WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.900 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.380 --> 00:00:25.500 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:29.980 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:32.080 the latest message. Thanks for listening. 00:00:44.140 --> 00:00:49.540 Well, good morning. Glad that you guys are here. If you'd like to, if you've got your Bibles 00:00:49.540 --> 00:00:54.820 with you this morning, go ahead and open them up to 1 Corinthians chapter 2. That's where 00:00:54.820 --> 00:00:59.960 we're going to be as we continue on. Well, I don't know about y'all. I've lived in South 00:00:59.960 --> 00:01:07.980 Carolina since I was five years old, six years old, and I've never experienced a stretch 00:01:07.980 --> 00:01:13.660 of cold like we're going through right now, right? Got up this morning and went out to crank 00:01:13.660 --> 00:01:20.200 up my truck to get it warmed up, and it was at a nice, toasty 16 degrees. So I'm grateful 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:25.900 that the heat is working when we walked in here this morning. And normally, I don't know that 00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:31.280 that you know this, but if you're in the band like you know this, it's hotter up here than 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:38.500 it is down there. And normally, that's a problem. But right now, it's nice, all right? So glad 00:01:38.500 --> 00:01:43.040 that you're here with us. Glad that it's warm inside. Then we can open up God's Word and study 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:48.040 together. Last week, we began our studies. Actually, two weeks ago, that's right. When we were 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:54.620 at home, we started our study in 1 Corinthians. Now, if you see this card that's around you, 00:01:54.880 --> 00:01:58.600 you'll see the little reading plan. This will kind of help you track through where I'm going 00:01:58.600 --> 00:02:02.380 to be at on Sunday mornings, but also where our small groups are going to be. And so what 00:02:02.380 --> 00:02:07.280 we would love for every single one of us to do as a church is go through this book of the 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:12.860 Bible together, to do it individually in our quiet time and in our study, to do it corporately 00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:18.040 together in worship. Now, in worship, we won't be able to go through every verse like you will be 00:02:18.040 --> 00:02:23.700 at your home. But this can give us an opportunity to kind of dive in, go a little bit deeper into 00:02:23.700 --> 00:02:29.500 some areas in those passages that God lays on our hearts as we study. But then also, all of our small 00:02:29.500 --> 00:02:34.600 groups are working through this. So just a reminder, most of our small groups got started back for 00:02:34.600 --> 00:02:40.580 this winter slash spring semester last week. And if you aren't a part of one, we would love for you 00:02:40.580 --> 00:02:45.500 to be a part of one. And so please get connected with that. And we've got information about that 00:02:45.500 --> 00:02:53.560 as well. But we started last week in our study with looking at that. And Paul, what we dealt with 00:02:53.560 --> 00:03:02.300 a lot last week was the challenge to the church at Corinth to be unified. That within the context of 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:09.760 that church, of that local body that Paul had planted and had released to different leadership, 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:16.820 right, Paul addresses some things that are coming to him. He says that he was notified of these issues 00:03:16.820 --> 00:03:22.540 from those that were sent from the house of Chloe. And what we find that there are four factions that 00:03:22.540 --> 00:03:28.740 we talked about, four divisions within the church. And it's rooted in who each of these individuals 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:34.860 decides to follow. That there's a group there who's like, we follow Paul. Paul is the one that hears 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:41.080 from the Lord and then communicates this to us. And that was probably the Gentile converts as Paul was 00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:47.800 a missionary to the Gentiles. There's a group though of Jewish converts who were there. And they said, 00:03:47.860 --> 00:03:54.100 no, we follow Cephas, who we believe and understand to be the apostle Peter, because Peter would largely 00:03:54.100 --> 00:04:00.520 connect with and was a missionary in a Jewish context. There was another group that was there 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:08.160 that would say, no, we are followers of Apollos. And Apollos was this Greek Christian orator who was 00:04:08.160 --> 00:04:13.980 just really good with his words. So the really good story was really wise. And people could just hang on 00:04:13.980 --> 00:04:19.740 every word that he shares. And then there was another group there, we had to explain this in a little bit 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:25.080 more depth last week, who says, no, well, we follow Christ. And when we hear that, we think, well, maybe 00:04:25.080 --> 00:04:30.080 they got it right. They're the group that's getting it. But they're not. And the reason why I say they're 00:04:30.080 --> 00:04:36.620 not, even though they say they're following Christ, is they feel like they had risen above everyone else 00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:43.060 and the church in areas concerning spiritual matters. And so, you know, spiritual arrogance, 00:04:43.200 --> 00:04:49.740 we're better than you, is where they were. And so Paul comes in this church where he's going to 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:56.180 address a lot of things throughout 1 Corinthians that fall into some theology and practical applications. 00:04:56.540 --> 00:05:02.560 And he's like, no, no, the church can't be divided. The church needs to unify. And so he moves 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:09.720 them away from agendas, away from egos, to remind them of some things that are going to be very 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:15.060 important for what we're going to look at this morning. He reminds them all that they are the 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:22.520 body of Christ and that they've been uniquely equipped with who they are to celebrate and to worship 00:05:22.520 --> 00:05:28.700 Christ in their context and to reach their community. Paul says that you've been fully equipped 00:05:28.700 --> 00:05:38.340 with every spiritual gift needed. You don't need Paul. You don't need Apollos. You don't need Peter. 00:05:39.300 --> 00:05:45.600 You've got you. And what God is going to do in you through the power of the Holy Spirit resting in 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:53.320 you, you've been fully equipped. He tells them that he wants them to focus in on Jesus. And Paul kind 00:05:53.320 --> 00:05:58.900 of drawing himself as the example. He says, was it Paul's name that you were baptized in? 00:06:00.340 --> 00:06:06.880 Was Paul the one who was crucified for you? No, no, no. It's in the name of Jesus that we're 00:06:06.880 --> 00:06:13.420 baptized. It's Jesus who was crucified for us. That's who we're here for. That's who we follow. 00:06:13.420 --> 00:06:18.660 And if the leader's not pointing you to him, then he's not a leader worth following. 00:06:19.500 --> 00:06:27.200 And then he says, we're going to focus in on the gospel. Focus in on what the gospel demands of you. 00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:33.400 And that's why Paul says that when he came to them. Now, Paul, like in Paul's day, let's understand 00:06:33.400 --> 00:06:43.320 that. That Paul, like Ivy League education, trained under the best of the best. Like when you read 00:06:43.320 --> 00:06:51.120 Paul's letters, you understand that this guy has a gift and has a mastery of language and of writing, 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:56.440 communicating. But Paul comes to them and says, but it's a focus on the gospel. He says, when I came to 00:06:56.440 --> 00:07:05.040 you and shared, I did not come with eloquent words or worldly wisdom, but instead I came to you with the 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:12.320 simplicity of the power of the gospel. And that's what you need to focus in on. And this is where we're 00:07:12.320 --> 00:07:19.140 going to pick back up. And so let's, let's start reading 1 Corinthians 2 verse 1. And he says, 00:07:19.140 --> 00:07:26.760 and I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God 00:07:26.760 --> 00:07:33.300 with lofty speech or wisdom. So, so Paul's kind of repeating himself here. Verse 2, for I decided to 00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:41.280 know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And so let's, let's kind of pause for here 00:07:41.280 --> 00:07:47.840 for just a second. So, so Paul again reinforces, I didn't try to use worldly logic, worldly wisdom 00:07:47.840 --> 00:07:55.360 to persuade you in the gospel. But here's what Paul says in verse 2 is, is worded kind of funny. It's 00:07:55.360 --> 00:08:00.420 one of those where what Paul's saying doesn't communicate very well as it's translated over into 00:08:00.420 --> 00:08:10.160 English. But, but what Paul is saying is, is in all that I did and all that I said, I wanted to point you 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:17.060 toward and display for you the gospel. So that's, that, that's my life. That's my purpose. That's my 00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:23.180 hope. That, that, that's what I was there doing. And so he says, for I decided to know nothing among you 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:30.080 except Jesus Christ and him crucified. So it's not by the power of Paul, by the words of Paul, by the 00:08:30.080 --> 00:08:36.540 intellect of Paul, by the reasoning of Paul, but it's in everything that you saw, everything displayed, 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:40.200 everything that taught was the power of the gospel. Now, verse 3. 