WEBVTT

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 Good morning, everyone. The reading this morning is from Romans chapter 12, verses 1-2.

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 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

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 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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 Good morning, everyone.

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 I can't help but to feel overwhelmed this morning, but what a privilege it is to feel this.

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 Please pray with me.

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 Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us together this morning.

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 And thank you for your word.

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 Father, as we open your word together now, we pray that you would open our hearts to hear it.

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 Help us not just hear the words, but understand what you're calling us to do with them.

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 Remind us of your mercy towards us.

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 Help us look again at all that you have done for us in Christ.

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 And let that shape the way that we hear your call to live for you.

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 Lord, we pray that your spirit would be at work among us now, renewing our minds and turning our hearts towards you.

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 We ask in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So a couple of years ago, I went on a camping trip with a few friends from high school.

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 We're still friends today.

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 It's been over 10 years now.

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 We see each other almost every other weekend.

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 So in all that time, we've talked about anything and anything that you can talk to people about.

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 Except there is one topic that has almost never come up in, at the time, about a decade.

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 The topic of God just never came up, or faith, or anything in that region.

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 It seems pretty impressive.

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 I don't know if we were all trying to intentionally avoid it.

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 But anyway, this trip, it wasn't long after I had sincerely become a Christian and was baptized, and I wanted to talk to them about God.

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 So I prayed before the trip that somehow, naturally, a conversation would just turn to the big questions so that I wouldn't have to force it on them.

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 And that I could talk to them about God.

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 And honestly, as I was praying, I doubted that it would happen, which seems silly now.

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 I thought, how's God going to pull this one off?

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 But in his kindness, he answered that prayer, and the conversation turned that way.

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 And we were able to talk about it and debate about it, which was wonderful.

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 I don't remember the specifics about the debate now, but I remember how honest we all were together.

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 Particularly one friend, this was towards the end of the discussion.

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 He said, I think God is real, and I even think Jesus existed, but I would never become a Christian, because I know what I'd have to give up.

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 He said, I know what I'd have to sacrifice.

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 I've thought about that conversation a lot over the years, and particularly this past week.

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 I guess what stuck with me is that for him, becoming a Christian wasn't like for most of my other non-believing friends.

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 It wasn't about whether God is real or Jesus is reliable.

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 It was about what following God and believing in Jesus would mean for his life.

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 I wanted to say, in hindsight, to my friend, I didn't get the chance then, but I wanted to try and show him that what believing in Christ and following Jesus would mean for his life

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 is far greater than what rejecting him will mean for eternity.

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 In our passage today, Paul shows us two options, really.

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 Two ways to live.

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 One way to live.

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 One way to live.

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 One way to live.

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 One way to live.

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 This chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans is a transition point.

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 For 11 chapters, Paul has unpacked the gospel.

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 He's shown us who God is, what Christ has accomplished, what that means for sinners.

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 He has explained our sin, God's grace, justification by faith, our adoption as God's children,

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 his faithfulness to his people.

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 He's shown us the many mercies of God.

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 I'll go through a few of them now.

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 I'll just read through three sections of Romans so that I don't lose you.

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 Where I think God's mercy is just so well displayed.

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 First Romans, you can flick through or they'll be on the screen.

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 Romans 3, verse 21 to 26.

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 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law.

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 Although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith

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 in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

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 There is no distinction.

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 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift.

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 To the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood,

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 to be received by faith.

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 This was to show God's righteousness because in his divine forbearance, he had passed over former sins.

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 It was to show his righteousness at the present time so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

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 Romans 5, verse 1 to 5.

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 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have a peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Through him, we have also obtained access by faith into his grace in which we stand.

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 And we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

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 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

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 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.

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 And hope does not put us to shame.

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 Because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

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 Finally, Romans 8, verse 1 to 4.

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 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

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 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

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 For God has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not do,

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 by sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin.

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 He condemns sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us,

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 who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

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 There are so many more examples of God's great mercy shown to us throughout the book of Romans.

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 There's so many examples of God's mercy in here.

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 If you woke up today, and I can see that many of you are awake.

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 God's mercy has been shown.

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 God's mercy is shown.

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 God's mercy is shown.

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 God's mercy is shown.

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 God's mercy is shown.

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 God's mercy is shown.

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 shifts from instruction to exhortation. And he begins like this, chapter 12, verse 1.

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 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers. He begins with an appeal. I think NIV will say, I urge you.

