WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.219 Well, thanks, Stuart and Hannah. Folks, let me invite you to have that passage in Romans chapter 6 open in front of you. 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:10.359 We're going to be dipping in and out of it this morning, and I've thoroughly enjoyed my time there this week, 00:00:10.380 --> 00:00:15.359 and I really hope and I trust that the Lord has something to teach us this morning as we turn to his word. 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:20.559 So with Romans chapter 6 open in front of you, let's just begin this morning. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:27.400 I've been in theological circles now for over seven years, theological training circles, 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:33.920 and I've spent time in different places. I've discovered that there's a phrase that people continually use wherever I go, 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:38.960 and it's a phrase that I've come to understand is absolutely true, and it goes like this, 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:44.560 and see if you maybe agree with this, it's that everyone's a theologian. Everyone's a theologian. 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:48.459 So if we're describing, defining rather, theology as the study of God, 00:00:49.379 --> 00:00:57.200 then any time anybody engages in thoughts about who God is, really grapples with that, wrestles with that, 00:00:57.200 --> 00:01:02.440 and from that they think about the world in which we live, why is it the way that it is, 00:01:02.480 --> 00:01:05.939 and then they think about human beings, why is it that we are the way that we are, 00:01:06.020 --> 00:01:12.480 why is it that I am the way that I am. On some kind of level they're engaging in theology, right? 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:20.719 Thoughts about who God is, and that means that your neighbor has thoughts about God, they're a theologian, 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:26.439 and it means that your classmates and your colleagues, they have thoughts about God, they're theologians, 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:30.420 and it means that your friends and your family have thoughts about God. 00:01:31.659 --> 00:01:36.319 The first minister has thoughts about God. Teresa May, as we've been thinking, has thoughts about God. 00:01:36.420 --> 00:01:40.900 The Hollywood actor has thoughts about God. The premiership footballer has thoughts about God. 00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:44.379 Everyone's a theologian. Everybody has thoughts about God. 00:01:44.379 --> 00:01:50.179 God. I've been thinking about that this week. I've been reminded of one of my favourite theologians, 00:01:50.259 --> 00:01:54.780 kind of on that theme, and he goes by the name of Bob, and his second name is Dylan. 00:01:56.359 --> 00:02:00.780 Anybody like Bob Dylan? What a voice. That is a unique voice, isn't it? Bob Dylan's voice. 00:02:00.899 --> 00:02:06.099 But he's one of my favourite theologians. I have no idea whether Bob Dylan was a Christian or not, 00:02:06.099 --> 00:02:10.680 is a Christian or not. I have no idea, but I do know that he's a theologian just like the rest of us. 00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:17.040 And you see that kind of come through in his songs, as he just observes the world and the things that are going on in the world, 00:02:17.080 --> 00:02:18.879 and he comments on it. You see it through his songs. 00:02:19.020 --> 00:02:24.439 And let me just show you some of the lyrics from a song that he wrote as he watched the way in which human beings live their lives. 00:02:25.080 --> 00:02:26.180 And it goes like this. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:30.240 You may be a construction worker working on a home. 00:02:31.020 --> 00:02:33.780 You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome. 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:37.340 You might own guns and you might even own tanks. 00:02:37.340 --> 00:02:40.460 You might be someone's landlord. You might even own banks. 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:42.659 But you're going to have to serve somebody. 00:02:44.140 --> 00:02:45.599 You're going to have to serve somebody. 00:02:46.340 --> 00:02:53.000 It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you're going to have to serve somebody. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:03:01.400 You see, what Dylan was observing is he's watching humanity and he's watching human beings and the way that they live their lives, 00:03:01.480 --> 00:03:05.020 the way that they spend their time, the way that they spend their energy, the way that they spend their money. 00:03:05.020 --> 00:03:10.680 What he's observing is that everything that we do as human beings is driven by something. 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:14.560 The truth is we all serve somebody. 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:16.360 Now, I wonder what you think about that. 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:20.240 As Bob Dylan chucks it out there this morning, what do you think about that? 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:21.860 It's very thought-provoking, is it not? 00:03:22.640 --> 00:03:24.700 We love to think in our world that we're free. 00:03:25.540 --> 00:03:26.379 We do what we want. 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:30.439 Bob Dylan is saying we're all serving somebody. 00:03:30.439 --> 00:03:37.479 And it might surprise you to hear me say that the God of the Bible, the God who's made everything, 00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:39.800 the God who's made us in his image, 00:03:41.159 --> 00:03:43.000 the God who in his word he tells us what he's like, 00:03:43.079 --> 00:03:45.060 the God who in his word tells us what we are like, 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:47.199 he would heartily agree with Bob Dylan. 00:03:48.259 --> 00:03:51.599 And we know that because of this passage this morning. 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:54.199 And that's really its message, if you want to think about it like that, 00:03:54.259 --> 00:03:56.240 that everyone's following somebody. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:58.620 Everyone's following somebody. 00:03:58.840 --> 00:03:59.580 That's its message. 00:03:59.700 --> 00:04:02.040 The only question is, who is that somebody? 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:06.800 And you see, if you've got the text there, Paul's opening question, verse 15, 00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:09.960 is very similar to that of verse 1 of chapter 6. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:14.100 For this is a continuation of the theme that we thought about last week. 00:04:15.140 --> 00:04:18.819 As we thought about the freedom that we have as Christians in Jesus Christ. 00:04:18.900 --> 00:04:20.379 That was a big theme of last week. 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:23.199 Jesus Christ, who as it were, if you want to think about it like this, 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:27.300 he's walked into the marketplace where we were there, 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:29.759 chained to our wrists, 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:33.279 responding to the orders being given by sin, our master. 00:04:33.479 --> 00:04:34.680 Just picture it like this. 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:36.599 Sin was shouting orders at us, 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:38.480 and our response was, 00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:41.240 yes sir, yes sir, three bags full sir. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:43.079 That was our response to sin as it shouted, 00:04:43.219 --> 00:04:44.480 because we were slaves of sin. 00:04:45.779 --> 00:04:47.620 And what happened is, Jesus in that marketplace 00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:49.159 walked up to our old master. 00:04:49.259 --> 00:04:50.259 He walked up to sin, 00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:52.000 and he said, see her, 00:04:53.060 --> 00:04:53.680 see him, 00:04:54.699 --> 00:04:55.399 I'll buy them. 00:04:56.719 --> 00:04:57.279 I'll buy them. 00:04:57.300 --> 00:04:58.539 And I won't give you three magic beans, 00:04:58.659 --> 00:04:59.920 I won't give you 30 pieces of eight. 00:04:59.980 --> 00:05:02.060 What I'll give you for them, 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:03.439 is that I'll give you me. 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:05.300 I'll give you my life. 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:08.339 Because I'll pay with something far greater than money. 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:09.420 I'll pay with my blood, 00:05:09.500 --> 00:05:10.439 I'll pay with my life. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:12.599 And he bought us, 00:05:12.620 --> 00:05:13.399 that's what Jesus did. 00:05:13.459 --> 00:05:14.219 He bought us. 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:16.719 He bought us as he died for us on the cross. 00:05:16.719 --> 00:05:18.959 He paid with his blood to make us his own. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:19.899 And we are his. 00:05:20.719 --> 00:05:22.419 And we have newness of life in him. 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:24.979 And we've been set free, 00:05:25.139 --> 00:05:25.639 and this is where, 00:05:25.739 --> 00:05:26.579 if you've made the link, 00:05:26.659 --> 00:05:28.479 this is why we read from the Exodus passage earlier, 00:05:28.539 --> 00:05:29.399 we've been set free, 00:05:29.620 --> 00:05:30.939 not to live for ourselves. 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:32.019 God has rescued us. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:32.339 Why? 00:05:33.299 --> 00:05:34.000 To go wandering? 00:05:34.219 --> 00:05:34.479 No. 00:05:34.839 --> 00:05:35.679 To worship him. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:37.539 This is why we've been set free. 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:39.560 Set free from something, 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:41.079 set free for something. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:42.679 Set free to worship God, 00:05:42.919 --> 00:05:45.379 and to live for Jesus every day of our lives. 00:05:45.379 --> 00:05:47.000 And really, this passage this morning, 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:48.620 Paul continues that thought. 00:05:49.220 --> 00:05:51.620 And what we see him say to the Christians in Rome, 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:54.480 and what we see him say to the Christians of every day, 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:55.420 which includes us, 00:05:56.699 --> 00:05:58.120 is that make your every day, 00:05:58.720 --> 00:05:59.600 make your every day, 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:00.480 your every thought, 00:06:00.579 --> 00:06:01.379 your every motive, 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:02.839 your every act, 00:06:03.100 --> 00:06:05.339 make it about obeying and glorifying 00:06:05.339 --> 00:06:06.480 the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:08.220 who has bought you for himself. 00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:11.959 And so that's the pulse of this passage. 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:13.959 And what we'll see is we'll see Paul make two statements 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:17.079 as he tries to unpack this for his readers. 