WEBVTT 00:00:00.860 --> 00:00:05.740 Good morning, everyone. As we sit, let's bow our heads and pray together. 00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:13.419 Our gracious Father, we hear Paul's exaltation to stand firm in the Lord. 00:00:14.540 --> 00:00:25.100 And Father, as we look at the world around us, we begin to see that your people really do need to step up and to stand firm. 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:33.800 So Father, we pray this morning that you would inspire us by your Holy Spirit to do just that. 00:00:34.620 --> 00:00:38.260 To step up and to stand firm in Jesus. 00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:42.280 In whom our citizenship depends. 00:00:43.020 --> 00:00:46.060 And we pray these things in Christ's name. Amen. 00:00:46.060 --> 00:00:46.200 Amen. 00:00:48.380 --> 00:00:53.939 So I want to preach to you on a verse from our reading this morning. 00:00:55.100 --> 00:01:00.420 Paul says this in Philippians 3 verse 20. 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:02.200 Our citizenship is in heaven. 00:01:02.899 --> 00:01:07.000 And we eagerly await a saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:20.140 So a couple of months ago or thereabouts, I was really looking forward to a trip up to my hometown in Cheshire. 00:01:20.140 --> 00:01:25.340 To see my friends from the days when I wasn't a Christian. 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:28.340 And just to hang out with them for a few days. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:31.180 And so I had booked early. 00:01:31.460 --> 00:01:36.819 And because I'm old and creaky, I get a senior's rail card. 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:40.299 Which means I can get a third discount. 00:01:40.299 --> 00:01:44.000 And that's about the only thing I like about getting old. 00:01:45.319 --> 00:01:49.620 So I'm at the station, Yatom. 00:01:50.179 --> 00:01:52.259 Get on a train to Temple Meads. 00:01:52.500 --> 00:01:57.819 Where according to my ticket, I have to change trains and get to Newport in Wales. 00:01:57.819 --> 00:02:02.219 And then get a train that will take me up to Chester. 00:02:03.099 --> 00:02:05.039 And then from Chester to Stockport. 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:06.799 And then from Stockport to Knutsford. 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:11.759 By the time I got to Newport, I was still eager. 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:16.579 Eager to get there and hang out. 00:02:16.580 --> 00:02:24.920 Unfortunately, when I got to Newport, there was no mention of my train on the digital sign. 00:02:26.180 --> 00:02:30.760 So I went up to a nice porter and said to him, 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:36.240 did he have any idea what had happened to the 1021 to Chester? 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:38.840 I don't know, he said. 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:41.580 But it is a... 00:02:41.580 --> 00:02:44.600 I can't remember what they call the Welsh Railway Company. 00:02:44.740 --> 00:02:45.820 But he said it's a Welsh train. 00:02:45.819 --> 00:02:47.039 And he said, anything could happen. 00:02:49.419 --> 00:02:50.840 And I'm like, well, that's encouraging. 00:02:52.859 --> 00:02:56.199 And then he came and found me about three minutes later. 00:02:56.340 --> 00:02:58.259 And he said, I'm afraid your train's cancelled. 00:02:59.299 --> 00:03:01.239 Oh, and by the way, you need to know, 00:03:01.939 --> 00:03:04.439 you've told me you booked a first class fare. 00:03:04.519 --> 00:03:04.919 I said, yeah. 00:03:04.919 --> 00:03:07.919 He said, there is no first class service on that train anyway. 00:03:10.379 --> 00:03:14.659 By this time, my nose was feeling strangely 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:16.120 as though it might start to bleed. 00:03:17.659 --> 00:03:21.699 So I got on a train, went back to Bristol Parkway, 00:03:22.579 --> 00:03:24.539 got on a train to Birmingham, 00:03:25.180 --> 00:03:30.919 had 35 seconds to cross the station to get on a train to Stockport. 00:03:30.919 --> 00:03:36.879 By that time, I was hoping the defibrillator was in useful distance. 00:03:39.099 --> 00:03:41.659 In the end, I got there, and during that day, 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:45.000 I have made eight changes on various railways. 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:50.099 As it happens, I had a great time. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:57.280 But what I do want to say is the eagerness that I had as I started my journey 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:03.360 had just about drained out through my shoes by the time I got there. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:12.300 We're waiting eagerly, eagerly, said Paul, 00:04:13.180 --> 00:04:15.140 for the Lord Jesus Christ to return. 00:04:15.220 --> 00:04:16.280 Let me ask you a question. 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:17.720 Is that your experience? 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:20.980 I mean, this was just, in the end, can you believe this? 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:22.199 I was just an hour late. 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:27.180 Some of us want to say to the Lord, come on, Lord, 00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:30.860 it's been 2,000 years now since you told us you were coming back, 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:32.660 and we're still hanging on. 00:04:34.699 --> 00:04:40.000 Is it fair to say that our eagerness can be tempered 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:46.280 once whatever it is we're seeking to achieve gets very drawn out? 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:51.280 I think that's a reasonable thesis. 00:04:52.400 --> 00:04:57.720 So I want to talk to you today about something that Russell made very clear 00:04:57.720 --> 00:04:59.879 a few weeks ago for those of you who are here, 00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:07.019 and that is our primary identity as Christians is in Christ. 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:10.639 Paul puts it a slightly different way here. 00:05:10.939 --> 00:05:16.800 He says our identity is as citizens of heaven. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:24.579 Today, I think you could say that our culture is very interested in, 00:05:24.579 --> 00:05:28.479 maybe even obsessed by identity. 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:34.279 Everything now becomes an identity issue. 00:05:35.859 --> 00:05:40.560 It was interesting to me that in the feedback from the first question, 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:46.860 as far as I know, only one person said that the primary factor 00:05:46.860 --> 00:05:49.860 that determines their identity, who they are, 00:05:49.860 --> 00:05:52.139 only one person in church today said, 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:54.199 my identity is in Jesus. 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:57.460 Not telling you off when I say that. 00:05:58.780 --> 00:05:59.300 Mostly. 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:03.520 So everything becomes an identity issue. 00:06:03.660 --> 00:06:06.920 Recently, there was an article in the news 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:11.439 about something that is really terrible in our culture, 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:15.959 and that is we are not recruiting enough women to be engineers. 00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:19.819 This obviously was a result of dreadful oppression 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:22.019 and abysmal behavior, 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:25.420 but not many women are showing up to be engineers. 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:27.740 It didn't occur to the author of this article. 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:30.899 There may be some women who don't choose to be engineers, 00:06:31.459 --> 00:06:35.159 but it became an issue about the identity of women. 00:06:35.160 --> 00:06:40.840 That example could be reproduced thousands of times, 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:43.800 not just about gender issues, race issues, whatever. 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:50.920 And I want to try and explain to you very briefly today 00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:57.860 two reasons why it is that identity has become such a critical issue. 00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:02.220 And part of the reason it has become a critical issue, 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:06.340 almost an obsession is partly due to the fact 00:07:06.340 --> 00:07:10.240 that it has been given a free ride on social media. 00:07:11.660 --> 00:07:15.900 So here are two reasons why we're obsessed with identity today. 00:07:16.340 --> 00:07:21.760 One is called, a philosophical concept called determinism. 00:07:23.520 --> 00:07:29.180 That is, everything you are is buried in your past, 00:07:29.180 --> 00:07:33.500 and they're all external factors. 00:07:33.660 --> 00:07:36.879 So they could be disadvantages 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:41.400 that are perceived to be disadvantages in today's culture. 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:46.079 Could be to do that you had awful parenting when you were a child. 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:49.199 Could be to do with your genetics. 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:54.180 It could be to do with the fact that you came from a household 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:59.560 which had no educational aspiration and no money. 00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:03.639 Could be to do with any of these things. 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:07.180 But the big deal is, who you are is not your fault. 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:12.579 All to do with external factors that happened to you in the past. 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:16.259 And of course, of course there is truth in that. 00:08:17.420 --> 00:08:21.620 Nobody's pretending that part of us all in church this morning 00:08:21.620 --> 00:08:25.120 isn't a product of stuff that happened to us in the past. 00:08:26.220 --> 00:08:27.360 We'll come back to that. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:32.460 The second thing I want to try to explain to you 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:35.360 is a word that I hope you will forget 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.220 the moment you leave church this morning. 00:08:37.620 --> 00:08:40.980 And the word is intersectionality. 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:42.639 Okay? 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:45.620 This is kind of taking determinism 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:49.820 into a kind of more extreme form. 00:08:51.100 --> 00:08:55.019 A lady called Kimberley Crenshaw, 1985, 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:56.679 developed this theory. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:58.779 And the theory is this. 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:06.279 That certain people suffer from serious disadvantages in our culture. 00:09:07.299 --> 00:09:09.500 What intersectionality does is 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:12.680 it kind of creates a sort of grid, a matrix, 00:09:12.679 --> 00:09:15.679 whereby all those factors are factored in. 00:09:16.859 --> 00:09:21.919 So, I'm not trying to parody any particular kind of person here, 00:09:22.019 --> 00:09:25.459 but if you are black, 00:09:25.979 --> 00:09:27.979 if you are a person of colour, 00:09:28.239 --> 00:09:30.779 if you are a woman, 00:09:31.079 --> 00:09:34.039 if you are a white heterosexual male, 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:35.939 if you are a lesbian, 00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:36.879 if you are gay, 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:37.559 all that, 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:40.320 we're told, 00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:43.240 creates disadvantage in your life. 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:45.259 And what intersectionality does is 00:09:45.259 --> 00:09:47.159 it kind of gives you a score 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:49.659 on how disadvantaged you are. 00:09:51.700 --> 00:09:52.779 And of course, 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:54.960 there's an element of truth in all that. 00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:57.820 But there are some things in life 00:09:57.820 --> 00:10:00.120 that if you blowtorch them so much, 00:10:00.220 --> 00:10:02.240 if you focus on them so much 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:04.080 and get them out of kilter, 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:07.980 then they become very difficult, 00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:08.620 I think, 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:10.759 for societies to process 00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:12.460 and to live with healthily. 