Sunday February 11th Service_transcript.txt

[0.00 --> 4.84]  Good morning.
[11.56 --> 13.70]  It's a privilege to be with you
[13.70 --> 18.28]  and to look at God's word with you this morning.
[19.64 --> 22.18]  We are going to be concluding our series
[22.18 --> 24.78]  on Paul's letter to the Galatians,
[24.78 --> 28.52]  a letter that Paul yells at us
[28.52 --> 29.46]  to make sure we're listening.
[29.46 --> 31.06]  That's kind of the picture we have.
[32.62 --> 37.06]  Last week, Pastor Dave in his sermon
[37.06 --> 38.46]  talked about freedom
[38.46 --> 41.80]  and the freedom to live as God calls us to live.
[43.22 --> 45.80]  Paul describes us as walking in the spirit
[45.80 --> 47.58]  versus walking in the flesh.
[49.06 --> 51.78]  He said the result of walking in the spirit
[51.78 --> 52.84]  are the fruits of the spirit,
[52.96 --> 54.48]  love, joy, peace, patient kindness,
[54.60 --> 55.60]  self-control, faithfulness,
[56.16 --> 58.92]  versus self-centered slavery
[58.92 --> 61.12]  when we walk in the flesh,
[61.66 --> 64.82]  when we think our freedom is to act out
[64.82 --> 66.08]  all the desires we have,
[66.14 --> 67.76]  and yet we find ourselves enslaved.
[69.02 --> 71.62]  And they are places that don't bear fruit
[71.62 --> 74.26]  because they are actually dead places
[74.26 --> 75.86]  where we're trying to find live things.
[75.86 --> 82.44]  And Galatians would say this is all about life in the gospel,
[83.96 --> 85.00]  gospel living,
[85.36 --> 87.40]  which is what we're trying to do every week.
[88.90 --> 91.58]  Martin Luther, the great reformer,
[91.66 --> 93.30]  summed up Galatians like this.
[94.36 --> 94.74]  He said,
[94.74 --> 97.54]  The truth of the gospel is also the principle
[97.54 --> 99.00]  of all Christian doctrine.
[99.12 --> 99.90]  Doctrine is belief.
[100.50 --> 101.70]  Where in the knowledge,
[101.90 --> 105.34]  in the knowledge of all godliness consists,
[106.34 --> 108.08]  most necessary it is therefore
[108.08 --> 111.02]  that we should know this gospel well,
[111.74 --> 112.90]  teach it to others,
[113.14 --> 116.34]  and beat it continually into their heads.
[116.34 --> 119.22]  Only Luther would say it that way.
[120.38 --> 121.50]  But I guess I'm going to say now,
[121.62 --> 123.42]  be prepared for yourselves
[123.42 --> 125.04]  to receive another beating,
[125.62 --> 127.18]  since that's what I'm here for.
[128.62 --> 130.46]  We've come to chapter 6,
[131.10 --> 132.32]  and we can easily read it
[132.32 --> 135.04]  kind of like a set of detached statements.
[135.16 --> 136.24]  It feels that way sometimes,
[136.46 --> 137.90]  kind of like standalone Proverbs.
[138.76 --> 140.24]  Bear each other's burdens.
[140.42 --> 141.30]  God is not mocked.
[141.38 --> 144.00]  But it actually does stand together fairly well,
[144.00 --> 147.64]  especially if I start with chapter 5, 26.
[148.20 --> 149.70]  I was reading some commentaries,
[150.24 --> 153.50]  and they think that that last verse of chapter 5
[153.50 --> 155.18]  should have actually been part of 6,
[155.62 --> 159.90]  reminding us that these chapters and verses are added.
[160.32 --> 162.22]  We just added all those things
[162.22 --> 163.68]  to kind of make it easier to read the Bible.
[164.08 --> 167.56]  So I'm going to put verse 26 in with chapter 6.
[168.88 --> 171.22]  In the first part of the chapter,
[171.84 --> 173.42]  Paul's talking about a heart condition,
[173.42 --> 175.88]  and that heart condition leads to certain behaviors.
[176.46 --> 177.28]  And then the last part,
[177.50 --> 179.12]  how do we solve this heart condition
[179.12 --> 181.86]  with real living in the gospel?
[182.22 --> 183.40]  So that's kind of where we're going.
[184.16 --> 186.02]  So let's read the whole thing together.
[186.12 --> 187.48]  A little bit long, but bear with me.
[188.18 --> 190.68]  Galatians 5, 26, and then chapter 6.
[192.10 --> 195.00]  Let us not become conceited,
[195.62 --> 198.40]  provoking and envying each other.
[199.60 --> 200.54]  Brothers and sisters,
[200.54 --> 202.44]  if someone is caught in a sin,
[203.44 --> 205.38]  you who live by the Spirit
[205.38 --> 208.56]  should restore that person gently.
[209.70 --> 210.78]  But watch yourselves,
[210.90 --> 213.04]  or you also may be tempted.
[213.70 --> 215.14]  Carry each other's burdens,
[215.50 --> 218.32]  and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
[219.32 --> 221.30]  If anyone thinks they are something
[221.30 --> 222.22]  when they are not,
[222.34 --> 224.02]  they deceive themselves.
[225.04 --> 227.10]  Each one should test their own actions.
[227.10 --> 229.62]  Then they can take pride in themselves alone
[229.62 --> 231.78]  without comparing themselves to someone else.
[232.50 --> 235.00]  For each one should carry their own load.
[235.86 --> 236.14]  Nevertheless,
[236.40 --> 238.48]  one who receives instruction in the Word
[238.48 --> 241.24]  should share all good things with their instructor.
[241.42 --> 242.76]  Do not be deceived.
[243.36 --> 244.56]  God cannot be mocked.
[245.06 --> 246.50]  A man reaps what he sows,
[246.94 --> 249.56]  and whoever sows to please the flesh,
[250.10 --> 252.36]  from the flesh will reap destruction.
[252.36 --> 255.36]  Whoever sows to please the Spirit,
[255.74 --> 258.36]  from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
[259.26 --> 261.28]  So let's not become weary in doing good,
[261.40 --> 262.56]  for at the proper time,
[262.88 --> 265.50]  we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
[266.44 --> 266.88]  And therefore,
[267.16 --> 268.40]  as we have opportunity,
[268.62 --> 270.12]  let us do good to all people,
[270.38 --> 272.58]  especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
[273.66 --> 275.62]  You see what large letters I use
[275.62 --> 277.80]  as I write you with my own hand?
[277.80 --> 281.24]  Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh
[281.24 --> 283.40]  are trying to compel you to be circumcised.
[283.48 --> 284.46]  That was the issue of the day.
[285.18 --> 286.26]  The only reason they do this
[286.26 --> 289.28]  is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ,
[289.92 --> 291.16]  which they were afraid of.
[291.66 --> 293.94]  Not even those who are circumcised keep the law,
[294.00 --> 295.72]  yet they want you to be circumcised
[295.72 --> 299.92]  that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.
[300.88 --> 304.78]  May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
[304.78 --> 307.90]  through which the world has been crucified to me
[307.90 --> 309.52]  and I to the world.
[310.56 --> 312.86]  Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
[312.86 --> 313.88]  means anything at all.
[313.94 --> 316.06]  What counts is the new creation.
[316.92 --> 318.88]  Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule,
[319.32 --> 320.72]  to the Israel of God.
[321.00 --> 323.06]  From now on, let no one cause me trouble,
[323.34 --> 325.64]  for I bear on my body the marks of Christ.
[326.06 --> 328.58]  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you,
[328.66 --> 329.90]  brothers and sisters.
[330.38 --> 330.78]  Amen.
[332.74 --> 333.88]  So there's Paul's letter.
[333.88 --> 335.32]  I'm on the end of it.
[336.22 --> 338.36]  He has two concerns here.
[338.98 --> 341.46]  A doctrinal one, which is a belief concern,
[342.20 --> 344.32]  and a situational concern.
[345.24 --> 347.86]  The doctrinal concern is this.
[348.52 --> 353.62]  The believers are losing their hold on justification.
[353.94 --> 354.60]  So what's justification?
