WEBVTT

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 The scripture reading comes from Romans chapter 12.

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 Please follow along on the screen, the bulletin, or your own Bible.

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 Starting in verse 1, we read,

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 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,

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 to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,

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 which is your spiritual worship.

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 Do not be conformed to this world.

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 But be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

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 that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

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 what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Great. Thank you so much, Janet.

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 Well, once again, good morning.

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 It is wonderful to be back with you again.

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 And if you are new to Watermark, sorry, I didn't introduce myself earlier.

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 My name is Kevin, one of the elder pastors here.

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 It's great to be with you again today.

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 I wonder if you have ever had a big decision to make,

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 and you've been grappling with what is God's will in this decision.

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 If only God could give me a sign.

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 I've got two job offers on the table, A and B.

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 Or maybe you've got a job offer to move overseas.

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 And I just need a sign from God.

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 What is God's will?

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 If God will just give me a sign, I'll do it.

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 That sound familiar to anyone?

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 In the passage we're going to look at today,

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 it's going to tell us many things.

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 One of the things we're going to find out is why God so often

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 doesn't give us the signs that we want

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 and doesn't tell us what to do in moments like that.

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 First, we're working through one chapter of the Bible at the moment,

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 Romans chapter 12.

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 Recently we preached through the book of Daniel,

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 and each Sunday we looked at these long chapters.

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 Well, at the moment we're spending six weeks on this one chapter, Romans 12,

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 a couple of verses at a time.

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 Today we're just looking at one verse.

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 And the reason is because Romans chapter 12 is one of the best chapters in the Bible

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 to describe and explain what the gospel-centered life is all about and looks like.

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 If you've been at Watermark for a little while,

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 you would have heard this phrase, gospel-centered or gospel-shaped life.

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 But what does that actually mean?

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 Well, what it means is that the incredibly wonderful good news of the gospel,

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 that though the world was fallen and cut off from God,

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 God in His abundant mercy and grace,

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 because of His profound love for the world,

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 has made a way to reconcile and to redeem the world

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 by sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross for us.

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 So that sinners and sufferers like us,

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 who put our faith in Christ,

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 can be reconciled, can be redeemed, can be restored.

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 But the gospel actually has a storyline that has a shape to it.

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 Remember Philippians chapter 2 talks about how Jesus laid aside His glory,

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 took on the nature of a servant,

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 humbled Himself to the cross before He was exalted to glory.

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 And so the gospel, something we're discovering,

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 is not just a portion of the story Bible,

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 it is the story Bible.

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 The gospel is not just a way into the entrance into Christianity,

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 it is the Christian life.

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 And so the gospel shaped life is the life where every area of our life,

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 from our money to our sexuality to marriage to parenting,

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 work success and work failure,

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 COVID and cancer, political unrest,

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 every area of life is shaped and informed by the shape of the gospel.

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 And Romans chapter 12 is one of the best chapters in the Bible

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 to explain that and to describe that and to show what that looks like.

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 And so we're spending six weeks in this chapter.

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 And so Romans chapter 12 starts off like this,

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 by the mercies of God.

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 In view of God's incredible mercies,

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 this is how you are to live your life.

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 And last week Chris showed us that in view of God's mercy,

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 one of the things that God calls us to is,

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 the way that we don't waste our lives,

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 is by bringing our whole lives,

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 all that we are,

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 all that we have,

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 all that we do.

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 And so here it is,

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 God,

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 you are God and I am not,

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 you are glorious.

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 I am not,

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 you are infinite.

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 Here's my life.

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 Take it and have your way.

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 Now,

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 today,

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 we're going to look at the second part of that verse two,

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 and continue to look at what is this gospel shaped life all about.

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 And so Paul continues with Romans chapter 12 verse two.

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 What does it look like for us in 21st century Hong Kong,

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 with everything that's going on,

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 what does it look like for us not to waste our lives,

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 but to bring every area of our lives before God and say,

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 here it is,

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 have your way.

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 Well,

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 look at what Paul says in verse two.

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 Do not be conformed to this world,

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 but be transformed into the image and the likeness of Jesus.

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 Okay,

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 that's what he means when he says be transformed.

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 And that's the big idea of this verse.

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 That's the big idea of the sermon today.

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 There it is.

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 It's not very complicated.

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 Do not be conformed to the patterns and the thinking and the ethos of this

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 world,

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 but be transformed into the image and the likeness of Christ Jesus.

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 The life that God calls us to,

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 for those of us that are Christians,

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 is one that is not shaped by the worldview,

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 the ethos,

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 or the thinking of our culture,

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 but one that is shaped and informed by the mercies of God and by the gospel into the likeness of Jesus.

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 By the mercies of God,

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 present your bodies as living sacrifices,

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 holy and acceptable to him.

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 This is your spiritual act of worship.

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 Therefore,

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 do not be conformed to the patterns of this world,

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 but be transformed into the likeness and the image of Jesus.

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 Now,

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 straight away,

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 we need to think about this a little bit more.

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 Okay.

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 There's a couple of things we need to clarify.

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 The first one is this.

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 It is a Christian historian by the name of Andrew Walls from Liverpool Hope University.

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 He wrote a book in the 1990s called The Missionary Spirit,

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 I think.

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 And in it,

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 he describes the difference between what he calls the indigenous principle and the pilgrim principle.

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 Okay.

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 And this is what he says.

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 He says,

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 as Christians,

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 we are called to both simultaneously be both indigenous in our culture,

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 to make our home in our culture and the cities in which we live,

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 and at the same time,

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 see ourselves as pilgrims passing through the culture.

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 So remember Jeremiah 29?

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 We spoke about it a few weeks ago.

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 Jeremiah writes to the exiles in Babylon.

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 He says,

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 build houses,

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 plant roots,

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 make families,

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 have children,

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 engage in the city in which you live.

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 Don't see yourselves as foreigners.

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 Engage.

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 Make yourself as a home there.

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 But at the same time,

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 there's something that the Bible calls us to,

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 to be distinctive from the cities in which we live.

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 To not be so engaged that there's nothing distinctive about us.

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 Or in the language of Jesus in John 17,

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 Jesus says,

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 be in the world,

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 but not of the world.

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 Be engaged in the culture,

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 serving the culture,

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 rooted in the culture,

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 loving and serving your city,

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 and yet something separate or something distinctive about your engagement.

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 And Paul says the same thing here.

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 He says in 1 Corinthians,

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 we are to become all things to all men,

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 so that by all means we can win some.

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 And at the same time here,

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 he says,

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 do not conform to the patterns of the world.

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 And so there's this paradox at play in the Christian life.

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 We are both indigenous in our city,

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 making a home here,

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 loving and serving our city,

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 and yet there's something distinctive,

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 something pilgrim about the way that we engage in life here.

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 I think the greatest example of this is Daniel, right?

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 We just spent eight weeks looking at the life of Daniel.

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 He has this man who thoroughly engages in pagan Babylon,

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 serving in the palace,

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 serving their kings,

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 really involved in serving the city of Babylon,

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 and yet there's something so distinctive about him,

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 that at times it almost costs him his life.

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 And so when Paul says,

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 do not be conformed to the patterns of this world,

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 Paul is not saying,

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 let's just retreat from society,

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 and go build this Christian commune on Lama Island,

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 and we all just live in this nice Christian bubble.

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 No, no, engage in the world,

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 and yet as you do so,

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 be distinctive.

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 Here's a second clarification.

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 When Paul says,

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 don't be conformed to the patterns of this world,

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 but be transformed,

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 he's not talking about a new moral list of behaviors,

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 things to do.

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 So Paul isn't saying,

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 stop stealing,

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 go to church.

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 Stop gambling,

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 read your Bible.

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 Stop swearing,

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 talk nicely.

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 Okay?

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 When Paul talks about this,

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 he's not just talking about outward behavior,

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 even though it will include that,

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 he's talking about an inner transformation of our hearts.

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 Listen to how John Piper describes this.

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 He says,

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 non-conformity to the world

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 does not primarily mean

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 the avoidance of external behaviors.

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 It will include that, of course.

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 But you can avoid all kinds of immoral behavior

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 and still not be transformed in your hearts.

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 Transformation by the mercy of God

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 is not switching from the behavior of the world

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 to the behavior of religion.

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 The Christian alternative to immoral behavior

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 is not suddenly a new list of new moral behaviors.

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 It is the triumphant power

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 and the transformation of the Holy Spirit

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 through faith in Christ,

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 by God's mercy,

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 which transforms our inner being.

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 Do you see what he's saying?

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 When Paul describes the gospel-shaped,

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 mercy-informed life

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 and the transformation,

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 he's not saying,

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 stop that stuff

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 and now do a whole lot of these things,

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 A, B, C, D.

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 He's saying,

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 let your inner world,

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 your heart,

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 be transformed by who God is

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 and by the grace and the mercy of God.

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 And that's why when Scripture talks about

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 the evidence of a transformed life,

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 it's not go to church,

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 put money in the offering,

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 stop swearing.

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 It's Jesus is this,

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 by this will all men know

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 that you are my disciples,

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 that you have love for one another.

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 Well, think of the fruit of the Spirit

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 that Paul describes about.

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 Unbelievable patience,

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 kindness,

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 faithfulness,

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 tenderness,

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 gentleness.

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 This is the mark of the transformed life.

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 Now, here's one other clarification.

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 Here's a question for us.

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 This radical gospel-shaped,

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 mercy-empowered,

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 transformed life of the heart,

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 who do you think this is for?

