WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.179 Well, perhaps you can turn with me in your Bibles, if you have one, to 1 Corinthians and chapter 12. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:16.379 ! You'll find it on page 1153 if you're using a church Bible. 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:20.699 We'll read the first 11 verses. 00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:26.440 We're continuing to think together about the kind of house that Jesus builds, 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:32.840 the image of the church as a house in which God comes to dwell. 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:38.079 And what does it look like when the life of God is in the life of the church? 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:46.020 It takes us to our topic this evening, fellowship and spiritual gifts. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:53.380 So let me read from 1 Corinthians 12 and at verse 1. 00:00:53.380 --> 00:00:59.300 Now about the gift of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 00:01:00.179 --> 00:01:05.960 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to dumb idols. 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:10.840 Therefore, I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, 00:01:11.300 --> 00:01:12.439 Jesus be cursed. 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:17.379 And no one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:22.520 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:26.359 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:33.659 There are different kinds of workings, but in all of them and in everyone, it is the same God at work. 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:39.799 Now to each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 00:01:40.299 --> 00:01:43.019 To one that is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:46.479 To another, a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit. 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:48.780 To another, faith by the same Spirit. 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:51.599 To another, gifts of healing by that one Spirit. 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:53.459 To another, miraculous powers. 00:01:53.939 --> 00:01:55.059 To another, prophecy. 00:01:55.619 --> 00:01:57.459 To another, distinguishing between spirits. 00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:00.019 To another, speaking in different kinds of tongues. 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:03.039 And to still another, the interpretation of tongues. 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:07.639 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit. 00:02:08.519 --> 00:02:13.840 And he distributes them to each one just as he determines. 00:02:14.740 --> 00:02:17.299 And we'll leave our reading there. 00:02:17.300 --> 00:02:23.840 Let's begin here with an idea that seems to be popular. 00:02:24.460 --> 00:02:32.420 Maybe you've had these kind of conversations with people who would describe themselves as spiritual, but not religious. 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:37.500 I think we're so familiar with it now, we probably understand some of the things going on there. 00:02:37.640 --> 00:02:42.960 A dislike or a suspicion of organized religion, perhaps. 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:47.780 And so people would prefer to meet God by themselves, maybe in nature. 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:51.240 Maybe to have an individualized religion. 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:55.900 There is, for some, an emphasis on the priority of feelings. 00:02:55.900 --> 00:03:03.200 That's much more real than fixed truths and traditions, according to some ways of thinking. 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:09.419 Often, the spiritual but not religious movement, it can be linked with mystical practices. 00:03:09.959 --> 00:03:13.879 Doing different activities in order to connect with the divine. 00:03:14.379 --> 00:03:21.979 That seems to have more potency in people's minds than coming to church to worship, for example. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:27.479 And so the question that we are invited to consider as we come into our Bible text is, 00:03:27.799 --> 00:03:29.139 what does it mean to be spiritual? 00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:33.619 What does God say being spiritual looks like? 00:03:34.239 --> 00:03:41.179 What does it look like to enjoy a real relationship with God in our life and in our church? 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:48.719 Is spirituality like Burger King, where each of us can have it our own way? 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:54.319 Or is spirituality defined, ultimately defined by God? 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:58.759 Is being spiritual a solo pursuit? 00:03:59.139 --> 00:04:02.619 So we can take ourselves up a mountain or we can go on a retreat? 00:04:04.119 --> 00:04:10.559 Or is it principally something practiced in community and among God's people? 00:04:12.079 --> 00:04:17.180 We want to be, here in this church, a spiritual fellowship. 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:23.159 And we want to be a people who exercise spiritual gifts. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:25.979 But what do we mean by that? 00:04:26.599 --> 00:04:29.060 And maybe we'll think about what don't we mean by that. 00:04:29.659 --> 00:04:33.620 And most importantly, what does the Bible teach us about this issue? 00:04:34.139 --> 00:04:39.259 So we're going to ask ourselves some fundamental questions from these 11 verses. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:43.319 First of all, we're going to ask, well, what does it mean to be a spiritual person? 00:04:43.840 --> 00:04:45.759 Because that's addressed in the first three verses. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:50.720 And then we're going to ask ourselves, where do spiritual gifts come from? 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:53.980 And we'll see those are addressed in verses four to six. 00:04:53.980 --> 00:04:58.259 And then we'll think about what is the purpose of spiritual gifts? 00:04:58.259 --> 00:05:03.460 What do they have to do with life together in a local church? 00:05:03.460 --> 00:05:07.120 And we find that addressed in verses seven to 11. 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:10.240 So we're just going to simply walk our way through the text. 00:05:10.300 --> 00:05:11.319 So here's the first question. 00:05:11.420 --> 00:05:14.920 What does it mean to be a spiritual person? 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:17.360 Just to give you a bit of background. 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:25.680 So Paul, an apostle, writing this letter, he's writing a letter to a church in Corinth in the first century AD. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:33.240 And it's a big question within Corinth because some of the people within the church, they're puffed up with pride. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:37.879 They're going around saying things like, we think that we are super apostles. 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:40.780 And we think we're super spiritual. 00:05:41.620 --> 00:05:47.980 There are those who are placing their gifts and their capacities in a higher league than others. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:51.879 And they are looking down in pride on others. 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:56.480 And they brought over some of their worldly ways of thinking into the church. 00:05:56.600 --> 00:05:59.839 And so there's lots of confusion, lots of division, lots of pride. 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:01.719 And you can see it all through the letter. 00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:06.240 If you look with me at verse one, you hear Paul say this. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:10.680 Now about the gifts of the spirits, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 00:06:11.399 --> 00:06:16.939 When you read this in 1 Corinthians, it means Paul is responding to a question that he's been asked. 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:20.300 And it seems like we don't get the exact question. 00:06:20.300 --> 00:06:29.220 But it seems to be, you know, if I have this gift and they have that gift, does that mean I'm first class and they're second class? 00:06:30.900 --> 00:06:39.420 Paul, can we call ourselves super spiritual because we are engaging in certain practices and we have certain gifts? 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:43.879 And so Paul writes about spiritual gifts. 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:48.540 And at the same time, he writes about how they are to be used in the life of a church. 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:53.100 And he does it for three whole chapters, which tells us it's a big deal in Corinth. 00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:54.300 And it's a big deal to Paul. 00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:57.360 And right in the middle, so we're right at the beginning, chapter 12. 00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:03.139 Right in the middle is chapter 13, which is a really famous chapter of the Bible all about love. 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:09.079 Whenever we're thinking about using spiritual gifts, that must be motivated by love. 00:07:09.800 --> 00:07:13.579 But anyway, as he begins, who are spiritual according to God? 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:15.860 Look at verse 2. 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:19.379 He says this to them and about them. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:24.839 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other, you were influenced and led astray to dumb idols. 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:29.060 Now, what he's doing there is not insulting them. 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:32.420 He's not trash-talking them in any way. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:37.899 He's saying to them, when you were pagans, before you met Jesus, you thought you were spiritual people. 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:43.100 But in actual fact, what was happening was they were worshiping a false god. 00:07:44.280 --> 00:07:47.340 Serving a silent, helpless god. 00:07:47.339 --> 00:08:00.319 And this gives us a clue that just to say, I am a spiritual person, that's not enough if we don't know and love and serve the living God. 00:08:01.919 --> 00:08:03.319 Look then at verse 3. 00:08:03.479 --> 00:08:04.459 The first bit of verse 3. 00:08:04.599 --> 00:08:12.159 He says, therefore, I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, Jesus be cursed. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:21.140 Okay, so the point here is that certain spiritual ideas that we might have, they simply don't come from God. 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:30.440 So, when Paul is writing, there were some Jews who didn't believe in Jesus and they were persecuting and making life difficult for the church. 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:43.179 And they were saying things like, well, we know Jesus must be a false Messiah because he died on the cross and anyone who dies on a cross stands under God's curse. 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:45.740 Therefore, Jesus is cursed. 00:08:46.179 --> 00:08:47.259 He is anathema. 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:51.399 And so, Paul looks at that and says, no, that's wrong. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:57.860 That to be spiritual then, we need to have certain guidelines. 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:04.399 And Paul is saying to us, to be spiritual according to God, we need to be guided by the gospel. 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:09.539 We need to understand the language and the logic of the good news. 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:13.580 Maybe to help us, just think about in school. 00:09:13.680 --> 00:09:15.539 Think about language learning in school. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:18.539 Some of us were very proficient at it. 00:09:18.919 --> 00:09:21.580 Some of us, myself included, not so much. 00:09:21.580 --> 00:09:35.440 But if you can try and remember hearing lesson after lesson and you struggle to figure out how you construct a sentence or how you're supposed to understand tenses and what's a verb and all these persons. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:48.900 In the same way, it is entirely possible to hear and to see the message of the gospel and for it to just not make sense. 00:09:49.300 --> 00:09:51.540 It doesn't compute with our language and our logic. 00:09:52.380 --> 00:09:54.980 There's a wonderful example of this in John chapter 3. 00:09:54.980 --> 00:10:01.759 Jesus meets one of the main religious teachers in his day, a man called Nicodemus. 00:10:02.340 --> 00:10:10.320 And Jesus taught Nicodemus, Nicodemus, to know life with God, you must be born again. 00:10:11.680 --> 00:10:16.580 And he said to him, you need new birth by the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:22.120 And Nicodemus, he hears it, but he's absolutely confused. 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:24.799 And Jesus says, look, you're one of Israel's teachers. 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:26.700 You should be able to get this. 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:27.899 But he couldn't. 00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:32.879 So it's possible to know the facts, but they don't compute. 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:36.580 We can do the same when it comes to Jesus on the cross. 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:44.500 So in a sense, the opponents of Paul, they were kind of half right when they said that Jesus died under a curse. 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:49.019 Because yes, Jesus did die on the cross under God's curse. 