Next Steps
Series: Vision Series 2025- Rhythms of Grace
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 6th April 2025
Passage: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
00:00:00 --> 00:00:10 Thank you, Michelle, and welcome everyone to church this morning.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:11 ! It's great to see you.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:12 I am Steve.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:13 I've never met you before.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:15 I'm senior pastor here at St. Paul's.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 As Nick said, we're closing off our vision series for this morning.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 So if you keep your Bibles open there, 1 Corinthians 9, that'd be fantastic.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:28 The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was a classical scholar
00:00:28 --> 00:00:32 and a self-confessed critic, particularly of the Christian faith,
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 religion generally, but particularly the Christian faith.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:40 He once said that he would believe in the Redeemer, that is Jesus,
00:00:41 --> 00:00:46 if the redeemed Christians looked a little more redeemed.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:54 He was making the point that from the Christians that he knew,
00:00:54 --> 00:00:58 that he never really got the impression that there was, in fact,
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 a God who created all things.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:07 You never get the impression that humanity was made in a special relationship
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 and in the image of God, in a special relationship with him.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:14 You never get the opinion at all that this humanity
00:01:14 --> 00:01:19 inexplicably set their hearts on something else than their creator God.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 They destroyed themselves in the world,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:25 and yet this God rescued them by coming into his story,
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 and that this God rescued them by coming into his story,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:33 dying on a cross, and rose triumphantly,
00:01:33 --> 00:01:39 and now reigns and rules over all things decisively,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:44 giving them the gift of eternal life in his presence forever,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 where he will restore everything and all evil and sin.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:51 He said, you would never get the opinion that Christians believe that.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:54 That was his point.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:58 In fact, Nietzsche said, another one of his great quotes is,
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 there's really only one true Christian, and he died on a cross.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:09 Nietzsche's point was that if that is, in fact, what Christians believed,
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 then why does it seem to make such little difference
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 in the way that they live their lives?
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 Why aren't they exceedingly joyous?
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 Why aren't they living lives shaped by that truth?
00:02:24 --> 00:02:31 And that really is what our series has been about this year,
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 this term, our vision series.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:38 When I began, I mentioned that the word Christian
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 Christian is a connection of its two words,
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 which means two words of Christian,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:49 which means, in essence, it means followers of the Christ.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:55 And the word Christian means a lifelong journey,
00:02:56 --> 00:03:01 following Jesus, 100% dedication to him,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 as he himself describes it,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 of taking up your cross, dying to self,
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 being alive to him, being changed,
00:03:09 --> 00:03:13 transformed into the character of Jesus
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 and with the priorities of Jesus.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 To be a Christian is to be like Jesus,
00:03:20 --> 00:03:24 like Jesus in his complete surrender to the Father,
00:03:24 --> 00:03:28 like Jesus in his life of service of others,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 like Jesus in his love for all people,
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 like Jesus in his patient endurance,
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 like Jesus in his mission to the world
00:03:37 --> 00:03:42 to win people back into relationship with God.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 And as I've said along this series,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 there's often a disconnect in the Christian life
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 between those great truths,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 our worldview, as I said last week,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:57 and the lives that that worldview should produce.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 And so this series has been looking at
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 regular rhythms of grace,
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 Christian practices, spiritual disciplines,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 as they've been traditionally called,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:13 which take those great truths of the Christian faith
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 and to take them from the mind
00:04:15 --> 00:04:19 and push them down into the driving centre of our lives.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 And then from there, out from there,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:27 into transformation of character and priorities.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 That's what spiritual disciplines do.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:31 They move.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 And as the great John Calvin said,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 a truth that's held just in the mind
00:04:36 --> 00:04:40 is actually not a truth that's lived by
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 or actually believed in
00:04:41 --> 00:04:45 until it's pushed down into the driving centre of our lives
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 and out from there.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 And so these rhythms, if you like,
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 are about pushing them down
00:04:51 --> 00:04:55 and about that transformation in life.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:59 And if you've been journeying through this series so far,
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 all the way with me,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 I suppose my question is,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 eight weeks in,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 what next step have you taken?