00:08:49.740 --> 00:09:12.400 And so Paul came to them. He came to them in humility. Look at his words. Paul says, through 00:09:12.400 --> 00:09:19.480 weakness, fear, and trembling, right? This is not a man who's trying to wow them by his 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:26.900 presence. This is not a man who, who says through, through my personality and who I am, but Paul says, 00:09:27.180 --> 00:09:34.680 in humility, in weakness, and in fear, and much trembling, I came to you. And that I deliver to 00:09:34.680 --> 00:09:40.720 you the message that God calls me to. And this is what's important. It's, but in demonstration of the 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:47.700 spirit and of power. So what Paul's pointing to is this message was not powered by man. It's not Paul 00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:53.520 sitting back in the back and saying, how can I talk them into this? How can I convince them of this? 00:09:53.520 --> 00:10:00.380 How can I persuade them to this? Paul's not sitting back like a, like a politician trying to think of 00:10:00.380 --> 00:10:06.140 all of the points to get them on board. Paul's not sitting back like a salesman saying, how can I get 00:10:06.140 --> 00:10:12.020 them to, to take a hold of this and do this? He says, no, no, I came in weakness and in fear and in 00:10:12.020 --> 00:10:18.620 trembling. And so as you responded, it was not me who you're responding to, but you're responding by the 00:10:18.620 --> 00:10:26.400 power of their, of the spirit of God. And so now what Paul wants them to understand, what Paul wants 00:10:26.400 --> 00:10:32.620 them to get is now their faith does not rest in the wisdom of the world, but instead their faith is 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:38.200 found. Their faith is powered. Their, their faith is given to them through the power of God. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:47.440 And so who's their faith attached to? Paul? An event? A meeting? A day? No, their, their faith is 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:55.300 attached to God. And who saved them? Who was their means of salvation? Whose power did salvation come 00:10:55.300 --> 00:11:01.600 to it? Was it, was it Paul? Was it the environment? Was it the church? No, who saved them? God saved them. 00:11:02.400 --> 00:11:11.340 Christ. And this is what Paul wants them to understand where their faith comes from, who their faith is 00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:20.740 found in. Because Paul's left. Paul's sending letters. Paul knows his days are numbered. Why? Because 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:28.860 he's human and they're going to end. But Paul wants it all to rest in who God is because the salvation 00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:35.880 that comes from Paul isn't salvation to begin with. Right? And he wants them to understand for them and 00:11:35.880 --> 00:11:43.520 for us today that their faith, it's a spiritual work. It's not a work that Paul did. It's not a work 00:11:43.520 --> 00:11:50.780 that they did. But it's a work of God of what he's doing. And so this is what we begin to see as it 00:11:50.780 --> 00:11:55.380 spills over from, from chapter one and chapter two. But now Paul's going to begin to talk about a 00:11:55.380 --> 00:12:04.140 little bit different wisdom. Look at, look at verse six. He says, yet among the mature, we do impart 00:12:04.140 --> 00:12:11.880 wisdom. Right? And so Paul's going to make a move and now talk about we didn't have the wisdom of the 00:12:11.880 --> 00:12:18.440 world, but the believers here do have a wisdom. Continue on verse, verse six. Although it's not a 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:27.400 wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and 00:12:27.400 --> 00:12:36.580 hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:44.160 understood this. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Verse nine. But as it is 00:12:44.160 --> 00:12:53.600 written, what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for 00:12:53.600 --> 00:13:00.860 those who love him. These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:09.640 everything, even the depths of God. So Paul says there's this hidden wisdom. There's this hidden wisdom 00:13:09.640 --> 00:13:16.880 that's given. There's this hidden wisdom that's imparted, and it's given to believers through the 00:13:16.880 --> 00:13:24.800 power of the Spirit, that as men and women, as their hearts are awakened, they're able to respond to this. 00:13:25.040 --> 00:13:31.040 And it's the power of the gospel. It's what Paul was talking about. The fact that the Spirit of the Lord 00:13:31.040 --> 00:13:38.260 working and moving in a life of a man and woman, as they respond to God as their Savior, Christ is their 00:13:38.260 --> 00:13:44.100 Savior in repentance and surrender. And he says, this is not the wisdom of the world. This is not the 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:49.800 conning of man. This is not through the eloquent words of man that this happens, but this is through 00:13:49.800 --> 00:13:57.000 the working of the Spirit of God that this is imparted to us. All right? But then Paul says this. 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:03.960 He says there are those who do not have this wisdom. And that's what I want to focus on today. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:13.580 He said there are those who do not have this wisdom. And he defines them. He doesn't just say they're 00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:23.120 saved and they're lost. Paul defines those who are unable to understand this, who God does not impart 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:30.960 this to. And look back at verse 6. He said, yet among the mature, we do impart wisdom. Although it is not a 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:38.320 wisdom of the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age. So this is who Paul says who doesn't have 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:44.060 it and they're doomed to pass away, these rulers of the age. Well, what does that mean? Sometimes when we 00:14:44.060 --> 00:14:50.000 look at Scripture, we can look and see things like principalities of this world and there's this 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:57.920 dynamic of spiritual warfare that is existing of what's there and the earthly people who are there. 00:14:57.920 --> 00:15:03.580 We don't know what's talking about. And so when we see rulers of this age, are we talking in the physical 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:08.720 manifestation of that, of different individuals that we see? Or are we talking more in a spiritual 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:15.820 world, a spiritual realm of spiritual warfare? So Paul clarifies this in verse 8. He says, 00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:23.720 none of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:29.660 glory. So Paul says, here's who I'm talking about. I'm talking about the Pharisees and the religious 00:15:29.660 --> 00:15:37.100 rulers of this day. I'm talking about the political rulers of this day who, because of what they did, 00:15:37.380 --> 00:15:44.820 they led Christ to his crucifixion in a physical sense. Now, we know you and I, man, we're responsible 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:54.060 for his death. He died for our sin. Our sin nailed him to the cross. But Paul's saying that in this 00:15:54.060 --> 00:16:01.800 crucifixion that happened, there were those who hearts had become hardened to the truth of God, even 00:16:01.800 --> 00:16:11.740 though it was there. They couldn't see Jesus. They couldn't understand who he was, because they had so 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:20.880 dove into the wisdom of this world that they could not receive the wisdom of God in the gospel. 00:16:22.160 --> 00:16:27.860 And that's the sin that we want to talk about this morning. The sin of the Pharisees, the sin 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:34.940 of self-righteousness, the sin of self-righteousness. I think sometimes we look at sin and we don't 00:16:34.940 --> 00:16:43.860 understand the condemnation that comes with it and the careful warning that scripture gives us 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:51.700 about sin. And so within this passage of scripture, as we read through it, so that you know too, our staff 00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:56.660 on every Tuesday, we have staff Bible study together. And we studied the passage of scripture that we're 00:16:56.660 --> 00:17:01.480 going to be talking about this morning. And I believe we were in there for like two hours together this 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:08.100 Tuesday morning, just knocking through this, not getting beyond, talking about how dangerous 00:17:08.100 --> 00:17:16.920 the sin of self-righteousness is. The danger that comes with this. The self-righteousness of what 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:27.360 Paul gives us here that prevents someone from hearing and responding to the gospel. And Jesus talks about 00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:32.640 this in Luke 18. If you want to flip there, we're going to be here for a little bit as well. In Luke 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:41.560 18, in verse 9, Jesus tells a parable. And we learn some lessons about self-righteousness. It says in Luke 00:17:41.560 --> 00:17:50.440 18 verse 9, he also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:58.840 treated others with contempt. Two men walk up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee. All right, so if I've 00:17:58.840 --> 00:18:05.320 been using that word and you're unclear, the Pharisees were the religious rulers of the day of Christ, 00:18:05.320 --> 00:18:13.120 and in a lot of ways in the day of Paul, who were viewed, who saw themselves as both religiously and 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:21.100 socially good. They saw themselves this way. This is how other people would see them as well. They sought 00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:28.920 to follow the law down to the nth degree, to continue to obey every aspect in that. And in there, their 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:34.280 danger was, and this is what they're going to, what we're going to see, their obedience to what God called 00:18:34.280 --> 00:18:40.620 them to created within themselves a sense of self-righteousness. So that's one of the men of 00:18:40.620 --> 00:18:46.440 Pharisee. But the other was a tax collector. And so let's talk about tax collectors. They were 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:53.020 religiously and socially bad, right? That's how they were viewed. Tax collectors were not the people you 00:18:53.020 --> 00:18:58.040 wanted your kids to grow up and be, right? They were the people who had betrayed their faith. They 00:18:58.040 --> 00:19:08.280 betrayed their people. They were thieves. And they were considered evil. Verse 11, the Pharisee, standing by 00:19:08.280 --> 00:19:19.380 himself, prayed thus, God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, 00:19:19.380 --> 00:19:29.040 adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give tithes of all that I get. 