New Identity
Series: Vision Series 2024 - New Life
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 11th February 2024
Passage: 1 Peter 1:1-16
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 So who was it who said, be who you are and say what you feel
00:00:07 --> 00:00:14 because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind?
00:00:17 --> 00:00:22 This particular philosopher has influenced the entire generation of children
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 throughout the 20th century, Dr. Seuss.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:32 I'll auto-quote the great Oscar Wilde,
00:00:32 --> 00:00:36 be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:41 There's hardly a more pressing topic nowadays
00:00:41 --> 00:00:45 than the issue of personal identity.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:47 Who am I?
00:00:48 --> 00:00:54 Whether we are speaking about race, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality,
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 and how they shape the political culture
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 or about our personal sense of self
00:01:00 --> 00:01:04 and how it informs our day-to-day life,
00:01:04 --> 00:01:09 the issue of identity, personal identity, is always there.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 It hasn't always been that way.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:17 In fact, prior to the 1960s,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:21 there is very little discussion on the issue of personal identity
00:01:21 --> 00:01:26 anywhere in literature prior to the 1960s.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:33 Accelerated social change has meant that the external frameworks
00:01:33 --> 00:01:38 for identity formation are constantly moving
00:01:38 --> 00:01:43 and so it is difficult to know who am I.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 The answer to the question, who am I,
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 is quite elusive for our culture,
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 our society in which we live,
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 but it is not for the Christian.
00:01:57 --> 00:02:03 Now, if you've just tuned in to us for the first time,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:03 just joined us,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 we just started last week our annual vision series.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 We are in the New Testament letters of 1 and 2 Peter
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 and we're looking at sections of those
00:02:14 --> 00:02:18 about what it is,
00:02:18 --> 00:02:19 what the Christian life entails.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:23 Last week we saw that Peter describes
00:02:23 --> 00:02:28 becoming a Christian as nothing less than new birth,
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 reborn, an entire new life.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:38 It's as radical as having been dead and now alive.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40 Total new life.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:46 Not just mere forgiveness of sin.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:51 That's not the Christian life in its totality,
00:02:51 --> 00:02:51 just forgiveness.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 It's an entire new life.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:55 Tire new priorities.
00:02:57 --> 00:02:58 Touches everything.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 Now, but the new birth doesn't change who we are
00:03:02 --> 00:03:06 in all our ethnic, national, genetic,
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 and socioeconomic markets,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:12 but it does change our lives in such a way
00:03:12 --> 00:03:15 that we are fundamentally different people.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 And that's what this vision series is all about.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 We are building up our way up to Easter,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:22 the resurrection,
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 the celebration of the death and resurrection
00:03:26 --> 00:03:30 of Jesus Christ for the salvation of humanity.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 And as we build up to Easter,
00:03:32 --> 00:03:37 we are looking at what resurrection life looks like.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:41 How does this new birth,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 being reborn, rebirthed by Jesus Christ,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 how does it change us?
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 And today the issue is how does it change our sense
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 of who we are, our identity?
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 So if you're someone who takes notes,
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 three points really today.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 What is the new identity?
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 Being true to your new identity
00:04:05 --> 00:04:10 and power to live our new identity.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 That's the three points.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 So the description of the Christian's new identity
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 and life is in the very first verse of 1 Peter.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:30 In chapter 2 verse 11,
00:04:31 --> 00:04:35 Peter again describes Christians as exiles and foreigners.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 The word exiles that Peter uses here
00:04:39 --> 00:04:44 refers to a particular kind of person in the first century.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:48 The best way to understand the meaning of the word exile
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 is resident alien.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 And I don't mean when I say alien,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 little green guys.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 I mean, you know, foreigners.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 Resident foreigners, resident aliens.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:06 It means, as it describes the Christian's identity and life,
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 it means that you're not a tourist.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 You're not a tourist.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:18 You are certainly in a country
00:05:18 --> 00:05:22 that you are not a citizen of,
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 but you are not a tourist of that country.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 You live there.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:33 You have, if you like, a working visa, so to speak.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:38 You are a functioning part of that society
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 with a job, a home.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:41 You've got friends.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 You've got neighbours.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:47 You are working for that particular country's good
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 and you are paying taxes.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 On the other hand,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 you are not a citizen of that country.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 Your home is elsewhere.