00:05:12 --> 00:05:16 what's different?
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 What has changed?
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 What are you doing differently now
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 that you weren't doing before?
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 Basically, if you get up tomorrow morning
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 and there's an entire disconnect from today,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:45 what you realise is when you look at these rhythms of life
00:05:45 --> 00:05:50 and when you start to put them into practice,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:55 what you realise is that there's a fight on all the time.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 All the time.
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 There is for me.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 You should not assume that
00:06:00 --> 00:06:04 as I ascend the stairs to the office at church,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 there's a halo that kind of follows me.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 You shouldn't assume that
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 because this is my profession
00:06:11 --> 00:06:15 that somehow that I don't have a fight on
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 every single day as a disciple of Jesus.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:22 I hope you got that from the very first sermon
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 where I basically,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 within three or four minutes,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 was vulnerable to you
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 in terms of my own day-by-day struggles
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 as a disciple of Jesus.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 There is a fight on every day.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 And so what this means is
00:06:40 --> 00:06:44 that self-control is crucial in life.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 And that's really the message today
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 as we look to take our next steps.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 What does it mean to have a life of self-control
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 in order to put these into practice?
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 So if you've got the St Paul's app,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 you'll see three things there.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:02 The first one is the heart and self-control.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 Now, the word for self-control in 1 Corinthians 9,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 which is just read out to us,
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 is actually in verse 25,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 even though it wasn't in the English version
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 that was read out.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 In the original language,
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 the word there is,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:21 everyone who competes in the games
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 goes into, the English says,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 strict training.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:30 Literally, it means self-rule.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 Anyone who competes in the games
00:07:32 --> 00:07:36 goes into self-rule or self-control.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:40 That is, the athlete exerts self-control,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 self-rule in all things.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 The runner runs for the prize,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 the athlete for the crown,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:47 the boxer,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 which is another one there,
00:07:49 --> 00:07:49 another word,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 is to strike a blow.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 That's what they do.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 The boxer doesn't go into strict training
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 in order to punch the air.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 They go into strict training
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 to punch a chin
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 or whatever it can,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 above the belt.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 Paul says here that he beats his body.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 And by that he means
00:08:09 --> 00:08:14 he is wearing down his resistance
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 in every area of his life
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 so that he might reach the goal.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 In case,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 the prize is in verse 27.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:26 He says,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 I strike a blow to my body
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 and make it my slave
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 so that after I have preached to others,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 I myself will not be disqualified
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 for the prize.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:43 He exercises self-control
00:08:43 --> 00:08:48 to make sure that his life itself
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 aligns with his belief,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 with what he preaches.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:57 And the secret ingredient for Paul in that
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 is the heart.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:01 It's the heart.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 In modern times,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:08 we tend to think
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 that the secret to self-control
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 is willpower.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 And particularly in Western culture,
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 we think that the secret to self-control
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 is willpower.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 You know,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 athletes,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:19 you know,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 they just have this extraordinary,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 powerful mind
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 and are able to,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 you know,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 assert the will
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 over everything.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 So if I had placed before me
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 a bucket of Rocky Road ice cream
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 and I want to eat it all,
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 what I need to do
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 is I need to convince myself
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 that if I was to eat it all,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 then it would be really bad for me,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 really bad for me.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 And so I need to assert my willpower
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 over the desire of the heart
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 to eat an entire bucket
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 of Rocky Road ice cream
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 or one of those big buckets of KFC
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 or whatever it is
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 that you're...
