1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,240 All right, turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 12 is where we'll 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:04,720 be today. 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,320 You know, several weeks ago when Pastor Josh told me that this 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:12,560 is where he would be. 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:14,280 Oh, thank you, sir. 6 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:16,960 If all the children I knew I would forget. 7 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,320 If all the children who would like to be dismissed go to children's 8 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:21,440 church, you can now leave. 9 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:25,200 After I said I wouldn't forget. 10 00:00:26,890 --> 00:00:27,690 Praise the Lord. 11 00:00:28,410 --> 00:00:30,490 Get carried away by God's mercy. 12 00:00:30,650 --> 00:00:32,450 And we're going to talk more about his mercy. 13 00:00:32,450 --> 00:00:39,450 Now, as, as I began thinking though, about what where Pastor Josh 14 00:00:39,450 --> 00:00:44,890 would be in Romans chapter 12 and more accurately, where he is 15 00:00:44,970 --> 00:00:49,290 going to be going once he got to Romans chapter 12. 16 00:00:50,490 --> 00:00:57,320 The entire chapters proceeding before Romans chapter 12 talks about 17 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:02,320 the mercies of God, talks about God's grace, talks about as, 18 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:08,760 as one, as one commentator put it, Romans is Paul's gospel, is his 19 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:10,520 portrayal of. 20 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:11,160 Of God. 21 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,040 It is his gospel given. 22 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:17,160 Just as the four writers wrote Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Paul 23 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:20,600 wrote the book of Romans so that we would know the gospel as 24 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:21,880 well from his perspective. 25 00:01:22,390 --> 00:01:27,270 And the mercy that God poured out on mankind is on full display. 26 00:01:27,910 --> 00:01:32,550 And to think about God's mercy, to see where it's been displayed 27 00:01:32,550 --> 00:01:39,350 and how it affects us in general and all that wooing of God, 28 00:01:40,470 --> 00:01:46,830 then we come to the great application beginning in Romans chapter 29 00:01:46,830 --> 00:01:47,070 12. 30 00:01:47,070 --> 00:01:51,230 And it goes through the rest of the book in a very big application. 31 00:01:51,790 --> 00:01:52,590 God began. 32 00:01:52,670 --> 00:01:57,790 Paul begins to put to work the actions of God's mercy. 33 00:01:58,190 --> 00:02:05,150 And my desire for us to understand is practically what do 34 00:02:05,150 --> 00:02:10,190 we do with all this mercy, practically how do we live the Christian 35 00:02:10,430 --> 00:02:10,830 life? 36 00:02:11,390 --> 00:02:14,110 And that's exactly what Paul begins doing. 37 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:19,080 And he begins with none other than the spiritual gifts and understanding. 38 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,600 Okay, we are to practically live the Christian life. 39 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,360 What does that look like? 40 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:26,440 And what are you gifted to do? 41 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,560 Well, we're gifted to be ministers. 42 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,960 Every minister, every member should be a minister. 43 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:36,760 We're gifted to serve the body of Christ, to edify it, to edify 44 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:41,610 the body of believers in a way that is glorifying to God, that brings 45 00:02:41,610 --> 00:02:45,730 us all up into the nourishment in the body of Christ and makes us 46 00:02:45,890 --> 00:02:47,650 complete to. 47 00:02:47,650 --> 00:02:47,970 Makes. 48 00:02:48,130 --> 00:02:53,410 Makes us what we are needing to be as the body of Christ. 49 00:02:54,130 --> 00:02:59,130 And so that's where I want to take a, a the fork in the road. 50 00:02:59,130 --> 00:02:59,970 I want to stop. 51 00:02:59,970 --> 00:03:03,890 And before we proceed on with Romans chapter 12, I want to talk 52 00:03:03,970 --> 00:03:06,850 about practical Christianity. 53 00:03:07,310 --> 00:03:12,030 What does it mean to actually live this out now, thinking about 54 00:03:12,510 --> 00:03:17,870 God and his mercies and talking to other Christians and saying 55 00:03:18,670 --> 00:03:24,110 we, we should be always joyful you know, in trials and tribulations 56 00:03:24,510 --> 00:03:28,630 and whenever we doubt, we need to put our faith in God. 57 00:03:28,630 --> 00:03:29,470 All that, that's good. 58 00:03:29,470 --> 00:03:31,670 It's very easy to say that stuff. 59 00:03:31,670 --> 00:03:32,190 Okay. 60 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:39,080 But until you actually begin going through it, that experiential 61 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:45,080 put your faith in God is quite different than being on the outside 62 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,120 looking in and saying you got to put your faith in God. 63 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,520 Oh, you got, you got an impossible situation. 64 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:52,680 Just, just trust in God. 65 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,240 It's very, very easy to say. 66 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,200 The talk is very cheap as they say. 67 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,360 Walking that walk is quite different. 68 00:03:59,190 --> 00:04:04,470 There's no circumstance like a trial that puts you into that place 69 00:04:04,550 --> 00:04:06,030 of practical Christianity. 70 00:04:06,030 --> 00:04:09,190 So look in your bibles here at Romans chapter 12 and you'll see 71 00:04:09,270 --> 00:04:10,790 what I am meaning. 72 00:04:11,590 --> 00:04:12,790 Romans chapter 12. 73 00:04:13,190 --> 00:04:14,070 I think I said three. 74 00:04:14,070 --> 00:04:15,109 It's Romans chapter 12. 75 00:04:15,430 --> 00:04:19,270 It says, I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies 76 00:04:19,270 --> 00:04:25,680 of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, 77 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,480 acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 78 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,120 And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the 79 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:38,640 renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good, acceptable 80 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,560 and perfect will of God. 81 00:04:40,799 --> 00:04:41,440 Let's pray. 82 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:42,400 We'll begin this morning. 83 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,320 Our heavenly Father, Lord, thank you so much for the mercy that 84 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:47,840 you have given us on the cross. 85 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,840 Thank you Lord, that your mercies do not stop at the cross, 86 00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:55,600 but you actually enable us to live the Christian life that you 87 00:04:55,600 --> 00:05:01,160 go with us through the battles, the fires, the storms. 88 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,360 Lord, all that you walk this path with us. 89 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,040 Lord, you have not left us once. 90 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:06,880 You've not forsaken us. 91 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:11,040 Lord, I thank you for that great faithfulness that you show 92 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:11,640 to us. 93 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:17,120 Even though we as Christians are oftentimes very unfaithful to 94 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:17,440 you. 95 00:05:18,170 --> 00:05:21,610 But your faithfulness, your faithfulness remains. 96 00:05:22,010 --> 00:05:26,410 So what I pray and ask for your grace now that you would help 97 00:05:26,410 --> 00:05:29,810 us to understand you and how you want us to live as Christians. 98 00:05:29,810 --> 00:05:32,970 Just a little bit more this morning as we look into your word 99 00:05:33,290 --> 00:05:34,450 pray, it would be clear to us. 100 00:05:34,450 --> 00:05:35,450 In Jesus name we pray. 101 00:05:35,450 --> 00:05:36,010 Amen. 102 00:05:37,050 --> 00:05:40,730 In Romans chapter 12 he says that great. 