WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.439 Good morning. Oh, that's not bad. The sun is out. It feels like there's some light at the end of 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:18.719 the rainy tunnel. And today's passage has got nothing controversial in it at all. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:25.199 One of the great things about when you're preaching through a book of the Bible is you 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:30.919 come across passages which you just can't hide from. And that's a good thing because we don't 00:00:30.919 --> 00:00:35.719 want to hide from what the Bible says to us. And what we're going to do, we're going to look at 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:40.439 this passage over a couple of weeks. So I'm not going to say everything here. There'll be some 00:00:40.439 --> 00:00:46.320 juicy stuff for next week. So come back next week and we'll talk about that next week. 00:00:47.219 --> 00:00:50.719 By the way, if you don't know me, my name is Chris. I'm on the pastoral staff here. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:58.739 I'd love to meet you afterwards if I haven't met you already. I used to have an aunt who, 00:00:59.019 --> 00:01:05.039 she was a great aunt, and she had Alzheimer's disease. And for those of you who have got 00:01:05.039 --> 00:01:10.039 relatives or friends who've had Alzheimer's disease, you know that it's a terrible disease 00:01:10.039 --> 00:01:15.480 and it causes you to kind of forget a whole load of things about yourself. You forget your identity. 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:21.540 You forget who you are. You forget who your family is. You forget what you're doing often 00:01:21.540 --> 00:01:29.980 a lot of the time. And my abiding memory of my aunt is going around to visit her in her 00:01:29.980 --> 00:01:35.880 flat. And we were there with the whole family. And I remember seeing her that she would forget 00:01:35.880 --> 00:01:41.120 that we were there. And she would go out to the kitchen. And outside of the kitchen, there 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:47.719 was a goat. And she would stand there talking to the goat as if she was talking to her own 00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:54.240 family. And you didn't know whether you would laugh or you cry. It was one of those kind 00:01:54.240 --> 00:02:01.380 of strange situations because she'd forgotten who she was. She'd forgotten what she was about. 00:02:01.659 --> 00:02:05.120 She'd forgotten how she was meant to relate to all the people around her. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:13.140 And that's the kind of case of the church in Crete that we're looking at in the book of Titus. 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:22.080 And that's often the case with us. We get what I might call gospel amnesia. And that's why we're 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:29.439 looking at the book of Titus to remind us of what it means to be a healthy, living church, 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:34.680 knowing who we are and what we're meant to be here for in an unhealthy world around us. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:40.780 And we kind of mentioned a little bit last week some of the issues that were going on 00:02:40.780 --> 00:02:50.420 in Crete at the time. You see, the church planter Paul is writing to his crack elite soldier Titus. 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:55.780 Okay, you know when there's, Titus is like the Navy SEALs. You know, when everything's going out of 00:02:55.780 --> 00:03:00.340 hand, you send in your best troops to deal and sort out the situation. That's what Titus is. 00:03:00.340 --> 00:03:06.340 He's sent in to deal with a messy situation. The small church, which is in Crete, is surrounded 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:13.840 by a culture which is filled with just lying, corruption, greed, drunkenness, sexual promiscuity. 00:03:14.039 --> 00:03:19.980 It's every man and woman for themselves. This church is supposed to be a beacon of light 00:03:19.980 --> 00:03:24.420 in this community. But what's happened? Some false teachers have come in and they've started 00:03:24.419 --> 00:03:30.699 teaching and saying things like, okay, you've got to stay pure from everybody else around you. 00:03:31.079 --> 00:03:36.739 Okay? Sounds good. But then what they would say is, well, the way you do that is, first of all, 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:42.099 believe in Jesus to get saved. But after that, you've got to keep lots of rules. Okay? To be a 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:46.819 really good Christian, you've got to follow the rules. And you should do this. You shouldn't eat 00:03:46.819 --> 00:03:53.400 that. You should do this. And that's what's going to make you a good Christian. And that's what we 00:03:53.400 --> 00:04:00.859 called last week the performance-based religion. We call it the PBR virus, right? It infected the 00:04:00.859 --> 00:04:05.459 church. And when they got the virus, what was happening? It was creating division in families. 00:04:06.359 --> 00:04:10.979 And some people who kept the rules felt they were superior. Some people who didn't keep the rules 00:04:10.979 --> 00:04:17.420 felt they were inferior. And everybody in their actual lives reflected nothing of the fruit of 00:04:17.420 --> 00:04:23.980 love, joy, peace, and the goodness that is meant to flow from the gospel. They've got gospel amnesia. 00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:33.439 And so Paul starts off the passage, and have your bulletin with you. And he says, basically, 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:40.039 Titus, but as for you, not like these guys, these other false teachers, but as for you, Titus, 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:47.780 teach what accords with sound doctrine. The way you as the church in Crete are going to be who you're 00:04:47.780 --> 00:04:54.700 meant to be is not by telling people to keep all the rules. That's not going to change you. The way 00:04:54.700 --> 00:05:00.740 that you're going to be this transformed community is if you teach and you model a lifestyle which is 00:05:00.740 --> 00:05:09.400 infected with another virus, which is the gospel of grace. You see, when you get grace, then it shines 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:15.199 out in your actions because you get the PBR virus and it tells you you should not sin. It tells you 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:21.239 you should be different, which only makes you feel bad because you're struggling to do that anyway. 00:05:22.599 --> 00:05:30.359 But the gospel tells you, you need not sin. You can be different because we have a savior, 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:38.160 a greater savior, who has defeated the power of sin and whose love and approval is more significant, 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:45.460 more satisfying than any reputation that you could seek, than any desire that you seek to be fulfilled. 00:05:46.660 --> 00:05:54.960 And this is good news, that we have an amazing savior. And if you get that seed continually sown in your heart, 00:05:54.959 --> 00:06:03.819 his love for you, fruit will be born. That's what he's saying. Okay? And he's saying that where you begin 00:06:03.819 --> 00:06:08.759 to see the difference, if you want to know whether this seed of the gospel is really working in your life, 00:06:09.099 --> 00:06:16.399 then look in, not just here on a Sunday, look in your everyday trenches of life. That's where you'll see 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:21.379 whether you've actually understood the gospel. It's in your private life. It's in your public life. 00:06:21.379 --> 00:06:27.379 And what Paul's going to do in this passage is he's going to go through the whole household, basically. 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:32.100 He's going through older men, younger men, older women, younger women, and bond servants. 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:37.439 All of them would have lived in the same kind of house together, and there would have been people coming in 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:41.480 and out of the home. It wasn't like our private kind of Hong Kong homes. It would have been open. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:45.600 People would have come in, come out. And so your faith is to be seen in the kitchen. 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:48.420 It's to be seen in the living room. It's to be seen in the workshop. 00:06:48.420 --> 00:06:55.660 What shines out, if you've got the gospel, is a life which is different. 00:06:57.540 --> 00:07:03.780 And Paul basically says, if you look in verse 10, the kind of climax to all of this, 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:08.560 and today we're really just going to focus on older men and older women. 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:12.480 And if you're younger, listen in, because if you don't think you're old, 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:15.660 well, this has still got something for you. 00:07:15.660 --> 00:07:24.860 But verse 10 says, do you know what God's great mission strategy for the church is? 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:29.800 Verse 10 tells you what his mission strategy for the church is. 00:07:30.320 --> 00:07:33.460 It's not great speakers. It's not great programs. It's not great events. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:39.240 It's God's mission strategy is ordinary Christians living out their lives, 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:47.579 and verse 10 says, in everything, so that in everything, everything, that means in Greek, everything. 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:51.900 It means like how you're disciplining your kids, how you're treating your colleagues, 00:07:52.139 --> 00:07:55.879 how you're changing the diapers of your kids, all those different things. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:00.920 In everything, our lives may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior. 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:04.720 Adorn means make attractive. 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:09.319 You know, like when I cook food, the food doesn't taste great, 00:08:09.400 --> 00:08:12.000 and the presentation doesn't make you even want to taste it. 00:08:13.020 --> 00:08:18.220 But when a Michelin star chef makes food, the taste will be amazing, 00:08:19.259 --> 00:08:25.180 but the way he presents it draws you, attracts you to want to taste it. 00:08:25.180 --> 00:08:29.480 That's in the same way that gospel is meant to do in our lives. 00:08:29.540 --> 00:08:31.519 The gospel is always meant to be amazing. 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:33.620 It is amazing news. 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:37.580 But in our lives, our marriages, our relationships are like God's presentation, 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:41.360 so that the world can see this is good, come and taste it. 00:08:42.100 --> 00:08:43.419 That's God's mission strategy. 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:45.320 That's what this is all about. 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:48.600 It's all about counter-cultural living, 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:51.980 which draws people to see how beautiful our Savior is. 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:56.840 So the question is, when people look at you, 00:08:57.180 --> 00:09:00.800 when people look at Watermark, do they see any difference? 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:04.019 Do they see any difference? 00:09:06.060 --> 00:09:08.320 So we're going to focus today on character. 00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:11.960 Next week, we'll look at younger men and younger women. 00:09:12.899 --> 00:09:18.240 But I want to talk about what character to develop 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:20.120 and then how we build that character. 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:21.720 Okay, just two simple things. 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:25.159 What character did you develop? 00:09:25.920 --> 00:09:31.539 You know, we live in an age where we lack heroes, right? 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:34.420 If a Martian was to come down and say, 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:36.039 take me to your leader, 00:09:36.920 --> 00:09:38.120 who would you take him to? 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:43.779 Like Taylor Swift, Tim Cook, Li Ka-Shing? 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:44.960 Who would you take them to? 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:50.040 You probably wouldn't take them to somebody of character, 00:09:50.820 --> 00:09:52.680 known for character. 