620 --> 00:17:14.000 So, Paul's heard from Epaphras. 00:17:14.100 --> 00:17:15.600 He's sitting under house arrest in Rome. 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:16.220 He says, 00:17:16.320 --> 00:17:17.800 Tell me what's happening in Colossae. 00:17:18.360 --> 00:17:20.580 And Epaphras tells him about these two things. 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:23.600 Their great faith in Christ and their love for all the saints. 00:17:24.560 --> 00:17:30.759 Now, at its most basic form, these two things is what God always requires of all his people. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.920 To love God and love people. 00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:35.040 Remember, someone comes to Jesus and says, 00:17:35.120 --> 00:17:37.240 Jesus, there's this whole Old Testament. 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:39.100 What are the greatest commandments? 00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:41.019 What should we really focus on? 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.219 And Jesus says, 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:45.500 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, and your strength. 00:17:45.939 --> 00:17:47.559 And love your neighbor as yourself. 00:17:48.399 --> 00:17:50.980 And that's why it's impossible when people say, 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:51.799 I love Jesus. 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:54.179 It's just the church I don't really like. 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:57.059 I love Jesus, just his people I can't put up with. 00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:58.599 It's impossible. 00:17:59.219 --> 00:18:02.679 Because wherever in the Bible, these two things come together. 00:18:03.199 --> 00:18:04.819 Love Jesus, love his people. 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:07.219 Serve Jesus, serve his people. 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:11.799 And so that's exactly what Paul has heard has happened to these Christians in Colossae. 00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:13.559 The gospel's got inside of them. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:18.920 And it's stirred in them a deep faith in Christ, a love for Christ, and a love for his people. 00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:21.640 And this comes from the gospel. 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:24.559 Now, how does Paul describe the gospel? 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.660 What does it mean? 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.579 What does it look like? 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:28.640 Well, he actually gives three phrases for it. 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:29.059 He says, 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:32.879 It is the hope that is laid up for you in heaven, verse 5. 00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:37.200 He calls it the word of truth, and he calls it the grace of God. 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:44.359 So this message, this good news message about the grace of God, that we're all sinners that are saved by grace. 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:49.839 Sinners like the runaway slave Inesimus, and Epaphras, and Philemon, and me, and you. 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.700 The grace of God has come to us. 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:58.140 This good news about the truth of God, that all of us are sinners, but Jesus has died on the cross for us. 00:18:58.340 --> 00:19:03.940 This eternal and unshakable hope that we have in Christ because he rose from the grave. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.840 He's no longer dead. 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:05.720 Paul says, 00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:14.259 This powerful message is not merely a message that you believe, or that you remind yourselves of every week when you go to church. 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:21.720 This gospel is a power that gets inside of you that changes you on the inside and results in fruit in your life. 00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.779 But Paul says, 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.579 This shouldn't surprise us. 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:30.039 Because what happened in Colossae is actually what happens all over the world. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:34.160 Wherever this gospel message goes, it produces fruit. 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:38.279 What happened to Inesimus the slave, and Epaphras, and Philemon, 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:40.619 these aren't freak accidents. 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:45.559 These aren't people that had a religious experience and suddenly decided to become religious. 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:49.199 Actually, wherever the gospel goes, it changes people. 00:19:50.159 --> 00:19:54.899 And friends, I want to say to us that this should give us two things. 00:19:55.539 --> 00:20:03.779 The power of the gospel to change people's lives should make us both confident and humble at the same time. 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:11.180 It should give us great confidence because in our mission as a church, we want to join Jesus in his mission. 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:13.980 We want to help people find and follow Jesus. 00:20:14.399 --> 00:20:19.099 We want to be a church that is making mature disciples of Jesus in the city of Hong Kong 00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:22.519 that are going to impact other people for the glory of God in Hong Kong. 00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:24.039 That's what we want to do, right? 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:29.480 And this, the power of the gospel should give us great confidence as we go out doing that. 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:36.640 Because for 2,000 years, in every country, in every century, in every corner of the globe, 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:40.279 wherever the gospel has gone forward, it's changed people's lives. 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:47.339 It's done so in powerful cities like Rome and London and New York and Hong Kong and Shanghai. 00:20:47.860 --> 00:20:49.400 God has changed people's lives. 00:20:49.860 --> 00:20:54.620 But it's also done so in backwater towns in Africa and India and in China. 00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:59.500 The gospel has gone inside of people and changed them and borne fruit in their lives 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:02.879 with the educated and the sophisticated and the elite. 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:06.639 But it's also done so with the simple and the uneducated. 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:11.399 In every corner of the globe, across the ages, in every city of the world, 00:21:11.739 --> 00:21:14.159 God's power has got a hold of people and changed them. 00:21:14.159 --> 00:21:19.559 As he says, just as it did amongst you, and it's borne fruit in their lives. 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:24.799 Because, you know, when we were considering moving to Hong Kong, 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:27.399 so a long process, chatting to the elders. 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:32.220 And then I think it was around June, July last year, we all agreed, 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:33.579 hey, it feels like God is in this. 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.819 And so we were coming to Hong Kong. 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:38.000 And then we had six months before we came here. 00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:41.079 And I've got to be honest, in my own heart, 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:47.939 there was not just a little amount of angst or concern. 