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 The idea is the same. He's appealing to brothers, that's Christians who know the gospel. He's

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 writing to believers, urging us to respond rightly to God's grace. Paul believes that

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 Christian living is not something that should be or could be done on autopilot. He urges

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 us because God's grace doesn't make our response unnecessary. Rather, God's grace calls forth

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 our response. And he backs up with his appeal with a reason, a big reason. I appeal to you,

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 therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God. Paul's inviting us again to look back over

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 everything we've already seen in Romans. Every page has been another reminder of God's mercy.

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 There's a pattern throughout Paul's letters. First, he tells us what God has done.

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 Then he shows us how God's people should live. And that is because Christian obedience doesn't

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 stand on its own. It always grows out of truth. The gospel comes before the command. Grace

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 comes before obedience. It's easy to reverse that order. Paul is saying, in light of everything

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 God has done, now you must decide how you will live. Every Christian eventually reaches that point,

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 or should. There comes a time where the question isn't just, do I believe these truths? But then,

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 what difference will these truths make to my life? The gospel always pushes towards that question.

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 And Paul's doing it here. He's saying, look at what God has done. Look at the mercy he has shown.

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 And then ask yourself, what is the only fitting response?

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 That's the Christian life. We're not trying to repay God's mercy. We never could. We're not trying to earn

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 more mercy. We already have it. But we're responding to mercy with grateful obedience.

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 And again, getting that order right is important. Because if we lose sight of God's mercy,

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 obedience quickly becomes duty. But if our obedience grows out of God's mercy,

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 it becomes an act of worship. If a parent or a spouse or a friend regularly gives their time to you,

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 gives their energy, care and love to you, probably don't respond by, as Dave pointed out in the kids

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 talk, you probably don't respond by thinking, well, I guess I have to repay them now.

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 And you respond because you love them and you're grateful for what they've given you and the love

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 that they've shown you. Their love changes the way that you want to respond to them.

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 In a much greater way, God's mercy gives us a reason to offer ourselves to him.

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 How are we to offer ourselves to him? Paul helps us out.

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 Present your bodies, verse 1, as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.

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 Now, sacrifices were well understood to Paul's original readers. They weren't something symbolic.

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 People knew exactly what happened to a sacrifice. An animal was brought to the altar. Its life was given.

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 It belonged entirely to God. That's the kind of sacrifice that Paul is talking about.

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 He's talking about complete surrender. And he says present. He's calling us to do something here.

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 He's appealing to our wills. There's a decision to be made.

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 He's appealing... He's asking us to willingly place ourselves before God.

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 But he adds a surprising word. Living. A living sacrifice.

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 Someone observed that the difficulty with a living sacrifice is that it always tries to climb off the altar.

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 Isn't that true of us?

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 Every morning we wake up with a temptation to take control of our lives again.

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 To pursue our own kingdom instead of God's.

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 To reclaim what we've already offered to him.

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 That's why each day we must remember God's mercy and present ourselves again.

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 Because our hearts constantly need reorientating toward him.

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 Every day we continue offering ourselves to him.

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 It's not a one and done moment that maybe happened years ago.

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 It's a life-long posture.

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 A living sacrifice.

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 Paul explains how we are to do that.

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 He says present your bodies.

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 Now taken very practically that might seem very narrow.

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 Why doesn't Paul say present your hearts?

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 Or present your souls?

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 Well throughout scripture the body represents the whole person lived out in everyday life.

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 Paul isn't limiting the command to our physical bodies.

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 But our bodies is where our faith becomes visible.

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 We serve with our bodies.

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 We worship with our bodies.

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 We work, live, speak, suffer, endure and obey through our bodies.

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 But God is asking for all of those things.

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 He's asking for our whole life.

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 Tomorrow morning some of you will sit behind a computer.

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 Some of you will sit in lectures or in classrooms.

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 Some of you will change nappies.

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 What a joy.

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 Some of you will go to medical appointments.

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 Paul says every one of those moments.

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 Even ordinary ones.

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 Can become worship when they are offered to Christ.

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 God isn't interested in a Sunday faith that never reaches Monday morning.

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 He wants every part of our life to come under the lordship of Christ.

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 That means our work, our ambitions, our use of time, our sexuality, our words, our thought life.

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 Nothing sits outside of this call.

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 Because the Christian life is no longer our own.

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 We have been set apart for God.

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 Our lives now belong to him.