[355.34 --> 356.76]  Justification by faith alone,
[357.08 --> 361.38]  on being right with God through faith and grace only.
[361.38 --> 364.72]  And Paul sees that slipping away a little bit.
[365.30 --> 367.34]  And then there's a situational concern,
[367.74 --> 369.66]  which is often the case over time,
[370.02 --> 371.46]  is for their unity.
[371.94 --> 373.66]  That they are not, as he says elsewhere,
[373.86 --> 375.92]  biting and devouring one another.
[376.40 --> 378.80]  He says, let's not become conceited.
[378.90 --> 379.04]  Right?
[379.08 --> 380.62]  You have a conflict going on.
[380.86 --> 382.92]  Now you can have this side demonizing this side,
[382.98 --> 383.38]  and so on.
[383.38 --> 384.08]  And so on.
[384.32 --> 386.38]  You know, let us not become conceited.
[386.46 --> 387.54]  Oh, I know best.
[388.64 --> 390.82]  Let us not be provoking one another.
[391.90 --> 393.42]  That never happens in churches, does it?
[395.78 --> 396.22]  Conceited.
[396.46 --> 396.98]  That word.
[397.14 --> 399.04]  It's a powerful word in its own way.
[399.04 --> 401.76]  But I like this old English translation of it,
[402.04 --> 403.18]  and it's vainglory.
[404.26 --> 405.80]  Maybe you've never heard of the word,
[405.90 --> 407.22]  but vainglory.
[407.66 --> 410.18]  It's from a Greek word meaning empty of glory.
[410.86 --> 412.72]  And you're after glory.
[413.76 --> 416.12]  You're trying to find it, but you can't.
[416.36 --> 417.66]  So it's vainglory.
[417.78 --> 418.86]  You're doing it in vain.
[419.82 --> 422.48]  This is one who is desperate for recognition.
[423.34 --> 425.50]  You sense an emptiness within,
[425.50 --> 428.14]  and you attempt to fill that emptiness
[428.14 --> 432.04]  with often people's affirmation and recognition.
[433.24 --> 435.40]  You're desperate to prove your worth.
[435.40 --> 438.82]  This is the heart condition Paul's talking about.
[440.26 --> 442.86]  And he reminds us that actually our deepest need
[442.86 --> 445.16]  is for us to hear from God,
[446.08 --> 449.04]  well done, you good and faithful servant.
[452.08 --> 454.06]  Approval from God, Paul says,
[454.12 --> 457.20]  is our deepest need, whether we know it or not.
[458.78 --> 461.82]  And because when we don't have that,
[461.82 --> 464.18]  we then turn away from God.
[464.44 --> 465.48]  We fall again.
[465.74 --> 468.84]  We desperately try to fill that emptiness in other ways.
[469.20 --> 470.52]  Ways that can't work,
[470.88 --> 473.28]  and then create biting and devouring
[473.28 --> 475.00]  and all kinds of other evil.
[475.64 --> 477.76]  And then we miss out on what we read
[477.76 --> 480.56]  in Galatians 5.13,
[481.76 --> 484.04]  which was Dave preached on last week,
[484.50 --> 485.72]  when the key verse, he said,
[485.72 --> 486.90]  for you, my brothers and sisters,
[486.98 --> 487.92]  were called to be free.
[488.30 --> 490.80]  Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh.
[491.10 --> 492.76]  Indulging the flesh is this devouring,
[492.90 --> 494.54]  this biting, and all that's part of that.
[495.10 --> 499.24]  But rather serve one another humbly in love.
[501.64 --> 503.92]  And then instead of serving in love,
[504.58 --> 506.38]  yeah, we do that biting and that devouring
[506.38 --> 508.32]  and that provoking and envy,
[508.52 --> 509.64]  and we get conceited.
[509.64 --> 514.02]  And then all the relationships are all about
[514.02 --> 517.48]  what can I get out of this relationship?
[517.88 --> 520.02]  Am I getting affirmed?
[521.80 --> 524.74]  Am I feeling my self-centered emptiness?
[528.36 --> 528.88]  Envying.
[529.78 --> 532.22]  We could call that inferiority complex, right?
[532.24 --> 533.22]  You're always comparing.
[533.72 --> 535.04]  Maybe you feel this way sometimes,
[535.18 --> 535.90]  maybe you know people like that.
[536.14 --> 537.98]  You're always comparing all the time,
[537.98 --> 540.06]  and then you're angry that you don't measure up,
[540.40 --> 541.62]  whatever that standard might be.
[542.60 --> 543.98]  Or else you're provoking.
[544.40 --> 545.74]  You're always competing.
[546.10 --> 547.84]  You have a superiority complex.
[548.26 --> 549.32]  You know you're right.
[549.56 --> 550.88]  You're smarter than everybody else.
[551.32 --> 552.30]  You can beat anyone.
[555.38 --> 558.98]  And neither one of those leads to service or love.
[560.82 --> 563.20]  And then when you read in verses 6, 1, 5,
[563.20 --> 565.48]  Paul says this is then how we work
[565.48 --> 566.78]  against self-centered living.
[566.78 --> 570.56]  We do things like we restore someone gently.
[570.96 --> 571.58]  What are we doing?
[571.66 --> 573.86]  We're paying attention to each other's lives.
[573.98 --> 576.94]  Not to judge, just to pay attention.
[577.54 --> 579.00]  Because love pays attention.
[579.54 --> 582.22]  And then when we see something that's not working,
[582.42 --> 583.44]  you know it's harmful,
[583.78 --> 587.12]  you look at them to restore gently.
[588.82 --> 591.94]  Not to punch them in the face with your brilliance.
[591.94 --> 597.06]  And Paul warns right away here.
[597.06 --> 599.84]  He says, before you restore gently,
[600.42 --> 602.06]  keep an eye on yourself.
[602.22 --> 604.52]  Watch yourself, lest you be tempted.
[604.78 --> 608.12]  In other words, you might fall just like that person fell
[608.12 --> 609.66]  into whatever that might be.
[609.92 --> 612.10]  So you could fall in the same way.
[612.36 --> 612.98]  So watch it.
[613.22 --> 614.86]  You could be tempted too.
[614.86 --> 619.24]  And then you go to restore on equal ground.
[619.64 --> 620.84]  You're not better.
[624.48 --> 626.34]  And then when you look at that person,
[626.50 --> 628.96]  this example, you know somebody who's abrasive.
[629.28 --> 631.92]  Somebody who doesn't build relationships particularly well.
[632.14 --> 634.28]  Maybe someone who even has a hard time keeping a job.
[634.28 --> 636.04]  Or you see someone else who's stuck
[636.04 --> 637.62]  in some kind of harmful behaviors.
[637.98 --> 638.92]  They've got addiction.
[639.10 --> 640.72]  They've got behavioral problems.
[640.82 --> 641.54]  They make trouble.
[641.92 --> 642.78]  They're in trouble.
[643.06 --> 645.20]  Maybe they've been caught doing something wrong.
[645.50 --> 647.60]  Some kind of character flaw or flaws.
[647.96 --> 648.90]  And you see that.
[649.24 --> 652.12]  And then Paul says, yeah, before you go to all that,
[652.46 --> 653.54]  check yourself.
[655.32 --> 656.72]  Check where you're at.
[659.16 --> 661.14]  Make sure you're going at this humbly.
[661.14 --> 664.92]  Then you can serve that person.
[665.48 --> 668.18]  The vainglory person will figure,
[668.84 --> 671.94]  how can I look good in this serving thing?
[672.96 --> 675.78]  I sure hope people notice me when I'm serving.
[676.82 --> 679.80]  And they're using that to look good.
[680.36 --> 682.02]  They're not serving you.
[682.36 --> 683.50]  They're using you.
[684.56 --> 687.02]  It's not about helping to restore gently.
[687.30 --> 689.12]  It's about improving their image.
[689.12 --> 690.38]  Look at me.
[691.80 --> 692.96]  That person, by the way,
[693.06 --> 695.06]  when things start to get too much,
[695.68 --> 696.48]  and I don't know about you,
[696.56 --> 697.56]  but if you've helped people
[697.56 --> 698.72]  and walked alongside people
[698.72 --> 699.80]  and wanted to restore gently,
[700.32 --> 702.36]  and it's not an easy process,
[702.62 --> 704.58]  and you're going to want to bail out sometime
[704.58 --> 707.06]  because the cost is going to be too high.
