Finding your Identity
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 27th February 2022
Passage: Psalm 8:1-9
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 What am I doing and what is the point?
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 This is a question asked by many people,
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 including in an article in the Sydney Morning Herald last Sunday.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:16 Author Lisa Leong told a story about a musician friend of hers
00:00:16 --> 00:00:20 who, in the first lockdown, had lost her job.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:25 She was a musician and her job wasn't considered essential.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:30 It made her feel devalued when she lost her job.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:34 And the author reflected that our sense of self
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 is often wrapped up in our identity.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 And so when we lose a job, we can feel devalued.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:46 And she suggested that the biggest blow to losing a job
00:00:46 --> 00:00:50 is not just dollars, but the hit our identity can take.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 She suggested that it's because our identity gives us meaning
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 and purpose in life.
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 And I think she's hit onto something there.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 She's come from outside Christianity,
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 but I think she's hit onto something quite interesting there.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 Our identity gives us meaning and purpose.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 Have you ever felt devalued?
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 Have you ever questioned, what am I doing?
00:01:14 --> 00:01:15 What is the point?
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 What is the purpose of my life?
00:01:17 --> 00:01:24 Maybe you felt like that musician who looked at the things that she did,
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 the fact that she could no longer do what she thought gave her purpose,
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 and she felt like she had no purpose.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 Have you ever felt like, you're just questioning,
00:01:33 --> 00:01:34 what am I doing?
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 Because when we have these things taken away,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 we can feel like a leaf adrift in a river.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:46 I'm sure that there's at least one person here in the building
00:01:46 --> 00:01:47 or watching at home online
00:01:47 --> 00:01:52 who maybe has lied awake late at night thinking,
00:01:52 --> 00:01:53 what is the point?
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 What am I doing?
00:01:56 --> 00:01:57 God, what is my purpose?
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 What do you want me to be doing with my life?
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 And that is the challenge set before us today.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 Just a small question
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 to dive into some of life's deepest questions.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 Who am I?
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 And what am I here for?
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 We are in our vision series as a church,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 a time where we refocus as a church
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 about the direction we're going in.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 And we've been looking over the last three weeks
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 to see who we as a church are to be,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 particularly within a culture
00:02:28 --> 00:02:33 that is battling racism amongst other challenges.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 And this week we are changing tack slightly
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 from thinking about us as a church
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 to thinking about us as individuals
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 who make up the broader church.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 And so as we seek to answer those two questions today,
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 who am I and what am I here for?
00:02:51 --> 00:02:51 Let me pray.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:53 Heavenly Father,
00:02:54 --> 00:02:55 as we come to your word,
00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 give us insight,
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 not only into who you are and into your word,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 but who you have made us to be.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 And give me your words to speak today, Lord.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:07 Amen.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 Three points for us this morning.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:11 Made,
00:03:12 --> 00:03:12 ruined,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:14 and remade.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 Let me encourage you to be using the St. Paul's app
00:03:16 --> 00:03:17 to be following along as well.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:18 First of all,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:20 we're starting in Psalm 8
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 to see how we are made.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 And as John read for us,
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 this is a wonderful meditation
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 from King David
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 about who he is
00:03:30 --> 00:03:31 and about who our God is.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 So have a look with me,
00:03:34 --> 00:03:34 Psalm 8.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 That'll come up on the screen as well,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 starting in verse 1.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 And it starts off with David praising God.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 Lord, our Lord,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 how majestic is your name in all the earth.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 You have set your glory in the heavens.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 And I wonder where David is
00:03:54 --> 00:03:55 as he's saying this.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 Is he outside
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 looking up at the sky,
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 staring at the vast sky?
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 Is he in the middle of nature?