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 That's what holy means.

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 Set apart.

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 Belonging to God.

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 And I'll point out that Paul isn't saying that we must perfectly become holy before we present ourselves to God.

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 If that were true, none of us could come.

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 We come because of God's mercy.

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 We come trusting Christ.

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 And as we continually offer ourselves to him, God continues his work of making us holy.

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 It's not, well, clean yourself up, then you can come.

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 No.

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 God says, come to me and I will continue the work that I have already begun in you.

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 I don't know about you, but I find that very encouraging.

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 Particularly as someone who believed that they weren't good enough for God for a very long time.

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 And I mean, every Christian knows the struggle and the frustration of still seeing sin present in their lives.

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 Paul doesn't write to perfect Christians.

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 He writes to ordinary believers who are still being transformed.

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 My point is, holiness isn't the entry requirement.

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 It's the direction.

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 We are not yet what we will be.

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 But by God's grace, we are no longer who we once were.

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 Paul knows from experience that there is no better incentive for holy living than the contemplation of the mercies of God.

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 This is our fitting response.

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 Or how Paul words it, our spiritual worship.

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 Worship that is more than an hour on Sunday.

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 It's worship that encompasses our whole lives.

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 A few verses ahead in chapter 12, Paul shows us what this looks like in practice.

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 He gives us some examples of how we are to use the particular gifts God has given us in service of others.

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 I'll just read verse 6 to 8 of chapter 12.

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 And think back with me for a moment to the early chapters of Genesis.

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 Chapter 1 and 2.

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 We're given a picture there of humanity living in God's good world.

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 In relationship with him and serving him.

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 As we know, sin fractured that relationship.

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 Turned us away from God.

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 In Christ, God is restoring himself to us.

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 When Paul calls our whole life worship, he's showing us what salvation is moving us back towards.

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 That picture in early Genesis.

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 Lives that belong to God and are lived for his glory.

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 I can't wait.

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 If we're going to offer our lives to God and we haven't already,

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 then we have to ask what is shaping our lives?

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 What is forming the way that we think, the way that we live?

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 Verse 2.

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 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

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 There's two options there that Paul presents us.

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 Conform or be transformed.

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 The world and the gospel tell two very different stories.

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 One says life is about self.

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 The other says life is about Christ.

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 Christ.

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 Make much of self.

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 Make much of Jesus.

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 Those two stories are competing for our hearts.

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 I mean, most prevalently nowadays on our phones,

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 go through social media and you'll see all these people telling you what you should look like,

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 what you should want, what success looks like,

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 what you should be offended by,

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 what you should care about.

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 It's unlikely that after each swipe,

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 we're reflecting on whether what we're consuming is changing the way that we're thinking about the world.

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 It just happens as you keep taking it in.

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 Thinking outside of our phones, there's people around us, if you can believe it.

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 The people around us, we're shaped by our friends and colleagues.

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 Their motivations rub off on us.

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 Their priorities become our priorities.

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 Conformity, the word conformed means the idea of being moulded or shaped into a pattern.

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 It's important to note that it's a passive word.

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 You don't have to deliberately choose to conform.

00:21:39.399 --> 00:21:41.559
 You just have to stop paying attention.

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:49.659
 Because not conforming is not just avoiding bad behaviour,

00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:56.420
 but it's refusing to let the world define reality for us.

00:22:00.840 --> 00:22:05.460
 As Christians, we are swimming against the tide.

00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:14.460
 And I guess my point is, if you let it, the tide will take you.

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:21.900
 Or be transformed.

00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:28.120
 The word Paul uses there is where we get our word metamorphosis.

00:22:28.540 --> 00:22:32.680
 It describes a transformation from the inside out,

00:22:32.860 --> 00:22:36.140
 an inward change that becomes visible outwardly.

00:22:37.320 --> 00:22:40.440
 Conformity involves defining reality for ourselves.

00:22:41.820 --> 00:22:43.960
 Transformation begins with truth.

00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:46.640
 We're seeing reality the way God sees it.

00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:52.120
 Conformity lets me remain the author of my own life.

00:22:54.560 --> 00:22:58.259
 Transformation means surrendering that authority to Christ.

00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:07.100
 And discovering that the life Christ gives me is actually far better than any I could construct for myself.

00:23:09.540 --> 00:23:12.800
 Paul tells us how we are to be transformed, as we read on,

00:23:13.280 --> 00:23:16.000
 by the renewal of your mind.