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:59.180 Because a hero is someone who has courage to sacrifice themselves 00:09:59.180 --> 00:10:01.420 for the sake of others. 00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:05.819 But we live in a society which values self-fulfillment 00:10:05.819 --> 00:10:11.219 and self-expression more than self-denial and self-sacrifice. 00:10:11.419 --> 00:10:14.179 You know, in the past, duty and sacrifice, 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:15.360 particularly for your family, 00:10:15.479 --> 00:10:16.919 everyone thought that's what you should do. 00:10:17.259 --> 00:10:18.539 And selfishness was wrong. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:22.259 But because many of you have experienced, 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:25.019 people are just dutiful, often devoid of love. 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:28.599 So what happens is now, culture has shifted. 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:32.719 And the great philosopher Elsa says, 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:35.700 It's time to see what I can do, 00:10:35.920 --> 00:10:37.820 to test the limits and break through. 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:41.360 No right or wrong, no rules for me, I'm free. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:43.560 Let it go, let it go. 00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:45.160 And I'm not going to sing it to you, okay? 00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:45.800 It's okay. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:47.399 You can be... 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:48.540 You see, what she's saying, 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:50.240 that's the kind of song of the age, right? 00:10:50.420 --> 00:10:51.500 What she's saying is, 00:10:51.800 --> 00:10:54.360 you mustn't let others dictate to you how to live your life. 00:10:54.420 --> 00:10:55.160 Don't be restricted. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:56.360 Fulfill your dreams. 00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:58.019 Be true to yourself. 00:10:58.540 --> 00:10:59.840 Achieve your potential. 00:11:00.800 --> 00:11:01.100 Right? 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:04.840 So, work, we have to be fulfilled. 00:11:05.040 --> 00:11:06.440 If you're not fulfilled, change your job. 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:08.960 In marriage, you've got to feel fulfilled 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:10.480 if you don't change your partner. 00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:16.220 And we're left with very few models of character 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:18.620 who self-sacrifice for the sake of others. 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:19.700 You know, like people in the past, 00:11:19.800 --> 00:11:23.340 Nelson Mandela and Gandhi and people who were put in that. 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:24.820 We have very few of those. 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:26.019 Instead, we have celebrities 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:29.100 who do self-expression, 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:34.040 like Lady Gaga or Elsa or continue the list. 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:39.279 And Paul is speaking to his culture, 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:41.680 to the older guys and women, 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:42.440 and he says, 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:44.440 you are to be a people, 00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:46.399 not of self-fulfillment, 00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:48.180 like all the other Cretans were following that, 00:11:48.680 --> 00:11:51.019 but you are to be people of character. 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:59.220 And when the Bible talks about older and younger men and women, 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:01.399 we don't exactly know what age they're talking about, 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.539 but in Judaism, 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:04.579 we know that older men or women 00:12:04.579 --> 00:12:06.740 could be anywhere from 40 upwards. 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:11.460 So, if you're going through a midlife crisis at the moment, 00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:12.240 okay, 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:17.980 40 or upwards was considered to be an older man, 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:18.899 more or less, 00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:22.000 and an older woman. 00:12:25.779 --> 00:12:27.920 But let's look at what the passage says 00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:29.159 about older men and older women. 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:29.800 Verse 2. 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:31.120 I'm looking at your bulletin. 00:12:31.220 --> 00:12:31.539 It says, 00:12:32.180 --> 00:12:34.379 older men are to be sober-minded, 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:35.639 dignified, 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:37.200 or worthy of respect, 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:37.940 that's what it means, 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:39.440 self-controlled, 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:40.940 sound in faith, 00:12:41.060 --> 00:12:41.639 in love, 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:43.240 and in steadfastness. 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:47.039 I don't know if you noticed 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:48.759 that pretty well 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:50.139 every one of those characteristics 00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:52.299 are everything that the Cretans weren't. 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:53.039 Okay? 00:12:53.560 --> 00:12:54.100 Everything, 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:55.379 sober-minded, 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:58.320 that means not drunk. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:00.500 Everyone else was getting drunk. 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:01.539 Dignified, 00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:03.500 that means worthy of respect. 00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:05.639 Something in your character 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:07.820 that is worth respecting 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:09.019 and looking up to. 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:11.580 Nobody else was doing that. 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.600 The sound in faith, 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:13.120 love, 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:14.180 and steadfastness. 00:13:14.280 --> 00:13:15.480 Sound means healthy. 00:13:16.160 --> 00:13:17.100 You ought to be healthy. 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:19.340 And this sound doctrine 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:20.639 is meant to lead to sound faith, 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.040 love, 00:13:21.160 --> 00:13:22.680 and steadfastness. 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:24.100 We don't always kind of say the word 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:25.580 steadfastness. 00:13:25.660 --> 00:13:26.200 Do you know what that means? 00:13:26.280 --> 00:13:27.639 That means grit. 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:31.080 That means godly grit. 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:32.680 You know, 00:13:33.040 --> 00:13:33.759 there's a psychologist 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:37.480 who's done a study on grit, 00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:39.440 and she's called Duckworth, 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:40.220 and she says, 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.740 grit is the ability 00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:43.840 to persevere 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.940 in pursuing a future goal 00:13:45.940 --> 00:13:48.140 over a long period of time 00:13:48.140 --> 00:13:50.340 and not giving up. 00:13:50.560 --> 00:13:52.280 It's having stamina. 00:13:52.780 --> 00:13:54.300 It's sticking with your future 00:13:54.300 --> 00:13:55.220 day in, 00:13:55.400 --> 00:13:56.140 day out, 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:57.380 not just for the week, 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:58.600 not just for the month, 00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.840 but for years, 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:01.980 and working really hard 00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:03.840 to make that future a reality. 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:05.920 Grit is living life 00:14:05.920 --> 00:14:07.020 like it's a marathon, 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:08.199 not a sprint. 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:10.460 That's what Paul's saying. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:12.340 Older men should have that. 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:13.980 Now, 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:17.679 I know not every older man 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:18.980 fits into this category, 00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.199 and if you're younger, 00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:21.740 listen up to these things, 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.819 but I know many older men 00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:24.480 get to the point 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:25.360 where you feel like 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.579 you've done enough. 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:27.639 You know, 00:14:27.779 --> 00:14:28.779 you've made enough money, 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:30.279 you've served enough, 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:32.699 and you begin to coast 00:14:32.699 --> 00:14:33.860 spiritually. 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:37.300 You know, 00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:39.220 what I often see is 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:40.800 people lose themselves 00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:41.740 in their work. 00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:42.840 You know, 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:43.919 they lose themselves 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:44.759 in their hobbies, 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:46.440 in their golf, 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.360 in their gadgets, 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:49.340 in all these different things, 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:51.700 and the whole direction 00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:52.300 of your life 00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:53.019 becomes about 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:54.019 getting enough money 00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:55.159 to make sure 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:55.899 your kids 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:57.440 are just safely in college, 00:14:57.580 --> 00:14:58.740 and then you can retire, 00:14:59.039 --> 00:14:59.960 and then life 00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:00.620 will be wonderful. 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:00.820 Wonderful. 00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:05.560 And some of us 00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:06.379 have lost, 00:15:07.140 --> 00:15:08.080 have stopped 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:08.860 boldly 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.879 taking steps 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:10.840 of faith, 00:15:11.160 --> 00:15:12.500 and having a godly 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.900 day-to-day grit 00:15:13.900 --> 00:15:14.760 where we're seeing 00:15:14.760 --> 00:15:15.879 how can I serve? 00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:17.360 How can I love people? 00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:18.220 How can I, 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.040 who are the people 00:15:19.040 --> 00:15:20.300 that I can be investing 00:15:20.300 --> 00:15:21.320 my life in? 