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:37.340 Now let's look at what he does. The Pharisee comes in, stands there before God and says, 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:56.960 God, look at who I am. It's not that the power of God that I do these, but it's out of the power of me 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:12.900 that I do these, right? But verse 13, but the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his 00:20:12.900 --> 00:20:24.060 eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Both of these men 00:20:24.060 --> 00:20:34.080 approach the Lord. One approaches in his own righteousness, but then the other approaches 00:20:34.080 --> 00:20:44.160 through the grace and mercy of God and knows that his only standing that is found in life is found 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:53.260 in the grace and the mercy poured out toward him from God and God alone. And look at Jesus' words. 00:20:54.060 --> 00:21:03.100 Verse 14, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:11.240 who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted, right? And this is 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:21.240 the warning of what Paul has given the church. Don't be the Pharisee who comes in and stands in the power 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:29.320 of their own righteousness. Because the people who are this way over time, what begins to happen is the 00:21:29.320 --> 00:21:36.120 hardening of the heart, and they can't even hear the power of the gospel and respond to it. 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:45.220 They're lost because of what has taken place and taken root and taken hold in their heart of 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:52.780 self-righteousness. But self-righteousness also, it's got an ugly cousin that I want us to talk about 00:21:52.780 --> 00:21:59.680 this morning. And while we see the self-righteousness as those within the loss that prevent them from 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:05.660 being able to hear the gospel, I believe that this ugly cousin that many believers struggle with this. 00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:14.400 We can have faith and put our faith in Christ, but yet exude some of these same behaviors in our life. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:20.760 And so we don't suffer from self-righteousness because we understand and we know that our righteousness 00:22:20.760 --> 00:22:27.900 is found in God, but yet there's these characteristics and behaviors that exude from us in the same way. 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:34.800 And it prevents us from living the life that God has called us to, and it's the sin of self-glorification. 00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:38.740 Look at, flip over a couple chapters in Luke chapter 22. 00:22:40.320 --> 00:22:43.160 We'll start reading here in just a second in verse 24, 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:46.620 but kind of give some of the context of what's going on here. 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:51.320 This is the night that Jesus is going to be betrayed and let off to be crucified. 00:22:52.320 --> 00:23:00.320 And Jesus, who's told the disciples repeatedly that their journey to Jerusalem is the journey to his death. 00:23:01.860 --> 00:23:02.980 And he's reminding them. 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:05.360 He tells them that he'll be betrayed. 00:23:06.060 --> 00:23:07.480 He tells them that they'll die. 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:10.200 They partake in the Passover meal together. 00:23:10.540 --> 00:23:12.000 They have the Lord's Supper. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:14.880 And then this is what happens. 00:23:15.540 --> 00:23:27.460 Verse 24, a dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:29.920 I was just going to pause for a second. 00:23:30.860 --> 00:23:33.160 Can you kind of miss it right here, you know? 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:37.380 Like you've got these guys that Jesus is like, I'm going to die. 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:40.420 And they're like, but which one of us is the best? 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.180 You know what I mean? 00:23:43.760 --> 00:23:44.520 Verse 25. 00:23:45.560 --> 00:23:46.740 And he said to them, 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:51.400 the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:54.960 and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 00:23:55.300 --> 00:23:56.500 But not so with you. 00:23:57.180 --> 00:24:01.680 Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, 00:24:02.060 --> 00:24:04.840 and the leader as one who serves. 00:24:05.060 --> 00:24:06.640 For it is the greater. 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:11.460 For one who reclines at the table or the one who serves. 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:14.140 It is not the ones who recline at the table, 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:18.900 but I am among you as the one who serves. 00:24:19.060 --> 00:24:20.360 Jesus, you're going to miss it. 00:24:21.040 --> 00:24:25.340 And you're going to struggle with self-glorification in your life. 00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:30.380 If you live at this point of how do I rise above the rest? 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:33.980 How do I take on the recognition? 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:38.620 These are men who have given up much to follow Jesus. 00:24:40.780 --> 00:24:42.800 But yet, when it comes down to it, 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:45.420 where their hearts begin to struggle, 00:24:46.260 --> 00:24:48.880 where their hearts show their spiritual immaturity, 00:24:49.520 --> 00:24:51.900 where their hearts show their weakness, 00:24:52.040 --> 00:24:53.740 is in self-glorification. 00:24:54.100 --> 00:24:57.880 Hey, Jesus, go ahead and just get it established to everybody that's right here 00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:59.500 who's the best among us. 00:25:01.300 --> 00:25:01.480 Right? 00:25:02.540 --> 00:25:06.640 An elevation, a glorification of self. 00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:09.180 And so in this context, 00:25:09.320 --> 00:25:11.440 when we look at 1 Corinthians chapter 2, 00:25:11.620 --> 00:25:13.780 I think there's some warnings that we can take. 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.960 The first warning is, 00:25:16.080 --> 00:25:18.400 are we people that struggle with self-righteousness? 00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:19.480 Right? 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:23.580 Do you feel that in you, 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:27.680 there is a righteousness that's manifested from you 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:29.080 because of who you are? 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:31.600 And if that's who you are, 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:33.140 regardless of what you say, 00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:35.320 you've rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:37.620 But also, 00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:39.680 among us here, 00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:44.000 is there a sense in some of the hearts of the men and women 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:47.240 who fill this space every single week 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:49.780 who love the Lord and worship Him, 00:25:49.780 --> 00:25:51.560 but sometimes in their heart, 00:25:51.840 --> 00:25:54.800 there's the wandering both in this place and out of here 00:25:54.800 --> 00:25:56.720 to just kind of want to be the best and the greatest 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:59.760 and be recognized and be praised for it. 00:25:59.820 --> 00:25:59.940 Right? 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.640 What do we see? 00:26:02.780 --> 00:26:06.720 I do an examination in my life this week 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.860 and in reading that, 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:09.940 I came up with a handful of warning signs 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:12.300 that I want us to wrap up 00:26:12.300 --> 00:26:14.280 and we'll talk about and look at here. 00:26:14.760 --> 00:26:16.500 To ask yourself the question, 00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:17.960 do I struggle with these things? 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.800 And if you do, 00:26:19.560 --> 00:26:22.020 then maybe your struggle is in self-righteousness. 00:26:22.280 --> 00:26:25.040 Maybe you struggle in self-glorification. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:25.320 All right? 00:26:25.320 --> 00:26:27.760 So just a handful of warning signs that we're going to talk about. 00:26:28.020 --> 00:26:28.600 And by the way, 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:30.740 you can see them in spiritual context, 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:33.100 but you can also see them in everyday context. 00:26:33.100 --> 00:26:33.380 Right? 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:36.240 So apply these to who you are here, 00:26:36.320 --> 00:26:38.960 but apply these also to who you are there, 00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:40.180 wherever there is. 00:26:40.260 --> 00:26:40.440 All right? 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.340 Number one, 00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:43.520 do you struggle with a sense of entitlement? 00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:46.380 Do you struggle with a sense of entitlement? 00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:48.320 What do I mean by that? 