00:21:48.639 --> 00:21:53.179 Because as I think about myself, I know that I'm not particularly oppressive. 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:56.159 I mean, many people in this church are more educated than me, 00:21:56.419 --> 00:21:59.740 more sophisticated than me, older than me, wiser than me. 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:02.720 And so as we thought about this, it's like, 00:22:03.399 --> 00:22:06.619 well, what am I going to bring to Watermark Church? 00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:10.059 And the pressure to possibly perform, 00:22:10.199 --> 00:22:14.139 I don't have the goods to win the crowds or perform 00:22:14.139 --> 00:22:16.459 or to put on a good show that's going to impress people. 00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:19.239 But I'll tell you what gave me such confidence. 00:22:19.879 --> 00:22:21.039 I'll tell you what gave me conviction. 00:22:21.719 --> 00:22:25.439 It's the absolute certainty that I knew, that I knew, that I knew, 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:29.159 that in my heart, this gospel message has a power 00:22:29.159 --> 00:22:31.979 that changes people's lives and bears fruit. 00:22:32.379 --> 00:22:33.899 And so you don't need to come and perform. 00:22:34.179 --> 00:22:35.539 You don't need to come put on a show. 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:37.359 You don't need to come and win people over. 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.740 Because as you bring the gospel, 00:22:38.879 --> 00:22:42.099 the gospel is a power that bears fruit in people's lives. 00:22:42.659 --> 00:22:44.339 And so Watermark, I want to say to us that 00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:47.799 as we seek to make a difference for Christ in our city, 00:22:48.159 --> 00:22:50.859 as we host Elphas, as we reach out to people, 00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:53.519 as we put on events, we can have great confidence 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:55.799 knowing that the power of God is not in us. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:57.500 It's not in our great shows. 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.879 It's in the gospel. 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.700 And Paul writes and he says, 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:04.960 Don't you remember that just as the gospel is born fruit in your life, 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.940 so it does in the whole world, 00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:09.559 wherever people are hearing the word of truth 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:11.779 and understanding the grace of God. 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:15.819 And this powerful message should give us great confidence as a church. 00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:19.039 But on the other hand, it should also humble us. 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:21.559 And Watermark, I want us to hear this. 00:23:21.620 --> 00:23:23.960 I want us to take careful note of this. 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:28.500 Because as I try and listen to what's going on 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:30.559 in the church circles around the world, 00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:35.640 the trend at the moment and the way many churches are going 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:39.019 is to find their confidence in human ability, 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:41.079 in putting on a great show, 00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:44.799 in dynamic speakers, in great oratory skills. 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:47.579 The temptation that we're going to face as a church 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:50.259 is to put our confidence in having the right show 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.519 and speaking the right lingo 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:53.299 and putting on a great performance 00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:55.440 and thinking that if we attract people 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.500 and people join our church, 00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.579 then we've been successful. 00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:59.480 But in the New Testament, 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:02.019 neither Paul nor no one celebrates 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:04.359 that success is attracting people 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:05.680 and growing into a big church. 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.559 That's not the mark. 00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.460 What does Paul celebrate? 00:24:08.419 --> 00:24:10.019 Well, he tells us here in Colossians 1. 00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:10.919 He says, 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.839 We thank God every time we pray for you 00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:16.259 because we hear that the gospel is bearing fruit in your lives, 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:18.659 as indeed it does in the whole world. 00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:21.220 And so Watermark, I want to encourage us. 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:24.220 We need to be careful about getting too confident 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:27.400 in our ability to produce fruit in people's lives. 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:29.519 Before any of us were born, 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:32.259 God's word was going forward and changing people 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.779 and producing the fruit. 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:36.079 And so Paul writes and he says, 00:24:36.600 --> 00:24:38.420 We thank God whenever we pray for you 00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:40.380 because we've heard of your faith in the gospel. 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:43.100 We've heard how this has changed in you, 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:44.000 as producing fruit, 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:46.480 as indeed it does in the whole world. 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:49.120 The gospel changes lives. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:51.459 Now, look at the second section. 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:53.619 Look at verse 9 to 12 with me. 00:24:55.239 --> 00:24:58.099 Paul has been reminding these Christians in Colossae, 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.239 whom he's never met. 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:01.000 So they didn't become Christians 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.979 because of his great oratory skills 00:25:02.979 --> 00:25:04.659 or his persuasive argument, 00:25:05.199 --> 00:25:07.199 or because Paul himself was very impressive. 00:25:07.419 --> 00:25:09.119 He's never been to the city of Colossae. 00:25:09.639 --> 00:25:10.439 He's never met them. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:13.439 They became Christians through this other guy, Epaphras. 00:25:13.739 --> 00:25:15.599 But he carries them in his heart. 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:18.980 And so he's reminding them of the power of the gospel 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:20.019 that got inside of them 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:22.619 and caused this combustion to take place in their lives 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.679 and change their lives. 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.279 And so he writes this. 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:27.379 And so from the day we heard, 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:30.139 we have not ceased to pray for you. 00:25:30.219 --> 00:25:31.399 Now, here's the question, right? 