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 Your citizenship is elsewhere.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:05 You have many things in common with your neighbours and your friends,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 but you don't share all of their values.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 You don't share all of their customs.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 You are different.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:19 As a non-citizen, you are also not expected to stay there forever.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:28 This is what Peter kind of describes the Christian identity and life is.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 We are resonant aliens,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 not tourists,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 but we are engaged,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 engaged to love our neighbours,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 to work for the good of our neighbours.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:50 Another similar word might be pilgrim.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 Pilgrim means that we are on our way home,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 but we are not yet home.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:04 While there are so many fantastic things that happen when you become a Christian,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 for instance,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 you're pardoned,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 you're accepted,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 you have the praise of the praiseworthy
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 and the approval of the one who is approved above all things,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 you are loved.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 All those things that happen when you become a Christian
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 are just the beginning.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 In other words,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 if you are a Christian,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 you do not live your best life now.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 At all.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:35 Not even close to living your best life now.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 Becoming a Christian is the beginning.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 And until we reach our home,
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 we are exiles and we are pilgrims.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 So, first reality check.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:56 That means that if you are a Christian,
00:07:57 --> 00:08:01 your life will never be satisfying until you get home.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:10 It will never, ever be satisfying until you get home.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 If you ever get to a point as a Christian,
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 you go,
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 I've got it.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 I'm content.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:23 You have a problem in following Jesus.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 We will struggle.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 Things will never be just right.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:35 We will always feel frustrated that we are not changing and growing
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 and dealing with sin.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 There will be empty times.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 There will be struggles.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:45 There will be frustrations all the way through the Christian life.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:49 And it's because we are not home.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 We are not home.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 What's home for the Christian?
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 Home for the Christian
00:09:02 --> 00:09:07 is where everything fits and works
00:09:07 --> 00:09:12 to satisfy the deepest longings of our souls.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 In a similar way that our homes are like that.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 You know, you go traveling.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 You may stay in some great places,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:19 but you come home and go,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 ah, my bed.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 Oh, I know where the cups are.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 I know where to go and grab that.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 Everything fits.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 It's ordered.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 But our home for the Christian
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 is a place where the deepest longings of our souls
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 are met.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 Complete sanctuary.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 A place of complete love
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 and a complete rest.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 And the Bible is filled with stories
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51 that tell us that we are exiles.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 In fact, the whole trajectory of the Bible
00:09:55 --> 00:09:59 is one of coming back home.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 It begins with home.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 The perfect paradise,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 the Garden of Eden.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 We lost that paradise
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 because of sin,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 turning our backs on God
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 because ultimately He is our home.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 And from Genesis 12,
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 God promises a new home.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 And one of the great themes of the Bibles
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 is being exiled and brought back home.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 Abraham, Egypt, Babylon.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 The Old Testament people of Israel
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 are simply a microcosm
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 of God's biggest plan,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 bigger plan for humanity.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 The Bible ends.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:45 It begins with us
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 being in home
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 and then losing it
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 and it ends with a perfect paradise
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 of the new heavens
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 and the new earth.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 From creation to new creation.
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 From one home to our eternal home.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 And the point is,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 this world is not home.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 It is filled with death.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:13 We are always losing loved ones
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 and we are always losing love.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 Now I understand completely
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 that there and in this room even,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 that there are those
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 who don't believe in God
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 or the Bible.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 The irony of that is,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 if you think this world
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 is all that there is,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:41 but you don't understand,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 you don't know why
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 you are so unhappy.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 You're fully convinced
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 this world is all there is
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 but you don't understand
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 why you are so unhappy.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 You are in exile
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 and you don't know it either.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 If you think this world
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 is all there is
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 and we have,
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 which is the dominant philosophy
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 of our age,
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 that we have evolved
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 to fit this world,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 that's natural selection
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 and how evolution works,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:17 then why is the human race
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 so unhappy?
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 Why is it in so much turmoil?