[707.06 --> 714.98]  It starts with a heart that's being filled with the Spirit of God,
[715.20 --> 717.02]  and out of that comes that fruit.
[717.44 --> 719.64]  Things like, and I want to highlight this one,
[719.92 --> 721.98]  things like kindness.
[725.60 --> 727.54]  I think we, oh, kindness.
[727.94 --> 730.86]  You know, I think kindness, it's a spiritual gift.
[730.86 --> 734.48]  When you say things, do you say them kindly?
[737.78 --> 741.46]  When you approach people, do you do so with kindness?
[743.46 --> 746.86]  And that's restoring, part of restoring gently.
[746.86 --> 751.90]  So this comes when I'm in touch with the Spirit.
[753.10 --> 754.96]  And then I know how to keep going.
[755.04 --> 755.20]  Why?
[755.30 --> 756.48]  Well, I have forbearance.
[756.52 --> 757.56]  This is one of the spiritual gifts.
[757.94 --> 759.44]  When you're a mess,
[760.02 --> 761.86]  I don't bail on you.
[761.86 --> 767.30]  I have forbearance.
[770.14 --> 771.28]  Paul goes on to say,
[771.82 --> 773.02]  bear with one another.
[773.18 --> 774.02]  Bear one another.
[774.42 --> 776.84]  I'm not going to let you carry that alone.
[780.08 --> 781.92]  Yeah, you know, I get it.
[782.24 --> 784.06]  When I step into that with you,
[784.20 --> 785.86]  that's going to weigh me down.
[786.10 --> 787.20]  But that's okay,
[787.46 --> 789.50]  because love is about serving.
[789.82 --> 791.20]  Freedom is about serving.
[791.86 --> 794.10]  I'm free in Christ to help you,
[794.32 --> 795.88]  because he saved me,
[796.20 --> 797.84]  he unburdens me.
[800.96 --> 804.44]  Love is about a willingness to help carry a burden.
[805.26 --> 806.92]  I'll take some of that weight
[806.92 --> 808.46]  so you can walk a little bit easier.
[808.78 --> 811.24]  Is your problem going to now be automatically solved?
[811.36 --> 812.12]  Probably not.
[812.30 --> 813.92]  But you're walking a little bit lighter,
[814.20 --> 816.78]  and then maybe you have time to get healthier again
[816.78 --> 817.90]  and seek some help
[817.90 --> 819.40]  and get a little bit more support
[819.40 --> 821.54]  so you can start walking more on your own,
[821.60 --> 822.52]  which is what we want.
[826.52 --> 828.88]  And at least you're not alone with that burden.
[828.88 --> 833.86]  I'm always surprised, you know,
[833.90 --> 834.90]  when I talk to people
[834.90 --> 837.10]  and they share a little bit of their lives.
[839.78 --> 841.08]  You know, on the one hand,
[841.18 --> 841.74]  you feel, okay,
[842.20 --> 843.96]  you took on a wee bit of burden.
[844.50 --> 845.08]  But on the other hand,
[845.12 --> 845.84]  what a blessing.
[846.26 --> 848.06]  And somehow it builds you,
[848.22 --> 850.54]  and hopefully it supports the other person, right?
[850.54 --> 853.64]  It just makes life richer.
[856.06 --> 859.58]  And this isn't about you feeling good about yourself.
[859.66 --> 860.92]  That's not the main point here.
[861.32 --> 862.88]  You aren't the point.
[865.00 --> 866.08]  That's what Paul's trying to say here.
[866.44 --> 867.34]  Restore gently.
[867.72 --> 868.40]  Bear the burden.
[868.70 --> 870.18]  The other is the focus
[870.18 --> 871.56]  because you know what it's like
[871.56 --> 872.92]  to feel burdened and overwhelmed,
[873.10 --> 874.52]  and then have Christ show up
[874.52 --> 876.90]  and fill your life with his spirit,
[877.10 --> 878.54]  and then you become unburdened.
[878.54 --> 879.10]  Unburdened.
[879.24 --> 880.52]  Do all the problems go away?
[880.58 --> 880.78]  No.
[881.00 --> 882.84]  But somehow you're unburdened.
[886.78 --> 888.94]  And often Christ shows up for others
[888.94 --> 891.68]  with and through someone else too.
[892.38 --> 893.64]  People stepping into your lives,
[893.68 --> 894.78]  and Christ works through those people.
[898.44 --> 902.98]  You know, when Paul's talking about in verse 3,
[903.08 --> 903.16]  he says,
[903.40 --> 905.30]  if someone thinks they're something and they're not,
[905.36 --> 906.52]  they deceive themselves, right?
[906.52 --> 908.20]  You know, again, saying,
[908.20 --> 911.26]  don't forget to stay humble.
[913.60 --> 914.64]  The second you're saying,
[914.86 --> 918.02]  well, you're pretty impressed with yourself.
[919.46 --> 921.12]  Well, you're on the wrong track here.
[921.70 --> 922.78]  We're something, right?
[923.00 --> 924.22]  Look at me and what I'm doing.
[925.10 --> 925.92]  He keeps saying it.
[926.12 --> 927.44]  Test your work.
[928.76 --> 930.18]  Keep an eye on your motives.
[930.50 --> 931.92]  This is about serving Jesus
[931.92 --> 933.34]  by serving those around you.
[933.34 --> 936.42]  Or is this about you and your empty ego?
[940.02 --> 941.96]  And then there's this stress here.
[942.34 --> 944.46]  Keep testing yourself.
[945.36 --> 948.02]  Because it's so easy to stray into self-righteousness
[948.02 --> 949.12]  than fall into temptation.
[949.62 --> 951.02]  Keep your eyes on Christ.
[951.10 --> 952.84]  One of my favorite verses, Hebrews 12.
[953.38 --> 954.24]  I love how it's written.
[954.24 --> 955.52]  He starts off saying,
[955.70 --> 957.30]  let us throw off everything that hinders
[957.30 --> 958.82]  and the sin that's so easily entangled.
[959.02 --> 960.46]  Like, throw that stuff aside.
[960.82 --> 962.04]  And then run with perseverance.
[962.44 --> 963.74]  The race marked out for you.
[964.10 --> 964.46]  How?
[965.30 --> 966.90]  Fixing our eyes on Jesus,
[968.02 --> 969.64]  pioneering the perfecter of our faith.
[972.60 --> 973.54]  Focused on Jesus.
[973.54 --> 977.14]  It's so easy to get focused
[977.14 --> 978.98]  on all kinds of other things.
[980.22 --> 982.56]  Jesus came and he basically said,
[983.26 --> 984.72]  my life for you.
[985.72 --> 987.24]  My life for you.
[987.62 --> 988.92]  My life for you.
[989.82 --> 991.14]  That's how he lived his life.
[991.48 --> 993.60]  And then he calls us to do the same.
[993.96 --> 995.64]  And then we look into other people's lives
[995.64 --> 997.02]  and we say too,
[997.40 --> 998.52]  my life for you.
[999.76 --> 1001.06]  My life for you.
[1001.06 --> 1006.48]  But quickly we switch focus.
[1007.02 --> 1008.64]  And pretty soon we find ourselves in
[1008.64 --> 1010.00]  my life for me
[1010.00 --> 1011.46]  and your life for me too.
[1014.92 --> 1016.10]  And we're off track.
[1017.30 --> 1018.54]  Test your work.
[1019.02 --> 1020.20]  Check your focus.
[1020.54 --> 1021.48]  Is it on Christ?
[1022.74 --> 1023.88]  Great relationships,
[1024.14 --> 1025.00]  gospel relationships
[1025.00 --> 1026.98]  are all about my life for you
[1026.98 --> 1028.24]  because I know Jesus
[1028.24 --> 1030.40]  and I see him looking me in the eyes
[1030.40 --> 1031.00]  all the time
[1031.00 --> 1032.04]  and seeing him say,
[1032.38 --> 1033.92]  my life for you, Sid.