00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:52.620 But he didn't do that because he had done anything wrong. 00:10:53.220 --> 00:10:55.819 Rather, he was going there as a substitute. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.319 He was a sinless substitute. 00:10:59.019 --> 00:11:02.279 He was going there in love for others. 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:08.139 And death, death had no claim on Jesus. 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:14.860 And Jesus died, but then he rose again in glory and victory. 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:18.159 That his life is not marked by curse. 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:21.680 Rather, it's marked by God's blessing upon him. 00:11:22.560 --> 00:11:28.340 And now it's through Jesus that all spiritual blessings flow to his people. 00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:36.220 And so as we follow Paul's logic, we can say that to be spiritual, we need to know the true God. 00:11:36.220 --> 00:11:39.580 And we need to know God's truth. 00:11:40.040 --> 00:11:42.600 And especially God's truth about his son. 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:46.960 Because that takes us to the next test of being spiritual. 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:48.360 Look at the end of verse 3. 00:11:48.800 --> 00:11:53.399 No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:55.779 Now that doesn't mean just to simply mouth the words. 00:11:55.860 --> 00:11:57.540 Because anybody can say Jesus is Lord. 00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:59.360 That's not complicated language. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:05.740 But is it, do I believe Jesus is Lord in a way that I live under his good and loving rule? 00:12:05.779 --> 00:12:06.940 That's what Paul's talking about. 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:16.000 And this truth, this new life where we recognize Jesus is Lord, that's a gift from God. 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.580 That's not natural to ourselves. 00:12:17.580 --> 00:12:19.860 That comes from the Holy Spirit. 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:25.420 Where we're able to say, now it's Jesus and not me who's in charge. 00:12:25.419 --> 00:12:30.519 Now we understand that it's Jesus and not my best efforts. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.159 That's how I get saved. 00:12:32.839 --> 00:12:39.839 It's Jesus and not my mystical practices as to how I can enjoy life with God. 00:12:42.439 --> 00:12:45.059 And so when we put it all together, we can say this. 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:49.159 We need the spirit of God in us if we are to be spiritual people. 00:12:50.219 --> 00:12:52.599 That according to the Bible, you can go to Ephesians 2. 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:57.460 Without the spirit, without the work of the spirit, we are spiritually dead. 00:12:58.259 --> 00:13:00.139 And so to be spiritual, we need to know God. 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:01.100 We need to know God's truth. 00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:03.100 And we need to have God's spirit within us. 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:05.300 Otherwise, we'll never trust that Jesus is Lord. 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:08.000 There's an old Puritan called Richard Sibbes. 00:13:08.040 --> 00:13:08.879 And he put it this way. 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:12.440 He said, as the spirit comes from God the Father and God the Son, 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:15.920 so he carries us back to the Father and the Son. 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:21.500 As the spirit comes from heaven, so he carries us back to heaven. 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:24.960 It's through the spirit that we have this living connection with a living God. 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:30.679 So a key activity of the spirit then is to give new life and to give glory to Jesus 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:34.000 so that we will proclaim Jesus is Lord. 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:36.259 That's what the spirit does. 00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:38.779 Now, why does this matter? 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:42.879 It matters because in this church in Corinth that we're reading about, 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:45.279 they were absolutely fascinated by certain gifts. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:49.120 They were fascinated by tongues and prophecy and signs of power. 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:52.360 And they said, listen, that's what makes someone really spiritual. 00:13:53.839 --> 00:13:57.699 And so what Paul does for us, which is so helpful, is he takes us back to fundamentals. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.079 And so he says, do you know what? 00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:03.179 The most powerful thing the Holy Spirit would ever do in your life 00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:07.220 is to bring you to confess that Jesus is Lord. 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:14.899 It's that confession and that relationship that defines what it means to be spiritual. 00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:20.000 And so he can write to a very divided church and he can say, because this is true, 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:23.899 there's no dividing into first and second class Christians because that doesn't exist. 00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:27.399 Every Christian is a spiritual Christian. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:31.720 Not dividing and fighting over this is my gift, show me yours. 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:38.960 And it's rooted in the gospel and it's rooted in life with God. 00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:42.480 It's not all about experience and emotion. 00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:46.200 It's rooted in faith in the Lord Jesus. 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:50.540 So that's who the spiritual people are. 00:14:50.940 --> 00:14:53.399 Here's our second question from verses four to six. 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:56.720 Where do spiritual gifts come from? 00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:02.899 And to help us with this, picture for a moment, instead of plants and microphones, 00:15:03.060 --> 00:15:05.720 picture an orchestra on stage. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:07.980 Maybe think of another stage in your imagination. 00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:12.080 So they're all dressed up, you know, in black and white, all looking very smart. 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:14.940 But over here on one side, you've got the string section. 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.779 Maybe over here, you've got the brass section. 