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 Now,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 so in other words,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 the modern concept of self-control
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 is an exercise of the mind.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 It is willpower
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 over emotions
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 and desires
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 and feelings,
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 which is exactly
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 how the ancients regarded
00:10:24 --> 00:10:24 willpower
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 or self-control.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 In ancient Greek stoicism,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 that was their concept
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 of self-control.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 Stoicism regarded
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 that a life lived well
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 was a virtuous life,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 a good life.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 Virtues,
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 really four main ones
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 for the Stoics
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 was wisdom,
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 justice,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:48 courage,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 and self-control.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 And so for the Stoics,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 like all of Greek culture,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 which Western civilization
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 is built on,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 the mind,
00:10:59 --> 00:10:59 knowledge,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 reason
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 was always
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 supreme
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 over emotions,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 feelings,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 and desires.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 They emphasized
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 the importance
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 of self-control
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 and emotional regulation
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 to navigate life well.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 So you can have
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 a very strong
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 desire for something,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25 but self-control
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 was to ensure
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 that you
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 convinced yourself
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 of
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 negating
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 the desire
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 and pursuing
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 the rational.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 If you can rid
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 your life of desires,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 feelings,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 and emotions,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 then you are living
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 a virtuous life.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 Now the Bible
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 does not think
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 of self-control
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 as taking
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 the mind
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 and will
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 and asserting
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 it over
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 the desires,
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 the feelings,
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 and the emotions.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 Primarily
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 because in the Bible
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 humanity
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 is made in God's image
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 and therefore
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 desires,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 feelings,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 and emotions
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 are part of
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 who we are.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 It's part of
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 the whole person.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 But verse 25
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 gives us
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 the Bible's
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 key
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 to self-rule,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 self-control.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 Everyone
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 who competes
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 in the games
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 goes into
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 strict training,
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 goes into
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 self-rule.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 They do it
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 to get
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 a crown
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 that will
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 not last,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 but we,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 and he's referring
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 to Christians here,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 we do it
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 to get a crown
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 that will last
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 forever.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 What Paul's saying
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 here,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 the Bible's view
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 is,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 it's not
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 that an athlete
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 doesn't want
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 to eat
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 a bucket
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 of Rocky Road
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 ice cream,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 or their equivalent.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:51 it's not
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 that they
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 don't want
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 to stay
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 up all
00:12:53 --> 00:12:53 night
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 with their
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 friends
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 and party.
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 It's not
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 that they
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 don't want
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 to sleep
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 in
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 every day
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 or most
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 days,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 particularly
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 if they're
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 teenagers.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 And they
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 don't really
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 want the
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 fatigue,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 they don't
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 really want
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 the exertion,
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 and they
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 don't really
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 want the
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 expenses,
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 and they
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 don't really
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 want the
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 injuries.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 But what
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 they do
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 want,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 more than
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 anything else,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 is the
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 prize,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 the crown,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 the medal.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 That's what
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 they want.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 You see,
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 self-control
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 is not a
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 matter of
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 the will,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 it's a matter
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 of the heart,
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 it's a matter
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 of what it
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 is that you
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 set your
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 desire on.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 it's a
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 matter of
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 what you
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 have
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 affections
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 for.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 Self-control
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 is about
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 setting the
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 heart,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 the driving
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 centre of
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 the life,
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 which is
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 the way
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 the Bible
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 understands
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 it,
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 on the
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 nobler,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 higher,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 and most
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 important,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 greater
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 thing.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 Self-control
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 is not
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 that some
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 people have
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 a stronger
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 will than
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 others,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 or less
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 feelings
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 and emotions
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 and desires
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 than others.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 It's a
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 matter of
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 what we
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 set our
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 hearts
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 on.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 What we
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 desire
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 the most,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 the thing
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 that the
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 heart
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 most wants,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 orders
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 all of
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 the other
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 desires of
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 the heart.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 self-control
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 is about
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 setting our
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 hearts and
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 our desires
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 on the
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 one
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 major
