Following and Resurrection Holiness
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 27th February 2021
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Maybe you can hear me now. There we go. I'm plugged in.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:09 This movie came out in 1998 called The Holy Man, starred one of, I was going to say favorite.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:11 He's not really. I do kind of like him.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:19 An actor called Eddie Murphy, and as a modern day holy man who helped people.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:26 And the only problem with this movie is that Eddie Murphy is usually a really fun, charismatic, excitable person.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:31 But this movie robbed him of all of that and just made him boring.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 Now what do you picture when you think of a holy person?
00:00:36 --> 00:00:41 Is it the Eddie Murphy type who is somehow separated from real life?
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 Maybe you imagine Gandhi as the holy man. He's wearing robes.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 He's withdrawn from life.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:50 Maybe it's boring.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 And maybe for us it's unattainable.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 You know, that holy man living is not for us.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:02 Maybe you've met a person who's got a holier-than-thou attitude.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:06 You know, the person who looks down their nose on everybody else.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 They seem to hold the moral high ground.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:15 You know, we tend to pull back from people like this because they seem to like the sound of their own voice
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 and they don't see their own problems.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:24 From an Eastern perspective, it might actually be the Confucian nobleman.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:28 One, a person who has gone on a journey of enlightenment.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:33 Who acts in proper conduct in public and to their family.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 They're respectful to parents and they're superior.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:37 And they're a person of great learning.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 Now these are all different views of holy people.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:47 And they can seem very distant from regular folk.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 And being holy can seem very far away.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:56 The Bible says that God calls us to be like Him.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:57 To be holy.
00:01:58 --> 00:01:59 To be like Jesus.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:06 But pursuing holiness can seem like just something that is not for us.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:12 I'm sure you know the feeling that you have when you get stuck in a cycle of sin.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:14 You do the wrong thing.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 You feel guilty.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:16 You get convicted.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 And so you try harder.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:19 And you sin again.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:20 And you feel guilty.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:21 And you try harder.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 And eventually you just give up because it's all too hard.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:31 And so even the thought of pursuing some kind of view of holiness can feel very distant and far away.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:32 And something for other people.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 That's something for people who've chosen to put on robes.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 To choose to live a life of that.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:37 They're going to pursue that.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 And that is for other people.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 We are in the very middle of our vision series.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:50 A series where we want to see what God is doing in us and through us.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:55 And see what God is going to be doing in and through us over the next five years.
00:02:56 --> 00:03:00 And we've been seeing who God is making us to be as disciples.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 To be people who are following Jesus.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:09 In the first week we saw that God has given us the resource of his word and prayer so we can be in relationship.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:11 He's given us the Holy Spirit.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 And last week we saw the value of church.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:18 Brothers and sisters in arms following Jesus together.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:22 And I must say it's been wonderful singing with you brothers and sisters today already.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:28 Today we begin to see what followers of Jesus look like.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 The characteristics of disciples.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 Today we're going to see that a Christian is holy.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 And we're going to seek to understand what it means to be holy.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 Why we should be holy and how.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 Now holiness is not just about the clothes we wear.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 Whether it's robes.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 Or whether we spout wisdom.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53 But holiness is a gift that we have now.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:54 That we can pursue.
00:03:54 --> 00:04:02 And the challenge for us today will be to see how God wants each of us to be pursuing holiness.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:07 So as we jump into God's word and to see what he has to say for us today let me pray for us.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:15 Dear Heavenly Father we thank you so much for who you are and for who you are making us to be.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:20 Lord thinking about holiness can feel very far away.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:24 Help us as we consider your plans for us today.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:25 Amen.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:25 Amen.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 So please have your Bibles open.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 We're going to jump around a couple of different parts of the Bible.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 Have your phones out.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 They're nice and fast as well.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 And we're going to be spending a little bit of time in Colossians 3 later.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39 But we're going to be jumping around.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 Now if you don't have a Bible and would like one.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 We would love you to have one.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 There are Bibles on the sides.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:47 Brown Bibles.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 Take those.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 Write your name in that.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:53 Bring that back next week so you can highlight and underline things.
