Modelling Godly Character
Series: FRONTLINE
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 13th February 2016
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 jobs that no one else wanted to do. Jobs like rattle snake catcher, roadkill collector,
00:00:08 --> 00:00:15 shark attack suit tester, maggot farmer, spider venom collector, and septic tank cleaner.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:25 The show's main message was that work is good, even dirty jobs. Work with dirty jobs was good,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:31 and Mike, the host, said that he had, in fact, witnessed many people doing all kinds of odd and
00:00:31 --> 00:00:38 dirty and hard work and yet enjoying it. And that rings true with the message that I preached last
00:00:38 --> 00:00:45 week about the dignity of all work, because each one of us has been assigned our vocation by God to
00:00:45 --> 00:00:54 work out his purposes in this world. When you watch the show, though, it's obvious that while there are
00:00:54 --> 00:01:02 many positive aspects with the dirty jobs that Mike trials, there's also the negatives in some
00:01:02 --> 00:01:08 of the work. Like when he listed the requirements for roadkill collector, the negatives were that
00:01:08 --> 00:01:13 you need to be able to brave on oncoming traffic, especially if the roadkill was not quite dead yet
00:01:13 --> 00:01:18 and you needed to dispatch it or something. And also, you need to have a strong stomach.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:25 Like, the positive is that you get to work outdoors. Now, I'm not sure if the positive ultimately
00:01:25 --> 00:01:30 outweighs the negatives in those sort of work, but anyway. But it doesn't matter whether whatever
00:01:30 --> 00:01:35 your frontline is, whether it's at home, it's in a classroom, it's on a factory floor, it's in a
00:01:35 --> 00:01:44 national park, in an office cubicle. Work can be a source of great purpose and dignity,
00:01:44 --> 00:01:52 but also a source of great frustration in our lives. Dealing with difficult customers, a demanding
00:01:52 --> 00:02:01 boss, inclement weather, a family's mountain of laundry, a two-year-old, an elderly parent,
00:02:02 --> 00:02:08 lingering unemployment, underemployment, overemployment. It can all be a huge pain.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:14 And so it's pretty important for Christians, I think, to understand and to hold in tension
00:02:14 --> 00:02:21 both what the Bible says about creation, as we looked at last week, and what it says about the
00:02:21 --> 00:02:27 fall and the destructive consequences of sin. That is, it's important to hold in tension both the
00:02:27 --> 00:02:34 dignity of work and the difficulty of work, the dignity of our vocation, where God's put us, and the
00:02:34 --> 00:02:43 difficulty of our vocation. And that is why so many Christians inhabit the extremes of idealism and
00:02:43 --> 00:02:53 cynicism, or even ricochet between idealism and cynicism on a regular basis. Idealism says,
00:02:53 --> 00:03:01 through my work, my vocation, my station in life, I'm going to change the world. I'm going to make a
00:03:01 --> 00:03:06 difference, I'm going to accomplish something new, and I'm going to bring justice to this world. I'm
00:03:06 --> 00:03:14 going to do everything that previous generations did not do, and failed to do. So idealism is probably
00:03:14 --> 00:03:23 more prevalent amongst those who are younger amongst us. Cynicism says nothing really changes,
00:03:23 --> 00:03:28 don't get your hopes up, do what it takes to make a living, don't let yourself care too much,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:36 get out of it whatever you can. And so cynicism is probably prevalent amongst those who have got a
00:03:36 --> 00:03:43 few more runs on the board advancing in years amongst us. But either way, we can be jumping
00:03:43 --> 00:03:50 between the two. Christians have, through their hope in God's story of redemption for the world that he
00:03:50 --> 00:03:59 created a deep contentment that enables them to work with all their being and never be ultimately
00:03:59 --> 00:04:08 discouraged by the frustrating reality of this world. And our concern in this series is how,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:19 in this context of both purpose and difficulty, that we might pursue our vocation in line with
00:04:19 --> 00:04:26 Colossians 3. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:32 since you know that you'll receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ
00:04:32 --> 00:04:38 you are serving. That is, you are in the midst of your vocation, and with all the difficulties
00:04:38 --> 00:04:45 associated with it, still being able to look forward with hope, because God has a great eternal plan
00:04:45 --> 00:04:49 that he's working out through you. So how do we live out, Colossians 3, in the ordinary,
00:04:49 --> 00:04:56 of Monday to Saturday, even on front lines that make no reference to God whatsoever?
