WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:06.500 Come, Lord God, and be present among us. Come, Lord God, and be present in my words, but also, Lord, in the way that they're heard. 00:00:07.580 --> 00:00:11.839 We pray, Lord God, that only the truth would be spoken and only the truth would be heard. 00:00:12.839 --> 00:00:15.099 In Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen. 00:00:16.240 --> 00:00:20.879 We're going to be looking at the passage that was just read, Romans 13, 8 to 14. 00:00:21.140 --> 00:00:23.620 If you don't have a Bible, you can come grab one up front here. 00:00:23.719 --> 00:00:26.859 I'm going to be putting some of the readings up on there, but it's good to have it with you. 00:00:26.859 --> 00:00:30.259 We're also going to be turning to Deuteronomy just for a second. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:33.859 We're going to talk about what does it mean. 00:00:33.899 --> 00:00:35.659 We've heard it in our prayers. We've heard it in the reading. 00:00:35.740 --> 00:00:37.600 What does it mean to put on Christ? 00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:39.179 What does that mean? 00:00:39.820 --> 00:00:44.799 But not only what does it mean to put on Christ, what does it mean to put on Christ and love our neighbor? 00:00:45.780 --> 00:00:48.899 Because those two things are linked, and they happen within that order. 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:50.840 So that's what I want to talk about this morning. 00:00:51.260 --> 00:00:56.640 Our passage from Romans 13, if you're turning there, is a very important reading. 00:00:56.859 --> 00:00:58.320 In the history of Christianity. 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:07.859 Both R.C. Sproul and John MacArthur say that basically the Christian spiritual life is summarized within this passage. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:10.859 Some of you know St. Augustine. 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:13.039 You've probably heard the name before St. Augustine. 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:18.900 He was a Christian thinker and a Christian pastor, theologian, 00:01:19.019 --> 00:01:23.939 whose writings influenced the very development of Western Christianity. 00:01:23.939 --> 00:01:31.439 In fact, not only Western Christianity, St. Augustine's writings helped develop what we know as Western philosophy as well. 00:01:32.099 --> 00:01:38.620 He was a teacher, originally, of rhetoric, which is basically arguing, in Milan. 00:01:38.620 --> 00:01:45.320 And his philosophy had led him to ask, you know, what's next in life? 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:46.460 What is life all about? 00:01:46.520 --> 00:01:48.820 And he really wanted to start his life over. 00:01:49.160 --> 00:01:51.880 He wanted to start again, but he didn't know how to do that. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:55.880 And for Augustine at this time, not saint yet, obviously, or even a bishop, 00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:00.540 he was under a lot of anxiety because of this, to the point of tears. 00:02:00.540 --> 00:02:07.980 And so St. Augustine found himself in Milan in a garden of one of his friends. 00:02:08.620 --> 00:02:13.520 And while he was there in tears, he famously heard a child's voice sing, 00:02:13.920 --> 00:02:18.780 Tolelege, Tolelege, which translated means take up and read. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:22.860 And the scroll that just happened to be there was Romans. 00:02:22.860 --> 00:02:27.980 And he picked up Romans 13 and turned to Romans 13, just happened to turn there, 00:02:28.300 --> 00:02:31.040 and he read verses 13 and 14. 00:02:32.180 --> 00:02:35.640 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, 00:02:35.720 --> 00:02:39.340 not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy, 00:02:39.880 --> 00:02:45.960 but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires. 00:02:46.040 --> 00:02:48.500 And he said he didn't need to read anything else in the Bible at that point. 00:02:48.500 --> 00:02:54.180 All of a sudden, light came down and filled his soul, he said. 00:02:54.860 --> 00:02:59.039 And all the darkness of his doubt vanished and washed away. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:06.180 And from that moment on, Augustine took on Jesus, and the rest was history. 00:03:06.860 --> 00:03:12.379 And he led to help develop Christianity as we know it in Christian thinking in the Western world. 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:18.080 So it's a very powerful passage to unpack, Romans 13. 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:24.300 And we start with verse 8 as we start, as we're unpacking it, where Paul writes, 00:03:24.659 --> 00:03:31.039 Owe no one anything except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:38.800 Now, some have tried to say that this passage bans lending or going into debt. 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:42.000 But we know that's not true because elsewhere in the scriptures, 00:03:42.259 --> 00:03:46.139 lending and debt and how that is done is not only allowed, it's regulated. 00:03:46.139 --> 00:03:50.819 So for the moralists who are trying to do that, they wrote essays and essays on this. 00:03:50.899 --> 00:03:52.119 They basically were just wrong. 00:03:53.679 --> 00:04:00.539 The fact what Paul's talking about here is he's talking about not allowing ourselves to go into any kind of perpetual debt. 00:04:01.419 --> 00:04:11.159 And not only that, apparently, non-payment or not getting paid for the work that you did was a problem in the Roman world. 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:13.359 This is something that happened. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:15.680 People just weaseled out, found some legal way. 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:16.719 It was a very legal society. 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:20.319 Found some legal way to weasel out of whatever contract they were in. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:24.439 And this is something that we very much share in our culture with theirs. 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:26.719 My family were residential builders. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:35.680 And I happen to know that it is a very common thing for someone just before a job is done to decide, 00:04:36.080 --> 00:04:38.060 I don't quite like how that job was done. 00:04:38.940 --> 00:04:41.200 And then proceed to not pay. 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:46.040 And maybe have someone else finish the job and still live in the house even though they didn't like the work that was done. 00:04:46.280 --> 00:04:48.860 This happened quite often in cottage country where I was from. 00:04:48.860 --> 00:04:56.080 When people with lots of money or lawyers would come up, they would just refuse to pay the people who had done the work that they had. 00:04:57.080 --> 00:04:59.480 They just basically found a way to weasel out of being paid. