WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.439 This happens really naturally in some cases. 00:00:02.620 --> 00:00:09.179 If you're in the Army and you meet someone, you are a private first class or corporal or major or general. 00:00:10.200 --> 00:00:11.380 I've not been in the Army. 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:13.359 Some of you know better than I, right? 00:00:13.700 --> 00:00:19.280 But I know in the academic world, well, I'm a 1L at the law school. 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:22.800 Some of us don't even know what a 1L is, but that's a designation. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:26.160 If you're in the law school, it just means, okay, now I know where you fit. 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:26.839 Now I know. 00:00:26.839 --> 00:00:30.939 In the medical system, I'm a second-year medical student. 00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:32.240 I'm a first-year resident. 00:00:32.380 --> 00:00:33.359 I'm a chief resident. 00:00:33.700 --> 00:00:34.500 I'm a fellow. 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:35.480 I'm a super fellow. 00:00:35.659 --> 00:00:36.840 I'm an extra super fellow. 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:38.359 I don't know what all the titles are. 00:00:39.060 --> 00:00:43.299 But there are all these places, right, that sort of say this is who we are. 00:00:43.780 --> 00:00:49.980 And there are some of those cultures where it's very stratified and very clear, right? 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:53.960 But when you walk into a social setting, what does it look like? 00:00:53.960 --> 00:01:04.040 I think in our culture, it's often that we gravitate towards what we do or what achievements 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:05.019 we've had. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:07.060 But you know what? 00:01:07.219 --> 00:01:08.700 That hasn't always been true. 00:01:09.900 --> 00:01:15.060 There are times past, and even other cultures today, where the most important thing to introduce 00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:20.960 yourself is, you know, I'm Duncan McLeod from the Clan McLeod, if you've ever seen, you know. 00:01:21.100 --> 00:01:23.480 Anyway, that's a cultural reference. 00:01:23.600 --> 00:01:25.100 If you missed it, just let it go by. 00:01:26.240 --> 00:01:28.219 You're introducing, this is my father. 00:01:28.520 --> 00:01:30.439 You know, I'm a part of this family. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:33.099 And that's how you introduce yourself. 00:01:33.180 --> 00:01:34.180 I'm from this family. 00:01:34.180 --> 00:01:39.140 At some time in history, you would just say, I'm from this town. 00:01:39.620 --> 00:01:44.060 I've noticed that people who've lived in Connecticut all their lives say that. 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:45.300 I'm from Bridgeport. 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:46.280 I'm from New Haven. 00:01:46.580 --> 00:01:47.640 I'm from West Haven. 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:52.420 For some of us who are from outside, we're like, West Haven to New Haven, isn't that like 00:01:52.420 --> 00:01:53.140 really close? 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:54.020 No. 00:01:54.940 --> 00:01:57.240 They are different towns and different. 00:01:57.239 --> 00:02:00.199 And it means something to say that's where you're from. 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:13.299 All this to say that who we are, these dynamics of how we introduce ourselves and who we are 00:02:13.299 --> 00:02:22.240 expose a question of our own sense of identity and our desire and longing for a place of belonging 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:23.280 in this world. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:30.300 Of course, we recognize that sometimes we don't feel like we belong. 00:02:30.860 --> 00:02:35.699 And we don't really know who we are or how we fit in, do we? 00:02:36.460 --> 00:02:43.300 I remember I worked with, this is a fairly trivial instance, but I used to work in campus ministry 00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:43.920 over at Yale. 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:47.120 And I worked for an organization called CRU, Campus Crusade for Christ. 00:02:47.259 --> 00:02:48.199 It's a great organization. 00:02:48.360 --> 00:02:48.699 Loved it. 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:52.020 Mostly, it's big in the South and the Midwest. 00:02:52.020 --> 00:02:53.840 It's not so big in the Northeast. 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:58.740 And so I went to my national staff training in 1996. 00:02:59.160 --> 00:03:01.420 I went to the national staff training. 00:03:01.640 --> 00:03:05.020 And there was a handful of us from the Northeast, right? 00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:08.760 And then there were hundreds of people from other parts of the country. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:10.900 And I was at that point from Rhode Island. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:12.320 And I kept introducing myself. 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:13.020 Like, hi, I'm Matt. 00:03:13.060 --> 00:03:13.840 I'm from Rhode Island. 00:03:13.939 --> 00:03:16.800 And people would nod and smile and say, okay. 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:19.580 Like, they didn't even know where it was. 00:03:19.760 --> 00:03:22.580 And then I met this girl from Idaho. 00:03:23.020 --> 00:03:29.040 And we had this deep moment of commiseration about, oh, you're also from a state that nobody 00:03:29.040 --> 00:03:30.120 knows where it is. 00:03:32.260 --> 00:03:36.439 Until she looked at me and said, but at least Rhode Island is an island. 00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:38.160 I mean, you can point to it on the map. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:45.099 And I didn't have the heart to say, Long Island is not the same place as Rhode Island. 00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:54.340 So I experienced it more profoundly the year after college. 00:03:54.500 --> 00:04:00.960 I graduated and I moved from suburban New Jersey and Princeton down to Trenton. 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:05.580 And I moved into a neighborhood that was primarily African American. 00:04:06.620 --> 00:04:10.760 And I was a white college boy, post-college boy. 00:04:10.900 --> 00:04:15.360 And I had a roommate who was from Spain and a roommate who was Asian American from Southern 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:15.900 California. 00:04:16.400 --> 00:04:17.579 And we lived together. 00:04:17.960 --> 00:04:23.000 And the first Saturday after we moved into our apartment, we decided to go out our door. 00:04:23.100 --> 00:04:24.740 We turned left and walked down the street. 00:04:24.740 --> 00:04:31.439 And it was quite an experience for us because we felt very much like, man, did we not belong? 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:38.699 And this was deeply embedded on us because after having walked for quite a while and met 00:04:38.699 --> 00:04:46.139 some very interesting people in our neighborhood, a police car pulled up and beckoned to us, hey, 00:04:46.220 --> 00:04:46.860 come talk to me. 00:04:46.900 --> 00:04:51.960 And the cop rolled down his window and he looked at us, what are you doing here? 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:55.279 And we were like, we moved into the neighborhood. 00:04:56.099 --> 00:04:57.519 This is where we live now. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:01.639 And the cop said, and the cop was Caucasian. 00:05:01.799 --> 00:05:04.079 So let's just be on, you know, above. 00:05:04.299 --> 00:05:09.339 He looked and said, I wouldn't walk down the street in daylight with a gun by myself. 00:05:09.539 --> 00:05:10.759 Do you want to ride home? 00:05:12.859 --> 00:05:14.679 And we said, no, no, no, it's okay. 00:05:14.859 --> 00:05:15.759 This is our neighborhood. 00:05:16.419 --> 00:05:20.859 And, you know, as I came to learn, if I were a cop, I might not walk down that street either. 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:28.100 Given the tension between the cops and the neighborhood, there were some reasons why the cop might have 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:29.280 been afraid of that neighborhood. 00:05:29.580 --> 00:05:31.780 But we actually made some friends in the neighborhood. 00:05:31.980 --> 00:05:37.199 And we found that there were ways for us to reach out and connect even though, but we stood 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:40.800 out so clearly as feeling like, man, we do not belong here. 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:45.860 And I wonder if you feel like that in your context, in your life. 00:05:45.860 --> 00:05:50.180 I wonder if you felt that sense of, where do I belong? 00:05:51.939 --> 00:05:58.220 We live in a political moment in our culture and in our nation where it's pretty easy to 00:05:58.220 --> 00:06:00.120 wonder, do I belong? 00:06:00.220 --> 00:06:05.699 Am I going to be accepted here because of my race, because of the country I come from, 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:06.879 because of my gender? 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:11.519 All of these questions seem to have been put on the national stage for us. 00:06:14.219 --> 00:06:15.180 Do I belong? 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:17.459 Will I be accepted here? 00:06:18.740 --> 00:06:25.379 Our passage today points us in some directions of what the Bible has to say to us about this. 00:06:25.719 --> 00:06:28.339 So go ahead and let's look at Ephesians together. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:29.680 We're going to read our passage. 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:33.860 I'm actually going to read the whole section, as Nick mentioned last week. 00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:37.800 Chapter 2, verse 11 through 22 is one section. 00:06:37.980 --> 00:06:40.960 We're taking two weeks to talk about it. 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:47.139 And actually, as we talk about it, just remind those of you who've been here and just to point 00:06:47.139 --> 00:06:49.780 out the flow of thought briefly for those of you who haven't. 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:54.580 Paul in chapter 1 writes this beautiful story, this beautiful picture. 00:06:54.960 --> 00:06:55.819 It's not a story. 00:06:55.900 --> 00:07:01.280 It's a beautiful picture describing all the richness of what God has done for his people 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:06.019 in salvation for Christians, all the things that God has done for us. 00:07:06.239 --> 00:07:10.219 And then in the second half, he prays that we would see this and that we would know this 00:07:10.219 --> 00:07:12.879 and that Jesus would be exalted in the middle of it. 