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.820 Are you constantly a person 00:26:50.820 --> 00:26:52.740 who feels like you deserve more than you have? 00:26:53.840 --> 00:26:55.820 Are you a person who feel like you deserve more 00:26:55.820 --> 00:26:57.480 than you are entrusted with? 00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:01.180 Do you struggle with serving 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:04.520 and instead feel the need for others to serve you? 00:27:05.780 --> 00:27:08.680 When you're somewhere doing what you do, 00:27:08.800 --> 00:27:11.180 whether it's here in the context of worship 00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:13.160 or there in the context of the world, 00:27:13.360 --> 00:27:14.540 who are you there for? 00:27:14.540 --> 00:27:17.520 And if you are the object of that, 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:19.740 then maybe you struggle a little bit 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:21.320 with sense of entitlement. 00:27:22.760 --> 00:27:26.520 And do you expect others the call to sacrifice 00:27:26.520 --> 00:27:29.440 but do not have the same expectation for yourself? 00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:30.460 All right? 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:34.400 Maybe then you struggle with a sense of entitlement. 00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:36.740 Number two with these. 00:27:38.060 --> 00:27:39.660 Do you parade in public 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:41.360 what should be done in private? 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:42.420 All right? 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.480 Here's what I mean by this. 00:27:44.540 --> 00:27:45.960 When you do the right thing, 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:48.700 when you do what God's called you to do, 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:51.680 when you do what the boss has asked of you, 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:54.020 when he's not there or she's not there, 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.800 when you're out in the world 00:27:55.800 --> 00:27:57.360 doing what needs to be done, 00:27:57.600 --> 00:27:59.580 do you feel like, do you want, 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.760 do you need it to be noticed? 00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:01.720 Right? 00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:04.400 And in that, not in the obedience, 00:28:05.300 --> 00:28:07.200 is where the gratification comes from. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:10.560 But it is the sense of the recognition of others. 00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:11.540 Right? 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:13.980 What feeds the monster inside of you. 00:28:14.800 --> 00:28:14.920 Right? 00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:17.640 Do we have this parade in public? 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.520 When you do the right thing, 00:28:19.600 --> 00:28:21.860 do you feel the need to tell others, 00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:23.620 I always thought this is interesting. 00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:26.720 Jesus is pretty bold about this 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:27.880 and about this statement. 00:28:28.020 --> 00:28:30.380 In fact, in Matthew chapter six, verse three, 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:33.700 Jesus is talking about when you give to the needy. 00:28:34.540 --> 00:28:37.840 And Jesus is so checking us 00:28:37.840 --> 00:28:39.560 on the heart of the motivation 00:28:39.560 --> 00:28:41.400 of why we do things 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:42.500 that Jesus says, 00:28:42.760 --> 00:28:44.380 hey, when you give to the needy, 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:45.760 do so in a way 00:28:45.760 --> 00:28:47.140 that the right hand doesn't know 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.000 what the left hand's doing. 00:28:48.760 --> 00:28:50.240 that even amongst you 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.580 and in who you are 00:28:51.580 --> 00:28:52.780 and in what we're doing, 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.980 that when we do the good, 00:28:54.060 --> 00:28:55.620 we're doing it for the right reasons, 00:28:55.760 --> 00:28:57.180 out of obedience to the Lord 00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:58.720 and glorification for him 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:00.260 so that I'm doing it in a way 00:29:00.260 --> 00:29:02.280 that I don't even try to glorify myself 00:29:02.280 --> 00:29:02.960 in this, 00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:04.520 much less feel the need 00:29:04.520 --> 00:29:05.920 to let everyone else know 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.440 what I'm doing 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:08.080 so that they can glorify me. 00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:08.780 Right? 00:29:09.780 --> 00:29:12.620 Do you struggle with these things? 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.800 Number three, 00:29:16.320 --> 00:29:18.160 do you struggle with a false sense 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:20.440 of elevated spirituality? 00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:22.620 And I added this 00:29:22.620 --> 00:29:24.000 after I turned my notes in 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.400 or even a false sense 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:27.160 of elevated intellect. 00:29:28.060 --> 00:29:28.100 Right? 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:29.760 Here's what I mean. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:31.960 Do we constantly feel 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.940 when we're in the room 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:35.020 that we're the wisest, 00:29:35.760 --> 00:29:36.880 the most spiritual, 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:38.920 the most mature person in the room? 00:29:39.780 --> 00:29:40.020 Right? 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:43.020 Do we carry ourself with that? 00:29:43.560 --> 00:29:43.760 Right? 00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:46.160 The Pharisees would walk into a room 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:48.660 and Jesus would be there. 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:49.880 All right? 00:29:50.940 --> 00:29:51.380 Jesus. 00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:53.340 And they think, 00:29:53.800 --> 00:29:54.680 nah, I got this. 00:29:54.780 --> 00:29:55.780 Watch what I can do to him. 00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.180 You know? 00:29:56.820 --> 00:29:57.900 And it would say, 00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:59.580 different places in Scripture 00:29:59.580 --> 00:29:59.920 would say 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:02.020 that they would get in their minds 00:30:02.020 --> 00:30:03.500 how the questions 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:05.240 that they were going to ask him 00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:07.080 in order to cause him to stumble 00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:09.320 because they were so much wiser than him 00:30:09.320 --> 00:30:10.340 in their own mind 00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:11.820 and then before the words 00:30:11.820 --> 00:30:13.640 even came out of their mouth 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:14.740 he'd answer their question 00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:16.020 and shut them up. 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:16.260 Right? 00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:17.280 Right? 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.400 But do we sometimes 00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:19.620 carry ourselves the same way? 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:22.500 That when we walk into a room, 00:30:23.340 --> 00:30:24.740 when we walk into worship, 00:30:24.860 --> 00:30:26.160 when we walk into small group, 00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:28.040 when we walk into work, 00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:30.300 there's this self-elevated sense 00:30:30.300 --> 00:30:31.200 that I'm the wisest, 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.440 I'm the most spiritual, 00:30:32.780 --> 00:30:34.780 I'm the most mature person 00:30:34.780 --> 00:30:35.400 in the room 00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:37.120 or in this, 00:30:37.260 --> 00:30:37.360 right, 00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:37.740 also, 00:30:38.060 --> 00:30:38.920 do we struggle 00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:40.800 with learning 00:30:40.800 --> 00:30:42.460 the wisdom 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.980 that God is giving us 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:45.960 when it's being given to us 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:47.640 by those that we deem 00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:48.460 amongst ourselves 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.400 to be beneath us? 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.800 Whether it's a person 00:30:52.800 --> 00:30:54.820 of different age, 00:30:56.280 --> 00:30:58.040 of a different sex, 00:30:58.680 --> 00:31:01.120 of a different race, 00:31:02.120 --> 00:31:03.840 or someone who's just been 00:31:03.840 --> 00:31:05.120 a follower of Jesus 00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:07.300 longer or shorter. 00:31:08.560 --> 00:31:08.740 Right? 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:11.580 They don't have anything 00:31:11.580 --> 00:31:12.820 for me 00:31:12.820 --> 00:31:14.960 because I've already 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.880 got it. 00:31:16.020 --> 00:31:16.180 Right? 00:31:17.040 --> 00:31:17.840 And this is just 00:31:17.840 --> 00:31:19.640 this false sense 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.840 of elevated 00:31:20.840 --> 00:31:21.800 spirituality 00:31:21.800 --> 00:31:23.240 or intellect. 00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.360 Number four, 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:27.700 do you struggle 00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:28.640 with being consumed 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:29.700 with the expectations 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.300 of others? 