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:18.879 And way up the back, you've got the percussion. 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:24.440 Same orchestra, same outfit, playing the same symphony. 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:29.240 But of course, while there is unity, there is also diversity. 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:32.860 Not all playing the same instruments, not all playing the same parts. 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:38.020 Now, the picture that Paul gives of the church is that we all have different gifts, 00:15:38.420 --> 00:15:41.780 but they all come from the same source. 00:15:42.920 --> 00:15:44.820 Look at verse four by way of example. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:49.160 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same spirit distributes them. 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:54.439 But the source of our spiritual gifts, again, fundamentally, is not us. 00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:56.199 They don't emanate from us. 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:57.299 They come from God himself. 00:15:57.980 --> 00:16:02.959 And what we discover about God himself is he is this wonderful, eternal, three-in-one God. 00:16:03.219 --> 00:16:09.179 He is the ultimate and perfect example of what it looks like to have diversity within unity. 00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:13.919 And even in these verses, Paul is cluing us into this reality. 00:16:14.339 --> 00:16:16.199 So he talks about God the Spirit. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:21.659 God the Spirit who distributes the different kinds of gifts. 00:16:22.239 --> 00:16:26.519 And then he talks about God the Son, the Lord, in verse five. 00:16:26.939 --> 00:16:29.299 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:35.579 And notice that when he talks about Jesus as Lord, he also talks about service. 00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:44.520 And that reminds us that any gift that we've got is to be used in a Christ-like attitude of service, 00:16:44.520 --> 00:16:46.460 like Jesus, the servant King. 00:16:47.020 --> 00:16:50.220 And then verse six, he talks about God the Father. 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:57.720 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone, it is the same God at work. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:00.680 God's powerful work in a person's life. 00:17:01.040 --> 00:17:03.680 That's where spiritual gifts come from. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:09.679 And what we discover from Paul more widely is that the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:12.839 they participate together in the whole of the Christian life. 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:15.059 So we looked at it a few weeks ago. 00:17:15.159 --> 00:17:22.059 In verse 12, we discover that Christ creates this new body, the church, through his death and resurrection. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:29.240 In verse 13 of this chapter, we're told that the Spirit baptizes us into one body. 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:37.559 And then in verse 18, we discover that God the Father, he arranges the parts of the body, the church, just as he pleases. 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:41.620 We could take a step further back. 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:45.980 Think about how the Bible presents the work of salvation. 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:54.259 And we discover the Father chooses, even before the foundations of the world, and he calls a people to himself. 00:17:54.940 --> 00:18:02.779 But the Son is also involved in salvation because the Son comes and he gives his life to redeem his people from sin. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:07.940 And God, the Spirit is also involved because the Spirit is the one who gives new birth. 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:12.000 The Spirit is the one who vitally unites us to Christ. 00:18:12.820 --> 00:18:18.420 So the Trinity is involved in every part of the Christian life, not least in the giving of spiritual gifts. 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:26.720 And what we're told here is that these spiritual gifts, they come from God, and they're to be used in fellowship with God. 00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:30.759 And we're going to discover for the sake of the fellowship of believers. 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:38.319 So if we go back to the orchestra image for a moment, now it is quite likely, if you like classical music, that you have a preference. 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:40.539 You like one section more than another. 00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:45.640 You may be a strings person, or you may be a brass person, you may be a glockenspiel person. 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:54.960 But by the design of the composer, there would be something missing without the other parts of the orchestra. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:19:04.000 To turn up one at the expense of the other, we would fail to enjoy the beauty of what the composer designed. 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:14.960 And what the Bible tells us is that God is the master composer of his church. 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:22.420 And he designs and he arranges church members with our particular gifts. 00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:31.680 And so then the key thing for us is to learn to play our part and to celebrate God's gifts, God's work in others. 00:19:32.820 --> 00:19:38.180 So there's a heart attitude that's involved as we understand that spiritual gifts come from God. 00:19:38.360 --> 00:19:40.640 It begins with humility. 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:45.779 If everything that we have comes from God, then we have no room for boasting. 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:54.319 And in that humility, we want to exercise our gifts in a way that doesn't take glory to ourself, that gives glory to God. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:03.220 And it also tells us that the way we use our spiritual gifts, it is an expression of worship. 00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:10.279 We are participating in spiritual fellowship as we participate in life with God. 00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:16.100 And we want to live a life that is worthy of him as we seek to use our gift. 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:17.900 Okay. 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.360 So we've asked a couple of questions. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:22.759 Here's our third and final question then. 00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:25.600 What is the purpose of spiritual gifts? 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:29.180 What do spiritual gifts have to do with church fellowship? 