00:04:53 --> 00:05:00 In Isaiah chapter 6 verse 3 it describes who our God is.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:06 It says holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 That description of holy is used three times.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:17 When a description is used three times it is an over the top description.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:22 It's to express that something is phenomenally over the top.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:26 And so God is holy, holy, holy.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 God is holy and we are not.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 And this is the central divide between us and him.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 The word holy has a concept of being separate.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 And so God is separate from us.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 He is always good and perfect and just.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 Yet we are not.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:51 We are not good and we are not perfect and we are not just.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:58 God is only good and because we are not, we can't even stand in his presence.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 Because he is so good and we are so sinful.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:09 And so in the Old Testament, when the high priest would enter into the temple and enter into a place called the Holy of Holies.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 Which the high priest could only do once a year.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 It was the place where God himself dwelt.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:22 And so when the high priest entered into this place, he had to carry in an offering for his sin.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 He had to carry in blood for himself and for the nation.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:31 Otherwise he would be struck down because he was in the presence of a holy God.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:39 God is so good and just that sinful man cannot even stand before him.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:46 And so when Jesus comes, he is the holy God in flesh.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:53 He comes so God would work out his plan to deal with this separation problem.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 So that we would be like he is.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 So that we would be holy.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:03 In Leviticus it says, be holy like I am holy.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 And Jesus calls us to do the same thing in Matthew 5.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:12 Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 And so God calls us to be like him.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 He calls us to be perfect.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 He calls us to be holy.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:25 But the wonderful truth is, he has already made us holy.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:29 In Colossians 3, 12 it says,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:35 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:41 God has chosen us and he has already made us holy.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:47 He is making us holy, but he has already made us holy.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:47 He has made us holy.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:48 He has made us holy.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 He has made us holy.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 He has made us holy.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 He has set us apart as his church.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 And we are special to God.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 This is a concept that always blows my mind.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 That we, for some reason, are special to God.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 He dearly loves us.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 And he has made us holy.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 And he does this in two ways.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 The first is the work of justification.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:18 Because of the death of Jesus in our place, we can stand before God.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:25 When he looks at us now, he sees that we have been made clean by Jesus' blood.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 Made pure and holy now.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 So that's the first work.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:33 God sees us pure because of the work of Jesus.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 And that's called justification.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 The second work I'd like to call holification.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 But that's not a word.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 So we'll go with the official word, which is sanctification.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 It is the process of being made holy.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:56 And so in 1 Thessalonians 4, it says that it is God's will that you would be sanctified.
00:08:57 --> 00:09:02 It is this process of day by day making us like his son.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 Shaping us in the image of Jesus.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:10 So justification is God declaring that a sinner is righteous.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 You are righteous because of the work of Jesus.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:19 Sanctification is God's process of transforming a believer to be who they already are.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:26 In mind, in will, in behavior, in affections, in loves.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 Through the work of the Holy Spirit.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 God's plan is to make us holy.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:37 And he does that through justifying us and through the process of sanctifying us.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 He is making us who we already are.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:45 Now, if you don't know this, Jesus, this is really wonderful news.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:49 Because this is not something that we do.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 This is something that is done for us.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 And that's something we get to do with God.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 He justifies us.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 And he is sanctifying us.
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 And we get to be part of that.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:03 And so if you don't know this, Jesus, this is really wonderful news.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:08 So Christians are holy but are also being made holy.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 Holiness is being one mind with God.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 Loving what he loves.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 Hating what he hates.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:23 Working to put off sin and to put on love of God and obedience of his commands.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:28 It is giving sacrificially instead of hoarding for ourselves.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 It is of humility.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 Lowliness of mind.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 Thinking others are better than ourselves.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 I became a Christian about 20 years ago.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 And when I first became a Christian, there was so much excitement.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:48 I still remember the moment when I went and told my dad that I had become a Christian.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:54 And I wanted with all of my energy, with all of my zeal, to live for God.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 I wanted to obey him.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 I wanted to act like Jesus.
00:10:57 --> 00:11:01 I used to wear one of those what would Jesus do bracelets.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 Does anybody remember those?
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 Yeah.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 All of the people nodding are of similar vintage to me.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 That's wonderful.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 I would wear one of those.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 WWJD.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:10 What would Jesus do?
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 To remind me, what would Jesus do in this situation?
00:11:13 --> 00:11:13 It was a Christian.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:23 But over time, the call to pursue holiness feels like it turned from joy to drudgery.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:29 Following God's command started to feel like a burden instead of a blessing.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:35 Sometimes it started to feel like I've got a stark choice before me.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:39 Do I obey God's command to pursue holiness?