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 want
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 in life,
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 and that
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 major want
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 will order
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 all the
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 other major
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 wants in
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 life,
00:14:57 --> 00:15:00 even as
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 a diabetic.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 Frankly,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 there are
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 times when
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 I would
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 love to
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 eat a
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 bucket of
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 Rocky Road
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 ice cream.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 But,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 more than
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 a love
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 for Rocky
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 Road
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 ice cream
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 is a
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 love to
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 be alive,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 a love
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 to be
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 healthy,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 a love
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 to be
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 functioning,
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 a love
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 for all
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 of my
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 limbs to
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 stay
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 attached,
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 and for
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 me not
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 to be
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 blind,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 for instance.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 That is
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 a greater
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 love for
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 me than
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 Rocky
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 Road
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 ice cream.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 The
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 higher
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 want
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 or love
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 or desire
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 will
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 always
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 win,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 always
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 win.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 What
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 main
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 thing we
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 set our
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 hearts
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 on
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 is the
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 thing
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 that we
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 will
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 think,
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 it's the
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 thing that
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 we think
00:15:52 --> 00:15:56 will fill
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 our deepest
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 longings of
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 our heart.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 will
00:15:59 --> 00:16:03 make us
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 something,
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 that will
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 set us
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 apart.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 The
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 thing that
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 we think
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 will make
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 us win
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 will
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 always
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 win.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 Thomas
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 Chalmers
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 was a
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 Scottish
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 Presbyterian
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 minister,
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 professor of
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 theology,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 he was a
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 political
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 economist.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 He's been
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 referred to
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 once upon
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 a time
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 as
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 Scotland's
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 greatest
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 19th
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 century
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 churchman.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 He preached
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 a very
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 famous
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 sermon
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 called
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 The
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 Expulsive
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 Power of
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 a New
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 Affection.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 He made
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 the powerful
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 point that
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 bondage to
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 sin and
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 self is
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 only truly
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 broken by
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 a stronger
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 affection.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 One
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 affection is
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 only ever
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 removed from
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 the place of
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 primary existence
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 in our
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 heart, the
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 depths of
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 our heart,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 by a much
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 stronger
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 affection.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 All of
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 our actions
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and our
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 habits in
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 life are
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 connected to
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 our deepest
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 desire in
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 life.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 Bad
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 habits are
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 only replaced
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 by more
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 compelling
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 joy in
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 life.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 Now I've
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 updated the
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 language a
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 little bit for
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 our context
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 and not
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 doing it in a
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 Scottish accent
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 in any way
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 even though that
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 is my
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 heritage but
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 in essence he
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 wrote this,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 says, we
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 only cease to
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 be the
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 slave of
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 one appetite
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 because another
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 has brought
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 it into
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 subordination.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 A youth
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 may cease to
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 idolise
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 sensual
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 pleasure but
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 it's because
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 the idol of
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 wealth and
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 career success
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 has gotten
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 the ascendancy.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 There is not
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 one personal
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 transformation
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 where the
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 heart is not
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 left without
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 an object of
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 desire.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 The heart's
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 desire for
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 one particular
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 object may
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 be conquered
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 but the
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 desire to
00:18:17 --> 00:18:21 have some
00:18:21 --> 00:18:25 object is
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 unconquerable.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 There is no
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 void in other
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 words of desire
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 in the heart
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 and it
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 controls
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 everything in
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 life.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 The only way
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 to dispossess
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 the heart of
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 an old
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 affection is
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 by the
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 expulsive
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 power of
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 a new
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 one.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 If we set
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 our hearts
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 on being
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 the best
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 athlete in
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 any kind
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 of particular
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 discipline,
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 it will bring
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 self-control
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 in some
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 things but
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 it will never
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 bring self-control
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 in all
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 things.