103 00:05:40,810 --> 00:05:48,940 Therefore, therefore, because of all of this, because of everything 104 00:05:48,940 --> 00:05:53,940 that I just talked about, the mercy of God, the new life of grace 105 00:05:53,940 --> 00:05:57,620 in a Christian, the spirit of God coming and dwelling amongst men, 106 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:04,060 the love that cannot ever be separated from us, that God has for 107 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:12,050 us, the calling of us to himself, the body of believers, all 108 00:06:12,050 --> 00:06:19,010 of that because of God's mercy being poured onto us, because of 109 00:06:19,010 --> 00:06:25,250 whosoever will, because of that, present your body a living 110 00:06:25,490 --> 00:06:26,290 sacrifice. 111 00:06:27,250 --> 00:06:31,770 Now we're going to get more into that understanding a little 112 00:06:31,770 --> 00:06:34,130 bit later what that sacrifice entails. 113 00:06:34,690 --> 00:06:42,620 But to understand how we are to be that living sacrifice offered 114 00:06:42,620 --> 00:06:47,020 up onto the altar, that second verse, he says, don't be conformed 115 00:06:47,020 --> 00:06:50,660 to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the 116 00:06:50,660 --> 00:06:55,580 mind that ye may prove what that is good, acceptable and perfect 117 00:06:55,580 --> 00:06:56,300 will of God. 118 00:06:56,300 --> 00:07:00,820 In order to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will 119 00:07:00,820 --> 00:07:07,400 of God, you have to be renewed, transformed in your mind. 120 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:13,640 So the question is this, what does living the Christian life actually 121 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:14,840 look like? 122 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,000 It's good theology. 123 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,880 But where does theology meet the road? 124 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,440 Where does the rubber meet the road, so to speak? 125 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:28,600 What does it mean to live a Christian life practically? 126 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:34,360 Now, the first thing that all of us would probably come to mind 127 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:35,560 is a list. 128 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:38,680 List based Christianity. 129 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:45,680 Is it a list of do's and don'ts, do this, don't do that, read 130 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,920 your Bible, pray more, attend church. 131 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:55,070 And then that question says, okay, so does that mean do the list 132 00:07:55,070 --> 00:07:56,590 and you're transformed? 133 00:07:57,310 --> 00:08:01,710 Is that the objective that we are to take as Christians? 134 00:08:02,270 --> 00:08:06,430 And as Christians, we have a very big problem with this because 135 00:08:06,910 --> 00:08:08,670 we like to perform. 136 00:08:09,790 --> 00:08:14,150 Some of us, we can be lazy at times, but for the most part, you 137 00:08:14,150 --> 00:08:16,270 know, checklists make our hat. 138 00:08:16,350 --> 00:08:17,870 Some people live by checklists. 139 00:08:18,590 --> 00:08:22,020 Some people like to get up in the morning, look at their checklist, 140 00:08:22,100 --> 00:08:24,900 and man, they look at that list and they get to the end of the 141 00:08:24,900 --> 00:08:26,500 day, they like checking it off. 142 00:08:26,660 --> 00:08:29,900 I had one, one friend that, that was his joy and pleasure. 143 00:08:29,900 --> 00:08:34,100 When he gets to write that check, he's like, something is done. 144 00:08:34,580 --> 00:08:36,340 He gets to the end of that day, that checklist. 145 00:08:36,340 --> 00:08:37,780 As people, we like that. 146 00:08:38,340 --> 00:08:42,620 It feels really good to complete a job and to be able to 147 00:08:42,620 --> 00:08:45,860 look at your work and your handiwork and say, you know what? 148 00:08:46,100 --> 00:08:46,990 I, I did that. 149 00:08:47,310 --> 00:08:49,150 That's done, it's complete. 150 00:08:49,150 --> 00:08:53,710 Now I get to, in some, some cases, people are like, now I get 151 00:08:53,710 --> 00:08:55,870 to go do some other job over here. 152 00:08:55,870 --> 00:08:58,590 I'm like, you know, I finally get to take a rest or something. 153 00:08:58,910 --> 00:09:02,190 Let me tell you something, the checklist for moving into a house 154 00:09:02,590 --> 00:09:03,630 is long. 155 00:09:04,270 --> 00:09:06,750 There is no rest in my future. 156 00:09:07,150 --> 00:09:08,390 That checklist is. 157 00:09:08,390 --> 00:09:09,390 Yep, that's another one. 158 00:09:09,390 --> 00:09:11,790 Let's go to the next project, to the next room. 159 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:13,680 Now let's go to the next part of this. 160 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:19,200 So as people, it would be very easy for us as humans trying to do 161 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,920 things on our own, as we are usually inclined to do, to set out 162 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,000 and create a list of what the Christian life looks like. 163 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:27,360 And many people have done that. 164 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:29,200 A list of do's and don'ts. 165 00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:33,480 Our list, however, would be based on one's purse, one person's 166 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:39,200 perspective of what is right and wrong and would form in us danger. 167 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,880 It would form in us a sense of self righteousness that would rival 168 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:43,760 the Pharisees. 169 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:46,560 You know, that's what the Pharisees enjoyed doing. 170 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:48,640 They enjoyed their list. 171 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:53,920 They enjoyed creating a list that would get them around some of 172 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,640 the requirements of the official list. 173 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:01,600 They enjoyed coming up with their own laws, their own commandments, 174 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:06,600 which were very burdensome and placing those requirements on the 175 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:06,880 people. 176 00:10:08,340 --> 00:10:11,300 Do lists have purpose? 177 00:10:12,580 --> 00:10:14,260 I had a book. 178 00:10:14,260 --> 00:10:15,260 I don't have it anymore. 179 00:10:15,260 --> 00:10:16,660 I actually have three of the books. 180 00:10:16,900 --> 00:10:22,500 It was three books and the first one was titled the First Volume. 181 00:10:23,059 --> 00:10:28,900 Here are some questions, Dr. Rice Dr. John Rice was a man of God 182 00:10:28,900 --> 00:10:32,380 and preacher and very successful in his ministry and saw 183 00:10:32,380 --> 00:10:33,430 the Lord do many different things. 184 00:10:33,500 --> 00:10:33,700 Things. 185 00:10:33,700 --> 00:10:37,180 And he was looked at as a pillar of the faith, someone you 186 00:10:37,180 --> 00:10:40,380 could trust, someone that you could go to and you could receive 187 00:10:40,380 --> 00:10:43,340 wisdom from on how to live the Christian life. 188 00:10:43,580 --> 00:10:47,100 He was a wonderful pastor, a great speaker, and did many things 189 00:10:47,100 --> 00:10:48,140 for the cause of Christ. 190 00:10:48,700 --> 00:10:54,220 Well, he had so many people asking him questions on how to live 191 00:10:54,940 --> 00:10:59,780 that he created a book and it was titled Here are some questions, 192 00:10:59,780 --> 00:11:00,540 Dr. Rice. 193 00:11:01,210 --> 00:11:06,410 And in that book there were should boys and girls swim together? 194 00:11:07,370 --> 00:11:08,650 Same sex swimming. 195 00:11:09,610 --> 00:11:11,370 Should you go dancing? 196 00:11:12,010 --> 00:11:12,810 That was a question. 197 00:11:12,970 --> 00:11:16,170 And there's answers that he gave for all this and reasons of, 198 00:11:16,250 --> 00:11:17,850 you know, this and that and that. 199 00:11:18,010 --> 00:11:20,490 And that was just the beginning of those questions. 200 00:11:20,490 --> 00:11:24,530 It was a book that was this thick and there were all kinds of 201 00:11:24,530 --> 00:11:28,600 questions on him how a Christian should live their life. 202 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:31,880 And then he came out with volume two. 203 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,320 Here's more questions, Dr. Rice. 204 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,440 And then he came out with volume three. 205 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,560 Here's even more questions, Dr. Rice. 206 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:50,960 See, we as Christians love to follow a list so that we know we 207 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:51,640 are holy. 208 00:11:52,450 --> 00:11:54,610 Want to know that I'm doing everything right. 209 00:11:55,330 --> 00:12:01,410 We desire in so many ways and terms to please God, but we don't 210 00:12:01,410 --> 00:12:04,130 know if we are pleasing God in everything that we do. 211 00:12:04,450 --> 00:12:08,930 So if we create a list of this is right, this is wrong. 