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:22.900 Because you're coasting, 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:25.440 and you've lost 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:26.800 godly grit. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:29.659 I don't know 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:30.339 if that's you. 00:15:31.359 --> 00:15:32.319 Because if that's you, 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:34.079 what I often see happening 00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:35.319 is as people go on 00:15:35.319 --> 00:15:36.379 later in life, 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:37.859 and life has been 00:15:37.859 --> 00:15:38.579 all about your own 00:15:38.579 --> 00:15:39.459 fulfillment, 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.359 then things don't 00:15:40.359 --> 00:15:41.000 kind of work out 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:41.379 your way. 00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:42.579 You get kind of grumpy, 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.019 and cynical, 00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:45.679 and stubborn, 00:15:46.199 --> 00:15:46.639 and you think, 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:46.979 oh, 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.139 these young kids 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:49.059 these days, 00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:49.799 you know, 00:15:50.099 --> 00:15:50.859 they think everything 00:15:50.859 --> 00:15:52.099 should fall into their laps, 00:15:52.099 --> 00:15:53.219 not like we were 00:15:53.219 --> 00:15:54.059 in the old days. 00:15:54.059 --> 00:15:57.539 I wonder 00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:59.459 if you can see 00:15:59.459 --> 00:16:00.199 that in you. 00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:02.199 Because if you can, 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:02.959 in the Bible, 00:16:03.079 --> 00:16:04.119 there's just this amazing 00:16:04.119 --> 00:16:05.279 guy who I think 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:06.339 is so inspirational. 00:16:06.479 --> 00:16:07.159 He's called Caleb. 00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:08.699 Caleb, 00:16:08.819 --> 00:16:08.979 I mean, 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:09.719 he's the dude. 00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:10.239 I mean, 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:12.279 when Israel 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:13.899 is going into 00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:14.819 the promised land, 00:16:15.079 --> 00:16:16.139 and they kind of 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.500 go in, 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.500 they send spies out, 00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:18.000 first of all, 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:18.819 to go and scout out 00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:19.259 the land. 00:16:19.979 --> 00:16:21.339 And they go in there, 00:16:21.479 --> 00:16:21.979 and there are these 00:16:21.979 --> 00:16:23.059 big guys in there, 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:23.919 but it's an amazing 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:24.319 land. 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:25.459 The spies come back, 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:26.299 say to the people 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:26.740 of Israel, 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:27.279 hey, 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.740 this land, 00:16:28.839 --> 00:16:29.379 it's amazing, 00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:29.860 but there's some 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:30.519 big people there. 00:16:31.479 --> 00:16:32.059 They're frightening. 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:32.959 Don't think we should 00:16:32.959 --> 00:16:33.479 go in there. 00:16:34.339 --> 00:16:35.120 But Caleb, 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.519 and one other guy, 00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:36.979 Joshua, 00:16:37.079 --> 00:16:37.240 say, 00:16:37.319 --> 00:16:37.579 no, 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:39.139 we can go in there, 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.559 because our God 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:41.799 is bigger than those guys. 00:16:42.339 --> 00:16:43.799 He's bigger than those guys. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.120 But everyone else 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.299 refuses to listen to them, 00:16:46.819 --> 00:16:47.620 and they just kind of 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.399 wander around the desert. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.819 Fast forward 40 years. 00:16:50.599 --> 00:16:51.480 Whole generation 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.139 has died out 00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:53.039 except for two people. 00:16:53.839 --> 00:16:54.980 Caleb and Joshua. 00:16:55.819 --> 00:16:56.179 Caleb 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:59.879 is 85 years old. 00:17:00.939 --> 00:17:02.299 He's 85 years old. 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.199 The people of Israel 00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:04.079 go into the land, 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:05.119 they take Jericho, 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.019 and they're kind of 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:07.139 just beginning to settle 00:17:07.139 --> 00:17:07.799 into the land. 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:08.339 And do you know 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:09.099 what Caleb does? 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.940 He's 85 years old. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:12.000 He goes up to Joshua, 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:12.440 and he says, 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:12.779 hey, 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.159 Josh. 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.539 He says, 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:19.259 God promised me 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.859 that there's an area 00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:21.659 over there 00:17:21.659 --> 00:17:22.599 where there are people 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:24.440 who are against God, 00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:25.460 and he's promised me 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:26.940 that I should go in 00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:27.799 and take that land. 00:17:28.899 --> 00:17:30.180 And I want to go in there 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:31.279 because my God is great, 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:31.920 and he's always done 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:33.019 what he said he's going to do. 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.559 So will you let me go? 00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:36.220 And Joshua says, 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:36.940 okay, fine. 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:38.579 Go in and take that mountain. 00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:41.819 And off goes Caleb 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:42.720 on his, like, 00:17:42.879 --> 00:17:43.299 Zimmer frame, 00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:44.299 on his little walker, 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.740 up the mountain 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.579 to go and fight 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.460 these people, 00:17:47.699 --> 00:17:48.460 to overtake it 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.859 so that this land 00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:51.000 becomes part of God's 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.119 promised inheritance 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:52.619 to him. 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:55.359 85 years old. 00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:56.759 Most of us 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.500 would be wanting 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:58.480 just to sit and watch 00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.599 the TV at that age. 00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:00.919 Not Caleb. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:02.539 Caleb was still going. 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:05.079 He had godly grit. 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:07.839 I want to be like him 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.859 when I'm older. 00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:10.159 Don't you? 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.099 Do you want to be somebody 00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:14.220 who's just managed 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:14.879 to get a handicap 00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:16.299 of 25 in your golf 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.959 and you're content? 00:18:19.379 --> 00:18:20.139 Because when you get 00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:20.500 to heaven, 00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:21.319 God's not going to say, 00:18:21.459 --> 00:18:22.379 how good was your handicap? 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.799 He's going to say, 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:25.399 how were you faithful? 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.500 Where did you persevere? 00:18:27.939 --> 00:18:28.639 Where did you have 00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.639 sound love, 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.220 faith, 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.559 and steadfastness? 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:35.679 So some of you here, 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.959 you need to hear, 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:39.140 have you got gospel amnesia? 00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:40.940 Have you forgotten 00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:41.880 what God has called you 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:42.319 to be? 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:44.340 And the call for you 00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:47.340 is stop coasting, 00:18:47.840 --> 00:18:48.620 step up. 00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:51.039 God wants to use you 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:53.340 to be a godly man 00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:55.120 who's going to influence others. 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.079 So look out, 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:56.600 serve, 00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:58.100 look to see who you can mentor, 00:18:58.319 --> 00:18:59.400 look to see who the people 00:18:59.400 --> 00:19:00.259 around you are 00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.600 because God will use you. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:07.219 That's the guys, 00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:08.819 someone worthy 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.839 of looking up to. 00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.500 But it works the same 00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.839 with the older women too. 00:19:14.679 --> 00:19:15.359 Verse 3, 00:19:15.719 --> 00:19:16.279 it says, 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:18.299 the older women, 00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:20.460 they are to be reverent 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.160 in behavior, 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.099 not slanderers 00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:24.559 or slaves to much wine. 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.700 Reverent in behavior, 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.519 that's a word 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.160 that means 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.899 there is a godliness 00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:31.759 that flows 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:33.639 from the inside out. 