WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:01.919 Well, Jeff, I don't know about you, but when I 2 00:00:01.960 --> 00:00:04.719 hear the word ambassador, because I'm such a movie guy, 3 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:08.640 the first thing I think of, unfortunately, is ambassador Spock 4 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:12.960 from Star Trek. Oh wow, yeah, yeah, so today that's 5 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:13.800 what we're talking about. 6 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:17.199 He's Christ and I'm Jeff, and we're the Bible guys. 7 00:00:28.640 --> 00:00:32.880 Well, hey, listen, Jeff, today is the first week of 8 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:35.600 a new year. Yes, and it says this. This segment 9 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:37.679 that was handed to us says this. It's actually great. 10 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:42.000 We're calling it what made Jeff happy this week? Oh, 11 00:00:42.039 --> 00:00:44.240 it's a new year, So we're gonna flip one of 12 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:46.719 our favorite segments. Instead of asking Chris what made him 13 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:48.560 mad this week, we're asking Jeff what. 14 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:51.479 Made him happy this week? Okay, yeah, so off top 15 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:53.280 of your head, what made you happy? 16 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:57.479 Wow? That's a special question. So are they trying to 17 00:00:57.520 --> 00:00:59.960 differentiate between the two of us as to what we're 18 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:00.520 famous for? 19 00:01:01.479 --> 00:01:02.719 Maybe so maybe? So. 20 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:05.040 My only my only question is are you going to 21 00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:09.079 go like self righteous and say like, oh my my quiet. 22 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:11.359 Time with Jesus? And then second to that would be 23 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:14.159 you know, my what any any moment. 24 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:17.040 With my wife? It's glorious, It's funny. 25 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:18.239 Those are the obvious answers. 26 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:21.000 What made Chris mad this week? What made Jeff happy 27 00:01:21.079 --> 00:01:23.159 this week? Actually, over the last couple of weeks, I 28 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:24.760 think it's been the other way around. You've been the 29 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:27.439 really happy guy, and I've been kind of out of sorts, 30 00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:30.319 kind of grumpy guy. I don't know why. Let me 31 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:36.280 think what made me happy? Though? So through this holiday season, 32 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:39.000 I've had a lot of opportunity to grill and smoke 33 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:43.000 a lot of meats. Oh yeah, so I like that, 34 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:50.439 did some ribs, did made some sausage, some venison sausage, 35 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:53.400 and smoked that. Yeah, all kinds of things. I have 36 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:56.040 a new smoker that I can control from my phone, 37 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:58.319 Like I could fire it up right now, sitting right here, 38 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:01.560 I could get that bad boy going. So it's amazing 39 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:05.760 and gets the smoke just right, gets the charge just right, 40 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:06.920 just delicious. 41 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:08.800 Yeah, that's it's pretty incredible. 42 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:15.039 So I've been working on a new recipe for barbecue sauce, 43 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:18.400 and let me just tell you, I'm almost there. 44 00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:22.680 Glorious because all the all the good barbecue sauces haven't 45 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:23.719 been invented yet. 46 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:25.639 I don't think so. This this one is really, really, 47 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:29.159 really really good man. Yeah, so I have some apricot 48 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:31.240 preserves in there and a little bit of Frank's Hot 49 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:34.719 sauce and some other good based stuff. It's based off 50 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:37.599 of open Pit, but I got all these things to 51 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:38.240 mix it together. 52 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:40.159 Pit open Pit is one of my favorites. 53 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:43.080 Yeah. Yeah, so that's just the base. That's the beginning, okay, 54 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:45.400 and yeah, because you're gonna get that vinegary taste in 55 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:47.560 there too, and then from there build off all these 56 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:50.520 layers of flavors. So it's really sweet. I just made 57 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:53.080 these for our oversight team, the elders at our church, 58 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:55.280 because we needed the budget get passed, and I figured 59 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:57.560 i'd get them, you know, mostly passed out on a 60 00:02:57.599 --> 00:02:59.639 meat coma and then and then we talked about the budget. 61 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:02.479 So I did that and kind of starts sweet on 62 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:04.759 the front end and then gets really full and middle 63 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:07.159 and then gets just a bite of heat at the end. 64 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:09.719 It's perfect, man. So yeah, that's what makes me happy. 