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:08.420 I think we can all find examples of how this happens where people take money and don't return basically what they're owed for it. 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:09.980 It happens within public service. 00:05:10.060 --> 00:05:10.540 I know that. 00:05:10.960 --> 00:05:13.120 We see it quite often, in fact. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:22.500 People use, will, some people will use any or all excuse not to pay their debts. 00:05:22.840 --> 00:05:25.899 Any legal angle they can do to weasel out of it oftentimes. 00:05:27.259 --> 00:05:30.319 And what Paul is saying is that is not the Christian way. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:33.579 It is a basic question of integrity. 00:05:34.060 --> 00:05:36.160 Christians fulfill their debts. 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:38.920 But he's not saying this in a moralistic sense. 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:52.460 He's saying this in a broader sense where throughout these verses, in Romans 13, Paul is talking about the practical application of the golden rule, loving our neighbors as ourselves. 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:59.700 And he's awakening us to the reality that love is an obligation. 00:06:01.020 --> 00:06:04.500 In the Roman world, they felt that love was some sort of sentiment. 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:05.639 It was some sort of feeling. 00:06:05.960 --> 00:06:07.240 Does that sound familiar to anybody? 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:14.100 In our culture, we very much see that love is some sort of sentiment, some sort of feeling that I have. 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:17.100 What Paul is saying is that godly love is different. 00:06:17.420 --> 00:06:19.740 The love of the kingdom is different. 00:06:20.460 --> 00:06:21.819 It's a choice that we make. 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:25.480 A moment-to-moment choice that everybody in this room makes. 00:06:26.900 --> 00:06:32.019 And the one debt, when we put on Christ, that never runs out. 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:35.180 That one debt that never runs out is our debt to love one another. 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:40.319 Living morally is a response to God's love and action. 00:06:40.840 --> 00:06:44.220 For Paul, God's love is always... 00:06:44.220 --> 00:06:47.800 The love of God is always God's love toward us. 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:51.480 And then everything we do is in response to that. 00:06:53.160 --> 00:06:55.139 Our love is a response to that. 00:06:55.139 --> 00:06:56.919 And what he does is Paul... 00:06:56.919 --> 00:07:00.759 He makes that point in a very interesting way in Romans 13. 00:07:00.919 --> 00:07:03.039 He actually points to the Ten Commandments. 00:07:03.699 --> 00:07:08.039 And we have this thing which we call the two tables of the law with the Ten Commandments. 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:11.180 And if you have your Bible, you might want to turn to Deuteronomy 5. 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:13.519 Make sure I keep my finger in Romans 13. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:15.359 Where we have the first... 00:07:15.359 --> 00:07:18.060 If you just look from verse 7 on... 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:20.659 At the first four commandments... 00:07:20.659 --> 00:07:22.879 Have no other God before me. 00:07:23.699 --> 00:07:25.759 You shall not make for yourself a carved image. 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:27.919 You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:30.879 And even to observe the Sabbath day and to be with the Lord. 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:34.939 They all have to do with our relationship with God. 00:07:35.699 --> 00:07:38.699 And traditionally in the Protestant world, we've called this the first table of the law. 00:07:38.699 --> 00:07:42.800 Now, we start there and then we move on to the second table of the law. 00:07:42.899 --> 00:07:44.599 And if you look at all the other laws... 00:07:44.599 --> 00:07:46.860 Not murdering, not committing adultery, not stealing... 00:07:46.860 --> 00:07:49.680 They have to do with our relationship with each other. 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:53.639 So even going back to the Ten Commandments... 00:07:53.639 --> 00:07:56.539 Love God and love your neighbor. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:07:59.819 If we're going to be people of godly love... 00:07:59.819 --> 00:08:01.399 We take on the love of Jesus. 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:03.579 And that leads us to love one another. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:04.919 It's not just this moralistic... 00:08:04.919 --> 00:08:07.300 Paul isn't just saying, be good. 00:08:07.300 --> 00:08:09.480 He's saying to love God. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:12.819 And that's going to lead us to be good. 00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:17.300 The message of second Advent to me as I read this passage... 00:08:17.980 --> 00:08:20.300 And as we see the prayers that we've just read... 00:08:20.960 --> 00:08:23.300 Is to first love God... 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:25.120 And then love one another. 00:08:25.280 --> 00:08:26.360 And you can see that in verse 9. 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:28.280 He literally quotes some of the commandments. 00:08:28.400 --> 00:08:30.019 For the commandments, you shall not commit adultery. 00:08:30.340 --> 00:08:31.100 You shall not murder. 00:08:31.220 --> 00:08:31.939 You shall not steal. 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:32.759 You shall not covet. 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:35.960 And any other commandment are summed up in this word. 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:37.200 This word. 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:39.039 You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:08:41.459 --> 00:08:44.319 The message of second Advent is to seek to be formed... 00:08:44.319 --> 00:08:45.299 Into the people of godly love... 00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:47.279 By putting on Christ. 00:08:48.059 --> 00:08:49.559 By first putting on Christ. 00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:51.299 And this matters... 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:53.299 For the reasons that Paul addresses... 00:08:54.459 --> 00:08:56.059 Within the very text that we're looking at here. 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:56.959 If you turn to verse... 00:08:56.959 --> 00:08:58.299 If we look at verses 11 and 12... 