212 00:12:09,090 --> 00:12:10,210 This is good music. 213 00:12:10,210 --> 00:12:11,330 This is bad music. 214 00:12:11,650 --> 00:12:15,090 This is the the right way to come to church. 215 00:12:15,090 --> 00:12:16,850 This is the right clothes to wear. 216 00:12:17,010 --> 00:12:18,450 This is the right way to talk. 217 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,160 There's a right and a wrong way to present the gospel. 218 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:23,840 There is a right way to read your Bible. 219 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:25,360 There's a wrong way to read your Bible. 220 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:26,480 There's the right Bible to read. 221 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:27,720 There's a wrong Bible to read. 222 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,960 I Mean the list just keeps going on and on and on and on and 223 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:31,240 on. 224 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:33,400 And we want that list. 225 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,640 Did you spend this much time in the Bible? 226 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:42,920 Did you talk to this many people about Jesus this week? 227 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:45,250 Did you do, do this? 228 00:12:45,810 --> 00:12:46,690 We love that. 229 00:12:47,570 --> 00:12:48,930 Why we want to check it off. 230 00:12:49,170 --> 00:12:52,290 We want to know that what we are doing is pleasing to God. 231 00:12:52,290 --> 00:12:55,890 A very, very, very good motive. 232 00:12:56,530 --> 00:13:03,370 Yet the list can be self righteous lists that put us in the 233 00:13:03,370 --> 00:13:04,610 same boat as the Pharisees. 234 00:13:05,170 --> 00:13:07,090 Now do lists have a purpose? 235 00:13:07,170 --> 00:13:07,890 Absolutely. 236 00:13:08,690 --> 00:13:12,280 In verse number 10 of Romans chapter 12, look down there in your 237 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:16,480 Bibles, Paul says, be kindly affectionate one to another with 238 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:17,280 brotherly love. 239 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:19,200 Hey, that's on the list. 240 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:21,680 That is a part of the list. 241 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:24,720 Look there in verse number 13. 242 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,440 We are to distribute to the needs of the saints. 243 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:32,000 Giving that's on the list for practical Christianity. 244 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:34,080 Chapter 13, verse 1. 245 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,960 We are subject to governing authorities. 246 00:13:38,020 --> 00:13:38,660 Verse 9. 247 00:13:38,820 --> 00:13:41,620 Not committing adultery, not stealing, not bearing false witness, 248 00:13:41,620 --> 00:13:42,420 not coveting. 249 00:13:42,820 --> 00:13:45,460 All are summed up in this saying, you shall love your neighbor 250 00:13:45,460 --> 00:13:46,100 as yourself. 251 00:13:47,220 --> 00:13:47,940 Verse 19. 252 00:13:48,100 --> 00:13:52,460 Pursue the things which make for peace that you can edify one 253 00:13:52,460 --> 00:13:52,740 another. 254 00:13:52,820 --> 00:13:56,460 Now I don't know if you've caught this yet, but all these are 255 00:13:56,460 --> 00:13:58,100 not very specific. 256 00:13:59,220 --> 00:14:04,420 These are not specific things of how to love your neighbor. 257 00:14:05,030 --> 00:14:08,190 Paul just says it can all be summed up with just love your neighbor 258 00:14:08,190 --> 00:14:08,790 as yourself. 259 00:14:09,270 --> 00:14:11,990 Kindly affection to one another with brotherly love. 260 00:14:12,790 --> 00:14:16,390 That means love your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. 261 00:14:17,030 --> 00:14:20,550 How do we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, Dr. Rice? 262 00:14:21,110 --> 00:14:22,310 That's not what Paul says. 263 00:14:22,390 --> 00:14:23,750 He just says love. 264 00:14:24,150 --> 00:14:24,790 That's it. 265 00:14:25,510 --> 00:14:28,670 It's a broad command, distributing to the needs of the 266 00:14:28,670 --> 00:14:28,990 saints. 267 00:14:28,990 --> 00:14:30,790 Well, how much money do I need to give? 268 00:14:32,030 --> 00:14:32,830 Is it 10%? 269 00:14:33,070 --> 00:14:34,030 That's the tithe. 270 00:14:35,150 --> 00:14:36,990 That's what we're supposed to give, right? 271 00:14:37,230 --> 00:14:41,870 Or maybe you're supposed to be a good Christian and give 15% or 272 00:14:41,870 --> 00:14:44,590 whatever, you know, number that you may come up with that thinks 273 00:14:44,590 --> 00:14:46,590 that you qualify to be a good Christian. 274 00:14:46,990 --> 00:14:53,470 What list do you have that you believe qualifies you to be a good 275 00:14:53,870 --> 00:14:54,510 Christian? 276 00:14:54,910 --> 00:14:56,590 That's the question that's being asked. 277 00:14:57,350 --> 00:15:00,950 And yet Paul isn't giving these things subject to the governing 278 00:15:00,950 --> 00:15:01,510 authorities. 279 00:15:02,950 --> 00:15:05,110 Many people have a problem with that one. 280 00:15:05,990 --> 00:15:07,910 You mean, you mean just. 281 00:15:08,630 --> 00:15:10,790 How do you mean subject to them? 282 00:15:10,790 --> 00:15:14,310 Can you give me some examples that, that we need to follow to. 283 00:15:14,470 --> 00:15:17,270 No, he just says subject to the governing authorities. 284 00:15:17,590 --> 00:15:19,190 To what does that entail? 285 00:15:21,510 --> 00:15:25,660 Pursue the things which make peace, that you can edify one another. 286 00:15:25,900 --> 00:15:29,140 Not how to make peace, not the things to say, not the things to 287 00:15:29,140 --> 00:15:29,820 not say. 288 00:15:29,980 --> 00:15:32,060 He just says, pursue peace. 289 00:15:32,460 --> 00:15:42,540 Do you get how broad those commands are and how in depth they 290 00:15:42,540 --> 00:15:48,220 could go if it was pursue the things which make for peace that 291 00:15:48,220 --> 00:15:49,580 you can edify for one another. 292 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:56,400 If you created a list underneath that category, it would 293 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:57,800 go on for a mile long. 294 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,440 And you know, this is part of the point that Jesus was making. 295 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,600 And even in the Beatitudes, this is part of the point that Jesus 296 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,000 was constantly trying to help his. 297 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,480 His followers understand. 298 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:19,250 Be perfect because your Father in heaven is perfect. 299 00:16:19,970 --> 00:16:22,130 There is no do your best to try. 300 00:16:22,290 --> 00:16:24,690 The command is be perfect. 301 00:16:25,650 --> 00:16:32,090 Jesus gave many things, and all of them were beyond the scope 302 00:16:32,090 --> 00:16:33,170 of what we can do. 303 00:16:33,170 --> 00:16:34,290 And that was the point. 304 00:16:35,410 --> 00:16:37,450 The point is to overwhelm you. 305 00:16:37,450 --> 00:16:41,410 The point is to overwhelm us even this morning with the list of 306 00:16:42,150 --> 00:16:47,110 things, nay, the perfection that God would call us to and your 307 00:16:47,270 --> 00:16:50,070 great inadequacy to do that. 308 00:16:52,150 --> 00:16:56,230 Paul says, love one another, think no evil. 309 00:16:57,030 --> 00:16:58,230 Don't not. 310 00:16:58,550 --> 00:17:00,310 Don't think about X, Y, or Z. 311 00:17:01,270 --> 00:17:06,030 So people are quick to say, you make a list, you got your list, 312 00:17:06,030 --> 00:17:07,030 and it looks good. 313 00:17:07,030 --> 00:17:09,190 And then someone says, well, the Bible doesn't say anything about 314 00:17:09,190 --> 00:17:09,510 that. 315 00:17:10,650 --> 00:17:12,170 Like, well, it's time to make a new list. 316 00:17:12,570 --> 00:17:14,250 You know, where does it stop? 317 00:17:14,810 --> 00:17:16,490 The command is, do not sin. 318 00:17:17,770 --> 00:17:20,410 Not, don't do the list of bad things. 319 00:17:21,370 --> 00:17:23,210 The command is just do not sin. 320 00:17:23,610 --> 00:17:26,450 The command is, love your neighbor as yourself. 321 00:17:26,450 --> 00:17:29,610 It's not a list of all the gifts that you can buy your neighbor 322 00:17:29,610 --> 00:17:33,130 to make them love you or how far you need to go for your neighbor 323 00:17:33,130 --> 00:17:34,570 when they ask for help. 324 00:17:35,780 --> 00:17:40,820 Jesus said, if your neighbor asks you, or rather the Roman soldier 325 00:17:40,820 --> 00:17:44,820 in this case, to go with you a mile, go two. 326 00:17:45,780 --> 00:17:47,140 Now, was that the limit? 327 00:17:47,220 --> 00:17:48,020 Two miles? 328 00:17:48,900 --> 00:17:51,060 As soon as we go two miles, that's all you had to stop. 329 00:17:51,060 --> 00:17:51,860 Was that the point? 