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 Is this for Christians

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 or is this for non-Christians?

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 Okay?

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 Is this,

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 is Paul talking about

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 the transformation

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 for those who are dead in their sin

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 or those who are alive in Christ?

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 Because no doubt,

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 we have both with us this morning.

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 Many of us here

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 would be followers of Jesus.

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 We've put our faith and trust in Him.

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 He's changed us.

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 You're born again.

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 Some of us may be here this morning

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 and no doubt,

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 still on a spiritual journey.

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 You're not yet a follower of Jesus.

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 So who's Paul talking to?

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 The answer is both.

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 If you're here this morning

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 and you're not a follower of Jesus,

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 friends, can I tell you,

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 the God who made you,

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 who knit you together

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 in your mother's womb,

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 loves you infinitely more

00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:51.899
 than you could possibly imagine

00:11:51.899 --> 00:11:52.919
 or hope.

00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:55.120
 But the God who made you

00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.779
 and who loves you so much

00:11:56.779 --> 00:11:58.279
 is also the God

00:11:58.279 --> 00:11:59.339
 to whom you're one day

00:11:59.339 --> 00:12:00.199
 going to give an account

00:12:00.199 --> 00:12:01.620
 for the way that you've lived your life.

00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:03.500
 Have you loved and honored Him

00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:05.099
 or have you loved and honored yourself?

00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:07.659
 Have you treasured and served Him

00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:09.479
 or have you treasured and served yourself?

00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:11.240
 Have you lived for His glory

00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:13.360
 or have you lived for your own glory?

00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:18.279
 This God longs to break into your life

00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:20.360
 and to so transform your life

00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:23.279
 to cause you to be new from the inside out.

00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:26.080
 This God longs to transform you

00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:27.240
 to give you a new identity

00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:28.379
 and a new security.

00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:30.700
 One that's not built on your performance

00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:32.620
 or how people think about you,

00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:33.519
 but built on the fact

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.740
 that you're a son or a daughter

00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:35.679
 of the living God.

00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:37.639
 And so if you're not a follower

00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:38.500
 of Jesus this morning,

00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:40.659
 God wants to transform you.

00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.360
 But at the same time,

00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:43.000
 for those of us

00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:44.379
 that are followers of Jesus,

00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:47.679
 Paul says that even the Christian life

00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:49.360
 is not one which has merely

00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:51.879
 put my faith in Jesus 30 years ago

00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:54.659
 and now I just ride it out to heaven.

00:12:55.060 --> 00:12:57.000
 The life of a follower of Jesus

00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:59.500
 is one of constant reformation,

00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:01.799
 transformation, and renewal.

00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:04.240
 500 years ago,

00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:05.980
 in the time of the Reformation,

00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:07.200
 remember Martin Luther,

00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:09.159
 John Calvin, Zwickley, those guys,

00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:11.019
 they had a Latin phrase.

00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:11.960
 It was this,

00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:13.980
 Sempe Reformanda.

00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:14.980
 Is that right?

00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:15.919
 Something like that, okay?

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:17.860
 Do you appreciate my Latin?

00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:19.980
 That's about as far as it goes, right?

00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:21.179
 Sempe Reformanda.

00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:22.340
 And what it meant is this,

00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:25.259
 always being reformed.

00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:27.060
 And their concern was that

00:13:27.060 --> 00:13:27.799
 the church went through

00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:29.419
 this massive reformation

00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:32.600
 as it changed from Catholicism

00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:33.420
 and honoring the Pope

00:13:33.420 --> 00:13:34.480
 to honoring Jesus.

00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:36.340
 But their concern was this,

00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:37.620
 that people would think,

00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:39.500
 oh yeah, we reformed back then

00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:41.659
 in 1519 or 1526

00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:42.659
 or whenever it was

00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:44.379
 and thought that was a done deal.

00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:45.200
 And they said,

00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.460
 no, the life of a Christian

00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:48.240
 is always being transformed

00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.379
 into the newness

00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:51.460
 and the likeness of Jesus.

00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:53.759
 Friends, if you're a follower

00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:54.740
 of Jesus this morning,

00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:56.580
 Jesus looks at each one of us

00:13:56.580 --> 00:13:57.379
 in the eye and says,

00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:59.080
 do not conform to the patterns

00:13:59.080 --> 00:13:59.740
 of this world,

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.320
 but be transformed

00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:02.799
 by the renewing of your mind.

00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:04.919
 Just this week,

00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:06.299
 on Tuesday evening,

00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:08.200
 Oscar and I had a really good

00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:09.639
 heart-to-heart conversation.

00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:11.779
 I was grappling and struggling

00:14:11.779 --> 00:14:12.759
 with a couple of things

00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:14.179
 and Oscar came around

00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:14.700
 and chatted

00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:16.539
 and we protested,

00:14:16.539 --> 00:14:18.379
 protested, not protested,

00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:18.960
 processed,

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:21.419
 some of the ministry idolatries

00:14:21.419 --> 00:14:22.200
 in my heart.

00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:24.000
 Some of the things that I'm grappling,

00:14:24.059 --> 00:14:25.120
 my own insecurities,

00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:25.840
 and my fears.

00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:27.639
 Some of the rubbish

00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.480
 that's in my heart.

00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:29.700
 And we got to pray together

00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:31.259
 and talk through that.

00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.139
 Friends, you and I

00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.919
 need the transformative work

00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:36.460
 of the power of the Holy Spirit

00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:37.580
 by the mercy of God

00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:38.500
 in our hearts

00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.259
 and in our lives.

00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:41.320
 This is what God calls us to

00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:42.480
 by His mercy.

00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.419
 By the mercies of God.

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.120
 Don't be conformed

00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:47.179
 to the patterns of this world,

00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:48.259
 but be transformed

00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:49.100
 into the image

00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:50.320
 and the likeness of Jesus.

00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:53.500
 Maybe a question

00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:54.180
 for those of us

00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:55.120
 that are followers of Jesus

00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:55.819
 this morning

00:14:55.819 --> 00:14:57.339
 to stop and think about.

00:14:57.459 --> 00:14:59.019
 Is our inner world,

00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:01.339
 the motivations of our hearts,

00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:04.739
 the deepest longings and fears,

00:15:04.839 --> 00:15:07.039
 or maybe our deepest fantasies,

00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:09.419
 do these look like

00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:11.319
 the inner world of Jesus Christ?

00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:13.699
 Or are they more shaped

00:15:13.699 --> 00:15:14.899
 by the longings,

00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:15.639
 the desires,

00:15:15.939 --> 00:15:16.519
 the fears,

00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.259
 and the ambitions

00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:18.819
 of our culture

00:15:18.819 --> 00:15:20.079
 and our world around us?

00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:24.320
 By the mercies of God,

00:15:24.780 --> 00:15:26.000
 do not be conformed

00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:27.259
 to the patterns of this world,

00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:28.940
 but be transformed

00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:30.600
 into the image

00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:31.720
 and the likeness of Jesus.

00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.920
 Okay, so that's the big idea.

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:35.680
 Now the question is this,

00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:37.320
 how does that actually happen?

00:15:38.400 --> 00:15:39.500
 How do we go about that?

00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:41.080
 And there's lots of answers,

00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:42.080
 but today I want to look

00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:42.960
 at just three of them.

00:15:43.400 --> 00:15:44.360
 And they're three things

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.600
 that all kind of happen

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.500
 simultaneously

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.720
 at the same time.

00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:50.120
 It happens by the mercy of God,

00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:52.500
 by the renewal of our minds,

00:15:52.660 --> 00:15:53.300
 and thirdly,

00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.960
 by seeing and savoring Jesus.

00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:57.060
 Okay, so let's dive into that.

00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:57.480
 Firstly,

00:15:57.920 --> 00:15:59.220
 by the mercies of God.

00:15:59.800 --> 00:16:01.600
 I don't know if you noticed this,

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.680
 but look at the way

00:16:02.680 --> 00:16:04.019
 that Paul writes the sentence.

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.620
 Paul doesn't say,

00:16:06.660 --> 00:16:08.800
 don't conform to this world,

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:10.680
 but transform yourself

00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:11.720
 to look like Jesus.

00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:13.519
 Okay, he almost says that,

00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:14.279
 but he doesn't quite.

00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:15.360
 He says,

00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:17.160
 don't be conformed,

00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:17.659
 rather,

00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:19.379
 be transformed

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.559
 into the image

00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:21.620
 and the likeness of Christ.

00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:23.299
 What's Paul saying here?

00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:24.159
 He's saying,

00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:25.860
 this radical transformation

00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:27.019
 that takes place

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:28.179
 as a result of the gospel

00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:29.759
 is not something

00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:31.459
 that is done by us,

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.779
 it's primarily something

00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:34.199
 that is done to us.

00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:35.279
 Okay,

00:16:35.339 --> 00:16:36.279
 do you see the distinction there?

00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:39.279
 Do not be conformed,

00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.719
 but be transformed

00:16:40.719 --> 00:16:42.539
 outside of yourself

00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.240
 by the mercy

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:44.159
 and the grace of God.

00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:46.839
 This is one of the key distinctions

00:16:46.839 --> 00:16:48.319
 between the gospel

00:16:48.319 --> 00:16:49.779
 and formal religion.

00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:51.860
 Every religion of the world

00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:52.579
 will tell you,

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:53.919
 you need to change,

00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:54.980
 you need to transform,

00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.519
 you need to improve yourself.

