Spiritual Friendship
Series: Vision Series 2025- Rhythms of Grace
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 9th March 2025
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 welcome to St Paul's. Let me add my welcome to those of Nick's and others. My name's Steve. I've
00:00:05 --> 00:00:10 never met you before. I'm the lead pastor here at St Paul's and we're, as Nick has indicated,
00:00:10 --> 00:00:16 we are partway through our vision series. So we've got the St Paul's app. If you want to
00:00:16 --> 00:00:22 jump online, there's an outline for today's message and also keep your Bibles open there
00:00:22 --> 00:00:32 in Galatians 5. I'm focusing more on 6 in this message today. Loneliness and actual isolation
00:00:32 --> 00:00:44 have become a real epidemic in the 21st century. They were certainly concerns before the arrival
00:00:44 --> 00:00:50 of COVID-19 and the lockdowns around that, but they have certainly, these issues have been
00:00:50 --> 00:01:00 exacerbated since COVID-19. Social isolation and loneliness are among the many factors
00:01:00 --> 00:01:08 that are known to be detrimental for a person's well-being, sense of well-being. They are in fact
00:01:08 --> 00:01:15 known to be harmful for not just mental health, but also for physical health as well. And the irony of
00:01:15 --> 00:01:22 all that is that we are apparently more connected than we've ever been in any history in the world,
00:01:22 --> 00:01:32 any time in history. Connected via the internet and social media, and yet more socially isolated
00:01:32 --> 00:01:41 and lonely. Every time there's a census, these numbers continue to rise. And of course, the increase
00:01:41 --> 00:01:49 of wealth in general has not in any way matched with an increase in personal happiness.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:59 The sad reality of our lives is that as we have been speeding up and speeding up and speeding up,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:06 for many of us, our friendships and our connections, personal relationships, have not been able to
00:02:06 --> 00:02:16 keep pace with that. And the amazing bit in all this is the largest group that is experiencing social
00:02:16 --> 00:02:24 isolation and loneliness in our city are those between 15 and 24 years of age. You know, the ones who are
00:02:24 --> 00:02:32 constantly on social media, who have got more friends on social media than, well, I do.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:43 As of 2022, 17% of males and 15% of females aged between 15 and 24 were experiencing loneliness and
00:02:43 --> 00:02:50 isolation. That's the group that we call next gen, the next generation here, the youth and young adults
00:02:50 --> 00:03:00 of this church. If this is a sad aspect of modern life in general, it is even sadder for Christians.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:10 Christians. We need each other in order to grow into what God has saved us for. So one of the things I've
00:03:10 --> 00:03:18 been saying throughout this series is that there is often a gap between the great truths of the Christian
00:03:18 --> 00:03:29 faith and what they declare and the lives that such great truths should produce. There's often a gap.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:40 That is, we can believe great things, but our character and our priorities are no different from those who
00:03:40 --> 00:03:49 don't believe those great things. And what we need is grace-fuelled rhythms, which is what this series is
00:03:49 --> 00:03:57 about. We need spiritual disciplines. We need holy habits. Christian practices to push those truths down
00:03:57 --> 00:04:06 from the mind into the heart in such a way that we approach our lives and the world and society entirely
00:04:06 --> 00:04:16 differently. And this is why I think friendship is a spiritual discipline more than just a helpful idea
00:04:16 --> 00:04:24 to guard your mental health and your physical health. It is a godly habit as well as a good habit
00:04:24 --> 00:04:32 in which we sharpen each other's thinking, harden one another's resolve to continue to follow Christ
00:04:32 --> 00:04:39 and soften one another's heart to God's word and his will for our lives. So I've got three points on the
00:04:39 --> 00:04:44 screen. This is going to be the journey for us today. First of all, made for relationships.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:53 The primary reason why spiritual friendship is a Christian discipline is that we need in order to
00:04:53 --> 00:05:00 become all that God has called us to in Jesus is that we were actually created for relationship.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:08 That is, it's in our very DNA. It's part of our design. And now I preached a sermon about this last year
00:05:08 --> 00:05:16 in Genesis. So because you're all familiar with that joke. I won't go over it all. But you can go back
00:05:16 --> 00:05:23 to that in Genesis last year and have a read of that. It's called Created for Relationship, I think.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:32 I mean, it's pretty, anyway. The quick summary of it is that on page two of the Bible, it says,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:42 in all the creation accounts, the only time where God creates and he says it is not good is in the