[1035.28 --> 1036.44]  My life for you.
[1036.64 --> 1038.32]  Now go out and live that.
[1041.58 --> 1042.26]  Every day,
[1042.66 --> 1043.32]  my life for you.
[1044.54 --> 1045.76]  And then serving becomes
[1045.76 --> 1047.58]  more and more natural.
[1050.16 --> 1051.40]  I was thinking of an example.
[1052.20 --> 1053.24]  Imagine parents
[1053.24 --> 1054.26]  who said,
[1054.32 --> 1054.78]  yeah, yeah, yeah,
[1054.78 --> 1055.76]  I want kids,
[1056.06 --> 1057.32]  but I don't want kids
[1057.32 --> 1058.64]  who mess with my lives
[1058.64 --> 1059.40]  and my schedule.
[1059.40 --> 1065.42]  Don't become a parent
[1065.42 --> 1069.02]  because that's how it goes.
[1069.78 --> 1070.30]  Right?
[1070.40 --> 1071.36]  That's not the pathway
[1071.36 --> 1072.72]  to love.
[1072.80 --> 1074.14]  Love is about serving,
[1074.36 --> 1075.34]  which means your schedules
[1075.34 --> 1076.48]  get messed with
[1076.48 --> 1079.00]  and there's lots of inconvenience.
[1079.00 --> 1081.94]  all of real life
[1081.94 --> 1083.90]  is about sacrifice.
[1084.32 --> 1085.12]  My life for you.
[1086.22 --> 1086.90]  That's the key
[1086.90 --> 1087.72]  to great parenting.
[1087.90 --> 1088.16]  It's the key
[1088.16 --> 1089.00]  to a great marriage.
[1089.12 --> 1089.38]  It's the key
[1089.38 --> 1090.24]  to great friendships.
[1090.62 --> 1091.78]  It's in great communities
[1091.78 --> 1092.58]  and great lives.
[1092.88 --> 1093.26]  Paul says,
[1093.32 --> 1093.98]  you get to choose.
[1094.20 --> 1096.34]  Choose the vain glory way
[1096.34 --> 1098.30]  where you're trying
[1098.30 --> 1100.18]  to fill your glory
[1100.18 --> 1100.94]  somehow
[1100.94 --> 1102.14]  or the way of Jesus.
[1102.14 --> 1103.40]  One of those ways
[1103.40 --> 1104.16]  has fruit
[1104.16 --> 1105.44]  and the other
[1105.44 --> 1106.68]  has nothing
[1106.68 --> 1108.38]  that brings life.
[1110.52 --> 1111.46]  So how do you get there?
[1112.44 --> 1113.44]  Kind of talks about that
[1113.44 --> 1115.70]  in verses 12 and 14.
[1115.78 --> 1116.60]  Paul at one point says,
[1117.18 --> 1118.46]  we are a whole new person.
[1118.84 --> 1120.66]  We're a whole new creation
[1120.66 --> 1121.40]  in Christ.
[1123.14 --> 1124.42]  And then he talks about,
[1124.48 --> 1124.72]  you know,
[1125.40 --> 1126.90]  some of them are boasting
[1126.90 --> 1128.14]  in the work they're doing
[1128.14 --> 1129.16]  in other people's lives
[1129.16 --> 1130.20]  when they convince them
[1130.20 --> 1131.10]  to get circumcised
[1131.10 --> 1131.56]  and all that.
[1131.74 --> 1132.26]  And they have this
[1132.26 --> 1133.52]  ulterior motive going on
[1133.52 --> 1134.70]  and it's not wholesome at all.
[1135.40 --> 1135.88]  But, you know,
[1135.94 --> 1137.56]  they're boasting in that.
[1138.68 --> 1139.84]  And then Paul responds,
[1140.38 --> 1141.78]  if I boast,
[1142.66 --> 1143.70]  if I boast,
[1143.94 --> 1146.28]  it is only in the cross.
[1149.54 --> 1151.12]  Vain glory people
[1151.12 --> 1152.20]  boast in all kinds of things, right?
[1152.26 --> 1154.14]  Money, success, strength, winning,
[1154.66 --> 1156.20]  how smart they are,
[1156.24 --> 1156.94]  all kinds of things.
[1157.26 --> 1158.22]  They're always boasting
[1158.22 --> 1158.78]  about something.
[1159.16 --> 1161.08]  I boast in Christ's sake
[1161.08 --> 1162.60]  saving me and transforming me,
[1162.94 --> 1163.88]  nothing else.
[1167.62 --> 1169.40]  If you want real transformation,
[1170.06 --> 1171.68]  that's the only boasting you can do.
[1172.76 --> 1174.06]  You focus on the cross.
[1174.62 --> 1175.96]  Well, how often do you focus
[1175.96 --> 1176.42]  on the cross?
[1176.54 --> 1176.88]  Daily.
[1177.58 --> 1178.26]  Pick up your cross,
[1178.34 --> 1178.70]  follow me.
[1179.50 --> 1179.86]  Daily.
[1180.28 --> 1182.26]  Things won't change
[1182.26 --> 1184.04]  until you start with
[1184.04 --> 1186.26]  and focus on
[1186.26 --> 1188.12]  the doctrine of atonement.
[1188.12 --> 1188.68]  What is that?
[1188.74 --> 1192.38]  The belief that you've been saved
[1192.38 --> 1193.86]  through the work of Christ.
[1194.06 --> 1195.36]  Well, that's kind of a one-time decision,
[1195.48 --> 1195.74]  isn't it?
[1195.92 --> 1196.38]  No.
[1196.70 --> 1197.96]  That's a daily thing.
[1198.20 --> 1200.32]  You focus daily on the cross.
[1200.56 --> 1201.64]  You focus on the fact
[1201.64 --> 1203.76]  that you have been saved
[1203.76 --> 1205.22]  because you needed it.
[1205.22 --> 1207.90]  But it's more than that.
[1209.58 --> 1210.50]  We're reading a book
[1210.50 --> 1212.38]  as a staff
[1212.38 --> 1214.90]  from John Mark Cormer
[1214.90 --> 1216.68]  called Practicing the Way.
[1218.06 --> 1218.84]  And at one point he says,
[1218.94 --> 1220.48]  salvation, rightly understood,
[1221.08 --> 1222.90]  is the healing of the whole person.
[1224.36 --> 1225.18]  Okay, so salvation
[1225.18 --> 1226.68]  isn't just a one-moment decision.
[1227.04 --> 1228.20]  That one-moment decision matters.
[1228.52 --> 1228.82]  But it's not,
[1228.96 --> 1230.16]  salvation is much more than that.
[1230.52 --> 1232.50]  It's this whole person
[1232.50 --> 1234.96]  that needs to be saved
[1234.96 --> 1235.86]  and renewed
[1235.86 --> 1236.72]  and transformed
[1236.72 --> 1238.26]  for the rest of your life.
[1238.96 --> 1240.18]  And then John Mark Cormer goes on.
[1240.22 --> 1240.46]  He says,
[1240.70 --> 1243.02]  so we can't self-save
[1243.02 --> 1245.80]  and we have been saved
[1245.80 --> 1247.32]  and are being saved
[1247.32 --> 1248.60]  and will be saved
[1248.60 --> 1250.46]  by Jesus and Him alone.
[1254.12 --> 1254.64]  Oh.
[1255.96 --> 1257.14]  You mean it's not just saying
[1257.14 --> 1257.90]  I believe that?
[1258.22 --> 1259.44]  You mean it's the transformation
[1259.44 --> 1260.74]  of everything about me?
[1260.94 --> 1261.26]  Yes.
[1261.78 --> 1262.66]  Yeah, that's what it is.
[1263.70 --> 1265.34]  And so we focus on the cross.
[1265.58 --> 1266.76]  We focus on Christ
[1266.76 --> 1267.68]  and His work.
[1267.94 --> 1269.84]  We start there every time.
[1270.50 --> 1271.10]  Too many,
[1271.26 --> 1272.36]  too many Christians
[1272.36 --> 1273.86]  forget that they actually
[1273.86 --> 1275.40]  needed a Savior
[1275.40 --> 1276.72]  and still do.
[1280.18 --> 1281.30]  It's interesting to me.