00:16:57.199 --> 00:16:58.279
 I remember a few years ago,

00:16:58.419 --> 00:17:00.980
 someone came to our community group

00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:03.339
 and she was in the process

00:17:03.339 --> 00:17:04.339
 of becoming a Christian

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:06.680
 and her friends couldn't believe

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.960
 that she'd go to a Bible study

00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:08.879
 on a Thursday night.

00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:09.820
 And so I said,

00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:11.140
 what on earth are you doing

00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:12.260
 going to a Bible study

00:17:12.260 --> 00:17:13.300
 on a Thursday night?

00:17:14.060 --> 00:17:15.620
 And she said to them,

00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.300
 well, you know,

00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:18.620
 kind of see it as a self-improvement project.

00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:20.720
 She was early on

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.580
 in the process

00:17:21.580 --> 00:17:22.740
 of understanding the gospel.

00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:23.160
 But friends,

00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.900
 that's not what the gospel is.

00:17:25.300 --> 00:17:26.260
 The gospel is not

00:17:26.260 --> 00:17:27.620
 a self-improvement project.

00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.160
 Paul doesn't say,

00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:30.420
 don't conform,

00:17:30.540 --> 00:17:31.580
 but improve yourself,

00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.480
 transform yourself.

00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.260
 Paul says,

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:35.160
 by the mercies of God,

00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:36.940
 let your own heart

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.299
 be transformed.

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:40.580
 Every religion will tell you,

00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:42.880
 seek to improve yourself,

00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:44.019
 to transform yourself,

00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:44.960
 to fix yourself.

00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:46.860
 Moral religion will tell us,

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.420
 see Jesus as an example

00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:51.000
 and then sort yourself out

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.240
 until you can be like him.

00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:54.900
 The gospel tells us

00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:55.660
 that transformation

00:17:55.660 --> 00:17:57.440
 is not something you achieve,

00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:59.039
 it's a gift that you receive

00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.259
 by the mercies of God.

00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:02.180
 Transformation of our hearts

00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:02.880
 and our minds,

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.600
 our identities

00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:04.360
 and our joys

00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:06.200
 is not something

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.519
 that comes from within us,

00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:08.400
 it's something that comes

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.860
 from outside of us

00:18:09.860 --> 00:18:10.660
 and changes us

00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.620
 on the inside out.

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.279
 And so listen to how

00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:14.340
 Paul says the same thing

00:18:14.340 --> 00:18:15.360
 in 2 Corinthians.

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:15.900
 He says,

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.299
 we all,

00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:18.539
 those of us

00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:19.500
 that are followers of Jesus,

00:18:20.299 --> 00:18:21.400
 beholding the glory

00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:22.240
 of the Lord Jesus

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:24.440
 are being transformed

00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.680
 by him

00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:28.140
 into the image of Christ

00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:29.640
 by one degree of glory

00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:30.460
 to the next.

00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:32.220
 This comes from the Lord

00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:33.600
 who is the Spirit.

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.799
 This happens

00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:36.099
 as we yield ourselves

00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:36.940
 and give ourselves

00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:37.480
 to God.

00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:38.539
 So here is my life

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.879
 and offering of worship.

00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:40.980
 Friends,

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:42.119
 every religion of the world

00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:43.099
 will give you instructions

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.240
 how to save yourself,

00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:45.180
 improve yourself,

00:18:45.399 --> 00:18:46.180
 fix yourself.

00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:47.899
 Jesus says,

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:48.700
 come to me

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:50.519
 and let me change you,

00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.899
 let me transform you,

00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:53.259
 let me fix you.

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.379
 Jesus says,

00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:56.019
 the problem is far more fundamental

00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:57.319
 than self-improvement.

00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:58.399
 Jesus says,

00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:59.839
 you need to be rescued,

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:00.399
 saved,

00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:01.639
 transformed and renewed.

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.599
 And that's what

00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:03.559
 the gospel does.

00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:04.259
 Okay,

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.219
 so the first thing is this,

00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.539
 by the mercies of God.

00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:08.259
 Second thing is this,

00:19:08.439 --> 00:19:09.480
 by the renewal

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:10.399
 of our minds.

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.240
 Now we're going to spend

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.339
 the most time on this.

00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:14.319
 This is a little theological,

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:14.939
 so you're going to need

00:19:14.939 --> 00:19:15.619
 to follow with me,

00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:15.879
 okay?

00:19:16.679 --> 00:19:17.079
 So,

00:19:17.199 --> 00:19:18.500
 look at what Paul says

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.439
 in our passage here.

00:19:20.399 --> 00:19:20.939
 He says,

00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.139
 do not be conformed

00:19:22.139 --> 00:19:22.759
 to the patterns

00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.399
 of this world,

00:19:23.679 --> 00:19:24.980
 but be transformed

00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:26.799
 by the renewal

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.399
 of your minds.

00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:30.179
 By the renewal

00:19:30.179 --> 00:19:31.000
 of your minds.

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.400
 Now why does Paul say that?

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.920
 What's wrong with our minds

00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.619
 that our minds

00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:35.460
 need to be renewed?

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.140
 Well,

00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:39.920
 we tend to think

00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:40.779
 that the problem

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.599
 with our world

00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.160
 and the problem

00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:42.859
 with ourselves

00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:44.299
 is generally

00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.039
 that we don't

00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:46.059
 understand enough.

00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:46.779
 We don't have enough

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:48.119
 education

00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:49.420
 or enough information.

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.740
 And that if we can

00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:51.980
 just fill our minds

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.299
 with the right information

00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:54.599
 or the right education,

00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:55.500
 we will be able

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.420
 to solve the problems

00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:56.980
 of the world.

00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.539
 When we were living

00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:59.279
 in South Africa

00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:00.440
 before Hong Kong,

00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:02.240
 this was the great argument

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.180
 to be the problem

00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:03.840
 to racism.

00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:04.880
 Everyone said,

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:05.100
 listen,

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:05.660
 South Africa,

00:20:05.860 --> 00:20:06.900
 we are a racist society.

00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.740
 The problem is

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.960
 we don't have enough education.

00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:10.420
 We don't know enough.

00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:11.620
 But friends,

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.440
 you and I know

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.400
 that education

00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:14.400
 is not going to solve

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.740
 the racism of our hearts,

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.080
 right?

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:18.120
 The Bible says,

00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:19.039
 the Bible has a far

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.900
 deeper analysis

00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:20.740
 of the problem

00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:21.440
 of our minds.

00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:22.840
 Scripture says

00:20:22.840 --> 00:20:23.420
 the problem

00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:24.299
 with our minds

00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:24.920
 is not just

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.799
 that they're finite,

00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:27.180
 it's that they are fallen.

00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:28.400
 Okay?

00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:29.500
 It's not just

00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.100
 that our minds

00:20:30.100 --> 00:20:30.759
 are dull,

00:20:31.060 --> 00:20:31.620
 it's that they have

00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:32.600
 been darkened

00:20:32.600 --> 00:20:33.560
 as a consequence

00:20:33.560 --> 00:20:34.300
 of sin

00:20:34.300 --> 00:20:35.780
 in our heart

00:20:35.780 --> 00:20:36.720
 and in our world.

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.160
 Our minds

00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:39.519
 don't see the world

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.820
 as God has designed them.

00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:42.240
 We don't think accurately.

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:42.920
 Okay?

00:20:43.560 --> 00:20:43.880
 So,

00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.000
 listen to how Paul

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.820
 describes it

00:20:45.820 --> 00:20:47.600
 in Ephesians chapter 4.

00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.900
 Paul says this,

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.780
 Now I say to you

00:20:49.780 --> 00:20:50.980
 and I testify on the Lord

00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.880
 that you must no longer walk

00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:53.860
 as the Gentiles do.

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.720
 So that's another way

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.019
 of saying

00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:56.120
 don't be conformed

00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:56.620
 to the patterns

00:20:56.620 --> 00:20:57.259
 of this world.

00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:59.200
 In the futility

00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.180
 of their minds,

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:02.040
 they are darkened

00:21:02.040 --> 00:21:03.000
 in their understanding,

00:21:03.620 --> 00:21:05.019
 alienated from the life

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.480
 of God

00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:06.700
 because of the ignorance

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.600
 that is in them

00:21:07.600 --> 00:21:09.360
 due to the hardness

00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:10.259
 of their hearts.

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.280
 So look at what

00:21:11.280 --> 00:21:11.940
 Paul says there.

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:13.680
 He describes our thinking

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:15.000
 as becoming futile,

00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:16.480
 darkened,

00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:17.580
 ignorant,

00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:19.000
 not just because

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.099
 of lack of education

00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:21.039
 but because of the

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.740
 fallen world,

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.720
 the state of our hearts

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:24.519
 has corrupted our thinking.

00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:25.859
 We don't see the world

00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:26.699
 as God wants us

00:21:26.699 --> 00:21:27.339
 to see it.

00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:28.779
 Rather,

00:21:28.919 --> 00:21:29.279
 he says,

00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:29.939
 verse 21,

00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.759
 be renewed

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.220
 in the spirit

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.819
 of your minds.

00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.220
 Now that's almost

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:37.699
 identical to Romans 12.

00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.039
 Be transformed

00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:40.159
 by the renewal

00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:40.919
 of your mind.

00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:41.879
 Paul says in Ephesians,

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.759
 be renewed

00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.740
 in the spirit

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.579
 of your minds.

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.439
 Now what does Paul mean

00:21:46.439 --> 00:21:47.199
 by the spirit

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.940
 of our minds?

00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:50.160
 What he means is this,

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:50.940
 that our minds,

00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:51.660
 our thinking,

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.380
 has a worldview.