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:31.600 Right? 00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:33.420 Sometimes we think 00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:34.640 being a people pleaser 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:36.760 is a spiritual gift 00:31:36.760 --> 00:31:37.220 from the Lord 00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:39.000 and it is not. 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:41.140 But being fixated 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:42.460 on what others think, 00:31:43.100 --> 00:31:43.680 right, 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:45.000 either puts them 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.660 on the throne 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.460 of which you seek 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:47.180 to serve 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:48.140 or, 00:31:48.300 --> 00:31:49.080 think about this, 00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.920 I do this 00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:51.800 for you 00:31:51.800 --> 00:31:52.940 because of the way 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:54.380 it makes you view me. 00:31:55.340 --> 00:31:56.420 Who's at the throne? 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.080 I am. 00:31:59.420 --> 00:32:00.040 I am. 00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:01.700 What do you 00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.660 know about me? 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.100 What do you 00:32:03.100 --> 00:32:03.980 think of me? 00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.680 What do you 00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:05.860 expect of me? 00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:06.100 Right? 00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:07.280 This sin 00:32:07.280 --> 00:32:08.740 of self-righteousness. 00:32:09.040 --> 00:32:09.800 Number five, 00:32:10.020 --> 00:32:10.200 alright? 00:32:11.120 --> 00:32:11.740 I hope we all 00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:12.180 kind of maybe 00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:12.700 a little chuckle 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.380 at this but maybe 00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:13.960 see the truth 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.620 where it hits us 00:32:14.620 --> 00:32:15.060 in the heart 00:32:15.060 --> 00:32:15.460 with this, 00:32:15.580 --> 00:32:15.720 right? 00:32:16.020 --> 00:32:16.560 Number five, 00:32:17.520 --> 00:32:18.380 are you excited 00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:19.200 about the shortcomings 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:19.660 of others, 00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:20.080 right? 00:32:20.800 --> 00:32:21.120 Oh, 00:32:21.340 --> 00:32:22.380 they got it good. 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:22.900 You know what I mean? 00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:24.100 Right? 00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:26.020 When you see 00:32:26.020 --> 00:32:26.580 the sins 00:32:26.580 --> 00:32:27.460 that others 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.500 struggle with 00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:30.620 in our hearts, 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.860 what it does 00:32:31.860 --> 00:32:32.500 to us is 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.220 it reminds us 00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:33.680 of how good 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.360 we really are. 00:32:36.280 --> 00:32:36.680 What does 00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:37.420 the Pharisee say? 00:32:38.320 --> 00:32:38.560 What does 00:32:38.560 --> 00:32:38.800 the Pharisee, 00:32:38.900 --> 00:32:39.880 let me jump back, 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:40.380 hope I don't lose 00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:40.720 my place, 00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:41.600 let me jump back 00:32:41.600 --> 00:32:42.580 here really quick. 00:32:43.840 --> 00:32:44.420 Do you know 00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.180 what tax collectors 00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:45.480 did? 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:47.240 They extorted. 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:48.520 Alright? 00:32:49.080 --> 00:32:49.360 So, 00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:51.240 if the government 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.600 said to the tax 00:32:52.600 --> 00:32:52.960 collector, 00:32:53.320 --> 00:32:54.060 go collect 00:32:54.060 --> 00:32:55.520 15% of their 00:32:55.520 --> 00:32:55.980 income, 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:56.940 then what the tax 00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:57.740 collector would do 00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.580 is say the government 00:32:58.580 --> 00:32:58.860 said, 00:32:59.120 --> 00:32:59.720 give me 25. 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.680 And then they would 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.720 keep the other 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.180 10 for themselves. 00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:05.520 They were extortioners. 00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.920 And the Pharisees 00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:07.700 look there 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.420 and they say, 00:33:08.580 --> 00:33:09.200 when he's standing 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:10.400 in the temple 00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:11.980 and the tax collector 00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:12.400 is there, 00:33:12.520 --> 00:33:13.320 what's the first thing 00:33:13.320 --> 00:33:13.740 he says? 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.240 God, 00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:14.960 I thank you, 00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:16.180 I'm not like other 00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:16.540 men, 00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:18.060 like extortioners. 00:33:19.320 --> 00:33:20.560 Because I'm better 00:33:20.560 --> 00:33:21.600 than they are. 00:33:21.760 --> 00:33:22.860 And when we struggle 00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:24.400 with self-righteousness, 00:33:24.540 --> 00:33:25.400 when we struggle 00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:26.940 with self-glorification, 00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:28.280 we look at the people 00:33:28.280 --> 00:33:29.200 in our world 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:30.620 and instead of grieving 00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:31.680 the sin 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:33.080 that is in their life, 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:36.160 we use it 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:37.080 in a sick 00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:38.060 and twisted way 00:33:38.060 --> 00:33:39.100 to reinforce 00:33:39.100 --> 00:33:39.580 to us 00:33:39.580 --> 00:33:39.900 how good 00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:40.600 we really are. 00:33:41.800 --> 00:33:42.280 Right? 00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:44.600 And then when 00:33:44.600 --> 00:33:45.480 others struggle, 00:33:46.280 --> 00:33:47.520 when others hurt, 00:33:48.320 --> 00:33:48.980 when others go 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:50.100 through pain, 00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:50.880 right? 00:33:51.540 --> 00:33:52.540 What's created 00:33:52.540 --> 00:33:53.460 in us, 00:33:53.520 --> 00:33:54.760 like Paul tells us 00:33:54.760 --> 00:33:55.320 in Romans, 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:56.420 to grieve 00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.320 with those who grieve 00:33:57.320 --> 00:33:57.940 and to weep 00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:58.880 with those who weep. 00:33:59.840 --> 00:34:00.560 But instead, 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:01.940 when others struggle, 00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.920 there's this sense 00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:06.080 of prideful arrogance 00:34:06.080 --> 00:34:07.580 that says to us, 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:08.580 they're just getting 00:34:08.580 --> 00:34:09.480 what they deserve. 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:10.540 Right? 00:34:11.580 --> 00:34:12.380 And at the heart 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:12.700 of it, 00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:14.380 at the heart 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:15.280 of the power 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:16.640 of the grace 00:34:16.640 --> 00:34:17.820 of the gospel, 00:34:18.340 --> 00:34:19.480 is that every single 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:20.260 one of us 00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:20.880 should get 00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:21.540 what we deserve. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.200 But instead, 00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:24.020 we get Jesus. 00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:26.080 And lastly, 00:34:27.560 --> 00:34:28.320 do you struggle 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.180 with the distorted 00:34:29.180 --> 00:34:30.760 view of humility? 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:33.760 Humility is the call 00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:34.600 that we see 00:34:34.600 --> 00:34:36.080 continually in Scripture. 00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:38.400 Humility was what 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.140 was embodied 00:34:39.140 --> 00:34:40.140 by Christ 00:34:40.140 --> 00:34:41.200 as he came 00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:42.480 to this world. 