00:06:17.159 --> 00:06:18.079 Here's the first one, 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:19.459 beginning at verse 15, 00:06:19.539 --> 00:06:20.159 and it's this. 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:23.739 It's that everyone's serving someone. 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:26.599 Everyone's serving somebody. 00:06:27.359 --> 00:06:28.959 Every human being who's ever existed, 00:06:29.899 --> 00:06:31.519 every human being who does exist, 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:32.919 every human being who will exist, 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:34.359 is serving someone. 00:06:34.419 --> 00:06:35.599 Now just think about that for a minute. 00:06:35.699 --> 00:06:36.579 Think about your life. 00:06:36.579 --> 00:06:39.539 What do you dream about? 00:06:41.099 --> 00:06:42.000 What do you dream about? 00:06:42.699 --> 00:06:44.159 What's the next goal on your radar? 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:45.719 What's the next thing that's coming up? 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:47.240 How are you thinking about that? 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:47.899 What's going on? 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:49.860 What in your mind, 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:51.060 as you think about your life, 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:52.180 what would need to happen 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:54.819 in order for you to call it a success? 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:58.419 Friends, if you start engaging with those kind of thoughts, 00:06:58.500 --> 00:07:00.339 if you start wrestling with those kind of questions, 00:07:00.339 --> 00:07:03.180 you'll begin to see who it is that you really serve. 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:05.879 Because as far as God is concerned, 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:07.699 that there's only two choices really. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:09.300 I mean, hear this text tell you 00:07:09.300 --> 00:07:11.659 that when it comes to who you serve, 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:12.680 who you live for, 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:15.540 the choice is not like a dual X color chart, okay? 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:16.339 It's not like that. 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:18.319 You're not looking at this thinking 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:19.980 that I'm going to be duck egg blue today, 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:21.980 I'm going to be magnolia tomorrow, 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:24.100 and I might even be petal pink next week. 00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:24.980 This is who I serve. 00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:25.839 I've got the choice. 00:07:26.860 --> 00:07:27.240 No, no, no. 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:29.399 God says if you want to play the game of thinking about it, 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:30.120 who you serve, 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:31.439 like a dual X color chart, 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:33.920 think of it with a dual X color chart 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:35.180 with only two colors on it. 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:38.219 And it's black or it's white. 00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:40.199 That's it. 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:43.920 Either, and this is true for all of us, 00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:45.040 we're serving ourselves, 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:47.219 pursuing our own agenda 00:07:47.219 --> 00:07:48.560 and our own advancement, 00:07:48.779 --> 00:07:50.139 and therefore we're serving sin, 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:52.699 or we're serving Jesus. 00:07:53.939 --> 00:07:54.959 And what we need to understand 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:56.600 is that to serve self 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:58.579 and to serve sin 00:07:58.579 --> 00:08:01.139 is what we do by default. 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:04.959 Now, if you don't believe me, 00:08:05.599 --> 00:08:07.199 let me challenge you 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:08.740 to try and go a week 00:08:08.740 --> 00:08:10.039 without sinning. 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:10.560 Okay? 00:08:11.019 --> 00:08:12.159 Try and go a week 00:08:12.159 --> 00:08:14.800 without making a self-centered decision, 00:08:15.259 --> 00:08:18.259 without making a judgmental thought 00:08:18.259 --> 00:08:19.019 about somebody, 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:21.339 without using self-defensive words. 00:08:21.419 --> 00:08:23.000 Try going a week without doing that 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:24.019 and see how far you get. 00:08:24.019 --> 00:08:26.439 Because I think for all of us, 00:08:26.599 --> 00:08:27.879 we wouldn't even make it 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:29.060 till lunchtime on day one, 00:08:29.099 --> 00:08:29.399 would we? 00:08:30.479 --> 00:08:31.799 Because we're slaves to sin. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:32.519 This is what we do. 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:33.659 This is the way that we go. 00:08:34.439 --> 00:08:35.319 And that was true 00:08:35.319 --> 00:08:37.439 of the Christian pre-Jesus. 00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:38.399 Do you see what Paul says, 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:39.039 verse 17? 00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:42.819 Do you see how we get those words? 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:44.000 And look at it with me, 00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:45.039 because these are glorious words. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:46.679 But thanks be to God. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:47.600 This is what he says. 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:48.340 Do you see it? 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:49.560 But thanks be to God. 00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:51.660 Want to shorten it? 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:53.700 But God. 00:08:55.040 --> 00:08:56.000 Now, I love it. 00:08:56.040 --> 00:08:57.040 I would love to write a series 00:08:57.040 --> 00:08:58.000 called But God 00:08:58.000 --> 00:08:59.300 and trace all the but gods 00:08:59.300 --> 00:08:59.940 throughout the Bible 00:08:59.940 --> 00:09:00.960 because there's tons of them. 00:09:00.980 --> 00:09:02.139 But this is the Bible's way 00:09:02.139 --> 00:09:02.700 of saying, 00:09:03.040 --> 00:09:04.060 here is the game changer. 00:09:04.860 --> 00:09:06.280 Something is about to change 00:09:06.280 --> 00:09:08.280 in regard to what it's telling us, 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:09.440 what God is telling us. 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:10.320 And what the but, 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:11.060 thanks to God, 00:09:11.139 --> 00:09:11.920 says here 00:09:11.920 --> 00:09:14.120 is that you were running one way 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:14.740 like we were singing 00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:15.620 in our last song 00:09:15.620 --> 00:09:16.980 and Christ got involved. 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:18.160 Right? 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:19.199 He got involved. 00:09:19.319 --> 00:09:20.879 He graciously intervened. 00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:23.360 He mercifully got involved. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:25.519 And he's transformed our fortunes 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:26.659 if our trust is in him. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:29.719 And what did he do? 00:09:29.819 --> 00:09:30.959 Well, he changed us. 00:09:32.579 --> 00:09:33.879 And where did that change occur? 00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:34.819 Do you see it there? 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:37.620 It changed in their hearts. 00:09:37.719 --> 00:09:38.500 This is the testimony 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:39.339 of every Christian. 00:09:40.719 --> 00:09:41.639 There's been a heart change. 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:43.720 God has performed heart surgery on us. 00:09:43.819 --> 00:09:44.759 Now, do you know why 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:45.620 that is good news? 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:47.639 Because this is where 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:48.379 the problem is. 00:09:49.340 --> 00:09:50.419 This is where the problem is. 00:09:50.439 --> 00:09:51.279 This is what we find Jesus 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:52.100 saying in the Gospels. 00:09:52.199 --> 00:09:53.840 It's not what goes into the body 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:55.360 which makes it sinful 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:56.080 and defiles it. 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:57.220 It's what comes out of the heart. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:58.279 The problem is inward. 00:09:59.360 --> 00:09:59.600 Right? 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:00.279 The problem is inward. 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:02.360 So, Jesus, 00:10:02.580 --> 00:10:04.580 he's not just a surface level saviour. 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:06.799 What this passage tells us 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:07.919 is that he's not just into 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:10.080 simplistic behaviour modification. 00:10:11.379 --> 00:10:12.319 What he's into 00:10:12.319 --> 00:10:15.120 is holistic life transformation. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:17.879 If you think about it, 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:18.820 this is why it's so important 00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:20.279 that we know our Old Testaments, 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:21.340 that Jesus isn't just 00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:22.139 this random bloke 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:22.919 who's turned up onto 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:24.340 the public scene in 30 AD 00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:25.340 and started doing stuff. 00:10:25.560 --> 00:10:27.000 This is a line of promise. 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:28.700 Because this is what God said 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:29.340 he would do. 00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:31.200 This was his covenant promise 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:32.000 to his people, 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:33.139 the one that we see him make 00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:34.360 through the prophets Jeremiah, 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:35.879 and we see him make through 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:37.019 the prophet Ezekiel. 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:37.940 That he would move 00:10:37.940 --> 00:10:39.580 to do what his people 00:10:39.580 --> 00:10:40.399 could not do. 