65 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:11.800 And I think one of the I love to cook, 66 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:13.719 and one of the reasons is it's just so different 67 00:03:13.719 --> 00:03:15.840 from everything else I do, right that you just kind 68 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:18.680 of turn the brain off and make things happen. It's fun. 69 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:20.919 Well, I mean I think it's because you're good at it. 70 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:23.599 So and not only is it interesting, you know, because 71 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:27.479 it's fascinating and we all appreciate good food. I think 72 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:30.960 there's there's people like me right where like I just 73 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:33.080 I don't for some reason, they don't have any interested 74 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:35.520 in cooking. But I sure do want to go to 75 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:37.280 the places that have the best food in the world. 76 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:42.680 Right So I love food, as evidenced by myself. And 77 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:46.280 you know, but but you're the kind of person that says, hey, 78 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:50.360 I can actually do this, I can create this, and 79 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:52.159 and you have total pleasure in doing it, and I 80 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:54.319 watch you do it. For those of you who don't know, 81 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:56.960 if you're if you're a pastor out there, you got 82 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:00.360 to step up your game. Because Jeff actually makes food 83 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:03.080 for our entire staff. Will have a staff meeting and 84 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:06.759 he'll say, what should I make a planked salmon? 85 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:11.599 You know? Yeah, and it's like forty something people. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 86 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:12.919 And so you're out there and he actually enjoys it. 87 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:14.879 And I've never been to a church. I told my 88 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:17.279 staff this because I only came on staff with you 89 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:18.040 two years ago. 90 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:20.399 I told the staff, I'm like, I've never even heard 91 00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:20.720 of this. 92 00:04:21.160 --> 00:04:24.600 I've even heard of a lead pastor like serving this 93 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:26.199 way for his for his staff. 94 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:28.560 This is the closest thing I'm going to get to 95 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:30.000 watching people's. 96 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:33.360 Feet, because it sure ain't going. 97 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:37.480 To be watching exactly. So, you know, people come together 98 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:40.959 around food, and good food is fun to do anyways, 99 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:42.920 And like I said, it's just so different from everything 100 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:45.279 else I do that it's it's a nice diversion and 101 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:49.279 it brings delight to me. So but I am almost 102 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:52.079 never satisfied with it. So I'm always like, you know 103 00:04:52.120 --> 00:04:53.680 what I could have done? Well, you know what I 104 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:56.319 should have done. It's always make it better, make it better, 105 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:59.240 make it better. And Bonnie mocks me. My wife mocks 106 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:02.319 me over that all the time time, Like everybody at 107 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:04.399 the table take a bite, and then body goes, you 108 00:05:04.439 --> 00:05:06.600 know what you should have done? And she's just mocking me. 109 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:10.160 But that's my thing, all right. So we are in 110 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:13.519 this passage in second contens chapter five, right. 111 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:16.519 Yep, and we're going to read through chapter six, verse 112 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:20.079 number two, because remember chapters came later. This is one 113 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:24.399 long letter, that's right. So chapter six point two sort 114 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:25.519 of ends the thought. 115 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:28.519 Yes, so he's been talking. You know, we're all going 116 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:30.680 to stand before Christ to be judged. And then he says, 117 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:34.199 because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we 118 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:37.680 work hard to persuade others. God knows we're sincere, and 119 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:40.560 I hope you know this too. Are we commending ourselves 120 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:43.000 to you again? Know we're giving you a reason to 121 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:45.079 be proud of us, so that you can answer those 122 00:05:45.079 --> 00:05:48.360 who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having 123 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:51.319 a sincere heart. If it seems we're crazy, it is 124 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:53.439 to bring glory to God, and if we are in 125 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:55.720 our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, 126 00:05:55.800 --> 00:05:58.879 Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died 127 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.279 for all, we all believe that we have all died 128 00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:03.959 to our old life. He died for everyone, so that 129 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:06.000 those who receive his new life will no longer live 130 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:09.120 for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died 131 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:12.160 and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating 132 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:14.480 others from a human point of view. At one time 133 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:17.560 we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. However, 134 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:21.839 how differently we now know him. This means that everyone 135 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:24.199 who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The 136 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:26.759 old life is gone and a new life has begun. 