00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:43.900 Just what we 00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.780 celebrated, 00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:45.100 right? 00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:46.220 A little less 00:34:46.220 --> 00:34:46.920 than a month ago. 00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:49.100 He came to this world 00:34:49.100 --> 00:34:51.040 not with parades 00:34:51.040 --> 00:34:52.100 and with mansions. 00:34:53.140 --> 00:34:54.280 Not as a warrior 00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:55.000 and as a ruler, 00:34:55.080 --> 00:34:55.780 but as a baby. 00:34:57.060 --> 00:34:57.780 He came not 00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:58.640 with a celebration 00:34:58.640 --> 00:34:59.800 of politicians 00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:00.820 and authorities, 00:35:01.060 --> 00:35:01.680 but he came 00:35:01.680 --> 00:35:02.580 with a celebration 00:35:02.580 --> 00:35:03.780 of shepherds. 00:35:04.780 --> 00:35:05.580 He came not 00:35:05.580 --> 00:35:06.780 born into 00:35:06.780 --> 00:35:07.660 an earthly 00:35:07.660 --> 00:35:08.940 royal family, 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:09.780 but he came 00:35:09.780 --> 00:35:10.900 to a teenage 00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:12.620 virgin mom 00:35:12.620 --> 00:35:15.080 and her carpenter 00:35:15.080 --> 00:35:15.900 husband. 00:35:17.160 --> 00:35:17.980 He didn't go 00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:18.660 to the palace 00:35:18.660 --> 00:35:19.720 and take his throne 00:35:19.720 --> 00:35:20.220 and say, 00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:21.340 this is mine, 00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:22.020 but instead, 00:35:22.200 --> 00:35:23.360 he went out 00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:24.620 into the wilderness, 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:26.120 out into the outskirts 00:35:26.120 --> 00:35:27.080 where he began 00:35:27.080 --> 00:35:28.020 his ministry, 00:35:28.180 --> 00:35:29.240 not with the best 00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:29.820 of the best, 00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:30.740 but with the least 00:35:30.740 --> 00:35:31.500 of the least, 00:35:31.700 --> 00:35:32.300 those who had been 00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:32.880 rejected, 00:35:33.200 --> 00:35:33.700 those who had been 00:35:33.700 --> 00:35:34.420 forgotten about. 00:35:34.560 --> 00:35:34.880 And he said, 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.740 come and follow me. 00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:36.380 We're going to change 00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:37.040 the world 00:35:37.040 --> 00:35:38.620 with the gospel. 00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:40.880 It's humility. 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:43.140 It's who he was. 00:35:44.620 --> 00:35:45.520 That in humility, 00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:49.920 he bore the nails. 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.980 In humility, 00:35:52.240 --> 00:35:53.460 he was beaten. 00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:55.540 In humility, 00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:58.200 he had every inch 00:35:58.200 --> 00:35:59.220 of clothing 00:35:59.220 --> 00:36:00.380 stripped off 00:36:00.380 --> 00:36:01.200 of his body 00:36:01.200 --> 00:36:02.020 so that he could 00:36:02.020 --> 00:36:02.580 be nailed 00:36:02.580 --> 00:36:03.580 to a cross 00:36:03.580 --> 00:36:04.240 to die 00:36:04.240 --> 00:36:05.520 for you and me. 00:36:05.740 --> 00:36:07.620 If you want 00:36:07.620 --> 00:36:07.940 to know 00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:08.540 what is the 00:36:08.540 --> 00:36:09.220 characteristic 00:36:09.220 --> 00:36:10.400 of the strength 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:11.040 of the gospel, 00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:12.060 it's in humility. 00:36:13.400 --> 00:36:14.120 But do you have 00:36:14.120 --> 00:36:14.920 a distorted view 00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:15.340 of humility? 00:36:16.560 --> 00:36:17.280 This world 00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:18.140 teaches us 00:36:18.140 --> 00:36:19.580 that humility 00:36:19.580 --> 00:36:20.780 is a character 00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:21.200 weakness. 00:36:22.180 --> 00:36:22.920 Be strong, 00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:23.940 rise above, 00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:24.880 don't let them 00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:25.540 push you down 00:36:25.540 --> 00:36:26.360 because this is 00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:26.920 who you are. 00:36:27.140 --> 00:36:27.620 No, no, no, no. 00:36:27.700 --> 00:36:28.240 It's because of 00:36:28.240 --> 00:36:28.980 who Christ is 00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:30.880 and the call 00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:31.700 to serve 00:36:31.700 --> 00:36:32.540 and not 00:36:32.540 --> 00:36:33.360 to be served. 00:36:34.940 --> 00:36:35.980 A distorted view 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:36.560 of humility 00:36:36.560 --> 00:36:37.240 causes us 00:36:37.240 --> 00:36:38.360 to see humility 00:36:38.360 --> 00:36:39.220 as a character 00:36:39.220 --> 00:36:39.740 weakness, 00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:40.680 but on the flip 00:36:40.680 --> 00:36:41.400 side of that, 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:41.660 right, 00:36:42.840 --> 00:36:43.840 a distorted view 00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:44.600 of humility 00:36:44.600 --> 00:36:45.140 is seen 00:36:45.140 --> 00:36:45.740 as a personal 00:36:45.740 --> 00:36:46.180 strength 00:36:46.180 --> 00:36:46.820 that you and I 00:36:46.820 --> 00:36:47.520 can not only 00:36:47.520 --> 00:36:48.420 do within ourselves 00:36:48.420 --> 00:36:49.480 but be perfected in. 00:36:49.780 --> 00:36:50.580 I kind of use 00:36:50.580 --> 00:36:51.640 this joking around 00:36:51.640 --> 00:36:52.060 a lot, 00:36:52.160 --> 00:36:52.580 but is this 00:36:52.580 --> 00:36:53.160 the positioning 00:36:53.160 --> 00:36:53.820 of your heart 00:36:53.820 --> 00:36:54.300 sometimes 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:55.080 where your heart 00:36:55.080 --> 00:36:55.700 says to you, 00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.260 you know what 00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:56.580 you're really 00:36:56.580 --> 00:36:56.920 good at, 00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:57.260 you're really 00:36:57.260 --> 00:36:57.640 good at being 00:36:57.640 --> 00:36:57.960 humble, 00:36:58.100 --> 00:36:58.320 right? 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.100 And then we 00:37:00.100 --> 00:37:00.720 carry that 00:37:00.720 --> 00:37:01.300 with us, 00:37:02.180 --> 00:37:02.360 right? 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:03.300 Self-righteousness, 00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:04.840 self-glorification 00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:05.400 within there. 00:37:06.140 --> 00:37:06.640 How should we 00:37:06.640 --> 00:37:07.260 see humility? 00:37:08.300 --> 00:37:08.980 Do you see 00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:09.880 humility as a 00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.620 gift of God 00:37:10.620 --> 00:37:11.240 that has grown 00:37:11.240 --> 00:37:12.020 in you by the 00:37:12.020 --> 00:37:13.040 power of the 00:37:13.040 --> 00:37:13.680 Holy Spirit 00:37:13.680 --> 00:37:14.220 and not of your 00:37:14.220 --> 00:37:15.900 own so that 00:37:15.900 --> 00:37:16.500 we can go out 00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:17.420 into the world 00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:18.580 proclaiming who 00:37:18.580 --> 00:37:19.000 he is? 00:37:20.020 --> 00:37:20.720 I want to 00:37:20.720 --> 00:37:21.280 close with this 00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:21.880 by actually 00:37:21.880 --> 00:37:23.260 flipping back 00:37:23.260 --> 00:37:24.380 to 1 Corinthians 00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:25.220 chapter 1. 00:37:26.260 --> 00:37:27.020 Look at 00:37:27.020 --> 00:37:27.600 verses 30 00:37:27.600 --> 00:37:28.180 and 31. 00:37:30.100 --> 00:37:30.960 Paul says 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.520 sandwiched in 00:37:31.520 --> 00:37:32.040 between these 00:37:32.040 --> 00:37:32.640 two messages 00:37:32.640 --> 00:37:33.140 that we 00:37:33.140 --> 00:37:33.700 looked at 00:37:33.700 --> 00:37:34.060 these two 00:37:34.060 --> 00:37:34.460 passages 00:37:34.460 --> 00:37:34.820 from the 00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:35.160 last two 00:37:35.160 --> 00:37:35.440 weeks. 