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 If you find
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 you are not
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 the best,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 it will always
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 be just out
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 of reach and
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 you will start
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 to lose
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 control of
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 your emotions.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 you will
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 start to
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 blame other
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 people.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 Relationships
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 will suffer.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 If career
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 success,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 then some
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 things will
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 be able to
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 be self-controlled
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 but not all
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 things.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 If it's
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 family harmony,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 you'll be able
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 to control
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 some things
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 but not all
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 things.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 So,
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 this brings us
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 to the second
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 point.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 What is the
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 one thing
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 that if we
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 set our
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 hearts on
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 it will
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 bring us
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 self-control
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 in all
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 things.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 And we
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 get that
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 in verse
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 23.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 I do
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 all
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 this
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 for the
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 sake of
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 the gospel
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 that I
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 may share
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 in its
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 blessings.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 When Paul
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 writes there,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 I do all
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 this,
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 he's looking
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 back to
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 what he's
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 written in
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 chapters
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 7 to
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 9 and
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 actually
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 looking forward
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 as well
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00 into what
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 he's about
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 to write
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 in the
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 rest of
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 9 and
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 into 10
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 which if
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 you look
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 at it all,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 the theme
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 of self-control
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 is the thing
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 that floats
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 through the
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 whole thing
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 and he does
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 it all
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 for God's
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 glory.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 All of it.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 And bear
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 in mind
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 that when he
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 talks about
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 a life of
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 sacrificial service
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 of all people
00:20:20 --> 00:20:22 and of God,
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 this is the
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 Paul who
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 endured so
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 much personal
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 sacrifice.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 He suffered
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 so much
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 in life.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 so much
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 hardship.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 He consistently
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 surrendered his
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 personal freedom
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 and at the
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 same time,
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 this is the
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 Apostle Paul
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 who virtually
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 in every list
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 that I've seen
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 to this day
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 is listed
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 as one of the
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 top 10
00:20:45 --> 00:20:47 most influential
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 people
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 in the history
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 of humanity
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 to this day.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 And Paul
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 tells us
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 that this
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 life of
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 self-control
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 has one
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 source.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 It is one
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 desire of
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 the heart
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 for the
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 sake of
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 the gospel
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 that I
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 may share
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 in its
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 blessings.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 Now there's
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 one desire,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 two aspects.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 The blessings
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 of the gospel.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 The gospel,
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 as I said
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 last week,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 is fundamentally
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 the absolute
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 core foundational
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 message of the
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 Christian faith.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 life-altering
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 news
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 that even
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 though I
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 am deeply
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 sinful
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 and evil
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 and flawed
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 and deserving
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 of God's
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 judgment
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 because of
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 my rejection
00:21:32 --> 00:21:35 of God,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 of our
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 created God,
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 the world
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 who's made
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 all things,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 I've rejected
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 him by
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 determining
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 to live
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 life my
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 own way
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 as myself
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 as Lord
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 and master
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 of my own
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 life,
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 that if I
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 put my
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 trust in
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 the substitutionary
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 death of
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 Jesus Christ,
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 the Son of
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 God,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 who died
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 on a Roman
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 cross in
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 history,
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 I am
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 forgiven,
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 I'm loved,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 I'm affirmed,
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 and I'm at
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 peace with
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 God.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 And God's
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 love for me
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 in Jesus
00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 Christ is
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 as high
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 as the
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 heavens are
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 above.
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 In Jesus
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 I am
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 unconditionally,
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 unchangeably,
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 constantly,
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 eternally,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 delighted in
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 by God.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 despite who
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 I am,
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 despite my
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 falls and
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 my failures.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 That's the
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 message of
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 Easter.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 So that's
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 coming up
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 in the next
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 four weeks.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 We're looking
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 at the hope
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 of the gospel.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 And what
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 Paul says
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 is if the
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 main thing
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 that I set
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 my heart
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 on is
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 that good
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 news,
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 if that is
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 the thing
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 that's the
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 driving centre
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 of my life,
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 if that is
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 my joy
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 and my
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 hope,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 then self-control
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 is possible
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 in all
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 things.