00:11:39 --> 00:11:43 Or do I choose my own happiness in this moment?
00:11:43 --> 00:11:47 Do I do the thing that I think will make me happy?
00:11:47 --> 00:11:53 Or do I do what God says, and I know that it will bring me happiness?
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 But do you know what?
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 I want to choose the thing that will give me the short-term happiness.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:05 Sin feels like such a part of me, and I don't necessarily want to get rid of it.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:09 I just want to make my life easier to deal with.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 There's a quote from Charles Spurgeon.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:18 He said that many are troubled because the gospel interferes with their sin.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:27 And so as a Christian, I went through this journey of feeling burdened by obeying God.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:31 God makes us holy.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:36 He calls us to pursue holiness throughout our life, to be holy like he is.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:46 But the challenge of our heart, of my heart, to pursue God and a life like Jesus' can feel burdened.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 It can feel impossible.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:56 Maybe we see those stereotypes of a holy person and think, I don't want to be like that person.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 They're so separated from life.
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 Or even I can't be like that person.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:03 I don't have the time to devote to that kind of pursuit of holiness.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:10 The hole in our holiness is that we just don't care about it.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:16 In the Christian world, I don't see too many people doing passionate calls to be holy.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:21 We talk about sin, stop sinning, do these good things instead.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:25 But holiness is not just about doing good things.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 It's not being a better person.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:31 It's about becoming God's version, God's person.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:37 And so we can see this picture of God calling us to be holy.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 But why?
00:13:41 --> 00:13:44 Why should we pursue holiness?
00:13:44 --> 00:13:54 This is the, I'm going to put it out there that pursuing holiness is God's plan for us for human flourishing.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 Holiness is God's plan for us.
00:13:58 --> 00:14:03 Now, I'm a pretty bad handyman when it comes to doing things around the house.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:08 And if I need to go and get a screwdriver and I'm already in the kitchen,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 can you guess what tool I'm going to use instead?
00:14:11 --> 00:14:15 Instead, it's going to be a knife because it's pretty similar, right?
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 And I'll just get a knife from the drawer and make do.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:25 But when I go to the effort of getting the tool that was designed for the task,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 it just sings.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:31 It's just like the screwdriver just drives that screw home so effortlessly
00:14:31 --> 00:14:34 compared to stabbing at it with a knife and trying to get it.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 But the reality is I end up blunting the knife.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 And the screw was ruined.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:46 We blunt ourselves pursuing the wrong things and living the wrong way.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:51 Pursuing holiness is how God has made us to be, to be like him.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:55 It is being who we are and who we are made to be.
00:14:55 --> 00:15:00 We were damaged in the Garden of Eden, restored in the resurrection of Jesus.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:05 And God has made us like Jesus and caused us to pursue being like him.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 And it can feel like a burden.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:15 In Leviticus chapter 9, God's people have come out of Egypt.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 God has saved them.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 And all of God's people are gathered to praise God.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:22 It says in chapter 9, verse 23,
00:15:22 --> 00:15:25 Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 When they came out, they blessed the people.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:32 And the glory of the Lord appeared to all of the people.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 Fire came out from the presence of the Lord
00:15:35 --> 00:15:39 and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:44 And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell face down.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 God's people have been saved.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:50 And God has appeared in their midst.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 He has accepted their sin offering.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 Their sin has been taken away.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 And they respond to God with joy.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 Absolute joy.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:06 Similarly, as Kel read for us in John,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:10 when Jesus' disciples are locked up because Jesus has been killed,
00:16:11 --> 00:16:14 they are fearful of the Jews coming to kill them as well.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:17 Jesus appears to them, resurrected.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:22 They see him and they respond with joy.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:32 We seem to have to choose between the impossible, undesirable, boring pursuit of being holy
00:16:32 --> 00:16:38 and happiness through depravity and chasing our own sin.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 This is a lie.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:46 If we believe the lie that says pursuing holiness means there is no happiness,
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 it's going to be an uphill battle.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 The life of a Christian is going to be hard
00:16:51 --> 00:16:55 because being made like Jesus is going to feel hard for us.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 And there's going to be no amount of self-control