00:10:14.680 --> 00:10:16.060 Let me give you an example 00:10:16.060 --> 00:10:18.340 of another human characteristic, 00:10:18.800 --> 00:10:20.820 which broadly we would agree is good, 00:10:20.940 --> 00:10:22.460 but if taken to an extreme, 00:10:22.800 --> 00:10:24.680 can become extremely not good. 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:26.620 Loyalty. 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:29.940 Loyalty is really important. 00:10:29.940 --> 00:10:29.980 It's important. 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:32.940 It's important in organizations. 00:10:33.260 --> 00:10:34.360 It's important in marriages. 00:10:35.560 --> 00:10:37.280 It's important in all kinds of areas. 00:10:37.420 --> 00:10:38.480 But there comes a point 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:42.820 where loyalty becomes a cop-out. 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:46.400 Why do I say that? 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:48.280 Because we still give people 00:10:48.280 --> 00:10:49.480 who whistleblow, 00:10:49.540 --> 00:10:51.200 as we say in organizations, 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:53.300 who break ranks with loyalty 00:10:53.300 --> 00:10:54.820 to try and tell the truth 00:10:54.820 --> 00:10:56.180 about what's going wrong 00:10:56.180 --> 00:10:57.100 in the organization. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:59.980 If we didn't have people like that, 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:01.540 people would continue 00:11:01.540 --> 00:11:03.740 to get away with appalling behavior 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:05.420 in the name of loyalty. 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:11.159 So these two things, 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:13.800 intersectionality and determinism, 00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:16.040 basically have this one 00:11:16.040 --> 00:11:19.379 profound disadvantage, 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:20.379 and that is, 00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:22.100 together, 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:25.000 they create a kind of factory 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:25.820 for victims. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:28.879 People who can say, 00:11:29.420 --> 00:11:30.860 this is not my fault. 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:32.860 I don't have to take responsibility 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:35.340 because this wasn't me. 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:38.879 There was a church up in Leeds 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:40.060 where the guy was trying 00:11:40.060 --> 00:11:41.560 to attract young families, 00:11:41.680 --> 00:11:43.080 so he started a toddler group. 00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:44.060 It was a great idea. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.680 And then he kind of thought, 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:47.680 how can I move this 00:11:47.680 --> 00:11:48.980 from being a great toddler group 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.240 to being a place 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:51.500 where people might find 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:52.300 Jesus Christ? 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:56.800 So he talked to the women, 00:11:57.180 --> 00:11:58.220 mostly women then, 00:11:58.259 --> 00:11:59.000 who brought their kids 00:11:59.000 --> 00:11:59.820 to the toddler group. 00:12:01.060 --> 00:12:01.600 He said to them, 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:03.360 what is your greatest anxiety 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:04.980 about bringing up children? 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:07.120 Oh, they said, 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:07.779 as one, 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:08.920 this is simple, 00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:09.940 it's potty training. 00:12:12.180 --> 00:12:13.420 Guy scratched his head, 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:13.700 he said, 00:12:13.779 --> 00:12:14.279 seriously? 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:14.759 You know, 00:12:14.820 --> 00:12:16.060 you're not worried about famine? 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:17.200 No? 00:12:17.580 --> 00:12:18.379 Potty training. 00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:20.100 He discovered 00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:21.759 the reason for this was 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:23.420 that some kind of 00:12:23.420 --> 00:12:24.120 hacked doctor 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:25.240 had written in the local 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:26.680 newspaper, 00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:28.039 basically an article 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:28.700 which said, 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:30.200 if you get potty training 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:31.300 wrong with your children, 00:12:31.680 --> 00:12:32.379 you are breeding 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:33.440 the next generation 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:34.420 of serial killers. 00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:35.440 Mark my words. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:40.399 So he did a course. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.139 And the course was run 00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:45.340 by a responsible GP 00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:46.740 who came in 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:48.180 and did five sessions 00:12:48.180 --> 00:12:50.399 on healthy potty training. 00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:52.500 Must have been 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.399 a real blast, 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:54.000 mustn't it? 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:56.120 The last one, 00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:59.019 the vicar did. 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:01.860 He studiously avoided 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:02.779 potty training 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:05.039 and talked to them 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.000 about the need 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:08.320 for them to recognize 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:09.580 the spiritual seed 00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:10.460 that God had put 00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:11.740 into every child 00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:13.299 which needed 00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:14.220 to be nurtured. 00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:18.560 The result was 00:13:18.560 --> 00:13:21.340 a great playgroup 00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:22.299 became into 00:13:22.299 --> 00:13:23.960 a great recruitment group 00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:25.379 for Jesus Christ. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:26.440 Someone say amen. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:31.000 So those two things 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:32.460 mean that 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:34.200 we get very focused 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:35.200 on identity 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.399 in such a way 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:37.480 that we persuade 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:38.279 ourselves 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:40.039 that actually 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:41.100 nothing much 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:42.420 is our fault. 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.659 And to a point, 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:44.279 let me say, 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:44.879 I'm not taking 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:46.159 extreme view of this. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:48.139 To a point, 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:48.899 there is something 00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:49.960 in both those 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:50.820 ways of thinking. 00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:52.580 But if pushed 00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:53.240 too far, 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:55.259 they become 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.060 very difficult, 00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:57.639 even nonsensical 00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:59.139 in our society. 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:01.960 So Paul, 00:14:02.300 --> 00:14:03.480 in Philippians 00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:04.139 chapter 3, 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:04.980 has just been 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:06.100 talking about 00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:08.800 how he considers 00:14:08.800 --> 00:14:10.200 all that went 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:11.100 before as, 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.000 this is his words, 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:12.539 not mine, 00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:13.100 as rubbish, 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.320 that he may gain 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:15.779 Christ and be found 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:16.120 in him, 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:17.399 not having a righteousness 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.159 of his own 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:19.360 that comes through 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:19.779 the law, 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:21.139 but that which is 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:21.920 through faith. 00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:23.840 At the beginning 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:24.659 of our reading, 00:14:25.019 --> 00:14:25.980 Paul said this, 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:27.740 not that I have 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:29.080 already obtained 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:29.820 all this. 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:32.100 See, 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:32.539 those of you who 00:14:32.539 --> 00:14:33.480 know Jesus Christ 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.379 in church today, 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:35.519 would you say 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.320 that you have 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:38.879 obtained 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.220 all the blessing 00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:42.019 that God wants 00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:42.419 for you? 00:14:42.439 --> 00:14:43.100 And the obvious 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:43.860 answer to that 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:45.100 is no. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:46.720 Why? 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:48.559 Because you've 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.059 not found 00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:49.659 your way 00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.519 into heaven yet. 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:52.700 The blessings 00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:53.299 to come 00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:54.620 are very real, 00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:55.580 but they are 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:56.220 in the future. 00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:57.039 We have not 00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:58.220 yet obtained 00:14:58.220 --> 00:14:58.500 them. 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:00.679 He said, 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:01.840 neither have I 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.820 been made perfect. 