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 Because
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 in Jesus
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 I am
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 affirmed
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 already
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 despite my
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 performance.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 I am
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 loved and
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 accepted already
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 despite my
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 performance.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 I have the
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 praise of
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 the praise
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 worthy.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:18 You see,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 the gospel
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 is the
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 only thing
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 that I
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 can set
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 my heart
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 on and
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 never
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 lose it.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 The
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 radical
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 security
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 of the
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 gospel
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 means
00:23:26 --> 00:23:29 we don't
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 have to
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 secure it,
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 don't have
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 to maintain
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 it,
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 don't have
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 to keep
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 it.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 It's
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 guaranteed.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 Notice
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 though that
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 the gift
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 of the
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 gospel
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 does not
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 lead to
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 passivity
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 on Paul's
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 behalf.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 See the
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 rest of the
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 sentence,
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 that I
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 may share
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 in its
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 blessings.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 Now the
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 word share
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 there is
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 a word that
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 means partnership
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 in the
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 original New
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 Testament
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 language.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 Paul's
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 passion is
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 to share
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 the benefits
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 of the
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 gospel to
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 others.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 The passion
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 of his
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 heart was
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 for others
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 to see
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 the ultimate
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 treasure
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 that Jesus
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 Christ and
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 the gospel
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 really are.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 and this
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 meant for
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 him that
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 he wanted
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 to make
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 sure that
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 there was
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 nothing in
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 his life
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 that would
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 cause others
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 to miss
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 the ultimate
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 treasure that
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 Jesus is.
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 He didn't
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 want anything
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 to disqualify
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 him from
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 that prize,
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 the prize of
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 sharing the
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 blessings of
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 the gospel
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 with others.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:42 that is,
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 if you look
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 at it,
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 Paul's
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 fundamental
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 focus in
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 life,
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 his main
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 desire was
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 actually away
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 from himself.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:55 You see,
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 when I
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 train for
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 a run,
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 and I
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 don't put
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 myself in
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 the athlete
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 category at
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 all,
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 when I
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 train for
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 a run
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 that I'm
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 participating
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 in,
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 I exercise
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 self-control
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 in that
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 part of my
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 life so
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 that I
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 can achieve
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 something for
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 myself.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 Normally a
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 finish is
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 medal,
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 that's about
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 it really,
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 just finished.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 if I get
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 there in
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 time,
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 they're all
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 gone.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 Ironically,
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 the one
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 thing I'm
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 doing as
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 I'm training
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 for that
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 goal,
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 for me
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 historically,
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 the one
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 thing that
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 I'm not
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 able to
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 control is
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 how much
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 I train
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 myself.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 I tend
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 to always
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 run myself
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 into an
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 injury.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 Paul
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 rests
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 secure in
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 the good
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 news of
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 Jesus
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 Christ as
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 the deepest
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 desire of
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 his heart
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 and from
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 there it
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 drives him
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 out to
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 exercise
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 self-control
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 in all
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 areas of
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 life that
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 he might
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 share it
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 with others.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 You see,
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 the gospel
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 loudly
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 proclaims
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 that in
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 Jesus
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 everything
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 that we
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 need for
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 life and
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 salvation
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 is already
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 done.
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 It's not
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 something that
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 we do.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 We receive
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 God's
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 approval,
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 we don't
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 achieve it.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 And yet
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 Paul is
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 not
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 passive.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 Now,
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 over this
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 term,
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 we've been
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 looking at
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 seven rhythms
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 and these
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 seven rhythms,
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 what they're
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 doing is
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 constantly
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 keeping the
00:26:30 --> 00:26:32 gospel in
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 front of
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 us.
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 And these
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 seven rhythms
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 push it down
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 into our
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 hearts to
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 bring about
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 the change
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 of character
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 and priorities
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 that the
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 gospel demands.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 These are
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 rhythms that
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 are done
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 privately and
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 corporately
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 because we
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 need the
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 clarity and
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 the accountability
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 and the
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 support of
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 others on
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 the journey
00:26:51 --> 00:26:53 to bring
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 about that
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 change.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 All of
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 these rhythms
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 are both
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 private and
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 corporate.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 They are not
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 things we
00:26:59 --> 00:27:01 do to win
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 God's
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 favour.
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 We pursue
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 them because
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 we have
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 God's favour
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 in the
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 gospel of
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 Jesus.