330 00:17:53,860 --> 00:17:57,660 The point was to go beyond what was asked in an effort to show 331 00:17:57,660 --> 00:17:58,020 love. 332 00:17:58,420 --> 00:17:59,700 Peter comes to Jesus. 333 00:18:01,070 --> 00:18:06,510 Master, Rabbi, you know the Pharisees, they say, to love and 334 00:18:06,510 --> 00:18:10,110 forgive three times three, number of perfection. 335 00:18:10,350 --> 00:18:12,670 What if I forgave seven times? 336 00:18:13,470 --> 00:18:18,190 And Jesus looked at him and said, I tell you, not seven times, 337 00:18:18,350 --> 00:18:19,950 but seven times 70. 338 00:18:20,750 --> 00:18:21,870 We still have a number, though. 339 00:18:21,870 --> 00:18:23,310 That's 490 times. 340 00:18:24,190 --> 00:18:26,430 Can you remember when you got to 490? 341 00:18:27,030 --> 00:18:30,630 I doubt I would remember after the 30th time if I could count like 342 00:18:30,630 --> 00:18:30,950 that. 343 00:18:31,670 --> 00:18:33,510 What was the point of that number? 344 00:18:33,510 --> 00:18:38,350 It was to give not a specific number, but the point is forgiveness 345 00:18:38,350 --> 00:18:39,670 beyond counting. 346 00:18:39,750 --> 00:18:40,630 Think of it like this. 347 00:18:40,630 --> 00:18:45,950 The idea is about not the number, but to Forgive a multitude 348 00:18:45,950 --> 00:18:50,230 of times, so many times that keeping count becomes meaningless. 349 00:18:50,710 --> 00:18:53,030 It's similar to say, well I've done that a million times. 350 00:18:55,250 --> 00:18:58,890 If you've been in your job for any amount of time, you begin to 351 00:18:58,890 --> 00:19:03,490 feel like that, you know, that very first day you get onto the job 352 00:19:03,650 --> 00:19:08,850 and whether or not it's, it's operating a piece of machinery or 353 00:19:08,930 --> 00:19:13,490 running through a computer system in order to get the software 354 00:19:13,890 --> 00:19:14,290 or. 355 00:19:14,930 --> 00:19:17,530 I remember every single job that I've went to, they've had computer 356 00:19:17,530 --> 00:19:18,790 training of some sort of. 357 00:19:19,420 --> 00:19:21,420 And you go through that, that stuff. 358 00:19:21,500 --> 00:19:22,220 Oh man. 359 00:19:22,300 --> 00:19:25,900 If you go onto the job site or into a warehouse, industrial setting, 360 00:19:25,900 --> 00:19:29,900 PPE personal protection equipment, you're going to watch 361 00:19:29,900 --> 00:19:33,700 some videos about PPE personal protection equipment. 362 00:19:33,700 --> 00:19:36,140 They're going to drill that into your head about how you're supposed 363 00:19:36,140 --> 00:19:40,300 to be safety, wear gloves, wear goggles, wear a helmet, wear 364 00:19:40,300 --> 00:19:41,060 a safety vest. 365 00:19:41,060 --> 00:19:42,060 PPE man. 366 00:19:42,060 --> 00:19:43,660 And the stuff is overwhelming. 367 00:19:44,550 --> 00:19:47,750 But over time, I got this. 368 00:19:49,350 --> 00:19:50,310 I know what that is. 369 00:19:50,310 --> 00:19:51,950 I know exactly how to perform my job. 370 00:19:51,950 --> 00:19:52,710 I know how to do it. 371 00:19:52,710 --> 00:19:53,830 I can do it in my sleep. 372 00:19:53,910 --> 00:19:58,710 It's old had I've done that a million times as the similarity here. 373 00:19:58,790 --> 00:20:00,709 Have we actually done it a million times? 374 00:20:00,870 --> 00:20:01,670 Probably not. 375 00:20:01,910 --> 00:20:04,830 There's an expression used though to exaggerate the amount in 376 00:20:04,830 --> 00:20:06,710 order to make the point. 377 00:20:07,510 --> 00:20:12,100 So the problem that we come across cross here. 378 00:20:12,580 --> 00:20:18,820 What again does it look like to live the Christian life practically? 379 00:20:19,700 --> 00:20:21,620 Does it mean creating a list of specifics? 380 00:20:21,620 --> 00:20:22,900 Paul would say yes and no. 381 00:20:23,940 --> 00:20:28,300 Yes, there are commands, but the specific commands are exceedingly 382 00:20:28,300 --> 00:20:28,660 broad. 383 00:20:29,780 --> 00:20:34,980 Paul would say, stop sinning, love God, love your neighbor. 384 00:20:36,590 --> 00:20:40,430 Extremely specific, extremely broad. 385 00:20:41,870 --> 00:20:43,630 All of this serves as a trap. 386 00:20:44,030 --> 00:20:46,910 You didn't realize it, but you came to be trapped this morning to 387 00:20:46,910 --> 00:20:50,990 realize that you are in no position to perform this list. 388 00:20:52,030 --> 00:20:56,110 The task is overwhelming the task before us. 389 00:20:56,270 --> 00:21:00,270 The standard is so high and so broad, covering every avenue of life 390 00:21:00,430 --> 00:21:03,900 that we begin to understand this cannot be accomplished so simply 391 00:21:03,900 --> 00:21:05,060 by working harder. 392 00:21:05,380 --> 00:21:08,340 Creating lists and checking boxes often breeds self righteous 393 00:21:08,340 --> 00:21:13,620 pride that we have measured up in our Christian life and yet others 394 00:21:13,860 --> 00:21:15,140 have come short of that. 395 00:21:15,860 --> 00:21:18,580 And so the question becomes there's a massive amount of work 396 00:21:18,580 --> 00:21:19,140 to be done. 397 00:21:19,780 --> 00:21:20,180 Who? 398 00:21:20,180 --> 00:21:21,380 And you can't do it. 399 00:21:21,380 --> 00:21:22,660 Who's going to do it? 400 00:21:22,740 --> 00:21:23,820 Who's going to do this work? 401 00:21:23,820 --> 00:21:25,060 Turn to Romans chapter 7. 402 00:21:26,260 --> 00:21:27,300 Romans, chapter 7. 403 00:21:27,300 --> 00:21:31,590 Paul meets this exact problem and addresses it. 404 00:21:31,590 --> 00:21:34,310 You've already went through it, so you should be familiar with 405 00:21:34,310 --> 00:21:37,110 it as Pastor Josh has already covered this chapter. 406 00:21:37,510 --> 00:21:41,870 And what does Paul say in this, this, this chapter Romans, 407 00:21:41,870 --> 00:21:42,470 chapter seven. 408 00:21:43,670 --> 00:21:50,070 Well, he talks about the stressfulness of trying to accomplish 409 00:21:50,390 --> 00:21:51,030 the law. 410 00:21:51,990 --> 00:21:54,270 What shall we say then is the law sample? 411 00:21:54,270 --> 00:21:55,590 No, it's, it's not good. 412 00:21:56,200 --> 00:22:00,760 He said, wherefore the law is holy, the commandment holy and just 413 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:01,960 and good. 414 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,960 In verse 13 was then that which is good made death unto me, 415 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:06,760 God forbid. 416 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:11,799 But sin that it might appear sin working death in me, that which 417 00:22:11,799 --> 00:22:16,200 is good, that sin by the commandment might become exceedingly 418 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:16,840 sinful. 419 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:21,400 The law is meant to show the exceeding sinfulness of sin. 420 00:22:21,870 --> 00:22:28,030 The law is to show us the exceeding inadequacy of Christians 421 00:22:28,110 --> 00:22:31,470 trying to perform it and trying to do it. 422 00:22:31,950 --> 00:22:36,590 He says, I know in me that in my flesh dwells no good thing. 423 00:22:36,830 --> 00:22:41,510 And he says, the wood that I would, the good that I would, I don't 424 00:22:41,510 --> 00:22:45,470 do, the bad that I don't want to do. 425 00:22:46,110 --> 00:22:46,750 I do. 426 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:51,800 And he says this great conundrum of I am trying in my own 427 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:56,840 power and in my own self to pull myself up by my, my, my shoes, 428 00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:59,800 my bootstraps, if you will, and get this done. 429 00:22:59,960 --> 00:23:03,800 And every single time I try to do it, I fall flat on my face. 430 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,240 And he said, who shall deliver me from this body of death? 431 00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:09,720 This body of death. 432 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:13,440 That is how we are to think about our flesh and our life. 433 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:19,490 And as we try to to live for God, we are in a body of death trying 434 00:23:19,490 --> 00:23:24,290 to do something that is impossible for us to do and something 435 00:23:24,290 --> 00:23:26,970 that you and I were never able to do. 436 00:23:27,930 --> 00:23:29,450 And he says, I thank my God. 437 00:23:29,850 --> 00:23:33,850 The law of Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free. 438 00:23:34,090 --> 00:23:36,010 Who is going to do the work? 439 00:23:36,650 --> 00:23:38,410 Who is going to live this life? 440 00:23:38,650 --> 00:23:41,690 Practically it is Christ in us. 441 00:23:42,890 --> 00:23:50,330 I am crucified with Christ, yet not I, but Christ in me he lives, 442 00:23:51,290 --> 00:23:54,570 and he is the one who is going to do this. 443 00:23:54,570 --> 00:23:55,850 In Romans, chapter 8. 444 00:23:55,850 --> 00:23:58,610 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in 445 00:23:58,610 --> 00:24:01,530 Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 446 00:24:02,010 --> 00:24:05,690 And he says the the Spirit is in us. 447 00:24:05,770 --> 00:24:08,730 The body is dead because of sp sin. 448 00:24:09,070 --> 00:24:11,550 The Spirit is life because of righteousness. 449 00:24:12,030 --> 00:24:14,830 That Spirit dwells in us. 450 00:24:14,830 --> 00:24:15,390 Verse 11. 