1 00:00:02,233 --> 00:00:02,800 Well, welcome. 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:03,833 I appreciate you being here. 3 00:00:03,833 --> 00:00:06,500 I know there's a lot of places you could be on a Sunday morning, 4 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:09,733 and I count it an honor and a privilege to get to be here with you. 5 00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:13,800 A couple of things, just by way of information for you. 6 00:00:14,566 --> 00:00:17,333 Some of you are, aware of, 7 00:00:17,333 --> 00:00:20,333 John Wright going in for surgery. 8 00:00:20,700 --> 00:00:23,866 Heather here, his wife is our our lead 9 00:00:23,866 --> 00:00:26,866 administrator, both for the church and for the Maywood Center. 10 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,733 And so John has been with us for years and years and years. 11 00:00:29,733 --> 00:00:33,333 Dear friend, great servant of God through this church went in for, 12 00:00:35,100 --> 00:00:37,600 went in for a quadruple bypass surgery 13 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,800 on Friday and they got in and decided they only had to do three and not four. 14 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:42,766 So that was an internal prayer right there. 15 00:00:42,766 --> 00:00:47,033 But he's in the ICU, was recovering well, got a long road, as you can imagine. 16 00:00:47,033 --> 00:00:51,000 So I just give you that for those of you who are aware of John and we're wondering, 17 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,500 that's the information for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, 18 00:00:54,700 --> 00:00:55,833 that's the information. 19 00:00:56,933 --> 00:00:57,300 But if 20 00:00:57,300 --> 00:01:01,033 you'll just put John on your prayer list, please, when you go before 21 00:01:01,066 --> 00:01:04,066 God and pray on his behalf, I appreciate that. 22 00:01:05,066 --> 00:01:07,500 And Sean's great to see you here this morning, man. 23 00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:09,133 I've been praying for you. 24 00:01:09,133 --> 00:01:12,133 Love you. 25 00:01:12,900 --> 00:01:13,700 John, thank you 26 00:01:13,700 --> 00:01:17,366 for your investment in Sean's life and, being the guy. 27 00:01:17,733 --> 00:01:18,966 Being the guy. 28 00:01:18,966 --> 00:01:22,500 Hey, Romans 12 for going through the through the book of my friend Johnny isn't 29 00:01:22,500 --> 00:01:23,600 here, is he? 30 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:25,200 Is Johnny Richards here? 31 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:25,533 He was. 32 00:01:25,533 --> 00:01:25,933 He was here. 33 00:01:25,933 --> 00:01:28,933 First service, Johnny ritual. 34 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:31,433 Vietnam veteran guy. 35 00:01:31,433 --> 00:01:34,433 Just a just a stud of a man. 36 00:01:34,933 --> 00:01:37,500 You've been serving this church a long time. 37 00:01:37,500 --> 00:01:39,800 At the door. 38 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,300 Hasn't been around as much lately with some health stuff. 39 00:01:42,300 --> 00:01:45,600 And he's moving with his family to Washington. 40 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:47,200 And so I was asking 41 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:49,166 because we kind of honored him in the first service, 42 00:01:49,166 --> 00:01:51,066 but I guess he needed to take off. 43 00:01:51,066 --> 00:01:54,566 So anyway, again, it's one of those things, if you know Johnny, 44 00:01:54,866 --> 00:01:56,533 you know, just keep him in your prayers. 45 00:01:56,533 --> 00:01:58,500 It's a good move for him. 46 00:01:58,500 --> 00:02:01,000 If you don't know Johnny, keep him in your prayers. 47 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:02,100 It's a good move for him. 48 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:05,866 But anyway, I just wanted to be able acknowledge him if he were here. 49 00:02:05,866 --> 00:02:08,200 I love that guy. 50 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,200 Hey, Romans 12, 51 00:02:12,500 --> 00:02:15,500 we're going chapter by chapter through this book, 52 00:02:15,766 --> 00:02:19,133 and Romans 12, Paul turns a corner. 53 00:02:20,233 --> 00:02:24,000 And in typical Pauline style, the way Paul writes, 54 00:02:24,666 --> 00:02:28,833 Paul always gives doctrine before duty. 55 00:02:29,766 --> 00:02:32,766 He always says, here's your position in Christ, 56 00:02:33,266 --> 00:02:36,300 and here's your practice as a Christ follower. 57 00:02:36,700 --> 00:02:39,900 And it's always doctrine first before he gets to the duty part. 58 00:02:39,900 --> 00:02:43,833 And so here's here's his part of part of his emphasis is 59 00:02:43,833 --> 00:02:49,766 he wants us to know so that we will do, but he doesn't want us to stop with doing. 60 00:02:49,766 --> 00:02:52,766 He wants the doing to become becoming. 61 00:02:53,100 --> 00:02:57,300 Okay, so most people just stop with the know. 62 00:02:57,466 --> 00:02:58,666 Well, now I know. 63 00:02:58,666 --> 00:03:01,600 So I'm going to explain this to me now I know and then they go on with life. 64 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,900 Paul's point is, it's not enough to know you have to do, 65 00:03:06,466 --> 00:03:09,466 but it's not enough just to do because that's a religious robot. 66 00:03:09,833 --> 00:03:12,833 The point is, transformation to actually become is a 67 00:03:12,900 --> 00:03:18,300 there's an existential peace to this is it is knowing, but not just knowing. 68 00:03:18,300 --> 00:03:21,033 It is doing but not just doing. It's actually becoming. 69 00:03:21,033 --> 00:03:26,000 And chapter 12 is when Paul turns the corner to the becoming part. 70 00:03:26,700 --> 00:03:28,800 This is who we are to become 71 00:03:30,033 --> 00:03:30,966 and what he's done. 72 00:03:30,966 --> 00:03:34,633 He's he's outlined 11 chapters of doctrine. 73 00:03:35,166 --> 00:03:38,966 So that will have a foundation for the doing 74 00:03:39,833 --> 00:03:42,933 so that we will become right. 75 00:03:42,933 --> 00:03:43,866 You understand what I'm saying? 76 00:03:43,866 --> 00:03:46,800 But he has to set the foundation first. 77 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,133 He has set the doctrine first, because if we don't know 78 00:03:50,133 --> 00:03:53,466 why we're doing something, we're just told to do it. 79 00:03:53,733 --> 00:03:55,200 We've tried that before. 80 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,500 It's called religion and it just burns us up. 81 00:03:58,866 --> 00:04:00,366 Do this. Don't do that. Why? 82 00:04:00,366 --> 00:04:03,000 Just because you know, it just. 83 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,766 And so Paul says, look, I want you to know why. 84 00:04:05,766 --> 00:04:08,766 And I want you to have a reason why. 85 00:04:09,133 --> 00:04:11,400 And his reason is because of 86 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,400 everything that God's done for us in Christ. 87 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:17,066 That's what the first 11 chapters were all about. 88 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,200 He says, I'm going to give you the foundation of doctrine, 89 00:04:21,333 --> 00:04:24,600 because with the foundational doctrine, it's just really just duty. 90 00:04:24,866 --> 00:04:28,866 And so understand who you are in your position in Christ before 91 00:04:28,866 --> 00:04:33,700 you try to practice the life of a Christ follower and our position in Christ. 92 00:04:33,700 --> 00:04:37,133 That Paul took 11 chapters to define for us 93 00:04:37,133 --> 00:04:40,400 is this that every one of us are sinners. 94 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,400 We've broken God's command, 95 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,466 and because of that, we're outside of a right relationship with him. 96 00:04:47,466 --> 00:04:50,433 And something has to repair that relationship. 97 00:04:50,433 --> 00:04:53,466 And what Paul has showed us is that we can't repair 98 00:04:53,466 --> 00:04:56,466 that relationship on our own because we can't be good enough. 99 00:04:56,466 --> 00:04:59,933 We can't even live up to our own standards of living, let alone 100 00:04:59,933 --> 00:05:02,166 love the God standard. Right? 101 00:05:02,166 --> 00:05:05,166 And so someone had to fix that relationship. 102 00:05:05,166 --> 00:05:08,600 And so in those first three chapters, he did an incredible job 103 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,800 of saying, here's the here's the nastiness of sin. 104 00:05:12,633 --> 00:05:17,866 This is how dark and deep and brutal sin is, and we're all guilty of it. 105 00:05:18,533 --> 00:05:21,833 And then in verses or in chapters, the last part of three, 106 00:05:21,833 --> 00:05:25,166 all the way through chapter eight, he talks about the grace of God, 107 00:05:25,500 --> 00:05:30,400 and he puts the grace of God against the backdrop of the darkness of sin. 108 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:34,700 And grace just looks amazing, like God did all of this for us 109 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,966 so he can invite us into this relationship not based on what we've done, 110 00:05:38,966 --> 00:05:43,166 but by his grace, undeserved and unmerited favor 111 00:05:43,166 --> 00:05:47,533 and blessing through faith not a result of anything we do. 112 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,166 And so it's like he's like, God has done all of this 113 00:05:51,166 --> 00:05:55,000 as David said, there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ. 114 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:59,400 All the condemnation that I deserve for my sin was leveled on Jesus. 