137 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:28.879 And all of this is a gift from God, who 138 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:31.399 brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has 139 00:06:31.399 --> 00:06:34.560 given us this task of reconciling people to him. For 140 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:37.480 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, no 141 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:40.639 longer counting people's sins against them, and he gave us 142 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:45.279 this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors. 143 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:48.800 God is making his appeal through us. We speak for 144 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:51.959 Christ when we plead come back to God. For God 145 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:54.120 made Christ to never sinned, to be the offering for 146 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:56.439 our sin so that we could be made right with 147 00:06:56.519 --> 00:06:57.519 God through Christ. 148 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:03.839 Yeah. So Paul is just once again he's using the 149 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:05.319 world six two. 150 00:07:05.399 --> 00:07:07.519 Yeah, I have two more versus three. You sure do, 151 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:10.759 go ahead and life. As God's partners, we beg you 152 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.560 not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and 153 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:16.600 then ignore it. For God says, at just the right 154 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:18.879 time I heard you on the day of salvation, I 155 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:22.439 helped you. Indeed, the right time is now today is 156 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:23.240 the day of salvation. 157 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:25.839 Oh you almost a minute that Yeah, that's a really 158 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:28.439 good that's a big one, I know. So Paul there 159 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:32.439 is quoting Isaiah chapter forty nine or verse number eight. Yes, 160 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:36.000 and it's the Greek version of that, and so yeah, 161 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:39.040 it's it's just a great completion of that thought. And 162 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:42.279 so anyway Paul is talking about once again he's making 163 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:46.399 this comparison. You know this he's a visual aid teacher, 164 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:49.600 especially in these last five chapters where you know, he's 165 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.040 making comparisons all over the place. And he says, hey, 166 00:07:52.199 --> 00:07:56.240 just like an ambassador who represents a country and visits 167 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:59.800 another country and speaks on behalf of that country, we 168 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:04.199 are ambassadors of Christ. So we represent Christ, which which 169 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:07.759 represents God's kingdom. And so wherever we go, we are 170 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:11.600 Christ's ambassadors, which which you know, think about the behavior 171 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:16.160 of an ambassador. Whatever that ambassador does, whatever he says 172 00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:18.879 or she says, is going to be a direct reflection 173 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:23.000 of that country, because they're the spokesman or the representative. 174 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:26.000 And so again Paul just has this great way of 175 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:30.439 helping us learn by using these comparisons or these metaphors. 176 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:33.000 And I love that. 177 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:36.679 And then also he talks about how, you know, at 178 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:39.960 the very beginning, he actually talks about how, hey, we 179 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:43.320 don't brag about having a great ministry. We brag about 180 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:44.720 actually having sincere. 181 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:45.519 Hearts, you know. 182 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:49.000 So again he's just sort of weaving in, uh, this 183 00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:52.759 idea that like, uh, you know, we're not like those 184 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:53.240 that have. 185 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:56.519 To do these things. Remember remember before in the. 186 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:58.600 Last few days he talked about, we don't have to 187 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.480 give letters of recommendation, we don't have to brag on 188 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:04.360 our own power, because it's the power of God in us. 189 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:07.840 Paul is, you know, sort of defending himself, and he's 190 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:12.600 comparing what a false preacher or somebody who you know 191 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:16.440 is a huckster, you know, who's in it for their 192 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:19.120 own selfish reasons. He says, no, no, no, these are the. 193 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:23.360 Traits of somebody who is sincere. And so in this case. 194 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:25.200 He's talking about, hey man, it's not about the ministry, 195 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:26.279 it's about the heart. 196 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:27.559 That's right, which is great. 197 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:30.679 This idea of being an ambassador. I love the idea 198 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:34.799 because an ambassador doesn't speak his own words or her 199 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:37.360 own words. The ambassador speaks on behalf of the king 200 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:41.679 or the president. Right, So the ambassador doesn't develop their 201 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:46.279 own policies and their own strategies. The ambassador executes on 202 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:50.360 the strategies and policies of the king, right, the ambassador 203 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:53.360 doesn't think how do I represent myself the best the 204 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:58.120 or how do I express my own individuality the best? Instead, 205 00:09:58.120 --> 00:10:01.679 the ambassador's thinking how do I represent my king? Right? 