00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:34.119 What do you pray for a church 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:38.099 that is experiencing this gospel explosion to take place? 00:25:38.879 --> 00:25:41.199 So here's a church that's six, seven, 00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:42.480 maybe eight years old. 00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:44.459 Good things are happening. 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:46.100 God's gospel's got there. 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:47.559 People's lives are being changed. 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:49.160 It's a great community. 00:25:49.340 --> 00:25:50.400 They love one another. 00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:51.980 There's a couple of challenges, 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:54.340 but generally the church is going really well. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.779 Sounds a lot like Watermark, right? 00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:59.620 Eight years old, great community. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.340 What do you pray for such a church? 00:26:02.100 --> 00:26:03.340 What do we pray for Watermark? 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:05.240 What should we be praying? 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:07.360 Well, look at what Paul prays. 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:08.380 He says, 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:09.680 And so from the day we've heard, 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.840 we have not ceased to pray for you, 00:26:12.380 --> 00:26:13.980 asking that you may be filled 00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:15.720 with the knowledge of God's will 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:18.120 in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:21.020 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:22.320 fully pleasing to Him, 00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:23.340 bearing fruit, 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:24.280 there's our phrase again, 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:26.840 and increasing in the knowledge of God. 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.220 Let's think about this. 00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:30.500 What does Paul mean when he says, 00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:31.740 I pray that you'll be filled 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:33.280 with the knowledge of God's will 00:26:33.280 --> 00:26:35.500 in all spiritual wisdom and understanding? 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:41.059 Most of life is made up of making decisions, right? 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:43.079 We all make decisions all the time. 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:45.039 Big decisions, small decisions, 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:47.960 long-term decisions, short-term decisions. 00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:49.660 We all make many decisions. 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:52.079 And how easy would it be 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:54.460 every time we had a decision to make, 00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:56.180 we just looked up to clouds 00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:58.220 and we could know what God's will was, right? 00:26:58.819 --> 00:27:02.079 Or just like a sign fell from heaven on your desk, okay? 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:04.819 Employ this person, don't employ this person. 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:06.819 You wanna go to university next year? 00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:09.139 Go to A, don't go to B, right? 00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.960 Life would be so simple 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.779 if every time we had to make a decision, 00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:15.519 we just knew, okay, God, this is your will, 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:17.079 I'll do it, right? 00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:20.659 But the truth is that life is not that simple, right? 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:22.379 Life is far more complex. 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.439 It's far more nuanced 00:27:23.439 --> 00:27:26.700 than just simple answers to life's questions, right? 00:27:26.939 --> 00:27:29.119 Life is full of complexity and nuance 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:30.619 and there's difficulty. 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:34.079 God never intended life to be so one-dimensional. 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:35.960 So simplistic, right? 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:38.419 God never intended the Christian life to be one 00:27:38.419 --> 00:27:40.419 in which every time you've got a decision, 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.599 you just look up the clouds 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.799 and you know what is his will. 00:27:42.939 --> 00:27:45.359 God, should I wear this suit today or this suit? 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:47.259 Should I catch the 40M to church 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.659 or the 22 minibus, right? 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.579 Lord, what is your will? 00:27:49.679 --> 00:27:50.339 Please tell me. 00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:51.960 No, God just says, 00:27:52.439 --> 00:27:54.039 you've got a brain, you get on with it, okay? 00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:57.579 Now, here's the problem with most, 00:27:57.899 --> 00:28:00.179 not most, let's say some education systems. 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.519 I don't know what it's like in Hong Kong, 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:03.000 but where we come from. 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:05.220 The problem with some education systems 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:07.819 is we teach our children and our young adults 00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:10.980 just to memorize the right answer, right? 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:12.539 So memorize the answer 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:15.220 and the problem is that when you get out of university 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:16.940 and you enter the real world, 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:19.859 you realize that life is more complex 00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:21.500 than just knowing the simple answer 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.599 to the simple equation. 00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:24.500 Now, in many ways, 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:27.059 we're tempted to treat God and faith in the same way. 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:29.839 But as we said, life is more complex than that. 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:32.139 Think about marriage and dating 00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:33.879 and singleness and relationships. 00:28:34.139 --> 00:28:35.039 I mean, that's complex. 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:37.519 It's not as simple as just A or B, 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.559 which one do I choose? 00:28:38.679 --> 00:28:40.859 These things are nuanced and difficult. 00:28:41.459 --> 00:28:42.319 You think that's complex, 00:28:42.399 --> 00:28:43.240 what about parenting? 00:28:43.679 --> 00:28:45.139 That's a whole nother level, right? 00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:47.659 You can't just flip to the Bible. 