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.579 Flows from the inside, 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.119 there's something 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:37.740 innerly attractive 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:39.700 which just flows out, 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.399 it flows out 00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:41.500 into your speech, 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.240 it flows out 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.099 into your conduct, 00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:44.439 it flows out. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.339 Just like with men, 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.419 there's temptations 00:19:49.419 --> 00:19:50.240 for older women. 00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.519 I heard one speaker 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.339 who said it like this, 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.459 older women 00:19:55.459 --> 00:19:56.119 can sometimes 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:57.039 quit caring 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.980 what people think, 00:19:58.659 --> 00:19:59.519 so they lose 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.199 their filters 00:20:00.199 --> 00:20:01.480 on speaking their mind 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.399 or talking badly 00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:03.099 about people. 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.919 Anyone know 00:20:04.919 --> 00:20:05.699 what I'm talking about? 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:06.519 He said, 00:20:07.159 --> 00:20:08.199 what is significant 00:20:08.199 --> 00:20:10.319 is that that ugly spirit 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.279 was always there. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:13.619 It was just hidden 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:14.619 under the charms 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:15.220 of beauty 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:15.940 and the desire 00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:17.339 not to appear mean. 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.299 But as you get older, 00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:19.740 he says, 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.799 your natural physical 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.740 beauty fades 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:23.500 and you quit caring 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.420 what people think 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.799 and then this selfish, 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.700 ugly character 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.440 comes out. 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.539 You see, 00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:34.019 by contrast, 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:34.980 there are older women 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.960 that I know 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:38.279 who are tough as steel. 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:40.359 They've been through life. 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:41.740 They are not 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.699 pushovers at all 00:20:42.699 --> 00:20:44.219 but they are the sweetest, 00:20:44.419 --> 00:20:46.039 most loving people 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.779 that I know. 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.779 And they seem 00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:49.719 more beautiful 00:20:49.719 --> 00:20:51.319 in their older age 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:52.779 than they ever did 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.839 in their younger years. 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:56.199 Their beautiful character 00:20:56.199 --> 00:20:57.919 grows and shines. 00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:58.919 I don't know if you know 00:20:58.919 --> 00:20:59.639 people like that. 00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:01.399 I know people like that. 00:21:01.699 --> 00:21:02.659 There is something 00:21:02.659 --> 00:21:04.419 attractive about them. 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:07.000 I used to go 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.019 and visit two old people 00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:09.160 in their 80s. 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:11.820 Every time I visited one, 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:13.039 I went away thinking, 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.779 when I'm your age, 00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.759 I want to be like you. 00:21:19.560 --> 00:21:21.120 I went to another one 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:23.060 and I came away thinking, 00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:24.060 God, 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.140 please don't ever 00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:26.240 let me be like her 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.180 when I'm her age. 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:29.799 Because you see, 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:31.640 we will display 00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:32.580 in our old age 00:21:32.580 --> 00:21:34.140 the fruit of the seed 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:34.960 that we've been watering 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.820 in our lives. 00:21:37.820 --> 00:21:39.080 And what would it look like, 00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:39.759 this preacher said, 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.980 if your physical beauty, 00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:41.440 charm, 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.160 and your filters 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.180 were stripped away, 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:45.080 how beautiful would you be? 00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:47.019 It's challenging, right? 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.080 It's challenging. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:51.359 Because whether you're a guy 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:52.439 or whether you're a woman, 00:21:53.399 --> 00:21:53.839 there is a, 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.779 we talked about 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:56.359 there's an outside of the cup 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:58.019 and there's an inside of the cup. 00:21:58.879 --> 00:22:00.559 There's what you want others to see 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.619 and then there's what's hidden 00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:02.279 in your heart. 00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:04.419 You can clean the outside 00:22:04.419 --> 00:22:05.899 and make yourself look beautiful 00:22:05.899 --> 00:22:06.639 on the outside. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.019 But what happens is 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:11.000 old age strips much 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.899 of the outside away. 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:12.720 Your success, 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:14.399 overtaken by others. 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.539 Your physical beauty, 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.519 sagging. 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:18.279 The education background 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.180 where you can't remember 00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:20.099 anything you learn. 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:23.440 And what you're left with 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:25.440 is what spills out 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.460 from what was inside. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.900 Someone once said, 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:31.579 be more concerned 00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:33.259 with your character 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:34.460 than your reputation. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.200 Because your character 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:37.759 is what you really are 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:39.000 while your reputation 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.359 is merely what you think, 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:42.039 is merely what others 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:43.259 think you are. 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.019 Right? 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:48.160 Be more concerned 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:48.879 with your character 00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.859 than your reputation. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.160 But the question is, 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.920 if you want to be someone 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:53.859 worthy of respect, 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.819 if you want to be someone 00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.960 reverent in behavior, 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.559 how do you grow 00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.220 to be somebody 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.379 of that character? 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:01.799 And so this is the second thing 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.420 I want to talk about. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.359 It's just this growing, 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.639 how do we develop 00:23:04.639 --> 00:23:05.339 this character? 00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:07.480 There's a few things 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.240 I want to just mention. 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:09.379 First thing is this. 00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.500 Character 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:12.460 is built 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.599 in the ordinary, 00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:15.180 everyday moments 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:15.759 of life. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:16.519 There's one or two, 00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.579 there's three or four 00:23:17.579 --> 00:23:18.380 major things 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:19.359 that happen in your life, 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.660 you know, 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:20.940 school, 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.299 marriage, 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.140 kids, 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:24.779 retirement. 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.640 In between 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.519 all those years, 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:29.319 there is 10,000 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.819 little moments 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:32.180 that come our way. 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.500 It is in those moments 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:37.660 and how you see 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.720 and respond 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.799 to those moments 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:41.119 that will develop 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:42.539 and change your character. 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.779 It's the annoyances, 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.559 it's the struggles, 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.319 it's the things 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.799 that you're facing right now. 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.200 This is what is shaping 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:48.880 your character. 