00:12:22 --> 00:12:28 especially so when
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 apparently
00:12:29 --> 00:12:32 personal happiness
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 is the goal of life.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 How's it going for you?
00:12:40 --> 00:12:43 If this is the only home,
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 why can't we handle death?
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 Why is there a thing
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 called grief?
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 Why isn't death
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 merely just the natural process
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 of evolution?
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 If we were adapted
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 to this world,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 then you could love
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 someone with all of your heart
00:13:09 --> 00:13:13 and it wouldn't bother you
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 if they died.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 But it does
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 and that's because
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 this world
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 does not fit humanity,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 does not fit the human heart,
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 does not fit the soul.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 We are not home.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 The Bible says
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 the reason
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 we were created
00:13:32 --> 00:13:35 was for fellowship
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 with God,
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 our Creator.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 Our true home
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 is the loving embrace
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 of our God.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 Psalm 90 says
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 that He is
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 our dwelling place
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 and until
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 we are home,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 we are on a pilgrimage
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 and things will never be
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 the way that we want them to be.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 Life doesn't fit.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 This world doesn't fit.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 There will be
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 really good times
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 and there will be
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 really hard times.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 That is this experience
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 for even the greatest,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 the heroes
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 of the Christian faith.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 life.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 That is who we are.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 That's our identity.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 We are exiles
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 and pilgrims.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 So how do we
00:14:22 --> 00:14:27 be true
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 to that new identity?
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 What does that look like?
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 How do we know
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 we are living
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 out that identity?
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 It's important
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 because I think
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 there are two ends
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 of the spectrum.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 traditionally
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 in Christianity
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 in the way
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 that we might
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 engage
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 with the issue
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 of us being pilgrims
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 and this not being
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 our true home.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 And we tend to gravitate
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 in one way
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 or the other.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 On one end
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 is withdrawal
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 from the world.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 On the other end
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 of the spectrum
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 is accommodation
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 of the world.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 The Christian
00:15:07 --> 00:15:10 is not identical
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 to their neighbours
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 but they are
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 deeply involved
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 in loving
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 their neighbours.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 So one end
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 of the spectrum
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 is withdrawal.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 That's
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 hyper-conservativism.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 Down the other end
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 is liberalism,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 just accommodation
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 of the world.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 Those of us
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 with a Western heritage
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 tend to have
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 their identity
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 wrapped up
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 in personal achievement
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 and accomplishment.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 On the other hand
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 those with
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 an Eastern heritage
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 tend to have
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 their identity
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 connected to
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 family,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 race,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 blood.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 When either
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 of them
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 becomes a Christian
00:15:49 --> 00:15:52 the source
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 of their value,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 the source
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 of their worth,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 their security
00:15:57 --> 00:16:00 becomes
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 far more
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 deeply grounded
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 in being
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 God's child
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 than
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 through
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 accomplishment
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 and achievement
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 through
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 the accomplishment
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 and the
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 achievement
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 of God's
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 son.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 The achievement
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 of God's
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 family.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 Jesus Christ.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 Now what it
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 means is
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 when you become
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 a Christian
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 it doesn't mean
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 you stop being
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 Anglo,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 doesn't mean
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 you stop being
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 Asian or
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 Hispanic or
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 African,
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 doesn't mean
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 you stop being
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 any of those
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 things.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 In the same
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 way,
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 it doesn't
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 mean you
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 stop becoming
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 a truck
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 driver,
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 an accountant,
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 it doesn't
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 mean that you
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 lose that
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 identity.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 It means
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 another identity
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 comes into
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 your life
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 which is
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 far deeper,
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 far more
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 crucial.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 It means
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 a Christian
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 sits at a
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 distance from
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 the idols of
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 their own
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 culture because
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 they give
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 ultimate
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 significance
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 to the
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 God of
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 all cultures.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 So
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 Christianity is
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 not a
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 movement away
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 from culture,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 it is a
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 new way of
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 living within
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 it.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 The
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 Christian's
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 primary
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 identity is
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 not attached
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 to their
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 vocation.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 It's not
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 attached to
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 their achievements.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 It's not
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 attached to
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 their gifts,
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 their personal
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 preferences.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 The
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 Christian is
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 a resident
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 alien.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 They are
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 the same
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 and yet
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 they are
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 different.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 So how
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 do we know
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 if we're
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 living that
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 out?