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:16.439 And then in chapter 2, he goes back and he says, how did we get there? 00:07:16.559 --> 00:07:23.439 And he uses this pattern in chapters 1 through 10 of, you once were this, but now in Christ, 00:07:23.819 --> 00:07:25.079 God has made you this. 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:27.559 And that's a similar pattern that we see here. 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:35.579 You once were this, look at me and now I'll just, he said, you once were aliens and strangers 00:07:35.579 --> 00:07:37.540 outside of the people of God. 00:07:37.939 --> 00:07:44.180 But now because of what God has done in Christ, which Nick just beautifully pictured for us 00:07:44.180 --> 00:07:50.560 last week, what God has done for us in Christ is broken down the divisions of people so that 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:55.980 now those who are far off and those who are near can all come together in one new thing 00:07:55.980 --> 00:07:56.939 that God is making. 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:05.960 And this leads us to the passage that we're going to focus on tonight, verses 19 through 22. 00:08:05.960 --> 00:08:07.600 So let's read this together. 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:16.960 Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcision by what is called 00:08:16.960 --> 00:08:21.060 the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands. 00:08:21.400 --> 00:08:28.460 Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel 00:08:28.460 --> 00:08:34.440 and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:42.400 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:08:43.140 --> 00:08:49.440 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh, 00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:55.540 the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances 00:08:55.539 --> 00:09:01.799 that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two. 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:11.539 So making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 00:09:11.959 --> 00:09:17.179 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:22.259 For through him, we both have access in one spirit to the father. 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:31.659 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God 00:09:31.659 --> 00:09:38.120 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:44.179 in whom the whole structure being joined together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 00:09:44.179 --> 00:09:52.319 Lord, in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:57.439 Lord, we ask you that you would help us as we look into this word. 00:09:57.659 --> 00:10:00.839 Lord, to capture our hearts with the glory and the beauty of it, 00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:06.739 of the truth that it tells us about who we are because of what you have done. 00:10:07.839 --> 00:10:10.779 Lord, I pray you would help us to do this. 00:10:10.819 --> 00:10:12.659 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:12.799 Amen. 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:20.019 Well, as we look at this passage, we see that God has given us this new identity, 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:23.559 this new place in the world as being God's people. 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:28.439 And in this new identity, we find that there is a greater glory than we ever could imagine. 00:10:28.959 --> 00:10:31.659 There's a greater glory because we now belong. 00:10:32.199 --> 00:10:39.419 And there's a greater glory because of the sense of privilege that we have to play a particular role in God's world. 00:10:39.419 --> 00:10:40.939 And so this is what we're going to look at. 00:10:41.179 --> 00:10:45.319 First of all, the sense of God's belonging and then the sense of privilege and how that, 00:10:45.719 --> 00:10:47.779 the privilege of the role that God gives us. 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:52.879 So first of all, the glory that God gives us in sense of belonging. 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:56.579 One of the things you have a hard time seeing in your English translation, 00:10:56.580 --> 00:11:02.180 but it's really fun when you read, this is one of the times when reading Greek is actually really fun 00:11:02.180 --> 00:11:10.660 because six times there are words that are related to what is basically the word for house in Greek. 00:11:11.300 --> 00:11:11.320 Right? 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:12.100 Six times. 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:13.759 Verse 19, you see it. 00:11:14.259 --> 00:11:14.460 Right? 00:11:14.800 --> 00:11:16.820 You are members of the household of God. 00:11:16.820 --> 00:11:19.260 That's the most clear and evident one. 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:20.800 Six times. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:22.100 I only have five on my page. 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:23.160 Maybe it's only five. 00:11:23.460 --> 00:11:24.240 I might have missed one. 00:11:24.640 --> 00:11:26.000 I only have five in my notes. 00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:28.260 You skip down to verse 21. 00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:33.700 He talks about this whole structure, this whole structure of something. 00:11:34.140 --> 00:11:35.680 And that's another word for it. 00:11:35.800 --> 00:11:36.760 The whole household. 00:11:37.300 --> 00:11:37.460 Right? 00:11:37.640 --> 00:11:44.040 And the whole household is being made into a house or joined together is the word that you see in your English translation. 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:48.699 But it's being sort of merged into this house is the idea. 00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:52.839 And then verse 22, it says again, this is, this is, we're being built together. 00:11:52.839 --> 00:11:57.199 That is becoming a household together to be a dwelling place. 00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:58.279 And that's the last one. 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:02.559 To be a place where the house where someone dwells. 00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:13.519 And in all of this language, what Paul is saying is the great place of belonging for this new person is that you are now in the household of God. 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:14.439 Okay. 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:17.559 What does that mean? 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:24.620 Well, if you are a Roman in the first century, you would have an idea of this in their culture. 00:12:24.959 --> 00:12:26.779 A household was a much bigger concept. 00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:30.559 Not just a nuclear family, but a much broader concept. 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:31.399 Right? 00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:33.079 Where there was a head of the household. 00:12:33.339 --> 00:12:38.419 And under that head, people lived in his care. 00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:42.199 And it obviously meant his spouse, his children. 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:44.679 It likely meant his parents. 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:49.000 It may have very well meant an extended family, uncles, aunts, cousins. 00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:50.919 It meant servants. 00:12:51.579 --> 00:12:54.159 Even slaves were a part of the household. 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:57.059 One commentator says it like this. 00:12:57.059 --> 00:13:04.119 In the Roman world of the day, to be a member of a household meant refuge and protection. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:13.139 As much as the master provided, it also meant identity and gave security that came from a sense of belonging. 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:19.379 And so, whether you were a spouse, a child, or a servant. 00:13:19.699 --> 00:13:22.960 If you met someone on the street and they say, who are you? 00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:24.659 You know what their answer would be? 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:27.519 Oh, well, I'm from the household of Paulus. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:29.500 I'm from the household of Stephanus. 00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:31.779 I'm from the household of Joe Schmo. 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:32.559 You know? 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.500 Whatever it was. 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:36.779 Your household gave you an identity. 00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:43.039 It said, this is where I belong in this society. 00:13:43.439 --> 00:13:44.740 This is who I am. 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:55.100 And what Paul is reminding us tonight is that the amazing thing of what God has done for his people in Christ 00:13:55.100 --> 00:14:00.799 is that he has made them, he has brought them in to say, you are part of my household. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:10.179 I am the master who's taking responsibility for your protection, for your provision, for your identity, and for your belonging in the world. 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:13.120 You are now under me. 00:14:13.299 --> 00:14:16.579 And this would have been amazing news to the Gentiles. 00:14:16.979 --> 00:14:22.359 I don't want to rehash what Nick said last week, but as a Gentile, you were outside of all these things. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:25.679 And the Jews looked at you and said, ew, ick. 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:29.039 You do all those detestable things. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:34.299 And the Gentiles looked at the Jews and said, y'all are weird. 00:14:37.059 --> 00:14:40.259 And I don't know what you do, but I don't want to be a part of that. 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:47.139 And then the gospel comes, and it begins to bring these people together in an amazing way. 00:14:48.079 --> 00:14:54.740 And if you were the Gentile, and you were living in Jerusalem, and you looked at this physical temple that was in the middle, 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:59.679 that said, oh, to be a part of the people of God is centered around this building. 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:04.939 And you were a Gentile, you knew that you could stay at the outer edges, but you could never go in. 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:07.719 You could never go into the inner sanctum. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:10.599 You could never truly belong to God. 00:15:10.839 --> 00:15:13.199 Because there were walls and doors. 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:18.819 And behind those, there were laws and prescriptions and prohibitions. 00:15:19.079 --> 00:15:21.239 Said you could never go in there. 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:28.200 And again, go back and listen to Nick's sermon. 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:33.919 But what God has done in Christ is said, those walls are gone. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:35.440 The prohibitions are gone. 00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:44.399 Now, the ick, ew people, and the why would I want to be a part of you people are now brought together into this one thing. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:47.179 And God says, this is my household. 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:50.799 These are the people whom I love. 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:56.279 So what does this mean for us? 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:59.139 Well, first of all, it means there's a glory in belonging. 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:04.819 Friends, there are no green cards and no visas in the kingdom of God. 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:09.639 In Christ, you are brought into full citizenship. 00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:13.620 There are no stepsisters and stepbrothers. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:19.699 You are fully brought in and integrated into the family of God. 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:23.240 This is now my family under one God. 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:28.340 Okay, and here's the crazy thing. 00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:29.179 Look around. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:31.919 This is it. 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.679 These are the people. 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:38.980 It's not some ideal group out there that you can imagine in your head. 00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:44.920 It's not some group of people that meet somewhere else that maybe you've seen on TV. 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:52.139 The household of God that he's called you to is us tonight. 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.440 This group of people. 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:55.680 This group of people in this city. 00:16:56.800 --> 00:17:03.420 And it's an incredible thing that God wants us to treat with great value. 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:06.420 He wants us to love the church, 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:09.600 which means loving one another and saying, 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:12.279 these are the people whom Christ died for. 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:18.180 These are the people that God broke down the dividing wall between sinful men and God 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:22.360 and then between one another so that he might bring us together 00:17:22.360 --> 00:17:27.720 into this one beautiful, diverse, crazy family. 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:34.000 It's not easy to do. 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:37.200 Jesus recognizes this and says, 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:39.839 there's a cost to following Jesus. 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:44.579 It may mean leaving all of your other identities behind. 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:47.440 Leaving behind your family. 00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:51.279 Leaving behind your worldly success and ambition. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.960 It might cost you that. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.819 But he says, 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:57.440 what you find in the church is a hundredfold. 00:17:58.500 --> 00:18:01.019 The riches of being with God's people. 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:06.660 All those other identities, 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:07.779 the little excursus. 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:09.840 It's not like you lose them completely. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.539 You don't stop being a woman. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.120 Or you don't stop being Caucasian. 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:15.380 Or you don't stop being from Poughkeepsie. 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.480 Or whatever it is. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:20.180 Those things are not lost, 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:21.960 but they are relativized. 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:23.799 Or they are brought into. 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:24.440 And in fact, 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:28.400 they find the fullness of their expression and richness 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:36.019 in being in Christ and in the family of God. 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:40.960 When we see that being in Christ becomes the foundational identity, 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:44.240 all of those other things make more sense to us. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:47.700 And we are able to live in them and out of them 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:49.180 towards one another 00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:54.059 in ways that we sometimes struggle to apart from that. 00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:04.259 How can we look at one another 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:06.819 and value one another as a family? 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:09.839 Think about how we can honor one another. 00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:11.220 You know, 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.220 as I said earlier, 00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:14.380 our culture often deals with identity 00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:17.460 in terms of performance and role. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:17.940 Like, 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.660 what's my job? 00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.440 That sort of thing. 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:22.100 But recognize that that's not true for everyone. 00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:26.360 So how do we think about how we address one another? 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:27.420 Oh, 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:27.920 who are you? 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.940 Where's your place on the pecking order? 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:30.720 No, 00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:31.480 who are you? 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:33.299 How has God made you to be? 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:35.240 What has God done in your life? 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:37.600 One of the ways that we honor one another 00:19:37.600 --> 00:19:39.039 in the family of God 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:40.220 is by simply saying, 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:40.720 hey, 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:42.940 how has God worked in your life? 00:19:43.379 --> 00:19:45.059 As the first thing I want to know 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:46.039 about one another. 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:48.379 It's the first thing I want to know about you. 00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:50.259 How has God worked in your life? 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:53.480 It's fun to know all those other things. 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.639 What football team do you like 00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:55.480 and where are you from? 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:59.420 And as we get to know one another, 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.079 it would be much deeper. 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:00.539 Wow, 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.940 what does it look like 00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:03.980 through the lens of your particular makeup 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:05.599 and all the richness of it 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:07.559 to be a follower of Christ? 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:09.259 How have you used that? 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:11.940 How can I learn from you about that? 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:14.920 But as we honor one another, 00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:16.960 we're not threatened by one another. 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:19.019 We're not afraid of one another. 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:23.099 And we actually see God use us 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:24.500 in one another's lives 00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.599 in beautiful ways. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:28.240 And that's part of what God has called us to 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:30.000 as we recognize that 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.879 as we have this sense of belonging 00:20:31.879 --> 00:20:32.940 in God's family, 00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:34.460 he then invites us 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:36.299 to take hold of this 00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:37.279 and to value it 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:39.400 and to love the church well. 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:43.460 Maybe some of you are here tonight 00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:44.039 and you think, 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:46.039 I've tried the church thing 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.839 and I don't fit. 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:49.099 I don't fit in very well. 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.240 Well, 00:20:51.379 --> 00:20:52.980 I have two things to say to you. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:53.319 One, 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:55.919 the church has a long way to go 00:20:55.919 --> 00:20:57.399 in living this out. 00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:59.259 It's not always perfect. 00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:01.259 And I want to acknowledge that. 00:21:02.139 --> 00:21:03.720 And I want to say it's not good 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.819 and it's not right 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:06.879 when we don't accept one another 00:21:06.879 --> 00:21:07.819 within the church 00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:10.019 for reasons 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:12.399 that have nothing to do with 00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:14.559 being a part of God's family or not. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:18.019 But let me also say this more profoundly 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:20.039 because I think this is what Paul is saying to us 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.659 in Ephesians. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.240 He said, 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:23.339 if you think you don't fit in the church, 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.720 you're wrong. 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.419 You do fit. 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.440 If you are in Christ, 00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:30.079 God has called you 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:31.779 to be a part of the church. 00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:33.279 Don't forsake it. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:35.220 Don't give up on it. 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:36.619 Keep pursuing it 00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:38.440 because God has called you 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:40.000 to be a part of his household. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:42.380 and his household is experienced 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.980 in this age 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:45.079 in the church. 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.819 So love it 00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.619 and give up 00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:49.079 and don't give up on it. 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:53.140 But this passage goes on 00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:54.140 and not only does he 00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:56.180 address this sense of belonging 00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:56.680 by saying, 00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.200 yes, 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.079 you belong 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.039 in Christ. 00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:00.539 You belong 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:02.539 because you've now been brought 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.500 into God's household. 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:05.960 But he makes this amazing thing, 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:08.319 this amazing argument 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.119 where he says, 00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.460 now I have brought 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:11.559 the Jews in 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:13.059 with the Gentiles, 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:14.259 or the Gentiles in 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.980 with the Jews 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:16.779 to play a particular role 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.480 in the church. 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:20.000 And I want to talk 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.599 really briefly 00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.440 about this history 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.839 just to put it together. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.079 Because 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.700 when you read 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.779 through the Old Testament, 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.420 right, 00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:28.839 you see God making 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:29.819 a special promise 00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:31.220 to a special group of people 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.660 to say, 00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:33.039 I'm going to bless you 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:34.180 and make you a great nation 00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:35.240 and you will be my people 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:36.339 and I will be your God. 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:38.000 Now his purpose 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.159 has always been broader 00:22:39.159 --> 00:22:39.559 than that 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.119 because he says, 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.379 I will make you a nation, 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.379 I will lift you up 00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:43.019 to be a light 00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:43.799 to the nations 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:45.259 so that the whole world 00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:46.379 might know who I am 00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:47.500 and might turn back to me. 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.579 That's throughout 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.480 the Old Testament. 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.940 But it's not that hard 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:53.240 to read the Old Testament 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.019 and to think, 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:54.700 man, 00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:55.539 being Jewish 00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:56.119 is really, 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:56.879 really special. 00:22:57.619 --> 00:22:59.019 And if I'm not Jewish, 00:22:59.420 --> 00:22:59.680 man, 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.500 I feel like I am 00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.279 the outside 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.819 on the outside of this. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:07.319 And so, 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:08.599 in this argument, 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.359 Paul says, 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.259 look, 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:13.819 God is bringing together 00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:14.599 this new work. 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:16.420 You who once were alien, 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.639 foreigners and strangers, 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:19.079 what's the language 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:20.019 he uses in this? 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.619 It's translated differently 00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:22.019 in different, 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:24.659 you are strangers 00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:25.440 and aliens. 00:23:25.659 --> 00:23:26.779 You aren't welcome. 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:28.339 You aren't from here. 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.720 You who used to be 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.500 those people. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.700 You are now brought in. 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:35.000 You are fellow citizens. 00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.519 You are members 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.220 of the household. 00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:38.319 But then he goes on. 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.440 Verse 20, 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.140 you are built 00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:43.100 on the foundation 00:23:43.100 --> 00:23:44.000 of the apostles 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.900 and the prophets. 00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:45.819 He's saying, 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.740 this people, 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:47.380 you, 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.640 we as Gentiles, 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.500 I'm assuming almost 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.640 all of us are Gentiles here, 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:52.259 we now have been brought 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:52.920 into something 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:54.319 that's a much bigger river 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.539 than we've ever imagined. 00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:56.539 It's not just, 00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.339 now I love Jesus 00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:58.119 and now I know God 00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:58.679 and that's great. 00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.879 But I'm a part of this 00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:01.199 whole sweep of history 00:24:01.199 --> 00:24:02.939 where the prophets 00:24:02.939 --> 00:24:04.439 beforehand talked about 00:24:04.439 --> 00:24:05.599 what does it mean 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:06.459 that there is a God 00:24:06.459 --> 00:24:06.939 in the world 00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:07.679 who is calling 00:24:07.679 --> 00:24:08.959 a people to himself 00:24:08.959 --> 00:24:09.799 from every tribe 00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.619 and tongue and nation. 