00:21:54.120 --> 00:21:55.279
 It has a posture.

00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:57.460
 It has a mindset

00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.600
 or an attitude

00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.559
 about it

00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:01.420
 which conforms

00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.660
 to the way

00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:03.420
 of our hearts.

00:22:05.120 --> 00:22:05.819
 Romans 1

00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.940
 says the same thing,

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.759
 that our minds

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.259
 as a result

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.180
 of our fallen nature

00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.279
 has become darkened,

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:10.840
 foolish,

00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.600
 and futile.

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.019
 And Romans 1

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.440
 says this,

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.460
 one of the consequences

00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:14.880
 of this

00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.660
 is that we have

00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:16.700
 exchanged

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.400
 what is true

00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:18.320
 for what is false.

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.760
 We honor

00:22:19.760 --> 00:22:20.320
 and exalt

00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:21.200
 things that are false

00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.100
 and we diminish

00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:22.980
 things that are true.

00:22:23.060 --> 00:22:23.780
 We are confused

00:22:23.780 --> 00:22:24.680
 about the way

00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:25.640
 that the world works.

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.080
 And Paul says

00:22:27.080 --> 00:22:27.920
 the same things here.

00:22:28.060 --> 00:22:28.680
 Our minds

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.900
 aren't just computers

00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:31.100
 processing information.

00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:32.940
 They have a worldview,

00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.800
 an attitude,

00:22:34.060 --> 00:22:34.680
 a posture

00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:36.780
 that needs to be renewed

00:22:36.780 --> 00:22:37.840
 and redeemed,

00:22:38.040 --> 00:22:39.460
 that needs to be transformed

00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.620
 and come into line

00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:41.800
 with what is true.

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:42.899
 Okay,

00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:43.899
 are you tracking with me?

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.539
 I said this was

00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.119
 a little complicated.

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.019
 Are you following it?

00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:46.879
 Okay.

00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.579
 Do not be conformed,

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.599
 be transformed.

00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.619
 How does this happen?

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.319
 One way

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:52.559
 is through the renewal

00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.440
 of our minds.

00:22:54.419 --> 00:22:54.859
 Now,

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.480
 we're going to go

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.200
 one step deeper,

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:57.460
 okay?

00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:57.799
 You're going to have

00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.399
 to follow here.

00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.819
 How does that happen?

00:23:02.159 --> 00:23:02.579
 Well,

00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:03.359
 there's two ways,

00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:04.000
 two things

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.180
 that happen simultaneously.

00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.599
 Look at what Paul

00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.319
 says here.

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.359
 Do not be conformed

00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:09.899
 to this world,

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.659
 be transformed

00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:11.360
 by the renewal

00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:11.980
 of your mind

00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:13.440
 so that

00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.720
 by testing

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.960
 or discovering

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:18.120
 you may discern

00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:19.660
 or know for yourself

00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:21.960
 what is the will of God

00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:23.000
 is good,

00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:24.060
 acceptable,

00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.500
 and perfect will.

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.300
 Okay?

00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.620
 So let's come back

00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:28.100
 to the question

00:23:28.100 --> 00:23:28.900
 we said in the beginning.

00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:30.100
 How many of us here

00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:31.580
 have faced a situation

00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:32.640
 where you've got

00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.519
 a decision to make?

00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:34.900
 Job A or job B,

00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:35.640
 job C?

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.360
 God,

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.259
 what is your will?

00:23:37.580 --> 00:23:38.740
 If only you'll tell me

00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.019
 your will.

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:39.819
 How do we know

00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:41.000
 what God's will is?

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.319
 As a pastor,

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.039
 that's one of the

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:46.660
 most frequent requests

00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:47.160
 I get,

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:47.660
 okay?

00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.720
 Please come and pray for me.

00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.819
 I need to know God's will.

00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.839
 Give me a sign,

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:52.639
 okay?

00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.960
 Look at what Paul says here.

00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:56.139
 Paul says,

00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:57.180
 the normal way

00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:58.099
 that the Christian

00:23:58.099 --> 00:24:00.460
 discovers God's will

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:02.180
 is not normally

00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:03.900
 through a supernatural sign,

00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:05.480
 writing on the wall,

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.819
 a prophecy,

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.640
 a dream,

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.220
 a vision,

00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:09.079
 or a revelation,

00:24:09.620 --> 00:24:10.299
 even though

00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.120
 all those things

00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.759
 do happen,

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.980
 and they do happen,

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.980
 and I've had them happen.

00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:14.620
 Okay,

00:24:14.620 --> 00:24:15.519
 not the writing on the wall.

00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:16.519
 That hasn't happened to me.

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:18.019
 But those other things

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.539
 have happened.

00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:19.059
 Those are good.

00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.460
 But the way,

00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:21.200
 the main way

00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.460
 that we know God's will

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.319
 is not through

00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:25.740
 some supernatural revelation,

00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:28.019
 but rather,

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:28.980
 the usual way

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.779
 we know God's will

00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:31.079
 is having our minds

00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:31.879
 and our thinking

00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:32.759
 and our worldview

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:34.159
 renewed by the gospel,

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:37.359
 and then as we live that out

00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:38.679
 and act it out,

00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:40.259
 we discover God's will

00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.240
 in the process.

00:24:41.699 --> 00:24:41.839
 Okay?

00:24:42.199 --> 00:24:43.339
 So this is actually

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.119
 how we discover

00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:45.199
 and walk in God's will.

00:24:45.439 --> 00:24:47.000
 Not by supernatural revelation

00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.859
 primarily,

00:24:48.419 --> 00:24:49.559
 but through testing

00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:51.379
 or discovering God's will

00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:53.059
 as we allow our thinking

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.799
 and our worldview

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.639
 to be renewed

00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.519
 and shaped by Him

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.079
 and the gospel,

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:58.359
 and as we live that out

00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:59.720
 and take a step of faith

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.700
 trying to live

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.900
 the gospel-centered life.

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:02.759
 Okay?

00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:03.960
 So,

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:06.579
 hopefully this will make sense

00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:07.279
 in a few minutes.

00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:09.019
 Now, just by the way,

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.620
 I am a charismatic.

00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.920
 I do pray in tongues.

00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:14.420
 I do believe in prophecy

00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.680
 and visions and dreams

00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:16.500
 and all those things.

00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:17.400
 Those are good things.

00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.039
 They're in the Bible

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:19.500
 and we should pursue them.

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.980
 But here's the key.

00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.519
 Many Christians

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.640
 want a crystal ball.

00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:28.140
 And God often,

00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:29.820
 we want a Christian ball

00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:30.820
 so that God will tell us

00:25:30.820 --> 00:25:31.240
 what to do.

00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:32.420
 Take path A,

00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.259
 not path B.

00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:35.600
 But God wants to give us

00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:36.780
 a renewed mind

00:25:36.780 --> 00:25:38.340
 and a transformed heart,

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:40.420
 not just a crystal ball answer.

00:25:41.020 --> 00:25:41.860
 Does that make sense?

00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.259
 And so we come and say,

00:25:43.340 --> 00:25:44.680
 God, I've got a job A, job B.

00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:45.920
 You just tell me

00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.700
 and I'll know your will

00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.680
 and then I'll walk in it.

00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:48.520
 Your good, pleasing,

00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.259
 and perfect will.

00:25:50.020 --> 00:25:51.560
 But God doesn't want to give us

00:25:51.560 --> 00:25:52.680
 a crystal ball answer.

00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:53.640
 He wants to give us

00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.540
 a renewed mind

00:25:54.540 --> 00:25:55.940
 and a transformed heart.

00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:58.160
 And so that's why he says,

00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.259
 I want you to trust me.

00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:01.820
 And here's the reason why.

00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:02.840
 If God gave us

00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.640
 a crystal ball,

00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.840
 something that would just

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.940
 magically tell us

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.820
 His will in each

00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:07.700
 and every situation,

00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:09.880
 that wouldn't require

00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:11.279
 a transformed heart at all.

00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:12.480
 In fact,

00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:14.440
 so deceitful is the human heart

00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.900
 that what we would end up doing

00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:17.779
 is we would use God

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:19.180
 for our own glory.

00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:20.279
 Say, okay, God,

00:26:20.320 --> 00:26:21.019
 what is the answer?

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.299
 Take path A.

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.100
 Great.

00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:25.279
 Now I can take this job

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.319
 and I'll be more happy,

00:26:26.439 --> 00:26:27.699
 more comfortable for my glory.

00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:28.980
 We will use God

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:30.059
 rather than serve Him.

00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:32.719
 But God wants a transformed heart

00:26:32.719 --> 00:26:34.059
 and a renewed mind.

00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:36.119
 God wants us to know His will.

00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:37.519
 He's not trying to hide it from us,

00:26:37.699 --> 00:26:39.639
 but He wants us to discover it

00:26:39.639 --> 00:26:40.859
 as our hearts and minds

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.459
 are renewed

00:26:41.459 --> 00:26:43.079
 according to the gospel

00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:44.599
 as we come to Him

00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:45.279
 and trust Him.

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.899
 So let's look at this verse

00:26:46.899 --> 00:26:47.439
 once again.

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.339
 Do not be conformed

00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:50.539
 to the patterns of this world.

00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.940
 Be transformed

00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:52.579
 in the image

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.639
 and the likeness of Jesus

00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:56.559
 by the renewal of your mind

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:58.440
 so that by testing

00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.420
 or discovering

00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:01.480
 you may discern for yourself

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:03.240
 what is the will of God,

00:27:03.639 --> 00:27:04.720
 His good, acceptable,

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.839
 and pleasing will.