115 00:05:59,700 --> 00:06:02,400 He took it all so I can stand before 116 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,700 God by his grace through faith. 117 00:06:06,500 --> 00:06:08,966 And God looks at me as if I've never sinned. 118 00:06:08,966 --> 00:06:11,000 Like one ounce. 119 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,500 It's amazing and I did nothing to deserve it. 120 00:06:15,066 --> 00:06:17,166 It was just gifted to me in Christ. 121 00:06:17,166 --> 00:06:18,300 I just have to believe it. 122 00:06:19,666 --> 00:06:22,200 And so Paul says, in light of all of that, this incredible 123 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,533 mercy, mercy is not getting what I deserve. 124 00:06:26,266 --> 00:06:29,633 I deserve condemnation and death and destruction and damnation. 125 00:06:30,233 --> 00:06:32,866 Mercy is when God withholds that 126 00:06:32,866 --> 00:06:35,866 and he levels that against his son, not against me. 127 00:06:35,900 --> 00:06:38,733 Grace has given me something I don't deserve, 128 00:06:38,733 --> 00:06:42,233 which is the unmerited and undeserved favor of God. 129 00:06:42,833 --> 00:06:46,033 All the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm, co-heirs 130 00:06:46,366 --> 00:06:49,133 with Christ like he's given me all of this. 131 00:06:49,133 --> 00:06:50,866 I didn't deserve any of it. 132 00:06:50,866 --> 00:06:53,666 And Paul saying, in love, that's the foundation. 133 00:06:53,666 --> 00:06:57,233 And until you understand the foundation, all the rest of what 134 00:06:57,233 --> 00:07:00,233 Paul is going to tell us is, is just religious duty. 135 00:07:00,866 --> 00:07:03,933 He's going to say, I have a transformed mind. Why? 136 00:07:03,966 --> 00:07:08,233 I don't know, just because you need a different mind, you need to do different. 137 00:07:08,366 --> 00:07:10,600 Well, it doesn't make it it doesn't make sense 138 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,600 if I don't understand the foundation, like the foundation 139 00:07:13,900 --> 00:07:16,700 is because of what God has done for us through Christ. 140 00:07:16,700 --> 00:07:18,566 He's been so good. 141 00:07:18,566 --> 00:07:20,566 He's been so gracious to us. 142 00:07:20,566 --> 00:07:25,833 In light of all that, now we become something different and so, 143 00:07:28,033 --> 00:07:29,933 chapter 12, 144 00:07:29,933 --> 00:07:32,000 this is the big idea for a chapter 12. 145 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,233 I want you to get this. 146 00:07:34,233 --> 00:07:37,100 Our transformed life is the sermon 147 00:07:37,100 --> 00:07:40,100 that our huddle will always hear. 148 00:07:40,100 --> 00:07:41,900 We have to understand this. 149 00:07:41,900 --> 00:07:46,066 Our transformed life is the sermon that those in our huddle, 150 00:07:46,066 --> 00:07:51,000 those 8 to 15 around our lives, will always hear in parenting. 151 00:07:51,866 --> 00:07:52,700 I say it like this. 152 00:07:52,700 --> 00:07:54,233 You've heard this said 153 00:07:54,233 --> 00:07:57,300 that our kids learn more by what's caught, then by what's taught, 154 00:07:58,366 --> 00:07:59,600 right? 155 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,200 We could tell them everything, but what they will catch 156 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,200 is what they see, not what we say. 157 00:08:05,900 --> 00:08:08,166 And so it's the same thing with our faith. 158 00:08:08,166 --> 00:08:12,733 Now, we have to say, parents, you have to instruct your children, 159 00:08:13,900 --> 00:08:16,500 but your life better look like your instruction to them. 160 00:08:16,500 --> 00:08:17,300 You follow. 161 00:08:18,300 --> 00:08:20,666 And so we have to say, 162 00:08:20,666 --> 00:08:22,933 but our spiritual, our Christian life 163 00:08:22,933 --> 00:08:25,933 has to look like those things we say. 164 00:08:26,066 --> 00:08:28,066 So our transformed life 165 00:08:28,066 --> 00:08:31,766 is the sermon that our huddle will always hear. 166 00:08:31,766 --> 00:08:34,766 And so Paul takes a turn now from all the doctrine. 167 00:08:34,766 --> 00:08:37,766 The first 11 chapters and says, now, 168 00:08:37,933 --> 00:08:40,933 in light of all of that, how good God is, 169 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,533 this is what a transformed life looks like. 170 00:08:44,533 --> 00:08:46,766 This is what we are to do. 171 00:08:46,766 --> 00:08:49,766 And so in verse one. 172 00:08:51,733 --> 00:08:54,733 Oh, let me say this, I didn't say this, but let me say this, did I? 173 00:08:54,733 --> 00:08:56,000 I shared that part yet. 174 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:56,300 Yeah. 175 00:08:56,300 --> 00:08:59,133 Verse one here we he says I appeal to you. 176 00:08:59,133 --> 00:09:03,133 Therefore, brothers and sisters, I'm making this appeal 177 00:09:03,766 --> 00:09:06,233 by the mercies of God 178 00:09:06,233 --> 00:09:09,500 to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, 179 00:09:09,700 --> 00:09:13,666 holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 180 00:09:14,900 --> 00:09:17,900 He said, I'm I'm making this appeal to you 181 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,766 by the mercies of God, in light of everything 182 00:09:20,766 --> 00:09:23,766 that God's done, how merciful he's been. 183 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,700 He took what you deserve, what I deserve, and put it on his son. 184 00:09:28,533 --> 00:09:31,966 And he invited us into this relationship with him 185 00:09:33,300 --> 00:09:36,400 because he values us that much, that he wants 186 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,400 to repair the broken relationship. 187 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:40,366 And he's done all the work. 188 00:09:40,366 --> 00:09:42,566 And now he invites us into this relationship. 189 00:09:42,566 --> 00:09:46,333 But in light of all he's done, he says, I appeal to you 190 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,000 to present your bodies as living sacrifices. 191 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,633 Now in the Old Testament, they would always do sacrifices, 192 00:09:54,866 --> 00:09:57,866 like at the temple, you know, whatever it was a, 193 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,200 a lamb, a dove, whatever they, you know, for this animal put on sacrifice. 194 00:10:03,233 --> 00:10:06,100 What Paul is saying is take that imagery. 195 00:10:06,100 --> 00:10:09,533 He says, I don't want you to be a dying sacrifice. 196 00:10:09,533 --> 00:10:11,433 Jesus already died in your place. 197 00:10:11,433 --> 00:10:13,333 Now I want you to be a living sacrifice. 198 00:10:13,333 --> 00:10:16,333 Here's the problem with living sacrifices. 199 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:19,633 Living sacrifices have a tendency to crawl off the altar, 200 00:10:20,666 --> 00:10:23,400 you know, down and saying, like, God, I'm yours. 201 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,400 And then I'm going to get off this and I'm going to do my own thing. 202 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:27,900 We keep crawling back 203 00:10:27,900 --> 00:10:30,600 on, crawling back off and crawl back on the crawling back off. 204 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,066 That's the problem with living sacrifices, he said. 205 00:10:33,066 --> 00:10:37,733 But I want you to offer your whole body, your whole self as a living sacrifice. 206 00:10:39,066 --> 00:10:42,066 It's a choice, he says, that you have to make. 207 00:10:42,166 --> 00:10:45,100 It's a decision of the will 208 00:10:45,100 --> 00:10:48,433 to say, God, I understand all that you've done for me through your son. 209 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,466 And my response to that is to offer 210 00:10:51,466 --> 00:10:54,500 my whole life as a sacrifice to you. 211 00:10:55,033 --> 00:10:59,900 Here's here's part of what he's saying God wants you, not just your work. 212 00:11:01,500 --> 00:11:02,400 And God wants 213 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,400 your choice, not just compliance 214 00:11:06,266 --> 00:11:07,500 that you follow. 215 00:11:07,500 --> 00:11:09,000 Yeah, 216 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,000 see, most religious people 217 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,000 just simply try to live in compliance. 218 00:11:14,733 --> 00:11:17,833 And then when they do, they look down at people who are not in compliance. 219 00:11:19,133 --> 00:11:19,466 Right. 220 00:11:19,466 --> 00:11:22,800 The like Karen at the HOA is always it just. 221 00:11:24,466 --> 00:11:26,666 And so 222 00:11:26,666 --> 00:11:29,000 God got it in your compliance. 223 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:32,000 He wants he wants your choice. 224 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,566 He wants you just not what you do. 225 00:11:34,566 --> 00:11:37,333 So offer your whole life to him 226 00:11:37,333 --> 00:11:40,333 as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. 227 00:11:40,366 --> 00:11:44,200 When Paul uses that word holy, he he's talking about you said, I want you. 228 00:11:44,233 --> 00:11:47,533 You have to make a decision to holy living 229 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:51,233 and yield to what holiness does, 230 00:11:51,866 --> 00:11:54,866 burns away all that which is unholy. 231 00:11:56,233 --> 00:12:00,500 I appeal to you in light of all that God has done to offer yourself. 