00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:37.080 He says 00:37:37.080 --> 00:37:37.420 and because 00:37:37.420 --> 00:37:37.920 of him 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:39.180 you were 00:37:39.180 --> 00:37:39.600 in Christ 00:37:39.600 --> 00:37:39.980 Jesus 00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:42.100 who became 00:37:42.100 --> 00:37:42.680 to us 00:37:42.680 --> 00:37:43.120 wisdom 00:37:43.120 --> 00:37:43.780 from God 00:37:43.780 --> 00:37:45.500 righteousness 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:47.700 and sanctification 00:37:47.700 --> 00:37:49.460 and redemption 00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:51.500 so that 00:37:51.500 --> 00:37:52.120 as it is 00:37:52.120 --> 00:37:52.500 written 00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:54.220 let the 00:37:54.220 --> 00:37:54.780 one who 00:37:54.780 --> 00:37:55.360 boasts 00:37:55.360 --> 00:37:56.980 boast 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:58.040 in 00:37:58.040 --> 00:37:58.840 the 00:37:58.840 --> 00:37:59.140 Lord 00:37:59.140 --> 00:37:59.840 right 00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:01.280 you and 00:38:01.280 --> 00:38:01.540 I 00:38:01.540 --> 00:38:02.700 we get 00:38:02.700 --> 00:38:03.140 to brag 00:38:03.140 --> 00:38:05.380 you and 00:38:05.380 --> 00:38:06.020 I get 00:38:06.020 --> 00:38:06.640 to boast 00:38:06.640 --> 00:38:08.380 you and 00:38:08.380 --> 00:38:08.980 I get 00:38:08.980 --> 00:38:09.420 to make 00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:09.980 much 00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:12.560 but not 00:38:12.560 --> 00:38:13.220 of ourselves 00:38:13.220 --> 00:38:16.160 but of 00:38:16.160 --> 00:38:16.560 Jesus 00:38:16.560 --> 00:38:18.620 and that's 00:38:18.620 --> 00:38:18.940 the heart 00:38:18.940 --> 00:38:19.260 of it 00:38:19.260 --> 00:38:20.940 and so 00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:21.900 when Paul 00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:22.360 says 00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:23.820 for I 00:38:23.820 --> 00:38:24.360 decided 00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.600 to know 00:38:25.600 --> 00:38:26.120 nothing 00:38:26.120 --> 00:38:27.040 among you 00:38:27.040 --> 00:38:28.240 except 00:38:28.240 --> 00:38:28.700 Jesus 00:38:28.700 --> 00:38:29.260 Christ 00:38:29.260 --> 00:38:30.060 and him 00:38:30.060 --> 00:38:30.560 crucified 00:38:30.560 --> 00:38:31.960 he's saying 00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:32.580 in every 00:38:32.580 --> 00:38:33.520 moment 00:38:33.520 --> 00:38:34.160 that I 00:38:34.160 --> 00:38:34.800 was there 00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:35.720 with you 00:38:35.720 --> 00:38:36.340 through the 00:38:36.340 --> 00:38:36.860 power 00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:37.600 and the 00:38:37.600 --> 00:38:38.080 grace 00:38:38.080 --> 00:38:38.880 of the 00:38:38.880 --> 00:38:39.280 Holy 00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:40.120 Spirit 00:38:40.120 --> 00:38:40.940 right 00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:41.700 is 00:38:41.700 --> 00:38:42.520 Jesus 00:38:42.520 --> 00:38:44.160 Jesus 00:38:44.160 --> 00:38:45.420 Jesus 00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:46.680 you want 00:38:46.680 --> 00:38:46.880 to be 00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:47.440 strong 00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:48.580 identify 00:38:48.580 --> 00:38:49.620 in weakness 00:38:49.620 --> 00:38:50.320 you want 00:38:50.320 --> 00:38:50.520 to be 00:38:50.520 --> 00:38:51.160 strong 00:38:51.160 --> 00:38:52.260 serve 00:38:52.260 --> 00:38:52.880 those 00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:53.380 who 00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:54.020 serve 00:38:54.020 --> 00:38:54.300 you 00:38:54.300 --> 00:38:54.780 you want 00:38:54.780 --> 00:38:55.020 to be 00:38:55.020 --> 00:38:55.920 powerful 00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:56.860 then understand 00:38:56.860 --> 00:38:57.180 that it 00:38:57.180 --> 00:38:57.800 rests 00:38:57.800 --> 00:38:58.380 in the 00:38:58.380 --> 00:38:58.820 power 00:38:58.820 --> 00:38:59.560 of Christ 00:38:59.560 --> 00:39:00.080 and it's 00:39:00.080 --> 00:39:00.500 not in 00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:00.800 and of 00:39:00.800 --> 00:39:01.220 yourself 00:39:01.220 --> 00:39:01.840 but it's 00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:02.340 done 00:39:02.340 --> 00:39:03.700 it's 00:39:03.700 --> 00:39:04.340 not found 00:39:04.340 --> 00:39:04.740 in the 00:39:04.740 --> 00:39:05.020 wisdom 00:39:05.020 --> 00:39:05.540 of this 00:39:05.540 --> 00:39:05.900 world 00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:07.360 but it's 00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:07.640 found 00:39:07.640 --> 00:39:07.880 in the 00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:08.120 wisdom 00:39:08.120 --> 00:39:08.500 of God 00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:08.740 through the 00:39:08.740 --> 00:39:08.940 power 00:39:08.940 --> 00:39:09.140 of the 00:39:09.140 --> 00:39:09.420 gospel 00:39:09.420 --> 00:39:11.440 two 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:11.840 questions 00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:12.140 and we'll 00:39:12.140 --> 00:39:12.460 close 00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:13.840 number 00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:14.140 one 00:39:14.140 --> 00:39:16.500 are you 00:39:16.500 --> 00:39:17.000 blinded 00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:17.400 by your 00:39:17.400 --> 00:39:17.680 sin 00:39:17.680 --> 00:39:19.800 and unable 00:39:19.800 --> 00:39:20.480 to respond 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:20.840 to the 00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:21.160 gospel 00:39:21.160 --> 00:39:21.560 of Jesus 00:39:21.560 --> 00:39:21.900 Christ 00:39:21.900 --> 00:39:22.320 because of 00:39:22.320 --> 00:39:23.040 self-righteousness 00:39:23.040 --> 00:39:25.320 I don't care 00:39:25.320 --> 00:39:25.640 if you've 00:39:25.640 --> 00:39:26.020 been coming 00:39:26.020 --> 00:39:26.500 to church 00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:27.460 for 80 00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:28.000 years 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:29.120 I don't 00:39:29.120 --> 00:39:29.680 care how 00:39:29.680 --> 00:39:30.260 many mission 00:39:30.260 --> 00:39:30.520 trips 00:39:30.520 --> 00:39:30.780 you've 00:39:30.780 --> 00:39:31.160 been on 00:39:31.160 --> 00:39:31.740 I don't 00:39:31.740 --> 00:39:32.260 care how 00:39:32.260 --> 00:39:32.480 much 00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:33.160 you give 00:39:33.160 --> 00:39:33.740 I don't 00:39:33.740 --> 00:39:34.200 care how 00:39:34.200 --> 00:39:34.420 much 00:39:34.420 --> 00:39:35.000 you do 00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:35.660 I don't 00:39:35.660 --> 00:39:36.260 care what 00:39:36.260 --> 00:39:36.640 others 00:39:36.640 --> 00:39:37.060 think 00:39:37.060 --> 00:39:37.420 or what 00:39:37.420 --> 00:39:38.040 you think 00:39:38.040 --> 00:39:38.420 about 00:39:38.420 --> 00:39:39.260 yourself 00:39:39.260 --> 00:39:40.320 are you 00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:40.540 the 00:39:40.540 --> 00:39:41.160 pharisee 00:39:41.160 --> 00:39:41.640 in the 00:39:41.640 --> 00:39:42.100 room 00:39:42.100 --> 00:39:43.940 celebrating 00:39:43.940 --> 00:39:44.840 all of 00:39:44.840 --> 00:39:45.400 who you 00:39:45.400 --> 00:39:45.740 are 00:39:45.740 --> 00:39:46.060 because 00:39:46.060 --> 00:39:46.560 of what 00:39:46.560 --> 00:39:47.000 you've 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:47.300 done 00:39:47.300 --> 00:39:49.600 and in 00:39:49.600 --> 00:39:49.900 that 00:39:49.900 --> 00:39:51.220 your 00:39:51.220 --> 00:39:51.860 inability 00:39:51.860 --> 00:39:52.660 to respond 00:39:52.660 --> 00:39:52.960 to the 00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:53.300 gospel 00:39:53.300 --> 00:39:53.740 of Jesus 00:39:53.740 --> 00:39:54.100 because 00:39:54.100 --> 00:39:54.400 of your 00:39:54.400 --> 00:39:55.160 self-righteousness 00:39:55.160 --> 00:39:56.800 but number 00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:57.080 two 00:39:57.080 --> 00:39:58.980 are you 00:39:58.980 --> 00:39:59.380 struggling 00:39:59.380 --> 00:39:59.820 to live 00:39:59.820 --> 00:40:00.240 the life 00:40:00.240 --> 00:40:00.640 that God 00:40:00.640 --> 00:40:01.080 has for 00:40:01.080 --> 00:40:01.260 you 00:40:01.260 --> 00:40:03.020 you want 00:40:03.020 --> 00:40:03.200 to be 00:40:03.200 --> 00:40:03.580 obedient 00:40:03.580 --> 00:40:05.320 you want 00:40:05.320 --> 00:40:05.600 to see 00:40:05.600 --> 00:40:06.060 people's 00:40:06.060 --> 00:40:06.340 lives 00:40:06.340 --> 00:40:06.820 impacted 00:40:06.820 --> 00:40:07.040 for 00:40:07.040 --> 00:40:07.180 the 00:40:07.180 --> 00:40:07.520 gospel 00:40:07.520 --> 00:40:08.680 you 00:40:08.680 --> 00:40:09.640 love 00:40:09.640 --> 00:40:09.840 the 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:10.060 Lord 00:40:10.060 --> 00:40:10.240 but 00:40:10.240 --> 00:40:10.520 just 00:40:10.520 --> 00:40:10.840 don't 00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:11.560 understand 00:40:11.560 --> 00:40:12.400 why 00:40:12.400 --> 00:40:12.820 you 00:40:12.820 --> 00:40:13.220 get 00:40:13.220 --> 00:40:13.540 in 00:40:13.540 --> 00:40:13.700 the 00:40:13.700 --> 00:40:14.040 way 00:40:14.040 --> 00:40:14.360 so 00:40:14.360 --> 00:40:14.640 much 00:40:14.640 --> 00:40:14.780 of 00:40:14.780 --> 00:40:15.040 that 00:40:15.040 --> 00:40:15.520 right 00:40:15.520 --> 00:40:16.600 sign me up 00:40:16.600 --> 00:40:16.880 for this 00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:17.080 one 00:40:17.080 --> 00:40:19.160 and maybe 00:40:19.160 --> 00:40:19.760 the struggle 00:40:19.760 --> 00:40:21.400 is because 00:40:21.400 --> 00:40:22.020 within you 00:40:22.020 --> 00:40:23.220 there's a 00:40:23.220 --> 00:40:23.820 little piece 00:40:23.820 --> 00:40:24.720 that's like 00:40:24.720 --> 00:40:25.360 the disciples 00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:27.260 and in the 00:40:27.260 --> 00:40:27.600 room 00:40:27.600 --> 00:40:29.060 there's a 00:40:29.060 --> 00:40:29.480 sense of 00:40:29.480 --> 00:40:30.560 self-glorification 00:40:30.560 --> 00:40:32.280 that says 00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:33.540 but I 00:40:33.540 --> 00:40:34.040 want to be 00:40:34.040 --> 00:40:34.600 the best 00:40:34.600 --> 00:40:35.920 and I 00:40:35.920 --> 00:40:36.300 want to be 00:40:36.300 --> 00:40:36.840 recognized 00:40:36.840 --> 00:40:37.840 for being 00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:38.380 the best 00:40:38.380 --> 00:40:38.940 right 00:40:38.940 --> 00:40:40.080 is this 00:40:40.080 --> 00:40:40.300 what you 00:40:40.300 --> 00:40:40.560 struggle 00:40:40.560 --> 00:40:40.880 with 00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:42.320 here's the 00:40:42.320 --> 00:40:42.700 beauty of 00:40:42.700 --> 00:40:43.020 both of 00:40:43.020 --> 00:40:43.260 these 00:40:43.260 --> 00:40:44.760 it is the 00:40:44.760 --> 00:40:45.260 grace 00:40:45.260 --> 00:40:46.060 of Jesus 00:40:46.060 --> 00:40:46.640 Christ 00:40:46.640 --> 00:40:47.380 that covers 00:40:47.380 --> 00:40:47.540 them 00:40:47.540 --> 00:40:49.120 it is the 00:40:49.120 --> 00:40:49.600 blood 00:40:49.600 --> 00:40:50.500 of Jesus 00:40:50.500 --> 00:40:51.900 that cleanses 00:40:51.900 --> 00:40:52.940 and the 00:40:52.940 --> 00:40:53.540 Bible tells 00:40:53.540 --> 00:40:53.940 us that 00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:54.300 God 00:40:54.300 --> 00:40:54.980 separates 00:40:54.980 --> 00:40:55.640 our sin 00:40:55.640 --> 00:40:56.420 as far 00:40:56.420 --> 00:40:56.800 as the 00:40:56.800 --> 00:40:57.140 east 00:40:57.140 --> 00:40:57.560 is 00:40:57.560 --> 00:40:58.280 from the 00:40:58.280 --> 00:40:58.620 west 00:40:58.620 --> 00:40:59.240 so that 00:40:59.240 --> 00:40:59.700 you 00:40:59.700 --> 00:41:00.580 and I 00:41:00.580 --> 00:41:01.000 might 00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:01.540 become 00:41:01.540 --> 00:41:02.260 children 00:41:02.260 --> 00:41:02.940 of God 00:41:02.940 --> 00:41:04.720 I love 00:41:04.720 --> 00:41:05.420 reading Paul 00:41:05.420 --> 00:41:06.080 about this 00:41:06.080 --> 00:41:07.680 because no 00:41:07.680 --> 00:41:08.380 one understood 00:41:08.380 --> 00:41:09.400 self-righteousness 00:41:09.400 --> 00:41:09.740 more than 00:41:09.740 --> 00:41:09.980 Paul 00:41:09.980 --> 00:41:12.100 Paul as 00:41:12.100 --> 00:41:12.560 a 00:41:12.560 --> 00:41:13.320 religious 00:41:13.320 --> 00:41:13.940 ruler 00:41:13.940 --> 00:41:15.500 Paul is 00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:15.840 the one 00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:16.080 of the 00:41:16.080 --> 00:41:16.760 persecutor 00:41:16.760 --> 00:41:17.120 of the 00:41:17.120 --> 00:41:17.480 church 00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:18.120 who is 00:41:18.120 --> 00:41:18.500 saved 00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:19.180 by grace 00:41:19.180 --> 00:41:19.880 and grace 00:41:19.880 --> 00:41:20.240 alone 00:41:20.240 --> 00:41:20.860 as God 00:41:20.860 --> 00:41:21.340 opened 00:41:21.340 --> 00:41:22.320 his heart 00:41:22.320 --> 00:41:22.920 and his 00:41:22.920 --> 00:41:23.280 eyes 00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:23.600 to the 00:41:23.600 --> 00:41:23.960 power 00:41:23.960 --> 00:41:24.700 of the 00:41:24.700 --> 00:41:25.020 gospel 00:41:25.020 --> 00:41:26.340 and this 00:41:26.340 --> 00:41:26.580 morning 00:41:26.580 --> 00:41:27.280 our band 00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:27.480 is going 00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:27.760 to come 00:41:27.760 --> 00:41:27.980 up here 00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:28.140 we're 00:41:28.140 --> 00:41:28.300 going to 00:41:28.300 --> 00:41:28.740 sing a 00:41:28.740 --> 00:41:28.940 couple 00:41:28.940 --> 00:41:29.200 more 00:41:29.200 --> 00:41:29.540 songs 00:41:29.540 --> 00:41:29.740 it's 00:41:29.740 --> 00:41:29.920 my 00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:30.480 hope 00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:30.920 and my 00:41:30.920 --> 00:41:31.200 prayer 00:41:31.200 --> 00:41:32.040 that 00:41:32.040 --> 00:41:32.200 through 00:41:32.200 --> 00:41:32.400 the 00:41:32.400 --> 00:41:32.820 power 00:41:32.820 --> 00:41:33.140 of 00:41:33.140 --> 00:41:33.340 the 00:41:33.340 --> 00:41:33.600 Holy 00:41:33.600 --> 00:41:34.140 Spirit 00:41:34.140 --> 00:41:34.840 God 00:41:34.840 --> 00:41:35.020 will 00:41:35.020 --> 00:41:35.480 open 00:41:35.480 --> 00:41:35.720 our 00:41:35.720 --> 00:41:36.080 eyes 00:41:36.080 --> 00:41:36.260 to 00:41:36.260 --> 00:41:36.460 the 00:41:36.460 --> 00:41:36.820 sin 00:41:36.820 --> 00:41:37.020 that 00:41:37.020 --> 00:41:37.160 is 00:41:37.160 --> 00:41:37.340 in 00:41:37.340 --> 00:41:37.500 our 00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:37.840 life 00:41:37.840 --> 00:41:38.240 and 00:41:38.240 --> 00:41:38.400 will 00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:38.800 respond 00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:38.960 to 00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:39.080 his 00:41:39.080 --> 00:41:39.300 grace 00:41:39.300 --> 00:41:39.460 and 00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:39.720 mercy 00:41:39.720 --> 00:41:40.480 would 00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:40.560 you 00:41:40.560 --> 00:41:40.680 pray 00:41:40.680 --> 00:41:40.820 with 00:41:40.820 --> 00:41:41.400 me 00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:45.960 Lord we 00:41:45.960 --> 00:41:46.260 come to 00:41:46.260 --> 00:41:46.600 you this 00:41:46.600 --> 00:41:46.880 morning 00:41:46.880 --> 00:41:48.420 and we 00:41:48.420 --> 00:41:48.860 thank you 00:41:48.860 --> 00:41:49.200 for your 00:41:49.200 --> 00:41:49.560 goodness 00:41:49.560 --> 00:41:50.500 and your 00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:50.880 kindness 00:41:50.880 --> 00:41:51.740 and your 00:41:51.740 --> 00:41:52.100 grace 00:41:52.100 --> 00:41:56.180 Lord I 00:41:56.180 --> 00:41:56.400 pray 00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:56.900 for all 00:41:56.900 --> 00:41:57.440 of us 00:41:57.440 --> 00:41:59.800 Lord 00:41:59.800 --> 00:42:00.080 through the 00:42:00.080 --> 00:42:00.500 power of 00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:00.640 your 00:42:00.640 --> 00:42:01.320 spirit 00:42:01.320 --> 00:42:03.720 will we 00:42:03.720 --> 00:42:04.460 examine our 00:42:04.460 --> 00:42:05.000 lives and 00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:05.580 our hearts 00:42:05.580 --> 00:42:07.740 Lord for 00:42:07.740 --> 00:42:08.400 those of us 00:42:08.400 --> 00:42:09.140 in here who 00:42:09.140 --> 00:42:10.260 came in with 00:42:10.260 --> 00:42:10.900 a sense of 00:42:10.900 --> 00:42:12.040 self-righteousness 00:42:12.040 --> 00:42:12.640 may we 00:42:12.640 --> 00:42:13.460 understand that 00:42:13.460 --> 00:42:14.480 our righteousness 00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:15.660 comes from you 00:42:15.660 --> 00:42:16.060 and you 00:42:16.060 --> 00:42:16.480 alone 00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:18.860 that not one 00:42:18.860 --> 00:42:19.620 of us is 00:42:19.620 --> 00:42:20.480 deserving 00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:21.800 of salvation 00:42:21.800 --> 00:42:23.080 not one 00:42:23.080 --> 00:42:23.460 of us 00:42:23.460 --> 00:42:24.300 is deserving 00:42:24.300 --> 00:42:25.000 of your 00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:25.360 love 00:42:25.360 --> 00:42:26.140 not one 00:42:26.140 --> 00:42:26.500 of us 00:42:26.500 --> 00:42:27.160 is deserving 00:42:27.160 --> 00:42:27.880 of anything 00:42:27.880 --> 00:42:28.280 but it is 00:42:28.280 --> 00:42:29.120 only through 00:42:29.120 --> 00:42:29.560 you 00:42:29.560 --> 00:42:31.040 that it's 00:42:31.040 --> 00:42:31.460 given to 00:42:31.460 --> 00:42:31.840 us 00:42:31.840 --> 00:42:33.680 and I 00:42:33.680 --> 00:42:33.880 pray 00:42:33.880 --> 00:42:34.300 Lord through 00:42:34.300 --> 00:42:34.820 the drawing 00:42:34.820 --> 00:42:35.220 and the 00:42:35.220 --> 00:42:35.680 leading of 00:42:35.680 --> 00:42:36.540 your spirit 00:42:36.540 --> 00:42:37.020 Lord that 00:42:37.020 --> 00:42:37.720 their eyes 00:42:37.720 --> 00:42:38.060 would be 00:42:38.060 --> 00:42:38.540 opened 00:42:38.540 --> 00:42:39.480 their hearts 00:42:39.480 --> 00:42:40.040 would be 00:42:40.040 --> 00:42:40.940 softened 00:42:40.940 --> 00:42:42.660 and in this 00:42:42.660 --> 00:42:43.160 moment they 00:42:43.160 --> 00:42:43.720 would respond 00:42:43.720 --> 00:42:44.260 to you 00:42:44.260 --> 00:42:45.400 and you 00:42:45.400 --> 00:42:45.700 alone 00:42:45.700 --> 00:42:47.480 Lord I pray 00:42:47.480 --> 00:42:47.840 for those 00:42:47.840 --> 00:42:48.240 of us 00:42:48.240 --> 00:42:48.720 who struggle 00:42:48.720 --> 00:42:49.260 with self 00:42:49.260 --> 00:42:50.200 glorification 00:42:50.200 --> 00:42:51.240 with pride 00:42:51.240 --> 00:42:52.300 with arrogance 00:42:52.300 --> 00:42:54.520 Lord of 00:42:54.520 --> 00:42:55.040 constantly 00:42:55.040 --> 00:42:55.820 feeling the 00:42:55.820 --> 00:42:56.800 need to 00:42:56.800 --> 00:42:57.480 look down 00:42:57.480 --> 00:42:58.440 on others 00:42:58.440 --> 00:42:59.900 with constantly 00:42:59.900 --> 00:43:00.420 feeling the 00:43:00.420 --> 00:43:01.160 need to 00:43:01.160 --> 00:43:02.180 elevate their 00:43:02.180 --> 00:43:03.240 self above 00:43:03.240 --> 00:43:04.240 the rest 00:43:04.240 --> 00:43:05.840 to find a 00:43:05.840 --> 00:43:07.300 weakened sense 00:43:07.300 --> 00:43:10.960 of esteem 00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:13.320 that is found 00:43:13.320 --> 00:43:14.160 in them 00:43:14.160 --> 00:43:14.620 and in them 00:43:14.620 --> 00:43:14.920 alone 00:43:14.920 --> 00:43:18.120 but in 00:43:18.120 --> 00:43:18.660 Lord instead 00:43:18.660 --> 00:43:19.140 to find it 00:43:19.140 --> 00:43:19.480 in you 00:43:19.480 --> 00:43:21.700 Lord so 00:43:21.700 --> 00:43:21.960 that we 00:43:21.960 --> 00:43:22.600 can embrace 00:43:22.600 --> 00:43:23.500 what Paul 00:43:23.500 --> 00:43:24.280 said 00:43:24.280 --> 00:43:27.120 and that we 00:43:27.120 --> 00:43:27.540 can come 00:43:27.540 --> 00:43:28.100 to others 00:43:28.100 --> 00:43:29.900 in weakness 00:43:29.900 --> 00:43:31.220 and in fear 00:43:31.220 --> 00:43:32.000 and in trembling 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:34.560 so that what 00:43:34.560 --> 00:43:35.060 they see 00:43:35.060 --> 00:43:35.580 is not how 00:43:35.580 --> 00:43:36.020 great we 00:43:36.020 --> 00:43:36.340 are 00:43:36.340 --> 00:43:38.660 but what 00:43:38.660 --> 00:43:39.140 they see 00:43:39.140 --> 00:43:39.460 is how 00:43:39.460 --> 00:43:39.920 great you 00:43:39.920 --> 00:43:40.240 are 00:43:40.240 --> 00:43:43.960 and so 00:43:43.960 --> 00:43:44.400 Lord I pray 00:43:44.400 --> 00:43:44.820 that that 00:43:44.820 --> 00:43:45.280 would be 00:43:45.280 --> 00:43:45.680 what we 00:43:45.680 --> 00:43:46.240 reflect 00:43:46.240 --> 00:43:47.880 Lord that 00:43:47.880 --> 00:43:48.100 we would 00:43:48.100 --> 00:43:48.560 get out 00:43:48.560 --> 00:43:49.480 of the 00:43:49.480 --> 00:43:49.820 way 00:43:49.820 --> 00:43:52.580 we would 00:43:52.580 --> 00:43:52.940 not be 00:43:52.940 --> 00:43:53.320 our own 00:43:53.320 --> 00:43:54.040 objects of 00:43:54.040 --> 00:43:54.480 glory 00:43:54.480 --> 00:43:55.960 but Lord 00:43:55.960 --> 00:43:56.280 that you 00:43:56.280 --> 00:43:56.640 would be 00:43:56.640 --> 00:44:00.260 listen to me 00:44:00.260 --> 00:44:00.720 pray 00:44:00.720 --> 00:44:13.580 thanks again for 00:44:13.580 --> 00:44:14.260 listening to the 00:44:14.260 --> 00:44:15.040 Willow Ridge Church 00:44:15.040 --> 00:44:16.020 weekly podcast 00:44:16.020 --> 00:44:17.020 we hope that you 00:44:17.020 --> 00:44:17.860 enjoyed listening to 00:44:17.860 --> 00:44:18.640 this week's message 00:44:18.640 --> 00:44:19.820 if you'd like to 00:44:19.820 --> 00:44:20.460 learn more about 00:44:20.460 --> 00:44:21.040 who we are 00:44:21.040 --> 00:44:21.700 or explore 00:44:21.700 --> 00:44:22.640 additional resources 00:44:22.640 --> 00:44:23.660 visit us 00:44:23.660 --> 00:44:24.440 online at 00:44:24.440 --> 00:44:27.700 www.willowridgechurch.com 00:44:27.700 --> 00:44:28.920 or by searching 00:44:28.920 --> 00:44:29.920 for Willow Ridge Church 00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:30.560 on Facebook 00:44:30.560 --> 00:44:31.260 and Instagram 00:44:31.260 --> 00:44:33.320 you