00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:20.780
 Think about how every sinful pattern begins.

00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:23.640
 Maybe even think about Genesis 3 now.

00:23:24.520 --> 00:23:27.640
 Before we sin with our hands or with our mouths,

00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:31.680
 we've already believed something false in our minds.

00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:37.380
 We've believed that sin will satisfy us.

00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:42.040
 That God is holding something back.

00:23:43.340 --> 00:23:45.680
 That we'll be happier our own way.

00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:50.900
 Every temptation begins with a lie.

00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:57.540
 Transformation begins with replacing lies with truth.

00:23:58.380 --> 00:24:02.140
 With allowing God's word to reshape how we think,

00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:04.700
 how we see the world,

00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:06.759
 how we see God.

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.759
 God's word is his means for our transformation.

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:11.759
 Our minds are renewed as we sit under God's word.

00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:16.140
 God's word is his means for our transformation.

00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:18.420
 As we meditate on it,

00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:20.279
 dive deep into it,

00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.539
 continually learning.

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:25.339
 As we remind ourselves daily of the gospel,

00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:28.220
 God's spirit takes his word

00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:29.220
 and changes us.

00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:29.220


00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:29.860
 God's word changes us.

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:33.220
 Both in developing our understanding generally,

00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:37.019
 but also how we preach to ourselves.

00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:39.480
 Gospel changes.

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:43.839
 It makes us better at preaching to ourselves.

00:24:45.120 --> 00:24:46.720
 As our minds are renewed,

00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:50.039
 we learn to recognize what pleases God

00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:52.940
 and increasingly want to live that way.

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:58.639
 We become better able to make wise and godly decisions.

00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:02.079
 Better able to love well,

00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:05.960
 particularly to those who are hard to love

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:08.819
 or have hurt us.

00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:12.559
 As we read on,

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:16.799
 Paul asserts the purpose of our minds being transformed.

00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:20.179
 That by testing,

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:22.779
 you may discern what is the will of God,

00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:27.179
 what is good and acceptable and perfect.

00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:31.240
 Good and acceptable and perfect.

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:34.240
 Those aren't three categories of God's will.

00:25:34.899 --> 00:25:36.480
 As if some decisions are good,

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:38.500
 some are acceptable

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:40.140
 and there are a couple that are perfect.

00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:43.779
 It describes together the kind of decision

00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:48.400
 that a renewed Christian learns to recognize.

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.900
 That is something that is good,

00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.559
 pleasing to God

00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:54.360
 and in keeping with his wise purpose.

00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:58.579
 An example,

00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:01.000
 imagine you're choosing between two jobs.

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.200
 Both are legitimate.

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:05.460
 Both could provide for you.

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:09.680
 But one pays significantly more.

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:14.500
 While making it almost impossible

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.920
 to be involved with the church

00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:20.700
 or properly care for your family

00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:25.880
 or have any meaningful time to serve others.

00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:30.240
 A renewed mind does not ask,

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.599
 well, no brainer,

00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:32.940
 I'll go for the one that pays more.

00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:36.000
 A renewed mind asks,

00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:38.240
 in light of God's mercy,

00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:42.460
 what would be the wise and godly way to live?

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:48.160
 Now that's a pretty big life decision,

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.840
 that example.

00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:52.000
 And the answer is not always very clear.

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:55.740
 So we weigh the circumstances,

00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:56.859
 pray,

00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:58.940
 seek wise counsel,

00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:01.279
 consider God's word,

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.559
 and then make a decision.

00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:04.480
 But the Christian life

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:08.400
 is fueled by the mercies of God.

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:11.480
 And those mercies renew the way

00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.420
 that we see God,

00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.839
 ourselves and the world.

00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:18.480
 after reflecting this week

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.659
 on what my friend said

00:27:19.659 --> 00:27:20.759
 on the camping trip,

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.959
 I don't want to become a Christian,

00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.399
 but I'd know,

00:27:24.459 --> 00:27:25.220
 but I'd have to give up.

00:27:28.459 --> 00:27:30.399
 I understand why he felt that way.

00:27:30.399 --> 00:27:30.459
 Yeah.

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:35.799
 It makes sense

00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:37.380
 if

00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:39.140
 you view

00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:41.819
 giving your life to God

00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:43.840
 through the lens of a

00:27:43.840 --> 00:27:46.079
 cost-benefit analysis.

00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:50.900
 I think that's a mistake.