00:04:59 --> 00:05:08 And one way is to live lives transformed by Jesus on those front lines. That is to model godly
00:05:08 --> 00:05:15 character, our concern for tonight. Character, it's true, the character shines through in all that we do.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:22 And in thinking about modelling godly character, I'm thinking about more than just being nice.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:32 I'm thinking about something that's much more than middle class, North Shore, nice values. I'm thinking
00:05:32 --> 00:05:39 something a lot more than just being Canadian and just being nice. I'm thinking something a bit more
00:05:39 --> 00:05:46 than just hovering around in the world with this divine grin on your face. Modelling godly character
00:05:46 --> 00:05:55 is so much more than just niceness, in the same way that real love is so much more than niceness.
00:05:56 --> 00:06:05 Love requires courage, determination, and sacrifice. All the things that you husbands put into
00:06:05 --> 00:06:11 Valentine's Day today. Love, courage, determination, sacrifice.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:18 Because there's a few... Oh, hang on, Valentine's Day? It's Valentine's Day, is it? Forgot that one.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:25 Don't worry, as I said this morning, I bought a $2 bag of heart-shaped chocolates,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:36 which my girls devoured before Nat got one. Galatians 5 says the godly character is the fruit of God
00:06:36 --> 00:06:44 working in our lives by His Spirit. Verse 22 in Galatians 5. Grab your Bibles, smartphones,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:53 as Sam said, whatever. Get to Galatians 5, verse 22. It's a list of traits that God is working out in
00:06:53 --> 00:07:00 His people. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:05 gentleness, and self-control. Some paraphrase the list of this fruit as love, joy, peace,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:14 patience, kindness, integrity, courage, humility, and self-control. Now, either way, it's a pretty
00:07:14 --> 00:07:19 daunting list. It's an impressive list. It's not an exhaustive list of all the things that God's
00:07:19 --> 00:07:26 working out on you, but it's pretty impressive and daunting. Love. It's the Christ-like reaction
00:07:26 --> 00:07:35 to malice. Joy. The Christ-like reaction to depressing and difficult circumstances. Peace
00:07:35 --> 00:07:42 as the Christ-like reaction to troubles and threats and anxiety. Patience as the Christ-like reaction to
00:07:42 --> 00:07:49 all that raises your blood pressure. Kindness as the Christ-like reaction to all who are unkind and cruel.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:58 Goodness is the Christ-like reaction to bad people, naughty people, and bad behavior. Faithfulness is the
00:07:58 --> 00:08:04 Christ-like reaction to lies and distortions and untruths. Gentleness is the Christ-like reaction to
00:08:04 --> 00:08:12 anger. Self-control as a Christ-like reaction to every situation where you want the
00:08:12 --> 00:08:22 sinful nature to take over and lead. That's pretty daunting. It's not niceness. It's not what we're
00:08:22 --> 00:08:27 talking about. Now, my focus here is not to unpack each one of those, but to go much broader.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:37 I want to say two things, two things about the fruit of the Spirit with 12 to 15 sub-points under
00:08:37 --> 00:08:45 each thing. No, it's not quite true. Two things. The first is the fruit of the Spirit is about
00:08:45 --> 00:08:57 supernatural internal transformation by God and not external moral constraint. That's the first thing.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:03 I'll unpack that in a minute. The second thing I'm going to say is that unless the fruit of the Spirit
00:09:03 --> 00:09:12 are growing together, then none of them are there in their supernatural form.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 That's the two things. And then I'm going to talk about how do we grow under Spirit.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:24 Okay? So let's understand the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit. So having listed the fruit in verse 22,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:32 at the end of verse 23, it says, against such things, there is no law. There's a list of the nine
00:09:32 --> 00:09:38 traits. And then it says, against such things, there is no law. And now that is pretty significant.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:47 And so I need to explain what that little bit means just there. Imagine New South Wales Parliament
00:09:47 --> 00:09:55 passed the law against joylessness and anxiety. It is now against the law in New South Wales to be
00:09:55 --> 00:10:11 joyless and to be anxious. That would be pretty useless as a law. Because law is a form of moral
00:10:11 --> 00:10:23 constraint that is essentially negative in its nature. Law works to stop the results of a messed up heart,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:31 but it can't get into the inside and deal with the messed upness of the heart.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:41 You see, a well-enforced law might stem the tide of murder, might even stamp out murder.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:50 But it can't reach in and get to the anger which is in a heart, which is the root of murder.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:59 Murder is the consequence of a problem in a heart. Against pride and anxiety and joylessness and fear
00:10:59 --> 00:11:08 and all the other root problems in your heart and my heart, law is useless. Law cannot get into the
00:11:08 --> 00:11:14 heart where the root problem is. And so it cannot constrain my heart.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:25 The answer to that is in verse 24 and 25. The Holy Spirit. The Spirit can go where the law can't go.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:31 You see, the Holy Spirit and the law working together can constrain you externally, but only the Spirit
00:11:31 --> 00:11:38 can go internally and bring transformation in the root problem. Only the Spirit can deal with the
00:11:38 --> 00:11:44 internal problem of messed up heart. And the practical difference between the law and the Spirit is
00:11:44 --> 00:11:52 enormous. The difference between an external moral constraint of the law and the internal
00:11:52 --> 00:12:00 transformation, supernatural transformation of the Spirit is very significant. The British have a
00:12:00 --> 00:12:11 saying, no man is a hero to his valet. No man is a hero to his valet. Now I've watched Downton Abbey and so
00:12:11 --> 00:12:20 I know what a valet is. A valet is a wealthy man's personal male attendant who's responsible for his clothes,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:26 for his appearance, for his personal details like his bank accounts and running his bath and sponging
00:12:26 --> 00:12:34 his back. All sorts of stuff like that. What the saying means is that no matter how grand your public
00:12:34 --> 00:12:48 persona is, in private your valet sees warts and all. He sees what you truly are like and what you truly want
00:12:48 --> 00:12:55 to be. The valet sees the impatience, the selfishness, the irritability, the pettiness, the anxiety, the
00:12:55 --> 00:13:05 jealousy, the joylessness. And so no man is a hero to his valet because his valet sees what he's really like.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:21 And what this means is that when you use the law to constrain a person morally, externally, you do it at the
00:13:21 --> 00:13:31 expense of joy and peace. Which themselves are two fruits of the Spirit, you might notice.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:43 Law externally constrains you from doing what you want to internally do. And so it constrains you
00:13:43 --> 00:13:47 and locks you to a position of joylessness and peacelessness.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:55 Think about how you raise a child. You get them and you say to them,
00:13:55 --> 00:13:59 we don't want you to do this or this or this or this or this or this or this or this.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 And you had
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 better not do it because firstly,
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 you'll get caught.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 God will catch you,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 police will catch you or I will catch you.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:18 And secondly, you better not do it because
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 what will people think of you?
00:14:20 --> 00:14:24 And thirdly, you better not do it because
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 you will end up
00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 despising yourself. You'll have no respect