232 00:12:00,500 --> 00:12:03,500 Make it a choice, not just compliance, 233 00:12:03,900 --> 00:12:08,000 to offer all of yourself as a living sacrifice, holy 234 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:13,233 and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 235 00:12:14,333 --> 00:12:15,400 Some verses say, 236 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,400 or sometimes I say, which is your spiritual act of worship 237 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,800 in essence, here, here's what he's saying. 238 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,600 He's saying that. 239 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,666 That that idea, your spiritual worship. 240 00:12:27,666 --> 00:12:31,500 It literally means a reasonable worship. 241 00:12:32,733 --> 00:12:34,666 It literally means this is the 242 00:12:34,666 --> 00:12:37,666 the reasonable response. 243 00:12:38,500 --> 00:12:42,000 That's what it means in light of all God's and the reasonable response, 244 00:12:42,033 --> 00:12:46,933 the true and proper response is given your life as a sacrifice to God. 245 00:12:47,633 --> 00:12:50,533 Literally, it means of the word. 246 00:12:50,533 --> 00:12:52,900 Here's what he's saying living a transformed 247 00:12:52,900 --> 00:12:56,033 life is living a life according to the word. 248 00:12:57,133 --> 00:13:00,233 That's what Paul saying in light of all that God has done, 249 00:13:01,433 --> 00:13:02,900 are true. 250 00:13:02,900 --> 00:13:06,866 Proper, reasonable response is to live a life 251 00:13:06,866 --> 00:13:09,866 according to the word 252 00:13:09,900 --> 00:13:13,366 which is holy and acceptable to God. 253 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,833 You follow well. You track any questions yet 254 00:13:18,066 --> 00:13:19,033 is only verse one. 255 00:13:19,033 --> 00:13:21,800 We got like 21 to get through. 256 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:24,800 Now watch. 257 00:13:25,233 --> 00:13:28,300 He says, I want you to be like this. 258 00:13:28,300 --> 00:13:30,900 This whole offer of your life. 259 00:13:30,900 --> 00:13:32,400 How do you do that? 260 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:33,666 Well, he gives us instruction. 261 00:13:33,666 --> 00:13:36,600 Do not be conformed to the world, to this world, 262 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,600 but be transformed by how? 263 00:13:39,766 --> 00:13:42,966 By the renewal of your mind, that by testing you 264 00:13:42,966 --> 00:13:47,100 may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 265 00:13:47,366 --> 00:13:49,800 It's just, look, I'm not just saying 266 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:53,200 that we need to offer our lives to God because of what he's done. 267 00:13:53,266 --> 00:13:55,833 I'm going to tell you how this happens. 268 00:13:55,833 --> 00:14:00,866 And the way this happens, he says, is don't be conformed, but be transformed. 269 00:14:01,333 --> 00:14:06,366 That word conform, literally means in the Greek it means chameleon. 270 00:14:07,500 --> 00:14:08,966 Don't be a chameleon. 271 00:14:08,966 --> 00:14:10,800 You know what a chameleon is? 272 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:13,800 This is who I am until I'm in this environment. 273 00:14:14,100 --> 00:14:16,966 And the moment I'm in this environment, I look just like the environment 274 00:14:16,966 --> 00:14:19,966 around me. 275 00:14:20,233 --> 00:14:21,533 Follow. 276 00:14:21,533 --> 00:14:23,933 Well, so many of us 277 00:14:23,933 --> 00:14:26,933 claim to be Jesus followers 278 00:14:27,100 --> 00:14:29,400 and then get in an environment 279 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,066 that doesn't look like Jesus, 280 00:14:32,066 --> 00:14:35,066 and we end up looking just like the environment. 281 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:37,900 Right. 282 00:14:37,900 --> 00:14:38,900 Yeah. 283 00:14:38,900 --> 00:14:41,100 He said, don't 284 00:14:41,100 --> 00:14:43,633 you got a choice to make? 285 00:14:43,633 --> 00:14:45,333 Don't 286 00:14:45,333 --> 00:14:47,700 chameleon eyes 287 00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:50,700 I don't that's a word. 288 00:14:50,933 --> 00:14:52,033 Don't be conformed. 289 00:14:52,033 --> 00:14:53,466 Like be transformed. 290 00:14:53,466 --> 00:14:56,466 That word transfer means metamorphosis. 291 00:14:56,533 --> 00:14:59,533 It means there's an actual change of being. 292 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:04,833 He says, don't be conformed to the pattern of this word, to this culture. 293 00:15:04,833 --> 00:15:07,833 Don't look like it, 294 00:15:07,900 --> 00:15:09,833 but be transformed. Well that's great. 295 00:15:09,833 --> 00:15:12,533 How do you remember how he said to be transformed? 296 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:15,566 Do you remember 297 00:15:15,566 --> 00:15:18,233 by the renewal of your mind? 298 00:15:18,233 --> 00:15:20,366 It's a choice. 299 00:15:20,366 --> 00:15:23,366 We just don't sit back and say, okay, God, go ahead, do what you want to do. 300 00:15:24,100 --> 00:15:25,400 Like there's a choice. 301 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:29,033 There's a there's a commitment because of everything. 302 00:15:29,033 --> 00:15:31,266 The heat God's doing, all the heavy lifting. 303 00:15:31,266 --> 00:15:31,933 Yeah. 304 00:15:31,933 --> 00:15:35,933 Now there's a commitment choice on our part by the renewing of your mind. 305 00:15:36,266 --> 00:15:37,733 Philippians four eight. 306 00:15:37,733 --> 00:15:40,133 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, 307 00:15:40,133 --> 00:15:42,700 whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, 308 00:15:42,700 --> 00:15:45,366 whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, 309 00:15:45,366 --> 00:15:49,066 if there's any excellence, if there's anything worthy of praise, 310 00:15:49,066 --> 00:15:50,400 think about these things. 311 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,400 It's a conscious decision, a choice. 312 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,400 Renew your mind. You. 313 00:15:58,033 --> 00:16:00,533 Easier said than done. 314 00:16:00,533 --> 00:16:01,966 Oh, yeah. 315 00:16:01,966 --> 00:16:04,966 Now listen. 316 00:16:06,300 --> 00:16:07,666 Don't be conformed. 317 00:16:07,666 --> 00:16:09,033 Be transformed by the renewing mind. 318 00:16:09,033 --> 00:16:11,666 Then you'll be able to test and prove what God's will is. 319 00:16:11,666 --> 00:16:14,033 One of the reasons, I think there are so many people 320 00:16:14,033 --> 00:16:16,166 who are trying to follow Jesus, who 321 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,800 end up asking, What's God's will? 322 00:16:21,566 --> 00:16:23,900 Why this? Why that? 323 00:16:23,900 --> 00:16:27,000 I suggest you from what Paul says, without a renewed mind, 324 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,000 you cannot know the will of God. 325 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,000 I'm going. 326 00:16:32,933 --> 00:16:35,400 Without a new mind, you cannot know the will of God. 327 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:39,466 And I think that's why so many people sit in church trying to do 328 00:16:39,466 --> 00:16:42,900 right, but end up asking the question at the end of day, What is God's will? 329 00:16:42,900 --> 00:16:43,733 What does he want? 330 00:16:43,733 --> 00:16:44,533 Why does he allow? 331 00:16:44,533 --> 00:16:47,800 Why does he do reason this? 332 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:49,333 Because 333 00:16:49,333 --> 00:16:52,333 we're not be an active participant in the renewal of our minds. 334 00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:56,000 Now, I grew up 335 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:59,133 like I was born in 67, so you can do the math. 336 00:16:59,133 --> 00:17:00,533 You know how old I am. 337 00:17:00,533 --> 00:17:02,300 But my formative years. 338 00:17:02,300 --> 00:17:05,300 Okay. 339 00:17:05,466 --> 00:17:08,933 80s music is the best music the world has ever known. 340 00:17:09,166 --> 00:17:10,833 I'm just saying it just. 341 00:17:10,833 --> 00:17:13,933 It just is 70s were pretty cool. 342 00:17:14,333 --> 00:17:17,466 The 60s was like, hey, something new is happening. 343 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,033 70s is a pretty cool 80s was the Paramount 344 00:17:21,733 --> 00:17:24,733 90s 2000 is nothing but trash. 345 00:17:25,066 --> 00:17:27,266 It just is bad. 346 00:17:27,266 --> 00:17:30,300 I'm not going to talk about, you know, as of late. 347 00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:31,800 But here's my point. 348 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:37,033 When the majority 349 00:17:37,033 --> 00:17:40,233 of what goes through my ears, into my mind 350 00:17:41,666 --> 00:17:45,666 is the theology and the culture of the 80s, 351 00:17:46,766 --> 00:17:51,700 that is not going to lend itself to a transformed mind of holiness. 352 00:17:52,833 --> 00:17:55,833 Do you follow the father? 353 00:17:56,733 --> 00:17:59,033 I love 80s music, 354 00:17:59,033 --> 00:18:03,366 but if I want a transformed mind, what needs to go through my ears, into 355 00:18:03,366 --> 00:18:06,366 my mind is the holiness of God, 356 00:18:07,100 --> 00:18:10,100 not the music of the 80s. 357 00:18:13,300 --> 00:18:16,300 Right. 358 00:18:18,666 --> 00:18:21,200 There are so many people that 359 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:23,366 when we're at home, music's on. 360 00:18:23,366 --> 00:18:25,600 We get into the vehicle, drive. 361 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,600 Music's on the. 362 00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:30,200 And when. 363 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:34,400 That is the primary source of our theology 364 00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:39,033 and doctrine and worldview and standard. 