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 Have a
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 look,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 flick over
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 to the
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 next chapter,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 1 Peter
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 chapter 2
00:17:52 --> 00:17:55 verse 11.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 1 Peter
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 chapter 2
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 verse 11.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 Let me
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 just pause
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 there for a
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 minute.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 I really
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 value if
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 you've got a
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 Bible in
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 front of
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 you.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 Because it's
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 actually God's
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 word that I
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 want to preach
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 here, not
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 mine.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 You need to
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 have confidence
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 in God's
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 word, not in
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 the words that
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 are coming out
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 of my mouth.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 So you need a
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 Bible in front
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 of you.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 It's one of the
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 core values for
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 us as a
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 church.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 church.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 If you
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 don't bring
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 one to
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 church, then
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 get an
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 app and
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 put it on
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 your phone.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 1 Peter
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 chapter 2
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 verses 11
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 and 12.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 Dear friends,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 I urge you
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 as foreigners
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 and exiles to
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 abstain from
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 sinful desires
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 which war
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 against your
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 soul.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 Live such
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 good lives
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 among the
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 pagans that
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 though they
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 accuse you of
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 doing wrong,
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 they may see
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 your good deeds
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 and glorify God
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 on the day he
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 visits us.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Now if we
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 are living the
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 exile life,
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 two things are
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 happening at
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 exactly the same
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 time.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 Have a look at
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 these verses
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 again.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 Though they
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 accuse you of
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 doing wrong,
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 they may see
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 your good deeds
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 and glorify
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 God.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 that is,
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 if we are
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 living the
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 exile life,
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 two things are
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 happening.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 We will be
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 accused,
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 misunderstood,
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 we will be
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 offensive,
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 we will be
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 viewed as
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 strange,
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 we will be
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 viewed as
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 even dangerous
00:19:40 --> 00:19:42 in society.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 But others
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 will see
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 something
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 different.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 They will
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 see the
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 beauty of
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 the gospel
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 of Jesus
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 Christ being
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 worked out
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 through you
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 and they
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 will come
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 to Jesus.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 That is,
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 the exile
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 life at
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 exactly the
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 same time
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 is both
00:20:00 --> 00:20:02 offensive and
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 attractive.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 effective.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 That's the
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 test of
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 whether you
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 are living
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 the exile
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 life.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 We won't
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 just attract
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 people,
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 we'll also
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 turn people
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 off.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 And we
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 won't just
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 turn people
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 off,
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 we will also
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 attract people.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 We'll do both
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 of those things.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 when Peter
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 mentions living
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 good lives,
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 he is alluding
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 here to
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 the words of
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 Jesus in the
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 Sermon on the
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 Mountain in
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 Matthew chapter
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 5.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 And at the
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 end of
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 Matthew 5,
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 or partway
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 through Matthew
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 5, Jesus
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 says to
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 his disciples
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 that they
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 will be
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 persecuted.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 And immediately
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 after saying
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 that, he
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 talks to them
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 about being
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 salt and
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 light in the
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 world.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 Matthew 5
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 verse 16,
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 let your
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 light shine
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 before others
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 that they
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 may see
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 your good
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 deeds and
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 glorify your
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 Father in
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 heaven.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 In other
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 words, what
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 I'm saying
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 there is,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 Jesus and
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 Peter are
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 saying exactly
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 the same
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 thing.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 The good
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 life, the
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 good deeds,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 is what the
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 Sermon on the
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 Mount is all
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 about, the
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 words of
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 Jesus.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 Now, you'd
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 be grateful to
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 know, we're
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 not going to
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 go through
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 that verse
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 by verse
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 right now,
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 but,
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 know that
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 in the
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 first century
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 there were
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 at least
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 four ways,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 four ways
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 that the
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 early church
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 lived out
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 the Sermon
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 on the
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 Mount in
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 such a
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 way that
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 it was
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 both attractive
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 and offensive.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 Four ways.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 And the
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 four things
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 in the
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 first century
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 that was
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 both attractive
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 and offensive,
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 forgiveness,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 generosity to
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 the poor
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 of all
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 races and
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 cultures,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 the ability
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 to face
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 death
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 cheerfully,
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 and lastly,
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 sexual
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 chastity.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 Christians
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 were radically
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 different than
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 the first
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 century world
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 in those
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 four ways.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 Strangely
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 different and
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 also radically
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 compelling at
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 the same
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 time.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 You see,
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 the Greco-Roman
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 world was a
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 shame and
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 honor culture.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 If you
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 were wronged
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 in any
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 way, it
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 was considered
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 honorable to
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 take vengeance
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 upon that
00:22:31 --> 00:22:34 person or
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 that group
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 of people.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 And it
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 was regarded
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 that that
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 was the way
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 that society
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 stayed together
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 and worked.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 Shame on
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 a culture.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 The Christian
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 message of
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 forgiveness,
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 of turn the
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 other cheek,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 of don't
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 repay evil
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 with evil,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 was considered
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 unworkable at
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 best in the
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 first century
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 and dangerous
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 at worst.