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 for yourself.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 How are we making
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 kids moral at that point?
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 We're making them moral by
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 nurturing joylessness
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 and peacelessness and
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 anxiety and insecurity.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 As the law establishes
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 external moral
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 behavior at the expense of
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 inner joy and peace,
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 it establishes fear
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 and pride
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 that reveals itself
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 where the valet
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 and only the valet
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 and you see it.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 Or your spouse,
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 or your children,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 or your parents,
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 or your team at work,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 or the people who know you the best.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 In the private place
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 is where you find out
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 whether you are morally
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 constrained
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 externally
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 or you're supernaturally
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 changed internally
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 by the Holy Spirit.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 Only the Spirit will go deep.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 Only the Spirit makes you
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 in your most private place
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 and private time
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 a person of joy
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 and calm
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 and peace
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 and mercy
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 and love
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 and patience
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 and kindness
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 and courage
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 and humility.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 Or to put it another way,
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 if you are not
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 more of a hero
00:15:55 --> 00:15:58 to the people
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 who know you
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 the best,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 then you should
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 probably have
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 an alarm bell
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 ringing right now.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:10 That is,
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 if you've got
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 this great persona
00:16:11 --> 00:16:15 with some people,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 great guy,
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 great at his work,
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 and yet the people
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 who know you the best
00:16:21 --> 00:16:24 don't regard you
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 as a hero,
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 ding, ding, ding, ding, ding,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 should be going off
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 right now.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 So how are you getting on
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 on the inside?
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 Are you a hero
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 to those who know you
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 the best?
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 Or do they laugh
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 about you
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 over drinks?
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 That's a scary question,
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 I know.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 But it's going to get
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 just slightly more scarier.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 Because the second thing
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 to notice
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 is that the fruit
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 all come together.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 If they are not
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 growing all together,
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 they are not
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 growing at all,
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 at least in their
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 supernatural form.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 And I get that
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 from verse 22.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 Notice the singular
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 statement,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 the fruit of the
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 Spirit is,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and then goes on
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 and lists nine traits.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 It doesn't say
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 the fruits of the
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 Spirit are.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 The outcome
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 of the work
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 of the Holy Spirit
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 in your life
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 is nine traits.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 They're not
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 separable traits.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 They are dependent
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 on each other.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 Interdependent.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 The fruits of the Spirit
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 are all aspects
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 of the same thing.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 You can't be patient
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 unless you're humble.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 You can't be kind
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 with people
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 unless you've got
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 self-control.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 You can't have
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 integrity
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 with this group
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 at work
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 and this group
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 at home
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 unless you have
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 tremendous amount
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 of inner peace
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 and security
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 with Christ
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 that just allows you
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 to flourish
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 wherever you are.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 They have to be together.