365 00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:43,533 Those messages are contrary to the holiness of God. 366 00:18:44,533 --> 00:18:49,366 There is no way in God's green earth that I'm going to renew my mind 367 00:18:49,466 --> 00:18:53,833 when it's constantly filled with things that are other than the holiness 368 00:18:53,833 --> 00:18:58,166 and the worldview of my God and Savior you follow. 369 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,433 And here. So let's not play games anymore. 370 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,200 I won't even talk about 371 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,200 what goes into our head on this thing. 372 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,333 And this source said, this is where the rubber meets the road. 373 00:19:17,333 --> 00:19:18,600 This is where Paul turns the corner. 374 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,800 This is where it gets tough, 375 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:22,733 and this is where it has to move from knowledge 376 00:19:22,733 --> 00:19:25,733 to doing to becoming. 377 00:19:25,966 --> 00:19:28,966 I am someone different now. 378 00:19:30,033 --> 00:19:33,033 I guarantee you that I can look back on my life 379 00:19:33,433 --> 00:19:36,433 and my spiritual low points. 380 00:19:37,466 --> 00:19:39,266 And there is a direct correlation 381 00:19:39,266 --> 00:19:42,266 to my spiritual low points. 382 00:19:43,266 --> 00:19:46,266 And the difficulty in relationships 383 00:19:46,500 --> 00:19:49,366 when I'm muted. 384 00:19:49,366 --> 00:19:52,366 The words of God in my head. 385 00:19:54,300 --> 00:19:55,400 And those words were coming 386 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,400 from many other things. 387 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:02,100 You follow, 388 00:20:02,100 --> 00:20:05,100 you know. I'm. 389 00:20:06,266 --> 00:20:07,400 Why is this important? 390 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:11,933 Because our transformed life will be the message that our huddle will always hear. 391 00:20:13,633 --> 00:20:15,600 And I cannot be transformed 392 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,633 and know the will of God without my mind being renewed. 393 00:20:24,766 --> 00:20:27,766 See, what Paul saying is, I don't want you to blend in like 394 00:20:27,900 --> 00:20:30,900 me, and I want you to break out like a transformation. 395 00:20:31,666 --> 00:20:34,666 That's what he's saying in light of what God's done. 396 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,800 Don't be conformed to the standard, the culture, 397 00:20:38,633 --> 00:20:40,966 the movement 398 00:20:40,966 --> 00:20:44,033 of the world that is contrary to the holiness of God. 399 00:20:45,233 --> 00:20:46,600 You'll 400 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,600 see at the end of the day, what we have to understand is this 401 00:20:49,633 --> 00:20:52,633 is that a mind shift is what creates a life shift. 402 00:20:53,666 --> 00:20:54,100 Amen. 403 00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:57,266 And so many of us are trying to do right to make a life shift 404 00:20:57,266 --> 00:21:00,266 without ever having a mind shift. 405 00:21:03,966 --> 00:21:06,566 Approved for the Christian life is not what we say. 406 00:21:06,566 --> 00:21:06,900 The truth. 407 00:21:06,900 --> 00:21:10,600 The Christian life is a transformed life and that transformation is ongoing. 408 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:11,433 It's not stagnant, 409 00:21:13,100 --> 00:21:16,633 ongoing, continually renewing our mind. 410 00:21:20,166 --> 00:21:22,800 So that's verses one and two. 411 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,400 We only got 21 to get through. 412 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,200 Let me pick up the pace a little bit. 413 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:28,666 Look at this. 414 00:21:28,666 --> 00:21:31,466 Verses three, four and five. 415 00:21:31,466 --> 00:21:34,966 For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you 416 00:21:34,966 --> 00:21:38,400 not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, 417 00:21:38,766 --> 00:21:41,766 but to think with sober judgment, saying, look, listen, 418 00:21:42,233 --> 00:21:45,133 like just come down off the high horse a little bit. 419 00:21:45,133 --> 00:21:47,633 Let's have a sober judgment of ourselves. 420 00:21:47,633 --> 00:21:51,133 It doesn't mean think less of ourselves, it just means think more of others. 421 00:21:51,833 --> 00:21:54,833 So let's just like, be humble here, 422 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,900 each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 423 00:21:58,900 --> 00:22:01,666 God's given us a measure of faith. 424 00:22:01,666 --> 00:22:03,900 For as in one body, 425 00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:07,800 we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function. 426 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,633 So we though many of us are 427 00:22:11,633 --> 00:22:15,733 one body in Christ and individually we're members of one another. 428 00:22:15,733 --> 00:22:16,866 Here's what he's saying. 429 00:22:16,866 --> 00:22:20,600 He's going to talk about spiritual gifts in just a moment, but he gives a warning. 430 00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:24,300 He says, before you talk, before we talk about ourselves, 431 00:22:24,333 --> 00:22:27,566 just be humble and just be humble. 432 00:22:28,666 --> 00:22:30,700 Don't start thinking about what other people need to do. 433 00:22:30,700 --> 00:22:32,233 Consider what you need to do. 434 00:22:32,233 --> 00:22:33,933 Don't start to think about you over them. 435 00:22:33,933 --> 00:22:34,866 Just just be humble. 436 00:22:34,866 --> 00:22:37,866 Have a sober opinion of yourself 437 00:22:37,866 --> 00:22:41,466 because he's going to start talking to us about this idea of spiritual gifts. 438 00:22:41,466 --> 00:22:44,500 And I want to explain this idea of spiritual gifts to you. 439 00:22:45,666 --> 00:22:48,700 Let me read the passage, and then I'm going to come back and explain some stuff. 440 00:22:50,133 --> 00:22:51,900 Having gifts that differ 441 00:22:51,900 --> 00:22:55,200 according to the grace given to us, let us use them. 442 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,966 Let me tell you this the moment someone aligns their life 443 00:22:58,966 --> 00:23:02,633 with the father, by his grace through faith in the son, 444 00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:06,033 by the grace of God, the Holy Spirit 445 00:23:06,033 --> 00:23:09,033 imparts to that person a spiritual gift. 446 00:23:09,233 --> 00:23:10,933 It's a gift. You're not born with it. 447 00:23:12,066 --> 00:23:15,066 Depending on what God wants to do through your life 448 00:23:15,466 --> 00:23:17,766 at that moment of salvation, he gives you 449 00:23:17,766 --> 00:23:20,766 a spiritual gift and it's to be used. 450 00:23:20,766 --> 00:23:22,800 And then he goes into this. 451 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:27,133 If prophecy is that gift in proportion to your faith, to our faith, 452 00:23:27,333 --> 00:23:30,333 if service is that gift in serving 453 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:35,400 the one who teaches in his teaching, the one who exhorts in his exhortation, 454 00:23:35,466 --> 00:23:40,033 the one who contributes in generosity, the one who leads with the zeal, 455 00:23:40,033 --> 00:23:42,600 the one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness. 456 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:44,533 Let me unpack this. 457 00:23:44,533 --> 00:23:47,066 Every one of you in here, every one of us, 458 00:23:47,066 --> 00:23:50,300 if you have a relationship with Jesus, has one of those spiritual gifts. 459 00:23:50,733 --> 00:23:53,733 Every one of us. 460 00:23:54,466 --> 00:23:55,600 Here's what I want. 461 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,066 One of the things I want to drive home. 462 00:23:58,066 --> 00:24:01,433 Giftedness does not equal maturity. 463 00:24:03,166 --> 00:24:05,033 So sometimes we look at someone 464 00:24:05,033 --> 00:24:08,900 with a spiritual gift like, wow, they're really gifted. 465 00:24:08,900 --> 00:24:10,333 It doesn't mean they're mature. 466 00:24:10,333 --> 00:24:13,333 There's a lot of gifted people who are super mature. 467 00:24:13,633 --> 00:24:13,833 Okay? 468 00:24:13,833 --> 00:24:18,133 So don't don't make the equation that this spiritual gift looks like, oh, 469 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,333 they've got to be a mature Christ follower. 470 00:24:20,333 --> 00:24:22,433 It's not the same now. 471 00:24:22,433 --> 00:24:26,666 Much spiritual maturity will not come without the exercise of spiritual gifts, 472 00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:30,633 but just because the extra spiritual gifts happen doesn't mean they're mature. 473 00:24:31,533 --> 00:24:32,300 I just want to. 474 00:24:32,300 --> 00:24:35,033 I just want to make that point. 475 00:24:35,033 --> 00:24:35,700 The idea. 476 00:24:35,700 --> 00:24:37,233 I'm going to do a little bit of Bible teaching. 477 00:24:37,233 --> 00:24:42,566 Okay, so can I do just a little bit of like pretend like I'm a teacher right now? 478 00:24:42,566 --> 00:24:46,566 Like, and so for, for Bible 479 00:24:46,566 --> 00:24:52,600 students, we know that there's generally accepted three sections of spiritual gifts 480 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:57,800 in the New Testament Romans 12, first Corinthians 12, and Ephesians four. 481 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:00,566 That's generally accepted the three areas of spiritual gifts. 