[1282.00 --> 1283.42]  I see Jesus throughout the gospel
[1283.42 --> 1284.50]  trying to get His disciples
[1284.50 --> 1286.10]  to grasp their need
[1286.10 --> 1287.20]  for a Savior on the cross.
[1287.62 --> 1288.40]  I'm going to read a little bit
[1288.40 --> 1289.36]  out of Matthew 16.
[1289.70 --> 1290.44]  But just setting up,
[1290.74 --> 1291.38]  Jesus and the disciples
[1291.38 --> 1292.22]  walk along and,
[1292.78 --> 1293.02]  you know,
[1293.16 --> 1293.94]  at one point,
[1294.62 --> 1295.26]  Peter says,
[1295.86 --> 1296.54]  when Christ says,
[1296.60 --> 1297.36]  who am I?
[1297.62 --> 1298.00]  Peter says,
[1298.04 --> 1298.68]  you are the Christ,
[1298.74 --> 1299.48]  the Son of the living God.
[1299.74 --> 1299.90]  Right?
[1299.98 --> 1301.32]  And then Jesus said,
[1301.64 --> 1303.02]  that was revealed to you
[1303.02 --> 1303.64]  by the Spirit.
[1303.80 --> 1304.00]  Right?
[1304.34 --> 1305.90]  And then we get right away,
[1306.38 --> 1307.64]  right after that,
[1307.72 --> 1308.58]  we come to this.
[1310.58 --> 1311.46]  Matthew 16.
[1311.46 --> 1313.74]  From that time on,
[1313.84 --> 1314.80]  Jesus began to explain
[1314.80 --> 1315.46]  to His disciples
[1315.46 --> 1317.16]  that He must go to Jerusalem,
[1317.58 --> 1318.30]  suffer many things
[1318.30 --> 1319.22]  at the hands of the elders,
[1319.52 --> 1320.30]  the chief priests,
[1320.42 --> 1321.30]  the teachers of the law,
[1321.64 --> 1323.04]  that He must be killed
[1323.04 --> 1324.58]  and on the third day
[1324.58 --> 1326.02]  be raised to life.
[1326.98 --> 1327.96]  Peter took Him aside
[1327.96 --> 1329.36]  and began to rebuke Him.
[1329.64 --> 1330.26]  Never, Lord,
[1330.30 --> 1330.58]  He said,
[1330.72 --> 1332.66]  this shall never happen to you.
[1334.24 --> 1335.72]  Jesus turned and said to Peter,
[1336.42 --> 1337.80]  get behind me, Satan.
[1338.70 --> 1340.14]  You are a stumbling block to me
[1340.14 --> 1342.42]  and you do not have the mind
[1342.42 --> 1344.26]  of the concerns of God,
[1344.54 --> 1345.66]  but merely human concerns.
[1346.82 --> 1348.20]  And then Jesus said to His disciples,
[1348.32 --> 1349.96]  whoever wants to be My disciple
[1349.96 --> 1351.56]  must deny themselves,
[1352.16 --> 1353.08]  take up their cross,
[1353.92 --> 1354.98]  and follow Me.
[1357.66 --> 1358.34]  Notice here,
[1359.38 --> 1360.50]  at one point Peter is saying,
[1360.60 --> 1361.18]  you are the Christ,
[1362.28 --> 1363.14]  but now he's saying,
[1363.28 --> 1365.20]  but let Me define Christ for you.
[1365.20 --> 1367.48]  He's saying,
[1367.94 --> 1368.38]  Jesus said,
[1368.58 --> 1369.52]  get behind me, Satan.
[1369.64 --> 1369.86]  He's saying,
[1369.94 --> 1371.04]  get behind me, Peter, here,
[1371.28 --> 1372.86]  because He's basically saying
[1372.86 --> 1375.58]  that Satan wants you, Peter,
[1375.66 --> 1376.96]  to believe that the cross
[1376.96 --> 1378.32]  isn't necessary.
[1381.30 --> 1383.28]  There's another way, right, Peter?
[1383.38 --> 1384.28]  It's usually through you
[1384.28 --> 1384.78]  and your sword,
[1385.04 --> 1386.38]  but there's another way.
[1390.78 --> 1393.70]  Don't focus on your profound need
[1393.70 --> 1394.68]  for a Savior.
[1400.02 --> 1400.58]  Every morning,
[1400.64 --> 1401.60]  we should be looking in the mirror
[1401.60 --> 1402.20]  and saying,
[1402.28 --> 1403.34]  God loves this guy,
[1403.78 --> 1404.22]  this gal.
[1404.56 --> 1406.26]  God loves me so much
[1406.26 --> 1407.98]  and He died for me
[1407.98 --> 1410.56]  and He's saving me today too.
[1410.56 --> 1417.00]  And if,
[1418.24 --> 1419.28]  in order to believe that,
[1419.34 --> 1420.50]  you need to focus on the cross
[1420.50 --> 1421.82]  daily,
[1423.30 --> 1424.16]  rather than look at
[1424.16 --> 1425.20]  how amazing you've become
[1425.20 --> 1426.36]  or the opposite,
[1426.46 --> 1427.68]  how useless you are.
[1428.64 --> 1429.32]  Because we can go down
[1429.32 --> 1430.04]  that path too
[1430.04 --> 1430.88]  and it's another path
[1430.88 --> 1431.80]  the devil likes to use.
[1433.10 --> 1434.28]  The devil's basically saying,
[1434.42 --> 1435.48]  just make sure
[1435.48 --> 1437.56]  you focus on you.
[1437.56 --> 1441.24]  that you focus on you.
[1441.32 --> 1441.98]  Make sure that that's
[1441.98 --> 1442.54]  where you stay.
[1443.36 --> 1443.86]  Start with,
[1444.00 --> 1444.68]  and Paul is saying,
[1444.74 --> 1445.18]  no, no, no, no,
[1445.18 --> 1446.22]  start with the cross
[1446.22 --> 1447.00]  all the time.
[1447.96 --> 1448.06]  Right?
[1448.30 --> 1448.50]  Yeah,
[1448.72 --> 1450.12]  you people are trying
[1450.12 --> 1451.04]  to impress with what
[1451.04 --> 1451.40]  you're doing
[1451.40 --> 1452.96]  with the whole circumcision thing.
[1453.66 --> 1455.84]  And these were followers too
[1455.84 --> 1457.72]  and they're kind of,
[1458.10 --> 1458.30]  say,
[1458.38 --> 1458.60]  yeah, yeah,
[1458.60 --> 1459.02]  of course,
[1459.10 --> 1459.60]  of course,
[1459.76 --> 1460.06]  Jesus,
[1460.24 --> 1460.82]  of course.
[1461.90 --> 1462.28]  Yeah, yeah,
[1462.30 --> 1462.46]  yeah,
[1462.46 --> 1462.88]  the cross,
[1462.94 --> 1463.70]  of course.
[1465.28 --> 1465.62]  But hey,
[1465.94 --> 1466.52]  circumcision.
[1466.52 --> 1466.60]  circumcision.
[1467.56 --> 1468.14]  And we're back
[1468.14 --> 1468.76]  to what we started
[1468.76 --> 1469.46]  earlier on.
[1469.76 --> 1470.32]  We're back to
[1470.32 --> 1472.08]  Jesus plus.
[1475.12 --> 1476.70]  Jesus plus something else.
[1476.96 --> 1477.46]  Yeah, yeah, yeah,
[1477.46 --> 1477.58]  yeah,
[1477.58 --> 1478.00]  the cross,
[1478.08 --> 1478.34]  yeah, yeah,
[1478.34 --> 1478.56]  sure.
[1479.04 --> 1480.28]  But this,
[1480.36 --> 1481.08]  you've got to believe this.
[1481.28 --> 1482.06]  You've got to say this.
[1482.22 --> 1483.20]  You've got to act like this.
[1484.54 --> 1485.34]  And Paul keeps saying,
[1485.40 --> 1485.82]  no, no, no.
[1487.40 --> 1487.80]  Jesus,
[1488.16 --> 1488.68]  the cross,
[1488.98 --> 1489.68]  you need saving.
[1490.02 --> 1490.82]  That's the point.