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:49.319 Let me put it this way. 00:28:49.659 --> 00:28:50.980 When your four-year-old daughter 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:53.159 spits on your six-year-old daughter, 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:54.699 just saying hypothetically, 00:28:54.919 --> 00:28:57.539 yeah, might have happened in our household 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.740 in the last 24 hours, 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:01.099 you can't just go to the Bible 00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:02.920 and turn to the index page and say, 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:04.119 what do you do when your daughter 00:29:04.119 --> 00:29:04.839 spits on your daughter? 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:06.159 Oh, page 700. 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.759 Okay, now I know the will of God. 00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:09.420 These things like parenting 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:11.119 and relationships are complex. 00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:12.619 They're difficult, right? 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:15.220 What about handling employees at work? 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:17.899 You want to help your employees succeed and do well, 00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:19.940 but you also want to do what's well for the company, 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:20.859 what's good for the company. 00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:22.980 What about when you are an employee 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:24.620 and your boss is mistreating you? 00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:26.680 How do you respond to your employer? 00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:30.039 What about race relations and ethnic minorities? 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:32.620 What do we do about racism and prejudice? 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:34.160 And what do we do when people 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:35.579 from a different culture come 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:37.140 and they handle things differently? 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:38.339 How do we handle these things? 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:40.299 What do you do when someone hurts you? 00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:41.860 Someone lets you down. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.599 Someone rejects you. 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:45.240 Someone causes offense. 00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:47.019 You can't just treat the Bible 00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:48.460 like a university textbook, 00:29:48.620 --> 00:29:49.779 flip to the relevant page, 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:51.559 and it'll just tell you what to do 00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.779 in this exact situation. 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:56.159 So friends, what do we need to know God's will? 00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:58.819 How do we live this life that's pleasing to God 00:29:58.819 --> 00:30:00.740 in the complexity and the difficulty 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:02.940 and the nuance of everyday life? 00:30:03.659 --> 00:30:04.819 Well friends, what we need 00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:06.679 is we need a framework. 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.200 We need a paradigm. 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:11.720 We need a worldview to understand who is God, 00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:13.779 what is God doing in the world, 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:15.919 and what are God's ways in the world? 00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:19.019 We need to understand not just the simple answer, 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:20.179 but what are God's ways 00:30:20.179 --> 00:30:21.399 and his dealings with the world 00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:23.860 that'll give us a wisdom and understanding 00:30:23.860 --> 00:30:27.000 to know how to handle the complexities of life. 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.000 Does that make sense? 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:30.440 So what is this paradigm? 00:30:30.860 --> 00:30:34.400 How are we gonna understand God's ways 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:35.600 and what is God doing in the world? 00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:37.580 How do we handle the complexities of life? 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:40.000 Friends, we need a worldview that tells us 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:41.680 that though everything in the world 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:43.300 has been tainted by sin 00:30:43.300 --> 00:30:44.680 and feels the effects of sin, 00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:47.160 Jesus Christ, our great Redeemer, 00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:48.880 the true and better Redeemer 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:49.800 that we've been hearing about, 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:52.119 has come and died and rose again 00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:53.559 to rescue and restore, 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:55.019 to bring us into his family, 00:30:55.399 --> 00:30:57.579 to redeem the world through his atoning death. 00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:59.639 Friends, we have a worldview that says 00:30:59.639 --> 00:31:02.259 though the world is damaged by the effects of sin 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:02.819 and the fall, 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:04.720 Christ died and rose again, 00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:07.099 and he's now the head of a brand new creation, 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:10.059 a whole new body of people called the church, 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:12.119 that he's making all things new. 00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.779 Friends, we need a worldview. 00:31:13.899 --> 00:31:15.440 We have a worldview that says 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.759 though life is tough 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:18.580 and it's full of disappointments 00:31:18.580 --> 00:31:20.200 and people let you down 00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:21.620 and people hurt you, 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:23.400 if you are in Christ, 00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:25.059 then Christ is in you. 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:26.840 Christ, your hope of glory, 00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:28.160 the hope of redemption 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:29.080 and reconciliation 00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:31.460 and new things in this life. 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:33.559 Friends, we have a worldview that says 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:35.799 the way to know God 00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:36.759 and walk with God 00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:39.360 is not found in keeping religious traditions 00:31:39.360 --> 00:31:40.299 and Sabbaths 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.380 and new moon festivals 00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:42.799 and worshiping angels. 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:44.240 That's not the way to know God. 