482 00:25:00,566 --> 00:25:03,666 I want to make the suggestion that this in 483 00:25:03,666 --> 00:25:06,666 Romans 12 is the only true list of spiritual gifts, 484 00:25:08,033 --> 00:25:10,466 because it's the only place in the New Testament 485 00:25:10,466 --> 00:25:15,200 where the word gifts is used in relation to spiritual gifts. 486 00:25:16,300 --> 00:25:17,800 First Corinthians 12. 487 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:20,600 Ephesians four does not use the word gifts. 488 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:22,533 It's talking about something different. 489 00:25:22,533 --> 00:25:26,266 And so I want to suggest to you that this list right here 490 00:25:26,533 --> 00:25:29,533 is the true list of spiritual gifts. 491 00:25:29,666 --> 00:25:33,100 The others are a little bit different, all from the Holy Spirit. 492 00:25:33,966 --> 00:25:37,033 But these this list in Romans 12 493 00:25:37,366 --> 00:25:40,366 are for the purpose of, 494 00:25:40,966 --> 00:25:43,700 this is the only place a gift is used, is for the purpose 495 00:25:43,700 --> 00:25:46,933 of expounding the word and expanding the work. 496 00:25:48,100 --> 00:25:52,033 This list in Romans 12, they're given to us for one of two 497 00:25:52,033 --> 00:25:56,733 purposes to either expound the word or to expand the work. 498 00:25:57,566 --> 00:25:59,733 This list is different than what's in first 499 00:25:59,733 --> 00:26:02,733 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians four. 500 00:26:02,766 --> 00:26:04,300 What's listed there 501 00:26:05,466 --> 00:26:08,700 is the first Corinthians 12 is the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. 502 00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:11,700 How the Holy Spirit kind of reveals the Holy Spirit's work of the world. 503 00:26:11,733 --> 00:26:14,733 And Ephesians four is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 504 00:26:14,733 --> 00:26:18,566 But the only place giftedness is used is here in Romans 12. 505 00:26:19,366 --> 00:26:21,433 And every one of you, for every relationship with Jesus, 506 00:26:21,433 --> 00:26:22,700 have one of these gifts. 507 00:26:22,700 --> 00:26:26,133 And that gift is given to you by the grace of God, 508 00:26:26,933 --> 00:26:29,933 so that you will use it. 509 00:26:30,700 --> 00:26:32,766 Not ignore it, 510 00:26:32,766 --> 00:26:34,566 not waste it. 511 00:26:34,566 --> 00:26:35,600 Not develop it. 512 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:38,933 To use it and to develop it. Use. 513 00:26:39,933 --> 00:26:42,066 And so let me just go through these. 514 00:26:42,066 --> 00:26:45,066 I want you to be aware with these spiritual gifts are, 515 00:26:45,533 --> 00:26:48,366 where am I? 516 00:26:48,366 --> 00:26:50,866 Now I in verse five let me go to verse. 517 00:26:50,866 --> 00:26:52,600 Let me go to verse, verse six. 518 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:53,733 So follow on the computer 519 00:26:53,733 --> 00:26:57,433 back there having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. 520 00:26:57,666 --> 00:26:58,800 Let us use them. 521 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,933 I read this already, I did okay, I won't go. 522 00:27:01,933 --> 00:27:03,266 I don't want to read it again. 523 00:27:03,266 --> 00:27:03,500 There's. 524 00:27:03,500 --> 00:27:04,200 Let me tell you what this is. 525 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:05,066 So verse six says, 526 00:27:05,066 --> 00:27:08,733 if you got to give a prophecy, then prophesy in proportion to your faith. 527 00:27:08,966 --> 00:27:12,433 Here's what this prophecy is not foretelling the future. 528 00:27:13,033 --> 00:27:16,033 Prophecy is forth telling the truth in the moment. 529 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:18,166 That's a biblical prophecy. 530 00:27:18,166 --> 00:27:20,800 It might involve future, but not necessarily 531 00:27:22,033 --> 00:27:22,933 what prophecy? 532 00:27:22,933 --> 00:27:26,233 The spiritual policy is seen in this instance. 533 00:27:26,566 --> 00:27:28,433 Here's the truth of Scripture. 534 00:27:28,433 --> 00:27:32,600 For this instant you understand some of you have that gift. 535 00:27:33,433 --> 00:27:34,133 You can. 536 00:27:34,133 --> 00:27:36,800 You see the situation, you see the scenario. 537 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:40,733 And like this is the Word of God for this people at this time. 538 00:27:40,733 --> 00:27:43,000 That's a spiritual gift, a prophecy. 539 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,600 Okay. 540 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:48,566 In verse seven, if it's serving in service, 541 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:51,966 some of you have the spiritual gift of serving. 542 00:27:51,966 --> 00:27:54,233 That is the Greek word diaconate. 543 00:27:54,233 --> 00:27:57,233 It's where we get our church word deacon. 544 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:01,166 It means literally those who do the menial work at the church, 545 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:05,833 deacons and deacon S's are not those who sit around the table 546 00:28:05,833 --> 00:28:08,766 telling the pastors what they have to do and how to spend the money. 547 00:28:08,766 --> 00:28:12,533 Deacons in the church, according to the word, is the gift of service. 548 00:28:12,533 --> 00:28:15,600 They're the ones who unclog the toilets, and they're the ones who change 549 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:16,533 the burned out lights 550 00:28:18,166 --> 00:28:19,433 serving. 551 00:28:19,433 --> 00:28:22,433 They're the ones who do all the renovation of our buildings. 552 00:28:23,300 --> 00:28:26,700 It's a spiritual gift to a serving, and some of you are uniquely 553 00:28:26,700 --> 00:28:29,100 gifted to do that. 554 00:28:29,100 --> 00:28:31,666 Do it. 555 00:28:31,666 --> 00:28:34,633 Please. 556 00:28:34,633 --> 00:28:37,966 Because otherwise, this guy 557 00:28:39,066 --> 00:28:41,633 has her. 558 00:28:41,633 --> 00:28:44,633 Some of you are gifted in this. 559 00:28:47,766 --> 00:28:48,833 The gift of prophecy. 560 00:28:48,833 --> 00:28:49,966 Expounding the word. 561 00:28:49,966 --> 00:28:51,266 The gift of service. 562 00:28:51,266 --> 00:28:54,266 Expanding the work. 563 00:28:56,366 --> 00:28:59,366 And then he says, what's that teaching? 564 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:02,233 If. If it's teaching, do it, use it. 565 00:29:02,233 --> 00:29:04,000 If teaching is different than prophecy. 566 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:07,000 While prophecy says this is the word for this moment, 567 00:29:07,100 --> 00:29:10,933 teaching is instruction in the word and the ways of God. 568 00:29:11,700 --> 00:29:13,166 Here's the Word of God. 569 00:29:13,166 --> 00:29:15,900 Here's the instruction 570 00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:17,066 to understand. 571 00:29:17,066 --> 00:29:19,800 And some people are gifted in teaching. 572 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:22,633 And if that's your gift, 573 00:29:22,633 --> 00:29:25,633 teach somewhere 574 00:29:26,100 --> 00:29:28,033 something of God. 575 00:29:28,033 --> 00:29:29,266 Expand 576 00:29:30,433 --> 00:29:33,433 the word or expound the word, 577 00:29:33,733 --> 00:29:36,733 and let other giftedness expand the work. 578 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:39,000 Exhortation. 579 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,700 If it's exhortation, exhort. 580 00:29:41,700 --> 00:29:44,100 Exhortation is different than prophecy and teaching. 581 00:29:44,100 --> 00:29:47,200 Exhortation is encouraging to do what you already been taught. 582 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:51,600 And so prophecy will say, This is God's Word for this moment. 583 00:29:51,733 --> 00:29:54,266 Teaching will say, this is how you flesh it out. 584 00:29:54,266 --> 00:29:57,266 And exhortation will say, now let me encourage you to do it. 585 00:29:58,466 --> 00:30:00,633 Do become 586 00:30:00,633 --> 00:30:01,800 you understand? 587 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:05,333 It's all the gifts to expound the word. 588 00:30:09,866 --> 00:30:10,866 And then he says, 589 00:30:10,866 --> 00:30:13,866 if your gift is giving, then give 590 00:30:14,866 --> 00:30:16,866 generously. 591 00:30:16,866 --> 00:30:19,866 I think all of us desire to be generous. 592 00:30:20,666 --> 00:30:23,666 I don't think all of us are generous. 593 00:30:23,866 --> 00:30:26,866 We judge ourselves by our intent. 594 00:30:27,533 --> 00:30:31,266 But Paul says, look, don't have the intention to be generous. 595 00:30:31,866 --> 00:30:37,166 And there are some, like with biblically, the tithe, the 10%. 596 00:30:37,166 --> 00:30:40,100 That's not generous. It feels generous. Goes to those feels like a lot of money. 597 00:30:40,100 --> 00:30:43,433 But that's duty generous as well. 598 00:30:43,433 --> 00:30:44,333 Beyond that 599 00:30:45,566 --> 00:30:48,566 it means like abounding, generous. 600 00:30:48,566 --> 00:30:52,800 And there are some people who have been spiritually gifted just off the desire, 601 00:30:52,900 --> 00:30:56,333 but spiritually gifted both to make money and whatever money 602 00:30:56,333 --> 00:30:58,300 they make to give generously to it. 603 00:30:58,300 --> 00:31:01,833 Do you know why we could pay this entire site off in nine years? 604 00:31:03,900 --> 00:31:06,900 Because everybody here has been faithful. 605 00:31:07,066 --> 00:31:09,200 So if you're here, 606 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:12,200 the expectation that you're faithful in your finances. 