00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:07.940
 So,

00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:10.799
 here's one more question

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:12.000
 and I'm going to give us an example.

00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:15.119
 The transformed life,

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:16.899
 does it primarily happen

00:27:16.899 --> 00:27:18.279
 through theology

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:20.279
 or pragmatics?

00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.720
 Some of us,

00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:24.980
 and I'm one of these people,

00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:26.660
 I just want the theology, right?

00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.399
 Just tell me what to believe

00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:29.279
 and I'll sort out

00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:30.740
 the practicalities.

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.339
 Some of us

00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:33.440
 don't really care

00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:34.119
 about the theology,

00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.759
 just tell me what to do, right?

00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:37.359
 Tell me what God's will is

00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.220
 so I can walk in it.

00:27:38.879 --> 00:27:40.000
 The answer is

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.579
 it happens through both.

00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:43.839
 As our minds are renewed

00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.899
 according to the gospel

00:27:44.899 --> 00:27:46.220
 and as we practically

00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.240
 live that out,

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:49.819
 we discover God's will,

00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:51.640
 our minds get renewed

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.740
 and our hearts

00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.539
 get transformed.

00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:55.180
 It's kind of like a bicycle, right?

00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.220
 You've got these two things

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.000
 at the same time.

00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.359
 Renewed theology,

00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.160
 renewed mind,

00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:00.880
 living according to God's will.

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:01.960
 Renewed mind,

00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.559
 living according to God's will.

00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.240
 So let me give you

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:05.259
 a practical example

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.660
 of how I think

00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:07.299
 this works out.

00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:08.920
 Let's say,

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.539
 for instance,

00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.819
 my marriage to Claire

00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:12.220
 is characterized

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:13.640
 by defensiveness,

00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:15.599
 outbursts of anger,

00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:17.159
 and frustration

00:28:17.159 --> 00:28:18.599
 on my behalf, okay?

00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:20.719
 So I'm a husband

00:28:20.719 --> 00:28:21.839
 that Claire's always

00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.980
 walking on eggshells

00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.619
 because whenever

00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:24.619
 something happens,

00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.959
 I freak out

00:28:25.959 --> 00:28:26.659
 and I'm defensive

00:28:26.659 --> 00:28:27.839
 and I'm always angry

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:28.319
 with her

00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.980
 and I'm always convinced

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:31.299
 it's her fault, right?

00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:32.960
 I have a friend like this.

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.039
 This week he told me

00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.240
 I've been married twice,

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:36.799
 both to the same person.

00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:38.879
 The first half of our marriage

00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:39.720
 was horrible.

00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.519
 God changed my life.

00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:42.759
 The second half of the marriage

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.839
 has been glorious, right?

00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.839
 The first half of my marriage,

00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:46.220
 he said,

00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:47.519
 well, I was always angry,

00:28:47.639 --> 00:28:48.639
 I was always defensive,

00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.559
 always frustrated,

00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.539
 and I was convinced

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.839
 it was always my wife's fault.

00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:53.960
 So let's imagine

00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:55.180
 that's our situation.

00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:56.539
 Now, hopefully,

00:28:56.639 --> 00:28:57.639
 you can ask Claire later.

00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.980
 Hopefully that's not the case

00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.460
 in our home.

00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:01.200
 If it is,

00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:04.299
 Jesus changed me, okay?

00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:06.519
 So let's say my home

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.799
 characterized by anger,

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:09.000
 outbursts of frustration,

00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:09.799
 defensiveness,

00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:10.440
 and I'm convinced

00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:11.079
 it's her fault.

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.759
 And one day I'm reading

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.259
 my Bible

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:15.120
 and I read Ephesians chapter 5

00:29:15.120 --> 00:29:17.000
 and the penny drops.

00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:18.160
 Husbands,

00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.880
 love your wives

00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:21.620
 as Christ loved the church.

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.920
 And suddenly I realize,

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.460
 oh my goodness,

00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:27.960
 Christ's love for me

00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:29.440
 is so tender

00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:31.620
 He's so patient.

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:33.720
 He's so gentle.

00:29:34.840 --> 00:29:36.559
 Jesus is so long-suffering

00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.420
 with all the rubbish

00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:38.180
 in my heart.

00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:40.519
 Jesus doesn't point

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.340
 His finger at me

00:29:41.340 --> 00:29:41.799
 and tell me

00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:42.600
 I'm a dirty,

00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.480
 rotten scoundrel.

00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:45.000
 He welcomes me

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.700
 with arms.

00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.660
 Jesus floods me

00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:49.440
 with unbelievable grace.

00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:51.180
 How selfless

00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:51.820
 and tender

00:29:51.820 --> 00:29:52.799
 is His love for me.

00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:53.580
 How great

00:29:53.580 --> 00:29:54.680
 is the mercy of Jesus.

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.360
 And then I think

00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:57.200
 about how selfish

00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:58.000
 and self-centered

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.559
 I've been

00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:59.279
 in my relationship

00:29:59.279 --> 00:29:59.779
 to Claire.

00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.880
 And so my thinking,

00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:02.740
 my worldview

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:04.180
 gets renewed

00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:05.740
 according to the gospel.

00:30:06.100 --> 00:30:06.940
 And I realize

00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.220
 I've been a rubbish husband.

00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.279
 And I say,

00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:09.840
 I don't want to be

00:30:09.840 --> 00:30:10.640
 that kind of husband.

00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:11.799
 And so

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:13.580
 some kind of transformation

00:30:13.580 --> 00:30:14.400
 takes place

00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:14.980
 in my heart

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:16.220
 according to the renewal

00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:16.940
 of my mind

00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:18.279
 by the mercies of God.

00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.660
 And so then

00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.920
 the next time

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:22.740
 I mess up

00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:23.420
 and Claire says,

00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:23.700
 hey,

00:30:23.820 --> 00:30:24.740
 you said you were

00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.500
 going to do this

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.820
 rather than saying,

00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:27.320
 well,

00:30:27.380 --> 00:30:27.940
 do you know

00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:29.019
 what you did wrong?

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:32.620
 Because I've been transformed,

00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.340
 I catch myself

00:30:34.340 --> 00:30:34.700
 and I say,

00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.519
 Jesus help me.

00:30:35.820 --> 00:30:36.460
 And I say,

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:36.799
 you know what,

00:30:36.840 --> 00:30:37.019
 love,

00:30:37.100 --> 00:30:37.519
 you're right.

00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:38.400
 I said I was going

00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:38.980
 to do that

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:40.120
 and I didn't.

00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:40.680
 I'm sorry.

00:30:40.860 --> 00:30:41.700
 Please forgive me.

00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:43.200
 And Claire falls off

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:43.620
 her chair

00:30:43.620 --> 00:30:44.259
 because she's never

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.039
 experienced a husband

00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.599
 like this.

00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:48.019
 And suddenly

00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:49.019
 over the next few weeks

00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.539
 and months

00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:51.839
 my heart starts to change

00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.599
 because actually

00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:53.619
 it's nicer living

00:30:53.619 --> 00:30:54.700
 in a home like that.

00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:56.019
 And Claire starts

00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.680
 to transform

00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.940
 because she's not

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.639
 so defensive

00:30:58.639 --> 00:30:59.579
 wondering about her

00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.599
 husband that's always

00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:01.599
 going to lash out at her.

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.000
 And suddenly

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.799
 I actually realize

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.759
 it's quite nice

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.920
 to be a nice husband.

00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:08.539
 And actually

00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:09.420
 sometimes

00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:10.700
 we learn to laugh

00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:11.519
 about the mistakes

00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.119
 that I make

00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:13.519
 rather than accusing her.

00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:14.879
 What's happened

00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:15.200
 there?

00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:16.760
 By the mercies

00:31:16.760 --> 00:31:17.340
 of God

00:31:17.340 --> 00:31:18.480
 my thinking

00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.380
 has been renewed

00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:20.620
 my heart

00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.620
 has been transformed

00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:22.500
 okay it's the bicycle

00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.760
 as I start

00:31:23.760 --> 00:31:24.940
 to live that out

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:25.980
 my thinking

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.700
 gets renewed

00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:28.520
 I start to live

00:31:28.520 --> 00:31:29.100
 that out more

00:31:29.100 --> 00:31:29.720
 my thinking

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.320
 gets renewed

00:31:30.320 --> 00:31:31.260
 and my heart

00:31:31.260 --> 00:31:32.380
 gets transformed

00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:33.800
 by the gospel.

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.720
 Does that make sense?

00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:36.860
 So here's what

00:31:36.860 --> 00:31:37.500
 Paul's saying

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.700
 as our thinking

00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.140
 is renewed

00:31:39.140 --> 00:31:39.900
 by the gospel

00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:40.640
 by the mercy

00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:41.140
 of God

00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:42.340
 we start to believe

00:31:42.340 --> 00:31:42.700
 that

00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.860
 we live it out

00:31:43.860 --> 00:31:44.820
 we walk it out

00:31:44.819 --> 00:31:46.079
 we test it

00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:46.939
 we discern

00:31:46.939 --> 00:31:47.519
 for ourselves

00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.460
 what is God's will

00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.500
 we discover

00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.099
 the beauty

00:31:50.099 --> 00:31:50.779
 and the pleasure

00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.480
 of God's will

00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:52.799
 which then renews

00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:53.740
 and revitalizes

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.379
 our mind

00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:55.019
 and our thinking

00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:56.399
 we walk that out

00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:56.980
 we discover

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.519
 the beauty

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.119
 and the pleasure

00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:58.839
 of God's will

00:31:58.839 --> 00:32:00.319
 that renews

00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:00.819
 our thinking

00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:02.039
 we then walk it out

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.819
 and our hearts

00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:03.720
 get transformed.