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:45.759 The way to find the God 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.500 who made you 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.380 and knows you better 00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:49.120 than anybody else in the world 00:31:49.120 --> 00:31:50.400 is to come to him 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:50.799 through the God 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:52.259 that reveals himself to you. 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.680 Friends, we have a worldview 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.180 that says 00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:56.680 though there are spiritual forces in the world 00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:58.299 accusing Christ followers 00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.720 and reminding us of our sin, 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:03.660 Christ has nailed our accusations to the cross 00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:05.339 and he's disarmed the rulers 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:06.900 and the authorities and the powers, 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:08.759 the very things that try and hold you back, 00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:11.859 Christ has defeated them in the cross. 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:13.960 Friends, we have a worldview that says 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:15.720 though every one of us here 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:17.400 are far more sinful 00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:18.900 than we could ever imagine, 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.600 because of Jesus 00:32:20.600 --> 00:32:21.720 we are actually more loved 00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:23.500 than you could ever believe. 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:25.539 And therefore we can have grace. 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:27.480 We can have grace towards others 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.259 when they hurt us 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.039 and they let us down. 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:31.700 We can have grace towards other people 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.720 that we don't understand 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:33.740 when cultures clash. 00:32:34.340 --> 00:32:36.079 We can have grace towards our children. 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.819 We can have grace towards our spouses. 00:32:38.360 --> 00:32:40.039 We can have grace towards ourselves 00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:41.319 when we make mistakes 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:42.339 and we are at fault 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:44.180 because of who Jesus is. 00:32:44.879 --> 00:32:45.519 Friends, in short, 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:47.480 what we need is a gospel paradigm, 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:48.879 a gospel framework, 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:50.079 a gospel worldview 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:51.259 that teaches us 00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:52.519 how to see the world. 00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.799 Not just what to do 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:55.099 and employ person A, 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:56.119 employ person B, 00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:57.099 do this, 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:57.859 go to this college, 00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:59.220 don't go to this college. 00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:01.460 What we need is a gospel framework 00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:02.220 and a paradigm 00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:04.379 that helps us understand the world. 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.480 It helps us understand 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:07.579 that grace triumphs over hostility, 00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:09.259 love triumphs over hatred 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:12.699 and eventually Christ triumphs over sin. 00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.359 And what happens 00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:15.960 when we get this gospel paradigm? 00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:17.379 What happens when we see the world 00:33:17.379 --> 00:33:18.740 the way that God really made it, 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:20.039 what God's really doing in the world? 00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:21.259 What happens when we see 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.659 the supremacy of Christ 00:33:22.659 --> 00:33:23.539 over all things 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:25.059 and our life in Him? 00:33:26.199 --> 00:33:27.179 Paul writes and he says, 00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:29.460 you'll have a spirit of wisdom 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.179 and understanding. 00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.799 You'll know how to walk 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:33.220 in a manner worthy of the Lord, 00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:34.859 fully pleasing to Him. 00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:37.939 You'll bear fruit in every good work 00:33:37.939 --> 00:33:40.779 and increase in the knowledge of God. 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:43.579 And the rest of chapter 3 and 4 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.519 in the book of Colossians, 00:33:44.979 --> 00:33:45.879 Paul is going to show 00:33:45.879 --> 00:33:47.639 how this gospel framework, 00:33:47.919 --> 00:33:49.919 this understanding of the ways of God 00:33:49.919 --> 00:33:50.899 and the world of God, 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.839 of who Christ is 00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:53.759 and what He came to do 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:55.500 and how His death and resurrection 00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:56.759 changes everything, 00:33:57.459 --> 00:33:58.439 Paul is going to show 00:33:58.439 --> 00:33:59.679 that this paradigm 00:33:59.679 --> 00:34:01.419 helps husbands and wives 00:34:01.419 --> 00:34:02.079 in their marriages. 00:34:02.719 --> 00:34:03.959 He's going to show in chapter 3 00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:04.880 how this paradigm 00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:06.819 helps parents parent their kids. 00:34:07.340 --> 00:34:07.920 He's going to show 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:09.340 that this gospel paradigm 00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:12.139 helps bosses with their employees 00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:14.480 and employees respond to their bosses. 00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.639 He's going to show 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.760 how this paradigm 00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:18.039 helps people that are 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:19.220 in enmity of each other 00:34:19.220 --> 00:34:20.860 and don't get along with each other 00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:21.699 and don't understand 00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:23.340 each other's cultures and races. 00:34:23.740 --> 00:34:24.800 Actually, this paradigm 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:26.500 helps people find each other 00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:27.519 and are unified 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:30.039 and destroys racism in the church. 00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:33.599 Friends, what we need 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.880 is this gospel paradigm. 