451 00:24:15,390 --> 00:24:19,150 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell 452 00:24:19,150 --> 00:24:23,230 in you, there it is the Spirit dwells in you. 453 00:24:23,390 --> 00:24:27,270 He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your 454 00:24:27,270 --> 00:24:31,870 mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 455 00:24:32,990 --> 00:24:33,790 It is Christ. 456 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:38,760 It is the Holy Spirit who is going to do this great work. 457 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:42,120 And so we come to this verse 2 in Romans, chapter 12. 458 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:51,320 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, not Be transformed 459 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:56,640 by the outward working of your flesh, nowward deeds of your body 460 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,640 and all that you can muster up, all the things that you can think 461 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:03,000 of that would make you a good Christian. 462 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,120 Be transformed by those outward things. 463 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,240 No, it is the inward transformation. 464 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:14,600 It is an inward source that transforms the outer. 465 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:19,800 I know that in me that is, in my flesh dwells no good thing but 466 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:20,120 Christ. 467 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,560 Christ is in us. 468 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:26,800 He is doing the actual transformation. 469 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:33,040 The renewing of our minds is not just to be informed about the 470 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:33,920 things of God. 471 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:38,600 We have been informed about the mercies of God. 472 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:41,360 That's why Paul says therefore in verse number one. 473 00:25:41,839 --> 00:25:46,080 He says, therefore by the mercies of God, all that we have 474 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:50,000 talked about the right debt that we owed, the righteousness that 475 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,050 was given to us, the, the. 476 00:25:52,050 --> 00:25:56,330 The righteousness, the, the old man dying and the new man coming, 477 00:25:56,330 --> 00:26:04,050 the Spirit living, therefore the mercy of God, he says, he is 478 00:26:04,050 --> 00:26:04,690 in us. 479 00:26:05,330 --> 00:26:06,530 That is the inform. 480 00:26:07,490 --> 00:26:13,170 But to be actually transformed by that inner understanding that 481 00:26:13,170 --> 00:26:16,370 by the inner spirit is what we need, is the new life. 482 00:26:17,090 --> 00:26:21,020 And now this word here, to be transformed in verse number two of 483 00:26:21,020 --> 00:26:26,300 Romans chapter 12 says, Be ye transformed. 484 00:26:27,100 --> 00:26:31,740 That same word for transformed is that metamorphosis. 485 00:26:31,900 --> 00:26:35,500 That's where we get metamorpho is the actual Greek word here. 486 00:26:35,500 --> 00:26:39,740 But to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure. 487 00:26:40,220 --> 00:26:42,580 Okay, get this image in your mind. 488 00:26:42,580 --> 00:26:46,680 The same word that was used for Jesus's transfiguration on the 489 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:50,160 mountain there in front of Peter and, and, and James, John, 490 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:57,480 that transfiguration of him having this amazing outward display 491 00:26:57,480 --> 00:26:58,720 of God's glory. 492 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:01,840 Whereas before he was in the. 493 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:04,680 The form vision of just a normal man, all of a sudden, now 494 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:06,000 his garments are shining. 495 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:09,400 Now it looks as if glory is just shining out of him. 496 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,600 That cross great transformation, transfiguration, 497 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:16,520 that great metamorphosis that would have happened if you were to 498 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:16,960 see that. 499 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:19,640 You would say, he has been transformed. 500 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:25,879 Whenever we see a person who is in Christ, that is what we are 501 00:27:25,879 --> 00:27:26,520 to say. 502 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:28,760 He has been transformed. 503 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:31,240 That is one of the, the big. 504 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:31,600 That's. 505 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:33,880 That's basically how I lost all my friends in high school. 506 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:36,680 They said, what is wrong with this guy? 507 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:40,040 He is nothing like what we grew up with. 508 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:44,680 This is not the person that we did X, Y and Z with. 509 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:47,400 He is completely different. 510 00:27:48,120 --> 00:27:49,560 We want nothing to do with him. 511 00:27:50,360 --> 00:27:52,280 Transformation is like that. 512 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:54,440 It is completely different. 513 00:27:55,480 --> 00:28:01,720 This new life is where the true essence of the divine essence 514 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:04,100 is formed in every believer. 515 00:28:04,580 --> 00:28:08,020 In Romans chapter 6, verse 4, Therefore we are buried with him 516 00:28:08,020 --> 00:28:09,380 by baptism into death. 517 00:28:09,860 --> 00:28:13,100 That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of 518 00:28:13,100 --> 00:28:13,540 the Father. 519 00:28:13,540 --> 00:28:19,140 Even so, we also should walk in newness of life. 520 00:28:20,900 --> 00:28:21,620 Chapter 7. 521 00:28:21,620 --> 00:28:23,620 But now we are delivered from the law. 522 00:28:24,420 --> 00:28:25,700 Second Corinthians, chapter 5. 523 00:28:25,700 --> 00:28:30,760 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. 524 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,240 Old things passed away. 525 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:38,000 There's something new here, and it's because of the work of the 526 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:38,440 Spirit. 527 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:45,480 Now, what Paul often helps us to understand is that this is not 528 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:48,840 a passive transformation. 529 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:53,640 Now, I believe that there is an amazing miracle and work that 530 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:57,250 happens in the life of every, every single believer at the moment 531 00:28:57,250 --> 00:28:58,090 of salvation. 532 00:28:58,090 --> 00:28:59,890 I've seen it so many times. 533 00:29:00,370 --> 00:29:04,530 I've seen addicts give up their drugs immediately, go cold 534 00:29:04,530 --> 00:29:05,770 turkey, get off everything. 535 00:29:05,770 --> 00:29:09,810 I've seen people all of a sudden act differently. 536 00:29:09,890 --> 00:29:11,330 Their anger is gone. 537 00:29:11,730 --> 00:29:15,570 The way that they would treat people is different and changed. 538 00:29:15,650 --> 00:29:18,370 They no longer are the same individual. 539 00:29:18,610 --> 00:29:24,320 That is an amazing work that happens at the moment of creation. 540 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:25,840 A new creature. 541 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:34,040 And yet you know just as well as I know that you still have flaws 542 00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:39,520 and that I still have sin and besetting sin and things that God 543 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:43,600 has not immediately transformed. 544 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:50,700 That is on the part of, of you and I to put off and to put on. 545 00:29:50,860 --> 00:29:54,620 You see, it is a not a passive work of. 546 00:29:54,700 --> 00:30:00,180 I just sit here in my pew and I just soak up the power of God and 547 00:30:00,180 --> 00:30:00,540 I'm just. 548 00:30:00,540 --> 00:30:05,020 I'm just transformed by this osmosis, this photosynthesis. 549 00:30:05,020 --> 00:30:07,660 Like a plant gathers sunlight and energy and just trans. 550 00:30:07,900 --> 00:30:09,820 Yeah, that's not the way this is working. 551 00:30:09,820 --> 00:30:10,380 Okay? 552 00:30:10,860 --> 00:30:13,100 It is not a passive transformation. 