00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:03.080 Listen, 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:03.879 hands up. 00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:04.840 If you think 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.559 you're perfect. 00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:09.080 Hands up. 00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:10.879 Of course 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.220 not. 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:13.240 Most of us 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:13.740 still have 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:15.139 glaring things 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:16.000 in our lives 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:17.220 that we know 00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:17.899 are not right 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:18.779 and the people 00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:19.500 we live with, 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:20.139 if we're blessed 00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:20.679 to live with 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:21.100 somebody, 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.460 know about them 00:15:22.460 --> 00:15:23.220 only too well. 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:25.360 But, 00:15:25.439 --> 00:15:26.000 says Paul, 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:28.019 despite the fact 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.679 that I'm not 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:30.000 where I will be 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.620 one day, 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:33.120 despite the fact 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:33.779 that I'm not 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.299 perfect, 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:35.200 he says, 00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:37.240 I press on. 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:38.779 You repeat 00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:39.440 that after me, 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:39.960 just say, 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:42.179 I press on. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:43.899 See, 00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:44.820 the idea of that 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:45.120 is, 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:45.960 we will have 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:46.820 disappointments 00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.480 in our walk 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.100 with Christ, 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:49.120 but as Paul says, 00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:49.700 I have them, 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:50.360 but look, 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.080 I'm going to 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:52.720 press on 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.620 with Jesus. 00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:55.879 And then he 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:56.519 tells us 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.620 that he has 00:15:57.620 --> 00:16:00.019 a strategy 00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:00.960 for pressing 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:01.259 on. 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:03.159 First of all, 00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:03.820 he says, 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:05.060 forgetting 00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:05.879 what is 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.560 behind. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:09.019 My goodness, 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.500 that is so 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.080 challenging, 00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:11.759 isn't it, 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.879 for those of us 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:13.519 who are in a 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.639 more determinist 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.200 mindset. 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.700 Some of you 00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:18.139 have had 00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:19.379 horrific things 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.180 happen to you 00:16:20.180 --> 00:16:21.379 in your past. 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:23.340 Some of you 00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:24.200 have had those 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.120 things and have 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:25.899 managed to kind 00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:26.660 of rise above 00:16:26.660 --> 00:16:27.180 them and get 00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:27.759 past them, 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:28.620 but some of you 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.120 haven't. 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:31.660 And maybe today, 00:16:32.060 --> 00:16:32.800 this is the day 00:16:32.800 --> 00:16:33.920 that Jesus speaks 00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:35.240 into your ear 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:36.000 and says, 00:16:36.160 --> 00:16:36.420 look, 00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:39.379 do as I ask. 00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:41.600 Let go 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:42.580 of what is 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:43.519 in the past. 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:45.960 In 2 Corinthians 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:46.540 5, 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.220 verse 17, 00:16:47.400 --> 00:16:48.280 Paul tells us 00:16:48.280 --> 00:16:49.180 we're new 00:16:49.180 --> 00:16:49.820 creations. 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:51.840 What Paul 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:52.960 meant about 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.780 that in that 00:16:53.780 --> 00:16:54.740 context was 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.600 simply this. 00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:58.420 I have 00:16:58.420 --> 00:17:02.780 become a new 00:17:02.780 --> 00:17:03.740 creation and 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.420 the past 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:06.100 has become 00:17:06.100 --> 00:17:06.799 wiped out. 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.460 The problem 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:08.819 is, 00:17:09.100 --> 00:17:09.759 we can know 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.360 we're forgiven, 00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.120 we can know 00:17:11.120 --> 00:17:12.180 that there is 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:12.819 a possibility 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.480 that we can 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.180 leave the past 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:14.660 behind, 00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:17.000 but unfortunately 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.960 the devil uses 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.759 that stuff to 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.500 trip us up. 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:22.380 in Isaiah 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:23.640 chapter 43, 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.319 verses 18 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:25.920 and 19, 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:27.119 some of my 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:28.839 favorite verses 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:30.160 in the Old 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:30.680 Testament. 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.519 Verse 43, 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:36.400 sorry, 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.359 chapter 43, 00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.599 verses 18 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:39.299 and 19. 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:42.680 forget the 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.559 former things, 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.279 says the 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:44.599 Lord. 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:46.139 Do not dwell 00:17:46.139 --> 00:17:46.759 on the past. 00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:47.119 See, 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:47.899 I'm doing a 00:17:47.899 --> 00:17:48.440 new thing. 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.359 Now it 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:50.059 springs up. 00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:50.720 Do you 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.539 perceive it? 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:52.220 Do you not 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:53.039 perceive all? 00:17:53.399 --> 00:17:54.220 I am making 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:54.980 a way in the 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.659 desert and 00:17:55.659 --> 00:17:56.720 streams in the 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.339 wasteland. 00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.059 See, 00:17:59.139 --> 00:17:59.839 for those of you 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.659 who feel 00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:02.019 that your lives 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:02.619 are a bit like 00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:03.059 a desert, 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:03.899 there is hope 00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:06.759 because God 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.720 wants to do 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.580 a new thing. 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:09.259 But to do 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.100 that new thing, 00:18:10.600 --> 00:18:11.100 some of you 00:18:11.100 --> 00:18:11.420 are going to 00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:11.860 have to let 00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:12.540 go of stuff 00:18:12.540 --> 00:18:13.320 from the past. 00:18:14.600 --> 00:18:15.480 And here's 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:15.920 the tricky 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.340 thing. 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:17.940 See, 00:18:18.040 --> 00:18:18.759 some of us 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.060 are so 00:18:20.060 --> 00:18:22.340 messed up 00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:23.440 by our past 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:24.700 that it 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:26.080 identifies us. 00:18:29.320 --> 00:18:29.680 I mean, 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.480 it might well 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:30.900 have been, 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.360 I wouldn't 00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:33.180 expect any of you 00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:33.779 to say this 00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:34.220 in a kind 00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:34.660 of public 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:35.360 forum like 00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:35.620 that. 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:36.720 But the 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:37.279 bottom line 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:37.640 is, 00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:38.420 it would be 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.299 very difficult, 00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:40.460 not impossible, 00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:41.400 but very 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:41.960 difficult, 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:42.840 if you were 00:18:42.840 --> 00:18:43.580 physically or 00:18:43.580 --> 00:18:44.519 sexually abused 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.320 at some stage 00:18:45.320 --> 00:18:46.080 in your past. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:46.700 It would be 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.480 very difficult 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.400 to let go 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:48.740 of that. 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.200 I appreciate 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:50.700 that. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.700 But I want 00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:53.560 to say it's 00:18:53.560 --> 00:18:54.779 impossible because 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.900 God wants to 00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:56.640 do a new 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:57.940 thing in your 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.340 life. 00:18:59.240 --> 00:18:59.680 Friends, 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:00.440 are you 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:01.279 pressing on? 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.680 Or have you 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:04.400 just become 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.840 stuck in 00:19:05.840 --> 00:19:06.600 your spiritual 00:19:06.600 --> 00:19:07.160 life? 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:09.880 And the 00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:10.600 problem is, 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.840 there's a part 00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:12.620 of our culture, 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.180 what I call 00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:14.320 therapy culture, 00:19:15.320 --> 00:19:16.539 that encourages 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.400 us to dwell 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.580 in our past. 00:19:18.840 --> 00:19:19.580 It's been around 00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:20.460 for a very long 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:20.799 time. 00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:22.060 Therapy culture 00:19:22.060 --> 00:19:22.620 didn't just 00:19:22.620 --> 00:19:23.500 begin in the 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.519 20th century. 00:19:24.840 --> 00:19:25.360 It began 00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:25.980 with Job. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.220 Remember Job 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.720 who lost 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.279 everything, 00:19:29.600 --> 00:19:29.880 could have 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.539 spent the rest 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:31.119 of his life 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:32.000 dwelling in 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.599 what happened 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.019 to him. 00:19:33.399 --> 00:19:33.759 And the 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.619 only advice 00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:35.139 his friends 00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:35.559 could give 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:35.779 him were, 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:36.619 look into 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.220 your past, 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:37.519 Job. 00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:38.599 There must 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:39.180 be something 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:39.680 that you've 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:40.200 done wrong. 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:41.740 And Job 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.200 could find 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:42.500 nothing, 00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:42.819 and the 00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.859 Bible declares 00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:44.240 him as 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:44.680 righteous. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.659 And this 00:19:48.659 --> 00:19:49.420 can become 00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:50.180 kind of 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:51.539 pan-generational. 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:51.619 people. 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:53.960 You know, 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:54.480 the way I 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.019 am is not 00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:55.559 my fault, 00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:55.960 it's my 00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.440 parents, 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:56.899 it's my 00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:57.519 grandparents. 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.119 Even people 00:20:02.119 --> 00:20:02.639 now, you 00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:02.920 know, have 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.639 these DNA 00:20:03.639 --> 00:20:04.460 tests done 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:04.920 to tell 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.539 what kind 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:07.139 of racial 00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:07.659 background 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.379 they have. 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.019 My sister 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:10.659 told me, 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.240 I am 3% 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.200 Anglo-Saxon. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.299 And he 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:15.599 mentioned 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:15.940 the next 00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.299 time, 00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:17.799 next time, 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.480 if I get 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.119 caught speeding 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:19.599 and wind down 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.019 the window 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:20.619 and a policeman 00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:20.899 says, 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.200 you were 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.780 speeding them, 00:20:21.840 --> 00:20:22.019 do you 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.780 recognize that? 00:20:22.820 --> 00:20:23.019 And I 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.240 say, 00:20:23.300 --> 00:20:23.700 well, give 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:23.960 me a 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.220 break. 00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:25.380 I'm 3% 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.240 Anglo-Saxon. 00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:28.480 You think 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:28.780 that would 00:20:28.780 --> 00:20:29.160 work? 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.320 I don't 00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:30.840 think so. 00:20:32.780 --> 00:20:33.480 Not my 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:33.880 fault. 00:20:34.800 --> 00:20:35.780 And Ezekiel 00:20:35.780 --> 00:20:36.660 tells us 00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:39.259 that it's 00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.120 the soul 00:20:40.120 --> 00:20:40.920 that sins 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.540 that will 00:20:41.540 --> 00:20:42.380 surely die. 00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.480 Not my 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.140 relatives, 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:46.820 but the 00:20:46.820 --> 00:20:47.340 soul that 00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:47.680 sins. 00:20:48.540 --> 00:20:49.100 Forgetting 00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:49.440 what is 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:49.780 behind. 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.140 Second 00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:50.880 part of 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.360 Paul's 00:20:51.360 --> 00:20:51.920 strategy 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:53.140 is 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:54.320 verse 15 00:20:54.320 --> 00:20:55.460 where he 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:55.940 gives us 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.760 the analogy 00:20:56.760 --> 00:20:58.020 of a 00:20:58.020 --> 00:20:59.040 running race. 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:00.740 It tells 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.780 us that 00:21:01.780 --> 00:21:02.200 we've got to 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:02.680 keep our 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.280 eyes on the 00:21:03.280 --> 00:21:03.700 prize, 00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:04.360 if I can 00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:05.540 summarize it 00:21:05.540 --> 00:21:06.100 like that. 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:12.060 Here's what 00:21:12.060 --> 00:21:12.560 he says. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.820 Can't find 00:21:14.820 --> 00:21:14.980 it. 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.020 Can't find it. 00:21:15.020 --> 00:21:15.060 Can't find it. 00:21:15.060 --> 00:21:17.060 Can't find it. 00:21:17.060 --> 00:21:18.060 Can't find it. 00:21:18.060 --> 00:21:19.060 Can't find it. 00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:20.860 Can't find it. 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:21.479 For 00:21:21.479 --> 00:21:21.679 getting 00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:21.939 what's 00:21:21.939 --> 00:21:22.519 behind and 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:22.939 straining 00:21:22.939 --> 00:21:23.240 towards 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.279 the 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:23.479 reason, 00:21:23.639 --> 00:21:24.119 I press 00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:24.599 on towards 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:24.979 the goal 00:21:24.979 --> 00:21:25.579 to win 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.219 the prize 00:21:26.219 --> 00:21:26.579 for which 00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.259 God has 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:27.799 called me 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.500 heavenwards 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.599 in Christ 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:30.179 Jesus. 00:21:32.139 --> 00:21:32.599 See, 00:21:32.679 --> 00:21:32.899 if there's 00:21:32.899 --> 00:21:33.339 part of 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:33.519 our 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:33.899 culture, 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:34.379 therapy 00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:34.879 culture, 00:21:35.199 --> 00:21:35.779 that asks 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:36.039 us to 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.419 dwell in 00:21:36.419 --> 00:21:37.000 the past, 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:37.919 the kind 00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:38.619 of current 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.179 culture 00:21:39.179 --> 00:21:40.419 of well-being, 00:21:40.699 --> 00:21:41.579 of mindfulness, 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.859 tells us to 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.379 live in the 00:21:43.379 --> 00:21:43.719 moment. 00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:46.220 I mean, 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:46.900 as far as I 00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:47.600 can best tell, 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:47.900 I don't have 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.500 much choice 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.059 about that. 00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:50.759 You know, 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.299 the moment is, 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:51.960 I'm living in 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.339 the moment 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:53.059 right now. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.680 Any minute now, 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.319 my knees could 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:55.640 buckle. 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.559 But I'm living in 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.019 the moment. 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.220 Stop yawning at 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:00.640 the back. 00:22:03.339 --> 00:22:04.519 The analogy of a 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.019 running race. 00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:05.360 Listen, 00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:06.960 most people who 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.839 are competitive 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:10.679 don't enter 00:22:10.679 --> 00:22:12.259 a race 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.599 with the idea 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:14.179 that the most 00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:15.119 exciting thing 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:15.799 about entering 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:16.559 the race is, 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.839 I'm going to 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.679 have to train. 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:20.959 Now, 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.539 most people 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.279 enter the race 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.279 because they 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.299 think with the 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.059 right schedule, 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.259 training schedule, 00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:27.579 they might have 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:28.500 a possibility 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.740 of actually 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.099 winning. 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.519 I don't know 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.319 how that happens. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:33.639 You know, 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.279 we used to have 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.839 to do cross 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:36.819 country in my 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:37.119 school. 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.659 I remember 00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:38.440 you know, 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:38.880 I normally 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.640 come in about 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:41.759 33rd when we 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:42.580 had competitive 00:22:42.580 --> 00:22:43.240 running races. 00:22:43.320 --> 00:22:44.060 And one day, 00:22:45.540 --> 00:22:46.060 I can't remember 00:22:46.060 --> 00:22:46.800 I'd been training 00:22:46.800 --> 00:22:48.000 with any more 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.480 diligence. 00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:48.840 In fact, 00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:49.040 I don't think 00:22:49.040 --> 00:22:49.560 I'd been training 00:22:49.560 --> 00:22:50.000 at all. 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.720 And suddenly, 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.200 it all came 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:51.600 together. 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:53.759 And I won 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.220 the race. 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:56.019 Couldn't believe 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.300 it. 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:56.820 Nor could our 00:22:56.820 --> 00:22:57.500 games master. 00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.720 Here's the thing. 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.660 We're supposed 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.380 to keep our 00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:04.080 eyes on the 00:23:04.080 --> 00:23:04.360 prize. 00:23:04.360 --> 00:23:05.259 Don't forget 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:07.380 that you have 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:08.980 a future 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.700 in Jesus 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.280 Christ. 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:11.680 And it's 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.500 based on 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:14.140 the promises 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.780 of God 00:23:14.780 --> 00:23:15.880 and also 00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:16.500 what Paul 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.380 mentions here 00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:18.480 in verse 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.340 20. 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:20.540 Our 00:23:20.540 --> 00:23:21.180 citizenship 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.400 is in 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:22.700 heaven. 00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:24.280 And we 00:23:24.280 --> 00:23:24.960 eagerly 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.680 await a 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:26.320 saviour from 00:23:26.320 --> 00:23:26.640 there, 00:23:27.080 --> 00:23:27.480 the Lord 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.400 Jesus Christ, 00:23:29.040 --> 00:23:29.820 who by the 00:23:29.820 --> 00:23:30.320 power that 00:23:30.320 --> 00:23:31.020 enables him 00:23:31.020 --> 00:23:31.540 to bring 00:23:31.540 --> 00:23:32.420 everything under 00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.040 control, 00:23:33.340 --> 00:23:34.160 will transform 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.880 our lowly 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.360 bodies, 00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:36.700 so that they 00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:37.480 will be like 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.440 his glorious 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:38.960 body. 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.540 Paul, 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.000 before that, 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.660 and interestingly, 00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.700 I would always 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.120 think, 00:23:52.080 --> 00:23:52.860 you know this 00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:53.259 business, 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:53.880 when we get, 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.500 you know, 00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:55.400 some of you are 00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.120 in age where 00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:56.680 you kind of 00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.160 walk through 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:57.620 town, 00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:59.279 and you're like, 00:23:59.900 --> 00:24:00.960 oh my goodness, 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.440 you know, 00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.340 what are these 00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:03.100 people doing? 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:04.340 Why do they 00:24:04.340 --> 00:24:05.200 behave like that? 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:05.440 You know, 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:05.980 why do people 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.559 throw litter? 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.100 Why do people 00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:08.680 smoke cigarettes? 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.299 Why do people 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:09.900 do all this 00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:10.259 stuff? 00:24:10.600 --> 00:24:11.160 In other words, 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.759 you become 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.539 just a little 00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.500 bit judgmental. 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:14.960 And 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.480 interestingly, 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.279 my perception 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.940 of St. Paul 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:20.140 is that he 00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:20.680 might have the 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.360 kind of character 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:21.880 that might 00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:22.500 become a little 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.240 judgmental. 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:25.220 But when he 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:25.980 talks about 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.559 the people 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:28.160 who are not 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:28.620 Christian, 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.299 who have not 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.620 accepted citizenship 00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:31.239 in heaven, 00:24:32.739 --> 00:24:33.879 he talks about 00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:34.159 them, 00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:35.159 he says, 00:24:35.379 --> 00:24:36.319 with tears. 00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:38.219 And then he 00:24:38.219 --> 00:24:38.459 says, 00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.759 many live as 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.459 the enemies 00:24:40.459 --> 00:24:41.599 of Christ. 00:24:43.639 --> 00:24:44.199 Sorry, 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:44.959 enemies of the 00:24:44.959 --> 00:24:45.399 cross. 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:50.699 What does 00:24:50.699 --> 00:24:51.219 that mean? 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.219 I mean, 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:53.659 most of the 00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:54.039 people who 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:54.619 walk around 00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:56.739 Clevedon, 00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:59.739 who don't 00:24:59.739 --> 00:25:00.399 know Christ 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:00.620 stand, 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.100 don't show 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:01.880 any interest 00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:02.340 in knowing 00:25:02.340 --> 00:25:02.860 Christ. 00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:03.780 They probably 00:25:03.780 --> 00:25:04.300 never think 00:25:04.300 --> 00:25:04.720 about the 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.060 cross. 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.180 Probably 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.680 even know 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:06.980 about it, 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.460 probably never 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.100 heard about 00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:08.320 it. 00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:10.920 You know, 00:25:11.040 --> 00:25:12.220 in Tokyo, 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:12.660 I mean, 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.300 I know Tokyo 00:25:13.300 --> 00:25:13.880 is a long 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:14.380 way away, 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:15.480 but I read 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.320 in an article 00:25:16.320 --> 00:25:17.320 that in a 00:25:17.320 --> 00:25:17.840 shop window 00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.560 in Tokyo, 00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:20.200 there was a 00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:21.100 figure of 00:25:21.100 --> 00:25:21.759 Father Christmas 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.460 on a cross. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.560 How confused 00:25:24.560 --> 00:25:25.060 is that? 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:28.019 see, 00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:28.480 one being 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:28.980 the enemies 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.619 of Christ, 00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:31.139 the cross, 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.480 means that 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:32.940 they have 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.559 no interest 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:36.079 in the 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:36.879 currency of 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:37.740 seeking the 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.779 best kind 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.500 of forgiveness 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.639 that can be 00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.379 achieved on 00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:42.039 planet Earth, 00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:42.879 and that is 00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:43.379 the forgiveness 00:25:43.379 --> 00:25:43.980 of God 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.679 through the 00:25:44.679 --> 00:25:45.240 shedding of 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.919 Christ's blood 00:25:45.919 --> 00:25:46.740 on the cross 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.379 of Calvary. 00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.059 Enemies of 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.500 the cross 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.259 show no 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:51.339 interest in 00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:52.000 wanting to 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:53.440 be healed. 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.840 Paul goes 00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:55.019 on, 00:25:55.080 --> 00:25:55.799 then destiny 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.720 is destruction. 00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.440 Has it ever 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.180 occurred to you 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:01.059 when you look 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:01.680 at our world 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.360 and its current 00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:02.900 state, 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:03.920 that there seems 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.960 to be a kind 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.759 of deep 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.920 self-destructive 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:11.120 facet 00:26:11.120 --> 00:26:12.900 to the way 00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.660 we're behaving? 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.460 I mean, 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.000 you could look 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.559 at that in a 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.220 number of 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.120 areas, 00:26:17.320 --> 00:26:17.860 in political 00:26:17.860 --> 00:26:18.400 life, 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:18.940 in moral 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:20.640 life, 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:21.700 you could look 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.320 at it in terms 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:23.140 of the environment, 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:24.100 you could look 00:26:24.100 --> 00:26:24.779 at it in lots 00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.220 and lots 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:25.740 of different 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.160 terms, 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:26.840 but listen, 00:26:29.080 --> 00:26:29.700 Paul nails 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:29.920 it. 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:30.860 They are into 00:26:30.860 --> 00:26:31.759 self-destruction. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.360 Third thing 00:26:32.360 --> 00:26:32.680 is, 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.680 he says 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.880 they're hedonists, 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:35.620 all they're 00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.480 interested in 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.360 is pleasure. 00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:38.700 That's what it 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.279 means when he 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.200 says their God 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:41.259 is their belly 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.220 or their stomach 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:43.940 and their glory 00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:45.140 is in their 00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:45.600 shame. 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:47.320 Has it ever 00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:48.160 occurred to you 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.160 when you hear 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:50.440 celebrities or 00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:50.840 whatever, 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:52.579 when they 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.539 are kind 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.119 of making 00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:54.599 themselves 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.279 popular 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.179 off the 00:26:56.179 --> 00:26:56.599 back of 00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:56.939 the most 00:26:56.939 --> 00:26:57.539 despicable 00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:58.199 behavior? 00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:01.740 Glorying in 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.419 their shame, 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.079 says Paul. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.659 But no, 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.199 he says, 00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:06.019 we are 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.939 citizens in 00:27:06.939 --> 00:27:07.139 heaven. 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.099 Citizenship 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:09.359 implies a 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:09.819 privilege. 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:11.519 You're a 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.059 citizen of 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:12.500 the United 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:13.039 Kingdom. 00:27:13.459 --> 00:27:13.839 There are 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.599 certain things 00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.199 that you are 00:27:15.199 --> 00:27:16.019 allowed to do 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:16.859 that if you 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.440 are not a 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:17.779 citizen, 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.579 you cannot 00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:18.920 do. 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:20.720 You have a 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.139 right of 00:27:21.139 --> 00:27:21.779 entry into 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.440 this country. 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.240 You're allowed 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:25.160 to live here. 00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:27.759 I'm going to 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.059 say you're 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:28.480 allowed to 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.160 pay taxes, 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:29.500 but you 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:29.779 might not 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.139 be too 00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.579 keen on 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:30.839 that. 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:32.720 Citizenship 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.539 in heaven 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.879 also implies 00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.420 privilege. 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.440 If you are 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.139 in Christ, 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:38.879 you have a 00:27:38.879 --> 00:27:39.299 right of 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.079 entry into 00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:40.379 heaven. 00:27:40.639 --> 00:27:41.119 You're not 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:41.400 going to get 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:41.960 a passport, 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.400 but you 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:43.980 will get a 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.619 free pass 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.239 into heaven 00:27:45.239 --> 00:27:46.059 if you 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:46.579 are in 00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.039 Christ. 00:27:48.179 --> 00:27:48.759 Citizenship 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.219 in heaven 00:27:49.219 --> 00:27:50.019 needs to 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.419 be lived 00:27:50.419 --> 00:27:51.319 now in 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.859 the light 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.419 of what 00:27:52.419 --> 00:27:53.019 will be. 00:27:54.719 --> 00:27:55.619 That means 00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:56.639 we need to 00:27:56.639 --> 00:27:57.379 start thinking 00:27:57.379 --> 00:27:57.919 differently, 00:27:58.119 --> 00:27:58.479 friends. 00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.479 In that 00:28:01.479 --> 00:28:01.839 Matthew 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.799 chapter 5, 00:28:02.959 --> 00:28:03.479 you remember 00:28:03.479 --> 00:28:03.839 on the 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.299 Sermon on 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:04.739 the Mount, 00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:05.479 Jesus 00:28:05.479 --> 00:28:06.459 talks to 00:28:06.459 --> 00:28:06.859 us about 00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.659 something that 00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:07.939 have been 00:28:07.939 --> 00:28:09.219 called the 00:28:09.219 --> 00:28:09.939 Beatitudes. 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.039 These are 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.419 what you 00:28:12.419 --> 00:28:13.279 might call 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:14.599 the values 00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:16.919 what it 00:28:16.919 --> 00:28:18.599 means to 00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:19.099 be a 00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:19.799 citizen of 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.079 heaven, 00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:22.179 to be in 00:28:22.179 --> 00:28:22.639 the kingdom 00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:23.259 of God. 00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:26.099 And if 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.579 you read 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:26.719 them, 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:26.980 I'm not 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.119 going to 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.419 read them 00:28:27.419 --> 00:28:27.740 all to 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.119 you now 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:28.879 because you're 00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:29.299 looking like 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:29.619 you need 00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:30.019 lunch, 00:28:31.439 --> 00:28:32.279 but if you 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:32.740 read them 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:32.980 all, 00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:33.899 these are 00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:34.619 the complete 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:35.719 antithesis 00:28:35.719 --> 00:28:37.039 of the way 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.439 the world 00:28:37.439 --> 00:28:37.839 lives. 