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:41.639 And he would move 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:42.879 to change their hearts. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:44.419 And how he would do that 00:10:44.419 --> 00:10:45.939 is that he would write his law 00:10:45.939 --> 00:10:47.439 right into their hearts. 00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:48.220 He would write it. 00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:49.460 It's there. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:51.439 It becomes his people's pulse. 00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:52.539 This is what they do. 00:10:54.460 --> 00:10:55.600 And God made this promise 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:56.460 in the Old Testament. 00:10:57.659 --> 00:10:59.419 And he brings it to pass 00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:00.480 in the new. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.519 As he rescues 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:04.980 his people 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:06.659 through Jesus. 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:09.059 And he empowers them 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:10.360 to live for him 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:11.659 through the work 00:11:11.659 --> 00:11:13.219 of his indwelling 00:11:13.219 --> 00:11:14.159 Holy Spirit. 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:15.579 This is mind-blowing 00:11:15.579 --> 00:11:17.079 that God lives in us. 00:11:17.839 --> 00:11:18.439 His followers. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:19.259 He lives in us. 00:11:19.319 --> 00:11:20.399 He hasn't just set us free 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:21.500 to go and do our own thing, 00:11:21.579 --> 00:11:22.480 to try and have a go 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:23.240 on our own strength. 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:24.360 He's given us the power 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:25.579 to live for him. 00:11:27.620 --> 00:11:29.120 Gone is that heart of stone. 00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:31.959 And brought is that heart of flesh 00:11:31.959 --> 00:11:34.039 that beats for him. 00:11:34.839 --> 00:11:35.600 And you see what God 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:36.079 has done here. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:37.240 He has written his word. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:38.000 He has written 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:39.360 his life-giving word 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:39.639 where? 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:40.900 On our hearts. 00:11:42.540 --> 00:11:43.020 And that is, 00:11:43.060 --> 00:11:43.920 if you've got the text there, 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:45.240 that is the pattern of teaching 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:46.560 that Paul is talking about here. 00:11:47.780 --> 00:11:48.400 Do you see it? 00:11:49.540 --> 00:11:50.480 And what does that mean? 00:11:51.420 --> 00:11:52.900 It means that our lives 00:11:52.900 --> 00:11:53.820 as Christians 00:11:53.820 --> 00:11:55.379 should look increasingly 00:11:55.379 --> 00:11:56.320 word-shaped. 00:11:57.340 --> 00:11:58.460 Because this word, 00:11:58.560 --> 00:11:59.360 this living word 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:00.720 has got under our skin. 00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:01.980 Right? 00:12:02.060 --> 00:12:02.879 Think Frank Sinatra. 00:12:02.980 --> 00:12:03.620 I love song lyrics. 00:12:03.780 --> 00:12:04.520 There's another one, right? 00:12:04.520 --> 00:12:05.400 I've got you where? 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:06.240 Under the skin. 00:12:06.259 --> 00:12:07.159 This is where this word 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:07.659 has worked. 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:09.059 It's one, 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:09.600 it's power. 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:10.980 It's shown in our lives. 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:12.699 And it's working away, 00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:13.620 renewing us 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:15.159 day after day after day. 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:16.120 Renewing our hearts 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.000 and our minds. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:19.480 And what has it done? 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:20.340 God's word has what? 00:12:20.419 --> 00:12:21.679 Claimed our allegiance. 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:22.659 Love that phrase. 00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:24.340 It has claimed 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:25.139 our allegiance. 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:26.199 Or as Hannah read there, 00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:27.480 we have been entrusted 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:28.699 to this pattern of teaching. 00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:30.700 I think if you've got 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:31.620 an ESV there 00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:33.220 or a KGV, 00:12:33.300 --> 00:12:33.840 I'm sure as well, 00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:35.340 I think that translation 00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:36.620 probably captures it better 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:37.500 because it talks there 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:39.080 about being handed over 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.000 to this pattern of teaching. 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.200 And that verb there, 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:43.780 handed over, 00:12:43.900 --> 00:12:45.340 is a passive verb. 00:12:46.180 --> 00:12:47.340 Nothing to do with us. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:48.740 Everything that's been done 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:49.400 to us, 00:12:49.420 --> 00:12:50.020 that's what it means. 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:50.460 In other words, 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:51.480 we've been handed over 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:52.379 to God. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:54.600 Now if you think about it, 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:56.700 have you ever had the experience 00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:57.259 where you've moved 00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:58.160 into a new flat? 00:12:59.060 --> 00:12:59.600 Maybe a student, 00:12:59.660 --> 00:13:00.340 you've had that experience 00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:00.960 or you've bought 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:01.540 your first house, 00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:02.440 you've moved into a house 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:03.480 or whatever. 00:13:03.660 --> 00:13:04.960 You've moved somewhere different 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:06.340 and you've signed the contract 00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.480 and you've had a word 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:08.100 with the solicitor, 00:13:08.180 --> 00:13:08.879 the agent's happy, 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.660 he's got his feet. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:11.560 And that day comes 00:13:11.560 --> 00:13:12.600 when you get the keys. 00:13:13.400 --> 00:13:13.540 Right? 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:14.320 Think about that day. 00:13:14.400 --> 00:13:15.200 What do we call it? 00:13:15.900 --> 00:13:16.740 When you're handed the keys, 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:17.540 what's that day called? 00:13:17.900 --> 00:13:18.520 Handover day. 00:13:18.640 --> 00:13:19.900 Never say that human beings 00:13:19.900 --> 00:13:20.860 aren't creative, right? 00:13:20.900 --> 00:13:21.300 How on earth 00:13:21.300 --> 00:13:22.160 did we come up with that one? 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.860 It's handover day. 00:13:25.280 --> 00:13:26.420 And what Paul is saying here 00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:27.399 is that if you're a Christian, 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.699 you picture yourself 00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:30.099 in that scenario. 00:13:30.219 --> 00:13:30.939 You're not the landlord, 00:13:31.099 --> 00:13:31.699 you're not the tenant, 00:13:31.779 --> 00:13:32.719 you're the set of keys. 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:33.959 Right? 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:35.559 You have been handed over 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:36.959 to God. 00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:39.259 This is what he's saying. 00:13:39.339 --> 00:13:40.740 You have been handed over 00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:42.019 to God. 00:13:42.199 --> 00:13:43.079 He owns you now. 00:13:43.219 --> 00:13:44.039 He's in possession. 00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:46.240 And he's going to be the one 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:47.159 that's choosing the furniture. 00:13:47.319 --> 00:13:48.000 He's going to be the one 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:49.099 that's choosing the colours. 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.039 And the blueprint for that 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:51.639 is his word. 00:13:52.839 --> 00:13:54.219 As he moves into our lives, 00:13:54.219 --> 00:13:55.799 this is what it's going to look like. 00:13:57.319 --> 00:13:58.439 And as he transforms us, 00:13:58.479 --> 00:13:59.519 as he transforms us 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:00.459 from the inside out, 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:00.719 friends, 00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:01.199 there's going to be 00:14:01.199 --> 00:14:02.539 a noticeable difference. 00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:05.500 We'll come to love his word. 00:14:05.599 --> 00:14:07.079 We'll come to love worshipping him 00:14:07.079 --> 00:14:08.319 because he's transformed us 00:14:08.319 --> 00:14:09.199 from the inside out. 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:09.719 Let me just say 00:14:09.719 --> 00:14:10.779 one of the greatest thrills 00:14:10.779 --> 00:14:11.779 for me in this job, 00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:13.479 and I wonder if you've had 00:14:13.479 --> 00:14:14.439 this experience before, 00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:15.579 is seeing people come 00:14:15.579 --> 00:14:16.719 to be Christians 00:14:16.719 --> 00:14:17.500 for the first time. 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:18.439 Right? 00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:20.500 And you know what happens? 00:14:20.599 --> 00:14:21.539 You walk up to people 00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:22.059 and you say, 00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:22.419 listen to me, 00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:22.919 I love you. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:23.620 Do you want to read 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:24.340 the Bible together? 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:26.000 And they look at you 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.080 like you're out of your mind. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.659 Why would I be interested in that? 00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:30.919 But they've got sympathy for you, 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:31.799 so they entertain you 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:31.980 and say, 00:14:32.060 --> 00:14:32.820 yeah, I'll do that. 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:34.060 But as you get into 00:14:34.060 --> 00:14:34.620 that conversation, 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:35.200 you realise, 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.019 spiritually speaking, 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:37.200 that the lights are not on. 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:38.060 Right? 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:40.379 And then something happens. 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:42.919 Something happens. 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:44.139 And sometime later, 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:44.899 you go up to that person 00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:45.159 and say, 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:45.940 would you like to read 00:14:45.940 --> 00:14:46.539 the Bible together? 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:47.259 Would you like to read 00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:47.860 Romans together? 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:48.240 And they say, 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:48.580 do you know what? 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.720 I've read it eight times already. 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:52.420 Why have you done that? 00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:53.060 Well, I don't know, 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.220 because one day 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:55.399 Jesus wasn't all that 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:56.080 big a deal to me 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:56.740 and then all of a sudden 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.620 my eyes were opened 00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:59.620 and I can't get enough of him. 00:15:00.540 --> 00:15:01.160 And you say, 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.660 what has gone on there? 00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:03.680 What has happened? 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:06.480 And do you know 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.360 what's happened, friends? 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:09.120 Is that God's got involved. 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:12.259 And the truths of Romans 5, 6 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:13.740 have become true 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.379 for that person. 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.440 Romans 5, 5, 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.560 if you want to turn it back there, 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.279 what does it say 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:17.980 that God has done? 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:19.100 He has poured 00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:20.639 his love 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.040 into the hearts 00:15:22.040 --> 00:15:23.480 of his people 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.259 through the Holy Spirit. 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.379 He has poured that love 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:26.159 into the hearts 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:27.060 of his people. 00:15:28.040 --> 00:15:28.879 That's what's happened. 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:29.960 And also, 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:31.580 this has happened. 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:34.320 Through the Holy Spirit, 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.920 you have come to obey 00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:38.040 from your heart 00:15:38.040 --> 00:15:40.220 the pattern of teaching 00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:41.320 that has now claimed 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:42.180 your allegiance. 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.320 This is what's gone on. 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:44.600 I didn't see it for years, 00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:45.759 but this is what's gone on. 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:46.800 God has been so kind 00:15:46.800 --> 00:15:47.860 and gracious. 00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.580 And he's poured out 00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:49.899 his love 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:50.720 into our hearts. 00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:52.279 And now we see 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:54.740 the words of George Whitefield. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:57.360 When you have once 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.740 tasted of his love 00:15:58.740 --> 00:16:00.159 and felt the power 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:00.820 of his grace 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:01.759 upon your heart, 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:03.039 you will then love 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:03.840 to talk 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:04.820 and walk 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.580 with Jesus. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:08.539 That's it, isn't it? 00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:10.240 Friends, 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:11.019 everyone's serving 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:12.060 someone. 00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:14.560 Paul says to the Christian, 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:15.680 God's calling your life. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.679 God's calling your life. 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:18.079 And she changes you 00:16:18.079 --> 00:16:19.259 is to live as slaves 00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:19.939 to righteousness. 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.179 And here's the second thing 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:22.679 that he says 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.639 from verse 19 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.279 is that everyone's 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:24.939 going somewhere. 00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:27.359 From verse 19, 00:16:27.459 --> 00:16:27.620 again, 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.219 he urges them 00:16:28.219 --> 00:16:29.779 to remember the... 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.099 And do you see 00:16:30.099 --> 00:16:31.039 how he describes this? 00:16:31.079 --> 00:16:31.699 He describes it 00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:33.199 as the downward spiral 00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:33.699 of sin, 00:16:33.859 --> 00:16:34.419 if you like. 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:36.019 That was their lives. 00:16:36.099 --> 00:16:36.679 That was what 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:37.439 they were all about. 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:39.539 Friends, 00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:40.120 that was maybe 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:40.519 the path 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.039 that some of you 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:41.579 are on today 00:16:41.579 --> 00:16:42.699 without Jesus Christ. 00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:44.580 appeal to you 00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:45.540 through this verse 00:16:45.540 --> 00:16:46.620 to come to him 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:47.220 in no life. 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.360 But Paul is saying, 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:49.100 pre-Jesus, 00:16:50.300 --> 00:16:50.860 we were on this 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:51.860 downward spiral of sin. 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:54.379 We were held captive 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:54.960 and we were moving 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.620 in the direction of, 00:16:55.640 --> 00:16:56.100 do you see it? 00:16:56.160 --> 00:16:57.000 Greater and greater 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.560 lawlessness. 00:16:58.640 --> 00:16:59.720 We were drifting away 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.180 from the God 00:17:00.180 --> 00:17:00.820 who made us. 00:17:02.400 --> 00:17:02.800 Let me just, 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.780 as a wee sidebar here, 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:04.700 let me just try and 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:06.220 maybe tell you 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:06.519 about something 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.360 that was on my heart 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:10.379 and as I cried 00:17:10.379 --> 00:17:10.899 as I was thinking 00:17:10.899 --> 00:17:11.699 about it this week 00:17:11.699 --> 00:17:12.619 and it surrounds 00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:13.919 this whole area 00:17:13.919 --> 00:17:14.459 of abortion. 00:17:16.159 --> 00:17:17.599 And as I've listened 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:18.799 to people voice 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:19.319 their opinions 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.019 on social media 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.619 and on the news 00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:21.659 and as I've read articles, 00:17:21.919 --> 00:17:23.519 it struck me 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.639 that as a society, 00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:27.479 we've massively drifted 00:17:27.479 --> 00:17:28.979 from a time 00:17:28.979 --> 00:17:30.379 of rejecting it 00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:32.519 to questioning it 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:35.279 to accepting it. 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:37.000 and now as you watch 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:37.599 what's going on, 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.879 people are celebrating it. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:42.000 And it moves me 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.740 to tears 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:44.240 and let me just say 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:44.980 that as a church, 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:46.240 we don't want to be known 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:47.160 as people who shout 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:48.619 our nose unsympathetically 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:49.539 from the sidelines. 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:51.200 We want to take 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.639 our God-given convictions 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:54.200 about the beauty of life, 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.680 every life that God 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.720 has made in His image 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:59.059 and we want to take 00:17:59.059 --> 00:17:59.899 those convictions 00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:02.099 as we walk alongside 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:03.139 people in love 00:18:03.139 --> 00:18:04.700 and we say, 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.700 let me love you, 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.559 let me help you, 00:18:07.860 --> 00:18:09.019 let me step into 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.759 your pain 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.620 and your questions 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:11.440 and your fears 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:12.200 and together, 00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:15.000 let us help you 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.120 find a better way. 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.019 You know, 00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:19.220 I met up this week 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:19.920 with the counsellor 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.720 for Brunsfield 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.360 and Morningside, 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:23.039 just picking our brains 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.700 on what are some 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:24.019 of the ways 00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:24.759 that we can serve 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:25.660 this community better 00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:26.180 as a church 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:26.759 and she said 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:28.100 the number one need 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:28.940 that she perceives 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:29.700 in our area 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:31.500 is social isolation. 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:33.740 people just don't 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.279 know where to go, 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.000 they've nowhere to turn, 00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:35.880 they've got no friends. 00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:36.819 Friends, 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.480 maybe this morning 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:37.980 you want to think 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:38.519 about ways 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:39.460 that we as a people, 00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.240 God's people here, 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.200 can begin to speak 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.259 into those situations 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:42.920 and help. 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:46.500 But back on track, 00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:47.259 Paul mentions 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:49.079 what was going on 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.140 before Christ got involved, 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:50.880 that we were downward 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.500 spiralling 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:53.119 away from God 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:53.700 in our sin. 00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:56.000 This is what was going on. 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:56.680 Paul reminds them 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.140 that this is what 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.059 they used to be all about 00:18:58.059 --> 00:19:00.539 and the fruit 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:01.419 of that old life 00:19:01.419 --> 00:19:02.899 was producing 00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:03.639 bad fruit. 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.419 It was bad fruit. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.599 Bad fruit 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:09.039 that went to show 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:11.159 that they didn't know God. 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.319 This was their previous life 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.559 before Jesus got involved. 00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:14.819 You know, 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:15.339 I got an email 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.039 a few months ago 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:16.879 from a teacher 00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:17.639 at my old school 00:19:17.639 --> 00:19:19.599 and she asked me to, 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:20.779 because she found out 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.359 I was a minister, 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:21.740 she, 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:22.559 I'm probably desperate 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.259 as well to get people, 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:23.779 she asked me 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.240 if I'd be willing 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:24.879 to come and speak 00:19:24.879 --> 00:19:25.819 at my school assembly. 00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:26.419 Now, 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.379 see if I'd have thought 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:27.720 about that, 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:28.660 at 16 years old, 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.360 sitting in that school 00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:29.920 I thought would have 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:30.860 terrified me 00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:32.200 in front of 900 people. 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:33.900 But sadly, 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:34.940 I wasn't able to make it 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.900 as I checked the dates. 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:38.480 But thinking about my school, 00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:39.220 my old school, 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:39.860 do you know what it did? 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:42.079 It unlocked a whole host 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:42.920 of memories in my mind 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:43.740 that I think I'd forgotten. 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.519 And as well as some 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.440 really cherished ones 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:47.380 about my time at school 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:49.220 and my whole life 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.039 around that age group, 00:19:50.100 --> 00:19:50.640 what it unlocked 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:51.819 was a whole host of memories 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.279 I thought, 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.779 what on earth was I doing? 00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:55.680 And as I thought 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:56.380 about the things 00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:56.980 that I used to do 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.440 and as I thought 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.059 about the way 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:59.059 that I used to treat people 00:19:59.059 --> 00:19:59.579 and the things 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:00.259 that I used to say, 00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:00.500 do you know, 00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:01.779 I was utterly ashamed. 00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.519 And presumably, 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.480 that is what Paul 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.700 is talking about here 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:08.740 when he says, 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.980 but by the grace of God, 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:10.420 this is where 00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:11.220 your lives were heading. 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.279 Do you see him 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.759 say it there, 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.460 verse 21? 00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:16.079 He says, 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:17.220 as you think about 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:17.819 your old life 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.579 and the fruit 00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:19.319 that you were producing, 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.900 are you not ashamed of it? 00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:23.160 I've never had 00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:23.799 those kind of moments 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.339 when you think, 00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:24.799 goodness, 00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:25.980 but by the grace of God, 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:26.639 where would I be? 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.500 What would I be about? 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.339 Where would I be running? 00:20:29.879 --> 00:20:30.159 And friends, 00:20:30.179 --> 00:20:30.939 we need to remember 00:20:30.939 --> 00:20:32.459 the previous chapter 00:20:32.459 --> 00:20:33.379 that's just come here 00:20:33.379 --> 00:20:33.740 in Romans, 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:36.179 that we are saved 00:20:36.179 --> 00:20:37.079 by grace alone, 00:20:37.199 --> 00:20:38.000 through faith alone 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.699 and Christ alone. 