00:16:58 --> 00:17:01 that can keep us from seeking happiness.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:04 What's going to happen is we're going to fail.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 We'll beat ourselves up.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 We'll try harder.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 We'll do things that we've been encouraging.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 We'll try to read the Bible four or more times a week.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 Do that anyway.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:16 But when we fail, it's going to feel worse.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 We'll have good accountability.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 We'll walk closely with other Christians.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 And we'll fail.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 And we'll fall.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 And we can become despondent, depressed.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:31 Because often we are just using the lever of self-control.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:36 Self-control is not the way we pursue holiness long-term.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 It might work in the short-term.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:42 If I'm trying to particularly change a sinful behavior,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 holiness might work in the short-term.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:51 But pursuing holiness and using the lever of self-control,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:54 choosing to not do things, choosing not to be happy.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 Maybe I'm going to separate myself from life.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 I'm going to go and be that monastic monk.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 And I'm going to live in a cave.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 Then I can be like Jesus.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 And then I can get rid of my sin.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:08 That is not a path to pursuing holiness long-term.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 It doesn't work.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:14 Satan tries to rig the game by convincing us
00:18:14 --> 00:18:17 that pursuing holiness, pursuing being like Christ,
00:18:18 --> 00:18:21 Christ makes dull and boring Christians.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:27 Pursuing holiness in life is not about saying no to things.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 It's about saying yes to something that is better.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:35 Pursuing holiness for us is a reorientation of our loves.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:40 If you've ever tried to change what you eat
00:18:40 --> 00:18:43 or read about dieting, it's the same kind of concept.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:48 It's really hard to say no to all of the delicious foods
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 that you love and are unhealthy.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:52 And for me, this is really hard because I've got a sweet tooth
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 and a savory tooth.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:58 And is butter another type of tooth?
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 Is that another thing?
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 Carbs?
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 Like I've got all of the teeth.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 All of the types of food teeth.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 I've got them all.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 I love them all.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:09 But it doesn't work to just say no to the things
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 that you want to pursue.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:16 From what I've read, a diet is much more likely to work
00:19:16 --> 00:19:19 if you say no to some things but also say yes,
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 have a clear yes.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 I'm going to eat these things instead.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 Pursuing holiness is similar.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:30 It's not just about saying no to sin
00:19:30 --> 00:19:34 and saying no to the things, the parts of us
00:19:34 --> 00:19:38 that are sinful and that we think will make us happy.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 It's not just about saying no to those things.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:45 We must say yes to the true happiness that God has for us.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:50 So our mouths might be tempted to spread gossip,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:52 to feel important and valued.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 We have to say no to that.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:58 But we also have to say yes to reminding ourselves
00:19:58 --> 00:20:01 that we are valued by someone greater.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 We are valued by God himself.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:10 We need to say no to lies that protect ourselves for a moment
00:20:10 --> 00:20:14 and say yes to loving people with truthful words.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:18 Does retail therapy bring a measure of happiness?
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 Say no to a temporary happiness that leaves us feeling flat
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 and yes to pursuing a God
00:20:25 --> 00:20:28 who has given us every blessing in Jesus.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:34 Lust and chasing someone for a couple of extra seconds
00:20:34 --> 00:20:38 as they walk past as a little taste of happiness.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 Say no to that little taste
00:20:40 --> 00:20:44 and yes to pursuing a God who has made our bodies
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 and he has made beauty
00:20:46 --> 00:20:49 and honor him with our whole body.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:55 Pursuing holiness doesn't mean ignoring joy and happiness
00:20:55 --> 00:20:59 but following the God who made joy and happiness
00:20:59 --> 00:21:03 because we've been created to treasure Jesus
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 with our hearts
00:21:04 --> 00:21:07 and to see the blessings that God has given us.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:11 Lust is the love of beauty
00:21:11 --> 00:21:15 and desire for sexual intimacy in the wrong place.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:20 Impatience is the love of order and timeliness
00:21:20 --> 00:21:23 over people.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:27 Consumerism is the love of the created thing over the creator.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:30 Gossip and slander are the love of self
00:21:30 --> 00:21:33 over the love of other people.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:36 And so we have an option.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:40 Do we say no to the things
00:21:40 --> 00:21:44 that will give us a temporary sinful burst of happiness
00:21:44 --> 00:21:46 or do we say yes to the God
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 who offers us a greater happiness?