206 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:04.399 So that's going to affect how they talk, how they 207 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:07.600 carry themselves, how they dress, how they communicate. It's going 208 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:10.480 to talk. It's going to affect how they behave publicly 209 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:12.399 and privately. It's going to affect if they're going to 210 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:15.919 be a good ambassador. It literally affects everything in life. 211 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:19.039 They begin to mold their life to the will and 212 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:21.720 the desire of the king they represent. And that really 213 00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:25.519 is is I think what Paul has been writing about 214 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:29.000 through this whole thing, and then to have a kingdom perspective, 215 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:30.759 and what he's been trying to tell us is the 216 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.360 kingdom is on the other side of eternity, not just 217 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:36.039 on this side. We have a message now to reconcile 218 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:38.639 people to our king, but his kingdom is on the 219 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:41.000 other side. And that that's a pretty cool way to 220 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:41.440 look at that. 221 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:43.919 You know, the application of that is pretty clear. But 222 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:46.399 let's just take it one step further and say, you know, 223 00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:49.039 if you're a person who's walking into a place that 224 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:53.399 doesn't feel very godly. You know, maybe your work environment 225 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:57.559 is just void of all things Christian or Jesus or 226 00:10:58.200 --> 00:11:01.919 things of God. View yourself as an ambassador. And so 227 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:06.159 the question is are you doing those things? Are you 228 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:10.120 representing you know, the voice and the policies and the 229 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:15.039 intentions and the desire of your king and his country. 230 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:18.159 So set up an embassy at your work, right, set 231 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:20.000 up an embassy in your neighborhood or on the team 232 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:21.240 that you're on, or in your school. 233 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:24.519 Yeah, that's great, yea. And so and then by the way, 234 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:26.440 just just I know that we're skipping over the whole 235 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:30.039 dyed old life new life thing, but because we're talking 236 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:32.039 about ambassadors. But then he says this, He says that 237 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:35.279 we have the Ministry of Reconciliation, right, And you know 238 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:38.600 what's interesting is that and I've said this, I think 239 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:44.480 several months ago, but theologically, even though it's not, I 240 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:47.080 don't I'm not going to condemn anybody for praying to Jesus. 241 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:49.360 And they say, oh Jesus, you know, it's like, well, 242 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:52.159 we understand the Trinity, so we understand that. You know, 243 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:54.279 if you Jesus said, if you've seen me, you've seen 244 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:57.120 the Father. I and the Father are one. So if 245 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:59.440 you pray to Jesus, technically you're praying to God right 246 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:01.679 all the way through the scriptures. It's I think it's 247 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:05.200 important to realize that the roles of the members of 248 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:07.039 the trinity play a different you know, they play a 249 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:11.120 very specific role. And so it's really clear that we 250 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:15.440 pray to God the Father because Jesus Christ came to 251 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:19.519 reconcile us to the Father, and so that's why it 252 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:22.080 says it says so that we could be made right 253 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:26.919 with God through Christ. And so you know, that's why 254 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:30.039 whenever Jesus prayed, he prays to the Father. And so 255 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:32.799 again it's it's it's it's fine if you're going to 256 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:35.879 pray to Jesus, but just thinking about it, like other 257 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:38.639 parts of the scripture say that we were made, we 258 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:41.399 were separated from God, and then Jesus came so that 259 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:45.240 we can be reconciled and brought together again to God 260 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:47.000 the Father, which is cool. 261 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:49.879 Yeah, I think it's appropriate to pray to all three. 262 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:55.039 You know, I think it depends on what the prayer is, 263 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:59.440 but the engagement is with God and God is a trinity, right, 264 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:02.480 so so Jesus taught us to pray to our Father. 265 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:05.840 The Bible says we're supposed to pray in Jesus' name, right, 266 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:08.200 The Bible says that we have an advocate, the Holy 267 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:10.360 Spirit we also have. 268 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:13.159 Is our intercessor, yes, and works with us in prayers. 