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 And these
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 rhythms take
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 us deeper
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 and deeper
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 and deeper
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 into the
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 good news.
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 Rhythms like
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 these are
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 in fact God's
00:27:17 --> 00:27:19 gracious gift
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 to us.
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 Gracious
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 gift to us
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 for our
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 endurance and
00:27:24 --> 00:27:26 growth into
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 all the
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 blessings of
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 what we have
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 in Jesus.
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 The key
00:27:30 --> 00:27:32 to endurance,
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 the key to
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 self-control
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 is the
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 gospel.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:40 and with
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 self-control
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 we see the
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 gospel and
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 experience the
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 gospel more.
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 But it's
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 not easy.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 And I
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 asked the
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 question a
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 moment ago,
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 what are you
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 doing differently?
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 What's changed
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 in the last
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 month?
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 What are you
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 doing differently?
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 What steps
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 have you
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 taken?
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 Because the
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 reality is
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 it's not
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 easy,
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 it's a
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 battle.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 Discipline
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 and self-control
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 are never
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 easy.
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 Many a
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 time we
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 will want
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 to give
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 up because
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 we are
00:28:13 --> 00:28:15 weary or
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 losing heart.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 And if we
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 are not
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 pursuing these
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 disciplines or
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 disciplines like
00:28:21 --> 00:28:23 these, it's
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 actually one of
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 the key signs
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 that you
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 are in fact
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 losing heart
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 and weary.
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 We must
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 never take
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 our eyes
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 therefore off
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 the endurance
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 of Jesus,
00:28:35 --> 00:28:37 the self-control
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 of Jesus.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 And one
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 of the best
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 descriptions
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 of this is
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 Hebrews
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 chapter 12
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 verses 1
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 to 3.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 Now these
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 sentences,
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 if you want
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 to stick it
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 up on the
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 screen,
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 these sentences
00:28:50 --> 00:28:52 highlight the
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 self-control
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 of Jesus
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 Christ.
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 Jesus knew
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 everything that
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 happened to
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 him was going
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 to happen to
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 him.
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 He knew
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 that he
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 would be
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 betrayed,
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 he knew
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 that he
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 would be
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 abandoned,
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 he knew
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 that he
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 would be
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 killed and
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 yet he
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 still did
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 it.
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 He did
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 it so
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 well in
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 fact,
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 it says
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 there that
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 he endured
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 the cross
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 and he
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 scorned
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 its shame.
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 So where
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 did he get
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 the self-control
00:29:25 --> 00:29:27 to endure
00:29:27 --> 00:29:29 the hardship
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 and the
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 self-control
00:29:30 --> 00:29:32 to regard
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 the shame
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 of the
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 cross,
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 dying on
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 that cross
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 for the
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 sin of
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 humanity
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 regarding it
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 as absolutely
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 nothing?
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 Was it
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 that he
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 had a
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 great
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 willpower,
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 more
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 willpower
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 than any
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 other human
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 being?
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55 no.
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 It's
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 right there
00:29:59 --> 00:30:01 for the
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 joy
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 set before
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 him,
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 he endured
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 the cross
00:30:05 --> 00:30:07 scorning
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 its shame.
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 You see
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 the secret
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 of self-control
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 is setting
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 heart on
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 the right
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 thing.
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 Jesus
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 did not
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 have
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 willpower,
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 he had
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 joy power.
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 so what
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 was it
00:30:23 --> 00:30:25 that Jesus
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 set his
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 heart on
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 that gave
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 him such
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 joy
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 that he
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 endured
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 such
00:30:30 --> 00:30:33 rejection
00:30:33 --> 00:30:35 as the
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 cross,
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 the shame
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 of the
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 cross?
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 What was
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 the joy
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 that was
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 before Jesus?
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 What
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 did he
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 set his
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 heart on
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 that led
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 him to
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 endure
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 what he
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 endured?