607 00:31:12,366 --> 00:31:15,366 But we've had some people who are gifted 608 00:31:16,566 --> 00:31:19,300 in generosity 609 00:31:19,300 --> 00:31:20,400 to make sense 610 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:23,266 and and through their giftedness, 611 00:31:23,266 --> 00:31:26,200 some of us expound the word 612 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:29,200 and others help expand the work 613 00:31:29,866 --> 00:31:31,266 you follow. 614 00:31:31,266 --> 00:31:34,266 So if you have the spiritual gift of prophecy, of of general, 615 00:31:34,333 --> 00:31:37,333 of giving awesome. 616 00:31:38,233 --> 00:31:41,233 Give and give a lot. 617 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:44,400 Here's the great promise about giving. 618 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,733 The Bible says that God will never be indebted to anybody. 619 00:31:46,733 --> 00:31:48,566 You can never out give him ever. 620 00:31:50,066 --> 00:31:52,166 And the Bible says, whatever measure we used to give 621 00:31:52,166 --> 00:31:55,166 God will use to give back to us. 622 00:31:58,533 --> 00:31:59,100 And he says, 623 00:31:59,100 --> 00:32:02,533 and if your gift is leading, then lead with zeal. 624 00:32:03,100 --> 00:32:05,733 That word zeal is going to come up again in chapter 11. 625 00:32:05,733 --> 00:32:08,733 That word zeal means grit, 626 00:32:09,133 --> 00:32:11,833 and it means grit. 627 00:32:11,833 --> 00:32:14,633 If if any of you are leaders or have been a leader, 628 00:32:14,633 --> 00:32:17,600 you know how difficult leading is. 629 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:18,866 You know how hard it is. 630 00:32:18,866 --> 00:32:20,833 It's hard work. 631 00:32:20,833 --> 00:32:23,466 I don't care what is your leading Leadings hard. 632 00:32:23,466 --> 00:32:26,533 The most difficult things to lead are volunteer organizations 633 00:32:26,533 --> 00:32:27,300 because you got no. 634 00:32:27,300 --> 00:32:30,300 You got nothing to hold over anybody. 635 00:32:30,333 --> 00:32:32,900 The most difficult things in the world lead us to lead our 636 00:32:32,900 --> 00:32:35,900 volunteer organizations. 637 00:32:36,466 --> 00:32:39,000 And then Paul said, look, if you're gifting us with leading, 638 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:41,333 then lead and have some grit, have some backbone. 639 00:32:41,333 --> 00:32:42,366 Don't quit. 640 00:32:42,366 --> 00:32:44,400 It's going to be tough. It's going to be hard. 641 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:46,566 They're going to be people that you're going to pour into that 642 00:32:46,566 --> 00:32:51,433 will just going to look at you and you just have to just have some grit. 643 00:32:52,233 --> 00:32:53,333 They're going to walk out on you. 644 00:32:53,333 --> 00:32:55,133 They're going to promise they're going to be with you 645 00:32:55,133 --> 00:32:57,000 and a couple of years to go and they're going to walk in. 646 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,500 They're going to see him again, have some grit. 647 00:32:59,500 --> 00:33:00,566 Don't tap out. 648 00:33:00,566 --> 00:33:03,166 It ain't going to be easy. It's tough. Right? 649 00:33:03,166 --> 00:33:03,600 Right. 650 00:33:06,866 --> 00:33:08,233 And nobody could cry for you. 651 00:33:08,233 --> 00:33:11,233 Just lead. 652 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:11,966 And then he says 653 00:33:11,966 --> 00:33:14,966 if it's merciful then be merciful with some cheerfulness. 654 00:33:15,666 --> 00:33:18,833 Some of you, your hearts are so empathetic to what people go through. 655 00:33:18,833 --> 00:33:19,166 Like it? 656 00:33:19,166 --> 00:33:22,366 Just when their hearts break, yours break like you feel. 657 00:33:22,366 --> 00:33:23,100 You just don't see. 658 00:33:23,100 --> 00:33:26,400 You feel it and everything in your bones. 659 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:28,666 You just want to be merciful to them and be like, 660 00:33:28,666 --> 00:33:31,633 how can I come along and say, how can I like you? 661 00:33:31,633 --> 00:33:33,966 Just understand. 662 00:33:33,966 --> 00:33:36,966 And Paul says, that's a hard 663 00:33:37,466 --> 00:33:40,466 that's a hard place to live. 664 00:33:40,533 --> 00:33:42,866 Don't let it over warm overwhelm. 665 00:33:42,866 --> 00:33:47,700 You do that with cheerfulness because you got some spiritual reserves. 666 00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:49,900 Maybe that they don't have. 667 00:33:49,900 --> 00:33:52,900 You know how this thing plays out. 668 00:33:53,566 --> 00:33:54,766 He says, whatever that is. 669 00:33:54,766 --> 00:33:59,833 Like you do that, use it so, and you fall in 670 00:33:59,833 --> 00:34:03,600 one of those areas and expounding the word or expanding the work. 671 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:04,733 Use your gift. 672 00:34:07,133 --> 00:34:08,966 You understand. 673 00:34:08,966 --> 00:34:11,466 And then 674 00:34:11,466 --> 00:34:12,733 did you ever see old movie? 675 00:34:12,733 --> 00:34:14,400 I just popped in my head, The Chariots of Fire. 676 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,000 If you ever see that movie Chariots of Fire. 677 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:18,266 If you haven't, you need to go watch. 678 00:34:18,266 --> 00:34:19,300 It's like in the 80s. 679 00:34:19,300 --> 00:34:21,366 It's the old movie, but it's great. 680 00:34:21,366 --> 00:34:23,933 Eric Little, this Christian 681 00:34:23,933 --> 00:34:27,500 missionary, world class runner and one of the 682 00:34:27,500 --> 00:34:30,633 he was having a he was a qualify for Olympics on multiple events. 683 00:34:30,633 --> 00:34:33,700 But one of them was was, was was going to be held on Sunday. 684 00:34:33,700 --> 00:34:37,200 And he was just he was like, look, I said, Sunday is the Sabbath. 685 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:38,033 I'm not going to do anything. 686 00:34:38,033 --> 00:34:40,733 I'm not even going to run in the Olympics on Sunday. 687 00:34:40,733 --> 00:34:43,000 And he was talking to someone about this, this 688 00:34:44,266 --> 00:34:46,366 who God made him to be. 689 00:34:46,366 --> 00:34:49,366 And he says, God made me fast. 690 00:34:49,666 --> 00:34:52,000 And when I don't run, I hold him 691 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:55,000 in contempt and. 692 00:34:56,966 --> 00:34:58,333 I heard that when I was in high school, 693 00:34:58,333 --> 00:35:01,333 I thought, that's brilliant. 694 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:05,000 When I don't do what God gifted me to do, 695 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:08,000 I hold God in contempt. 696 00:35:09,866 --> 00:35:12,866 You've been gifted. 697 00:35:13,233 --> 00:35:16,233 To be used. 698 00:35:17,300 --> 00:35:20,233 That's what Paul said. 699 00:35:20,233 --> 00:35:21,366 Verse nine. Look at this. 700 00:35:21,366 --> 00:35:23,366 Let love be genuine. 701 00:35:23,366 --> 00:35:24,600 Abhor what is evil. 702 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:26,933 Hold fast to what is good 703 00:35:26,933 --> 00:35:28,066 is a let just look. 704 00:35:28,066 --> 00:35:31,800 Just be authentic and sincere in your love for each other. 705 00:35:32,533 --> 00:35:34,866 Don't. Don't play games with each other. 706 00:35:34,866 --> 00:35:37,866 Be authentic and sincere and these just abhor what is evil. 707 00:35:37,966 --> 00:35:39,233 Hold fast what it is. 708 00:35:39,233 --> 00:35:42,533 That word abhor means treat it like it's cow manure. 709 00:35:43,700 --> 00:35:45,100 It means literally. 710 00:35:45,100 --> 00:35:47,100 Yeah, to detest it, be repulsed by it. 711 00:35:47,100 --> 00:35:50,500 Now, I don't know how many of you, if we're supposed to take 712 00:35:50,500 --> 00:35:52,633 what is evil and simple and treat it as come. 713 00:35:52,633 --> 00:35:57,166 I don't know how many of you have a the if you have a cow manure collection 714 00:35:57,633 --> 00:36:02,433 like on purpose at home like you have them displayed there labeled 715 00:36:03,066 --> 00:36:06,066 what the cow ate and this was the result of it. 716 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:08,000 Do any of you? None do. 717 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:12,466 You don't have these that you keep in, in jars, that you keep it soft and moist 718 00:36:12,466 --> 00:36:17,000 so you can examine the texture and the consistency and a little bit of the aroma. 719 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:19,833 Still none. None of you. 720 00:36:19,833 --> 00:36:20,100 Yeah. 721 00:36:20,100 --> 00:36:23,600 Well, I don't have a cow either, but I do have a bulldog. Oh. 722 00:36:29,133 --> 00:36:30,166 You know, 723 00:36:30,166 --> 00:36:33,166 when Paul says a boar, what is evil, 724 00:36:34,066 --> 00:36:37,066 he means be like, don't play with this. 725 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:40,800 Now, I'll invite you on behalf of my bulldog diesel. 726 00:36:41,466 --> 00:36:44,466 Would any of you like to know? 727 00:36:44,533 --> 00:36:47,133 Just put your hand in and feel this, like a little bit. 728 00:36:47,133 --> 00:36:50,666 I mean, you don't have to really live in the sand, you know? But. 729 00:36:50,766 --> 00:36:53,166 But just want to play with it a little bit. 730 00:36:53,166 --> 00:36:55,533 Just dabble though. 731 00:36:55,533 --> 00:36:56,600 It's really not going to hurt you. 732 00:36:56,600 --> 00:36:58,500 I mean, you know, I can just one week party. 733 00:36:58,500 --> 00:37:01,500 You just going to interview. 