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 I think even those who don't believe in God,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 sometimes when we're confronted
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 by just the vastness of creation,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 makes us stop and think,
00:04:13 --> 00:04:13 wow,
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 there must be something bigger.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:18 There must be something beyond me.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 And David in this scene
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 is just reflecting on God's awesomeness
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 and his glory.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 God is so vast
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 and so beyond us
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 that he even uses the unlikely
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 for his own glory.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 Verse 2.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 Through the praise of infants
00:04:36 --> 00:04:37 and children,
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 you have established
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 a stronghold against your enemies
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 to silence the foe and the avenger.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 You don't see too many countries
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 assembling armies
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 out of infants and children.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 But God can silence the strong
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 with the very weak
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 because God is just that powerful.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 And David continues
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 considering God in verse 3.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 When I consider your heavens
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 the work of your fingers,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 the moon and the stars
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 which you have set in place,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 it makes him consider who he is.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 But this is actually
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 quite amazing as well.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 It tells us
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 something about God.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 David could have said that
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 God made the world
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 with his mighty arm,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 with an outstretched arm,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 with a powerful arm.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 But David said that
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 God made the world
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 with his fingers.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 God is intimately involved
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 with his creation.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 It's almost like
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 a picture of God.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 I've painted a lot
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 of little figurines.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 It's this picture of God
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 intricately making us
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 with his fingers.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 That the God
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 who is bigger than galaxies
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 beyond time and space
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 works with delicate intricacy,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 like an artist,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 a model builder.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 Steve, in the last couple of weeks,
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 has looked at Genesis 1 and 2.
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 And that's what David
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 is doing here.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 He's recalling creation.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 He's looking at the vastness
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 of creation,
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 the goodness of God,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 and it brings him to think
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 about himself
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 in verse 4.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 What is mankind
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 that you are mindful of them?
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 Human beings
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 that you would care for them.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 God, what am I?
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 Because in the vastness
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 of all these things
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 you've created,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 I am an insignificant
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 little dot.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 What am I
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 that you would think of me?
00:06:32 --> 00:06:32 That God,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 your mind would be on me.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 Why would I be in your heart?
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 Why would you care for me?
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 David answers this
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 in verse 5.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 You have made them
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 a little lower
00:06:45 --> 00:06:45 than the angels,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 and you've crowned them
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 with glory and honor.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 This answers the question
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 of who are we?
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 We are people
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 intimately made.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 We are people
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 who are known by God,
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 who God chooses
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 to know and love.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 God chooses
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 to honor us.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 He crowns us
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 with glory and honor.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 We are a people
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 that God has made
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 and he makes much of.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 God made a people
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 in his image.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 We're recalling
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 Genesis 1 and 2
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 where God made us
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 in his image.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 This is primary.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 This is really central.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 This is core
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 to us as people,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 to us as Christians.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 We are people
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 made in God's image.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:33 So,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 when someone asks,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 oh,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:36 hi,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 I'm James.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 Who are you?
00:07:40 --> 00:07:40 You know,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 we should be saying,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:41 before we say,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 I'm employed in this field
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 or this is some things
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 about me,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 the answer really should be,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:47 oh,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 I'm a child of God.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 Before I knew
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 what to do in my life,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 God crowned me
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 with his glory
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 and his honor.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 He made me his child.
00:07:58 --> 00:07:58 That might make things
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 a little bit awkward
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 in social settings,
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 but it is true.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:03 God
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 has made us
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 in his image
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 like him
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 before we knew
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 anything about ourselves.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 I found it really difficult
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 in the last week
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 to see what's been happening
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 in the Ukraine.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:17 I'm not sure
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 if you've been following
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 what's been happening,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 but one thing
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 that has been encouraging
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 is seeing
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 the Christians
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 continue
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 to praise God
00:08:29 --> 00:08:29 in that season.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 There's a video of them,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:31 I think they were
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 in a train station,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 there's this group
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 of Christians
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 just praising God.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:36 And one of the things
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 that they have said
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 is even
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 with oppression coming,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 we will not hide
00:08:41 --> 00:08:41 who we are
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 if we need to go
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 underground as the church.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 We will do that,
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 we've done that before,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 and we will do that again
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 if they need.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:50 And they're able
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 to say that
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 because they know
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 what is core
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 to who they are
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 as people.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 It is their Christian
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 identity.