00:08:58.299 --> 00:09:01.099 Besides this, you know the time... 00:09:01.099 --> 00:09:03.359 That the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. 00:09:04.099 --> 00:09:06.019 For salvation is near to us now... 00:09:06.019 --> 00:09:07.059 Than when we first believed. 00:09:07.419 --> 00:09:08.699 The night is far gone. 00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:09.679 The day is at hand. 00:09:10.139 --> 00:09:12.299 So then let us cast off the works of darkness... 00:09:12.839 --> 00:09:15.219 And put on the armor of light. 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:19.019 Paul is addressing another issue... 00:09:19.019 --> 00:09:20.300 That we share with the Romans. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:22.980 And that is spiritual drowsiness. 00:09:23.779 --> 00:09:25.019 He's saying, wake up. 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:27.600 You see all manner of... 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:29.860 Translations for that word. 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:31.139 Have vigilance. 00:09:32.180 --> 00:09:33.779 Make sure you're watching out. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:37.060 Watchfulness is a spiritual term that we use for that. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:38.120 Be vigilant. 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:39.320 In a lot of ways... 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:43.240 Rome had fallen into a state of spiritual sleep. 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:45.460 In a lot of ways... 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:46.700 When we look through Romans... 00:09:46.700 --> 00:09:48.639 They were becoming spiritually ineffective. 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:53.320 And Paul here is pointing them... 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:55.399 To a heavenly orientation. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:57.399 Rather than a worldly orientation. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:09:59.240 And throughout Romans we see this. 00:09:59.419 --> 00:10:02.220 He puts this contrast between darkness and light. 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:04.919 And wants Romans to focus on the light. 00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:07.519 This term, I think... 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:09.759 The term orientation... 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:12.360 Which comes up a lot in a lot of the commentaries... 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:15.919 I think is a very good term to use here. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:17.919 The term that we use for orientation... 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:20.039 Actually comes from the church. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:22.919 It comes from the direction... 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:25.139 That we build a church in... 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:26.360 Towards the east. 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:27.899 Towards the orient. 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:30.460 Especially in the more Catholic churches. 00:10:30.579 --> 00:10:31.240 The Anglican churches. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:32.919 They built there so the altar... 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:35.079 Was built towards Jerusalem. 00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:37.820 So the question here... 00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:39.080 When we talk about our orientation... 00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:41.080 Where is the altar... 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:43.080 Of our lives... 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:44.840 Oriented towards? 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:48.480 And has that... 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:50.100 Maybe that orientation drifted off... 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:52.080 As we drift off to some sort of spiritual sleep... 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:53.800 Like it had for the Romans. 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:58.279 It's so easy to go on autopilot. 00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:00.139 I work as a public servant. 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:00.759 I get it. 00:11:01.319 --> 00:11:02.000 We commute. 00:11:02.339 --> 00:11:03.079 We work. 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:04.139 We commute. 00:11:04.599 --> 00:11:05.179 We're home. 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:05.659 We rinse. 00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:06.240 We rinse. 00:11:06.319 --> 00:11:06.759 We repeat. 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:10.419 And I find myself falling into that. 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:13.319 And slowly but surely... 00:11:13.319 --> 00:11:14.579 If we just kind of get into this... 00:11:14.579 --> 00:11:15.459 Worldly rhythm... 00:11:15.459 --> 00:11:16.699 And we're not really focused on... 00:11:16.699 --> 00:11:17.539 What it is that we're doing... 00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:18.919 Or what it is that we're about... 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:20.919 We can start to orientate ourselves... 00:11:22.219 --> 00:11:23.699 Towards the world. 00:11:24.059 --> 00:11:25.979 The shiny things around us... 00:11:25.979 --> 00:11:27.339 Take more and more of our attention. 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:28.759 That was happening to the Romans. 00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:29.959 They were becoming very comfortable. 00:11:30.939 --> 00:11:33.939 We slowly move into thinking like a secular person. 00:11:34.199 --> 00:11:34.919 We become oriented... 00:11:35.659 --> 00:11:37.240 By worldly politics. 00:11:38.199 --> 00:11:39.679 By worldly stuff. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:42.679 By worldly philosophies. 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:45.639 Now if there's anybody here... 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:47.819 Who isn't a believer in Christ... 00:11:47.819 --> 00:11:51.039 You might be finding in 2018... 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:52.959 Worldly politics... 00:11:52.959 --> 00:11:54.079 Worldly philosophy... 00:11:54.079 --> 00:11:55.259 Is a very confusing thing. 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:57.679 But we as Christians... 00:11:58.819 --> 00:11:59.739 Have that one... 00:11:59.739 --> 00:12:00.679 What we call that one... 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:03.059 Central integrating principle. 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:03.879 We have Christ. 00:12:04.979 --> 00:12:06.679 And our orientation to Christ... 