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 It was going
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 to upheaval,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 turn all
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 of society.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 The core
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 values and
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 the principles
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 of society.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 It was
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 regarded as
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 offensive.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 Forgiveness is
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 regarded as
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 offensive.
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 It still is
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 today,
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 but just
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 not in
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 liberal
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 progressive
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 societies.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 Sydney
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 loves the
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 concept of
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 forgiveness.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 New York,
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 London love
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 the concept
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 of forgiveness.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 Gaza
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 doesn't love
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 the concept
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 of forgiveness
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 at all.
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 Middle
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 Eastern
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 cultures do
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 not preach
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 forgiveness.
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 It is
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 offensive.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 Shame and
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 honor cultures
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 do not love
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 forgiveness.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 But mercy
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 and forgiveness
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 is attractive
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 to the
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 recipients.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 Another
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 thing,
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 Christian
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 generosity,
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 the poor
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 of all
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 races,
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 was
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 regarded
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 as
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 strange
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 in a
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 shame and
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 honor culture
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 that gets
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 its identity
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 from family,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 race,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 and blood.
00:24:07 --> 00:24:10 from the
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 very
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 beginning,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 Christians
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 believed in
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 the Bible's
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 teaching that
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 all people
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 are made
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 in the
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 image of
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 God,
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 and therefore
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 all have
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 an inherent
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 worth and
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 value and
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 dignity.
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 In fact,
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 it is from
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 that very
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 Christian
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 teaching that
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 any concept
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 of human
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 rights arose.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 It did not
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 exist.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 The concept
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 of human
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 rights did
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 not exist
00:24:35 --> 00:24:37 before the
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 Christian faith.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:40 Christians
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 also faced
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 death with
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 poise and
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 cheerfulness
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 because they
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 had confidence
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 in the future
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 resurrection.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 No other
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 person in
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 the first
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 century had
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 that kind
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 of hope
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 at all.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 At all.
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 The Roman
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 Empire could
00:24:57 --> 00:24:59 not understand,
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 I've only been
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 reading it in
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 this past
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 couple of
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 weeks,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 could not
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 understand how
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 you can torture
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 someone,
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 torture them
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 over and
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 over and
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 over again
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 and they
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 respond with
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 grace.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 Could not
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 understand that
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 concept at
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 all.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 The fourth
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 area of
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 impact and
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 rejection was
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 sexual chastity.
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 The Greco-Roman
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 culture of the
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 first century
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 didn't believe
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 that the
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 human body
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 was important.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 What mattered
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 to them was the
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 mind and the
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 soul.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 So for them,
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 sex was
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 nothing more
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 than a bodily
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 appetite.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 You can see
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 this in
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 1 Corinthians.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 Sex was
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 nothing more
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 than a bodily
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 appetite.