00:08:59 --> 00:08:59 And even with
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 opposition coming,
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 that's not going
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 to make them hide
00:09:02 --> 00:09:02 or run away
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 from who they are
00:09:04 --> 00:09:04 as people,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 they're going
00:09:05 --> 00:09:05 to go,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 we will continue
00:09:07 --> 00:09:07 as Christians
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 even in the face
00:09:10 --> 00:09:10 of opposition.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 David finishes
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 with the same words
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 as he started
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 in verse 9.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 Lord,
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 our Lord,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 how majestic
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 is your name
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 in all the earth.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 You have set
00:09:23 --> 00:09:23 your glory
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 in the heavens.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 So in the midst
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 of David meditating
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 on who he is,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 made in the image
00:09:29 --> 00:09:29 of God,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 it's all framed
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 in praising God.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 Paul says
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 in 1 Corinthians 10,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:37 whether you eat
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 or drink
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 or whatever you do,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 do it all
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 for the glory
00:09:42 --> 00:09:42 of God.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 And this is the theme
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 of our series.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 It's all of life.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 That we are to be
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 Christians all of life.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 That we are to bring
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 praise and glory
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 to God
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 all of life.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 Not just for an hour
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 or two on a Sunday.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 Not just for a couple
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 of minutes
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 when we're reading
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 the Bible.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 But we are to be
00:10:00 --> 00:10:00 following God
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 all of life
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 because we are made
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 in his image.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 We are to be doing
00:10:06 --> 00:10:06 what Paul said
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 in 1 Corinthians
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 said,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 to be bringing him
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 glory.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 This is the
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 biblical picture
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 of who we are
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 and what we are
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 to do.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 We are to be,
00:10:19 --> 00:10:19 we are made
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 in God's image
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 and we are to be
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 bringing him glory.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:24 Our purpose
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 is to magnify him.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 To bring him glory.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 to show how awesome
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 he really is.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 To his praise
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 and to enjoy
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 relationship with him.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 On the one hand,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 it makes a lot of sense.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 The Bible presents
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 a pretty clear picture.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 We are made
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 in God's image
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 and we are made
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 to glory,
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 to bring him glory
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 and to enjoy him.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 But on the other hand,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 it's really hard.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 We still have this
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 existential angst
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 that comes from
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 questioning,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 well,
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 what am I to do?
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 Who am I to be?
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 And this comes
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 because
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 our image
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 has been marred.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 It's been damaged.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 It's been ruined.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 And that's our
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 second point today.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 The problem comes
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 from the fall
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 where the image
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 of God was damaged.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 It was messed up.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 Our purpose in life
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 got confused.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 Instead of glorifying God,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 we pursue ourselves
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 and the other
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 idols of life
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 that we make.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 The article
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 talking about
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 identity from last week
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 in the City Morning Herald,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 it concluded
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 with some fairly
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 depressing words.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 It said,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 everything matters
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 and nothing matters.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 It's messy
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 and hard to define,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 but it's like standing
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 on top of a mountain
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 and feeling huge
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 and small
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 all at once.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 This is a wonderful
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 paradox to hold
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 within our every experience.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 What a beautiful
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 perspective to carry
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 through the world.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 What you do matters,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 but not as much
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 as who you are.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 They both matter,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 but also
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 not at all.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 It's so similar
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 to David's experience
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 in Psalm 8.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 He's standing
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 and beholding
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 the awesomeness
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 of God,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 but this author
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 suggests
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 that,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 you know,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 experiencing
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 how large
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 and how small
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 the reality is
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 that,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 you know what,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 it's actually
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 all meaningless.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 It's all pointless.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 You can give yourself
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 meaning if you like,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 but actually
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 there is no meaning
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 to life.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 And if we follow
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 this directionless
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 questioning,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 we just end up
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 purposeless,
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 hopeless.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 Nothing matters,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 but you can pretend
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 it like it does
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 if you like.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 until your deathbed
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 and you'll think,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 what's it all been for?
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 But when we take
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 God out of the picture,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 that's what we're
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 left with.