553 00:30:14,550 --> 00:30:18,510 He says there in verse 22 of Ephesians, chapter 4, that ye put 554 00:30:18,510 --> 00:30:22,870 off concerning the former conversation, the old man. 555 00:30:23,190 --> 00:30:26,310 There's still a putting off that we have to do. 556 00:30:26,790 --> 00:30:28,950 Put on the new man. 557 00:30:29,030 --> 00:30:33,910 There is still a putting on that we have to do and you have to 558 00:30:33,910 --> 00:30:35,430 put on the new. 559 00:30:35,430 --> 00:30:39,030 After you have put off the old, you can't just say, well, I'm 560 00:30:39,030 --> 00:30:39,710 going to stop doing that. 561 00:30:39,710 --> 00:30:40,710 You got to replace it. 562 00:30:41,420 --> 00:30:42,700 So there is an act of work. 563 00:30:43,660 --> 00:30:48,660 But to have that morphe, as it's called, to be transformed is 564 00:30:48,660 --> 00:30:54,500 to be shaped on the outside, not by what everyone else wants you 565 00:30:54,500 --> 00:30:58,940 to do, not by the list of what someone else would tell you to do, 566 00:30:59,500 --> 00:31:06,460 but rather by the inner source as to more perfectly reflect the 567 00:31:06,460 --> 00:31:07,020 inner. 568 00:31:07,990 --> 00:31:13,030 Now, this is not a living and doing what feels right on the inside. 569 00:31:13,270 --> 00:31:14,710 Many people make that mistake. 570 00:31:16,630 --> 00:31:18,870 I'm just going to do what feels good, right? 571 00:31:18,950 --> 00:31:19,790 I'm just going to do. 572 00:31:19,790 --> 00:31:23,069 Well, I just feel like this is How I should live. 573 00:31:23,069 --> 00:31:24,550 And so this is what I'm going to do. 574 00:31:25,270 --> 00:31:26,470 People do that all the time. 575 00:31:26,710 --> 00:31:29,270 It's not about feeling and doing what feels right on the inside. 576 00:31:29,430 --> 00:31:35,110 It's living according to the renewing that Jesus does in our minds, 577 00:31:35,350 --> 00:31:39,110 thinking according to how he would order our thoughts. 578 00:31:39,590 --> 00:31:43,350 Understand it is his control over our lives. 579 00:31:44,310 --> 00:31:46,870 And when it comes to the trials and circumstances of life 580 00:31:46,870 --> 00:31:52,030 and understanding that God is bringing us through things, we as 581 00:31:52,030 --> 00:31:54,150 Christians are not the ones in control. 582 00:31:54,470 --> 00:31:55,270 We know that. 583 00:31:56,070 --> 00:31:57,590 We know we're not in control. 584 00:31:57,670 --> 00:31:59,030 God's still on the throne. 585 00:31:59,110 --> 00:32:01,360 He, he is the one who's directing our lives. 586 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:02,960 That's the sovereignty of God. 587 00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:06,400 God is ordering things the way he wants them to be ordered. 588 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:12,680 However, your reaction to those things, how you handle those 589 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:16,240 things, that's not in your control either. 590 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:18,640 Or at least it shouldn't be in your control. 591 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:24,400 That should be left up to how God wants you to react. 592 00:32:25,210 --> 00:32:31,570 That should be left up to how God wants you to work through the 593 00:32:31,570 --> 00:32:32,810 circumstances of life. 594 00:32:33,450 --> 00:32:39,530 We are as living vessels, doing what God wants us to do. 595 00:32:39,690 --> 00:32:46,930 Therefore, when your boss at work comes in and, you know, just 596 00:32:46,930 --> 00:32:49,690 rips your face off for something that you've done, you know 597 00:32:49,690 --> 00:32:51,690 the motions that come whenever you feel like that. 598 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:55,760 I had a boss when I worked at a furniture store. 599 00:32:56,720 --> 00:32:59,240 He, he was, he was scary. 600 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:03,200 It's like he would smile, but you really didn't want him to smile. 601 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:06,560 It was kind of mean smile or something. 602 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:11,040 He would fire people, bad salespeople. 603 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:15,840 And we knew he was firing someone because he wore a red shirt. 604 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:21,890 When, when Joe wore a red long sleeve shirt, everyone was like, 605 00:33:21,890 --> 00:33:23,770 okay, he's firing someone. 606 00:33:24,410 --> 00:33:26,250 He, he did that one time whenever I was there. 607 00:33:26,250 --> 00:33:29,450 And he fired, he fired two people in the same day. 608 00:33:30,010 --> 00:33:32,810 And I made a comment that was not directed to him. 609 00:33:32,970 --> 00:33:35,290 I just made, you know, I was just having a good day. 610 00:33:35,290 --> 00:33:37,650 So I made a comment and he walked by and said, you want to make 611 00:33:37,650 --> 00:33:38,650 it a trifecta? 612 00:33:38,810 --> 00:33:40,730 I said, nope, I'll go to work. 613 00:33:40,810 --> 00:33:42,090 I'm working over here. 614 00:33:44,180 --> 00:33:53,540 When that boss, neighbor, friend, spouse, person comes up to 615 00:33:53,540 --> 00:34:01,260 you and says something to you, our reactions are not supposed to 616 00:34:01,260 --> 00:34:02,100 be around. 617 00:34:02,660 --> 00:34:04,420 They are to be controlled by the spirit. 618 00:34:05,860 --> 00:34:09,470 And that is a principle of garbage in, garbage out, day in, 619 00:34:09,470 --> 00:34:10,190 day out. 620 00:34:10,590 --> 00:34:16,430 What is in you when life squeeze you, that will come out. 621 00:34:16,990 --> 00:34:21,310 Your reaction is the true test of what is actually inside of us. 622 00:34:21,710 --> 00:34:24,750 Has the inner affected the outer? 623 00:34:25,390 --> 00:34:28,110 Now, God is never against feeling and doing. 624 00:34:29,070 --> 00:34:34,710 It's not as if doing a list or feeling a certain way is Wrong. 625 00:34:34,710 --> 00:34:38,270 God is a powerful and passionate and feeling and he commands 626 00:34:38,270 --> 00:34:39,190 us to be doers. 627 00:34:39,190 --> 00:34:40,430 That is exactly what James says. 628 00:34:40,430 --> 00:34:44,750 Be not ye just hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word. 629 00:34:45,710 --> 00:34:49,790 Yet feelings and doing are completely insufficient foundations 630 00:34:49,790 --> 00:34:50,910 for the Christian life. 631 00:34:51,150 --> 00:34:55,950 The first question that we ask cannot be how do I feel? 632 00:34:56,270 --> 00:34:57,870 Or what do I do? 633 00:34:59,230 --> 00:35:02,350 That's what we think of whenever we want to say we're going 634 00:35:02,350 --> 00:35:05,180 to live the Christian life practically, what am I feeling right 635 00:35:05,180 --> 00:35:05,460 now? 636 00:35:05,700 --> 00:35:07,220 Or what should I do? 637 00:35:08,260 --> 00:35:12,020 Rather, it must be what is true here? 638 00:35:13,140 --> 00:35:15,580 What does God's Word say? 639 00:35:15,580 --> 00:35:19,620 Or what does the Holy Spirit want me to do? 640 00:35:20,180 --> 00:35:22,180 That is the emphasis. 641 00:35:22,900 --> 00:35:29,460 Being spirit filled leads to being spirit control. 642 00:35:30,330 --> 00:35:33,170 We always say that, pray that the Holy Spirit would have reign 643 00:35:33,170 --> 00:35:33,890 over our lives. 644 00:35:33,890 --> 00:35:35,130 Well, how does he do that? 645 00:35:36,250 --> 00:35:39,370 That is living the life practically the Christian life practically 646 00:35:39,610 --> 00:35:41,050 yielding to the Spirit. 647 00:35:41,530 --> 00:35:43,610 That's the emphasis of today's sermon. 648 00:35:43,850 --> 00:35:45,250 Yield to the spirit. 649 00:35:45,250 --> 00:35:47,290 That's how you live the Christian life. 650 00:35:48,250 --> 00:35:54,330 Do what the Spirit wants you to do, not what the Spirit wants 651 00:35:54,330 --> 00:35:59,100 Paul and Peter to do, not what the Spirit has called Barnabas to 652 00:35:59,100 --> 00:35:59,380 do. 653 00:35:59,700 --> 00:36:02,820 You do what God has called you to do. 654 00:36:03,620 --> 00:36:04,980 That is the emphasis. 655 00:36:05,540 --> 00:36:14,780 You have to yield that control to God to work in you in order for 656 00:36:14,780 --> 00:36:18,820 him to have that full control and full reign. 657 00:36:19,460 --> 00:36:25,200 That means when God says, he, it is my will that you come to me 658 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:31,520 daily, enter in his thanks into his courts daily with thanksgiving 659 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:32,240 and praises. 660 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:37,120 Come to him daily when he says I want to spend time with you. 661 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:42,720 When God says I want a relationship with you, that is something 662 00:36:42,720 --> 00:36:43,760 that we yield to. 663 00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:45,920 Day in, day out. 664 00:36:46,240 --> 00:36:50,950 We are doing what God wants us to do in the mundane and the smallest 665 00:36:51,030 --> 00:36:52,390 aspects of our life. 666 00:36:52,790 --> 00:36:57,750 So that whenever we have a decision to make, and that decision 667 00:36:57,910 --> 00:37:02,230 can be as small as where do I go in my Bible reading? 