00:12:07.199 --> 00:12:08.939 Helps us put all these things... 00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:09.439 Into order. 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:10.979 So if you're here this morning... 00:12:10.979 --> 00:12:11.979 And you just... 00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:13.500 The questions about life... 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:15.080 Are just flooding you... 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:16.120 And you're questioning... 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.720 Because the stuff's going on in politics... 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:19.920 I would just really encourage you... 00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:20.860 To consider Jesus. 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:23.420 To read through the Gospels... 00:12:23.420 --> 00:12:25.000 And see how he oriented a world... 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:26.279 That was just as mixed up as ours. 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:27.700 And that perhaps... 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:29.039 That's a person that you might want to follow. 00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:34.379 For those of us who love Jesus... 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:36.659 We are oriented towards eternity. 00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:39.379 Paul says our salvation is nearer now... 00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:40.100 Than it was before. 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:42.700 We want to have a salvation orientation... 00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:44.420 An orientation towards what... 00:12:44.420 --> 00:12:45.639 What's really going to matter. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:48.600 You might want to prepare for eternity... 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:49.800 You're going to be there for a long time. 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:54.879 The love of God compels us... 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:56.100 To be constantly awake... 00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:57.879 To be a people of godly love... 00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:58.759 Means being... 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:00.300 That we're oriented towards God. 00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:02.779 And so this gives us a to-do. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:04.620 Something we need to do this week. 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:05.840 Something we need to do... 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:06.879 I think throughout Advent. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:09.559 Paul doesn't just tell us... 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:10.299 What not... 00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:11.059 What to avoid. 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:12.659 He actually tells us... 00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:13.360 Something to do. 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:15.399 We look at verses 13 and 14 in the text. 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:17.179 Let us walk properly... 00:13:17.179 --> 00:13:17.860 As in the daytime. 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:20.000 Not in orgies and drunkenness... 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:21.480 Or sexual immorality... 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.360 Sensuality. 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:23.939 Not in quarreling and jealousy. 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:26.200 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ... 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:28.200 And make no provision... 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:29.200 For the flesh... 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:31.159 To gratify its desires. 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:34.079 These central passages... 00:13:34.079 --> 00:13:35.159 As they were for Augustine... 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:37.179 Give us direction. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:40.299 We are concerned with two things. 00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:43.159 Taking off... 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:45.079 And putting on. 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:46.839 Two things. 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:48.000 Taking off and putting on. 00:13:48.719 --> 00:13:49.159 First... 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:51.019 We take off. 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:52.139 We prepare the ground. 00:13:52.719 --> 00:13:53.519 While we do this... 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:54.579 We're preparing the ground... 00:13:54.579 --> 00:13:56.319 For grace and holiness to take root. 00:13:57.480 --> 00:13:59.159 By casting off... 00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:01.059 He means we're casting off... 00:14:01.059 --> 00:14:01.719 All those things... 00:14:01.719 --> 00:14:03.039 That have no place in eternity. 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:04.459 And he's saying... 00:14:04.459 --> 00:14:04.600 You know... 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:05.759 Cast those things off... 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.639 Like dirty laundry. 00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:08.179 Some of you know... 00:14:08.179 --> 00:14:08.980 I was deployed... 00:14:10.179 --> 00:14:11.079 Some of you here... 00:14:11.079 --> 00:14:11.919 I think everybody's old enough... 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:13.240 To remember the earthquake... 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:13.980 In 2010... 00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:15.120 In Haiti. 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:16.199 We were there... 00:14:16.199 --> 00:14:17.120 And landed on the ground... 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:17.480 The night... 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.339 The morning before... 00:14:18.339 --> 00:14:19.100 While it was still dark. 00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:20.939 And for those... 00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:21.980 Especially for the first... 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:23.259 Couple of weeks... 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:24.980 When we came back to camp... 00:14:25.579 --> 00:14:26.980 From the things we got to about... 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:28.980 There was all manner of stuff... 