00:28:39.199 --> 00:28:39.659 Blessed are 00:28:39.659 --> 00:28:40.339 the poor 00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:40.959 in spirit. 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:41.819 Who thinks 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.119 that? 00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:44.059 blessed are 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.519 those who 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:44.919 mourn. 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:45.639 Who thinks 00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:45.939 that? 00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:47.679 Blessed are 00:28:47.679 --> 00:28:48.059 the meek. 00:28:48.139 --> 00:28:48.779 Does anybody 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.879 down in the 00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:50.319 city of 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.000 London believe 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.299 that? 00:28:52.979 --> 00:28:53.699 Blessed are 00:28:53.699 --> 00:28:54.119 those who 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:54.839 hunger and 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.379 thirst for 00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:55.919 righteousness. 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.039 None of 00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:57.759 these things 00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:59.119 play a part 00:28:59.119 --> 00:28:59.939 in 21st 00:28:59.939 --> 00:29:00.419 century 00:29:00.419 --> 00:29:01.059 Western 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.639 culture. 00:29:01.979 --> 00:29:02.199 Friends, 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:02.839 we need to 00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:03.500 think a little 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.099 differently. 00:29:04.879 --> 00:29:05.000 And 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.099 meditating on 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.359 those 00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:07.119 Beatitudes 00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:07.979 might be 00:29:07.979 --> 00:29:08.559 something you 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.159 might like to 00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:09.720 think about. 00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:13.000 And we 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.340 need to 00:29:13.340 --> 00:29:13.820 behave 00:29:13.820 --> 00:29:14.400 differently. 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:15.820 Do you 00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:16.480 remember Jesus 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.540 talked about 00:29:17.540 --> 00:29:19.420 the need 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:20.000 for us 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.800 to be 00:29:20.800 --> 00:29:21.440 lost 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.880 in order 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:23.380 to be 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.120 re-found 00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:26.200 by him? 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.200 Even 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:28.700 Gandhi, 00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:30.200 who actually 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:30.800 pinched quite 00:29:30.800 --> 00:29:31.200 a lot of 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:31.620 his best 00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:32.200 stuff from 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:32.680 Jesus, 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.240 Gandhi said 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.500 this, 00:29:34.560 --> 00:29:34.920 the best 00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:35.259 way to 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:36.080 find yourself 00:29:36.080 --> 00:29:36.840 is to 00:29:36.840 --> 00:29:37.259 lose 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:37.900 yourself 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:38.720 in the 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.340 service of 00:29:39.340 --> 00:29:39.759 others. 00:29:41.360 --> 00:29:41.660 Pretty 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:42.120 close to 00:29:42.120 --> 00:29:42.620 what Jesus 00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:43.180 was on 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:43.480 about, 00:29:43.580 --> 00:29:44.019 in fact. 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:46.060 Citizenship 00:29:46.060 --> 00:29:46.400 in heaven 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:47.180 means death 00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:47.740 will not 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.140 be the 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:48.440 end. 00:29:50.320 --> 00:29:50.920 In fact, 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:51.940 Paul implies 00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:52.360 this very 00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:53.040 strongly in 00:29:53.040 --> 00:29:53.759 this passage, 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:54.600 that we 00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:56.100 shall have 00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:57.640 a new 00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:59.180 body that 00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.500 will be 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.240 more like 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.060 the risen 00:30:01.060 --> 00:30:01.680 Christ. 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.460 When you 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.580 define yourself, 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:09.200 do you 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:09.720 ever think 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.440 about this? 00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.259 Do you 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:12.740 ever think 00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.340 that your 00:30:13.340 --> 00:30:14.220 identity, 00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:15.420 primarily, 00:30:15.840 --> 00:30:16.460 if you're a 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:16.900 follower of 00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:17.660 Jesus Christ, 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.500 is exactly 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.180 in that 00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:19.640 truth? 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:22.340 Being in 00:30:22.340 --> 00:30:23.120 Christ 00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:24.300 is my 00:30:24.300 --> 00:30:25.080 identity. 00:30:27.300 --> 00:30:28.040 And what 00:30:28.040 --> 00:30:28.440 do we need 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.040 to do with 00:30:29.040 --> 00:30:29.600 citizenship? 00:30:30.600 --> 00:30:31.380 We need 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:32.200 to gratefully 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.340 receive it 00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:35.039 and not 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.619 put it to 00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:36.639 the recesses 00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:37.359 of our 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:37.839 thinking 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:38.699 or of 00:30:38.699 --> 00:30:39.519 our minds. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.159 My 00:30:43.159 --> 00:30:44.599 own family, 00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:45.879 according to 00:30:45.879 --> 00:30:46.839 my sister, 00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:48.839 came, 00:30:48.959 --> 00:30:49.679 my mother's 00:30:49.679 --> 00:30:50.019 family, 00:30:50.159 --> 00:30:50.819 came here 00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:52.019 from Germany 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.899 at some 00:30:52.899 --> 00:30:53.559 point in the 00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:53.959 past. 00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:56.000 I think 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.360 my 00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:57.920 great-great 00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.779 grandfather 00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.920 must have 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.539 seen the 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.440 writing on 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:01.860 the wall 00:31:01.860 --> 00:31:02.420 for Jewish 00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:03.019 people and 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:04.579 decided that 00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.180 Europe was 00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:05.740 not a safe 00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.279 place. 00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:10.259 So they 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:10.700 came to 00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:11.340 this country. 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.600 If you 00:31:14.600 --> 00:31:15.240 are Jewish, 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.480 most Jews 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:18.160 would say to 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.460 you that 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.640 their primary 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.960 identity, 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.819 even if 00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:22.140 they don't 00:31:22.140 --> 00:31:22.579 practice 00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:23.079 Jewish 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:23.600 religion, 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.259 is that 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:24.500 they're 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:24.900 Jewish. 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.500 When my 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.220 family came 00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:31.600 here, 00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.980 they decided 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:35.100 the only 00:31:35.100 --> 00:31:35.920 honest thing 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.440 to do 00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:39.440 was to 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:39.980 deny 00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:40.700 their 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.500 Jewishness. 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:43.980 And so 00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.860 my grandfather 00:31:44.860 --> 00:31:45.700 opened a 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.140 chain of 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:46.900 butcher shops 00:31:46.900 --> 00:31:47.299 in the 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:47.720 north of 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.100 England, 00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:48.960 northwest, 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.019 and sold 00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:50.460 pork. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:52.000 forbidden 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.759 in the 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.079 Torah, 00:31:53.340 --> 00:31:53.720 the law. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.400 Let me 00:31:56.400 --> 00:31:56.779 ask you a 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.100 question. 00:31:58.840 --> 00:31:59.700 Are you 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:01.319 hiding your 00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:02.019 citizenship? 