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:32.079 That's a really important question. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:35.960 I think it's a really fun part of superhero movies. 00:20:36.139 --> 00:20:38.740 Maybe especially Spider-Man, Wolverine to a lesser extent. 00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:43.240 That bit where they discover for the first time that they've got these superpowers. 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:48.119 And there's usually sort of a comedy montage of them figuring out in the first place, 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:50.119 well, how do I use these new gifts? 00:20:50.439 --> 00:20:55.559 And then secondly, how do I use them for good, to be an agent of good? 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:59.460 There was a problem, a significant problem in Corinth, 00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:03.400 in that they were very aware that they had spiritual gifts, 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:05.279 but those gifts were being abused. 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:08.680 And it was causing pride and it was causing division 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:12.460 because they were claiming they were greater and others were lesser. 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:15.480 So how does Paul guide our thinking? 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:18.340 Well, look at verse seven. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:20.600 Here's the big idea. 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:22.620 What's the purpose of spiritual gifts? 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:29.859 Now to each, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:36.139 Okay, so whatever our gift is, the Bible is saying we are to use it 00:21:36.139 --> 00:21:42.439 in God's power to serve God's people and to bring God glory. 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:48.340 And so we should always be reflecting as Christians to ask ourselves, 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:53.700 am I in the habit of serving other Christians? 00:21:54.960 --> 00:22:00.019 Am I living and acting for God's sake and for theirs? 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:03.480 Whatever opportunities we are given. 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:07.380 Again, to stay in verse seven for a little bit longer, 00:22:08.340 --> 00:22:10.380 look at the language that's used. 00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:16.040 Now to each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 00:22:16.580 --> 00:22:19.840 Spiritual gifts become a manifestation of the Spirit. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:20.900 What's he saying there? 00:22:22.020 --> 00:22:27.300 He's saying, in effect, a spiritual gift is how God the Holy Spirit 00:22:27.300 --> 00:22:31.500 shows up and reveals himself in our lives. 00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:36.340 It's as we are serving others to God's glory 00:22:36.340 --> 00:22:39.380 that something of God is seen. 00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:43.900 Something of God the Holy Spirit is put on display. 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:50.960 When we are exercising our gifts in love and depending on God's grace 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:53.680 and with a desire to serve others. 00:22:54.920 --> 00:23:00.060 It's sections like these that give us the great incentive for every member ministry, 00:23:00.580 --> 00:23:04.940 where we don't just leave the work to one person or to a handful, 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:10.160 but we recognize God has gifted each and every one of us who calls themselves a Christian. 00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:11.980 I'm here today. 00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:16.420 And to understand that a spiritual fellowship, 00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:19.360 whether this is where you call your spiritual home or somewhere else, 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:24.539 your spiritual fellowship is blessed and encouraged and helped 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:27.940 when you and I are using our spiritual gifts. 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:33.660 It is good for God's people and it is good for God's work in the world. 00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:41.279 And so the local church then becomes a living example of true spirituality. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:46.180 We're living by faith and we're living according to love. 00:23:46.340 --> 00:23:52.460 We're living our relationship with God and we're living to serve and bless God's people. 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:57.059 That's not all he says in terms of the purpose of spiritual gifts. 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.079 Look at verse 11. 00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:03.400 All these are the work of one and the same spirit and he distributes them to each one 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:05.420 just as he determines. 00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:08.700 All these are the work of the spirit or they come, 00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:12.460 the gifts are a working of God in our lives. 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:18.799 And so in verses 8 to 10, we've got this gift list. 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:20.140 And it's not the only list. 00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:24.080 You can also go to Romans chapter 12 and you can also go to Ephesians chapter 4 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:29.860 and you'll find examples where Paul writes down lists of spiritual gifts. 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:34.620 And the point is that no list is designed to be exhaustive. 00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:37.780 No list is designed to be comprehensive. 00:24:38.540 --> 00:24:41.220 It reminds us, I think in an encouraging way, 00:24:41.300 --> 00:24:44.340 that God's gifts are far more varied than we think. 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:48.960 It also reminds us, because if you read through all the lists, 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:51.200 sometimes you'll find one is listed at number one, 00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.779 another time it's listed at number four. 00:24:53.100 --> 00:24:55.740 There is no biblical ranking system of gifts. 00:24:57.620 --> 00:25:01.100 You are not Premier League because you have gift X 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:03.360 and I'm championship because I've got gift Y. 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.700 That's not how it works. 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:09.840 And it also reminds us that no gift will be universal. 