00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:29.980 I don't even want to think... 00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:31.420 About what was on my uniform... 00:14:31.420 --> 00:14:32.279 When I got back. 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.980 And you could not wait... 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:38.399 To just get that thing off... 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.840 And chuck it into the laundry bag... 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:39.980 Although... 00:14:40.560 --> 00:14:41.519 Actually there wasn't a laundry bag... 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:41.899 For the first one... 00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:43.000 We just put the stuff back on... 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:43.379 The next day... 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.000 And went out and did it... 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:44.980 But you couldn't wait... 00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:46.620 To get out... 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.560 Of those dirty clothes... 00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:48.759 And that's what Paul's talking about... 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.580 He's talking about... 00:14:49.580 --> 00:14:50.980 Casting these things off... 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.480 Like clothes... 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:52.980 That we just... 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:54.779 Can't wait to get rid of... 00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:55.220 All that... 00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:55.759 Of those things... 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.980 That he's talking about there... 00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:59.980 And with equal enthusiasm... 00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:01.980 We're called to clothe ourselves... 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.800 With the things that belong... 00:15:03.800 --> 00:15:04.980 To the realm of glory... 00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.340 Put on... 00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:08.580 To claim the garments of light... 00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:09.980 That Jesus gave us at our baptism... 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:13.980 Preparing the ground for sobriety... 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:15.920 For purity... 00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:16.980 For self-control... 00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:18.980 For principle-based godliness... 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.980 And for the love of our neighbor... 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:23.639 And a good focus word... 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.519 As we wrap this up... 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:25.980 For us to look at this morning... 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:27.480 Is that term... 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:28.159 Provision... 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:29.420 That you see in the last... 00:15:29.420 --> 00:15:31.680 Make no provision for the flesh... 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:33.300 To gratify its desires... 00:15:33.300 --> 00:15:34.519 When we talk about... 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:35.720 Provision... 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.920 Paul's actually saying... 00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:37.779 Something about... 00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:38.000 You know... 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.420 The forethought we're giving... 00:15:39.420 --> 00:15:39.980 To how we're living... 00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:41.980 What are we preparing... 00:15:42.680 --> 00:15:43.759 The ground for... 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.980 When we go... 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:46.620 When we deploy with the military... 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.980 We have a kit list we follow... 00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:50.100 And it's very important... 00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:50.980 To follow that kit list... 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.980 When I went down to Haiti... 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:55.360 I showed up there... 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:56.500 I found two problems... 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:58.379 As soon as I opened my cases up... 00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:59.139 First... 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.659 I had brought my bug hood... 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:02.060 Not my bug net... 00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:03.820 That goes over my bed... 00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:05.100 That's not a great thing... 00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:05.600 When you're in Haiti... 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:07.440 You're not preparing yourself... 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:07.980 For success... 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:09.159 And not getting malaria... 00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:10.440 If you don't have a bug net... 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:11.360 Luckily I didn't get it... 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:12.379 Thank God... 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:13.300 Secondarily... 00:16:13.300 --> 00:16:14.399 I had not properly... 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.399 Unpacked my kit... 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:16.480 From winter exercise... 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.379 Because it was in the... 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.820 The middle of November... 00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:20.360 Or the middle of January... 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:22.360 And I found my gauntlets... 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:24.500 Which are big leather gloves... 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.500 That come up to here... 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.139 I found all my... 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.539 My... 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:28.080 My bella clava... 