00:32:04.919 --> 00:32:05.519
 Friends

00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.139
 God's will

00:32:06.139 --> 00:32:07.099
 for our marriages

00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:08.099
 and our parenting

00:32:08.099 --> 00:32:09.079
 for the way

00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.939
 we handle money

00:32:09.939 --> 00:32:10.619
 and sexuality

00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:11.759
 and work

00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.920
 for our attitude

00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:13.680
 to the poor

00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.220
 and the way

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.740
 we handle

00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.240
 and steward

00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:15.920
 the environment

00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:17.619
 every aspect

00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:18.359
 of our life

00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:19.259
 God wants

00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:19.980
 our thinking

00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.539
 renewed

00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.819
 according to

00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.460
 his will

00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:23.539
 to be shaped

00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.720
 by the gospel

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:26.579
 by the mercies

00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.299
 of God

00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:29.119
 do not be conformed

00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:30.180
 be transformed

00:32:30.180 --> 00:32:31.019
 by the renewal

00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:31.940
 of your mind.

00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:33.079
 Okay

00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:34.519
 practically

00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.720
 let me give us

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.720
 two very practical

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.859
 applications of this

00:32:37.859 --> 00:32:38.099
 okay

00:32:38.099 --> 00:32:39.079
 the first one

00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:39.480
 is this

00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.899
 if you're a Christian

00:32:40.899 --> 00:32:41.439
 this morning

00:32:41.439 --> 00:32:42.240
 even if you're not

00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.619
 a Christian

00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:42.899
 okay

00:32:42.899 --> 00:32:44.500
 you must

00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.819
 get into scripture

00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:47.639
 every single day

00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:49.500
 don't let a day

00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:50.199
 go by

00:32:50.199 --> 00:32:51.339
 without getting

00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:52.579
 into memorizing

00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.219
 knowing

00:32:53.219 --> 00:32:53.939
 feasting

00:32:53.939 --> 00:32:54.740
 on God's word

00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.459
 and here's why

00:32:55.459 --> 00:32:57.299
 because every day

00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:58.319
 our minds

00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:59.699
 are being renewed

00:32:59.699 --> 00:33:01.179
 according to the

00:33:01.179 --> 00:33:01.619
 worldview

00:33:01.619 --> 00:33:02.500
 of our culture

00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:04.199
 you go to the office

00:33:04.199 --> 00:33:05.240
 your colleagues

00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.139
 the news

00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:06.839
 Bloomberg

00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.919
 the boss

00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:08.920
 they are all

00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:09.680
 conforming

00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:10.220
 our thinking

00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:11.779
 to our culture

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:13.039
 saying invest

00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:13.660
 in this fund

00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:14.539
 more money

00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.340
 you'll be happier

00:33:15.340 --> 00:33:16.300
 rah rah rah rah

00:33:16.300 --> 00:33:17.740
 and unless

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:19.100
 we are day by day

00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:20.220
 being transformed

00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:21.120
 by the truth

00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:22.539
 of God's word

00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:25.240
 we'll be conformed

00:33:25.240 --> 00:33:25.860
 by the patterns

00:33:25.860 --> 00:33:26.720
 of this world

00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:28.060
 friends

00:33:28.060 --> 00:33:28.860
 can I say this

00:33:28.860 --> 00:33:30.460
 if we think

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.420
 that one hour

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:31.920
 a week

00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:33.100
 on a Sunday morning

00:33:33.100 --> 00:33:34.120
 coming to church

00:33:34.120 --> 00:33:35.140
 is going to be enough

00:33:35.140 --> 00:33:36.480
 to transform

00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.539
 our minds

00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.700
 and to transform

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:39.460
 our hearts

00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.460
 we've lost

00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:40.899
 the battle

00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:42.940
 there's no way

00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.680
 that one hour

00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:44.000
 a week

00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:44.440
 on a Sunday

00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:44.819
 morning

00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.379
 is going to

00:33:45.379 --> 00:33:45.839
 stand up

00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.599
 to 80 hours

00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:46.920
 a week

00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:47.619
 in the marketplace

00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:49.799
 friends

00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:50.420
 every day

00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:50.899
 get into

00:33:50.899 --> 00:33:51.399
 God's word

00:33:51.399 --> 00:33:52.819
 let God's word

00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:54.399
 renew your thinking

00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:55.319
 according to the

00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:56.139
 mercies of God

00:33:56.139 --> 00:33:57.099
 and transform

00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:57.619
 your heart

00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.240
 so that we're not

00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:59.019
 conformed to the

00:33:59.019 --> 00:33:59.639
 patterns of this

00:33:59.639 --> 00:33:59.980
 world

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:01.240
 but transformed

00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:02.079
 to the likeness

00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:02.500
 of Jesus

00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:05.119
 I had a whole

00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:05.680
 lot of examples

00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:06.000
 of that

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.359
 but I'm going

00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:06.819
 to leave that

00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:07.619
 here's the second

00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:07.960
 one

00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:09.300
 parents

00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:10.380
 and especially

00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:12.199
 Chris and Sam

00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:13.400
 and Nando

00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:14.440
 and Emmanuel

00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:16.019
 and who else

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:17.119
 am I leaving out

00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:17.460
 Peter

00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:19.280
 parents

00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:21.599
 don't just focus

00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.539
 on your kids

00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:23.340
 education

00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.719
 education

00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:25.760
 is a wonderful

00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:26.139
 thing

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:26.900
 it's a great

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.659
 gift from God

00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:28.320
 I'm busy

00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.239
 trying to grind

00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:29.539
 out

00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:31.259
 theology

00:34:31.259 --> 00:34:31.739
 degree

00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:32.360
 at the moment

00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:32.880
 education

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.519
 is a good

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:33.880
 thing

00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:35.619
 but what Paul

00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:36.139
 is telling us

00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:36.340
 here

00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:37.380
 is education

00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:38.079
 is not going

00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:38.820
 to be the tool

00:34:38.820 --> 00:34:39.440
 to redeem

00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.079
 our world

00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:41.279
 we don't just

00:34:41.279 --> 00:34:41.460
 need

00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:41.960
 our minds

00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:42.360
 aren't just

00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:42.860
 computers

00:34:42.860 --> 00:34:43.259
 that need

00:34:43.259 --> 00:34:43.960
 more information

00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.719
 our minds

00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.219
 need to be

00:34:45.219 --> 00:34:45.820
 renewed

00:34:45.820 --> 00:34:46.920
 according

00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:47.820
 to the gospel

00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:49.340
 and so parents

00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:50.300
 can I plead

00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:50.860
 with you

00:34:50.860 --> 00:34:52.320
 teach your

00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:52.820
 children

00:34:52.820 --> 00:34:53.739
 the gospel

00:34:53.739 --> 00:34:54.900
 make sure

00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:55.360
 that you're

00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:56.320
 praying the gospel

00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:56.619
 for them

00:34:56.619 --> 00:34:57.059
 that you're

00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:57.800
 washing them

00:34:57.800 --> 00:34:58.360
 with the gospel

00:34:58.360 --> 00:34:59.460
 you're flooding

00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:00.300
 them with the gospel

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:01.159
 parents

00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:02.599
 demonstrate the gospel

00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:04.000
 live out the gospel

00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:05.440
 let your kids

00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:06.039
 see

00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:07.420
 and experience

00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:08.559
 and taste

00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.280
 what it lives

00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:10.380
 what it feels

00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:10.699
 like

00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:11.920
 to live in a home

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.480
 that is shaped

00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:13.059
 by the mercy

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.559
 of God

00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:15.019
 let them see

00:35:15.019 --> 00:35:16.039
 you confessing

00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:16.559
 your sin

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.360
 and saying sorry

00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:18.179
 to your wife

00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:18.760
 or your husband

00:35:18.760 --> 00:35:19.780
 or to your kids

00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:21.539
 and can I just

00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:22.179
 say

00:35:22.179 --> 00:35:24.059
 while I'm on this

00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:24.880
 men

00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:26.740
 especially you

00:35:26.740 --> 00:35:28.300
 men

00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:28.840
 you the head

00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:29.340
 of your home

00:35:29.340 --> 00:35:30.440
 you the leader

00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:31.059
 of your family

00:35:31.059 --> 00:35:32.440
 you take the

00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:32.800
 initiative

00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:34.240
 to shape

00:35:34.240 --> 00:35:34.920
 your home

00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:35.660
 and your family

00:35:35.660 --> 00:35:37.079
 according to the gospel

00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:37.720
 and the mercy

00:35:37.720 --> 00:35:38.160
 of God

00:35:38.160 --> 00:35:39.940
 make sure your kids

00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:41.980
 don't just fill their minds

00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:43.039
 with a great education