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 Over the last week,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:54 I've been thinking about my own pursuit of holiness.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 One of my challenges
00:21:56 --> 00:22:00 is my desire for control.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:03 And I get frustrated and impatient
00:22:03 --> 00:22:07 when people don't do what I want them to do.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 Particularly my kids.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:11 I get frustrated when they don't do what I expect them to do.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 And so happiness in this concept is very sinful.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 Do what I want.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 But true happiness for me
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 is to remember that I am not in control.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 That there is a God
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 who is in control of all things.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 And for him,
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 I definitely take too long
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 to do what he wants me to do.
00:22:32 --> 00:22:35 And yet he is quick to patience
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 and quick to forgive.
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 And I am slow to patience
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 and slow to forgive.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 And so for me,
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 the path to holiness that I am pursuing
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 is to acknowledge that God is in control.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 And it's not just saying to myself,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 oh, you know,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 these kids are doing the wrong thing
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 and I need to go harder at them.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 No, no, no.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 It is saying yes
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 to a greater love for my kids.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 Knowing who God has,
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 what God has done for me
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 and who he is making me to be.
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 Lastly today,
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 how do we pursue this holiness?
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 God has justified us.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 He has made us holy
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 and he is making us holy.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 He is sanctifying us.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:24 And so Paul in Colossians 3,
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 which was read for us,
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 has two lists.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 Things to say no to
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 and things to say yes to.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 Things to put off
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 and things to put on.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 Just another reminder,
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 we pursue holiness
00:23:38 --> 00:23:40 because God has already made us holy.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:43 So have a look at Colossians 3,
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 verse 5.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 There's one of these lists for us.
00:23:46 --> 00:23:49 Put to death,
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 therefore,
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 whatever belongs to your earthly nature,
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 sexual immorality,
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 impurity,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 lust,
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 evil desires,
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 and greed,
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 which is idolatry.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 Put them to death.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 Don't allow them to continue.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 The list continues in verse 8.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 But now you must also
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 read yourself
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 of all such things as these.
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 Anger,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 rage,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 malice,
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 slander,
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 filthy language from your lips.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 Kill them dead.
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 I've been trying to put to death
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 the clover in my front yard
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 for a couple of years now.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 It requires persistence,
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 hard work,
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 and if I slack off,
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 it comes back very quickly
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 and aggressively.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:36 Sin is much more deeply rooted
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 in my heart
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 and your hearts
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 than any plant.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 And we're called
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 not to just prune it,
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 but to make it look acceptable
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 to people
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 so that we can survive
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 doing what we want to do.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 But we are called
00:24:49 --> 00:24:51 to kill our sin.
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 And to do this,
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 I really appreciate
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 John Piper.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 He has a really helpful acrostic
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 to help us kill our sin dead.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:03 So imagine for me
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 a sin you've been struggling with.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 I've got a whole list of mine.
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 Have a look at that list
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 in Colossians 3.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 Pick a sin
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 that you're struggling with.
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 If you can't think of one,
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 ask the person sitting next to you,
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 what's a sin I need to work on?
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 And as you picture that,
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 John Piper has a helpful
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 acronym for us.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 It is ANTHEM.
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 Anthem.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 A-N-T-H-E-M.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 First of all,
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 avoid.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 Don't put yourself
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 in a situation
00:25:34 --> 00:25:37 that will encourage you to sin.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 Secondly,
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 say no.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 Say no in the first five seconds.
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 I know when I'm faced
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 with a temptation,
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 whether it's to sin
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 or to eat a donut,
00:25:46 --> 00:25:49 if I dwell on it longer,
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 I am more likely to do it.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 Say no in the first five seconds.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 Turn.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 Turn away
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 from the sinful,
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 fallen thing
00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 and turn to what God's plan
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 is for you
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 in that moment.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 Turn away
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 from the no
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 to the yes
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 of God's purpose
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 for true happiness.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 H,
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 hold.
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 Just hold
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 on to that yes
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 for a moment
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 and then enjoy
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 God's promises.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 Finally,
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 move.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 Actually,
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 move away.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 Do something else.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 Put a song on.
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 Praise God.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 Pray.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 Do something to move.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 And so,
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 for me,
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 my sin of frustration
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 which comes out
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 of my kids,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 well,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 first of all,
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 I can't avoid them.
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 That one's a bit hard.
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 But I can do
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 the right thing
00:26:43 --> 00:26:45 to be more patient
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 in the moment.
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 So,
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 for me,
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 that means going to bed
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 earlier than the night before.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 To be a dad
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 who slept well.