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 Self-invented purpose
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 that doesn't satisfy.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 We can create
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 an identity
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 that can be
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 lost or broken
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 with a pandemic
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 coming through
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 and a job lost.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 Paul says in Romans 1,
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 for although they knew
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 God,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 they neither glorified
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 Him as God
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 nor gave thanks to Him.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 But their thinking
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 became futile
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 and foolish,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 and their foolish
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 hearts were darkened.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 Although they claimed
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 to be wise,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 they became fools
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 and exchanged
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 the glory of the
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 immortal God
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 for images
00:13:27 --> 00:13:30 made to look like
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 a mortal human being
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 and birds and animals
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 and reptiles.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 We have been made
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 in the image of God
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 to bring Him glory,
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 but the image of God
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 has been marred
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 by our sin,
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 it's been damaged,
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 and so we chase
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 other things.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 We choose to give
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 them glory instead.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 And when we don't know
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 who we are in God,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 we lose our purpose.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 And instead,
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 it gets redefined for us.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 Instead,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 we get a different identity
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 and we end up
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 with a different purpose.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 And instead of it being
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 shaped by God,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 it's shaped by
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 the culture
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 around us.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 What my purpose is
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 gets shaped by
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 my culture around me.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 It gets shaped
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 by aspects of me.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 It gets shaped by
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 what I do for work,
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 my sexuality,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 the things I do,
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 my role within my family.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 It's going to be influenced
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 differently
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 in different cultures.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 But every culture,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 every culture
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 is not based
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 on God.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 And so every culture
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 is going to make
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 a different idol.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 It's going to make
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 our identity,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 which might be
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 something good,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 like work,
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 it's going to take
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 something good
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 and make it
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 the ultimate thing
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 and an idol.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 And it's going to make
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 it the most important
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 thing in our life.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 The image of God
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 is marred
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 and so our purpose
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 gets confused.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 I think in the West,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 it looks like
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 the personal pursuit
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 of happiness,
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 the pursuit
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 of personal happiness.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 It's the big dream.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 It's the goal.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 It's the vision
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 of personal success.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 I'm going to have
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 a vision board.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 Well, there was a book
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 that came out
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 a number of years ago
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 called The Secret.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 Not sure if you've heard
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 of The Secret.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 It was on Oprah
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 at the time.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 It was all about
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 envisioning
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 what your success
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 looked like.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 And so you'd think
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 about it.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 And because you're
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 thinking about it,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 the universe was going
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 to give it to you.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 And this was the thinking.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 In the West,
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 it really is about
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 personal success.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 I've seen this
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 impact my own heart.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 I've seen this impact
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 other people
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 in my line of work
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 as pastors.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 In church ministry,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 we're in a culture
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 which is about
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 growth and success
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 generally.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 You know,
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 you look at companies,
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 they must always
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 have year-on-year growth.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 There can be no
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 staying the same.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 We must always
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 grow and succeed.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 And it can be
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 the same in the church
00:16:05 --> 00:16:08 because growth
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 is,
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 and bigger numbers
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 is a sign of success.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 And so,
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 I talk to other ministers
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 and the same comment,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 the same question
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 comes up.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 Oh,
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 how big is your church?
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 How is it growing?
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 And I see the challenge
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 in my own heart
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 to be influenced
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 by what our culture
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 defines success as.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 But that's not biblical.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 It's a culturally
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 driven purpose.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 From an Eastern perspective,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 identity and purpose
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 might not look like
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 individual success,
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 but it might look like
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 having success
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 to care for a family
00:16:45 --> 00:16:48 or having success
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 academically
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 on behalf of other people
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 so that others
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 in the family
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 can boast
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 about how their family
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 is doing.
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 It doesn't matter
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 the ethnic background
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 that we come from,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 they are all
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 adrift from God
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 and we are all
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 going to find
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 an identity
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 and purpose
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 away from God.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 It's going to make
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 us look successful
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and desire to have
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 those around us
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 look successful too.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18 A culture that says
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 to be successful
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 you must earn
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 a lot of money,
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 you must be busy,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 it's no wonder
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 that our identity
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 becomes so closely
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 tied to our jobs,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 to the things we do.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 It shapes our days
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 and so very often
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 it gives us purpose.