00:05:42 --> 00:05:52 creation of humanity and with Adam being alone. Genesis 2.25 is the only place where God says
00:05:52 --> 00:05:58 something that he's made is described as not good. That is, there's something not good about Adam.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:05 It's not that he's got a design flaw. God did not make a mistake. Adam is in paradise. He is in
00:06:05 --> 00:06:15 perfection. And yet there is still something missing. The missing piece is that we as humanity is made in
00:06:15 --> 00:06:27 the image of a God who is an us, not a me. Adam was made in the image of an eternal community, the one God,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:33 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons in one. Saint Augustine said that the Trinity
00:06:33 --> 00:06:43 is the only version of God and ultimate reality in any religion or philosophical system
00:06:43 --> 00:06:55 that has personal relationship at its very heart. Only the God of Christianity is himself a community.
00:06:55 --> 00:07:06 God is a self-sufficient, self-sustaining community. Three persons delighting in each other and loving
00:07:06 --> 00:07:16 each other and serving each other in absolute perfect unity so that they move as one and yet distinctively
00:07:16 --> 00:07:25 three. Only in the Trinity do we see that personal relationship is primary, not secondary.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:33 They, personal relationship is not a means to an end. They are at the very center of reality and of life.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:43 And I mentioned back, you probably won't need to go and watch it now, but I mentioned back then there are three broad categories of relationships.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:53 We need deep relationship with God. We need deep relationship with another human being and we need deep relationship with people who are different than us.
00:07:53 --> 00:08:03 That is, we cannot grow to be like the God in whose image we are made without community.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:18 We cannot be wiser, more loving, courageous, more joyful, stable without the community of God and his people collectively moving in obedience to the God in whose image we are made.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:48 We need that together.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:54 We love to guard our privacy. We like to hold commitment to any groups at an arm's length.
00:08:55 --> 00:09:01 We prefer relationships that don't challenge us, that don't stretch us, that don't cost us too much.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 That's our preference.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:27 In fact, I've recently read one sociologist said the only relationship that is left in modern Western society that is not transactional in that you are stuck with it legally and emotionally is parenting.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:34 And he said, that's why so many people are choosing to have dogs rather than kids.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:40 You know, your dog eats your best pair of shoes and you can just take it to the vet.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 Like literally, I mean, it just transactional.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 Every other relationship is transactional except parenting.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:46 You're stuck with it.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:53 We prefer relationships that don't challenge us or stretch us too much.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 And so we stay spiritually, emotionally and relationally immature.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:07 And what's interesting is that in ancient times, friendship was regarded as the most virtuous of all relationships.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:16 In our modern age, we regard our sexual relationships as the most virtuous of all relationships.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 Our identity is attached to sexuality.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 In ancient times, it's an entirely different thing.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:31 Friendship, the greatest in the sense that you have family relationships whether you like it or not.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 Like you don't choose that.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 You don't choose who your family is.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 It just happens to you.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:42 Even in modern times, we would say that we fell in love.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:49 It's kind of something that happened to us rather than something that we might have wanted it, but it just could have happened to us.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:53 In ancient times, there was a range of marriages.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 It wasn't something that it just happened to you.