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 And then,
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 in those first five seconds
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 when there's a moment
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 of, you know,
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 the kids being kids
00:26:56 --> 00:26:59 and I feel my frustrations
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 boiling up like a kettle,
00:27:01 --> 00:27:03 I say no to that.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 And not just clamp the lid on
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 and so the kettle
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 will burst later
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 at the dog
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 or at my wife
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 or whatever it is.
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 Instead of just putting
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 that frustration
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 to one side,
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 turn and put on patience.
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 Remind myself
00:27:19 --> 00:27:21 of how patient
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 God has been
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 in my frustration.
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 Put on
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 true happiness
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 in that moment.
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 Turn.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 For me,
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 that turn
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 looks like
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 changing my tone
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 of voice.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 And hold
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 onto that.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 This happened to me
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 the other day.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 And in the moment
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 of frustration,
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 I,
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 this,
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 this word came to mind.
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 I turned
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 from the frustration.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 I held
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 onto it.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:51 And in that moment,
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 I realized,
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 oh God,
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 you are so good.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 And I just had
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 a very brief moment
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 of praising God
00:27:56 --> 00:27:58 because he had given me
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 patience and love
00:28:00 --> 00:28:03 where moments before
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 I was frustrated
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 and frustration
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 and anger
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 was about to boil
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 out of me.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 Enjoy that moment.
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 Thanks be to God
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 for his love
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 and patience for me.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 And then get moving.
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 Change that situation.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 Praise God.
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 I think anthem
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 is a very helpful
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 reminder
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 and a helpful
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 practice for us
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 to put on
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 holiness
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 in the moment.
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 To not put on
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 sin,
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 but to put on
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 holiness.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 Because verse 12
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 reminds us of
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 Colossians 3
00:28:30 --> 00:28:32 that we are already
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 dearly loved.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 This is who we are
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 to be.
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 And it's the motivation
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 for putting on
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 these things.
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 So first,
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 from Colossians 3
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 chapter 12,
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 these are the yeses.
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 Clothe yourselves
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 with compassion,
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 kindness,
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 humility,
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 gentleness,
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 and patience.
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 Bear with each other
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 and forgive one another
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 if any of you
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 has a grievance
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 against someone.
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 Forgive as the Lord
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 forgave you.
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 And over all these
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 virtues,
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 put on love,
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 which binds them
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 all together
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 in perfect unity.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 That acronym
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 anthem is really
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 helpful in a moment
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 of temptation
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 to help us
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 to put off
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 and to put
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 on
00:29:12 --> 00:29:14 these things
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 which Paul
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 has said,
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 God's plan
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 for us
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 for true
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 happiness.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 Kevin DeYoung
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 is a pastor
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 and author
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 from the US
00:29:22 --> 00:29:24 and he has
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 a wonderful
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 process of
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 working through
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 holiness
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 for his whole
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 self.
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 He also has
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 seven children,
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 so I want to
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 listen to what
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 this guy
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 has to say.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 When he does
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 this,
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 he regularly
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 brings himself
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 before God
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 and he's
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 got a practice
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 of checking
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 where his
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 holiness is at.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 He works
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 through his
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 whole body.
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 And so he
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 starts with
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 his mind.
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 Is it filled
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 with the knowledge
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 of God
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 or am I
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 filling my
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 mind with
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 other things?
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 His eyes,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 our eyes,
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 do our eyes
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 turn away
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 from lust
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 and evil acts?
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 Do they turn
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 away from bullying
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 or are they
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 dragged towards
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 them?
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 Our mouths,
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 do our mouths
00:30:04 --> 00:30:06 speak out of love
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 or out of
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 slander and
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 gossip?
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 Our souls,
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 are they resting
00:30:10 --> 00:30:12 and trusting
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 in God
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 or are they
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 full of
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 anxiety?
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 Our shoulders,
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 are they
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 burdened with
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 the world
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 or are they
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 living each
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 day knowing
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 that God
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 is in
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 control?
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 Our hearts,
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 are they
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 joyfully
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 treasuring
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 Jesus or
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 are they
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 full of
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 pride and
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 envy?
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 Our sexual
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 organs,
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 are they
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 pure and
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 reserved for
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 marriage
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 between a
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 man and
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 a woman?
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 Our hands,
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 are they
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 quick to
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 help and
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 quick to
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 fold in
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 prayer?