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 But it's also true
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 that we want to do
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 valuable things.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 I know over the last
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 couple of weeks
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 it's been wonderful
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 to hear from people
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 like Soren
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 who's a solicitor
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 about how
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 he does his
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 nine to five
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 to help people,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 to care for other people
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 and this is good.
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 The challenge is
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 when it becomes
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 ultimate,
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 when it becomes
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 no, no, no,
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 this is who I am,
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 I am the teacher
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 and this is all
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 about my life.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 But that's not
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 who we are.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 If something
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 core to our identity
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 can be so easily
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 taken away
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 by a pandemic
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 or by a job loss,
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 then it isn't
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 really core
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 to who we are.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 First,
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 we are Christians
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 and then that
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 shapes our purpose.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 Otherwise,
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 we'll have a
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 short-term purpose
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 and we can be
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 left feeling
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 like life
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 is meaningless.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 I like to think
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 about this
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 as
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 a fast-food
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 identity
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 version
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 of identity
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 and purpose.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 We can think
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 that
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 having
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 all purpose
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 in my job
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 will satisfy
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 but it can
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 ultimately
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 leave us
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 feeling empty.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 I have a
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 cheeseburger here.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 I don't know
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 if anybody
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 likes cheeseburgers.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 Does anybody
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 like eating
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 cheeseburgers?
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 This is a
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 Macca's cheeseburger
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 and it's being
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 kept warm
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 in my pocket
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 for about
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 an hour and a half.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 I'll tell you
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 what,
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 even warm,
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 it's still
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 delicious.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 Steve's looking
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 at me right
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 now,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 he's thinking
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 that's going
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 to spike
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 your sugars.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 That combination
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 of carbs
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 and sugars
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 and fat
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 and protein,
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 it tastes
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 good.
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 Does anybody
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 want some?
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 No?
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 Okay.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 It tastes
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 good
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 but soon,
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 let me just
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 finish my
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 mouthful.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 Excuse me,
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 my mouth is
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 dry.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 Should have
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 gotten a
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 Coke.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 Soon my
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 system is
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 going to
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 go into
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 overdrive
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 from this
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 combination of
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 fats and
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 sugars.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 And I'm
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 going to
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 crash soon.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 You'll see me
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 on the floor
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 in the last
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 song.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 I'm not sure
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 how you feel
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 after you
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 eat fast
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 food,
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 but often
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 can feel
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 just a little
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 bit sick.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 It can
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 often leave
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 me feeling
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 just a little
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 bit unsatisfied,
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 like I need
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 a real meal.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 food.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 It leaves
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 me craving
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 a meal
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 with real
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 food and
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 family and
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 friends.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 That satisfies
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 not just the
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 taste buds,
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 not only does
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 it not make me
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 feel sick,
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 but it feeds
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 my soul.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 Imagine if I
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 only ever
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 ate Maccas.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 You'd be
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 concerned for
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 me, yes?
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 My life would
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 not go very
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 well for very
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 long.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 I might enjoy
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 it to a
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 certain extent.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 I think
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 that is a
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 temptation on
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 how we
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 approach the
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 question of
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 who I am
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 and what my
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 purpose is.
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 We seek
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 fulfillment and
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 purpose in
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 things that are
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 only temporary
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 and ultimately
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 things that
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 don't actually
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 satisfy.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 But we don't
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 even realize
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 that they
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 won't satisfy.
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 Instead of
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 understanding how
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 God has
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 intricately and
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 lovingly made
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 us in his
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 image, we
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 take something
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 off the
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 shelf of
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 identity and
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 purpose and
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 think, I'll
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 have that.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 I'll devote
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 myself to
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 that.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 I'll devote
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 myself to
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 this career.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 I'll devote
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 myself to
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 fixing the
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 world in
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 this way.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 I study
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 law.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 I'm a
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 solicitor.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 I'm going
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 to devote
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 everything to
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 that.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 I'm a
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 teacher.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 I'm going
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 to fix a
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 generation of
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 kids.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 And these
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 are good
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 things.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 But when
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 they are made
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 the ultimate
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 things, it
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 shapes what
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 we do
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 each day.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 It shapes
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 how we
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 want to
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 get glory
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 for
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 ourselves.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 It shapes
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 our purpose
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 in life.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 But like a
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 cheeseburger,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 they are not
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 ultimate things.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 They will just
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 leave us
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 feeling unsatisfied.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 We can end up
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 with that question
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 before.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 Is that it?