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.339 We need to remember 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:40.240 that Jesus has dealt 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:40.959 with that old us 00:20:40.959 --> 00:20:41.559 on the cross. 00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.359 It doesn't have power 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:43.079 over us anymore 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:44.539 because he's taken it for us 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.419 and praise him. 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.279 That stuff doesn't 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:47.879 hold us anymore. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.859 That's not what we're about. 00:20:48.959 --> 00:20:49.879 We are a new creation 00:20:49.879 --> 00:20:50.459 in Christ. 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:50.579 Christ. 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.319 And now, 00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.160 verse 22, 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:54.180 because of the truth 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:55.539 that we are Jesus's 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:57.779 and the truth 00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.980 that the Spirit of God 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:00.100 is working in us 00:21:00.100 --> 00:21:01.299 and he is pointing us 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.559 day after day to Christ, 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.900 that's his job, 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.420 as we abide in Christ, 00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:06.600 we'll begin to see 00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.680 good fruit in our lives. 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.140 See the other side 00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:09.779 of the coin here 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.900 when Jesus got involved. 00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:11.960 Good fruit. 00:21:12.840 --> 00:21:13.579 And I think that's 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.140 what Paul means 00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:15.500 at the end of verse 19 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:17.480 and verse 22 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.340 when he's talking 00:21:18.340 --> 00:21:19.740 about this new life path 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.680 that God has his people on, 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:24.140 the path that is marked 00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:24.920 holiness. 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:27.180 This is what we're on. 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:28.039 Some of your translations 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:28.900 might say there's 00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:29.980 sanctification. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.720 This is the path 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.640 that God has put us on. 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:34.660 This is what he wants to see 00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:35.700 from the lives of his people. 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:36.279 You know, 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:37.240 we often talk as Christians, 00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:37.599 don't we, 00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:38.440 about knowing God's will 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.079 for our lives. 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.920 Ever ask that question? 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.599 What is God's will 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.220 for my life? 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.019 And we normally use it, 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.259 don't we, 00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:45.000 when we're thinking 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.940 about big life decisions 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:46.799 that we need to make. 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:47.660 We've had a crossroads 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.160 and we don't know 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:48.720 what to do. 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.000 You know, 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:50.100 what job do I take? 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:52.000 Where do I move? 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.940 What place do I live? 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.539 Who should I marry? 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:56.299 What should I do? 00:21:56.740 --> 00:21:57.700 And in those moments 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.880 we get frustrated, 00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.480 don't we? 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.799 As we try and do it 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:02.400 our own way 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:03.480 and try and do things 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.220 our own strength 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.480 and saying, 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:04.700 God, 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.500 why are you not answering? 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:06.360 What's going on? 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.460 And we get frustrated 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:09.180 and we remember 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.160 to ourselves 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:10.680 that we watched 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.539 The Wizard of Oz 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.259 when we were younger 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.240 and we think about Dorothy 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.620 and we thought, 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.019 do you know what? 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.000 I'll give this one a shot. 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:15.500 God, 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.200 would you show me 00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:17.180 the yellow brick road? 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:19.019 Would you show me 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.759 the yellow brick road 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.680 and would you put people 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.500 in my path 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:21.960 who will be able 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:23.019 to sing over me, 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:24.339 here is the yellow brick road, 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.220 here is the yellow brick road. 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.839 There's times in life 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:29.180 where we say, 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.359 God, 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:30.059 what is your will 00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.680 for my life? 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:30.859 Well, 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.079 friends, 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:31.759 let me just say, 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.720 not putting that aside, 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.339 there are big things 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:35.000 that we need to do 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:35.640 but God has given 00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:36.400 the means by which 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.380 we can make those decisions 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:39.180 but God's primary will 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:39.940 for our lives 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:42.200 is caught up 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:42.600 in this word, 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.420 sanctification. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.000 Caught up in this word, 00:22:46.060 --> 00:22:46.560 sanctification, 00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:48.040 this lifelong, 00:22:48.520 --> 00:22:49.240 loving, 00:22:49.520 --> 00:22:51.140 transformational process 00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:52.540 that God has us on 00:22:52.540 --> 00:22:53.300 as his people 00:22:53.300 --> 00:22:55.080 through which 00:22:55.080 --> 00:22:56.400 he makes us 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:57.560 day after day 00:22:57.560 --> 00:22:58.260 after day 00:22:58.260 --> 00:22:58.860 after day 00:22:58.860 --> 00:23:00.460 through every life experience 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:02.660 more into the likeness 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.520 of Jesus Christ. 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.340 That's why the Spirit 00:23:04.340 --> 00:23:05.060 lives in us. 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.360 Pointing us to him. 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.360 That's God's primary will 00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:10.140 for our lives 00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:11.320 and it's amazing 00:23:11.320 --> 00:23:12.060 I find this in life 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:13.400 when I'm at that crossroads 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:14.220 and God just says, 00:23:14.360 --> 00:23:15.420 have you tried praying? 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.000 I'm going, 00:23:16.100 --> 00:23:16.220 no, 00:23:16.300 --> 00:23:17.100 I haven't tried praying. 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.320 What does God teach me 00:23:19.320 --> 00:23:19.800 all along? 00:23:19.860 --> 00:23:20.520 Was it patience? 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:21.440 Yeah. 00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:23.760 Friends, 00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:24.540 the fruit of the Spirit 00:23:24.540 --> 00:23:25.660 in our lives, 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.080 love, 00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:28.380 joy, 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:29.820 peace, 00:23:30.760 --> 00:23:31.340 patience, 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:32.620 godliness, 00:23:33.540 --> 00:23:34.020 fruitfulness, 00:23:34.260 --> 00:23:34.660 gentleness, 00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:35.600 self-control. 00:23:35.780 --> 00:23:37.360 What lovely words 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:39.319 have you ever met 00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:40.379 a person in your life 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:41.479 who just oozes 00:23:41.479 --> 00:23:42.199 those things? 