269 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:16.360 And Jesus is our intermediary. Right, He's the one between 270 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:19.840 God and man. So they work hand in hand in hand. 271 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:25.679 And it's not inappropriate to pray to the Holy Spirit 272 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:27.320 and say, Holy Spirit, give me your power today, or 273 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:29.399 empower me as a go or you know, give me 274 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:32.159 clarity of thought as I share this word with somebody 275 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:35.759 or whatever. It's not inappropriate to talk to Jesus about, 276 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:40.039 you know, your needs. On a personal level. It's not 277 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:42.919 wrong to go to the heavenly Father, and and he's 278 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:45.559 the king of the universe kind of thing, and all 279 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:50.200 those are appropriate. But theologically, prayer seems to be directed 280 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:54.200 at the Father in the name of Jesus through the 281 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:57.519 intercessor of the Holy Spirit. That's that's the theological flow 282 00:13:57.559 --> 00:13:58.000 of prayer. 283 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:00.919 I was once told that the roles of the of 284 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:05.399 the Trinity seem to have just they're sort of leaning 285 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:08.360 toward a certain role. And somebody described the role of 286 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:10.360 the Father, as the Father is the one who has 287 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:13.159 the will, So whenever it talks about the will, he's 288 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:15.919 the big picture God in our lives that has a 289 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:18.360 will for our lives. And and and he's the one 290 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:21.080 that determines that and and that's always connected to the 291 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:24.279 person of the Father of the Trinity. And then Jesus 292 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:26.120 is the foreman on the scene, the one who shows 293 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:28.840 up and initiates the work. He's the one that comes, 294 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:31.159 and he's the guy on the ground and the trenches 295 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:34.639 that executes and puts forth the will of the Father. 296 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:37.720 And then and then the Holy Spirit seems to be 297 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:40.720 the one who's the completer of the work. The Holy 298 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:43.440 Spirit is the one who is, you know, always the 299 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:46.600 finisher or the completer of these things in our lives. 300 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:48.600 And if you think about the members of the Trinity 301 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:53.320 and the roles that seem to lean towards those, you know, 302 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:56.600 members of the Trinity, it really does make more sense 303 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:59.519 than you know how it's how it's given to us 304 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.519 when we've it that way. 305 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:03.720 Yeah, and so then this is why Jesus said, I 306 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:07.039 came to fulfill your will right and nevertheless, not my will, 307 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:11.360 but your will be done. Jesus was fulfilling the mission 308 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:14.480 and the will of God the Father. And so then 309 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:20.639 now he came as an ambassador to reconcile us to God. 310 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:23.919 And by the way, the way he did that was 311 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:28.360 no longer counting people's sins against them. That is almost 312 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:32.799 an incomprehensible concept. We have a hard time not holding 313 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:36.559 people's sins against them, and we're not as offended by 314 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:40.320 sin as God. Right, but it's heard, but the idea 315 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:45.200 that we owe God this unpayable debt. But the way 316 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:49.279 that Jesus reconciled the world to God, or that God 317 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:53.240 was reconciling in Christ, reconciling the world to himself. The 318 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.200 way he did that was by no longer counting people's 319 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:58.759 sins against them. That's amazing. You go, wow, that's fantastic. 320 00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:03.279 I just got off free. No, you didn't. You didn't 321 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:09.360 get off for free. Here's what happens. It says in 322 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:14.200 verse twenty one, for God made Christ, who never sinned, 323 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:17.519 to be the offering for your sin. So it's not free. 324 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:22.960 We didn't get get out of our penalty for free. 325 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:26.919 It was that somebody paid the incredible penalty. Not only that, 326 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:30.840 you know, in the original languages, it says the Greek, 327 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:36.559 it says, became sin itself, not just the payment for sin. 328 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:42.120 He became that sin, and then God punished that sin. 329 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:45.039 That's what happened there, right, And that's how He was 330 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:47.879 able to pay for us. He became the offering for sin. 331 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:52.799 He took on the consequences of sin, and then God 332 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:57.279 then said, all right, that is the sufficient