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 Is that all
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 my life?
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 What happens
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 when my job
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 ends?
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 What happens
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 when I hit
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 retirement?
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 I'll have an
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 existential crisis.
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 God offers
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 us something
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 far deeper,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 far more
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 satisfying.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 One that only
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 comes from
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 him.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 Now, don't
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 hear me say
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 we shouldn't
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 pursue work,
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 we shouldn't
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 pursue significant
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 things.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 Work is a
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 good gift
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 given from
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 God.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 But one
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 way to
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 figure out
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 whether a
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 good gift
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 from God
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 has become
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 an idol
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 is to
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 question what
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 would happen
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 if we
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 didn't have
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 it.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 Tim Keller
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 asked a
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 question to
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 help us
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 identify
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 our idol,
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 which is
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 what do
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 we go to
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 bed thinking
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 about?
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 What is our
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 goal?
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 What is our
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 dream?
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 Before we
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 drift off to
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 sleep,
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 what are we
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 thinking,
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 I really
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 want that?
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 What would
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 happen if
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 we couldn't
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 get it?
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 Now, I know
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 there's a
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 number of
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 teachers in
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 the room,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 so let me
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 use a
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 teacher example.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 Let's say
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 you're a
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 teacher and
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 your dream
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 is to be
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 the principal.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 I hear
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 that's a
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 good thing.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 And that's
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 your goal and
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 you think,
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 I can lead
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 a school
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 really well,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 I can change
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 culture,
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 I can shape
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 a generation,
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 and you
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 apply for a
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 job and
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 it's your
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 dream job and
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 you think you
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 would be the
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 best at it,
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 and then you
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 get knocked
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 back.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 You don't
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 get it.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 And there's
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 sadness and
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 pain, but
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 is there
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 anger or
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 righteous
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 indignation?
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 I deserve
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 that.
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 That should
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 have been
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 my job.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 If we
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 have those
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 kinds of
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 responses,
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 it indicates
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 that that
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 might actually
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 be an
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 idol,
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 that might
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 actually be
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 the thing
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 we are
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 attaching our
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 purpose and
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 our identity
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 to,
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 because if we
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 don't get
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 it, there
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 is pain.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 Are you
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 satisfied and
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 able to
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 glorify God
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 where you
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 are?
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 If you were
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 to stay in
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 the same
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 house, in
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 the same
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 job, with
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 the same
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 amount of
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 money, with
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 the same
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 situation in
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 your life, if
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 you didn't
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 get that
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 goal that
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 you have.
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 So what
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 do we do?
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 Third point
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 today is
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 that we
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 are remade.
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 If our
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 image of
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 God has
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 been marred
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 by our
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 sin, and
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 we are
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 off pursuing
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 new things
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 that don't
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 ultimately
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 satisfy it,
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 what now?
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 In
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 Colossians
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 chapter 1,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 it describes
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 Jesus as
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 the image
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 of the
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 invisible
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 God,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 firstborn
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 over all
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 creation,
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 and in
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 him we
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 are remade.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 Our
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 likeness is
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 given back
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 to, the
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 image of
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 God is
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 remade for
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 us.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 He has
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 come to
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 restore us
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 to God's
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 image.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 Jesus
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 perfectly
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 reflects
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 God.
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 The rest
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 of Psalm
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 8 that we
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 were looking
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 at before
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 is a
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 picture of
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 what happens
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 after Jesus
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 dies and
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 is raised
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 back to
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 life.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 David is
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 talking about
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 himself, but
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 he's actually
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 talking about
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 Jesus.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 From verse
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 4 of Psalm
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 8,
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 hopefully
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 it'll be
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 on the
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 screen.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 What is
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 mankind
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 that you
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 are mindful
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 of them?