00:17:57 --> 00:18:00 If they're not
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 together
00:18:00 --> 00:18:03 then they're not
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 there at all.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 It's important
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 to grapple with this
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 so that you can
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 recognize
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 and evaluate
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 the work
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 of the Spirit
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 in your life.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 The temptation
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 here
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 is to look
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 at this list
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 and to give
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 our scores
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 based on
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 how many
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 of these traits
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 we think we're good
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 at and how many
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 we're kind of okay
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 at and that one's
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 not so good.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 And so we give
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 ourselves a score
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 and go six out of ten
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 or nine
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 and that's pretty good.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 That's more
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 than a pass mark
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 so I must be okay.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 And that would be wrong.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 They are interrelated
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 and so they must
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 grow together.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 Now let me just
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 take a little bit
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 of pressure off.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 There can be
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 some lag here
00:18:46 --> 00:18:49 where some
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 are growing
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 faster than others
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 but they
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 must all
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 be growing.
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 That's not just
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 Galatians.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 That's a thrust
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 of it.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 See,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:02 long before Karl Marx
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 and Friedrich Nietzsche
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 said that people
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 followed moral behavior
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 out of fear
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 and pride
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 and desire
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 for power
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 over other people,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 the Apostle Paul
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 said in 1 Corinthians 13
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 that it's extremely
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 possible
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 for people
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 to live
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 a moral life
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 without love
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 as the foundation
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 of that life.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 That is
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 out of
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 self-interest.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 That is
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 without a heart
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 that's being changed
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 by the grace
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 and love of God.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 Now that's
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 really important
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 because it's
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 pretty typical
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 for people
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 who are kind
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 and gentle
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 and diplomatic
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 and just
00:19:46 --> 00:19:49 so empathetic
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 not
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 to be
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 assertive,
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 to be bold
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 or to be
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 courageous.
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 They might
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 have gentleness
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 but they lack
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 probably
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 the best
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 translation
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 in the list
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 is faithfulness.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 They aren't
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 good at
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 confronting
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 and courage.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 On the other
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 hand,
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 there are people
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 who are very
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 bold and assertive
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 and directive
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 but tend
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 to be impatient.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 A little
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 on the harsh
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 side.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 They lack
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 empathy.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 And in both
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 cases,
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 the character
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 traits are
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 more natural
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 personality traits
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 given by God,
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 I acknowledge,
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 rather than
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 inner transformation
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 of the spirit.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 You see,
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 if your gentleness
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 and your diplomacy
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 were coming out
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 of a heart
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 that's transformed
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 by God
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 and radically
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 secure
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 in His love,
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 you would
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 be bold
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 because
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 you wouldn't
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 be afraid
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 of anything
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 or anyone
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 because you
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 know you're
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 secure in
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 Jesus.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 And if
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 that's not
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 the case,
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 then the
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 gentleness
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 and the
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 diplomacy
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 is most
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 likely
00:21:00 --> 00:21:02 a natural
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 temperamental
00:21:04 --> 00:21:07 sweetness,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 niceness.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 Now,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 that's good.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:11 Good in
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 people and
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 good in
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 certain
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 circumstances,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 but in a
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 significant
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 part,
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 it's most
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 likely
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 cowardly.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:24 good for
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 many people,
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 but in a
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 way,
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 if your
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 boldness
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 and your
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 directness
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 were coming
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 out of a
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 heart that's
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 transformed by
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 God,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 radically
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 secure in
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 His love,
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 you would
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 be empathetic
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 and gentle
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 and kind.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 And so,
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 if you're
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 not,
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 then the
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 courage and
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 the boldness
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 and the
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 assertiveness
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 is most
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 likely a
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 natural
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 temperament
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 of assertiveness,
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 good for
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 many people
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 and situations,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 but in a
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 significant
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 part,
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 most likely
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 arrogance.
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 All the
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 traits of
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 the fruit of
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 the Spirit
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 have to be
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 there in
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 order for
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 any of
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 them to
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 be there
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 in their
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 supernatural
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 God-transformed
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 form.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 We are
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 only as
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 spiritually
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 mature as
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 our weakest
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 trait.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 So go to
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 your weakest
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 trait.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 That's the
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 level of the
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 work of the
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 Holy Spirit
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 in your
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 life.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 Now,
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 some of us
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 here are
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 starting to
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 feel a little
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 uncomfortable,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 I hope.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 As I was
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 when I was
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 putting this
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 down on
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 paper,
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 go to
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 your least,
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 I mean,
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 the best thing
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 for me to do
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 is to go and
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 ask my
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 valet,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 Nat,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 I mean,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 she's the
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 person who
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 knows me
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 better than
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 anyone else.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 She's not
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 literally my
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 valet,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:53 but please
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 don't repeat
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 that.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 But to go
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 to her and
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 say,
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 which one
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 do you
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 think?