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 And our
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 feet,
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 do our
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 feet quickly
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 move towards
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 people in
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 love or
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 are they
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 moving towards
00:30:50 --> 00:30:52 people in
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 senseless
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 conflict?
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 This body,
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 again,
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 two practices,
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 use anthem
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 in the
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 moment to
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 put on
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 love and
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 patience and
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 forgiveness
00:31:02 --> 00:31:05 and the
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 concept of
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 thinking about
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 ourselves as
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 a whole
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 person.
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 Work through
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 yourself to
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 bring yourself
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 before God,
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 to ask him,
00:31:12 --> 00:31:14 God, how do I
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 need to be
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 pursuing holiness
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 today?
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 The reason we
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 exist as a
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 church is to
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 be treasuring our
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 Jesus together
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 for God's glory
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 and the joy of
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 all people.
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 We treasure
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 Jesus.
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 He's the
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 ultimate treasure
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 and he shows
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 us how to
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 have a life
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 that is full
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 of joy.
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 Pursuing
00:31:33 --> 00:31:35 holiness and
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 treasuring Jesus
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 is the key to
00:31:37 --> 00:31:39 who we want to
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 be as a
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 church, who
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 we want to be
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 becoming over
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 the next five
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 years.
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 In your
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 follow 25
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 booklets, if
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 you don't have
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 one of these,
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 if you had one
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 and don't know
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 where it is,
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 grab another
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 one there on
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 the table
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 outside.
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 In the
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 center of
00:31:54 --> 00:31:56 this is the
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 key to who
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 we want to
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 be as a
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 church, right
00:31:59 --> 00:32:01 here, which
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 says that we
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 want to see
00:32:03 --> 00:32:05 65% of our
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 church identifying
00:32:06 --> 00:32:08 much growth in
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 faith.
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 The vast
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 majority, 65%
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 of us, growing
00:32:12 --> 00:32:14 much in faith
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 through the work
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 of this church.
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 Growing in
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 faith and
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 holiness are
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 inextricably
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 linked.
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 Faith is
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 trusting in
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 God's plan for
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 us and
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 pursuing holiness
00:32:27 --> 00:32:29 holiness is
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 trusting that
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 God has a
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 plan for
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 us, that
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 he knows
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 better for
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 our lives
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 than what
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 I choose.
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 Because that's
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 all holiness
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 is.
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 Doing what
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 God has set
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 out for me
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 because it is
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 the best
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 thing.
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 Pursuing
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 holiness and
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 God's design
00:32:45 --> 00:32:47 is a big
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 step of
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 faith.
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 When we do
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 that, our
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 faith and our
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 trust in God
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 will grow
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 moment by
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 moment, day
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 by day.
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 Pursuing
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 holiness is
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 something that
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 each of us
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 can do
00:33:03 --> 00:33:05 because God
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 has already
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 made us
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 holy.
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 And we
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 should do it
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 because it is
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 the way we
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 can have
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 greatest
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 happiness.
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 It is the
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 way that God
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 has designed
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 us as his
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 people.
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 Let me
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 pray.
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 Amen.
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 Heavenly
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 Father, I
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 thank you so
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 much for how
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 much you
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 love us.
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 That not
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 only have
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 you made
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 us holy
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 through the
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 blood of
00:33:30 --> 00:33:32 Jesus, but
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 you are
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 making us
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 holy.
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 You are
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 making us
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 like you
00:33:35 --> 00:33:37 bit by
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 bit and
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 day by
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 day.
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 Lord,
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 pursuing
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 holiness can
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 feel hard
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 and distant.
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 Lord,
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 remind us
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 of its
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 goodness.
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 Thank you
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 for practical
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 helps to do
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 it.
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 But Lord,
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 this week,
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 as we
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 head out
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 into weeks
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 full of
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 busyness,
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 challenges at
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 work and
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 challenges at
00:33:59 --> 00:34:01 home, kids,
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 colleagues, all
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 of these things,
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 Lord, a life
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 that is full of
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 problems before
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 us.
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 Help us to
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 put off sin
00:34:10 --> 00:34:12 and to put on
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 love for
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 others and
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 love for you
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 as you have
00:34:16 --> 00:34:16 designed us,
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 Lord.
00:34:17 --> 00:34:19 We ask this in
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 Jesus' name and
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 all for your
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 glory.
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 Amen.