00:30:48 --> 00:30:51 to
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 exercise
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 the
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 self-rule
00:30:52 --> 00:30:54 of
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 allowing
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 people
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 that he
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 created
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 to nail
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 him to
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 a cross?
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 What was
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 the passion
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 of his
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 heart
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 that gave
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 him such
00:31:04 --> 00:31:06 self-control?
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 for?
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 Now,
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 a few
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 times in
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 the past
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 as I've
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 looked at
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 this,
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 let me
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 make it
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 brief.
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 It's the
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 one thing,
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 it's the
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 one thing
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 that an
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 eternal,
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 perfect,
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 satisfied,
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 loved,
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 fulfilled,
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 powerful God
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 did not
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 have before
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 the cross.
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 And that's
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 you.
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 That's me.
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 It's
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 humanity.
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 humanity.
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 It's what
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 drove you
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 and I
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 are the
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 ones that
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 drove him
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 to the
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 cross.
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 And yet,
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 the joy
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 of what
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 would be
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 achieved in
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 bringing us
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 back to
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 him,
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 meant that
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 he exercised
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 self-control
00:31:50 --> 00:31:53 and allowed
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 us to do
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 it.
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 Rebellious,
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 sinful,
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 humanity
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 created for
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 him,
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 but setting
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 the passions
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 of their
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 heart on
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 everything else
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 but him.
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 Jesus
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 endured,
00:32:05 --> 00:32:07 self-disciplined
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 because he
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 loves us
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 like that.
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 Grasping
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 that truth
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 more and
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 more,
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 looking to
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 the cross
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 more and
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 more,
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 will cause
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 us to
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 love him
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 like that.
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 The secret
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 to a life
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 of self-control
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 is pursuing
00:32:21 --> 00:32:23 these rhythms
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 of grace
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 which constantly
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 put the
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 gospel in
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 front of
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 us,
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 not,
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 not
00:32:29 --> 00:32:31 willpower,
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 joy.
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 It's
00:32:34 --> 00:32:36 joy in
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 Jesus
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 and the
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 gospel.
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 In the
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 power of
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 the gospel
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 of Jesus
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 Christ to
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 fill our
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 deepest
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 longings
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 and desires
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 of our
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 hearts,
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 the gospel
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 of Jesus
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 Christ is
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 the only
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 expulsive
00:32:50 --> 00:32:53 power and
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 the ultimate
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 desire and
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 affection of the
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 heart that
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 will drive
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 out every
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 other desire,
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 the ones
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 that your
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 day-to-day
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 practices and
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 habits in
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 life are
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 currently
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 demonstrating
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 that you're
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 pursuing
00:33:06 --> 00:33:08 and that
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 I'm
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 pursuing.
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 The
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 rhythms of
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 grace flow
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 out of a
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 gospel-renewed
00:33:15 --> 00:33:17 heart but
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 they are
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 also the
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 agents,
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 the means
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 of heart
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 renewal so
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 that Jesus
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 becomes our
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 delight and
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 joy as
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 we are
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 his.
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 And so
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 as we
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 finish off
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 this service
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 today,
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 we're just
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 going to
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 look to
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 Jesus one
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 last time
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 as we
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 participate
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 in the
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 Lord's
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 Supper
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 together.
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 We're
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 going to
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 gaze on
00:33:39 --> 00:33:41 Jesus as
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 we participate
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 in this.
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 We're going
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 to lift our
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 hearts to
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 him this
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 morning as
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 we eat
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 and we
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 drink with
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 grateful
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 hearts
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 for the
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 mercy of
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 his love
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 for us,
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 mercy that
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 saw him
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 joyfully
00:33:54 --> 00:33:56 self-controlled
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 as he
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 endured the
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 cross to
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 win back
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 rebellious
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 creation,
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 humanity back
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 into relationship
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 with himself
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 and to give
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 us an
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 affirmation,
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 a love,
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 a security,
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 a hope that
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 will never
00:34:10 --> 00:34:12 be taken
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 away.
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 Amen.
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12