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:55.140
 Let me try and show you why.

00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:57.000
 First with a story about

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:59.240
 a missionary and explorer,

00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:00.180
 David Livingston.

00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:02.160
 Born in 1813,

00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:04.180
 he gave his life

00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:05.220
 to serve Christ

00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:08.299
 and in the exploration of Africa

00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:10.360
 for the sake of creating

00:28:10.360 --> 00:28:11.500
 access to the gospel.

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:14.180
 He was there for 33 years

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.759
 over in Africa

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:17.340
 and during his time

00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:19.400
 he suffered repeatedly

00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:20.240
 from malaria,

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:22.480
 of which his wife also died.

00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:24.660
 He was attacked by a lion,

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.640
 leaving his arm

00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:26.680
 permanently damaged.

00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:29.819
 He endured financial

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:31.119
 physical and logistical difficulties,

00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:31.639
 hunger.

00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:34.139
 He spent long periods

00:28:34.139 --> 00:28:34.819
 in isolation.

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.919
 We're talking years

00:28:35.919 --> 00:28:36.740
 in loneliness.

00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:39.220
 He experienced the death

00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:41.139
 of several of his children.

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:44.599
 Impressively continued his work

00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:46.159
 despite years of hardship

00:28:46.159 --> 00:28:46.720
 and suffering.

00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:48.579
 When he returned to England

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.579
 in 1857,

00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:50.720
 1857,

00:28:50.919 --> 00:28:51.659
 he gave an address

00:28:51.659 --> 00:28:53.159
 at Cambridge University

00:28:53.159 --> 00:28:54.619
 when asked about

00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:55.439
 the sacrifices

00:28:55.439 --> 00:28:56.720
 that he had made.

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.819
 This is what he said.

00:28:59.419 --> 00:29:00.899
 For my own part,

00:29:01.179 --> 00:29:02.299
 I have never ceased

00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:02.960
 to rejoice

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.419
 that God has appointed me

00:29:04.419 --> 00:29:05.279
 to such an office.

00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:07.899
 People talk of the sacrifice

00:29:07.899 --> 00:29:09.059
 I made in spending

00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:10.099
 so much of my life

00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:10.579
 in Africa.

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.899
 Is that a sacrifice

00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:14.220
 which brings its own

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.059
 blessed reward

00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:16.119
 in helpful activity,

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:17.500
 the consciousness

00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.359
 of good doing,

00:29:18.919 --> 00:29:19.739
 peace of mind,

00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:21.039
 and a bright hope

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.239
 of a glorious destiny

00:29:22.239 --> 00:29:22.859
 hereafter?

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.979
 Away with the word

00:29:24.979 --> 00:29:25.759
 in such a view

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:27.059
 and with such a thought.

00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:29.259
 It is emphatically

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.979
 no sacrifice.

00:29:32.479 --> 00:29:33.319
 Say rather,

00:29:33.479 --> 00:29:34.259
 it is a privilege.

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.339
 Anxiety,

00:29:36.699 --> 00:29:37.139
 sickness,

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:37.939
 suffering,

00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:38.599
 or danger,

00:29:39.219 --> 00:29:40.159
 now and then,

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.439
 with a foregoing

00:29:41.439 --> 00:29:42.839
 of the common conveniences

00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:44.159
 and the charities of life,

00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:45.739
 may make us pause.

00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:47.399
 And cause the spirit

00:29:47.399 --> 00:29:47.959
 to waver

00:29:47.959 --> 00:29:49.139
 and the soul

00:29:49.139 --> 00:29:49.659
 to sink.

00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.939
 But let this only be

00:29:51.939 --> 00:29:52.659
 for a moment.

00:29:53.959 --> 00:29:54.639
 All of these

00:29:54.639 --> 00:29:55.239
 are nothing

00:29:55.239 --> 00:29:56.259
 when compared

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.159
 with the glory

00:29:57.159 --> 00:29:58.279
 which shall be revealed

00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:59.679
 in and for us.

00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:02.179
 I never made

00:30:02.179 --> 00:30:03.019
 a sacrifice.

00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:06.479
 Livingston,

00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:08.439
 I don't think he discounts

00:30:08.439 --> 00:30:09.839
 the suffering

00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:10.699
 that he went through.

00:30:11.699 --> 00:30:12.799
 He explains

00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:14.039
 the experiences

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.500
 later

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.940
 of anxiety,

00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:16.339
 sickness,

00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:16.859
 suffering,

00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.579
 and danger.