00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:35.980 We need to be filled 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:37.539 with the knowledge of God's will 00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:39.460 and all wisdom and understanding 00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:41.539 so as to know how to walk 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.820 fully pleasing to Him, 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:44.019 bearing the fruit 00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:46.199 that God has got planned for us. 00:34:46.900 --> 00:34:47.699 And so what this means 00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:48.719 is that Watermark, 00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:49.619 as a church, 00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:51.259 we, like the Colossians, 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:52.519 need to get this gospel 00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:53.840 deeper into our hearts. 00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:56.639 You know, every month 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:58.559 I have a Skype call 00:34:58.559 --> 00:34:59.779 with four other pastors 00:34:59.779 --> 00:35:02.400 in the Asia-Pacific region. 00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:04.079 And we chat together 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.299 and we learn from each other 00:35:05.299 --> 00:35:06.559 and try to encourage each other 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:07.799 and pray for one another. 00:35:07.859 --> 00:35:08.799 And one of those pastors 00:35:08.799 --> 00:35:10.039 is in Australia, 00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:11.079 in Perth. 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:12.440 He planted this church 00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:13.480 about six years ago. 00:35:13.639 --> 00:35:15.159 They've got about 150 people. 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:16.639 It's a good solid church. 00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:20.299 A South African-born Australian now. 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:23.259 And one of those pastors 00:35:23.259 --> 00:35:24.980 is a Japanese man in Tokyo. 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:26.900 He's in the process 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:27.900 of planting his church. 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:29.139 They've got about five people 00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:29.679 in their church. 00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:31.480 So it's like very early days. 00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:33.179 But he's an outstanding man. 00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:33.880 Okay, Sator. 00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:35.360 Another one of those pastors, 00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.539 also a Japanese guy 00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.199 called Rauta, 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.199 also in Tokyo. 00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:39.280 Started his church 00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:40.280 five, six years ago, 00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:42.099 about 150 people or so. 00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:43.559 And then the fourth pastor 00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:45.820 is actually my brother 00:35:45.820 --> 00:35:46.940 in Singapore. 00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:48.199 And he planted his church 00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:48.880 10 years ago 00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:50.260 and they've got a big church, 00:35:50.320 --> 00:35:50.480 right? 00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:52.159 Over a thousand people or so. 00:35:52.659 --> 00:35:53.380 And so once a month 00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:54.039 we get together 00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.679 and we chat 00:35:54.679 --> 00:35:55.119 and we say, 00:35:55.199 --> 00:35:55.759 what's going on? 00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:56.920 How can we pray for each other? 00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:58.759 And so about six weeks ago 00:35:58.759 --> 00:35:59.539 I said to them, 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:01.259 won't you email me each 00:36:01.259 --> 00:36:02.759 three things I can pray for you? 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:03.880 I want to commit to praying 00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:04.880 for you four guys 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:05.860 and your churches. 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:07.179 Email me three things 00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:08.179 that I can pray for you. 00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:10.159 And I was astounded 00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:12.000 because they emailed separately 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.820 four people. 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:14.159 All of them are older than me. 00:36:14.699 --> 00:36:16.239 All of them are more gifted than me. 00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:18.199 All of them are more godly than me. 00:36:18.380 --> 00:36:20.199 All of them are better leaders than me. 00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:22.519 And yet all four of them, 00:36:22.759 --> 00:36:23.559 their first point 00:36:23.559 --> 00:36:25.119 was the exact same thing. 00:36:25.319 --> 00:36:26.399 Just phrased in different ways. 00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:27.299 This is what they said. 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:28.239 They said, 00:36:28.299 --> 00:36:28.480 Kevin, 00:36:28.639 --> 00:36:29.799 pray that the gospel 00:36:29.799 --> 00:36:30.859 will get deeper 00:36:30.859 --> 00:36:31.859 into my own heart. 00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:34.059 That I will love Jesus more. 00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:35.619 That I will understand 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:36.439 my sin more 00:36:36.439 --> 00:36:37.219 than I'll understand 00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:38.539 the wonder of Jesus more. 00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:40.119 Here are four leaders 00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:41.339 that are way further 00:36:41.339 --> 00:36:42.119 down the road than me. 00:36:42.339 --> 00:36:43.579 Way better than me 00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:44.500 than I ever will be. 00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:46.159 And yet their prayer was this. 00:36:46.259 --> 00:36:46.939 Don't pray that 00:36:46.939 --> 00:36:48.379 we'll have an easy church. 00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:49.660 Don't pray that all the obstacles 00:36:49.660 --> 00:36:50.400 will go out the way. 00:36:50.720 --> 00:36:51.500 Don't pray that life 00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.160 will be comfortable 00:36:52.160 --> 00:36:52.700 and convenient. 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:53.420 Pray this, 00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:54.160 that the gospel 00:36:54.160 --> 00:36:55.039 will get deeper 00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:56.280 into my heart. 00:36:56.760 --> 00:36:57.119 And friends, 00:36:57.220 --> 00:36:58.519 this message of the gospel 00:36:58.519 --> 00:36:59.740 is not just something 00:36:59.740 --> 00:37:00.340 you believe 00:37:00.340 --> 00:37:02.059 in order to become a Christian. 00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:04.079 It's exactly what we need 00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:04.940 to believe deeper 00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:05.820 and more profoundly 00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:06.820 in order to grow 00:37:06.820 --> 00:37:07.440 as a Christian. 