00:23:43.939 --> 00:23:44.839 Oozes those things? 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.059 I can think of people 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:46.579 in my life 00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:47.000 who I've met 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.699 over the years 00:23:47.699 --> 00:23:48.159 who've just 00:23:48.159 --> 00:23:49.399 modelled that to me. 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:49.979 Do you know what? 00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.979 I love being around 00:23:50.979 --> 00:23:51.479 those people. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.759 Could be around 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.479 the people all day. 00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.319 Keep on talking. 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.319 Talk about the football. 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.099 Talk about what you... 00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:56.919 Just keep talking 00:23:56.919 --> 00:23:58.299 because I just love 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:58.919 to be around 00:23:58.919 --> 00:23:59.939 people like this. 00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:01.059 Friends, 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:01.479 I just say, 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.459 if you're younger here 00:24:02.459 --> 00:24:03.099 in this church, 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:04.000 can I encourage you 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.519 to get to know 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.500 an older generation? 00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:06.680 Get to know 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.259 the older generation. 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:10.160 Just full of life experience. 00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:10.640 And do you know 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:11.700 where they've got it from? 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:13.140 They've got it from 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:14.460 years and years and years 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.640 of sitting at the feet 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:16.259 of Jesus. 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.539 Day after day 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.180 after day 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.500 sitting at his feet. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:20.900 I tell you, 00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:21.259 there was someone 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.859 in this congregation 00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:22.819 I visited recently. 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:24.259 I went to visit them, 00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:24.859 but do you know what? 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:25.640 I left feeling like 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.380 I'd be visited. 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:29.280 Because we see 00:24:29.280 --> 00:24:30.120 the fruit of the Spirit. 00:24:31.260 --> 00:24:31.540 Friends, 00:24:31.600 --> 00:24:31.940 you know what I think 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:33.280 has occurred to me 00:24:33.280 --> 00:24:33.700 this morning 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:34.720 that the ultimate example 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.440 of these things 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.060 is Jesus. 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.740 It's Him. 00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:39.620 It's Him that we seek. 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.320 It's Him that we're being 00:24:42.320 --> 00:24:43.160 transformed more 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.980 into the likeness of. 00:24:44.040 --> 00:24:44.600 Let me ask you 00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:45.520 just in some small way 00:24:45.520 --> 00:24:45.920 this morning. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.560 Do you see 00:24:46.560 --> 00:24:48.540 the fruit of the Spirit 00:24:48.540 --> 00:24:49.620 growing in your life? 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.640 Do you see that? 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.200 Do you want to see 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.700 more of that? 00:24:52.760 --> 00:24:53.160 I do. 00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:55.900 As God uses these 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:57.280 everyday circumstances 00:24:57.280 --> 00:24:58.240 to mould us 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.019 more into His likeness, 00:24:59.080 --> 00:24:59.780 to teach us 00:24:59.780 --> 00:25:01.240 about our inadequacy 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.360 and to teach us 00:25:02.360 --> 00:25:03.360 about His adequacy, 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.340 His all-sufficiency. 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.380 Friends, 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.040 what fruit are you 00:25:07.040 --> 00:25:09.340 seeing in your life? 00:25:11.040 --> 00:25:12.320 Because Paul would say 00:25:12.320 --> 00:25:13.800 here that that fruit, 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.840 what you're seeing, 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.960 is going to tell you 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:18.340 a lot about the person 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:19.280 that you're serving. 00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:21.460 Do you see it? 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.420 At the end here 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:25.460 at verse 23, 00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:28.740 he talks about 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.540 the fact that 00:25:29.540 --> 00:25:30.519 we're all serving 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.220 one of these two 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:32.320 very different masters. 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.519 And he mentions 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:34.960 the fact that 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.880 these two different masters 00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:36.740 are going to pay out 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.500 at the end of the day 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.700 in two very different ways. 00:25:38.780 --> 00:25:39.240 Do you see it? 00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:41.120 I was thinking this week 00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:42.040 about my first job 00:25:42.040 --> 00:25:43.140 that I had when I was 16, 00:25:43.320 --> 00:25:44.220 before when I was still 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:44.680 at school, 00:25:45.580 --> 00:25:47.320 working at the local restaurant, 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:48.540 driving around 00:25:48.540 --> 00:25:51.700 in my family Ford car 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:53.480 with the green P on the side, 00:25:53.560 --> 00:25:53.820 thought it was 00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:54.500 the B's knees. 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.220 Do you know what I was earning? 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:57.019 I was earning £4.10 an hour. 00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.059 Right, now remember 00:25:59.059 --> 00:25:59.900 this was 2002, 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:01.059 so don't go calling 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:01.599 the authorities 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:02.420 after that one, okay? 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.960 But £4.10 an hour, 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.720 this is what I was earning. 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.279 Loved it. 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.319 But as I look back on that, 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:07.960 I think to myself, 00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:09.180 what terrible pay 00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:10.220 for the amount of effort 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.460 that I put into that job. 00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:13.759 But do you see 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.519 what Paul says here? 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.559 If you've served sin, 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:18.000 if you've given yourself 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.059 to sin all your life, 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:20.180 see when it comes to payday 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.079 at the end of your life, 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.960 see when you total up 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.819 all those hours 00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:25.539 that you spent investing there, 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.779 sin your master 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:28.160 won't give you a gold watch 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:29.860 to mark your retirement, 00:26:30.120 --> 00:26:30.340 right? 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:33.200 It's going to pay out 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.720 in eternal death. 00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.700 This is what it's saying. 00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:37.680 You know, 00:26:37.840 --> 00:26:39.799 we hear Jesus, 00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:40.559 I was reading it this week, 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.620 Jesus in Matthew 25, 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.620 talk about the sheep 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.059 and the goats. 00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:43.940 This is what's going to happen 00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.779 when he comes back. 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.340 Separate the world 00:26:46.340 --> 00:26:47.019 into the sheep 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.720 and the goats. 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:49.180 One group, 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.120 he will take his people 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:50.680 to be with him 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.700 in everlasting joy 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:53.319 and the other group 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:54.740 will go to everlasting torment. 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.920 The place that he talks about 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:57.220 as the place of weeping 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:58.160 and gnashing of teeth 00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.220 doesn't sound great to me. 