[1490.82 --> 1490.88]  That's the point.
[1494.78 --> 1495.18]  Yeah,
[1495.22 --> 1495.34]  but,
[1495.34 --> 1496.54]  you know,
[1496.54 --> 1497.54]  and the cross,
[1498.56 --> 1499.96]  Paul said it,
[1500.02 --> 1501.02]  he said it right here,
[1501.30 --> 1502.26]  the cross is offensive.
[1504.56 --> 1505.08]  The cross is offensive.
[1505.28 --> 1505.92]  Bertrand Russell,
[1506.06 --> 1506.76]  a famous philosopher,
[1506.98 --> 1507.84]  described the cross
[1507.84 --> 1509.76]  as a doctrine of cruelty.
[1515.30 --> 1516.46]  Lots of people like,
[1516.64 --> 1516.80]  you know,
[1516.86 --> 1517.00]  they say,
[1517.04 --> 1517.16]  ah,
[1517.16 --> 1517.98]  religion's good.
[1518.12 --> 1518.64]  It's good.
[1518.96 --> 1519.36]  Morality,
[1519.50 --> 1520.06]  a little morality,
[1520.16 --> 1520.84]  that's good for us.
[1520.84 --> 1522.60]  The cross,
[1522.80 --> 1522.96]  well,
[1523.12 --> 1523.96]  nice piece of jewelry,
[1524.46 --> 1525.42]  but offensive otherwise.
[1529.50 --> 1530.32]  And I've seen it
[1530.32 --> 1531.10]  in people's eyes.
[1531.84 --> 1533.30]  Are you saying
[1533.30 --> 1535.80]  that I need saving?
[1538.86 --> 1540.58]  That I'm not good enough
[1540.58 --> 1541.38]  by myself,
[1541.72 --> 1542.98]  even though I'm obviously
[1542.98 --> 1544.52]  extremely successful?
[1544.52 --> 1544.66]  people,
[1545.66 --> 1552.10]  Jesus is a stumbling block
[1552.10 --> 1552.56]  for many,
[1552.76 --> 1554.06]  many who don't want
[1554.06 --> 1554.96]  to hear that they
[1554.96 --> 1556.32]  in the core of their being
[1556.32 --> 1558.06]  need a savior.
[1561.30 --> 1562.20]  Do you need one?
[1562.20 --> 1567.94]  And then Paul goes further
[1567.94 --> 1568.26]  and he says,
[1568.44 --> 1570.28]  that's what we need
[1570.28 --> 1570.76]  to boast in.
[1571.44 --> 1572.36]  We've got to boast
[1572.36 --> 1573.12]  in the cross.
[1573.84 --> 1574.76]  Boast in what Jesus
[1574.76 --> 1575.32]  has done.
[1577.22 --> 1578.02]  Paul says this
[1578.02 --> 1578.74]  in a bunch of different
[1578.74 --> 1579.38]  places, right?
[1579.60 --> 1580.32]  Boast in the cross.
[1581.04 --> 1582.34]  And boast is the word
[1582.34 --> 1583.12]  that actually comes
[1583.12 --> 1583.66]  out of warfare.
[1584.82 --> 1586.04]  It's when the general
[1586.04 --> 1586.74]  or the leader
[1586.74 --> 1589.08]  in the military there
[1589.08 --> 1590.36]  would say to these people
[1590.36 --> 1590.86]  that are about
[1590.86 --> 1591.82]  to have to charge
[1591.82 --> 1593.76]  into the jaws of death
[1593.76 --> 1596.10]  and he had to pump them up
[1596.10 --> 1597.58]  and that was a word
[1597.58 --> 1598.14]  for boast.
[1598.62 --> 1599.40]  And he would say things
[1599.40 --> 1599.58]  like,
[1599.80 --> 1601.36]  our hands are strong enough,
[1601.70 --> 1602.88]  our weapons mighty,
[1603.22 --> 1604.26]  our cause righteous,
[1604.72 --> 1605.34]  charge!
[1607.84 --> 1609.30]  That boast would lead
[1609.30 --> 1610.08]  them into that.
[1611.82 --> 1612.08]  See,
[1612.26 --> 1613.04]  I see it all the time.
[1613.10 --> 1614.56]  I'm a big fan of the NFL.
[1614.78 --> 1615.56]  I like watching football.
[1615.94 --> 1616.94]  Gonna watch the Super Bowl
[1616.94 --> 1617.30]  today.
[1618.14 --> 1618.70]  Go Chiefs.
[1619.92 --> 1620.18]  Anyway,
[1620.18 --> 1622.62]  probably shouldn't have
[1622.62 --> 1623.32]  said that out loud.
[1625.74 --> 1626.46]  But you see that,
[1626.50 --> 1626.60]  you know,
[1626.64 --> 1627.62]  one guy will pump up
[1627.62 --> 1628.52]  the guys before they
[1628.52 --> 1629.02]  get out in the field.
[1629.10 --> 1629.88]  Same kind of thing.
[1630.28 --> 1630.40]  Right?
[1630.52 --> 1630.76]  You know,
[1630.98 --> 1632.78]  we have what it takes
[1632.78 --> 1633.52]  to win.
[1636.14 --> 1636.56]  You know,
[1636.60 --> 1637.32]  Travis Kelsey,
[1637.50 --> 1638.68]  they had a speech,
[1638.90 --> 1639.72]  one of his little speeches
[1639.72 --> 1640.66]  involved one word.
[1641.04 --> 1641.60]  And all he did
[1641.60 --> 1642.08]  was look at all
[1642.08 --> 1643.46]  his fellow players
[1643.46 --> 1643.78]  and he'd go,
[1644.22 --> 1644.64]  more,
[1644.64 --> 1644.74]  more,
[1646.02 --> 1646.74]  more,
[1646.74 --> 1647.74]  more,
[1647.74 --> 1647.82]  more,
[1647.82 --> 1648.74]  more,
[1648.74 --> 1649.74]  more,
[1649.74 --> 1649.80]  more.
[1650.28 --> 1651.06]  He just kept saying it.
[1654.20 --> 1654.64]  Ooh,
[1655.12 --> 1656.50]  it kind of got to me
[1656.50 --> 1656.90]  a little bit
[1656.90 --> 1658.00]  because I can see
[1658.00 --> 1659.80]  saying it to a church.
[1664.64 --> 1664.74]  We,
[1665.20 --> 1666.24]  and Paul's saying that,
[1666.44 --> 1668.24]  we've got what it takes
[1668.24 --> 1668.76]  to win.
[1668.86 --> 1669.30]  What is that?
[1669.62 --> 1671.36]  Jesus' death on the cross
[1671.36 --> 1672.18]  and his resurrection,
[1672.54 --> 1673.74]  that's the winning formula.
[1673.74 --> 1683.06]  If we look at what we boast in,
[1684.64 --> 1686.04]  boasting reflects your identity.
[1687.40 --> 1688.42]  It's what you look to
[1688.42 --> 1689.34]  to achieve victory.
[1691.20 --> 1692.48]  Where does your confidence
[1692.48 --> 1693.36]  and strength come from?
[1693.42 --> 1694.02]  That's the question
[1694.02 --> 1694.84]  Paul's really asking.
[1695.04 --> 1696.24]  Where does your validation
[1696.24 --> 1697.06]  come from?
[1698.08 --> 1699.88]  Everyone boasts in something.
[1700.20 --> 1701.34]  I work so hard.
[1701.46 --> 1702.08]  Look at that.
[1702.28 --> 1703.36]  I'm a great dad.
[1703.36 --> 1704.64]  I'm smart.
[1704.78 --> 1706.20]  I have lots of money.
[1707.32 --> 1708.68]  And then we turn
[1708.68 --> 1710.30]  to whatever we boast in.
[1713.86 --> 1715.04]  And we find out
[1715.04 --> 1715.76]  pretty soon
[1715.76 --> 1717.56]  if what we were boasting in
[1717.56 --> 1720.12]  had substance to it
[1720.12 --> 1721.24]  and was life-giving
[1721.24 --> 1722.44]  or was false
[1722.44 --> 1723.72]  and leads to death.