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.259 And God did this 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:14.439 through the whole Old Testament 00:24:14.439 --> 00:24:15.819 and in the whole Old Testament 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.119 the prophets speak 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.799 of this God 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.639 and this salvation 00:24:18.639 --> 00:24:20.079 and how he's going to do it 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:20.720 in beautiful 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.919 and wonderful ways. 00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:24.339 And we as Gentiles 00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:24.819 ought to have 00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:26.119 a great sense of privilege. 00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:27.599 I can't believe 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.719 that I get to be 00:24:28.719 --> 00:24:29.459 a part of this. 00:24:29.659 --> 00:24:30.899 It's like marrying 00:24:30.899 --> 00:24:31.699 Prince Harry. 00:24:32.139 --> 00:24:33.579 I get to be a part 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:35.059 of the royal household 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:38.299 of the British Empire. 00:24:39.679 --> 00:24:41.119 Yet so much better 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:41.659 than that. 00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:46.000 So he says that, 00:24:46.459 --> 00:24:48.459 look, not only are we 00:24:48.459 --> 00:24:50.619 standing on the shoulders 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:52.479 of Peter and John 00:24:52.479 --> 00:24:53.259 and Paul, 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.399 but we're standing 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:54.980 on the shoulders 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:56.200 of Abraham and Moses 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:58.040 and David as well. 00:24:58.860 --> 00:24:59.960 And the beautiful thing 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:01.580 of this sense of privilege 00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:02.320 of being a part 00:25:02.320 --> 00:25:03.620 of God's people 00:25:03.620 --> 00:25:05.220 is that it's not something 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:07.140 that we can really think 00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:08.480 highly of ourselves about. 00:25:09.040 --> 00:25:10.380 Because we just heard, 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.000 if you've been here 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.440 for a while, 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:12.200 we've just heard 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:13.720 in Ephesians 2, 8 and 9 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:16.000 that our entrance into this 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.960 is by grace, 00:25:17.040 --> 00:25:17.800 through faith, 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.280 not of yourselves, 00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:21.320 not of works, 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.879 so that no one may boast. 00:25:23.679 --> 00:25:24.879 The thing that should 00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:26.659 characterize the sense 00:25:26.659 --> 00:25:27.720 of privilege we have 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.179 as Christians 00:25:28.179 --> 00:25:29.339 to be God's people 00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:30.659 is humility 00:25:30.659 --> 00:25:32.299 that God would save 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:33.319 people like us. 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:36.119 Not self-righteousness, 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.859 not triumphalism, 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:39.460 not condemnation, 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.379 but humility 00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:42.799 that God would save 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.220 something like us. 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:46.579 and then 00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:48.559 he ratchets it up 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.120 one more 00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:50.120 in verse 20 00:25:50.120 --> 00:25:51.819 and he, 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:53.500 sorry, 00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:54.259 in verse 21 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:56.100 and he says, 00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:57.140 not only this, 00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:59.279 but we've inherited 00:25:59.279 --> 00:25:59.980 the purpose 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.960 that God had 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.680 for his people 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.860 throughout all history. 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.980 Think back. 00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:07.079 When Moses 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.339 was leading the people 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:10.039 out of Egypt 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:11.259 and out of slavery 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:12.440 and as God 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.200 was ordering 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:13.940 the people 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:15.680 and as they camped, 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.319 in the center 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:16.920 of the camp 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:17.620 there was what? 00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.580 A tabernacle. 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.799 It was a big tent 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.640 and in the center 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:21.240 of the tent 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.740 what was there? 00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:24.380 There was a special place 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:25.180 and do you know 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.960 what dwelt there? 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:28.220 The very glory of God. 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:30.180 God himself 00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:33.180 expressed his presence 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:34.779 among his people 00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:36.680 in a tangible way 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:40.220 so that the whole nation 00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:40.819 would know 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.940 as much as the 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:44.080 so that all the nations 00:26:44.080 --> 00:26:45.340 but the nation of people 00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:46.120 that his people 00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:46.620 would know 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:47.920 I am in your midst 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:49.220 and I will dwell 00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:49.840 among you. 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.259 And then hundreds 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:51.940 of years later 00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:52.600 when they finally 00:26:52.600 --> 00:26:53.660 moved into Jerusalem 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.740 and established 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.340 the capital 00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:56.360 and built in the center 00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:57.039 of it a temple 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:58.039 and in the center 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.640 of the temple 00:26:58.640 --> 00:26:59.779 with all the barriers 00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:01.380 there was a holy of holies 00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:02.799 and in that holy of holies 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:04.600 the glory of God 00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.140 descended. 00:27:06.100 --> 00:27:07.200 First Chronicles 7. 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.059 Look it up. 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:10.139 And one of the most 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:11.779 tragic moments 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:13.019 in the whole Old Testament 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.720 is in Ezekiel 10 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:16.000 where the prophet Ezekiel 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.019 has a vision 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:18.139 of the temple 00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:19.579 and the glory of God 00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.379 departing 00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:21.679 from his people 00:27:21.679 --> 00:27:24.039 and leaving them. 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.639 And it leaves 00:27:26.639 --> 00:27:27.720 the Old Testament 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:29.200 with this great cliffhanger. 00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.599 Where is God 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:32.319 going to show himself 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.619 to be among his people? 00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:37.399 Look at verse 21 00:27:37.399 --> 00:27:38.199 with me again. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.639 In whom 00:27:41.639 --> 00:27:43.239 the whole structure 00:27:43.239 --> 00:27:45.479 being joined together 00:27:45.479 --> 00:27:46.500 grows into 00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:47.739 a holy temple 00:27:47.739 --> 00:27:49.779 in the Lord. 00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:51.579 In him 00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.459 you also 00:27:52.459 --> 00:27:54.319 are being built together 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.659 into a dwelling place 00:27:55.659 --> 00:27:56.399 for God 00:27:56.399 --> 00:27:58.219 by the Spirit. 