734 00:37:01,500 --> 00:37:03,833 You can feel the weight of it. 735 00:37:03,833 --> 00:37:06,000 The squishiness of it. 736 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:07,033 Anybody who you take. No. 737 00:37:07,033 --> 00:37:10,033 There you go. There you go. 738 00:37:10,100 --> 00:37:12,300 Yeah. 739 00:37:12,300 --> 00:37:15,000 Feel good? 740 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:15,733 It's a wet rag. 741 00:37:15,733 --> 00:37:17,400 It's not really my dog stuff. So. 742 00:37:19,166 --> 00:37:22,166 But how many of you were like, don't you? 743 00:37:23,466 --> 00:37:24,600 Right. 744 00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:25,600 Like it's coming at me. 745 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:28,466 I was like, 746 00:37:28,466 --> 00:37:30,666 That's what Paul saying. 747 00:37:30,666 --> 00:37:33,666 That's how you respond to evil. 748 00:37:34,766 --> 00:37:37,066 Like, we have to get to the point where we say, 749 00:37:37,066 --> 00:37:40,066 I'm not going to flirt with it anymore. 750 00:37:40,533 --> 00:37:43,533 I don't want it even coming at me. 751 00:37:50,466 --> 00:37:53,466 Do you understand? 752 00:37:55,500 --> 00:37:57,933 And so I'm going to cling to what is good. 753 00:37:57,933 --> 00:38:00,233 I'm going to hold fast to it. 754 00:38:00,233 --> 00:38:00,933 Look at verse ten. 755 00:38:00,933 --> 00:38:04,200 Love, one another with brotherly affection. 756 00:38:04,366 --> 00:38:06,500 Outdo one another in showing honor. 757 00:38:06,500 --> 00:38:07,266 I love that verse. 758 00:38:07,266 --> 00:38:11,466 It means we should be in competition with each other to out honor each other. 759 00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:17,000 Like, not in competition as a hey, look at what my kid did. 760 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:20,466 Or hey, look at the vacation I took, or hey, look at how great this is. 761 00:38:21,566 --> 00:38:23,466 Not that competition, 762 00:38:23,466 --> 00:38:27,033 but the competition into how to out honor each other. 763 00:38:28,166 --> 00:38:30,000 Do you understand that? 764 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:33,000 Like, we're going to be so honorable with other people, with each other? 765 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:36,000 Do not be slothful in zeal. 766 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,366 Be fervent in spirit. Serve the Lord. 767 00:38:38,366 --> 00:38:39,400 Rejoice in hope. 768 00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:41,866 Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer. 769 00:38:41,866 --> 00:38:44,866 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 770 00:38:44,966 --> 00:38:47,633 I learned this verse, this a little different translation. 771 00:38:47,633 --> 00:38:50,633 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. 772 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:52,633 That's how I learned it. 773 00:38:52,633 --> 00:38:54,466 Here's what that means. 774 00:38:54,466 --> 00:38:57,466 Don't be lacking in zeal. 775 00:38:57,900 --> 00:38:59,433 It means, as far as your spiritual 776 00:38:59,433 --> 00:39:02,433 lives are concerned, we ought not be lacking in grit. 777 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:06,000 There's a stick to it ness to faith. 778 00:39:07,500 --> 00:39:08,666 Tribulation is going to come. 779 00:39:08,666 --> 00:39:11,100 Difficulties is going to come. People are going to be difficult and stupid. 780 00:39:12,633 --> 00:39:15,633 I'm I'm not going to walk back 781 00:39:16,166 --> 00:39:19,033 on who I am becoming in Christ. 782 00:39:19,033 --> 00:39:21,000 I'm not going to you know what? 783 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:23,133 I'm out. 784 00:39:23,133 --> 00:39:24,133 There's a stick to it. 785 00:39:24,133 --> 00:39:25,533 There's a grit to it. 786 00:39:25,533 --> 00:39:26,733 Never be lacking in zeal. 787 00:39:26,733 --> 00:39:29,733 Be gritty, have a backbone 788 00:39:31,066 --> 00:39:32,400 keeper. Spiritual fervor. 789 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:35,400 That means there's a red hotness to it, 790 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:37,900 like red hot coals that whatever. 791 00:39:37,900 --> 00:39:41,066 Because I am not lacking in zeal and I'm keeping my spiritual fervor 792 00:39:41,100 --> 00:39:42,433 wherever I land. 793 00:39:42,433 --> 00:39:44,933 A fire is going to start. 794 00:39:44,933 --> 00:39:47,933 That's what that means. 795 00:39:48,600 --> 00:39:52,266 And so many of us been so chameleon ized. 796 00:39:54,466 --> 00:39:57,633 That we look like there's no backbone and there ain't no fire. 797 00:39:57,633 --> 00:40:00,100 Starting where we land. 798 00:40:00,100 --> 00:40:01,800 Like, I want to be a fan of Jesus. 799 00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:04,000 But I don't want to be like a fanatic. Come on. 800 00:40:05,966 --> 00:40:07,766 And Paul, in view of what God 801 00:40:07,766 --> 00:40:12,066 has done in view of his mercy, in view of his grace, 802 00:40:12,466 --> 00:40:15,066 this is the only logical, reasonable, 803 00:40:15,066 --> 00:40:18,066 responsible response. 804 00:40:18,133 --> 00:40:19,800 All right, all right. 805 00:40:19,800 --> 00:40:20,566 Don't be lacking. 806 00:40:20,566 --> 00:40:22,200 And so keep your spiritual fervor. Serve the Lord. 807 00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:23,566 Rejoice in hope. 808 00:40:23,566 --> 00:40:25,500 Listen. It says, rejoice, Joyce in hope. 809 00:40:25,500 --> 00:40:28,500 Don't rejoice in results, 810 00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:32,333 even in the difficulty before the results show up. 811 00:40:32,333 --> 00:40:37,433 I am a person that rejoices in the Lord in the hope of God, 812 00:40:38,166 --> 00:40:41,166 not in the results of what he produces, 813 00:40:41,566 --> 00:40:43,600 just in who he is. 814 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:45,366 Be patient in tribulation. 815 00:40:45,366 --> 00:40:47,100 Hold on. 816 00:40:47,100 --> 00:40:49,266 Don't tap out yet. 817 00:40:49,266 --> 00:40:52,033 Wait. Sitting in a little while. 818 00:40:52,033 --> 00:40:54,666 He is not forgotten about you. 819 00:40:54,666 --> 00:40:56,166 He hadn't neglected you. 820 00:40:56,166 --> 00:40:57,866 He doesn't sleep nor slumber. 821 00:40:57,866 --> 00:41:03,000 So be patient in tribulation and be constant in prayer. 822 00:41:03,066 --> 00:41:05,666 Just keep going before God. 823 00:41:05,666 --> 00:41:07,433 God, it's me again. 824 00:41:08,733 --> 00:41:09,633 Luke 11 825 00:41:09,633 --> 00:41:14,133 and Luke 18 are two parables Jesus told about being constant in prayer. 826 00:41:14,366 --> 00:41:16,166 And Jesus said this. 827 00:41:16,166 --> 00:41:19,733 Keep praying because one day God just might 828 00:41:19,733 --> 00:41:22,733 answer your prayer just to get you to shut up. 829 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:24,833 That's what he said. 830 00:41:24,833 --> 00:41:26,300 Luke 11 Luke 18. 831 00:41:26,300 --> 00:41:27,400 You read it. 832 00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:30,400 Sometimes we are so persistent with God. 833 00:41:30,533 --> 00:41:32,933 He's like waving because you know he's Jewish. 834 00:41:32,933 --> 00:41:35,100 Oh, in vain. 835 00:41:35,100 --> 00:41:38,366 Just do what he said so he'll quit bugging me about it. 836 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:42,000 Be constant in prayer. 837 00:41:42,100 --> 00:41:43,166 Yeah. 838 00:41:43,166 --> 00:41:45,666 And then he says this 839 00:41:45,666 --> 00:41:48,666 I you know where I am. 840 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:50,400 Well, oh, thank you. 841 00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:53,166 Contribute to the needs of the saints and see to show hospitality. 842 00:41:53,166 --> 00:41:56,800 Did you know that in the early church hospitality was a style of evangelism, 843 00:41:58,066 --> 00:42:01,100 like they would invite people over and foreigners 844 00:42:02,100 --> 00:42:05,100 and illegal aliens 845 00:42:05,266 --> 00:42:08,400 and invite them over and be kind and generous, 846 00:42:08,966 --> 00:42:12,166 and in that kindness and generous, tell them about Jesus. Why? 847 00:42:12,433 --> 00:42:13,600 Because they're transformed. 848 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:16,466 Life was the sermon that 849 00:42:16,466 --> 00:42:19,466 others were hearing. 850 00:42:19,900 --> 00:42:20,833 The guy know what time it is? 851 00:42:20,833 --> 00:42:23,133 Let me wrap this up. I'm gonna go through 14 or 9. 852 00:42:23,133 --> 00:42:25,600 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them. 853 00:42:25,600 --> 00:42:26,766 Rejoice with those who rejoice. 854 00:42:26,766 --> 00:42:29,633 Weep at those who weep. 855 00:42:29,633 --> 00:42:33,300 Listen, we cannot weep with 856 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:36,600 and rejoice with at a distance. 857 00:42:38,666 --> 00:42:41,666 It requires relationship, 858 00:42:42,233 --> 00:42:45,033 and I am in it with you, 859 00:42:45,033 --> 00:42:46,633 and I'll go through it with you. 860 00:42:46,633 --> 00:42:49,200 I'm not going to abandon you. 861 00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:51,733 This is a transformed life 862 00:42:51,733 --> 00:42:54,300 to live in harmony with one another. 863 00:42:54,300 --> 00:42:56,466 Do not, 864 00:42:56,466 --> 00:42:58,666 be haughty, but associate with the lowly. 865 00:42:58,666 --> 00:43:01,200 Never be wise in your own sight. 866 00:43:01,200 --> 00:43:01,766 It's like love. 867 00:43:01,766 --> 00:43:04,766 Just get along. 868 00:43:04,866 --> 00:43:07,533 Repay no one evil for evil. 869 00:43:07,533 --> 00:43:10,500 But give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 870 00:43:10,500 --> 00:43:10,800 Look. 871 00:43:10,800 --> 00:43:15,133 Sometimes it has to be enough to let the other person be right 872 00:43:16,966 --> 00:43:17,366 there. 