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.039 Things like that... 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:30.139 Absolutely useless... 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:33.139 Provisioning yourself properly... 00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:35.639 Sets the ground for success... 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.740 We actually will bring... 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:38.139 The guys together... 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:40.060 Before we go on exercise... 00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:40.899 Or on deployment... 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.960 They will bring in their rucksack... 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:42.580 There's an old one... 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:43.080 For some of you... 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:44.100 I know there's some older... 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:44.800 Army folks here... 00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:46.139 You'll probably remember that one... 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:47.159 They will come... 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:48.500 They will put a tarp out... 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:50.779 And all the soldiers... 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:52.059 Will have to lay out... 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:53.000 All their kits... 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.360 In perfect order... 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.539 For the warrant or sergeant... 00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.179 To come along... 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.159 And basically judge... 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:58.000 What it is they brought... 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.139 And what they haven't brought... 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:01.120 Because provisioning yourself... 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.799 Properly... 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:04.759 Prepares the ground for success... 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:06.440 And if one or two people... 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:08.500 Forget important pieces of kit... 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.920 That could have a major effect... 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:11.759 On the operation itself... 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.839 If you think about it... 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:13.960 If anybody here... 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:15.440 Was going to be going away... 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:17.440 Somewhere for a couple of weeks... 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:20.759 And we were to take your suitcase... 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:21.940 And lay it out here... 00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:23.880 We could probably figure out... 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:25.620 What it is you've prepared for... 00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:26.660 Over the next two weeks... 00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:28.779 What it is that you've provisioned yourself for... 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.840 Whether you're going to Alaska... 00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:31.900 Which is probably not advisable these days... 00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:32.660 Or... 00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:35.019 If you're going to the Caribbean... 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:37.900 Very different items that you're taking... 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:39.740 If we were to look... 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:41.900 At our day-to-day lives... 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:44.900 And how we prepare ourselves... 00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:47.380 What are we really provisioning ourselves for? 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:49.759 On a day-to-day basis... 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:52.440 Are you setting yourself up? 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.880 Am I setting myself up... 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.580 For spiritual success? 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:58.600 There's an old saying that... 00:17:58.600 --> 00:17:59.880 If you're an alcoholic... 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:01.880 You probably shouldn't be planning... 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.880 To tie your horse up in front of a bar... 00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:07.460 How am I preparing my day? 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.880 Am I setting myself up... 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:09.960 For spiritual success? 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.880 Making no provision... 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:15.660 Success means preparing the ground... 00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.880 For holiness in our lives... 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:19.200 Cutting out the provision... 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:20.160 For anything else... 00:18:21.260 --> 00:18:22.160 And so a good start... 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:26.160 Is putting Jesus on spiritually... 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.160 Every morning... 00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:29.460 The... 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:31.760 Our spiritual practice that we have... 00:18:31.760 --> 00:18:33.480 Our growing in grace spiritual practice... 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:35.200 Recommends that we need to grow in prayer... 00:18:35.860 --> 00:18:36.900 And a way to do this... 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:39.200 Is to learn to pray the Bible... 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:41.140 To learn to pray our way... 00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:41.880 Through the Bible... 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:43.340 I always recommend... 00:18:43.340 --> 00:18:44.200 If we're starting a spiritual practice... 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:46.200 To start with the Gospels... 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:47.160 I'm going to recommend... 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:49.000 That you read through... 