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 And it's a
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 scary thing
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 for me to
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 go to her
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 and say,
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 which one
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 do you
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 think?
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 I mean,
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 she might
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 come back
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 and say,
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 one.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 I mean,
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 you know,
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 we're starting
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 to feel a little
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 uncomfortable,
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 and I expect
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 that's not
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 entirely bad.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 Let me help
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 you out just
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 a little bit
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 here.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 It's important
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 to remember
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 the growth
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 in the fruit
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 of the Spirit
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 is gradual.
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 Verse 19
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 says that the
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 acts of the
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 sinful nature
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 are,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 and then it
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 goes a bunch
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 of lists,
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 an action
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 happens.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 It's an
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 action.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 It happens.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 I mean,
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 some actions
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 might take a
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 bit longer,
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 but it's an
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 action.
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 Fruit,
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 on the other
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 hand,
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 is a character
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 trait that
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 builds.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 It grows.
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 It comes
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 slowly.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 See,
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 I've got a
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 tomato plant
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 over there in
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 my garden,
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 and I can't
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 tell the
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 difference between
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 yesterday and
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 today.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:46 I mean,
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 I'm assuming
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 it's growing
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 because it's
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 not dying
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 yet,
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 and it has
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 grown over
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 time,
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 but I can't
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 see it.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 I mean,
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 I can stick a
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 measuring stick
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 against it,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 and I can see
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 it happen,
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 but it happens
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 slowly,
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 and I can't
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 always see it
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 working.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 And every so
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 often,
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 God puts a
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 measuring stick
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 against us,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 and we get to
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 check our
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 progress as to
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 whether we're
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 growing or not.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 It might be
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 that you faced
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 a situation,
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 a familiar
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 situation to
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 you that you
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 faced 12
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 months ago,
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 and you look
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 at your
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 response to
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 it now compared
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 to then,
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 and you go,
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 oh,
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 that's different.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 I wouldn't
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 have done
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 that 12
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 months ago.
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 Measuring
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 stick.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 You're actually
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 growing at
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 that point,
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 and that's
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 God's grace
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 to us.
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 The last
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 sentence of
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 verse 17
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 is comforting,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 I think.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 Having talked
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 about the sinful
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 nature and the
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 spirit,
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 it says,
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 they are in
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 conflict with
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 each other,
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 so that you
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 do not do
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 what you
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 want.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 And at the
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 very least,
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 it means that
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 a person
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 growing in
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 the fruit of
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 the spirit,
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 growing in
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 godly character,
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 can routinely
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 go through
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 seasons where
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 they are just
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 giving into the
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 sinful nature.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 It seems like
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 there's not
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 progress
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 whatsoever.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 Paul is
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 assuming here
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 that you will
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 feel like you're
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 not making
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 progress.
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 And more
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 significantly,
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 I want to
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 say that if
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 that is your
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 wrestle,
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 when you are
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 wrestling with
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 that,
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 feeling like
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 you're not
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 growing in
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 love or
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 patience or
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 gentleness or
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 boldness,
00:25:14 --> 00:25:16 it is a
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 sign of the
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 spirit working
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 in you.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 So hang in
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 there.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 So there
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 are a few
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 things,
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 that's the
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 spirit,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 work of the
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 fruit of the
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 spirit generally,
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 and there's a
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 few things about
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 how we might
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 grow the fruit
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 of the spirit
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 in such a way
00:25:32 --> 00:25:34 that become a
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 hero to your
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 valet.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 notice 24,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 it says,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 verse 24,
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 those who
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 belong to
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 Christ Jesus
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 have crucified
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 the sinful
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 nature with
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 his passions
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 and desires.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 Since we
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 live by the
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 spirit,
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 let us keep
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 in step
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 with the
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 spirit.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 The first
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 thing is
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 that we are
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 to crucify
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 the sinful
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 nature.
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 And what's
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 mentioned here,
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 what it means
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 by that,
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 is different
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 from what it
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 says in
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 Galatians
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 chapter 2
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 verse 20
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 and Romans
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 6.6,
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 where we
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 are united
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 with Jesus
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 through being
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 crucified in
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 his crucifixion
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 and for
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 our atonement
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 for our sin.