668 00:37:02,950 --> 00:37:08,550 And that decision can be as big as do I switch jobs? 669 00:37:08,950 --> 00:37:11,430 Do I marry this individual? 670 00:37:11,750 --> 00:37:14,950 Do I act this way? 671 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:16,960 Do I buy this house? 672 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:17,960 What do I do? 673 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:19,160 These major decisions. 674 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:22,480 Every college kid wants to know what is the will of God. 675 00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:24,680 Well, Pastor preach on the will of God. 676 00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:26,960 So I'll just know what I'm supposed to do. 677 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:29,360 All of life's choices, what career to take. 678 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:35,040 The will of God is discovered by doing the will of God and following 679 00:37:35,120 --> 00:37:37,760 God of what you do know to do. 680 00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:41,920 So that in the areas where you don't know, you can follow Him. 681 00:37:43,860 --> 00:37:48,060 It is still up to how the Holy Spirit wants you to act. 682 00:37:48,060 --> 00:37:51,140 That trumps all other leading or examples. 683 00:37:51,860 --> 00:37:58,259 David said, lord, break their teeth, give me victory. 684 00:37:58,259 --> 00:37:59,380 Over my enemy. 685 00:37:59,860 --> 00:38:04,180 And God saw many victories by David's hand, his sword. 686 00:38:05,060 --> 00:38:06,180 Is that your prayer too? 687 00:38:06,180 --> 00:38:07,220 Does that apply to you? 688 00:38:07,380 --> 00:38:08,660 Is that what you're praying about? 689 00:38:09,090 --> 00:38:10,490 Lord, break their teeth. 690 00:38:10,490 --> 00:38:11,890 Break my enemy's teeth. 691 00:38:12,690 --> 00:38:15,650 We probably have some people in our life that we would consider 692 00:38:15,730 --> 00:38:20,010 our enemies and may actually want to pray that God break their 693 00:38:20,010 --> 00:38:20,290 teeth. 694 00:38:20,290 --> 00:38:22,370 I'm tired of dealing with their attitude. 695 00:38:22,450 --> 00:38:24,690 I'm tired of them coming to me with their problems. 696 00:38:24,769 --> 00:38:26,930 And they're always causing me a problem. 697 00:38:27,090 --> 00:38:28,370 Get rid of these people. 698 00:38:29,010 --> 00:38:33,130 Is that prayer for David is the same leading of the Holy Spirit 699 00:38:33,130 --> 00:38:33,570 for you? 700 00:38:34,690 --> 00:38:35,650 Probably not. 701 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:37,120 Probably not. 702 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:42,040 Imposing a standard of living on yourself, no matter how biblical 703 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:45,800 you make it be, asking God to break the enemy's teeth, that's completely 704 00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:46,560 biblical, right? 705 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:48,960 We can totally ask for that. 706 00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:54,200 Asking God and imposing a standard living on yourself, no matter 707 00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:57,800 how biblical you make it to be, does not mean that it is God's 708 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:00,880 design for you and how he wants to shape you. 709 00:39:01,770 --> 00:39:04,650 Now understand exactly what I mean by that. 710 00:39:05,050 --> 00:39:06,370 Do not misunderstand me. 711 00:39:06,370 --> 00:39:10,930 It is God's design for you and his will for how he would transform 712 00:39:10,930 --> 00:39:11,290 you. 713 00:39:12,170 --> 00:39:15,770 He is on the inside, taking up abode within you. 714 00:39:16,250 --> 00:39:19,770 The inner is changing the outside to make his shape. 715 00:39:20,170 --> 00:39:24,850 But God may lead you within his will and still in accordance 716 00:39:24,850 --> 00:39:26,890 with His Word and His character. 717 00:39:27,700 --> 00:39:31,220 Differently that he may lead another believer. 718 00:39:31,780 --> 00:39:36,860 It will still be in accordance with His Word and in accordance with 719 00:39:36,860 --> 00:39:37,860 his character. 720 00:39:38,420 --> 00:39:40,700 It is not a free for all for liberty. 721 00:39:40,700 --> 00:39:41,660 Well, bless God. 722 00:39:41,660 --> 00:39:44,100 You know, God would lead you to do that. 723 00:39:44,100 --> 00:39:45,860 But God's led me another path. 724 00:39:45,860 --> 00:39:46,500 That's fine. 725 00:39:47,300 --> 00:39:48,020 That's fine. 726 00:39:48,580 --> 00:39:50,220 Is it in accordance with God's character? 727 00:39:50,220 --> 00:39:51,700 Is it in accordance with His Word? 728 00:39:51,860 --> 00:39:54,700 Because God will never lead you to do something that His Word 729 00:39:54,700 --> 00:39:55,580 is directly against. 730 00:39:56,380 --> 00:40:00,420 And so the answer is, or the question rather is, is it biblical? 731 00:40:00,420 --> 00:40:02,220 And are you following the Holy Spirit? 732 00:40:02,780 --> 00:40:06,300 So this inner is changing the outside to reflect it. 733 00:40:07,020 --> 00:40:11,020 He just bought a house and we are changing things. 734 00:40:11,420 --> 00:40:12,540 It was empty. 735 00:40:12,620 --> 00:40:13,900 We brought in furniture. 736 00:40:14,060 --> 00:40:14,420 When. 737 00:40:14,420 --> 00:40:17,620 When you buy a house, you repaint walls, you bring furniture 738 00:40:17,620 --> 00:40:21,190 in, you tear old things out, you install new things. 739 00:40:21,750 --> 00:40:24,550 The house gradually reflects the owner. 740 00:40:24,870 --> 00:40:25,830 It's interesting. 741 00:40:25,830 --> 00:40:28,590 I don't know how many of you have visited one another time and 742 00:40:28,590 --> 00:40:32,110 time, but you go into a person's house and you start looking 743 00:40:32,110 --> 00:40:36,590 around most of the time and you go, yeah, this is their house. 744 00:40:36,590 --> 00:40:40,750 I can tell this is exactly the stuff that I would expect them to 745 00:40:40,750 --> 00:40:41,030 have. 746 00:40:41,190 --> 00:40:43,350 A house can tell you a lot about a person. 747 00:40:44,550 --> 00:40:47,870 You can find out a lot of information about what this person 748 00:40:47,870 --> 00:40:50,740 cares, cares about and, and how they interact. 749 00:40:50,740 --> 00:40:54,100 You'll find out some things probably about us if you come over 750 00:40:54,100 --> 00:40:57,700 to our house, which I know you will, you'll. 751 00:40:57,700 --> 00:41:00,780 You'll see a decoration of thing to, to. 752 00:41:00,860 --> 00:41:01,460 To things. 753 00:41:01,460 --> 00:41:04,500 You'll see the way that things are set up and you'll get a picture 754 00:41:04,500 --> 00:41:04,940 of that. 755 00:41:05,100 --> 00:41:08,860 The house gradually reflects the owner in salvation. 756 00:41:08,860 --> 00:41:10,620 God takes ownership of us. 757 00:41:11,340 --> 00:41:17,540 The spirit begins rearranging attitudes, desires, priorities and 758 00:41:17,540 --> 00:41:22,020 habits until our lives increasingly reflect Christ. 759 00:41:22,420 --> 00:41:23,700 And this is the plan. 760 00:41:24,420 --> 00:41:26,100 This is the will of God. 761 00:41:26,180 --> 00:41:29,220 In Romans, chapter 8, verses 28, we know all things work together 762 00:41:29,220 --> 00:41:30,740 for good to them that love God. 763 00:41:31,860 --> 00:41:33,220 What do you mean work good? 764 00:41:33,460 --> 00:41:34,820 What do you mean all things? 765 00:41:35,540 --> 00:41:39,580 The idea, next verse is so that you would be conformed to the 766 00:41:39,580 --> 00:41:40,820 image of Christ. 767 00:41:41,740 --> 00:41:42,380 That is the plan. 768 00:41:42,380 --> 00:41:46,700 The Bible says you've been, as a Christian, predestined to become 769 00:41:47,260 --> 00:41:49,260 the image of Christ. 770 00:41:49,500 --> 00:41:52,700 There's no choice in the matter if you're saved. 771 00:41:52,700 --> 00:41:57,660 If you're a believer, you will be transformed into the image of 772 00:41:57,660 --> 00:41:57,980 Christ. 773 00:41:57,980 --> 00:42:00,620 That is God's design for you in your life. 774 00:42:00,860 --> 00:42:07,260 And God will order your entire life to make sure that that is accomplished. 775 00:42:07,720 --> 00:42:09,000 For it is a great work. 776 00:42:09,400 --> 00:42:11,080 We'll talk more about that next Sunday. 777 00:42:11,720 --> 00:42:14,680 But there is a lot of work to be done. 778 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:20,280 God resides in us and he begins changing the outside. 779 00:42:21,720 --> 00:42:25,960 So when it comes to the circumstances that are in God's hands, 780 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:29,560 when it comes to us living the Christian life, we must understand 781 00:42:30,200 --> 00:42:32,280 that we are not to be in control. 782 00:42:32,280 --> 00:42:36,470 We are not in control, and we are not to ever be in control. 783 00:42:36,790 --> 00:42:41,670 But yielding to the Holy Spirit in every single avenue of 784 00:42:41,670 --> 00:42:45,910 life, therefore, this is the yielding part. 785 00:42:46,870 --> 00:42:51,670 We must choose daily obedience in those circumstances. 786 00:42:52,630 --> 00:42:59,990 God will empower you when you yield to him to do those things. 