offering. And 333 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:59.440 so it was the wrath of God, the judgment of 334 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:03.879 God on Christ. And that's an incomprehensible idea that this holy, 335 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:07.599 perfect God would become, you know, the results of sin 336 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:10.279 for us and then take on that penalty for us, 337 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:13.960 and so that we could be made bless you thank 338 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:16.920 so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 339 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:20.079 So God did it for the purpose of us being 340 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:22.240 able to have a right relationship with Him. 341 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:25.079 Yeah, and on all of that is actually a great 342 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:28.480 connector to what he also says is he says, we 343 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:31.720 believe that we have all died to our old life, 344 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:34.799 and then he says He died for everyone so that 345 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:37.519 for the purpose of those who receive his new life 346 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:40.519 would no longer live for themselves. Instead the live for 347 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:44.519 Christ who died and was raised for them. So it's 348 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:47.960 interesting because he connects that entire concept of what you 349 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.200 just said, which is, you know, the price has been 350 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:53.720 paid Jesus sacrifice has been made, He's died for our sins. 351 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:56.720 And he says, so therefore, one of the applications, not 352 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:59.160 the only one, but one of them is we believe 353 00:17:59.480 --> 00:17:59.759 that we. 354 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:01.079 Have to our old life. 355 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:04.599 It reminds me that old song in Sunday School? Did 356 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:05.440 you ever sing the song? 357 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:08.000 Things I used to do? Well, I don't do them 358 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:10.880 any more. Things I used to do, I don't do 359 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:14.559 them anymore. And and uh and uh. And by the way, 360 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:15.480 there's been. 361 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:18.119 A great great change change since I've been boring, there's 362 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:21.519 been a great great So anyway, all that to say, uh. 363 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:23.960 Be careful. My toet started tapping. 364 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:27.119 No oh no, that's. 365 00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:30.039 So funny, so u uh you know, by the way, 366 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:32.759 it's it's a it's a you know, I was always 367 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:34.319 poke fun at Baptists because I was one. 368 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.200 I'm allowed to. 369 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:38.000 It's like my mother and it's my stepmother, who was 370 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:41.319 a redknex is only rednecks can call me rednecks, right right, 371 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:45.160 But there's there's no joke that says why why are 372 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:48.960 Baptists against premarital sex because they're afraid it may lead 373 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:53.279 to dancing. Well, there you go, so so, but the 374 00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:55.920 idea of tapping your toe right, that's right. 375 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:58.200 That's right. I got you on a tangent there. I'll 376 00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:58.960 ever get that back. 377 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:02.519 So anyway, the point is is that dying to our 378 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:07.359 old life is something that I think that a lot 379 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:09.759 of us aren't willing to do. 380 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:10.599 You know. 381 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:12.799 It's like, hey, I just want I just want the 382 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:16.160 things of my old life and sort of to sprinkle 383 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:18.279 God on top, right, so I can do what I 384 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:20.920 want to do. I could behave like I used to behave. 385 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:23.640 I can still you know, even though these things are 386 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:27.359 wrong and I now know they're wrong, it's okay because 387 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:28.839 God loves me, and I'm just going to sprinkle little 388 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:30.759 bit of God in my old life. And what Paul 389 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:32.839 is saying is it's like, no, no, you've died your 390 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:37.160 old life, which means the person you were once Just 391 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:41.640 like that song I just sang, you're no longer that person, which, 392 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:44.960 by the way, is also connected to baptism. Sure, because 393 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:47.240 he says that's the symbol of baptism. He says, you 394 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:50.480 are buried in the likeness of Jesus death, you know. 395 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:53.119 And then you're raised to walk in newness in a. 396 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:54.920 Brand new life. 397 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:57.920 That's right, And so yeah, I was joking a lot there, 398 00:19:57.960 --> 00:20:00.839 but the bottom line is is that is a mass truth. 399 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:05.039 Well, so this is that it's so countercultural right now 400 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:08.279 in our culture. It's my body, it's my feelings, it's 401 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:13.079