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.579 Friends, 00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.679 not only are the people 00:28:02.679 --> 00:28:03.740 around you 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:07.220 the household of God 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:07.960 that you have been 00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.539 brought into 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.839 but the people 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:10.720 around you 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.779 us together 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:13.139 as we gather 00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:13.799 corporately 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:15.500 we are the dwelling 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.599 place of God 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.819 in this age. 00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:21.019 People say 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.699 where is God 00:28:21.699 --> 00:28:22.299 in the world? 00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:23.819 Do you know 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.679 where God dwells? 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.839 He dwells among 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.399 his people. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.960 He dwells actually 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:29.679 in his people. 00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:33.039 And he does this 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.960 by his Spirit. 00:28:34.439 --> 00:28:35.319 This is one of the 00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:36.579 incredible promises 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:38.039 of the new covenant era 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:39.039 of the time 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:40.059 post-Jesus 00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:41.799 is that God himself 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.519 will come 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:44.159 and indwell believers. 00:28:45.199 --> 00:28:46.539 And he indwells us 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.319 individually 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:48.699 and as we gather 00:28:48.699 --> 00:28:49.379 together 00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:51.299 the glory 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:51.980 that dwelt 00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.480 in the center 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.279 of the tabernacle 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:54.039 the glory 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:55.019 that lived 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:56.159 in the Holy of Holies 00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:57.199 is now meant 00:28:57.199 --> 00:28:58.259 to be seen 00:28:58.259 --> 00:29:00.319 burning in our hearts 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:02.460 and on display 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.539 as we gather 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.159 together 00:29:04.159 --> 00:29:05.359 in worship. 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:10.279 It is an incredible 00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:11.240 privilege 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:13.220 that we would be 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:15.759 the place 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:17.059 between now 00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:18.399 and what is to come 00:29:18.399 --> 00:29:20.779 where God is showing 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.399 his glory 00:29:21.399 --> 00:29:22.139 in this world. 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:25.840 And we know 00:29:25.840 --> 00:29:26.340 one day 00:29:26.340 --> 00:29:27.960 because Revelation 21 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.800 tells us this 00:29:28.800 --> 00:29:29.720 Revelation 21 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.380 1-5 00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:31.480 one of the most 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:32.360 important passages 00:29:32.360 --> 00:29:33.160 in all of scripture 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:34.180 talking about how 00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.940 one day God will 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.820 make everything new 00:29:35.820 --> 00:29:36.160 and there will be 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:36.820 no more tears 00:29:36.820 --> 00:29:37.180 and no more 00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:38.320 because a new heavens 00:29:38.320 --> 00:29:39.140 and a new earth 00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:39.740 will come down 00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.300 and God is going 00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:40.940 to bring it all 00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:41.400 together 00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:42.300 and there won't 00:29:42.300 --> 00:29:43.020 be the separation 00:29:43.020 --> 00:29:43.400 anymore 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:44.259 and in the middle 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:44.640 of it 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:45.420 the angels 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.060 announce 00:29:46.060 --> 00:29:47.620 now the dwelling 00:29:47.620 --> 00:29:49.100 place of God 00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:50.460 is with man 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:52.019 and in a way 00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.880 that I can't even 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:53.559 fathom 00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:54.380 God himself 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:55.680 is actually going 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:57.019 to live among us. 00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:00.240 The only parallel 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:00.700 I know 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.620 is what I could only 00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:02.559 imagine it was like 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.400 for Adam and Eve 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:04.559 when they walked 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.019 with God 00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:06.059 in the cool of the day 00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:07.140 but we know 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.220 that that will be true 00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:09.039 and that's the end 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.259 but in the meantime 00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:11.340 God has called 00:30:11.340 --> 00:30:12.120 his church 00:30:12.120 --> 00:30:13.680 to be the place 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:15.100 in which 00:30:15.100 --> 00:30:18.640 he shows 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:20.660 his presence 00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.800 in this world. 00:30:22.560 --> 00:30:23.300 This is the dwelling 00:30:23.300 --> 00:30:24.100 place of God 00:30:24.100 --> 00:30:25.480 and it is an incredible 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.040 privilege 00:30:26.040 --> 00:30:27.280 and an incredible 00:30:27.280 --> 00:30:28.660 thing 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.640 that God has done. 00:30:32.140 --> 00:30:32.960 So how are we 00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:34.020 to respond to this 00:30:34.020 --> 00:30:35.560 in closing? 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.320 First of all 00:30:37.320 --> 00:30:39.160 we should be 00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:39.660 in awe 00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.360 of this. 00:30:42.280 --> 00:30:43.080 You wake up 00:30:43.080 --> 00:30:43.500 in the morning 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.060 to think 00:30:44.060 --> 00:30:45.200 I'm a part 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.680 of the dwelling 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:46.340 place of God 00:30:46.340 --> 00:30:47.140 among this world. 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.300 Do you ever think 00:30:49.300 --> 00:30:49.500 that? 00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:50.000 I don't. 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:50.480 Usually 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.280 I'm like brushing 00:30:51.280 --> 00:30:51.660 my teeth. 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:52.300 You know 00:30:52.300 --> 00:30:54.600 but to stop 00:30:54.600 --> 00:30:55.060 and to think 00:30:55.060 --> 00:30:56.040 this is part 00:30:56.040 --> 00:30:56.560 of what God 00:30:56.560 --> 00:30:57.259 has called me 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:57.640 into 00:30:57.640 --> 00:30:58.080 when he's 00:30:58.080 --> 00:30:58.480 called me 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.240 into Christ. 