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 This verse
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 is referring
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 to the work
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 that we do,
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 not the work
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 that Jesus
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 does,
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 who are now
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 united with
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 Jesus.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 So it's very
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 similar to
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 Mark chapter 8
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 where Jesus
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 says,
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 you want to
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 come follow
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 me,
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 take a big
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 cross and
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 follow me.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 It's Jesus'
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 very vivid
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 speech for a
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 life of self
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 denial.
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 And so here,
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 the apostle
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 Paul takes
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 Jesus'
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 call to
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 take up
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 our cross
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 and follow
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 him to
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 its logical
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 conclusion.
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 He wants
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 to make
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 sure that
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 as we
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 take up
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 our cross,
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 we actually
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 get to
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 the point
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 of execution.
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 He wants
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 to make
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 sure that
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 the execution
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 of the
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 sinful nature
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 actually takes
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 place.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 So that's
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 the first
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 thing,
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 we crucify
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 the sinful
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 nature,
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 the work
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 that we
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 do.
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 The second
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 thing is
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 that we
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 live by
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 the spirit.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 So let
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 us keep
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 in step
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 with the
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 spirit.
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 The Holy
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 Spirit works
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 through means
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10 to crucify
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 the sinful
00:27:11 --> 00:27:14 nature as
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 well as to
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 help us to
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 keep in step
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 with the
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 spirit.
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 The Holy
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 Spirit works
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 through means,
00:27:21 --> 00:27:23 objective
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 means of
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 grace like
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 the Bible,
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 prayer,
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 prayer,
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 worship,
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 Christian
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 fellowship,
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 as well as
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 subjective means
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 of grace
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 where we
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 open ourselves
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 to being
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 changed.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 And,
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40 you know,
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 things like
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 we're thinking
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 about where
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 we are,
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 listening,
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 questioning,
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 hearing the
00:27:45 --> 00:27:48 critique and
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 admonition of
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 others,
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 examining our
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 hearts,
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 sharing our
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 hearts,
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 and weighing
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 Christian
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 brothers and
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 sisters'
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 response to
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 our lives.
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 to put it
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 simply,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 Paul is
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 describing
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 here,
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 what he's
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 describing is
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 in crucifying
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 the sinful
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 nature and
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 walking in
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 step with the
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 spirit is a
00:28:08 --> 00:28:10 life of
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 repentance.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 That's what
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 he's talking
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 about.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 We are
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 turning our
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 back on one
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 way,
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 enabled by the
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 Holy Spirit,
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 we're turning
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 our back on
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 one way of
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 life,
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 and we're
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 walking with
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 the Holy
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 Spirit into
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 a new way
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 of life.
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 But mark
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 this,
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 note this,
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 if you've
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 kind of switched
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 off a little
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 bit,
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 wake up at
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 this point.
00:28:29 --> 00:28:32 This is
00:28:32 --> 00:28:34 essential to
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 this life of
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 repentance,
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 and it's
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 this,
00:28:39 --> 00:28:41 rejoice in
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 order to
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 repent.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 Notice the
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 beginning of
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 verse 24,
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 very significant.
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 If you've
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 got your
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 Bible,
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 open it,
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 notice the
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 beginning of
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 verse 24.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 It says,
00:28:54 --> 00:28:58 those who
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 already belong
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 to Jesus
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 crucify the
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 sinful nature.
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 Only those
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 who are already
00:29:05 --> 00:29:07 His can
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 crucify the
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 sinful nature.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 Only those
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 who belong,
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 who know that
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 they belong to
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 Jesus, and I
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 would suggest to
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 the degree that
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 they know that
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 they belong to
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 Jesus, and
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 that they are
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 secure in
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 Jesus, they
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 are safe in
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 Jesus, will
00:29:21 --> 00:29:23 then crucify the
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 sinful nature and
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 His passions.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 Only
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 Christianity
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 says that.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 Every other
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 religion says
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 that if you
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 crucify the
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 flesh, then
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 you belong to
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 God.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 If you do
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 the right thing,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 then you'll be
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 included.
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 If you do,
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 then you will
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 be.
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 And that's
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 not how the
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 Christian gospel
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 works.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 Christianity
00:29:47 --> 00:29:49 says, if you
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 be, then
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 you will do.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 If you
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 understand that
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 in Jesus, you
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 already belong,
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 you're already
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 accepted, you
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 are already His
00:30:00 --> 00:30:02 forever, you
00:30:02 --> 00:30:04 will crucify the
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 sinful nature
00:30:05 --> 00:30:08 with joy.
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 There's that
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 word joy back
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 in there again.
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 You will do it
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 with joy.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 You see, there
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 is a way of
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18 wounding the
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 sinful nature
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 with fear.
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 fear.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 Moral
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 constraint
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 feeds on
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 fear.