787 00:43:00,390 --> 00:43:02,070 You say, well, it's hard to read my Bible. 788 00:43:02,230 --> 00:43:06,070 It's hard to yield to God to do those things. 789 00:43:06,070 --> 00:43:10,710 And God will empower you to yield to him and read your Bible. 790 00:43:11,190 --> 00:43:12,270 Witness to people. 791 00:43:12,270 --> 00:43:13,590 It's hard to talk to people. 792 00:43:14,390 --> 00:43:14,830 It's. 793 00:43:14,830 --> 00:43:18,630 It's difficult to let people know that you're a Christian. 794 00:43:18,790 --> 00:43:21,030 It's difficult to talk about Jesus. 795 00:43:21,510 --> 00:43:27,490 It is something that we need the comforter for to do those uncomfortable 796 00:43:27,490 --> 00:43:27,690 things. 797 00:43:27,690 --> 00:43:30,650 The comforter is there to empower you. 798 00:43:31,530 --> 00:43:36,410 God empowers the believer, actively responds. 799 00:43:36,890 --> 00:43:44,010 View the Christian life as cooperative obedience, cooperative 800 00:43:44,010 --> 00:43:47,290 obedience rather than passive surrender. 801 00:43:48,090 --> 00:43:50,690 It's not a, well, just do whatever you want with me, God. 802 00:43:50,690 --> 00:43:54,920 It is a, I am going to cooperatively work with you. 803 00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:58,680 There is the sanctification that happens at the moment of salvation. 804 00:43:58,760 --> 00:44:03,920 And there is a sanctification that happens as you yield to God 805 00:44:03,920 --> 00:44:05,960 in all areas of your life. 806 00:44:06,760 --> 00:44:09,720 We are a living sacrifice. 807 00:44:09,880 --> 00:44:11,640 Romans chapter 12 says. 808 00:44:12,360 --> 00:44:18,520 And that sacrifice, that sacrifice is supposed to be a good 809 00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:18,940 sacrifice. 810 00:44:19,090 --> 00:44:19,730 Sacrifice. 811 00:44:20,130 --> 00:44:23,770 You know the laws and the rules and regulations behind the 812 00:44:23,770 --> 00:44:25,810 sacrifice system in the temple. 813 00:44:26,370 --> 00:44:32,050 There's a long list of how to prepare that sacrifice. 814 00:44:32,690 --> 00:44:38,530 And every single one of those instructions were to be followed. 815 00:44:39,250 --> 00:44:39,650 Why? 816 00:44:41,490 --> 00:44:44,690 Because we are to be an acceptable sacrifice. 817 00:44:45,710 --> 00:44:52,910 We are presenting ourselves to God on the altar as a living sacrifice. 818 00:44:52,910 --> 00:44:58,430 And God wants that sacrifice to be seasoned with salt. 819 00:44:58,910 --> 00:45:05,470 He wants that sacrifice to have that flavor. 820 00:45:05,630 --> 00:45:09,150 I don't know if any of you have ever tasted something that's 821 00:45:09,150 --> 00:45:09,550 bland. 822 00:45:11,320 --> 00:45:13,320 We've all had bland food at least once in our life. 823 00:45:13,320 --> 00:45:18,440 There's nothing worse than an egg that has not been seasoned. 824 00:45:20,360 --> 00:45:23,480 There's no flavor, it's just the yolk. 825 00:45:23,480 --> 00:45:26,320 You know, just thinking, some people like their, their eggs scrambled. 826 00:45:26,320 --> 00:45:27,960 Some people like it over easy. 827 00:45:28,040 --> 00:45:29,000 You know, I could do both. 828 00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:30,840 I like, I prefer it over easy. 829 00:45:31,240 --> 00:45:34,360 And try to make that even though it falls apart over time, 830 00:45:35,400 --> 00:45:37,360 there's nothing worse than eating something that doesn't have 831 00:45:37,360 --> 00:45:40,640 any salt on it as a sacrifice. 832 00:45:40,800 --> 00:45:41,840 Coming to God. 833 00:45:42,800 --> 00:45:49,120 When you lay yourself up on the altar, God wants you, okay? 834 00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:50,960 That is what God desires. 835 00:45:51,520 --> 00:45:52,560 Now don't mistake this. 836 00:45:52,560 --> 00:45:56,040 This is not a call for you to clean up your life before you present 837 00:45:56,040 --> 00:45:57,040 yourself to God. 838 00:45:57,760 --> 00:46:02,160 God is not asking you to clean yourself up in order to come to him. 839 00:46:02,400 --> 00:46:04,060 He will do the cleaning up. 840 00:46:04,530 --> 00:46:07,250 He doesn't desire for you to be unseasoned. 841 00:46:07,810 --> 00:46:12,770 Once you lay yourself on the altar, that's whenever the yielding 842 00:46:12,770 --> 00:46:13,410 can begin. 843 00:46:13,730 --> 00:46:16,050 That's when the sanctification can begin. 844 00:46:16,210 --> 00:46:18,770 That's when the seasoning, if you will, can begin. 845 00:46:18,930 --> 00:46:23,810 And a seasoned Christian is something of beauty. 846 00:46:24,930 --> 00:46:29,010 It is amazing to see a seasoned Christian. 847 00:46:29,980 --> 00:46:33,900 Something happened in their life that is absolutely terrible. 848 00:46:34,700 --> 00:46:40,660 And that believer respond with the fruit of the Spirit and you see 849 00:46:40,660 --> 00:46:42,860 it and go, it's Christ. 850 00:46:43,820 --> 00:46:45,180 That's the way Christ would. 851 00:46:46,140 --> 00:46:48,620 It is a thing of beauty to see it. 852 00:46:49,180 --> 00:46:55,620 And so that understanding of sacrifice, that understanding of 853 00:46:55,620 --> 00:46:59,830 where does the Christian life go starts the starting point of practical 854 00:46:59,830 --> 00:47:00,550 Christianity. 855 00:47:00,710 --> 00:47:04,830 Living it is yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit so that 856 00:47:04,830 --> 00:47:08,710 Christ's life is increasingly expressed through us. 857 00:47:09,430 --> 00:47:10,950 Yield yourself to God. 858 00:47:11,350 --> 00:47:12,870 Walk in the Spirit. 859 00:47:13,189 --> 00:47:14,230 Present your body. 860 00:47:14,630 --> 00:47:15,750 Put on Christ. 861 00:47:16,310 --> 00:47:17,590 Mortify sin. 862 00:47:18,230 --> 00:47:22,510 The Spirit led Christian life is not, how can I get the Spirit 863 00:47:22,510 --> 00:47:23,110 to take control? 864 00:47:23,990 --> 00:47:30,470 But how can I place myself on God's altar when God causes us to 865 00:47:30,470 --> 00:47:36,230 pass through the fire, we say, okay, you're the one that's desiring 866 00:47:36,230 --> 00:47:37,030 this right now. 867 00:47:37,110 --> 00:47:38,950 I will yield to you. 868 00:47:39,349 --> 00:47:41,190 Because we are that living sacrifice. 869 00:47:41,190 --> 00:47:42,150 We are alive. 870 00:47:42,550 --> 00:47:44,230 And the sacrifice that's living. 871 00:47:44,870 --> 00:47:48,390 It'd be one thing if the thing was just dead on the plate, but we're 872 00:47:48,390 --> 00:47:49,830 not dead on the plate. 873 00:47:50,890 --> 00:47:53,610 Sacrifice that's living sometimes gets up off the plates 874 00:47:53,610 --> 00:47:54,410 and walks away. 875 00:47:55,690 --> 00:47:59,290 We have to come back every single morning and sit back on the 876 00:47:59,290 --> 00:48:01,370 plate and say, we are on the altar. 877 00:48:01,930 --> 00:48:05,930 Next week, we will ask, what does God do with that sacrifice? 878 00:48:06,570 --> 00:48:09,210 How does he season that sacrifice? 879 00:48:09,770 --> 00:48:14,490 And if you're here today at Milltown Baptist Church and you have 880 00:48:14,490 --> 00:48:17,450 never accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, you never made that 881 00:48:17,450 --> 00:48:24,580 choice to follow Jesus Christ, all of this is completely pointless 882 00:48:25,060 --> 00:48:28,180 until you have a relationship with God. 883 00:48:28,180 --> 00:48:29,780 You cannot yield to God. 884 00:48:30,020 --> 00:48:34,180 If you have no relationship with God, you cannot obviously follow 885 00:48:34,180 --> 00:48:36,260 a list of do this and do not. 886 00:48:36,260 --> 00:48:38,500 In order to gain entrance into heaven. 887 00:48:38,740 --> 00:48:43,380 You cannot have a relationship with Jesus because you did things. 888 00:48:44,510 --> 00:48:48,670 The only way that you can have a relationship with God is because 889 00:48:48,670 --> 00:48:54,830 you have come to the Son and following him, you have to begin 890 00:48:54,990 --> 00:48:57,550 that relationship with Jesus Christ. 891 00:48:58,110 --> 00:49:02,150 So if you have not began a relationship with Jesus Christ and 892 00:49:02,150 --> 00:49:04,950 you are desiring that, or you have questions for that, come forward. 893 00:49:04,950 --> 00:49:08,830 Today we're about to have an altar call, about to have an invitation. 894 00:49:08,910 --> 00:49:13,780 And that invitation is there to simply so that you have a moment, 895 00:49:14,020 --> 00:49:18,220 an opportunity to respond to what we've heard today, to not be 896 00:49:18,220 --> 00:49:21,460 just a hearer of the Word, but a doer of the Word. 897 00:49:21,780 --> 00:49:24,780 And if you want to talk with someone, we'll have some men or ladies 898 00:49:24,780 --> 00:49:28,060 that can come and take you into the back to show you how you 899 00:49:28,060 --> 00:49:32,700 can know what a relationship with Jesus Christ actually looks 900 00:49:32,700 --> 00:49:32,980 like. 901 00:49:33,380 --> 00:49:36,820 So we have every head bowed and every eye closed as we begin 902 00:49:37,990 --> 00:49:39,510 this morning. 903 00:49:42,070 --> 00:49:44,310 What would God call you to do? 904 00:49:44,550 --> 00:49:54,030 Specifically, Would God call you to begin a relationship with 905 00:49:54,030 --> 00:49:58,390 him or follow him more closely? 906 00:49:58,870 --> 00:50:02,550 As the Spirit leads you, I pray that you will come.