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.759 Whatever age you are, 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.960 whatever age you are, 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.380 you are right now 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:55.400 becoming the person 00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:55.980 you will be. 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.259 You are right now 00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.599 making decisions, 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.440 you are choosing 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.660 who you will become. 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:02.660 Did you know that? 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:03.900 This week, 00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:05.160 you are becoming 00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:06.340 part of that process. 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:06.800 You know, 00:24:06.860 --> 00:24:07.540 you're forming 00:24:07.540 --> 00:24:08.480 the bedrock 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:10.060 of the rest of your life 00:24:10.060 --> 00:24:10.920 this week. 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:13.900 And the thing is, 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.660 you can't say, 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:15.720 well, 00:24:16.280 --> 00:24:17.460 when I'm less busy 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.759 then I work on my character. 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:21.240 You can't say that 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.980 because every day 00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:24.000 you put off forgiving, 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.280 every day 00:24:25.280 --> 00:24:26.660 you stay utterly obsessed 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:27.600 by your work, 00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:28.680 every day 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:30.040 you actively continue 00:24:30.040 --> 00:24:31.280 in criticalness, 00:24:31.560 --> 00:24:33.040 you're adding another brick 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.299 into sealing up 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.279 the wall of your heart 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.799 and cementing in habits 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.619 of ungodliness. 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.019 That's challenging. 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.259 And as you get older, 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:42.559 you know, 00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.700 it becomes even harder 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.319 to change 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.399 and harder to knock down 00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:45.940 those walls. 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:50.079 But where do we go with this? 00:24:50.139 --> 00:24:51.619 How does God change us? 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:54.480 James 1 verse 2 says, 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:56.799 Consider it pure joy, 00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:57.940 my brothers and sisters, 00:24:58.440 --> 00:25:00.420 whenever you face 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:03.140 trials of many kinds. 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.519 Consider it pure joy 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:09.599 because you know 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:11.099 that the testing 00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:13.039 of your faith 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.099 produces 00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:16.599 steadfastness, 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:17.519 grit. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:20.319 Let steadfastness, 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:21.059 let grit 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:22.420 finish its work 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:23.379 so that you may be 00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:24.920 mature and complete, 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:26.000 not lacking anything. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:28.339 Testing of your faith. 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:29.359 Romans 5 says this, 00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:31.799 We rejoice in our sufferings 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:33.180 knowing that suffering 00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:35.200 produces endurance. 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.279 That's grit. 00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:39.879 Endurance produces character 00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:42.339 and character produces hope. 00:25:42.639 --> 00:25:44.200 And hope doesn't disappoint us, 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:44.980 it says, 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.879 because God's poured out 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:46.819 his love in our hearts. 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:48.000 Did you hear what it said? 00:25:48.919 --> 00:25:49.700 He said, 00:25:49.899 --> 00:25:51.639 there's no three-month course 00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:52.500 on character 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.379 where at the end 00:25:53.379 --> 00:25:54.119 you get a certificate 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:54.639 and it's like, 00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.480 ooh, made it. 00:25:56.939 --> 00:25:58.759 Character is built every day 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.619 through the testing 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.740 of your life, 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.779 through the circumstances 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.679 that you go through, 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:04.579 the ups and downs of life, 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:07.599 everyday life 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:09.119 in your home. 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:11.299 What's going on 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:12.179 in your workplace? 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:14.279 That's where you learn character. 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:15.960 You know, 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:18.180 do you know how you get a, 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.019 you make a gemstone 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.720 like a diamond 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.620 or a ruby 00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:23.120 from being a rough stone 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.340 to being smooth? 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.019 Do you know the process, 00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:27.640 how it works? 00:26:28.840 --> 00:26:30.360 It's through abrasion. 00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:32.120 It's through rubbing 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:34.160 the rough stone 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.120 with all of its imperfections 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:38.079 against another hard, 00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.120 gritty surface 00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:42.460 continually over time 00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.299 until it gets smoother. 00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:44.700 right? 00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.720 But do you know 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.539 what happens is 00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.559 as the process 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:48.440 of kind of grinding 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:49.399 happens, 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:51.839 it creates heat 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:55.519 and you have 00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:56.859 to stop it overheating 00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:58.559 because if you allow 00:26:58.559 --> 00:27:00.359 that heat to continue, 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.859 it will crack the gem. 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.139 So what they do 00:27:03.139 --> 00:27:04.680 is they pour cold water 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:06.240 onto the gem 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:06.839 to stop it 00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.500 from overheating 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.000 and cracking. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:10.200 over time, 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:11.099 it then becomes 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:11.880 this beautiful 00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:13.480 shaped diamond. 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:15.940 That's how God 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:16.819 grows our character. 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:18.200 You see, 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.079 we're all rough diamonds. 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:19.940 We all have 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.819 so many things 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.519 in our lives 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.660 where if I was 00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.420 to create the list 00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:23.940 of all the things 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.799 I wanted to change, 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.619 it would reach 00:27:25.619 --> 00:27:26.339 higher than the room. 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:29.599 But what God does, 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:31.819 he brings abrasion, 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:33.119 he brings rubbing 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.019 into our lives 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:35.059 through circumstances 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:37.139 to knock off 00:27:37.139 --> 00:27:37.779 those edges. 00:27:39.679 --> 00:27:40.460 Tim Keller said, 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.279 suffering is 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.299 God's gymnasium. 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.679 It reveals 00:27:43.679 --> 00:27:44.779 our spiritual weaknesses 00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:46.399 just as a workout 00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:48.339 reveals physical weaknesses. 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:49.460 You see, 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.279 I don't know 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:50.839 what he's bringing 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:51.500 into your life 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.159 right at the moment. 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:52.839 You know what 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.579 I tend to do? 00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:56.559 When he brings 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.919 people, 00:27:59.419 --> 00:28:00.599 annoying people 00:28:00.599 --> 00:28:02.019 into my life, 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.539 when he brings 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.519 circumstances 00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:07.460 frustrating circumstances 00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.420 into my life, 00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:11.700 I think everything else 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.359 and everyone else 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:13.000 is the problem. 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:14.259 Right? 