00:37:07.940 --> 00:37:08.960 The Bible is not just 00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.599 a handbook 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:11.140 how to get us through life. 00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:12.700 The Bible is the revelation 00:37:12.700 --> 00:37:13.740 of who God is, 00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:15.099 the supremacy of Jesus 00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:16.360 and our life in Him 00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:18.000 and what the gospel is 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:19.059 and it helps us 00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:20.280 to understand God 00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:21.340 and His ways in the world. 00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:22.180 Friends, 00:37:22.380 --> 00:37:23.599 what you and I need 00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:24.620 is far more 00:37:24.620 --> 00:37:26.039 than just simple answers 00:37:26.039 --> 00:37:27.620 to complex questions. 00:37:28.260 --> 00:37:29.340 Which suit should I choose? 00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:30.940 What university should I go to? 00:37:31.220 --> 00:37:32.579 What job should I take? 00:37:32.940 --> 00:37:33.760 What you and I need 00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:35.280 is the paradigm 00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:36.180 of who God is 00:37:36.180 --> 00:37:37.180 and the wonder 00:37:37.180 --> 00:37:37.920 of Christ's gospel 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:39.280 to get deep into our hearts 00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:40.440 and to bear fruit 00:37:40.440 --> 00:37:41.180 in our lives. 00:37:41.880 --> 00:37:42.180 Friends, 00:37:42.260 --> 00:37:42.940 the fruit of the gospel 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:43.900 is not just evident 00:37:43.900 --> 00:37:45.260 in the lives of those 00:37:45.260 --> 00:37:46.240 who come to Christ 00:37:46.240 --> 00:37:47.280 in faith and repentance 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:48.360 once upon a time. 00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:50.160 It's equally beautiful 00:37:50.160 --> 00:37:51.700 and equally evident 00:37:51.700 --> 00:37:52.660 in the lives of those 00:37:52.660 --> 00:37:54.059 who constantly come back 00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:55.220 to the rugged cross. 00:37:55.940 --> 00:37:56.059 Say, 00:37:56.099 --> 00:37:56.380 Christ, 00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:57.340 have your way in my life. 00:37:57.820 --> 00:37:58.119 Jesus, 00:37:58.260 --> 00:37:58.980 come and change me. 00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:00.380 Let me close with this. 00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:02.519 John Piper said it like this. 00:38:03.980 --> 00:38:05.539 Watermarks seek to see 00:38:05.539 --> 00:38:07.000 and feel the gospel 00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:07.720 as bigger 00:38:07.720 --> 00:38:09.019 as the years go by 00:38:09.019 --> 00:38:10.539 rather than smaller. 00:38:11.099 --> 00:38:11.619 Our temptation 00:38:11.619 --> 00:38:12.619 is to think 00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:13.440 that the gospel 00:38:13.440 --> 00:38:14.159 is for beginners 00:38:14.159 --> 00:38:15.420 and then we go 00:38:15.420 --> 00:38:16.500 on to greater things. 00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:17.940 But the real challenge 00:38:17.940 --> 00:38:18.940 is to see the gospel 00:38:18.940 --> 00:38:19.960 as the greatest thing 00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:20.880 and getting greater 00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:21.659 all the time 00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:22.359 in our lives. 00:38:22.859 --> 00:38:23.960 The gospel gets bigger 00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.639 in your heart 00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:25.980 when grace gets bigger, 00:38:26.339 --> 00:38:27.759 when Christ gets greater, 00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:28.839 when His death 00:38:28.839 --> 00:38:29.980 becomes more wonderful, 00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:30.880 His resurrection 00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:31.940 more astonishing, 00:38:32.619 --> 00:38:33.179 when the work 00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:33.699 of the Spirit 00:38:33.699 --> 00:38:34.579 is mightier 00:38:34.579 --> 00:38:35.519 and the power 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:36.079 of the gospel 00:38:36.079 --> 00:38:36.880 is more pervasive, 00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:38.819 when your own sin 00:38:38.819 --> 00:38:39.779 gets uglier, 00:38:40.339 --> 00:38:40.839 when the devil 00:38:40.839 --> 00:38:41.619 gets more evil, 00:38:41.619 --> 00:38:43.000 the gospel's roots 00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:44.339 go into eternity 00:38:44.339 --> 00:38:44.819 deeper 00:38:44.819 --> 00:38:45.639 and its connections 00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:46.480 with everything 00:38:46.480 --> 00:38:47.119 in the Bible 00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:47.960 and in the world 00:38:47.960 --> 00:38:48.599 get stronger 00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:49.900 and the magnitude 00:38:49.900 --> 00:38:51.079 of its celebration 00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:51.960 in eternity 00:38:51.960 --> 00:38:53.259 gets louder. 00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:54.960 And so keep this in mind. 00:38:55.519 --> 00:38:56.739 Never let the gospel 00:38:56.739 --> 00:38:57.440 get smaller 00:38:57.440 --> 00:38:58.079 in your hearts. 00:38:58.559 --> 00:38:59.460 Pray that it won't. 00:38:59.859 --> 00:39:00.619 Read about it. 00:39:00.900 --> 00:39:01.719 Sing about it. 00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:03.059 Tell someone about it. 00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:04.179 But whatever you do, 00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:06.000 never let the gospel 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:07.279 get smaller 00:39:07.279 --> 00:39:08.639 in your hearts. 00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:11.219 Prince Paul writes 00:39:11.219 --> 00:39:12.119 to the Colossians 00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:12.980 and he says this, 00:39:13.799 --> 00:39:14.440 I thank my God 00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:15.679 every time I think of you 00:39:15.679 --> 00:39:16.900 because we've heard 00:39:16.900 --> 00:39:17.539 of your love 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:18.619 in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:39:18.799 --> 00:39:19.440 your faith in the Lord 00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:19.900 Jesus Christ 00:39:19.900 --> 00:39:20.900 and the love that you have 00:39:20.900 --> 00:39:21.859 for all the saints. 00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:23.480 Ever since you heard 00:39:23.480 --> 00:39:24.819 the word of truth, 00:39:25.279 --> 00:39:25.819 the gospel, 00:39:26.279 --> 00:39:27.440 just as it came to you 00:39:27.440 --> 00:39:28.719 as indeed in the whole world 00:39:28.719 --> 00:39:29.500 it is increasing 00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:30.319 and bearing fruit 00:39:30.319 --> 00:39:31.940 as it does amongst you 00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:33.440 since today you heard it 00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:34.019 and understood 00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:34.940 the grace of God 00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:35.960 in truth. 