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 You had
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 better stop
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 that, Steve,
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 otherwise God's
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 going to get
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 you and people
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 are going to
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 think you're
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 stupid and
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 you're really
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 going to be
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 kicking yourself
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 in the
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 backside.
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 That's
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 fear.
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 The only
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 way to
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 crucify the
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 sinful nature,
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 to truly
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 repent, to
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 walk in the
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 spirit is with
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 joy.
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 It is looking
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 to what God
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 has already
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 done for you.
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 You see,
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 the Christian's
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 motivation to
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 live a life
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 of love
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 and joy
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 and peace
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 and patience
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 and kindness
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 and goodness
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 and faithfulness
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 and gentleness
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 and self-control
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 and humility
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 and courage
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 is the radical
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 love that we
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 receive from God.
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 Instead of
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 saying to
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 yourself,
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 you had
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 better stop
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 that because
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 God's going
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 to get you,
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 you say,
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 you better
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 stop that
00:31:09 --> 00:31:11 because you
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 have a God
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 who's already
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 got you.
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 A God
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 who has
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 gone for
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 infinite lengths
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 in order to
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 never reject
00:31:19 --> 00:31:21 you and
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 you're
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 forgetting
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 the joy
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 that what
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 he has
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 given you
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 in order
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 to go after
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 something that
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 is just so
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 less valuable
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 than what you
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 already have.
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 You see,
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 if we're
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 impatient with
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 others,
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 God doesn't
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 so much say
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 to us,
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 stop it
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 or I'm
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 going to
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 get you.
00:31:41 --> 00:31:44 he says,
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 Steve,
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 have you
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 forgotten
00:31:47 --> 00:31:49 how patient
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 I am
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 with you?
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 One last
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 thing about
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 growing in the
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 fruit of the
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 Spirit and
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 godly character.
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 You're never
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 going to grow
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 by yourself
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 as an
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 individual
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 consumer.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 All this,
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 what I've
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 talked about,
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 walking with
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 the Spirit,
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 crucifying the
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 sinful nature,
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 all gets
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 worked out
00:32:13 --> 00:32:15 in community.
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 To be
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 effective for
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 God's glory
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 on your
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 front line,
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 you need
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 the Christian
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 community.
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 Notice
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 verse 15.
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 Sam read it
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 out.
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 One verse
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 sort of before
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 the main focus.
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 Verse 15,
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 if you keep
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 on biting
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 and devouring
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 each other,
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 watch out
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 or you'll
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 be destroyed
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 by each
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 other.
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 Notice
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 verse 26.
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 It's the
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 last verse
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 of this
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 section we're
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 looking at.
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 Let us
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 not become
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 conceited,
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 provoking and
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 envying each
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 other.
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 You see,
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 Paul sees
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 the community
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 believers as
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 the way that
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 you're going
00:32:50 --> 00:32:50 to get all
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 this done.
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 All this
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 transformation,
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 the crucifying of
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 one and inner
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 transformation of
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 the Spirit.
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 It's the
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 Christian community,
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 it's the place
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 and the way that
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 you're going to
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 get it all
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 done,
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 and he sees
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 that getting
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 this done
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 as the way
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 to better
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 Christian
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 community.
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 The community
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 of God's
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 people is
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 essential for
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 growth in
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 godly character,
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 and that's
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 why it's
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 quite possible
00:33:13 --> 00:33:15 to be part
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 of a local
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 church,
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 to sit in
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 a pew,
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 to not be
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 relationally
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 connected for
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 decades,
00:33:23 --> 00:33:25 and not
00:33:25 --> 00:33:27 grow in
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 the fruit of
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 the Spirit.
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 Get in a
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 community
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 group,
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 if you
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 want to
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 grow in
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 the fruit
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 of the
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 Spirit,
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 at least
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 as a
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 starting
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 point.
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 In the
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 frontline
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 course that
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 I've based
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 this sermon
00:33:41 --> 00:33:41 series on,
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 there's this
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 little video
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 clip telling
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 the story of
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 a Christian
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 office assistant
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 who has a
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 real ogre as
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 a boss,
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 and the boss
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 is bad
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 tempered,
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 the boss
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 is irrational,
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 makes every
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 day a
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 complete nightmare
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 for this
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 poor girl.
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 The office
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 assistant
00:33:57 --> 00:33:59 regularly prayed
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 for patience,
00:33:59 --> 00:34:01 strength,
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 for character,
00:34:03 --> 00:34:05 and also
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 prayed for
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 the boss
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 to change,
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 that he
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 wouldn't be
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 such an
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 ogre.
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 He didn't.
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 He never
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 changed.