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 It was a way
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 of getting
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 personal pleasure,
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 nothing more.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 Christianity
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 claimed that
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 sex was a
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 way of making
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 a full and
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 total life
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 commitment to
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 one other
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 person of the
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 opposite sex in
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 marriage.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 Complete life.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 life.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 And it was
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 absolutely nuts
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 in a
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 promiscuous
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 first century.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 And yet,
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 it was so
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 attractive for
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 the women and
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 the children in
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 the first
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 century.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 Before
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 Christianity,
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 they had no
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 rights and all
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 of a sudden,
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 the Christian
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 faith comes in
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 and says,
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 no, no,
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 you have
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 rights.
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 you are
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 not just a
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 tool to be
00:26:30 --> 00:26:32 used for
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 male appetites.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 That was a
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 way, four
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 ways that they
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 were both
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 offensive and
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 attractive.
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 The Christians
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 were persecuted,
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 they were
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 tortured, they
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 were killed
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 because their
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 views were
00:26:43 --> 00:26:45 offensive, but
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 the Christian
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 faith grew and
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 spread and was
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 attractive right
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 across the
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 Roman world.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 In any and
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 every culture,
00:26:54 --> 00:26:57 a group of
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 Christians who
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 live the new
00:26:59 --> 00:27:01 birth of
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 following Jesus
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 will be both
00:27:03 --> 00:27:05 offensive and
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 attractive at
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 the same time,
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 but it will be
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 in different
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 ways depending
00:27:13 --> 00:27:16 on your
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 culture.
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 In every
00:27:19 --> 00:27:21 culture, it
00:27:21 --> 00:27:23 will attract
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 you in some
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 ways and it
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 will repel
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 you in other
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 ways.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 That is the
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 exiled life that
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 Jesus has
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 called us to.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 How are you
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 going with that
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 test?
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 Have you
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 think about
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 it?
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 Too often, we
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 are either
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 offensive or we
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 are attractive.
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 We are one or
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 the other.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 Offensive because
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 we're always talking
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 about the faith,
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 we're not
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 offensive.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 That's all we
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 ever do.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 We take every
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 opportunity to tell
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 people they need to
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 repent of their sin,
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 preach it out from the
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 street corners.
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 We're always tell,
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 tell, tell, tell, tell,
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 tell, tell, tell all
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 the time, getting
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 pushed back
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 constantly.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:14 Or we're
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 attractive, but we're
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 not offensive.
00:28:16 --> 00:28:18 We're attractive
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 because we keep a
00:28:18 --> 00:28:21 low profile, not
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 saying too much at
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 all, live a decent
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 kind of life.
00:28:29 --> 00:28:31 It is possible to be
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 like Jesus in being
00:28:32 --> 00:28:34 offensive and it's
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 possible to be like
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 Jesus in being
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 attractive.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 But Jesus was
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 both.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 He wasn't one or the
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 other, he was both.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:47 And it is also
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 possible to be
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 neither offensive
00:28:49 --> 00:28:51 nor attractive.
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 In which case, if
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 you are neither
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 attractive nor
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 offensive, you're
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 nothing like Jesus
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 at all.
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 You need to
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 experience new
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 birth.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:09 to be
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 offensive takes
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 courage and
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 boldness and to
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 be attractive takes
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 great humility and
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 compassion.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 What's your next
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 step?
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 Do you need to
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 grow in courage
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 or do you need to
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 grow in humility?
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 Courage without
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 attractiveness,
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 courage without
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 attractiveness is
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 self-righteousness,
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 attractiveness without
00:29:34 --> 00:29:36 courage is not
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 compassion, it is
00:29:38 --> 00:29:40 not humility, it is
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 cowardice.
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 Cowardice.
00:29:46 --> 00:29:48 And unfortunately in
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 the Western world,
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 too many Christians
00:29:50 --> 00:29:52 nowadays are
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 gravitating towards
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 cowardice.
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 So where do we get
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 the power to live out
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 this new life?
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 That's my last
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 point.
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 The first thing is
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 to never lose
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 sight of 1 Peter
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 chapter 2 verse 9.
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 You are a chosen
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 people, a royal
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 priesthood, a holy
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 nation, God's
00:30:12 --> 00:30:14 special possession.
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 They are four very
00:30:17 --> 00:30:19 rich and loaded
00:30:19 --> 00:30:22 ways to describe the
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 exiled Christian
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 life.