[1723.72 --> 1727.96]  The modern self-esteem movement
[1727.96 --> 1729.38]  is in some ways
[1729.38 --> 1730.10]  all about boasting.
[1730.56 --> 1732.20]  You can do anything
[1732.20 --> 1734.60]  you put your mind to.
[1737.14 --> 1738.62]  I'm going to go real basic here.
[1739.00 --> 1741.48]  You can't save yourself.
[1744.90 --> 1747.34]  Your movement is missing the cross.
[1747.34 --> 1754.90]  In Philippians 3.3, Paul writes,
[1755.96 --> 1757.90]  For it is we who are
[1757.90 --> 1759.16]  the circumcision,
[1759.32 --> 1760.30]  in a sense the chosen,
[1760.76 --> 1763.38]  we who serve God by His Spirit,
[1763.80 --> 1765.68]  who boast in Christ Jesus
[1765.68 --> 1768.00]  and put no confidence in the flesh.
[1768.80 --> 1770.46]  No confidence.
[1770.46 --> 1770.90]  None.
[1774.24 --> 1774.76]  None.
[1776.98 --> 1777.84]  What does it mean
[1777.84 --> 1778.78]  to boast in the cross?
[1779.42 --> 1780.70]  It means you seek
[1780.70 --> 1781.94]  the approval of God
[1781.94 --> 1783.16]  and ultimately
[1783.16 --> 1784.96]  only Him.
[1788.06 --> 1789.08]  Because of Jesus,
[1789.60 --> 1790.64]  God sees you
[1790.64 --> 1792.36]  and He sees you and I
[1792.36 --> 1794.36]  as perfect in Christ
[1794.36 --> 1795.44]  the Son.
[1797.32 --> 1798.14]  Look at this quote
[1798.14 --> 1799.28]  from C.S. Lewis.
[1799.62 --> 1800.42]  Let me read it to you.
[1801.00 --> 1801.88]  Hopefully it comes up there.
[1804.14 --> 1804.70]  We read,
[1805.54 --> 1807.22]  How God thinks of us
[1807.22 --> 1810.28]  is not only more important
[1810.28 --> 1812.08]  but infinitely more important.
[1813.60 --> 1813.92]  Indeed,
[1814.06 --> 1815.36]  how we think of Him
[1815.36 --> 1817.20]  is of no importance
[1817.20 --> 1818.66]  except insofar
[1818.66 --> 1819.88]  as it's related
[1819.88 --> 1821.22]  to how He thinks of us.
[1821.90 --> 1822.52]  And then here we go.
[1823.64 --> 1824.28]  It is written
[1824.28 --> 1825.82]  that we shall stand
[1825.82 --> 1827.16]  before Him,
[1827.16 --> 1828.36]  shall appear,
[1828.52 --> 1829.52]  shall be inspected.
[1831.46 --> 1833.26]  The promise of glory
[1833.26 --> 1834.08]  is the promise
[1834.08 --> 1835.14]  almost incredible
[1835.14 --> 1836.34]  and only possible
[1836.34 --> 1837.90]  by the work of Christ.
[1838.26 --> 1839.26]  That some of us,
[1839.34 --> 1840.46]  that any of us
[1840.46 --> 1841.64]  who really chooses
[1841.64 --> 1843.44]  shall actually survive
[1843.44 --> 1844.30]  the examination,
[1844.72 --> 1845.64]  shall find approval,
[1845.96 --> 1846.86]  shall please God.
[1847.06 --> 1848.12]  To please God,
[1848.38 --> 1850.62]  to be a real ingredient
[1850.62 --> 1852.16]  of divine happiness.
[1852.16 --> 1852.72]  happiness.
[1854.42 --> 1855.84]  To be loved by God,
[1856.16 --> 1857.28]  not merely pitied,
[1857.52 --> 1858.46]  but delighted in
[1858.46 --> 1859.56]  as an artist delights
[1859.56 --> 1860.20]  in his work
[1860.20 --> 1861.42]  or a father and a son.
[1861.58 --> 1862.84]  It seems impossible.
[1863.22 --> 1864.38]  A weight or burden
[1864.38 --> 1864.92]  of glory
[1864.92 --> 1865.92]  which our thoughts
[1865.92 --> 1866.90]  can hardly sustain.
[1867.30 --> 1868.50]  But so it is.
[1871.50 --> 1872.38]  Do you see
[1872.38 --> 1874.32]  you standing before God
[1874.32 --> 1877.76]  and God is just delighted?
[1881.02 --> 1882.10]  He's just delighted.
[1884.34 --> 1885.42]  That's what Paul's saying.
[1886.60 --> 1887.98]  When we look at the cross,
[1888.04 --> 1888.54]  yeah, we see
[1888.54 --> 1889.82]  the horrible instrument
[1889.82 --> 1890.40]  of torture,
[1890.68 --> 1891.52]  but we also see
[1891.52 --> 1892.96]  the pathway to victory
[1892.96 --> 1894.66]  because Christ overcame
[1894.66 --> 1895.60]  all that was awful,
[1896.24 --> 1897.16]  including the cross.
[1897.16 --> 1900.54]  All your life,
[1901.16 --> 1901.84]  in my life,
[1901.96 --> 1903.06]  we've knocked on the door
[1903.06 --> 1903.82]  of affirmation.
[1904.18 --> 1905.08]  Tell me I'm okay.
[1905.50 --> 1906.52]  Tell me I'm loved.
[1908.44 --> 1909.04]  Tell me.
[1909.34 --> 1911.02]  And you try to get it elsewhere
[1911.02 --> 1912.48]  if you don't go
[1912.48 --> 1913.04]  to the right place.
[1913.18 --> 1913.94]  And you try to get it
[1913.94 --> 1914.90]  from the people around you.
[1915.02 --> 1916.22]  And you kind of use them
[1916.22 --> 1917.44]  to prop yourself up.
[1917.64 --> 1919.00]  And it doesn't work out
[1919.00 --> 1919.68]  very well.
[1921.86 --> 1922.52]  And Scripture says
[1922.52 --> 1923.52]  Jesus is the door.
[1923.62 --> 1924.14]  He is the way,
[1924.20 --> 1924.76]  the truth, and the life.
[1924.76 --> 1926.36]  He paid the price for you
[1926.36 --> 1928.06]  so that you could hear
[1928.06 --> 1928.70]  from God
[1928.70 --> 1930.18]  when you come before Him.
[1930.40 --> 1931.18]  Well done,
[1931.34 --> 1932.24]  good and faithful servant.
[1932.54 --> 1933.38]  Well done.
[1934.82 --> 1936.52]  I'm delighted with you.
[1939.70 --> 1940.78]  And out of that,
[1940.88 --> 1941.92]  then we go humbly
[1941.92 --> 1943.44]  in the power of the Spirit.
[1943.72 --> 1944.42]  We go humbly,
[1944.52 --> 1945.20]  yet boldly,
[1945.28 --> 1946.40]  to boast of the cross
[1946.40 --> 1947.68]  and to bring the good news
[1947.68 --> 1948.22]  of the kingdom
[1948.22 --> 1949.14]  to those around us.
[1949.96 --> 1950.84]  Seeing them
[1950.84 --> 1952.80]  in the love of Christ
[1952.80 --> 1954.14]  that He has for us.
[1955.22 --> 1956.20]  May that be
[1956.20 --> 1957.74]  beaten into your head
[1957.74 --> 1959.28]  and into your heart
[1959.28 --> 1960.62]  every day,
[1960.74 --> 1961.62]  all the time,
[1961.78 --> 1962.72]  for the rest of your lives.
[1964.30 --> 1964.90]  Let's pray.
[1969.10 --> 1970.08]  Lord God Almighty,
[1970.46 --> 1973.80]  thank You for loving us
[1973.80 --> 1974.24]  so much.
[1977.50 --> 1978.62]  Thank You for the cross.
[1978.98 --> 1979.54]  Thank You that
[1979.54 --> 1983.60]  You bought life for us.
[1983.60 --> 1985.84]  and that You give us
[1985.84 --> 1986.36]  Your Spirit
[1986.36 --> 1987.18]  and then we can
[1987.18 --> 1989.14]  live out of the fruits
[1989.14 --> 1989.60]  of the Spirit.