873 00:43:17,366 --> 00:43:19,866 It has to be enough to say, you know what? 874 00:43:19,866 --> 00:43:21,700 I'm going to be at peace with you. 875 00:43:21,700 --> 00:43:24,700 And the best way for me to do is just not to fight if possible. 876 00:43:24,700 --> 00:43:25,900 So far, so good. Depends on you. 877 00:43:25,900 --> 00:43:28,900 Live peaceably with everybody. 878 00:43:28,900 --> 00:43:30,766 Look, I think you're wrong. 879 00:43:30,766 --> 00:43:32,000 And I think I'm right. 880 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:33,933 But it doesn't matter. 881 00:43:33,933 --> 00:43:35,233 It's this type of relationship. 882 00:43:35,233 --> 00:43:38,066 I'm gonna let you be right. Oh. Thank you. 883 00:43:38,066 --> 00:43:40,300 These are the best way to destroy an enemy. 884 00:43:40,300 --> 00:43:42,533 Is to make him your friend. 885 00:43:42,533 --> 00:43:45,533 It's the best way to destroy an enemy. 886 00:43:45,700 --> 00:43:47,833 Make him a friend. 887 00:43:47,833 --> 00:43:50,700 Who cares if they think they're right and you're wrong? 888 00:43:50,700 --> 00:43:53,700 It's it's a if it's an opinion thing, who cares? 889 00:43:54,866 --> 00:43:56,700 Is far like it far is. 890 00:43:56,700 --> 00:43:57,600 It depends on you. 891 00:43:57,600 --> 00:44:01,166 Live at peace means don't seek out confrontation. 892 00:44:01,166 --> 00:44:04,166 Don't seek out to be contrary. 893 00:44:04,233 --> 00:44:06,300 Some of us I get if you're like me, like I'm. 894 00:44:07,266 --> 00:44:09,100 Sometimes we just like to argue. 895 00:44:09,100 --> 00:44:11,000 We just argue for the sake arguing. 896 00:44:11,000 --> 00:44:14,000 We just like to beat people and just 897 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:17,100 to be a peace. 898 00:44:17,100 --> 00:44:18,600 Look, we just. 899 00:44:18,600 --> 00:44:21,933 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God. 900 00:44:21,933 --> 00:44:23,233 For it is written, vengeance is mine. 901 00:44:23,233 --> 00:44:25,733 I will repay, says the Lord. 902 00:44:25,733 --> 00:44:29,466 Look in verse 20, to the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. 903 00:44:30,500 --> 00:44:33,733 If he's thirsty, give him something to drink, for by doing so you'll reap. 904 00:44:33,766 --> 00:44:36,600 Oh, you'll heap burning coals on his head. 905 00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:39,300 Finally. 906 00:44:39,300 --> 00:44:40,733 Do not be overcome by evil. 907 00:44:40,733 --> 00:44:42,966 Overcome evil with good. 908 00:44:42,966 --> 00:44:43,733 Promise. Some of us. 909 00:44:43,733 --> 00:44:45,000 Look at that. Oh! Burning coal. 910 00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:47,100 Yeah. Got him 911 00:44:47,100 --> 00:44:49,566 finally. 912 00:44:49,566 --> 00:44:52,766 It's not talking about it in the essence of cruelty. 913 00:44:53,466 --> 00:44:55,733 It's talking about it in the realm of kindness. 914 00:44:57,533 --> 00:44:58,266 Be kind. 915 00:44:58,266 --> 00:44:59,533 Here. Here's what he's saying. 916 00:44:59,533 --> 00:45:02,133 Two possibilities for burning coals on your head. 917 00:45:02,133 --> 00:45:07,000 One, your kindness is going to burn them up. 918 00:45:08,600 --> 00:45:10,033 Not be cruel to them. 919 00:45:10,033 --> 00:45:11,966 Your kindness 920 00:45:11,966 --> 00:45:14,966 is going to just make them simmer. 921 00:45:16,200 --> 00:45:19,933 The other option is it's the burning coals that you give to them 922 00:45:19,933 --> 00:45:22,933 is so they can start their own fire for their own good. 923 00:45:24,466 --> 00:45:26,733 It's never intended for cruelty. 924 00:45:26,733 --> 00:45:29,133 It's always intended for kindness. 925 00:45:29,133 --> 00:45:31,533 Why is this so important? 926 00:45:31,533 --> 00:45:34,533 Because we've already established 927 00:45:34,533 --> 00:45:37,066 that our transformed life will be the sermon that our hunter 928 00:45:37,066 --> 00:45:40,066 will always hear. 929 00:45:40,600 --> 00:45:43,600 It's why this is so important. 930 00:45:48,266 --> 00:45:51,266 And so we're left with a question. 931 00:45:52,433 --> 00:45:55,266 In view of all God has done 932 00:45:55,266 --> 00:45:58,266 for us through Jesus, 933 00:45:58,600 --> 00:46:00,800 are you willing 934 00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:02,700 to offer your whole life to him? 935 00:46:06,333 --> 00:46:07,700 To draw a line in the sand. 936 00:46:07,700 --> 00:46:10,700 No more chameleon. 937 00:46:12,333 --> 00:46:15,333 To completely renew your mind. 938 00:46:19,800 --> 00:46:21,400 To take all in, 939 00:46:21,400 --> 00:46:24,400 in all this, in this whole chapter that Paul's talked through here. 940 00:46:25,433 --> 00:46:28,433 What about our lives is missing? 941 00:46:29,500 --> 00:46:32,500 Nothing that covers our whole life. 942 00:46:35,800 --> 00:46:39,733 So in view of God's mercy. 943 00:46:43,333 --> 00:46:44,766 Are you willing? 944 00:46:44,766 --> 00:46:47,766 Am I willing to offer our whole life 945 00:46:48,833 --> 00:46:51,266 for transformation 946 00:46:51,266 --> 00:46:53,600 and renewal? 947 00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:55,133 And don't just do different. 948 00:46:55,133 --> 00:46:58,133 Become different? 949 00:47:03,266 --> 00:47:04,866 Chapter 12 is a good word in it. 950 00:47:04,866 --> 00:47:06,400 Yeah, yeah. 951 00:47:06,400 --> 00:47:09,400 Okay, so let's pray and apply it. 952 00:47:09,533 --> 00:47:12,533 All right. 953 00:47:13,233 --> 00:47:13,633 Father. 954 00:47:13,633 --> 00:47:16,633 Thank you, thank you. 955 00:47:18,066 --> 00:47:20,833 Just thank you. 956 00:47:20,833 --> 00:47:23,200 Thank father. 957 00:47:23,200 --> 00:47:25,766 Sometimes I am so aware of where I fall. 958 00:47:25,766 --> 00:47:28,066 Far short. 959 00:47:28,066 --> 00:47:31,066 And I thank you that there's no condemnation in that for me. 960 00:47:32,000 --> 00:47:33,833 Because I am in your son 961 00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:36,500 and he in me. 962 00:47:36,500 --> 00:47:39,333 Thank you, my 963 00:47:39,333 --> 00:47:39,733 friends. 964 00:47:39,733 --> 00:47:42,733 In this moment, I want to give you the opportunity 965 00:47:43,433 --> 00:47:46,200 to become exactly what the Apostle 966 00:47:46,200 --> 00:47:49,200 Paul has instructed us to become 967 00:47:50,300 --> 00:47:53,300 transformed, not conformed. 968 00:47:54,200 --> 00:47:57,600 So in this moment between you and the father, I would invite you 969 00:47:57,600 --> 00:48:01,133 in prayer to say something along the line 970 00:48:01,133 --> 00:48:04,133 just in your own commitment. 971 00:48:07,433 --> 00:48:10,433 God, I want to be transformed. 972 00:48:11,766 --> 00:48:14,766 I don't want to blend in anymore. 973 00:48:15,833 --> 00:48:18,833 Because you've already done so much 974 00:48:20,533 --> 00:48:22,833 for me. 975 00:48:22,833 --> 00:48:25,833 This is the best way I know how to respond. 976 00:48:30,233 --> 00:48:32,200 Give me a transformed life. 977 00:48:32,200 --> 00:48:35,200 Help me choose a renewed mind. 978 00:48:38,866 --> 00:48:41,866 Help me abhor evil. 979 00:48:43,366 --> 00:48:46,366 Cling to what is good. 980 00:48:49,866 --> 00:48:51,666 Let me live a life that honors 981 00:48:51,666 --> 00:48:54,666 you and honors your people. 982 00:48:56,433 --> 00:49:00,666 That embraces how you've gifted me and serve you. 983 00:49:07,933 --> 00:49:10,933 As best as I know how 984 00:49:11,266 --> 00:49:17,000 I give my full self to you. Do in me 985 00:49:17,000 --> 00:49:20,000 what only you can do. 986 00:49:20,700 --> 00:49:23,700 And I thank you for that transformation. 987 00:49:26,300 --> 00:49:26,966 God, I thank you. 988 00:49:26,966 --> 00:49:30,733 You are a good God and your word is alive and active, sharper 989 00:49:30,733 --> 00:49:33,733 than any two edged sword that both cuts 990 00:49:33,800 --> 00:49:36,800 and repairs. 991 00:49:37,200 --> 00:49:38,400 So, father, continue 992 00:49:38,400 --> 00:49:41,400 to do what you do through your Holy Spirit 993 00:49:42,066 --> 00:49:44,333 to produce a great harvest in our hearts. 994 00:49:44,333 --> 00:49:47,133 Because of this word that's been so. 995 00:49:47,133 --> 00:49:47,766 We love you. 996 00:49:47,766 --> 00:49:50,700 Help us to love you more. 997 00:49:50,700 --> 00:49:51,333 In your name I pray. 998 00:49:51,333 --> 00:49:53,200 Amen. 999 00:49:53,200 --> 00:49:54,033 This one I love you. 1000 00:49:54,033 --> 00:49:56,100 It's been good to be together this morning. 1001 00:49:56,100 --> 00:49:57,333 Here's your homework. 1002 00:49:57,333 --> 00:50:00,333 Go back and read chapter 12 A Little Bit New Eyes. 1003 00:50:00,433 --> 00:50:03,433 Look through that list of spiritual gifts and see where you think you might. 1004 00:50:03,500 --> 00:50:05,400 And then let us help you take some next steps. 1005 00:50:06,400 --> 00:50:07,333 Okay, 1006 00:50:07,333 --> 00:50:10,000 I would love to know how we can help you take next steps. 1007 00:50:10,000 --> 00:50:11,266 Either go to our our 1008 00:50:11,266 --> 00:50:14,300 our our start here booth right out front there or the welcome center. 1009 00:50:14,300 --> 00:50:16,766 If you're kind of new here, 1010 00:50:16,766 --> 00:50:19,833 we'd love to walk with you through these next steps that you need to take. 1011 00:50:20,566 --> 00:50:23,800 And then in preparation for next Sunday, read chapter 13. 1012 00:50:24,333 --> 00:50:25,033 Okay. 1013 00:50:25,033 --> 00:50:26,266 Read chapter is all about 1014 00:50:26,266 --> 00:50:27,966 how we're supposed to live now in light of what God said. 1015 00:50:27,966 --> 00:50:30,133 And it 1016 00:50:30,133 --> 00:50:32,433 there's some implications here. 1017 00:50:32,433 --> 00:50:34,433 So let's read that. You good. 1018 00:50:34,433 --> 00:50:35,133 All right. Let's sing.