00:31:01.280 --> 00:31:02.240 The awe 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.860 of that 00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:03.920 also comes 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.480 with a little 00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:04.900 bit of 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:05.759 fearsomeness 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.800 because the 00:31:06.800 --> 00:31:07.380 fearsomeness 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:07.700 of it 00:31:07.700 --> 00:31:08.160 is that 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:09.480 God has 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.240 called us 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:11.300 as the dwelling 00:31:11.300 --> 00:31:11.660 place 00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:13.360 to live 00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:13.759 in a way 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.500 that reflects 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.259 this God. 00:31:16.580 --> 00:31:17.440 In some ways 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:17.840 the book of 00:31:17.840 --> 00:31:18.299 Ephesians 00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:18.900 is a beautiful 00:31:18.900 --> 00:31:19.660 picture of it. 00:31:20.100 --> 00:31:20.440 The first 00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:21.039 three chapters 00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:21.519 are about 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.299 who we are 00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:22.920 what God 00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:23.340 has done 00:31:23.340 --> 00:31:24.120 for us 00:31:24.120 --> 00:31:24.480 and how 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:24.860 he has 00:31:24.860 --> 00:31:25.400 called us 00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.019 to be 00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:26.680 his people 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:28.320 and then 00:31:28.320 --> 00:31:29.440 in chapters 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.140 4-6 00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:30.539 he says 00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.180 okay now 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.500 that you 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:31.940 know who 00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:32.519 you are 00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:33.059 let me 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:33.400 tell you 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:33.720 how to 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.059 live. 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.299 So he's 00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:37.539 going to 00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:37.820 say 00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:39.440 church 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:40.080 live in 00:31:40.080 --> 00:31:40.480 unity 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.100 with one 00:31:41.100 --> 00:31:41.480 another. 00:31:42.320 --> 00:31:42.799 Church 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.820 grow in 00:31:43.820 --> 00:31:44.320 godliness 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:45.139 in grace. 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.019 Church 00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:46.720 learn how 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.299 to control 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.039 your tongue 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.839 and to 00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.399 curb your 00:31:49.399 --> 00:31:49.799 anger 00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:50.919 and how 00:31:50.919 --> 00:31:51.200 to be 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:51.799 kind 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.559 and gentle 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:54.740 to one 00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.039 another. 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.659 How to 00:31:55.659 --> 00:31:56.399 use words 00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:57.019 to build 00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.339 up 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:58.179 and not 00:31:58.179 --> 00:31:58.899 tear down. 00:31:59.220 --> 00:31:59.539 He's going 00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:00.119 to instruct 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:00.559 us on 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.159 how to 00:32:01.159 --> 00:32:01.579 live in 00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:02.079 our very 00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:02.599 core 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:03.319 relationships 00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:04.299 as husbands 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:05.139 and wives 00:32:05.139 --> 00:32:06.200 and parents 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:06.899 and children 00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:09.299 for the 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:09.819 glory of 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.220 God 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:11.679 that we 00:32:11.679 --> 00:32:12.119 would be 00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:12.759 his people 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.099 in a 00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:13.599 distinctive 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:14.179 way 00:32:14.179 --> 00:32:16.179 because 00:32:16.179 --> 00:32:17.399 God has 00:32:17.399 --> 00:32:18.339 called us 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:19.219 to be 00:32:19.219 --> 00:32:19.859 his special 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:20.339 people. 00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.579 That doesn't 00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:22.939 make us 00:32:22.939 --> 00:32:23.899 great but 00:32:23.899 --> 00:32:24.240 it does 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:24.759 put on us 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.139 a great 00:32:25.139 --> 00:32:25.839 obligation 00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:27.059 a great 00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.699 burden in 00:32:27.699 --> 00:32:28.279 some ways 00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:28.819 for us 00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:29.659 to live 00:32:29.659 --> 00:32:30.299 this out. 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:34.199 But friends 00:32:34.199 --> 00:32:34.799 this is the 00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:36.179 great joy 00:32:36.179 --> 00:32:37.099 is that 00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:39.139 in Christ 00:32:39.139 --> 00:32:39.719 God has 00:32:39.719 --> 00:32:40.199 brought us 00:32:40.199 --> 00:32:40.799 into his 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.259 household 00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:42.379 and he's 00:32:42.379 --> 00:32:42.959 made us 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.680 his dwelling 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.279 place. 00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:46.460 A membership 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:47.140 in God's 00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:47.799 family has 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.259 great 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:48.819 privileges 00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:50.160 and great 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:50.860 responsibility. 00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.120 Some of 00:32:55.120 --> 00:32:55.500 you who 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.180 have read 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:56.640 the passage 00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.079 carefully 00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:57.420 are like 00:32:57.420 --> 00:32:58.100 you missed 00:32:58.100 --> 00:32:58.480 the most 00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.160 important part. 00:32:59.539 --> 00:32:59.840 I didn't 00:32:59.840 --> 00:33:00.200 miss it. 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:00.620 I just 00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:00.980 left it 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.259 to the 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:01.500 end. 00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:02.500 The 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.079 foundation 00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:03.620 of this 00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:04.279 how do 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:04.579 we know 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:05.019 this is 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.259 true? 00:33:05.340 --> 00:33:05.620 Because 00:33:05.620 --> 00:33:05.960 it is 00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:06.360 built 00:33:06.360 --> 00:33:07.019 ultimately 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:08.180 on the 00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:08.940 cornerstone 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.460 of Jesus 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:09.880 Christ 00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:10.460 himself. 00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.460 When you 00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:12.880 lay a 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:13.559 cornerstone 00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:14.400 I'm not 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:14.759 a builder 00:33:14.759 --> 00:33:15.440 I've been 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:15.759 told 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.360 when you 00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:16.779 lay a 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.400 cornerstone 00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:17.860 the 00:33:17.860 --> 00:33:18.620 cornerstone 00:33:18.620 --> 00:33:19.340 sets the 00:33:19.340 --> 00:33:20.019 lines for 00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.480 the building 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.100 in every 00:33:21.100 --> 00:33:21.700 direction. 00:33:23.340 --> 00:33:23.840 If the 00:33:23.840 --> 00:33:24.320 cornerstone 00:33:24.320 --> 00:33:24.880 is level 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.600 the building 00:33:25.600 --> 00:33:25.960 will be 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.279 level. 00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:26.920 If the 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.380 cornerstone 00:33:27.380 --> 00:33:27.779 is set 00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:28.120 right 00:33:28.120 --> 00:33:28.880 the walls 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:29.200 will be 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:29.519 straight 00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.160 the angles 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:30.519 will be 00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:30.920 proper 00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:31.480 and the 00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:31.779 building 00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:32.160 will be 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:32.700 strong. 