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 Human
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 beings or
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 the son
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 of man
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 that you
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 care for
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 them?
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 You have
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 made them
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 a little
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 lower than
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 the angels
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 and crowned
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 them with
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 glory and
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 honor.
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 You made
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 them rulers
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 over the
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 works of
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 your hands.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 You put
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 everything
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 under their
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 feet.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 Jesus
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 is the
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 perfect
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 man.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 He is
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 the perfect
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 image
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 bearer of
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 God.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 He is
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 the one
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 who restores
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 us to
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 God's
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 image.
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 And as
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 Psalm 8
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 says,
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 he was
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 crowned
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 with glory.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 Everything
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 has been
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 placed under
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 his feet.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 And now,
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 believing in
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 Jesus,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 by the power
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 of God's
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 Holy Spirit,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 we are being
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 remade in
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 the image
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 of God.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 Romans 8
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 says,
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 for those
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 God
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 foreknew,
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 he also
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 predestined
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 to be
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 conformed
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 to the
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 image of
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 his Son.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 Every day,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 God is
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 making us
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 to be
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 who we
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 were made
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 to be.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 In the
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 power of
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 the Holy
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 Spirit,
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 he is
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 conforming
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 us back
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 to the
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 image of
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 who we
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 are.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 He has
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 restored
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 our identity
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 as his
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 children,
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 so we can
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 be called
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 Christian,
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 and now
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 he's
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 restoring us
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 to his
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 purpose,
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 to glorify
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 him.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 But it's
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 hard.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 It's a
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 challenge.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 It's hard
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 to take
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 off that
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 identity,
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 the goal,
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 that dream
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 that our
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 culture can
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 give us,
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 and the
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 dream to
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 have success,
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 and realign
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 it with
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 God's purpose
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 of giving
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 him the
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 glory,
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 because he
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 is the
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 one who
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 has all
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 success.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 He is
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 the one
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 who is
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 in control
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 of all
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 things.
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 So who
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 are we,
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 brothers and
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 sisters?
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 God has
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 bought our
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 identity,
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 which was
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 marred at
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 the fall
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 with the
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 blood of
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 his son,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 so that
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 we might
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 be his
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 people.
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 So that
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 whatever role
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 we do,
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 whatever we
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 do in our
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 nine to
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 five,
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 we are his
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 children first,
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 made in his
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 image to
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 glorify him.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 How then,
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 how can we
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 live our life
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 for the glory
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 of God?
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 How can we
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 magnify God
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 in all we do?
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 How do we
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 pursue his
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 glory,
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 regardless of
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 what we are
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 doing in
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 life?
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 After that
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 cheeseburger,
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 I need a bit
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 of a drink,
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 so I'm
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 going to
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 help illustrate
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 this with
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 an illustration
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 from John
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 Piper about
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 orange juice,
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 but I don't
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 have orange
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 juice,
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 I have
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 some black
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 currant
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 juice,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 which we'll
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 do.
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 Firstly,
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 this black
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 currant
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 juice is
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 just an
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 illustration
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 of what
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 we can
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 do in
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 all of
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 life.
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 John
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 Piper
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 encourages
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 us to
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 glorify
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 God in
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 every moment,
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 as 1
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 Corinthians
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 calls us
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 to do,
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 and we
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 can do
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 that simply
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 with a
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 moment like
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 drinking
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 juice.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 First,
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 I don't
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 deserve this
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 juice.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 The reality
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 is that
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 because of
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 my own
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 sin,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 I deserve
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 punishment,
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 I deserve
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 hell right
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 now.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 And so
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 even holding
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 this plastic
00:27:52 --> 00:27:54 cup, I
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 can give
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 thanks to
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 God that
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 he has
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 forgiven
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 my sin.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 And the
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 pleasure of
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 drinking juice
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 is bought
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 for me by
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 Jesus' death
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 on the
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 cross, so
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 that I can
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 enjoy every
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 minute of
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 my day and
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 the minute
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 when I drink
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 some juice.