00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:44.519
 let their minds

00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:45.180
 be renewed

00:35:45.180 --> 00:35:45.780
 according

00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:47.240
 to the mercies

00:35:47.240 --> 00:35:47.980
 of God

00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:49.340
 so that our kids

00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:50.300
 will want to see

00:35:50.300 --> 00:35:50.880
 and know

00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:51.460
 and taste

00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:52.260
 the will of God

00:35:52.260 --> 00:35:53.480
 his good pleasing

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:54.480
 and perfect will

00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:56.420
 all the days

00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:57.039
 of their lives

00:35:57.039 --> 00:35:57.900
 okay

00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:58.480
 is that alright

00:35:58.480 --> 00:36:00.699
 okay

00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:03.059
 so

00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:03.759
 how

00:36:03.759 --> 00:36:04.500
 our hearts

00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.019
 transformed

00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:05.739
 by the mercies

00:36:05.739 --> 00:36:06.199
 of God

00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:07.539
 by a renewed

00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.059
 mind

00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.980
 thirdly

00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:10.079
 by seeing

00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:10.699
 and savoring

00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:11.099
 Jesus

00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:11.739
 and this is

00:36:11.739 --> 00:36:12.699
 really quick

00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:13.539
 we write at the end

00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:16.920
 look again

00:36:16.920 --> 00:36:17.779
 at 2 Corinthians

00:36:17.779 --> 00:36:18.559
 chapter 3

00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:18.940
 with me

00:36:18.940 --> 00:36:19.619
 this is the

00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:20.500
 corollary verse

00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:21.659
 to Romans chapter 12