00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:18.660
 But he's speaking

00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:19.740
 comparatively

00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:21.279
 when he insists

00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.900
 that all of these

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.519
 are nothing

00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.839
 when compared

00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:26.240
 with the glory

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:26.859
 which shall be

00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.819
 revealed

00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:30.240
 in and for us.

00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.480
 And I'll just point

00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.059
 this to scripture

00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:33.500
 as well.

00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:33.960
 In Mark

00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:35.140
 chapter 10,

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.460
 the young man

00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.099
 turns away

00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:38.079
 from following Jesus

00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:38.619
 because he had

00:30:38.619 --> 00:30:39.380
 great possessions.

00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.660
 Verse 22 to 30.

00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:43.660
 Peter realises

00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:45.360
 Jesus' call

00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:46.680
 for radical sacrifice

00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:47.840
 in Luke

00:30:47.840 --> 00:30:48.920
 chapter 14

00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:49.640
 verse 33.

00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:50.660
 Any of you

00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:51.120
 who do not

00:30:51.120 --> 00:30:51.960
 renounce all

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:54.480
 that he has

00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.220
 cannot be my

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.680
 disciple.

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.000
 That is why

00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:58.200
 in verse 25

00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:59.320
 Peter says

00:30:59.320 --> 00:30:59.880
 it is easier

00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:03.480
 for a camel

00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.000
 to go through

00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:04.920
 the eye of a needle

00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:05.900
 than for a rich person

00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:06.380
 to enter

00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.540
 the kingdom of God.

00:31:08.540 --> 00:31:09.340
 Now in response

00:31:09.339 --> 00:31:09.799
 to Jesus

00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:11.439
 Peter announces

00:31:11.439 --> 00:31:11.919
 that he

00:31:11.919 --> 00:31:12.819
 and other disciples

00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:13.720
 have made

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:15.079
 the necessary

00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:16.000
 sacrifice.

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:17.619
 Verse 28.

00:31:17.899 --> 00:31:18.119
 See,

00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:19.059
 we have left

00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.659
 everything

00:31:19.659 --> 00:31:20.559
 and followed you.

00:31:22.639 --> 00:31:23.519
 And then what

00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.359
 Jesus said

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.019
 to Peter

00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:26.119
 and the others

00:31:26.119 --> 00:31:26.599
 who had left

00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:27.059
 everything.

00:31:27.199 --> 00:31:28.279
 Verse 29 and 30.

00:31:28.879 --> 00:31:29.720
 Truly I say

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.139
 to you,

00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:31.439
 there is no one

00:31:31.439 --> 00:31:32.139
 who has left

00:31:32.139 --> 00:31:32.740
 house

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.579
 or brothers

00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:34.939
 or sisters

00:31:34.939 --> 00:31:35.859
 or mother

00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:37.019
 or father

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.779
 or children

00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.339
 or lands

00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:39.240
 for my sake

00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.119
 and for the gospel

00:31:40.119 --> 00:31:41.240
 who will not

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.440
 receive a hundredfold

00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.819
 now in this time

00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.639
 houses

00:31:44.639 --> 00:31:45.779
 and brothers

00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.539
 and sisters

00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:47.299
 and mothers

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.039
 and children

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.819
 and lands

00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:50.359
 with persecutions

00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:51.920
 and in the age

00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:52.440
 to come

00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.819
 eternal life.

00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:56.379
 John Piper

00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:57.299
 in an article

00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:58.519
 about this story

00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:59.079
 said,

00:31:59.619 --> 00:32:00.559
 in the bright shadow

00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.819
 of David Livingston's

00:32:01.819 --> 00:32:02.160
 suffering

00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:03.440
 I could see

00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.019
 the point

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:05.119
 of Jesus' words

00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:05.759
 more readily.

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:07.940
 following me

00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:09.160
 you do not

00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:10.960
 make a sacrifice.

00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:13.400
 My point is

00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:14.220
 with all of that

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.960
 as we continue

00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:16.980
 offering ourselves

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:17.660
 to Christ

00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:19.160
 we become people

00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:19.940
 who increasingly

00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:20.700
 delight

00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:22.379
 in giving

00:32:22.379 --> 00:32:23.059
 our lives

00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:23.539
 to him.