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 I don't
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 deserve it.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 Drinking
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 this juice
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 actually reveals
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 something about
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 the goodness
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 of God.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 God is a
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 creative God
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 who enjoys
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 pleasurable
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 things.
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 And God
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 made us to
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 be able to
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 enjoy his
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 world.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 This tastes
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 good because
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 God has
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 made us in
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 a way to
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 be able to
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 enjoy things
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 that taste
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 good.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 And that's
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 wonderful that
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 our God has
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 given that to
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 us.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 Thirdly,
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 the fact that
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 I can even
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 stand up here
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 and hold this
00:28:42 --> 00:28:44 cup means
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 that God has
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 given me
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 health.
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 He's blessed
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 me with health
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 to work,
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 health to
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 earn money
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 so I can
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 afford juice.
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 Even when
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 I have fully
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 drunk this
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 cup and
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 all of the
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 value of the
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 vitamin C has
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 gone through
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 my body and
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 I've gotten
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 everything out
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 of it,
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 even after
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 it's finished,
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 God is still
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 good to me
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 and he is
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 still helping
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 me and he is
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 still the
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 great healer.
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 And lastly,
00:29:13 --> 00:29:15 I don't pursue
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 the black
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 currant juice.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 I don't
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 make it the
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 purpose of
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 my life,
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 I don't
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 worship it,
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 I don't
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 become the
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 black currant
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 juice guy
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 who's always
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 talking to
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 you about
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 it and
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 encouraging
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 you,
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 you really
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 should buy
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 more black
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 currant
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 juice,
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 it is really
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 the best
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 of the
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 juices.
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 I also
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 don't believe
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 that,
00:29:28 --> 00:29:31 but I'm
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 thankful for
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 it but I
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 still pursue
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 the one who
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 has given
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 me the gift.
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 Now if I
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 can do that
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 with a cup
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 of black
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 currant
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 juice,
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 how much
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 can we do
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 that with
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 every moment
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 of our day?
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 The moment
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 we wake up
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 early,
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 the moment
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 I got
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 woken up
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 early this
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 morning because
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 of my
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 kids,
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 I can
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 thank God
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 that I
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 have my
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 kids,
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 that I'm
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 well enough
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 to play
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 with them,
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 I can
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 thank God
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 that I
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 can go
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 to work,
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 I can
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 thank God
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 for coffee
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 and I
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 can thank
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 God
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 multiple
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 times
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 throughout
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 the day
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 for coffee
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 because I
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 drink
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 multiple
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 coffees.
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 Brothers
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 and sisters,
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 we have a
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 good God
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 who restores
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 us to
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 his image
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 and to
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 his purposes
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 and that
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 purpose of
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 glorifying
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 him and
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 enjoying
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 him.
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 He
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 offers us
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 an identity
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 and a
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 purpose that
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 is far
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 better than
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 the unsatisfying
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 ones that
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 we have
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 been,
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 that we've
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 chosen.
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 Let me
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 encourage you,
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 spend a moment
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 to think what
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 is the purpose
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 that you were
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 thinking about as
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 you drift off to
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 sleep?
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 Because God
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 offers us
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 something far
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 better,
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 made in his
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 image,
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 with the purpose
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 of glorifying
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 him.
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 let me
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 pray.
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 Heavenly
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 Father,
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 I thank you
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 so much
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 that we
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 were made
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 in your
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 image,
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 that even
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 though we
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 sin against
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 you,
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 you have
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 remade us
00:30:53 --> 00:30:55 through the
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 death and
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 resurrection of
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 your Son,
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 and you are
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 making us
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 like you
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 each day.
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 Father,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:02 help us
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 to pursue
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 you,
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 to desire
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 to see you
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 glorified,
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 and not
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 our own
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 glory.
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 Help us
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 not to
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 seek our
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 success,
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 but to
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 see your
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 name made
00:31:15 --> 00:31:17 known by
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 the people
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 that we
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 know,
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 all for
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 your glory.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 We pray
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 this in your
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 Son's name.
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 Amen.