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.700 Are you 00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.240 frightened 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.920 of being 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:08.880 found out 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:09.980 to be a 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.840 follower of 00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:11.819 Jesus Christ? 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:14.000 Those of you 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:14.400 who still have 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:15.240 paid employment 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.340 in the West 00:32:16.340 --> 00:32:17.240 would have 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:17.980 very good 00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:18.559 reason to 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.140 be a little 00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:19.779 anxious 00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:21.180 about coming 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:22.000 out too 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:23.539 strongly in 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.460 your identity? 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.039 When I was 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.279 in the 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:27.720 House of 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.019 Lords, 00:32:28.379 --> 00:32:28.879 I cannot 00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:29.359 tell you 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:29.920 how many 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:30.559 maiden 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.500 speeches I 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:31.839 heard. 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:33.059 Only once, 00:32:33.420 --> 00:32:34.359 only once, 00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:37.039 did I hear 00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:38.059 somebody in a 00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:39.019 maiden speech 00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:40.879 own up to 00:32:40.879 --> 00:32:41.779 their citizenship 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.440 in heaven. 00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:44.460 there was a 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:44.960 good friend 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.480 of mine 00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:46.400 called 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:46.779 Michael 00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.200 Farmer, 00:32:47.320 --> 00:32:48.160 Lord Farmer, 00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:49.100 as it is 00:32:49.100 --> 00:32:49.440 now. 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.080 He stood 00:32:51.080 --> 00:32:51.799 up in 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:52.460 that chamber 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.519 and he 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:54.259 nailed it. 00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:56.680 I have 00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:57.220 maximum 00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:58.059 respect for 00:32:58.059 --> 00:32:58.319 him. 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:00.940 And it 00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.319 made me 00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:01.819 think, 00:33:03.059 --> 00:33:03.240 you know, 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:03.740 maybe I've 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:04.339 got to nail 00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:05.079 it a bit 00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:05.759 more often 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.339 than I'm 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:06.980 inclined to 00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:07.240 do. 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:08.879 Anybody 00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:09.480 sitting in 00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:10.099 church today 00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:10.859 who feels 00:33:10.859 --> 00:33:11.220 the same, 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:11.539 I would 00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:12.099 think so. 00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:15.119 Friends, 00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:16.359 we're 00:33:16.359 --> 00:33:17.379 citizens in 00:33:17.379 --> 00:33:17.680 heaven. 00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:19.240 Someone say 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:19.619 amen. 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.339 Friends, 00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:21.920 we are 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:22.879 citizens of 00:33:22.879 --> 00:33:23.119 heaven. 00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:23.199 heaven. 00:33:23.479 --> 00:33:24.099 Someone say 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:24.779 hallelujah. 00:33:25.959 --> 00:33:26.479 Friends, 00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:26.919 we are 00:33:26.919 --> 00:33:27.539 citizens of 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:27.839 heaven. 00:33:28.159 --> 00:33:28.459 Somebody 00:33:28.459 --> 00:33:28.839 shout, 00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:29.599 thank you 00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:29.979 Lord. 00:33:35.219 --> 00:33:35.879 But you 00:33:35.879 --> 00:33:36.519 shout a bit 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:37.159 louder if you 00:33:37.159 --> 00:33:37.639 go down to 00:33:37.639 --> 00:33:38.139 the football, 00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:38.500 right? 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.299 I want to 00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:43.559 just end by 00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:44.319 saying to 00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:44.579 you, 00:33:45.699 --> 00:33:47.500 as I said 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:47.779 at the 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.159 beginning, 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:49.459 as I said 00:33:49.459 --> 00:33:50.199 last week, 00:33:50.679 --> 00:33:51.459 and as I 00:33:51.459 --> 00:33:52.000 will say 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.439 till they 00:33:52.439 --> 00:33:53.019 drag me 00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.379 off this 00:33:53.379 --> 00:33:53.740 planet. 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.259 Friends, 00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:57.259 this may 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:57.879 not feel 00:33:57.879 --> 00:33:58.379 like our 00:33:58.379 --> 00:33:58.799 time, 00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:00.180 but it 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:00.700 is our 00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.079 time. 00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:03.420 Stand up, 00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:05.259 speak up, 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:06.839 pray up, 00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:08.960 and let's 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.300 see what 00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.820 happens. 00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:11.440 Jesus 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.480 started with 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.059 twelve 00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.920 men. 00:34:17.300 --> 00:34:18.000 Think what 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.380 we could 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:18.719 do. 00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:21.139 Imagine it. 00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.779 God, 00:34:21.779 --> 00:34:23.019 but it 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.639 needs you 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:24.739 to begin 00:34:24.739 --> 00:34:25.699 by owning 00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:26.039 your 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.639 citizenship. 00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.159 Let's 00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:27.420 pray. 00:34:29.139 --> 00:34:29.980 Father God, 00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:30.659 we thank 00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:31.960 you that 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.699 we are 00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:33.519 citizens. 00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:33.940 Lord, 00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:34.579 not because 00:34:34.579 --> 00:34:35.099 we're any 00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:35.420 great 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:35.960 shakes, 00:34:36.779 --> 00:34:37.559 or because 00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:38.339 we earned 00:34:38.339 --> 00:34:38.980 our way 00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:39.879 into your 00:34:39.879 --> 00:34:40.299 presence, 00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:40.879 but Lord, 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.420 because of 00:34:41.420 --> 00:34:42.099 your grace. 00:34:44.299 --> 00:34:45.259 Your love 00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:45.980 shown to 00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:46.319 us, 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:47.099 even though, 00:34:47.279 --> 00:34:47.379 Lord, 00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:48.139 we all know 00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:48.480 that we 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:48.739 don't 00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:49.119 deserve 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:49.379 it. 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.619 So, 00:34:52.779 --> 00:34:52.960 Father, 00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:53.460 come, 00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:53.940 we pray 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.440 today. 00:34:56.139 --> 00:34:56.579 Fill our 00:34:56.579 --> 00:34:57.079 hearts, 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:58.839 fill our 00:34:58.839 --> 00:34:59.379 minds, 00:35:00.539 --> 00:35:01.000 fill our 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:01.739 souls with 00:35:01.739 --> 00:35:02.500 this wonderful 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:05.159 truth that 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:05.500 we are 00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.279 citizens of 00:35:06.279 --> 00:35:06.539 heaven, 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:06.960 that we 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.679 can let 00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:07.980 go of 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.639 the past, 00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:10.119 and Lord, 00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:10.440 you will 00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:11.179 heal us 00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:12.420 of anything 00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:13.119 that today 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:14.000 distracts us 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:14.359 down. 00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:17.460 so, 00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:17.700 Lord, 00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:18.640 bless this 00:35:18.640 --> 00:35:19.300 congregation, 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:19.920 I pray 00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:20.220 thee. 00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:21.800 Lord, 00:35:21.860 --> 00:35:22.240 that they 00:35:22.240 --> 00:35:22.900 may bless 00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:23.579 many in 00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.220 your name 00:35:24.220 --> 00:35:24.640 and to 00:35:24.640 --> 00:35:25.340 your glory, 00:35:25.660 --> 00:35:26.120 and the 00:35:26.120 --> 00:35:26.800 people who 00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:27.380 agreed, 00:35:27.940 --> 00:35:28.620 said together, 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:29.900 Amen.