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 After three
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 years of
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 praying for
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 support and
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 change,
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 she ended
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 up walking
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 away from
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 that job
00:34:22 --> 00:34:24 feeling like
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 she didn't
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 make a
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 difference.
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 The boss
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 was still
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 the same.
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 She didn't
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 make a
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 difference.
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 She walked
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 away thinking
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 that she
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 had failed
00:34:30 --> 00:34:32 in modelling
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 character,
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 the Christian
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 faith,
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 in her
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 workplace.
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 Three weeks
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 after she
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 quit,
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 the person
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 who replaced
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 her rang
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 up and
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 said to
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 her,
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 it's
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 incredible
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 that you
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 lasted for
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 three years.
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 I'm thinking
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 of quitting
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 after three
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 weeks.
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 This
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 bloke's a
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 nightmare.
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 nightmare.
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 She found
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 out during
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 the course
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 of that
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 conversation
00:35:00 --> 00:35:02 that she
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 was known
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 in the
00:35:03 --> 00:35:05 office as
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 a person
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 of great
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 patience,
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 integrity,
00:35:08 --> 00:35:10 and courage
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 in the face
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 of a difficult
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 situation.
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 She walked
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 away thinking
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 she'd
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 fail.
00:35:18 --> 00:35:21 She wasn't
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 convinced she
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 was growing
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 in patience,
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 in godly
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 character.
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 It's great to
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 hear that
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 because you
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 might be in
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 a similar
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 situation where
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 you're at
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 work or
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 you're at
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 home,
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 you're with
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 a group of
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 friends,
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 you're with
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 your neighbours,
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 whatever your
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 front line is,
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 and you're
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 wondering in
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 fact whether
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 God is
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 even at
00:35:39 --> 00:35:39 work,
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 at all,
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 at work,
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 through you.
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 You may
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 get to the
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 end of your
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 day and
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 feel that
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 little has
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 been done
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 for the
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 sake of
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 the kingdom
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 of God
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 and for
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 God's
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 glory.
00:35:53 --> 00:35:53 And you
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 think that
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 because there's
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 this battle
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 raging within
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 your own
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 heart,
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 between the
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 sinful nature
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 and the
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 spirit,
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 and you
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 look at your
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 results and
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 you think that
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 nothing's
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 happening in
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 the workplace,
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 nothing's
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 happening with
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 my kids.
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 I just want
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 to say to
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 you that it
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 doesn't mean
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 that God is
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 not at
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 work.
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 God is at
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 work in
00:36:13 --> 00:36:13 the redemption
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 of his
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 world.
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 And I want
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 to say the
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 fact is God
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 has been at
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 work in
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 you.
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 If the
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 fruit of the
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 spirit is
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 working in
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 you at
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 all,
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 that fruit
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 will be on
00:36:27 --> 00:36:27 display.
00:36:31 --> 00:36:31 And you're
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 probably the
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 last person
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 who can see
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 it.
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 Because you're
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 aware of the
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 battle.
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 All of this
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 growth in the
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 fruit of the
00:36:40 --> 00:36:41 spirit happens
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 in the frustrations
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 and the joy
00:36:43 --> 00:36:43 and the
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 challenges of
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 just another
00:36:45 --> 00:36:46 ordinary day.
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 It is no
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 small thing to
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 model Christian
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 character that
00:36:50 --> 00:36:50 is being
00:36:50 --> 00:36:52 counter-culturally
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 transformed by
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 the spirit of
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 God.
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 And there
00:36:55 --> 00:36:55 will be a
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 future day
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 when all
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 will be made
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 new and God
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 calls us to
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 work towards
00:37:01 --> 00:37:01 that day.
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 Even if we
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 don't immediately
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 see the fruit
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 of his work
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 in our lives
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 or in the
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 world.
00:37:10 --> 00:37:10 But I
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 suspect just
00:37:11 --> 00:37:11 like that
00:37:11 --> 00:37:13 young lady
00:37:13 --> 00:37:13 got a
00:37:13 --> 00:37:13 phone call
00:37:13 --> 00:37:14 one day
00:37:14 --> 00:37:14 and if
00:37:14 --> 00:37:14 you never
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 get that
00:37:15 --> 00:37:15 phone call
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 but one
00:37:16 --> 00:37:17 day at the
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 end of time
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 I suspect
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 you'll be
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 astonished by
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 the way that
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 God has
00:37:22 --> 00:37:23 used you
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 for his
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 glory and
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 the joy of
00:37:26 --> 00:37:27 many people
00:37:27 --> 00:37:30 just by
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 living out
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 the inner
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 transformation
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 of our
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 hearts in
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 the ordinary
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 circumstances of
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 life.
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 Take courage,
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 keep working
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 on the
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 fruit.