00:39:36.519 --> 00:39:37.759 This week as we go 00:39:37.760 --> 00:39:38.560 to work, 00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:40.140 as we go to our homes, 00:39:40.220 --> 00:39:41.020 as we travel, 00:39:41.120 --> 00:39:42.140 as we engage with business, 00:39:42.240 --> 00:39:43.380 as we engage with family 00:39:43.380 --> 00:39:44.600 and relatives 00:39:44.600 --> 00:39:45.460 and parents, 00:39:45.900 --> 00:39:46.940 let us ask God 00:39:46.940 --> 00:39:48.300 to drive the wonder 00:39:48.300 --> 00:39:49.380 of who Christ is, 00:39:49.900 --> 00:39:51.200 the ugliness of our own sin 00:39:51.200 --> 00:39:52.220 and the wonder of Jesus. 00:39:52.380 --> 00:39:53.300 Let us ask Christ 00:39:53.300 --> 00:39:54.580 to drive that deeper 00:39:54.580 --> 00:39:55.440 into our hearts 00:39:55.440 --> 00:39:56.960 and who He is 00:39:56.960 --> 00:39:57.900 and what He came to do 00:39:57.900 --> 00:39:58.980 that we will bear fruit 00:39:58.980 --> 00:40:00.400 in every good work. 00:40:00.760 --> 00:40:01.880 Let's pray together. 00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:16.160 I want to pray for us 00:40:16.160 --> 00:40:19.120 that both as individuals 00:40:19.120 --> 00:40:20.180 and as a church 00:40:20.180 --> 00:40:22.820 that the gospel 00:40:22.820 --> 00:40:23.580 will get deeper 00:40:23.580 --> 00:40:24.240 into our hearts. 00:40:25.300 --> 00:40:26.480 The horror of sin 00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:27.640 and the wonder of Jesus, 00:40:28.220 --> 00:40:29.300 what God is doing 00:40:29.300 --> 00:40:29.900 in the world, 00:40:30.820 --> 00:40:31.840 the power of Christ 00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:33.180 who triumphed over sin. 00:40:33.179 --> 00:40:36.819 I want to pray 00:40:36.819 --> 00:40:37.679 that this gets deeper 00:40:37.679 --> 00:40:38.179 into our hearts 00:40:38.179 --> 00:40:39.039 but I want to ask you 00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:40.059 to pray with me. 00:40:41.139 --> 00:40:41.679 I want to ask you 00:40:41.679 --> 00:40:42.659 to pray for yourself. 00:40:44.699 --> 00:40:45.799 Maybe it's been 00:40:45.799 --> 00:40:46.539 a long time 00:40:46.539 --> 00:40:47.219 since you 00:40:47.219 --> 00:40:49.319 were brought to your knees 00:40:49.319 --> 00:40:50.179 and in awe 00:40:50.179 --> 00:40:51.399 of who Christ is 00:40:51.399 --> 00:40:52.000 and what He's done 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:52.500 in the world. 00:40:53.819 --> 00:40:54.779 Maybe you've become 00:40:54.779 --> 00:40:55.460 blasé 00:40:55.460 --> 00:40:56.239 and familiar 00:40:56.239 --> 00:40:57.039 with Jesus 00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:58.980 and the gospel. 00:40:59.099 --> 00:41:00.279 Even that word gospel 00:41:00.279 --> 00:41:01.679 might become 00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:02.639 just so familiar. 00:41:03.179 --> 00:41:06.460 Friends, 00:41:06.519 --> 00:41:07.399 when was the last time 00:41:07.399 --> 00:41:08.019 we were brought 00:41:08.019 --> 00:41:08.719 to our knees? 00:41:09.819 --> 00:41:10.679 When was the last time 00:41:10.679 --> 00:41:11.460 we had tears 00:41:11.460 --> 00:41:14.179 rolling down our face 00:41:14.179 --> 00:41:15.339 at the 00:41:15.339 --> 00:41:18.739 incredible thing 00:41:18.739 --> 00:41:19.859 of the cross 00:41:19.859 --> 00:41:20.779 and what Jesus did 00:41:20.779 --> 00:41:21.519 and who He is? 00:41:26.519 --> 00:41:27.239 Father God, 00:41:27.299 --> 00:41:28.159 I pray that You'll 00:41:28.159 --> 00:41:29.119 deliver us 00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:30.059 from becoming 00:41:30.059 --> 00:41:30.779 familiar 00:41:30.779 --> 00:41:31.679 and blasé. 00:41:33.179 --> 00:41:33.799 God, 00:41:33.859 --> 00:41:34.199 I pray 00:41:34.199 --> 00:41:34.739 won't You 00:41:34.739 --> 00:41:36.219 deliver us 00:41:36.219 --> 00:41:37.139 from thinking 00:41:37.139 --> 00:41:38.839 that the gospel 00:41:38.839 --> 00:41:39.779 is for once upon 00:41:39.779 --> 00:41:40.239 a time 00:41:40.239 --> 00:41:40.799 but now 00:41:40.799 --> 00:41:41.480 we've got to 00:41:41.480 --> 00:41:42.259 by our own 00:41:42.259 --> 00:41:42.799 effort 00:41:42.799 --> 00:41:44.279 grow God. 00:41:44.339 --> 00:41:44.779 Won't You 00:41:44.779 --> 00:41:45.500 drive 00:41:45.500 --> 00:41:47.079 the wonder 00:41:47.079 --> 00:41:48.019 of who Christ is 00:41:48.019 --> 00:41:48.799 and the power 00:41:48.799 --> 00:41:49.579 of God 00:41:49.579 --> 00:41:50.819 deep into our hearts 00:41:50.820 --> 00:41:51.100 God? 00:41:56.780 --> 00:41:57.140 Father, 00:41:57.200 --> 00:41:57.680 as a church 00:41:57.680 --> 00:41:58.200 we want to be 00:41:58.200 --> 00:41:58.539 a church 00:41:58.539 --> 00:41:58.860 that is 00:41:58.860 --> 00:41:59.640 bearing fruit 00:41:59.640 --> 00:42:00.059 for You 00:42:00.059 --> 00:42:01.780 that people 00:42:01.780 --> 00:42:02.160 can see 00:42:02.160 --> 00:42:02.680 the difference 00:42:02.680 --> 00:42:03.360 and the impact 00:42:03.360 --> 00:42:04.100 in our lives. 00:42:05.840 --> 00:42:06.820 We ask You 00:42:06.820 --> 00:42:07.260 God, 00:42:07.380 --> 00:42:07.559 won't You 00:42:07.559 --> 00:42:07.960 give us 00:42:07.960 --> 00:42:08.620 Your Holy Spirit 00:42:08.620 --> 00:42:09.180 to do that 00:42:09.180 --> 00:42:09.440 Lord? 00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:11.480 Won't You 00:42:11.480 --> 00:42:12.039 fill us 00:42:12.039 --> 00:42:12.680 with the knowledge 00:42:12.680 --> 00:42:13.160 of Your will? 00:42:13.220 --> 00:42:13.519 Won't You 00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:14.019 give us 00:42:14.019 --> 00:42:14.480 the spirit 00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:14.880 of wisdom 00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:15.519 and understanding? 00:42:15.660 --> 00:42:15.920 Won't You 00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:16.400 give us 00:42:16.400 --> 00:42:17.440 a gospel 00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:18.180 framework 00:42:18.180 --> 00:42:18.780 and paradigm 00:42:18.780 --> 00:42:19.200 God? 00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:21.019 To live out 00:42:21.019 --> 00:42:21.420 our lives 00:42:21.420 --> 00:42:22.460 pleasing for You 00:42:22.460 --> 00:42:24.240 and bearing 00:42:24.240 --> 00:42:24.840 fruit for Your 00:42:24.840 --> 00:42:25.240 glory. 00:42:29.380 --> 00:42:30.079 Father God, 00:42:30.139 --> 00:42:30.380 won't You 00:42:30.380 --> 00:42:31.019 dismantle 00:42:31.019 --> 00:42:31.519 the idols 00:42:31.519 --> 00:42:32.099 in our life? 00:42:33.059 --> 00:42:33.420 The things 00:42:33.420 --> 00:42:33.860 we hope 00:42:33.860 --> 00:42:34.420 and trust 00:42:34.420 --> 00:42:34.660 in 00:42:34.660 --> 00:42:36.240 rather than You? 00:42:37.139 --> 00:42:37.460 Won't You 00:42:37.460 --> 00:42:38.180 destroy them? 00:42:41.019 --> 00:42:41.579 Won't You 00:42:41.579 --> 00:42:41.820 God, 00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:42.380 come and open 00:42:42.380 --> 00:42:42.800 our eyes 00:42:42.800 --> 00:42:43.119 to see 00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:43.579 the wonder 00:42:43.579 --> 00:42:44.200 of Christ? 00:42:47.380 --> 00:42:47.740 Friends, 00:42:47.860 --> 00:42:48.820 if you're 00:42:48.820 --> 00:42:49.260 in the place 00:42:49.260 --> 00:42:49.639 where you 00:42:49.639 --> 00:42:51.260 just are 00:42:51.260 --> 00:42:51.700 a bit too 00:42:51.700 --> 00:42:52.180 familiar 00:42:52.180 --> 00:42:53.619 or a bit 00:42:53.619 --> 00:42:54.420 blasé about 00:42:54.420 --> 00:42:54.660 God, 00:42:54.720 --> 00:42:55.180 why don't you 00:42:55.180 --> 00:42:55.599 ask God 00:42:55.599 --> 00:42:56.019 to do that 00:42:56.019 --> 00:42:56.280 in your own 00:42:56.280 --> 00:42:56.539 heart? 00:42:57.420 --> 00:42:57.960 Ask God 00:42:57.960 --> 00:42:58.579 to get a hold 00:42:58.579 --> 00:42:59.059 of you again. 00:42:59.180 --> 00:42:59.539 Ask God 00:42:59.539 --> 00:43:00.119 to break 00:43:00.119 --> 00:43:00.619 your heart. 00:43:01.720 --> 00:43:02.099 Ask God 00:43:02.099 --> 00:43:02.519 to bring 00:43:02.519 --> 00:43:02.780 you to 00:43:02.780 --> 00:43:03.300 your knees. 00:43:11.639 --> 00:43:12.320 Holy Spirit 00:43:12.320 --> 00:43:12.740 asks you 00:43:12.740 --> 00:43:13.039 to come 00:43:13.039 --> 00:43:13.340 and do 00:43:13.340 --> 00:43:13.680 that. 00:43:15.139 --> 00:43:15.619 Come and 00:43:15.619 --> 00:43:15.840 do that 00:43:15.840 --> 00:43:16.200 for all 00:43:16.200 --> 00:43:16.539 of us 00:43:16.539 --> 00:43:16.820 God.