00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.940
 And if you believe

00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:29.319
 that God

00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:29.960
 really is as

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.359
 merciful

00:32:30.359 --> 00:32:31.099
 as

00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:32.900
 Paul has

00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:33.200
 shown

00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:34.220
 to us

00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.700
 and God

00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.080
 has shown

00:32:36.080 --> 00:32:36.600
 to us

00:32:36.600 --> 00:32:37.799
 and if you

00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:38.319
 believe

00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.059
 that Christ

00:32:39.059 --> 00:32:39.660
 really did

00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.400
 die for you

00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:43.080
 then what

00:32:43.080 --> 00:32:44.120
 better response

00:32:44.120 --> 00:32:44.880
 could there be

00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:45.360
 than to give

00:32:45.360 --> 00:32:46.019
 him our lives?

00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:55.099
 please pray

00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:55.460
 with me

00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:59.420
 heavenly

00:32:59.420 --> 00:33:03.839
 father

00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:05.900
 we have been

00:33:05.900 --> 00:33:06.440
 reminded

00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.200
 of your mercy

00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:08.039
 towards us

00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:10.299
 we have been

00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:10.819
 reminded

00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:11.940
 of what you

00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:12.420
 have done

00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:12.920
 for us

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:13.639
 through Christ

00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:15.259
 that while

00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:15.660
 we were

00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:15.920
 sinners

00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:17.160
 you did

00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:17.680
 not leave

00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:18.060
 us to

00:33:18.060 --> 00:33:18.800
 ourselves

00:33:18.800 --> 00:33:20.740
 but gave

00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.200
 your son

00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:21.800
 for us

00:33:21.800 --> 00:33:24.620
 and so

00:33:24.620 --> 00:33:24.960
 Lord

00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:26.020
 help us

00:33:26.020 --> 00:33:26.460
 not leave

00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:26.680
 this

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.820
 to leave

00:33:27.820 --> 00:33:28.280
 this morning

00:33:28.280 --> 00:33:28.840
 simply having

00:33:28.840 --> 00:33:29.800
 heard something

00:33:29.800 --> 00:33:30.460
 that is true

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.960
 Lord help us

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:32.680
 to respond

00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:34.799
 help us

00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.360
 to take

00:33:35.360 --> 00:33:35.740
 what we

00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:36.240
 have heard

00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.080
 and bring

00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:37.400
 it into

00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:37.820
 our own

00:33:37.820 --> 00:33:38.279
 lives

00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:39.720
 tomorrow

00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:40.200
 morning

00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:41.440
 the morning

00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:42.060
 after that

00:33:42.060 --> 00:33:43.400
 and the

00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:43.620
 morning

00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:44.299
 after that

00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:46.500
 Lord where

00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:46.840
 we have

00:33:46.840 --> 00:33:47.600
 been conforming

00:33:47.600 --> 00:33:47.900
 to the

00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:48.240
 world

00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:49.279
 renew

00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.220
 our minds

00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:52.180
 where we

00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:52.500
 have been

00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:52.840
 holding

00:33:52.840 --> 00:33:53.600
 something back

00:33:53.600 --> 00:33:54.100
 from you

00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:55.259
 help us

00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:55.820
 to surrender

00:33:55.820 --> 00:33:56.200
 it

00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:58.140
 where we

00:33:58.140 --> 00:33:58.539
 have been

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.620
 living lives

00:33:59.620 --> 00:34:00.560
 for ourselves

00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:02.099
 turn our

00:34:02.099 --> 00:34:02.519
 hearts

00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:03.019
 back

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:03.740
 towards

00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.279
 Christ

00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:06.480
 Lord

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:06.859
 may our

00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:07.259
 lives

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:08.059
 increasingly

00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:08.699
 become an

00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:09.239
 offering of

00:34:09.239 --> 00:34:09.799
 worship to

00:34:09.799 --> 00:34:10.059
 you

00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:12.799
 and when we

00:34:12.799 --> 00:34:13.199
 look back

00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:13.679
 on all that

00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:13.900
 you have

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.320
 done for

00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:14.719
 us

00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:16.199
 may our

00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:16.619
 response

00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:17.400
 simply be

00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:19.539
 how great

00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:19.960
 is our

00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:20.320
 God

00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:22.719
 we pray

00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:23.259
 this in

00:34:23.259 --> 00:34:23.500
 the name

00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:23.980
 of Jesus

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.719
 Amen

00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:26.799
 may may

00:34:26.799 --> 00:34:26.799


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