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 God didn't choose
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 the Christian because
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 they are the choice
00:30:28 --> 00:30:30 ones, but because
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 of his love.
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 We are chosen by
00:30:33 --> 00:30:36 sheer grace.
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 By sheer grace.
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 As the last
00:30:43 --> 00:30:45 statement says, we
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 are his special
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 possession.
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 We are his
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 treasure.
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 God has got
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 galaxies.
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 He has got
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 galaxies upon
00:30:54 --> 00:30:56 galaxies that we
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 have not even
00:30:57 --> 00:31:00 explored, but none
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 of it means
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 anything to
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 him like the
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 Christian does.
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 Do you know
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 that kind of
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 unconditional love
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 and acceptance
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 and approval?
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 Has it captured
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 your heart?
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 Has it captured
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 your imagination?
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 Until it does,
00:31:20 --> 00:31:22 until it does,
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 I don't believe that
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 we will have real
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 courage.
00:31:24 --> 00:31:27 neither will we
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 have real
00:31:27 --> 00:31:29 compassion and
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 mercy and
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 humility.
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 If you want to
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 actually know this
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 kind of unconditional
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36 love, then you
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 need to see
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 verse 2,
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 chosen according
00:31:40 --> 00:31:42 to the foreknowledge
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 of God, the
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 Father, through
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 the sanctifying work
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 of the Spirit,
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 to be obedient to
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 Jesus Christ and
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 sprinkled with his
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 blood.
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 God, the
00:31:52 --> 00:31:54 source of our
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 unconditional love
00:31:55 --> 00:31:57 is the shed
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 blood of Jesus
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 Christ.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:02 Jesus, God
00:32:02 --> 00:32:04 the Son, was
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 enjoying all the
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 bliss of home,
00:32:08 --> 00:32:10 all the bliss of
00:32:10 --> 00:32:12 home, the ultimate
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 home, dwelling
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 eternally with the
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 Father and the
00:32:15 --> 00:32:17 Spirit, enjoying
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 perfect relationship
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 and perfect love.
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 But he left it.
00:32:24 --> 00:32:26 He left home.
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 And he came into
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 this world taking
00:32:30 --> 00:32:32 on human form and
00:32:32 --> 00:32:34 identified with us
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 in our exile.
00:32:36 --> 00:32:38 The one who was
00:32:38 --> 00:32:41 home chose to be
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 in exile.
00:32:41 --> 00:32:48 You won't read
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 anywhere in the
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 gospel accounts,
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 the biographies of
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 Jesus' life,
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 where Jesus was out
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 preaching and then
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 he went home.
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 Nowhere.
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 In fact, he tells
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 his disciples that he
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 has no place to lay
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 his head.
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 No place.
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 He chose to be
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 exiled from heaven
00:33:10 --> 00:33:12 and even when he
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 was here, he
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 wandered.
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 It was what he
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 came to do.
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 And at the end of
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 his life, even
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 then, he was
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 crucified outside
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 of the city.
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 He was the
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 ultimate exile.
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 My God, my God,
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 why have you
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 forsaken me?
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 Was his cry from
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 the cross.
00:33:34 --> 00:33:37 He took the
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 ultimate exile
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 that we deserve
00:33:39 --> 00:33:41 so that we
00:33:41 --> 00:33:41 could be brought
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 into the
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 ultimate home.
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 And only when
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 we fix our
00:33:46 --> 00:33:48 gaze on him,
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 on him
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 dying,
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 that big
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 death for
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 us,
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 so that we
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 don't have to be
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 permanently
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 exiled from the
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 presence of God,
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 only then will
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 we really
00:34:03 --> 00:34:05 have courage.
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 Will we
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 really have
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 humility?
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 He died
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 such a big
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 death for me.
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 Why should I
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 not die just a
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 little death for
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 him?
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 We are
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 exiles and
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 strangers,
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 friends.
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 If you've
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 come to
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 Christ, you
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 are exiles and
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 strangers.
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 If you're not
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 a Christian,
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 you too are an
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 exile, you
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 just don't
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 see it yet.