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.079 I don't know how it works, 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.940 but it doesn't sound like 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:02.600 a place I want me to be 00:27:02.600 --> 00:27:04.160 or want any of you to be 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.279 or God wants you to be. 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.200 Friends, 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:07.839 words coming from 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:09.059 the most loving human being 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:10.339 who has ever walked 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:11.440 this earth. 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.900 Whereas God, 00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:17.540 the one who made us 00:27:17.540 --> 00:27:19.000 originally in his image 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:21.400 and made us his own 00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:21.900 in Christ, 00:27:22.060 --> 00:27:22.980 his payday, 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.700 do you see it? 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.519 It won't be a wage, 00:27:24.540 --> 00:27:25.240 it will be a gift. 00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:27.320 One that we haven't earned 00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:28.700 and it will be a gift 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:31.040 called eternal life. 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.580 Heaven, 00:27:33.540 --> 00:27:34.360 with him, 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.140 worshipping fully, 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.960 no more pain, 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.240 no more sickness, 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.900 just all out worship 00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:42.240 of our glorious 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.120 three in one God 00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:43.540 forever. 00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.620 See, 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.200 these two masters 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.759 are paying out 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:48.900 in two very different ways. 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.160 Friends, 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:49.660 let me just, 00:27:49.820 --> 00:27:50.460 as we draw this 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.180 to a close this morning, 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:52.060 let me just ask you 00:27:52.060 --> 00:27:53.540 to prayerfully consider today 00:27:53.540 --> 00:27:54.480 who are you serving? 00:27:55.560 --> 00:27:56.820 What's your life all about? 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.400 What are you living for? 00:27:59.880 --> 00:28:00.240 Because, 00:28:00.340 --> 00:28:00.800 do you know what? 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.060 You're going to have 00:28:02.060 --> 00:28:02.800 to serve somebody. 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.040 You're going to have 00:28:05.040 --> 00:28:05.720 to serve somebody. 00:28:05.820 --> 00:28:06.519 It may be the devil 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:08.200 or it may be the Lord, 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.060 but you're going to have 00:28:10.060 --> 00:28:10.920 to serve somebody. 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:12.920 You know, 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.620 just as we close, 00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:14.500 what we've got into the habit 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.599 of doing as a family, 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.599 every night when we sit 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.659 around the table 00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:19.339 for dinner together 00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.559 as we just ask this question, 00:28:20.699 --> 00:28:22.279 what was your best bit 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:22.879 about today? 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:23.919 Right? 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.619 So I say to the girls, 00:28:24.699 --> 00:28:25.439 what is your best bit 00:28:25.439 --> 00:28:25.919 about today? 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.399 And they normally say, 00:28:26.419 --> 00:28:26.919 I met this. 00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:27.659 They don't say, 00:28:27.679 --> 00:28:28.139 I met this. 00:28:28.239 --> 00:28:28.919 They're not supposed to get it. 00:28:29.219 --> 00:28:29.599 They say, 00:28:29.679 --> 00:28:30.419 my friend Hannah, 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.119 that's the only one 00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:31.639 that comes up. 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.539 Or we say, 00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.339 go into the park, 00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:34.099 that was my best bit 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:34.679 about today. 00:28:36.719 --> 00:28:37.279 But you know what? 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:37.759 As I've been thinking 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.959 about this passage this week, 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:41.279 it's urged me to ask myself 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:42.220 a different question 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:43.579 every day. 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.519 But not at the end of the day, 00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:47.539 but at the start of the day. 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:50.380 A similar but different question. 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.960 Not what was the best bit 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.640 about my day, 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.480 but to ask myself, 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:55.980 who will it be about today? 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.440 Who will I serve today? 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:02.160 Paul says in the second half 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.140 of Romans chapter 6, 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.299 to the Christians in Rome 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:05.240 and to us this morning 00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:06.100 as God speaks to us 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.740 through his word. 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.339 Make your every day 00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:09.659 about obeying 00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:10.839 and glorifying 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:12.259 the saviour Jesus Christ 00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.199 who's rescued you 00:29:13.199 --> 00:29:14.599 and bought him for himself. 00:29:16.199 --> 00:29:16.539 So friends, 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.379 I realise we've touched 00:29:17.379 --> 00:29:18.379 on a lot of areas there, 00:29:18.439 --> 00:29:19.039 so I just want to give us 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:20.279 a minute just to be quiet. 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.579 And I urge you to just 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.759 pour out your soul 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:25.659 before our all-knowing 00:29:25.659 --> 00:29:27.019 and all-loving God today 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:28.159 and then I'll close. 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:29.779 But don't waste this opportunity 00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.659 before the madness 00:29:30.659 --> 00:29:32.359 and the noise kicks off. 00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:34.639 Just use this moment of silence 00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:35.859 just to reflect your own heart 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.740 with God this morning. 00:29:41.679 --> 00:29:44.359 Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. 00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:48.319 Just from sin and self to cease. 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:52.000 Just from Jesus simply taking 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:55.679 life and rest and joy and peace. 00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:58.719 I'm so glad I learned to trust him. 00:29:59.639 --> 00:30:02.039 Precious Jesus, saviour friend. 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:05.460 And I know that he is with me. 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:08.700 He'll be with me to the end. 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:11.619 Father, what an awesome God you are. 00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:14.039 And Lord, I just pray 00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:16.500 for us this week, 00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.420 whoever we are, 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.599 Lord, you would teach us 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:21.700 wonderful things about who you are. 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:23.740 Lord, help us not to be about 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:25.460 chasing the things of this world, 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:26.980 but help us 00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:28.460 by your grace 00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:30.620 to be those people 00:30:30.620 --> 00:30:31.180 who are 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.680 all out 00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:34.059 in pursuit 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:36.220 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:37.579 So Father, 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.700 we commit our hearts to you 00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.160 this morning, 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.360 realising that there's 00:30:40.360 --> 00:30:41.779 many of us here 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.840 from different experiences 00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:43.500 and backgrounds. 00:30:43.860 --> 00:30:44.799 And I pray, Father, 00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:45.440 that you would, 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.680 by your spirit, 00:30:46.840 --> 00:30:48.100 continue to be at work 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:49.559 in our lives. 00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:50.400 Father, thank you 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:51.100 that you love us. 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:53.100 And so we pray all these things 00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:54.500 in Jesus' precious name. 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.319 Amen.