00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:35.779 Jesus 00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:36.380 Christ 00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:37.220 his life 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:37.819 his death 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:38.759 his resurrection 00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:40.059 his perfect 00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:40.819 obedience to 00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.360 the father 00:33:41.360 --> 00:33:42.400 his love 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:42.839 in saying 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:43.360 I will 00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:43.980 die for 00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:44.420 sinners 00:33:44.420 --> 00:33:45.180 in their 00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:45.700 place 00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.819 his resurrection 00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:47.319 from the 00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:47.480 dead 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.660 his victory 00:33:48.660 --> 00:33:49.559 over sin 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.039 and death 00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:51.279 is all 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:51.740 a work 00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:52.360 whereby 00:33:52.360 --> 00:33:53.339 he has 00:33:53.339 --> 00:33:53.839 won 00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:55.180 to himself 00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:56.680 a people 00:33:56.680 --> 00:33:59.579 and is 00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:00.059 grounded 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:00.940 in that 00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:03.220 and in 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:03.600 that we 00:34:03.600 --> 00:34:04.220 find our 00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:04.700 place of 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.140 belonging 00:34:05.140 --> 00:34:05.660 and we 00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:06.180 find our 00:34:06.180 --> 00:34:06.519 greatest 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.200 identity 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:08.420 and in 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:08.940 that 00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.480 in 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:09.900 Jesus 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:10.519 Christ 00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:13.139 we now 00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:13.500 have the 00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:13.740 most 00:34:13.740 --> 00:34:14.280 important 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:14.780 thing 00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:17.800 where we 00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:18.240 can live 00:34:18.240 --> 00:34:18.559 from 00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:19.079 and live 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.599 out of 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:21.139 so 00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.619 friends 00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.579 I hope 00:34:22.579 --> 00:34:22.760 you're 00:34:22.760 --> 00:34:23.260 encouraged 00:34:23.260 --> 00:34:23.720 tonight 00:34:23.720 --> 00:34:24.519 if you 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:24.960 have put 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:25.420 your faith 00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:26.039 in Christ 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:27.260 these 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:27.720 things are 00:34:27.720 --> 00:34:28.199 true of 00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:28.380 you 00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:29.199 you are 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:29.539 members 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:29.860 of the 00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.179 household 00:34:30.179 --> 00:34:30.699 of God 00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.440 you are 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:31.880 the dwelling 00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:32.280 place 00:34:32.280 --> 00:34:33.780 where God 00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:34.240 in his 00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:34.800 by his 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:35.139 spirit 00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:35.960 lives 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.539 in this 00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:36.960 world 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.480 to be 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:37.699 his 00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:38.179 agents 00:34:38.179 --> 00:34:38.760 to be 00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:39.220 the place 00:34:39.220 --> 00:34:39.519 where he 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:39.980 displays 00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.599 his glory 00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:42.720 and at 00:34:42.720 --> 00:34:43.099 the center 00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:43.380 of it 00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:43.780 all is 00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:44.119 Jesus 00:34:44.119 --> 00:34:45.380 and so 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:45.740 let us 00:34:45.740 --> 00:34:46.139 continue 00:34:46.139 --> 00:34:46.619 to make 00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:46.920 him 00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:47.400 the center 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:48.159 of all 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:48.559 that we 00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:48.980 are 00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:51.579 for his 00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:51.880 glory 00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:52.260 let's 00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:52.519 pray 00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:54.300 Lord thank you 00:34:54.300 --> 00:34:55.079 for this 00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:55.760 word and for 00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:56.300 the encouragement 00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.079 that it is 00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:58.119 thank you for 00:34:58.119 --> 00:34:58.760 the great work 00:34:58.760 --> 00:34:59.119 that you've 00:34:59.119 --> 00:34:59.699 done for us 00:34:59.699 --> 00:35:00.260 in Christ 00:35:00.260 --> 00:35:01.840 Lord we pray 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:02.580 that as we 00:35:02.580 --> 00:35:04.300 go from here 00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:04.860 that we would 00:35:04.860 --> 00:35:05.420 remember 00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:07.320 Lord that we 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.440 remember Christ 00:35:08.440 --> 00:35:10.000 that he is 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.460 the great 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.460 foundation upon 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:11.940 which 00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:13.220 the lives 00:35:13.220 --> 00:35:13.800 of all 00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:14.160 Christians 00:35:14.160 --> 00:35:14.740 are built 00:35:14.740 --> 00:35:16.780 Lord I 00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:17.380 pray that 00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:18.120 as we see 00:35:18.120 --> 00:35:18.960 this great 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:19.760 gift that you 00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:20.200 have given 00:35:20.200 --> 00:35:20.720 us I pray 00:35:20.720 --> 00:35:21.060 if there's 00:35:21.060 --> 00:35:21.600 anyone here 00:35:21.600 --> 00:35:22.060 tonight 00:35:22.060 --> 00:35:23.140 Lord who 00:35:23.140 --> 00:35:23.520 has not 00:35:23.520 --> 00:35:23.920 put their 00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:24.420 faith in 00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:24.860 Christ 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:26.380 Lord I 00:35:26.380 --> 00:35:26.880 pray that 00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:27.240 they would 00:35:27.240 --> 00:35:28.100 consider and 00:35:28.100 --> 00:35:28.740 see what a 00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:29.219 great thing 00:35:29.219 --> 00:35:29.619 God has 00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:29.959 done 00:35:29.959 --> 00:35:31.219 Lord that 00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:31.539 they would 00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:31.919 come to 00:35:31.919 --> 00:35:32.319 him in 00:35:32.319 --> 00:35:32.899 faith and 00:35:32.899 --> 00:35:33.419 humility 00:35:33.419 --> 00:35:34.619 Lord I 00:35:34.619 --> 00:35:34.979 pray for 00:35:34.979 --> 00:35:35.619 those tonight 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.259 who maybe 00:35:36.259 --> 00:35:37.519 have lost 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:38.159 their awe 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:38.759 and wonder 00:35:38.759 --> 00:35:39.299 at being a 00:35:39.299 --> 00:35:39.599 part of 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:39.919 God's 00:35:39.919 --> 00:35:40.259 people 00:35:40.259 --> 00:35:42.019 Lord who 00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:42.539 feel 00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:43.779 alienated 00:35:43.779 --> 00:35:44.419 and strangers 00:35:44.419 --> 00:35:45.059 within 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:46.439 God's 00:35:46.439 --> 00:35:46.799 people 00:35:46.799 --> 00:35:48.059 Lord will 00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:48.619 you encourage 00:35:48.619 --> 00:35:49.319 them tonight 00:35:49.319 --> 00:35:50.659 with this 00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:51.000 word 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.899 we pray 00:35:51.899 --> 00:35:53.019 this in 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:53.659 Jesus name 00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:54.319 Amen