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.160 Every morning this week... 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.160 A story... 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:52.160 Even just a short story... 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.300 Of Jesus... 00:18:53.300 --> 00:18:54.160 Or something Jesus said... 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:56.160 Pray through it... 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.160 Notice Jesus... 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:59.480 Be slow as you go through it... 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:01.480 And as you do that... 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:03.440 As you do that... 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:05.440 And you're immersed in them... 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:07.440 Start contemplating the day to come... 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:10.440 And ask two questions... 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:12.480 As I think about... 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:14.480 What I'm about to do today... 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:17.480 What is going to bring me closer to Jesus... 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:21.480 And what's possibly going to take me further away... 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:25.480 And then just pray your way through that... 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:28.480 And let God... 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.819 Sanctify your day... 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:30.819 From moment to moment... 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:33.480 Very simple spiritual practice to start with... 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:35.640 What's going to bring me closer to Jesus... 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:37.480 What's going to take me further away... 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:39.480 Paul is calling us... 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:43.480 To a further spiritual depth... 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:45.700 And as we contemplate Advent... 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.480 And the Advent of Christ... 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:49.480 And the love that came down... 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:51.440 The love that... 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:53.579 Left heaven to live with us... 00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:55.480 And died for us... 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:57.599 It's that display of love... 00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.720 That compels us... 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.620 As we seek to be people of godly love... 00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:01.599 In all times... 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.480 In all moments... 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:04.839 Now I'm cognizant of the fact... 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:06.400 That we have a very esteemed production... 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.259 Coming up here after me... 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:07.480 So I'm going to... 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:09.480 Wrap up with a big finish right there... 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:13.480 There's an old saying... 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:15.480 That... 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:18.480 That it's too late to dig a well... 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:20.480 If you're already thirsty... 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:22.480 We talk about preparing the ground... 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:24.480 I'm not talking about... 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:25.059 You know... 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:26.480 Some moralistic sense of... 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:29.480 Just be good and God will love you... 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.480 What we're talking about is... 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.480 Maintaining our spiritual wells... 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:36.480 So that the spiritual water of God's grace... 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:40.480 Will overflow and spread through your entire life... 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:43.480 So that even the small moral choices... 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:45.480 That we make themselves... 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:47.480 Become acts of worship... 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.480 And sanctify our day... 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:52.480 And these become moments... 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.480 Of communion with God... 00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:54.480 Through Jesus Christ... 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:57.480 Who saved us for that kind of life... 00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:59.480 Let's pray... 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.480 Loving God... 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.480 Loving God... 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.660 As Advent is upon us... 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.480 And as we look to... 00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:04.480 Celebrate... 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:07.319 The coming of our Lord Jesus... 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:08.620 To live among us and save us... 00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:09.779 We pray Lord God... 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.480 That you would... 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:12.200 Help us know... 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:14.480 How to make manifest in our lives... 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:17.480 The things that he taught us... 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.480 And showed us... 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:20.480 And the love that he gives to us... 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:22.480 By the power of your Holy Spirit... 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.480 In your name we pray... 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:24.480 Amen... 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.480 Amen...