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:15.660 And so we shouldn't place expectations that everybody in one group of Christians 00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:19.039 should exercise all of this particular gift all of the time. 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.220 As Andrew Wilson puts it, 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:25.500 everyone has something, but no one has everything. 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:31.400 And you know, one of the sad facts when you look at what's happened 00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:33.059 or what happens at times in churches, 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:37.339 that God's gifts were always designed to promote unity. 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:41.900 He gives gifts to bless spiritual fellowship, 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:43.960 to strengthen that sense that we're family. 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:50.700 But at times, it's division and debate over spiritual gifts 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:53.400 that causes tension and breakdown within churches. 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:57.259 And so that's when we recognize something has gone wrong. 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:01.500 Now, what does it mean for us here today? 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:07.000 Well, certainly, Paul would say, the Bible says, 00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:09.799 we are to be spiritual people. 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:11.440 I don't know if that's how we think about ourselves. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:14.200 We think that belongs to other kinds of people. 00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:18.259 But we are to be spiritual people, but to let God define that. 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:21.519 We are spiritual in line with biblical truth 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:24.140 because we share fellowship with the triune God 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:26.019 because we have faith in the Lord Jesus. 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:29.500 That's what being spiritual looks like according to the Bible. 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:35.220 It's also really important for us to grapple with the reality 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:37.799 that as Christians, we have a spiritual gift. 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:41.899 That is clear and that is biblical. 00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:45.319 God doesn't miss anyone out on the gift list. 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:51.259 The same Father, Son, and Spirit who work together to save us 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:54.500 are the same Father, Son, and Spirit who work together 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:57.460 to empower us with a spiritual gift. 00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.879 Following on very logically, 00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:05.620 the Bible says we must use that gift. 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:08.800 And again, our use is defined by the Bible, 00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:10.040 not to serve ourselves, 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:12.280 but to serve God and his people. 00:27:13.560 --> 00:27:14.960 God's goal for us, 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:19.660 and this kind of defines how we think about spiritual gifts, 00:27:19.800 --> 00:27:21.040 God's goal for us 00:27:21.040 --> 00:27:24.020 within a local church 00:27:24.020 --> 00:27:27.620 is that we together would be building one another up 00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:28.479 in our faith. 00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:31.379 That we would be acting in a way 00:27:31.379 --> 00:27:34.279 to help others towards maturity. 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:37.399 That we would be operating in such a way 00:27:37.399 --> 00:27:40.299 that we'd be extending grace to one another. 00:27:41.459 --> 00:27:44.199 Those are all the vital conditions 00:27:44.199 --> 00:27:47.839 upon which we need to operate 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:49.459 as we think about spiritual gifts. 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.379 So with that view, 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:53.979 we have an invitation 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:57.299 to be active as Christians. 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:59.319 To be asking ourselves 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.579 some really basic questions. 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.360 To ask ourselves, 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.000 not, 00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:04.240 oh, I wonder what my spiritual gift is, 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:06.140 and to kind of do a gift list questionnaire, 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:08.500 I'm not sure there's that much value in that. 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:11.480 Better start where we are. 00:28:12.120 --> 00:28:13.620 Think about what can I do today? 00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:15.380 What can I do this week 00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:17.839 to encourage another Christian? 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.720 What can I do 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:21.519 to build up someone or a group 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:23.940 within my local church today? 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:27.400 Those are the kind of questions, 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.839 those are the kind of prayers 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:31.420 that God loves to answer. 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:34.920 And God will give us opportunities 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:37.400 to be actively involved 00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:39.460 in the life of the church 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:41.319 because this is His design. 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.079 This is His purpose. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:46.180 He gives us these gifts 00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:49.500 so that we would use them for others. 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:51.220 So we'll pray 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:52.839 that God will help us 00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:54.000 in that 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:55.920 so that we might be 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:57.440 a church 00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:58.559 where we are serving 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.960 one another 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:01.700 according to the Spirit 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:03.799 and for the common good. 00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.460 So let's take a few minutes 00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.619 to pray together. 