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.039 It's, 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.180 I mean, 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:19.160 it's my wife, 00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.379 it's my family, 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:21.579 it's my job, 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.639 it's my this, 00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:23.619 that's the problem. 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.920 But actually, 00:28:26.139 --> 00:28:26.940 what God is doing, 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:28.379 he's inviting us 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:30.779 to see what is 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.980 inside of the cup 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.960 in our lives 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.680 and to begin 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.200 to knock off 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:34.700 the edges 00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:36.019 in our lives. 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.680 I think I may have 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.240 shown you 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:41.259 this before, 00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:41.799 but let me, 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:45.700 let me get in trouble here. 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:50.920 There's some water 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:51.759 here. 00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.500 If I, 00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:55.019 if I shake this water, 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:58.879 it came out of the cup, 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:01.619 why did the water 00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:02.480 come out of the cup? 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.200 Why? 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:09.039 Okay. 00:29:10.639 --> 00:29:11.799 Did it come out 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.660 because of shaking? 00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:15.619 Maybe. 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.539 But why didn't tea 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.000 come out? 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:21.180 Because water 00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:22.180 was inside the cup 00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:22.559 already. 00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:24.180 Right? 00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:25.299 You see, 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:26.259 the shaking in life 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.220 is our circumstances. 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:28.660 People, 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.279 things. 00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:30.859 That shakes us. 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.319 But what comes out 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:33.220 your reactions, 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:33.980 your anger, 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:34.759 your frustration, 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:36.119 all of those things, 00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:37.279 that actually reveals 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.779 what's actually 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.539 already inside. 00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:38.700 inside. 00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.720 And so, 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:45.819 it's amazing 00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:46.379 how God, 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:49.940 God brings people 00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:50.379 into your life. 00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:50.539 Like, 00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:51.579 I thought I was 00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:52.500 fairly sensitive 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:56.000 before I got married. 00:29:58.839 --> 00:30:00.019 And then I realized 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.700 I'm as sensitive 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.559 as a sledgehammer. 00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.059 Do you know, 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:02.639 I'm, 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:03.599 you know, 00:30:03.659 --> 00:30:05.319 God brings people, 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.299 if you're married, 00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.279 your marriage is 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:09.059 one of the greatest 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:10.160 tools God wants 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.019 to use to make, 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:12.000 grow your character. 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.759 If you're single, 00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.619 the people God 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.559 places around you 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.039 and your work 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.660 is one of your 00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:17.480 greatest tools 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.399 to grow your character. 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.299 But we look at it 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.200 and we think, 00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:21.039 God, 00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:22.139 get me out of here. 00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:24.500 And God says, 00:30:24.639 --> 00:30:25.599 I'm growing grit 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.279 in you. 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.859 Keep looking to me. 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:32.000 Because the choices 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.039 we make when we're 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:34.180 faced to those things 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:36.160 determine whether 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.680 you'll become 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:38.180 a beautiful old person 00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:39.019 or one you want 00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.519 to avoid. 00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:43.240 How do we do this? 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.140 Because 00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:48.259 when I'm infected 00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:49.560 with the PBR virus, 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.720 my own performance, 00:30:52.840 --> 00:30:55.380 how do I choose 00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:56.000 to change? 00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:56.940 The way I respond 00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:57.519 is this, 00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.519 to these things 00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.140 which come out 00:30:59.140 --> 00:30:59.580 in my life 00:30:59.580 --> 00:31:00.160 when I see my 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:00.880 imperfections, 00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:01.580 all of those things. 00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.899 I justify myself. 00:31:05.059 --> 00:31:06.279 I justify myself 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.079 because what I do 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:08.399 is I show all the good, 00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:09.240 all the things, 00:31:09.399 --> 00:31:10.199 the big sins 00:31:10.199 --> 00:31:10.939 that I've avoided. 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:12.139 Okay? 00:31:12.939 --> 00:31:14.259 I've show all the big sins, 00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:15.439 I've avoided those things 00:31:15.439 --> 00:31:16.779 and I forget to see 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.699 the blemishes 00:31:17.699 --> 00:31:19.599 of my character 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:20.279 which are kind of 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:21.319 inside the cup 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:22.359 and I just say, 00:31:22.419 --> 00:31:22.919 that's just me. 00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:26.380 And, you know, 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:27.060 it's just small. 00:31:28.560 --> 00:31:29.539 And again, 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.440 Tim Keller says this, 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:30.759 he says, 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.660 while our thoughts 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.960 always seem small to us 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.759 due to the natural 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.820 self-justification 00:31:35.820 --> 00:31:36.400 of the heart, 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.759 they often don't look 00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.600 small to others. 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.039 As a result, 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:41.560 these small thoughts 00:31:41.560 --> 00:31:44.019 cause large swathes 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:45.220 of the Christian population 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:46.500 to have little influence 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.880 on others for Christ. 00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:49.400 You see, 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.560 we stop adorning 00:31:50.560 --> 00:31:51.220 the gospel 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:52.820 in our responses 00:31:52.820 --> 00:31:54.420 because we justify 00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:55.220 ourselves 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.540 because we don't realize 00:31:56.540 --> 00:31:58.080 that the good qualities 00:31:58.080 --> 00:31:59.440 that we think we have 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:01.000 also have a shadow side. 00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:03.100 For example, 00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:04.860 you're a person 00:32:04.860 --> 00:32:06.300 who has strong convictions. 00:32:06.840 --> 00:32:07.300 That's good. 00:32:08.760 --> 00:32:09.760 But you're also 00:32:09.760 --> 00:32:11.320 sometimes unteachable, 00:32:11.540 --> 00:32:12.140 opinionated, 00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:13.200 don't listen to others, 00:32:13.320 --> 00:32:14.140 won't admit you're wrong. 00:32:14.420 --> 00:32:14.860 Yeah, 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.060 won't admit you're wrong. 00:32:16.380 --> 00:32:16.540 Right? 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:18.220 You may be friendly 00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:19.220 and outgoing, 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:20.200 that's good. 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:22.480 But we're so easily offended 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.559 and hurt by others' 00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:25.099 real or imagined criticism. 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:28.059 You may be laid back, 00:32:28.659 --> 00:32:29.079 it's good, 00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:30.220 not stressed easily. 00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:32.500 But maybe you're also 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.379 apathetic 00:32:33.379 --> 00:32:34.440 and not passionately 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:35.299 loving people. 