[1989.70 --> 1990.46]  We can be patient
[1990.46 --> 1990.96]  and kind
[1990.96 --> 1991.44]  and loving
[1991.44 --> 1992.78]  and faithful
[1992.78 --> 1995.10]  and have forbearance
[1995.10 --> 1996.92]  and on and on it goes.
[1997.34 --> 1998.12]  Thank You for that.
[1999.28 --> 1999.80]  And thank You,
[1999.90 --> 2000.32]  Lord Jesus,
[2000.82 --> 2002.72]  that You are our Savior
[2002.72 --> 2004.36]  and that You continually
[2004.36 --> 2005.04]  save us
[2005.04 --> 2005.96]  and transform us
[2005.96 --> 2006.70]  and restore us.
[2006.86 --> 2007.62]  And You restore us
[2007.62 --> 2008.34]  ever so gently,
[2008.46 --> 2009.14]  even if it doesn't
[2009.14 --> 2009.96]  always feel gentle.
[2009.96 --> 2012.02]  Lord,
[2012.24 --> 2013.16]  may we continually
[2013.16 --> 2014.30]  surrender to You
[2014.30 --> 2015.82]  and to Your ways.
[2016.92 --> 2017.86]  May we be cleansed
[2017.86 --> 2018.74]  of our unrighteousness
[2018.74 --> 2019.32]  knowing then
[2019.32 --> 2020.02]  that we are utterly
[2020.02 --> 2021.24]  cleansed because of Jesus.
[2022.12 --> 2023.20]  And then go forth
[2023.20 --> 2024.54]  with great confidence
[2024.54 --> 2025.46]  in You
[2025.46 --> 2026.88]  and boast in You alone
[2026.88 --> 2027.60]  in Jesus' name.
[2028.00 --> 2028.22]  Amen.
[2028.22 --> 2028.34]  Amen.
[2028.34 --> 2051.50]  How deep the Father's
[2051.50 --> 2054.58]  love for us
[2054.58 --> 2059.46]  How vast beyond all measure
[2059.46 --> 2065.58]  That He should give His only Son
[2065.58 --> 2070.56]  To make a wretch His treasure
[2070.56 --> 2074.56]  How great the pain
[2074.56 --> 2077.44]  of searing loss
[2077.44 --> 2080.34]  The Father's debt
[2080.34 --> 2083.04]  His face away
[2083.04 --> 2086.18]  As wounds switched by
[2086.18 --> 2088.80]  the Chosen One
[2088.80 --> 2093.88]  Bring many souls to glory
[2093.88 --> 2107.16]  Behold the man
[2107.16 --> 2110.08]  I have lost
[2110.08 --> 2115.22]  My sin upon His shoulders
[2115.22 --> 2118.84]  And the chains I hear
[2118.84 --> 2121.66]  My God in voice
[2121.66 --> 2123.80]  Come out
[2123.80 --> 2127.58]  Upon the strong feet
[2127.58 --> 2130.44]  It was my sin
[2130.44 --> 2133.24]  That held Him bare
[2133.24 --> 2138.22]  Until it was accomplished
[2138.22 --> 2142.02]  His dying breath
[2142.02 --> 2144.68]  Has long to be done
[2144.68 --> 2149.72]  I know that it is finished
[2149.72 --> 2164.64]  I will not boast in anything
[2164.64 --> 2167.32]  No gifts
[2167.32 --> 2168.48]  No power
[2168.48 --> 2169.64]  No innocence
[2169.64 --> 2176.64]  But I will boast in Jesus Christ
[2176.64 --> 2178.78]  His death
[2178.78 --> 2181.82]  And resurrection
[2181.82 --> 2185.72]  Why should I bleed
[2185.72 --> 2187.64]  From His reward
[2187.64 --> 2193.50]  I cannot give an answer
[2193.50 --> 2196.94]  But this I know
[2196.94 --> 2199.64]  With all my heart
[2199.64 --> 2204.64]  His wounds have made my ransom
[2204.64 --> 2210.56]  Why should I gain from His reward
[2210.56 --> 2215.64]  I cannot give an answer
[2215.64 --> 2219.78]  But this I know
[2219.78 --> 2222.36]  With all my heart
[2222.36 --> 2227.64]  His wounds have made my ransom
[2227.64 --> 2246.10]  Before I give you the parting blessing
[2246.10 --> 2247.28]  A reminder
[2247.28 --> 2250.80]  For the newbies
[2250.80 --> 2253.32]  Newish people
[2253.32 --> 2254.52]  There's soup
[2254.52 --> 2255.06]  There's soup and buns
[2255.06 --> 2256.24]  And we're going to do
[2256.24 --> 2258.10]  Sharing about what the church is about
[2258.10 --> 2259.82]  And some of the staff
[2259.82 --> 2260.90]  And so forth and so on
[2260.90 --> 2262.06]  So we'd love you to stay
[2262.06 --> 2263.52]  We don't want that soup to go to waste
[2263.52 --> 2264.98]  So come on out
[2264.98 --> 2265.68]  And enjoy some
[2265.68 --> 2267.18]  We're going to be in the fireside room over there
[2267.18 --> 2269.18]  The fireside room that has no fire
[2269.18 --> 2270.32]  But it has soup
[2270.32 --> 2271.14]  So that's good
[2271.14 --> 2274.42]  You're welcome to come and stay with us
[2274.42 --> 2275.36]  And we'd love to see you
[2275.36 --> 2280.46]  Let me give you God's blessing
[2280.46 --> 2283.54]  Come Lord Jesus
[2283.54 --> 2285.62]  And startle me
[2285.62 --> 2287.02]  With your presence
[2287.02 --> 2288.76]  Life sustaining as air
[2288.76 --> 2291.30]  To open my heart
[2291.30 --> 2292.36]  To praise you
[2292.36 --> 2293.34]  To open my mind
[2293.34 --> 2294.46]  To attend to you
[2294.46 --> 2295.64]  To open my spirit
[2295.64 --> 2296.74]  To worship you
[2296.74 --> 2297.76]  To open me
[2297.76 --> 2298.96]  To live my life
[2298.96 --> 2300.00]  As authentically
[2300.00 --> 2300.68]  And boldly
[2300.68 --> 2302.08]  As you lived yours
[2302.08 --> 2304.04]  Come Lord Jesus
[2304.04 --> 2304.98]  Be with me
[2304.98 --> 2306.18]  In my longing
[2306.18 --> 2307.46]  Come stay with me
[2307.46 --> 2308.20]  In my needing
[2308.20 --> 2309.52]  Come go with me
[2309.52 --> 2310.20]  In my doing
[2310.20 --> 2311.42]  Come struggle with me
[2311.42 --> 2312.26]  In my searching
[2312.26 --> 2313.94]  Come rejoice with me
[2313.94 --> 2315.72]  In my loving
[2315.72 --> 2318.82]  People of God
[2318.82 --> 2320.74]  Go in his name
[2320.74 --> 2323.64]  Show who Jesus is
[2323.64 --> 2325.58]  By the way you live
[2325.58 --> 2328.66]  Let him fill your heart
[2328.66 --> 2331.04]  And continually save you
[2331.04 --> 2331.88]  Amen
[2331.88 --> 2334.74]  Sing one final song together
[2334.74 --> 2338.54]  Come set your rule and rein
[2338.54 --> 2338.62]  Come set your rule and write
[2338.62 --> 2340.62]  jail for your ISI
[2340.62 --> 2341.18]  From God to sliver
[2341.18 --> 2342.02]  To save you
[2342.02 --> 2342.42]  To save you
[2342.42 --> 2343.12]  From God to sliver
[2343.12 --> 2344.18]  Come set your rule and write
[2344.18 --> 2344.86]  Come set your rule and write
[2344.86 --> 2346.22]  Come set your rule and write
[2346.22 --> 2346.66]  You rule and write
[2346.66 --> 2346.86]  Love, let him finish your heart
[2346.86 --> 2347.58]  By theください
[2347.58 --> 2348.06]  For do existence
[2348.06 --> 2348.82]  Go set your rule and write
[2348.82 --> 2348.86]  Right?