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.240 Let's pray. 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.640 Our God 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.920 and our Father, 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:12.339 we thank You 00:29:12.339 --> 00:29:12.839 for 00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:15.680 what we have read 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:16.779 in Your Word. 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.480 We thank You 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:19.259 for the wisdom 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.200 of Paul 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.480 guiding us 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.299 to think about 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.340 what it means 00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:24.140 to be spiritual 00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:25.360 and how to think 00:29:25.360 --> 00:29:27.299 about spiritual gifts. 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:28.039 We recognize 00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:28.720 there's so much 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.740 controversy 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.960 in some circles 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:32.600 and we also confess 00:29:32.600 --> 00:29:33.039 that sometimes 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:33.740 we don't think 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.779 an awful lot about it. 00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:35.539 So we thank You 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:37.539 for the clarity 00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:39.940 and the clear instructions 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:41.620 that Your Word 00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:43.000 hands down to us. 00:29:43.860 --> 00:29:44.600 And so we pray 00:29:44.600 --> 00:29:45.240 that You would 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.340 guide us 00:29:46.340 --> 00:29:47.500 into Your truth 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.819 and we pray 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:50.079 that we would confess 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:52.120 in our hearts 00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:53.259 and from our mouths 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:54.940 that Jesus is Lord 00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:57.500 and that we would recognize 00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:59.380 that spiritual gifts 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.380 come from You 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:01.700 and that we would 00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:02.540 have that desire 00:30:02.540 --> 00:30:03.860 to serve others 00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:06.180 within our local church family, 00:30:06.320 --> 00:30:07.040 within the wider 00:30:07.040 --> 00:30:08.580 Christian community. 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:10.460 You'd give us opportunities 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:11.220 to encourage 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:12.860 and build people up. 00:30:13.540 --> 00:30:14.600 That whether our gifts 00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:16.100 are public 00:30:16.100 --> 00:30:16.920 or private, 00:30:17.060 --> 00:30:17.680 whether they're really 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:19.240 visible or invisible, 00:30:19.520 --> 00:30:19.640 Lord, 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.920 they all matter to You 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:23.280 and You have made us 00:30:23.280 --> 00:30:24.660 the way that You have made us 00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:26.020 and we thank You 00:30:26.020 --> 00:30:26.480 for that 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.780 and we just pray 00:30:27.780 --> 00:30:28.480 that You would give us 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:30.100 that spirit of humility 00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:31.039 and worship 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.379 as we would look 00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:33.939 to exercise those gifts. 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.199 Lord, 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.059 we thank You too 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:37.359 for the privilege 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:38.139 that we have 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:38.980 of prayer 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:40.379 and we thank You 00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.259 that we can call 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.559 on You as children 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.980 to our Father 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.579 in heaven. 00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:45.759 Again, 00:30:45.879 --> 00:30:46.599 we thank You 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:47.699 for every good gift 00:30:47.699 --> 00:30:48.679 that we have received 00:30:48.679 --> 00:30:49.539 today. 00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:51.139 Lord, 00:30:51.219 --> 00:30:52.099 we want to pray 00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:53.919 for some of the needs 00:30:53.919 --> 00:30:55.740 that we are aware of 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:57.319 within the church 00:30:57.319 --> 00:30:58.880 and within our world. 00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.339 Lord, 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.460 we pray for 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:02.740 the situation 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.500 we've been seeing 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.640 on our TV screens 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:05.859 in France. 00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:06.680 Lord, 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.460 we remember 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:09.759 Willie's brother Andy 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.420 and Heather 00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:11.160 in Nantes 00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:12.579 and we think of them 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:13.259 as they do 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.420 ministry 00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:16.000 while the city 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.779 is engulfed 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:18.120 by protest 00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:19.640 and violence. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:20.519 Lord, 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:21.200 we pray 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:22.580 for the good news 00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:23.460 of the Lord Jesus 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:25.340 to lead to peace 00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:26.200 in hearts 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:27.620 and in lives. 00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:28.840 We thank You 00:31:28.840 --> 00:31:29.500 that He came 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:30.940 as the Prince of Peace. 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:31.559 Lord, 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.240 do protect 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.720 and encourage them today. 00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:34.680 Lord, 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.380 we also think 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:36.259 of our students 00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.319 as they are 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:38.980 continuing to be affected 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:41.059 by the strike action. 00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:42.200 Lord, 00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:42.900 we pray 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:44.600 for a just 00:31:44.600 --> 00:31:45.539 and a swift 00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.279 settlement 00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:47.480 so they could get back 00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.539 to a full diet 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.960 of courses 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.880 and classes 00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:51.700 and Lord, 00:31:51.800 --> 00:31:52.340 be with them 00:31:52.340 --> 00:31:53.640 in any anxiety 00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:54.400 or stress 00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:55.460 that can come with that. 00:31:56.040 --> 00:31:56.660 Enable them 00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:57.520 to work hard 00:31:57.520 --> 00:31:58.400 and to work well 00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:00.000 and to be a blessing 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:01.420 to those around them 00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:02.260 in their classes 00:32:02.260 --> 00:32:03.800 and in their flats. 00:32:05.020 --> 00:32:05.180 Lord, 00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:05.760 we also 00:32:05.760 --> 00:32:07.260 continue to pray 00:32:07.260 --> 00:32:09.040 for little Caleb 00:32:09.040 --> 00:32:09.880 and we pray 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:10.500 for Andrew 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.200 and for Ailey 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:13.180 and for his big sister 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:13.800 and we pray 00:32:13.800 --> 00:32:14.960 for the wider family. 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:15.900 Lord, 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.860 we give You thanks 00:32:16.860 --> 00:32:18.000 as we thought this morning 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:19.180 of Jesus, 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.240 our healer, 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:21.160 Jesus, 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.359 our great physician. 00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:23.400 Lord, 00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.099 we pray 00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:26.700 that Your hands 00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:28.140 would be healing hands. 00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:29.019 Lord, 00:32:29.099 --> 00:32:30.140 we continue to pray 00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:31.079 that You would use 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:32.240 treatments, 00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.460 You would use 00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:34.200 the care 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:34.960 and skill 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:36.140 of doctors 00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:36.700 and nurses. 00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:38.220 We ask that it 00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:39.440 would be truly effective 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.400 and Lord, 00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:41.480 we pray at the same time 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:42.460 You'd be ministering 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:44.039 to the family 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:44.920 Your love 00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:45.920 and Your comfort 00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:46.799 and Your care. 00:32:47.880 --> 00:32:48.079 Lord, 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:48.619 we pray 00:32:48.619 --> 00:32:49.199 that You would 00:32:49.199 --> 00:32:49.919 go with us 00:32:49.919 --> 00:32:51.460 into this new week 00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.779 and we thank You 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:53.679 that You are the God 00:32:53.679 --> 00:32:54.379 who sees 00:32:54.379 --> 00:32:55.659 and knows everything 00:32:55.659 --> 00:32:56.759 so that while 00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.439 we don't know 00:32:57.439 --> 00:32:58.279 how this week 00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:59.039 will pan out, 00:32:59.179 --> 00:32:59.639 You do 00:32:59.639 --> 00:33:00.899 and so we pray 00:33:00.899 --> 00:33:01.819 that You'd enable us 00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:02.460 to rest 00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:03.839 and to trust in You 00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:04.879 and to seek 00:33:04.879 --> 00:33:05.379 to live 00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.339 for Your glory 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:07.399 and we pray 00:33:07.399 --> 00:33:08.379 in Jesus' name. 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:09.319 Amen. 00:33:09.319 --> 00:33:09.460 Amen.