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 One of the
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 things that
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 struck me when
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 I first moved
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 to Chatswood
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 nearly 15
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 years ago
00:34:42 --> 00:34:44 was just
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 how few
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 and how
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 small the
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 parks were
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 in Chatswood.
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 And having
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 young children
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 at that time,
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 these things are
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 things that you
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 think about.
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 Needing to go
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 to a park,
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 regular requests,
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 regular trips to
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 the park,
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 which were on
00:35:04 --> 00:35:04 the way to
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 Bunnings.
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 And in
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 fact, even to
00:35:08 --> 00:35:10 this day, as we
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 drive past,
00:35:10 --> 00:35:13 I remember that
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 one.
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 I remember that
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 park.
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 I remember the
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 swings there.
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 I remember that.
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 Parks were
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 big.
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 Great places to
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 visit for
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 downtime and
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 relaxation.
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 And frankly,
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 we've had some
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 great family
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 times in parks
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 over the
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 years.
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 But I've
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 also seen
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 some pretty
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 horrid parks
00:35:33 --> 00:35:33 too.
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 In fact,
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 I think of
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 two parks
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 that I
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 visited
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 where I
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 immediately
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 walked out.
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 And why?
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 Why?
00:35:44 --> 00:35:48 Because people
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 had moved
00:35:49 --> 00:35:51 in to
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 those parks.
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 Awful
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 scenario where
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 those parks
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 were filled
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 with homeless
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 people.
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 And what
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 happens when
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 a park is
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 filled with
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 homeless people?
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 It quickly
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 becomes
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 unattractive,
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 dirty,
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 unpleasant.
00:36:06 --> 00:36:08 very, very
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 quickly.
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 Very quickly.
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 Parks are
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 great places
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 to visit,
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 but a
00:36:16 --> 00:36:18 park cannot
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 bear the
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 weight of
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 the full
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 human life.
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 It can't
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 do it.
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 It's not
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 meant to
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 be a
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 home.
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 I use
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 this simply
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 as an
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 illustration
00:36:36 --> 00:36:36 to point
00:36:36 --> 00:36:36 to a
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 greater
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 reality.
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 If we
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 really
00:36:40 --> 00:36:42 rely on
00:36:42 --> 00:36:42 anything
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 more
00:36:43 --> 00:36:45 or love
00:36:45 --> 00:36:46 anything
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47 more
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 or try
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 to get
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 significance
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 and security
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 from anything
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 more
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 in this
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 world,
00:36:54 --> 00:36:56 then Jesus
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 Christ and
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 his salvation,
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 those things
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 that we are
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 looking to,
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 even if they
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 are good
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 things,
00:37:06 --> 00:37:10 they will
00:37:10 --> 00:37:10 never
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 satisfy.
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 Because those
00:37:13 --> 00:37:13 things,
00:37:14 --> 00:37:14 whatever it
00:37:14 --> 00:37:14 might be,
00:37:15 --> 00:37:15 I talked
00:37:15 --> 00:37:15 about them
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 last week,
00:37:16 --> 00:37:17 relationships,
00:37:17 --> 00:37:17 your career,
00:37:18 --> 00:37:20 your home,
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 your travel,
00:37:21 --> 00:37:23 your beauty,
00:37:23 --> 00:37:23 whatever it
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 might be,
00:37:25 --> 00:37:25 those things
00:37:25 --> 00:37:27 cannot bear the
00:37:27 --> 00:37:28 weight of the
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29 full human
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 life.
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 life,
00:37:29 --> 00:37:31 because those
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 things are
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 never home.
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 Only Jesus
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 Christ is
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 home.
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40 And so
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 our prayer
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 should be
00:37:41 --> 00:37:41 this,
00:37:43 --> 00:37:43 Lord Jesus,
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 I want to
00:37:44 --> 00:37:45 live for you
00:37:45 --> 00:37:48 because you
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 were exiled
00:37:49 --> 00:37:49 for me,
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 I want you
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 to bring me
00:37:52 --> 00:37:54 home as
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 only you
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 are able
00:37:55 --> 00:37:56 to do.
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 Thank you.
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 Thank you.