00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:37.659 We all have, 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.599 every one of us, 00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.519 myself included, 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.839 we look at one side 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.240 of the coin 00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:41.440 and say, 00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:41.759 look, 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:43.000 look, 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:43.879 I have strong convictions, 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:44.599 I'm very friendly, 00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:45.299 I'm great. 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.639 But we don't see 00:32:46.639 --> 00:32:47.299 the flip side 00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:47.859 of the coin. 00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:49.419 But our spouse 00:32:49.419 --> 00:32:50.200 sees the flip side 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:50.659 of the coin. 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:51.819 Your colleagues 00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.599 see the flip side 00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:53.059 of the coin. 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.059 Everybody else 00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:54.879 sees the flip side 00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.379 of the coin. 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:59.200 But how do we 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:00.099 work through that? 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:01.119 What we need 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:02.519 to keep us from cracking, 00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:03.440 when those things 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.200 come out, 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.599 you need the cold water 00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.740 of the gospel 00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:11.159 poured into your life. 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:11.960 Because otherwise, 00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:12.759 what you're going 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.480 to go away with 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:13.880 is you're going 00:33:13.880 --> 00:33:14.519 to go with, 00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:15.620 either you're going 00:33:15.620 --> 00:33:16.279 to go with feeling 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.759 crushed and condemned 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.819 because I'm not good enough. 00:33:20.779 --> 00:33:21.440 Or you're going 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.860 to get into how, 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.380 okay, 00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.319 I should do this, 00:33:24.380 --> 00:33:25.220 I shouldn't do this. 00:33:25.360 --> 00:33:26.220 That's going to be 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:28.539 moving to PBR virus syndrome. 00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:30.480 The gospel does 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.299 a couple of things. 00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:32.319 What it does is this. 00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:32.680 First, 00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:33.779 it helps you to see 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:35.779 your own sinfulness, 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.920 your own flaws. 00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:37.960 You recognize. 00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:39.620 You recognize 00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.519 that your worst 00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:41.620 character flaws 00:33:41.620 --> 00:33:42.980 are the ones 00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:44.079 that you're most blind to. 00:33:44.740 --> 00:33:45.140 Do you know that? 00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:47.319 The worst character flaws 00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:47.960 that you have 00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:48.539 are the ones 00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.180 that you probably 00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:49.980 don't even realize 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.420 you have. 00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:52.860 You see, 00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:55.079 they're the ones 00:33:55.079 --> 00:33:55.660 that I minimize 00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.420 and I justify. 00:33:57.620 --> 00:33:57.940 You know, 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:58.680 when I'm in a fight 00:33:58.680 --> 00:33:59.759 with my wife, 00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:01.420 I can see all her flaws 00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:02.200 very clearly. 00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:03.420 It's amazing. 00:34:04.140 --> 00:34:05.180 But I'm totally 00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:06.019 blind to my own. 00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:09.400 And I say things like, 00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:10.460 I'm not worrying, 00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:12.059 I'm just concerned. 00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:15.460 I'm not being harsh, 00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:16.940 I'm just honest. 00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:20.579 And you know, 00:34:20.720 --> 00:34:21.220 those things 00:34:21.220 --> 00:34:22.099 are good things, 00:34:22.220 --> 00:34:22.780 but actually, 00:34:23.720 --> 00:34:25.180 on the right occasion, 00:34:25.800 --> 00:34:26.820 those are good things, 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:27.500 but often, 00:34:27.680 --> 00:34:28.079 we allow them 00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:29.740 to mask the shadow side 00:34:29.740 --> 00:34:31.619 that we fail to see 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:33.059 that our worrying stems 00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:34.519 from not trusting in God, 00:34:34.799 --> 00:34:36.039 our harshness stems 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:37.219 from pride 00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:38.279 and lack of love. 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:39.920 And the gospel 00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:40.779 helps you to see. 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:44.199 So if you're married 00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:46.159 and I was to ask 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:46.739 your spouse, 00:34:46.859 --> 00:34:48.139 what's your biggest flaw? 00:34:49.219 --> 00:34:50.000 Character flaw. 00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:51.900 I wonder 00:34:51.900 --> 00:34:52.859 whether you would say 00:34:52.859 --> 00:34:53.779 exactly the same thing 00:34:53.779 --> 00:34:54.619 as your spouse would. 00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:57.079 If you're not married, 00:34:57.299 --> 00:34:58.039 if you're single, 00:34:58.319 --> 00:34:58.819 I wonder 00:34:58.819 --> 00:35:00.079 if you went up 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:00.759 to a friend 00:35:00.759 --> 00:35:01.920 and asked them, 00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:02.559 what do you think 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.719 my biggest flaw is? 00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:05.360 What they would say 00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:06.699 and whether you would agree. 00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:09.559 And I challenge you 00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:10.980 to go and do that. 00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:13.460 Go and do that. 00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:14.420 Because if you're concerned 00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:15.079 for character, 00:35:15.279 --> 00:35:15.980 then you want to be able 00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.699 to see 00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:18.360 where the areas 00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:19.059 in your life 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:19.920 you need to grow in. 00:35:21.799 --> 00:35:22.719 Or you'll see 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:23.039 where, 00:35:23.179 --> 00:35:24.139 if you don't want to do that, 00:35:24.199 --> 00:35:25.059 where you're just concerned 00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:26.319 about outside of the cup. 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:31.740 But the second thing 00:35:31.740 --> 00:35:32.740 that you'll see 00:35:32.740 --> 00:35:34.100 to help you 00:35:34.100 --> 00:35:34.640 to see 00:35:34.640 --> 00:35:36.120 your own flaws 00:35:36.120 --> 00:35:38.000 is people around you. 00:35:38.600 --> 00:35:38.820 You know, 00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:39.880 in a world of celebrities 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:41.059 with few role models, 00:35:41.400 --> 00:35:42.840 you need to surround yourself 00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:43.800 with godly people. 00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:45.140 Because you know, 00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:46.480 that's what our community groups 00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:46.960 are about. 00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:47.720 Do you realize? 00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:49.320 It's trying to surround yourself 00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:50.180 with a group of people 00:35:50.180 --> 00:35:50.800 who want to grow 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.720 in their walk with God. 00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:54.419 because you rarely 00:35:54.419 --> 00:35:55.339 learn your faults 00:35:55.339 --> 00:35:56.339 just by being told 00:35:56.339 --> 00:35:57.059 your faults. 00:35:57.959 --> 00:35:59.139 You need to be shown 00:35:59.139 --> 00:35:59.839 your faults. 00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:01.059 And do you know 00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:02.059 how you get shown 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:02.599 your faults? 00:36:03.839 --> 00:36:04.179 It's, 00:36:04.459 --> 00:36:06.759 when you're brought 00:36:06.759 --> 00:36:07.619 next to a person 00:36:07.619 --> 00:36:08.139 who's living 00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:08.899 the way you should 00:36:08.899 --> 00:36:09.839 be living but aren't, 00:36:10.799 --> 00:36:11.059 okay, 00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:11.939 it's, 00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:15.179 you may not think 00:36:15.179 --> 00:36:16.419 yourself as impatient 00:36:16.419 --> 00:36:17.480 or abrasive 00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:18.319 or oversensitive, 00:36:18.739 --> 00:36:19.980 but then when you come 00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:21.079 next to somebody 00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:22.719 who's incredibly patient 00:36:22.719 --> 00:36:24.500 or who's very gentle 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:26.779 or who's very compassionate 00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:27.699 or very content 00:36:27.699 --> 00:36:30.079 and then you suddenly see, 00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:31.159 oh. 00:36:33.239 --> 00:36:33.719 You see, 00:36:33.799 --> 00:36:34.420 that's God 00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:35.239 putting his finger 00:36:35.239 --> 00:36:35.920 on something 00:36:35.920 --> 00:36:36.679 to say, 00:36:36.819 --> 00:36:38.159 now I want to begin 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:39.059 that process 00:36:39.059 --> 00:36:40.139 of refining you. 00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:43.480 So are you surrounding 00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:45.059 yourself with godly people? 00:36:45.420 --> 00:36:46.319 That's the question. 00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:47.559 Because don't expect 00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:48.299 to grow character 00:36:48.299 --> 00:36:48.920 if you're not. 00:36:49.880 --> 00:36:50.759 Not godly, 00:36:50.760 --> 00:36:51.440 character. 