00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.659
 Paul writes this

00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.119
 and says

00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:24.559
 we

00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:26.139
 beholding

00:36:26.139 --> 00:36:26.920
 the glory

00:36:26.920 --> 00:36:28.099
 of the Lord Jesus

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:29.339
 beholding means

00:36:29.339 --> 00:36:29.940
 to see

00:36:29.940 --> 00:36:30.699
 and to savor

00:36:30.699 --> 00:36:31.679
 to see

00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:32.219
 with the eyes

00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:32.859
 of our heart

00:36:32.859 --> 00:36:33.839
 we

00:36:33.839 --> 00:36:34.879
 beholding

00:36:34.879 --> 00:36:35.299
 Jesus

00:36:35.299 --> 00:36:36.379
 are being

00:36:36.379 --> 00:36:37.119
 transformed

00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:38.899
 into the same

00:36:38.899 --> 00:36:39.399
 image

00:36:39.399 --> 00:36:40.239
 from one degree

00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:40.719
 of glory

00:36:40.719 --> 00:36:41.440
 to the next

00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:42.699
 so how does

00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:43.179
 transformation

00:36:43.179 --> 00:36:43.799
 happen

00:36:43.799 --> 00:36:45.319
 by seeing

00:36:45.319 --> 00:36:46.399
 and savoring

00:36:46.399 --> 00:36:47.739
 Jesus

00:36:47.739 --> 00:36:50.420
 friends

00:36:50.420 --> 00:36:51.079
 can I ask you

00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:51.460
 are you

00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:52.159
 beholding

00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:52.639
 are you

00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.179
 beholding

00:36:53.179 --> 00:36:53.719
 the wonder

00:36:53.719 --> 00:36:54.299
 of Jesus

00:36:54.299 --> 00:36:56.159
 friends

00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:56.460
 are we

00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:57.139
 as a church

00:36:57.139 --> 00:36:57.940
 shaped

00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:59.159
 are we

00:36:59.159 --> 00:36:59.599
 a church

00:36:59.599 --> 00:37:00.019
 that is

00:37:00.019 --> 00:37:00.579
 seeing

00:37:00.579 --> 00:37:01.059
 the

00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:02.179
 infinite

00:37:02.179 --> 00:37:03.980
 glory

00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:04.440
 of who

00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:04.779
 Jesus

00:37:04.779 --> 00:37:05.239
 is

00:37:05.239 --> 00:37:06.440
 are we

00:37:06.440 --> 00:37:07.259
 beholding

00:37:07.259 --> 00:37:09.079
 how wonderful

00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:09.619
 he is

00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:10.699
 are we

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.460
 delighting

00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:12.940
 and rejoicing

00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:13.699
 in the mercy

00:37:13.699 --> 00:37:14.279
 of God

00:37:14.279 --> 00:37:15.339
 in the work

00:37:15.339 --> 00:37:15.759
 of Christ

00:37:15.759 --> 00:37:16.359
 are we

00:37:16.359 --> 00:37:17.359
 day by day

00:37:17.359 --> 00:37:18.119
 morning by

00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:18.480
 morning

00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:18.899
 in the

00:37:18.899 --> 00:37:19.399
 busyness

00:37:19.399 --> 00:37:19.839
 of life

00:37:19.839 --> 00:37:20.460
 in the rush

00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:20.899
 of life

00:37:20.899 --> 00:37:21.599
 in the

00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:21.960
 pressures

00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:22.440
 of life

00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:23.000
 are we

00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:23.659
 beholding

00:37:23.659 --> 00:37:23.960
 and being

00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:24.860
 mesmerized

00:37:24.860 --> 00:37:25.819
 by the

00:37:25.819 --> 00:37:26.019
 wonder

00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:26.659
 of Jesus

00:37:26.659 --> 00:37:28.579
 Paul says

00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:29.519
 that as we

00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.739
 see Jesus

00:37:30.739 --> 00:37:31.360
 and what he

00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:31.779
 did on the

00:37:31.779 --> 00:37:32.000
 cross

00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:32.460
 as we

00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:33.480
 understand

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.279
 the mercies

00:37:34.279 --> 00:37:34.860
 and the grace

00:37:34.860 --> 00:37:35.400
 of God

00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:36.940
 Christ will

00:37:36.940 --> 00:37:37.779
 transform our

00:37:37.779 --> 00:37:38.279
 hearts

00:37:38.279 --> 00:37:39.119
 more and more

00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:39.880
 to become

00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:41.239
 more and more

00:37:41.239 --> 00:37:42.440
 like Jesus

00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:44.420
 friends in view

00:37:44.420 --> 00:37:45.400
 of his mercies

00:37:45.400 --> 00:37:46.599
 in view of

00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:47.159
 Christ's

00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:47.659
 unceasing

00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:48.119
 grace

00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:48.579
 in view

00:37:48.579 --> 00:37:49.000
 of his

00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:49.539
 never

00:37:49.539 --> 00:37:50.059
 ending

00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:51.099
 mercy

00:37:51.099 --> 00:37:51.639
 to us

00:37:51.639 --> 00:37:52.400
 in view

00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:52.739
 of his

00:37:52.739 --> 00:37:53.739
 unfathomable

00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:54.440
 tenderness

00:37:54.440 --> 00:37:54.779
 and his

00:37:54.779 --> 00:37:55.519
 astounding

00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.219
 sacrifice

00:37:56.219 --> 00:37:56.500
 on the

00:37:56.500 --> 00:37:56.839
 cross

00:37:56.839 --> 00:37:58.159
 do not

00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:58.859
 be conformed

00:37:58.859 --> 00:37:59.079
 to the

00:37:59.079 --> 00:37:59.480
 patterns

00:37:59.480 --> 00:37:59.819
 of this

00:37:59.819 --> 00:38:00.139
 world

00:38:00.139 --> 00:38:01.339
 to the

00:38:01.339 --> 00:38:02.159
 decaying

00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:03.039
 suicidal

00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:03.799
 death

00:38:03.799 --> 00:38:04.239
 patterns

00:38:04.239 --> 00:38:04.539
 of this

00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:04.839
 world

00:38:04.839 --> 00:38:05.980
 no friends

00:38:05.980 --> 00:38:06.900
 be transformed

00:38:06.900 --> 00:38:07.460
 into the

00:38:07.460 --> 00:38:07.880
 image of

00:38:07.880 --> 00:38:08.219
 Jesus

00:38:08.219 --> 00:38:09.359
 by the

00:38:09.359 --> 00:38:09.980
 renewing

00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:10.339
 of your

00:38:10.339 --> 00:38:10.839
 minds

00:38:10.839 --> 00:38:11.559
 by the

00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.019
 spirit

00:38:12.019 --> 00:38:12.839
 so that

00:38:12.839 --> 00:38:13.539
 by testing

00:38:13.539 --> 00:38:14.340
 and living

00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:14.920
 the gospel

00:38:14.920 --> 00:38:15.639
 shaped life

00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:16.519
 you may

00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:17.019
 discover

00:38:17.019 --> 00:38:17.800
 for yourself

00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:18.679
 what is

00:38:18.679 --> 00:38:18.980
 the will

00:38:18.980 --> 00:38:19.360
 of God

00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:20.000
 his good

00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:21.000
 pleasing

00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:22.279
 and perfect

00:38:22.279 --> 00:38:22.539
 will

00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:23.739
 let's pray

00:38:23.739 --> 00:38:24.259
 together

00:38:24.259 --> 00:38:26.659
 in fact

00:38:26.659 --> 00:38:27.159
 maybe we can

00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:27.900
 just take a few

00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:28.400
 moments

00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:29.000
 just to

00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:29.759
 respond

00:38:29.759 --> 00:38:31.239
 in our own

00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:31.679
 hearts

00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:32.259
 in prayer

00:38:32.259 --> 00:38:36.079
 what does it

00:38:36.079 --> 00:38:36.440
 look like

00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:36.920
 for us to

00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:37.659
 respond to

00:38:37.659 --> 00:38:38.099
 God's word

00:38:38.099 --> 00:38:38.619
 this morning

00:38:38.619 --> 00:38:40.099
 for some

00:38:40.099 --> 00:38:40.360
 of us

00:38:40.360 --> 00:38:41.000
 it might be

00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:42.099
 praise

00:38:42.099 --> 00:38:42.960
 and adoration

00:38:42.960 --> 00:38:44.400
 God

00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:44.900
 thank you

00:38:44.900 --> 00:38:45.179
 for your

00:38:45.179 --> 00:38:45.639
 incredible

00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:46.039
 mercy

00:38:46.039 --> 00:38:46.699
 I can't

00:38:46.699 --> 00:38:47.179
 believe it

00:38:47.179 --> 00:38:48.079
 a sinner

00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:48.599
 like me

00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:49.079
 that you

00:38:49.079 --> 00:38:49.659
 would die

00:38:49.659 --> 00:38:50.199
 for me

00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:51.099
 Jesus

00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:51.639
 your mercy

00:38:51.639 --> 00:38:52.159
 is amazing

00:38:52.159 --> 00:38:52.960
 praise you

00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:53.400
 God

00:38:53.400 --> 00:38:55.679
 for some

00:38:55.679 --> 00:38:55.960
 of us

00:38:55.960 --> 00:38:56.280
 it's going

00:38:56.280 --> 00:38:56.480
 to be

00:38:56.480 --> 00:38:57.039
 reflection

00:38:57.039 --> 00:38:57.900
 confession

00:38:57.900 --> 00:38:59.079
 repentance

00:38:59.079 --> 00:39:01.360
 for some

00:39:01.360 --> 00:39:01.539
 of us

00:39:01.539 --> 00:39:01.780
 we need

00:39:01.780 --> 00:39:02.039
 to say

00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:02.420
 God

00:39:02.420 --> 00:39:02.820
 actually

00:39:02.820 --> 00:39:04.320
 my life

00:39:04.320 --> 00:39:05.659
 looks more

00:39:05.659 --> 00:39:06.019
 like the

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:06.300
 world

00:39:06.300 --> 00:39:07.139
 than you

00:39:07.139 --> 00:39:08.880
 my thinking

00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:09.480
 my world

00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:09.760
 view

00:39:09.760 --> 00:39:11.179
 is conformed

00:39:11.179 --> 00:39:11.460
 to the

00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:11.880
 ethos

00:39:11.880 --> 00:39:12.220
 of this

00:39:12.220 --> 00:39:12.679
 world

00:39:12.679 --> 00:39:13.819
 more

00:39:13.819 --> 00:39:14.159
 than the

00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:14.519
 gospel

00:39:14.519 --> 00:39:15.279
 Jesus

00:39:15.279 --> 00:39:15.559
 I'm

00:39:15.559 --> 00:39:15.940
 sorry

00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:17.599
 come and

00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:17.919
 change

00:39:17.919 --> 00:39:18.179
 me

00:39:18.179 --> 00:39:19.299
 come and

00:39:19.299 --> 00:39:19.659
 transform

00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:19.940
 me

00:39:19.940 --> 00:39:20.239
 from the

00:39:20.239 --> 00:39:20.480
 inside

00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:20.879
 out

00:39:20.879 --> 00:39:23.419
 for some

00:39:23.419 --> 00:39:23.619
 of us

00:39:23.619 --> 00:39:24.019
 friends

00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:24.779
 it's

00:39:24.779 --> 00:39:25.139
 trust

00:39:25.139 --> 00:39:25.279
 and

00:39:25.279 --> 00:39:25.619
 obedience

00:39:25.619 --> 00:39:28.119
 we just

00:39:28.119 --> 00:39:28.659
 need to

00:39:28.659 --> 00:39:29.339
 live out

00:39:29.339 --> 00:39:29.659
 what he's

00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:30.019
 told us

00:39:30.019 --> 00:39:30.259
 to do

00:39:30.259 --> 00:39:30.739
 we need

00:39:30.739 --> 00:39:31.059
 to say

00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:31.599
 no to

00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:32.039
 that sin

00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:32.419
 and yes

00:39:32.419 --> 00:39:32.980
 to Christ

00:39:32.980 --> 00:39:35.639
 what does

00:39:35.639 --> 00:39:36.119
 response

00:39:36.119 --> 00:39:36.619
 look like

00:39:36.619 --> 00:39:37.119
 for you

00:39:37.119 --> 00:39:50.599
 Lord

00:39:50.599 --> 00:39:50.920
 Jesus

00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:51.519
 Christ

00:39:51.519 --> 00:40:04.659
 Lord

00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:04.980
 Jesus

00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:05.539
 Christ

00:40:05.539 --> 00:40:06.440
 heavenly

00:40:06.440 --> 00:40:06.759
 father

00:40:06.759 --> 00:40:07.059
 holy

00:40:07.059 --> 00:40:07.579
 spirit

00:40:07.579 --> 00:40:08.460
 three

00:40:08.460 --> 00:40:08.639
 in

00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:08.899
 one

00:40:08.899 --> 00:40:10.619
 God

00:40:10.619 --> 00:40:10.839
 we

00:40:10.839 --> 00:40:11.099
 are

00:40:11.099 --> 00:40:11.879
 astounded

00:40:11.879 --> 00:40:12.559
 at who

00:40:12.559 --> 00:40:12.980
 you are

00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:13.219
 and your

00:40:13.219 --> 00:40:13.659
 incredible

00:40:13.659 --> 00:40:14.079
 mercy

00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:15.559
 thank you

00:40:15.559 --> 00:40:16.319
 for your

00:40:16.319 --> 00:40:16.960
 unceasing

00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:17.460
 grace

00:40:17.460 --> 00:40:18.460
 love

00:40:18.460 --> 00:40:19.480
 your

00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:20.360
 indescribable

00:40:20.360 --> 00:40:20.599
 love

00:40:20.599 --> 00:40:20.940
 for us

00:40:20.940 --> 00:40:21.159
 God

00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:21.639
 thank you

00:40:21.639 --> 00:40:21.920
 for the

00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:22.280
 gospel

00:40:22.280 --> 00:40:23.840
 Jesus

00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:24.280
 thank you

00:40:24.280 --> 00:40:24.559
 that you

00:40:24.559 --> 00:40:24.940
 don't just

00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:25.480
 save us

00:40:25.480 --> 00:40:25.840
 and then you

00:40:25.840 --> 00:40:26.220
 leave us

00:40:26.220 --> 00:40:26.460
 to our

00:40:26.460 --> 00:40:26.639
 own

00:40:26.639 --> 00:40:27.019
 devices

00:40:27.019 --> 00:40:27.340
 you

00:40:27.340 --> 00:40:28.039
 continually

00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:29.079
 work on

00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:29.220
 us

00:40:29.220 --> 00:40:29.820
 reforming

00:40:29.820 --> 00:40:29.980
 us

00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:30.360
 shaping

00:40:30.360 --> 00:40:30.639
 us

00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:30.980
 helping

00:40:30.980 --> 00:40:31.199
 us

00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:31.800
 renewing

00:40:31.800 --> 00:40:32.159
 us

00:40:32.159 --> 00:40:34.139
 ransomed

00:40:34.139 --> 00:40:34.559
 healed

00:40:34.559 --> 00:40:35.019
 restored

00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:35.440
 forgiven

00:40:35.440 --> 00:40:36.099
 thank you

00:40:36.099 --> 00:40:37.920
 Jesus

00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:38.460
 come and

00:40:38.460 --> 00:40:39.159
 continue

00:40:39.159 --> 00:40:39.779
 to transform

00:40:39.779 --> 00:40:40.379
 our hearts

00:40:40.379 --> 00:40:42.960
 God

00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:43.339
 won't you

00:40:43.339 --> 00:40:44.099
 shape us

00:40:44.099 --> 00:40:44.699
 individually

00:40:44.699 --> 00:40:45.319
 and as a

00:40:45.319 --> 00:40:45.599
 church

00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:46.099
 to be more

00:40:46.099 --> 00:40:46.519
 like you

00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:46.859
 Jesus

00:40:46.859 --> 00:40:49.079
 may we

00:40:49.079 --> 00:40:49.980
 be transformed

00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:50.900
 more and

00:40:50.900 --> 00:40:51.460
 more to the

00:40:51.460 --> 00:40:51.940
 image and

00:40:51.940 --> 00:40:52.440
 the likeness

00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:53.000
 of Christ

00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:54.359
 Holy Spirit

00:40:54.359 --> 00:40:54.819
 I pray

00:40:54.819 --> 00:40:55.239
 come and

00:40:55.239 --> 00:40:55.519
 work on

00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:55.900
 our hearts

00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:56.239
 now

00:40:56.239 --> 00:40:57.539
 lead us

00:40:57.539 --> 00:40:58.359
 to repentance

00:40:58.359 --> 00:40:59.440
 lead us

00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:00.039
 to faith

00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:00.420
 in you

00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:01.779
 help us

00:41:01.779 --> 00:41:02.420
 to trust

00:41:02.420 --> 00:41:02.679
 you

00:41:02.679 --> 00:41:03.579
 to love

00:41:03.579 --> 00:41:03.859
 you

00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:04.780
 to obey

00:41:04.780 --> 00:41:05.059
 you

00:41:05.059 --> 00:41:05.900
 to have

00:41:05.900 --> 00:41:06.320
 our lives

00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:07.059
 shaped by

00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:07.440
 you

00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:08.220
 and by

00:41:08.220 --> 00:41:08.800
 the mercies

00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:09.200
 of God

00:41:09.200 --> 00:41:09.760
 we pray

00:41:09.760 --> 00:41:11.680
 in your

00:41:11.680 --> 00:41:12.019
 awesome

00:41:12.019 --> 00:41:12.519
 and your

00:41:12.519 --> 00:41:12.860
 wonderful

00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:13.240
 name

00:41:13.240 --> 00:41:14.579
 amen