00:36:52.180 --> 00:36:52.720 Because the people 00:36:52.720 --> 00:36:53.700 you surround yourself 00:36:53.700 --> 00:36:54.020 with, 00:36:54.180 --> 00:36:54.880 you'll become 00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:55.680 like those people. 00:36:59.860 --> 00:37:00.760 But it's all very well 00:37:00.760 --> 00:37:00.960 to say, 00:37:01.040 --> 00:37:01.140 okay, 00:37:01.220 --> 00:37:02.260 now I see my character 00:37:02.260 --> 00:37:02.560 flaws. 00:37:02.640 --> 00:37:03.600 That can be quite depressing. 00:37:04.540 --> 00:37:05.600 We see all the things 00:37:05.600 --> 00:37:06.340 which are wrong with us 00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:07.620 that still can sound like 00:37:07.620 --> 00:37:08.440 you should, 00:37:08.540 --> 00:37:08.940 you should, 00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:09.800 you should be better. 00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:10.700 But what the gospel 00:37:10.700 --> 00:37:11.620 comes in and says, 00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:12.800 how do you change? 00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:13.700 How do you stop 00:37:13.700 --> 00:37:14.440 from cracking 00:37:14.440 --> 00:37:15.280 under the weight 00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:16.040 of condemnation 00:37:16.040 --> 00:37:16.600 or the weight 00:37:16.600 --> 00:37:17.140 of your own 00:37:17.140 --> 00:37:17.640 sinfulness 00:37:17.640 --> 00:37:18.340 that's released? 00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:19.980 You need the cool 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:20.880 water of the gospel 00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:22.600 to flow into your soul 00:37:22.600 --> 00:37:23.100 daily. 00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:23.900 And what I mean 00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.840 by that is this. 00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:26.680 If you take time 00:37:26.680 --> 00:37:27.780 to consider 00:37:27.780 --> 00:37:30.180 just how deep 00:37:30.180 --> 00:37:31.500 God's love 00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:32.400 and kindness 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.160 for you 00:37:33.160 --> 00:37:34.100 really is. 00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:34.900 That's why we did 00:37:34.900 --> 00:37:35.400 communion. 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:37.280 That's why 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:38.680 when you spend time 00:37:38.680 --> 00:37:39.460 with God, 00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:40.480 you remember 00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:41.360 that in spite 00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:42.120 of the fact 00:37:42.120 --> 00:37:43.360 that I and you 00:37:43.360 --> 00:37:44.160 are as broken 00:37:44.160 --> 00:37:44.840 as anything, 00:37:45.340 --> 00:37:46.300 He didn't give up 00:37:46.300 --> 00:37:46.840 on us. 00:37:47.640 --> 00:37:49.240 He showed 00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:50.820 complete compassion. 00:37:51.620 --> 00:37:52.260 He died 00:37:52.260 --> 00:37:52.900 to make you 00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:54.480 perfect and delightful 00:37:54.480 --> 00:37:55.840 in the Father's eyes. 00:37:56.680 --> 00:37:57.519 He gives you 00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:58.640 His righteousness 00:37:58.640 --> 00:37:59.340 which means 00:37:59.340 --> 00:38:00.440 He takes off 00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:01.260 this stinking, 00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:03.320 filthy clothes 00:38:03.320 --> 00:38:04.480 of all my sinful 00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:05.560 character flaws. 00:38:05.820 --> 00:38:06.920 He takes it off 00:38:06.920 --> 00:38:07.860 the performance 00:38:07.860 --> 00:38:09.080 that I couldn't do. 00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:10.260 He then puts 00:38:10.260 --> 00:38:11.340 on His beautiful 00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:12.920 robes of righteousness 00:38:12.920 --> 00:38:13.600 on me. 00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:14.700 He looks at me. 00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:15.660 He looks at you. 00:38:15.659 --> 00:38:16.679 If you have trusted 00:38:16.679 --> 00:38:17.279 in Christ 00:38:17.279 --> 00:38:17.960 and says, 00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:18.819 beautiful, 00:38:19.779 --> 00:38:20.739 beautiful, 00:38:21.699 --> 00:38:22.199 beautiful. 00:38:24.940 --> 00:38:25.619 There's nothing 00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:26.099 you can do 00:38:26.099 --> 00:38:26.759 to make me love 00:38:26.759 --> 00:38:27.319 you anymore. 00:38:27.799 --> 00:38:28.339 There's nothing 00:38:28.339 --> 00:38:28.899 you can do 00:38:28.899 --> 00:38:29.460 that will make me 00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:29.980 love you 00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:30.799 any less. 00:38:30.899 --> 00:38:31.420 You're secure. 00:38:32.679 --> 00:38:33.440 And we say this 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:34.000 every week, 00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:34.420 but you know, 00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:34.779 do you know 00:38:34.779 --> 00:38:35.579 the reason why? 00:38:36.119 --> 00:38:36.699 It's because 00:38:36.699 --> 00:38:37.379 I'm going to go out 00:38:37.379 --> 00:38:37.839 tomorrow and I'm 00:38:37.839 --> 00:38:38.480 going to forget it. 00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:40.379 And you're going 00:38:40.379 --> 00:38:40.960 to forget it. 00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:43.379 Because when you 00:38:43.379 --> 00:38:44.059 begin to see 00:38:44.059 --> 00:38:45.000 that kind of love 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:45.380 daily, 00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:46.079 it will melt 00:38:46.079 --> 00:38:46.760 your heart 00:38:46.760 --> 00:38:47.059 and you'll 00:38:47.059 --> 00:38:48.039 begin to hate 00:38:48.039 --> 00:38:49.219 the character 00:38:49.219 --> 00:38:50.059 flaws in you, 00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:51.559 not tolerate them. 00:38:53.340 --> 00:38:54.340 And you won't 00:38:54.340 --> 00:38:55.000 be about 00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:56.340 justifying yourself 00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:57.619 and ignoring them. 00:38:57.699 --> 00:38:58.460 You will hate 00:38:58.460 --> 00:38:59.159 them because you 00:38:59.159 --> 00:38:59.360 think, 00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:00.739 if God can love 00:39:00.739 --> 00:39:01.860 me that much, 00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:03.460 how can I keep 00:39:03.460 --> 00:39:04.380 rebelling against 00:39:04.380 --> 00:39:05.280 Him in these ways? 00:39:07.179 --> 00:39:08.159 And character 00:39:08.159 --> 00:39:08.760 is grown, 00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:10.360 not through being 00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:11.000 perfect. 00:39:11.659 --> 00:39:12.300 We'll never get 00:39:12.300 --> 00:39:13.780 there until 00:39:13.780 --> 00:39:14.660 Christ comes, 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:15.280 but it's 00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:16.019 through repentance. 00:39:17.460 --> 00:39:18.060 And repentance 00:39:18.060 --> 00:39:19.060 will become a 00:39:19.060 --> 00:39:19.420 habit, 00:39:20.039 --> 00:39:20.960 a way of life 00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:21.740 as a child 00:39:21.740 --> 00:39:22.640 learning to walk 00:39:22.640 --> 00:39:23.160 who keeps 00:39:23.160 --> 00:39:23.640 stumbling 00:39:23.640 --> 00:39:25.260 and she reaches 00:39:25.260 --> 00:39:26.140 her hand back 00:39:26.140 --> 00:39:26.960 to her father 00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:29.580 to pick her up, 00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:30.420 set her back 00:39:30.420 --> 00:39:31.280 on her feet again, 00:39:31.660 --> 00:39:32.560 and that just 00:39:32.560 --> 00:39:33.539 becomes a habit 00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:34.180 of the heart 00:39:34.180 --> 00:39:35.720 again and again 00:39:35.720 --> 00:39:36.740 and again. 00:39:37.140 --> 00:39:37.820 And repentance, 00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:39.840 not justifying 00:39:39.840 --> 00:39:40.160 myself, 00:39:40.159 --> 00:39:40.739 but running 00:39:40.739 --> 00:39:41.359 back to a 00:39:41.359 --> 00:39:41.920 father who 00:39:41.920 --> 00:39:42.659 loves me 00:39:42.659 --> 00:39:44.579 will give you 00:39:44.579 --> 00:39:45.299 godly grit 00:39:45.299 --> 00:39:47.019 to run a race, 00:39:47.799 --> 00:39:48.359 to give you 00:39:48.359 --> 00:39:49.099 a humility 00:39:49.099 --> 00:39:50.639 to see your 00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:51.519 character flaws, 00:39:51.940 --> 00:39:53.019 but a confidence 00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:54.179 that you are 00:39:54.179 --> 00:39:55.279 loved and 00:39:55.279 --> 00:39:56.679 accepted and 00:39:56.679 --> 00:39:57.500 you'll shine out 00:39:57.500 --> 00:39:58.299 like a diamond 00:39:58.299 --> 00:39:59.500 increasingly in 00:39:59.500 --> 00:39:59.980 the world. 00:40:00.139 --> 00:40:00.579 So when you go 00:40:00.579 --> 00:40:01.259 into your home, 00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:02.259 when you go 00:40:02.259 --> 00:40:02.659 into your 00:40:02.659 --> 00:40:03.279 workplace, 00:40:03.679 --> 00:40:04.339 you don't have 00:40:04.339 --> 00:40:04.980 to justify 00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:05.639 yourself. 00:40:06.279 --> 00:40:07.139 You're secure. 00:40:07.799 --> 00:40:08.480 And that, 00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:09.399 in an insecure 00:40:09.399 --> 00:40:10.079 world, 00:40:10.159 --> 00:40:11.259 will adorn 00:40:11.259 --> 00:40:12.199 the gospel. 00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:13.960 Let's pray. 00:40:25.779 --> 00:40:26.299 Father, 00:40:26.420 --> 00:40:26.940 I pray that 00:40:26.940 --> 00:40:27.339 you would, 00:40:30.099 --> 00:40:31.460 I pray that 00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:31.779 you help us 00:40:31.779 --> 00:40:32.279 to actually 00:40:32.279 --> 00:40:32.759 want to be 00:40:32.759 --> 00:40:33.279 people of 00:40:33.279 --> 00:40:33.759 character. 00:40:37.379 --> 00:40:38.119 But we 00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:38.859 can't make it 00:40:38.859 --> 00:40:39.299 just by 00:40:39.299 --> 00:40:39.779 ourselves. 00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:41.359 We need 00:40:41.359 --> 00:40:41.559 you. 00:40:43.199 --> 00:40:43.920 We need 00:40:43.920 --> 00:40:44.139 you. 00:40:46.819 --> 00:40:47.719 I recognize 00:40:47.719 --> 00:40:48.500 in my life 00:40:48.500 --> 00:40:49.159 I so often 00:40:49.159 --> 00:40:50.579 trivialize the 00:40:50.579 --> 00:40:51.079 things which 00:40:51.079 --> 00:40:51.619 are just as 00:40:51.619 --> 00:40:52.139 blemishes, 00:40:52.399 --> 00:40:52.619 but Lord, 00:40:52.679 --> 00:40:53.079 help me to 00:40:53.079 --> 00:40:53.739 face them. 00:40:55.299 --> 00:40:56.139 Help us to 00:40:56.139 --> 00:40:56.759 face them, 00:40:57.219 --> 00:40:57.679 but not to 00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:58.199 run away 00:40:58.199 --> 00:40:58.639 because it's 00:40:58.639 --> 00:40:59.219 so painful 00:40:59.219 --> 00:40:59.899 facing what 00:40:59.899 --> 00:41:00.259 we're really 00:41:00.259 --> 00:41:01.019 like sometimes, 00:41:02.079 --> 00:41:02.899 but to realize 00:41:02.899 --> 00:41:03.579 that that cool 00:41:03.579 --> 00:41:04.059 water of the 00:41:04.059 --> 00:41:05.059 gospel pours 00:41:05.059 --> 00:41:05.779 onto the heat 00:41:05.780 --> 00:41:06.640 and takes 00:41:06.640 --> 00:41:07.240 away that 00:41:07.240 --> 00:41:08.740 heat so 00:41:08.740 --> 00:41:08.980 that we 00:41:08.980 --> 00:41:09.519 see you 00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:10.880 and we 00:41:10.880 --> 00:41:11.420 love you 00:41:11.420 --> 00:41:12.840 and we 00:41:12.840 --> 00:41:13.180 see how 00:41:13.180 --> 00:41:13.840 beautiful you 00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:14.220 are. 00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:15.540 And that 00:41:15.540 --> 00:41:16.240 causes us to 00:41:16.240 --> 00:41:16.540 want to 00:41:16.540 --> 00:41:17.019 follow you, 00:41:18.019 --> 00:41:18.580 to want to 00:41:18.580 --> 00:41:19.000 love you, 00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:19.660 to want to 00:41:19.660 --> 00:41:20.040 love our 00:41:20.040 --> 00:41:21.440 families, 00:41:21.680 --> 00:41:22.019 to want to 00:41:22.019 --> 00:41:22.300 love the 00:41:22.300 --> 00:41:22.960 people around 00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:24.519 because you're 00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:24.760 good. 00:41:25.600 --> 00:41:26.360 In Jesus' name, 00:41:26.360 --> 00:41:27.360 Amen.