00:10:56 --> 00:11:03 And so they regarded that friendship was the greatest, the most virtuous.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:09 Because it doesn't happen unless you intentionally work at it.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:15 And in that sense, they thought it was the most virtuous of relationships because it was the relationship you had to work at.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:26 The practice of friendship for the Christian is something that they extend to the whole Christian community.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 Now, of course, there are all kinds of levels of intensity to it.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 You know, Jesus had the crowds of people who followed him.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:39 He had his 12 disciples who he chose who were with him at every moment.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 And there were those who were particularly close to him.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 Even there's Peter, James and John.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 He's three best mates, if you like.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:50 But John was his bestest of his best mates.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 Read John's gospel.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 The disciple whom Jesus loved.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 He's referring to himself.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 Don't know what the rest of them thought about that when that was published.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 But, you know.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:06 But despite the practice of friendship being more intense with some,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:12 we are to practice the discipline of friendship with all Christians in our church community.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:17 Because that's what we were created for, but it's also what we were saved for, which is my next point.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:23 Now, Galatians 6, which Merle just read out to us, doesn't actually use the word friendship.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:33 But it does talk about the characteristics of Christian community and Christian relationship and Christian friendship.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:40 And it gives us two main qualities of spiritual friendship that we are called to practice as a Christian community.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:44 And they are dependability and transparency.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 So, first of all, dependability.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:52 A friend is someone who is always there for you.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 Galatians 6.2 says,
00:12:55 --> 00:13:01 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:15 Now, if we see someone carrying a heavy load, you know, arms full of shopping, out of the boot of the car, into the house,
00:13:16 --> 00:13:24 the way that we assist them in carrying their load is not to, let me pray for you,
00:13:24 --> 00:13:28 that you would have the strength and the energy to get that onto the kitchen bench.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:31 I mean, that might be a contribution.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 But that's not enough, is it?
00:13:35 --> 00:13:43 The load has to transfer, some of the load has to transfer from them onto you to carry the burden.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 Is that correct?
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 The burden has to shift.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 You have to take some of the load.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 Just praying for them, helpful.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 Once you've done that, then get the burden and carry it.
00:13:55 --> 00:14:03 If we take the time to listen to a person with an emotional burden, going again and again and again,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 we will be drained, for instance.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:12 What that happens is, someone with an emotional burden that you are taking the time to engage with
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 and listen to and listen to and be with and be with,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:25 what ultimately happens is, some of their emotional burden drops onto you in such a way that you become drained yourself.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 Drained.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:35 We lose some of our own emotional resources in order for their emotional resource to be lifted.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:40 Some of their suffering slides across onto us.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 We are bearing some of their burden.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 It's the same with financial burdens.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:53 If someone has a financial burden, there is absolutely no way of bearing some of their burden
00:14:53 --> 00:14:56 without losing some of our financial resources.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 There's no other way.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:07 The burden can't be lifted up without the other losing some of their resources.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:15 And the great Jonathan Edwards said that in one of his sermons,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:20 if we love to help them, if our statement is, I would so love to help them,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 but frankly, I can't afford it.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:26 What we're actually saying is, I can't help them without burdening myself.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:31 And you say, well, that's exactly the point of radical generosity.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 You ought to be burdened.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 That's the point.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:42 And that is exactly what Galatians 6.2 is calling the Christian community to.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:50 To be a dependable friend is to allow some of the burden, the suffering of others,
00:15:50 --> 00:15:53 to slide across onto us.
00:15:53 --> 00:16:01 A true friend will stay beside you and allow some of your suffering to slide across onto them.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:09 If they don't do that, if they don't do that, they may be an acquaintance.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 They may be a sibling.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 They may even be a spouse.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 But they're not a friend.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:21 Proverbs 18.24 says,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:25 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
00:16:26 --> 00:16:29 but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:36 That is, it's possible to have siblings, parents, a spouse,
00:16:36 --> 00:16:39 who is not a true friend.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:43 Don't get me wrong.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 They're still your brother.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 They're still your sister.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 They're still your parents.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 They're still your spouse.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:52 But if they don't stick with you in the depths of a burden
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 and carry some of that burden themselves,
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 then they're not a true friend.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:05 And you can see why the ancients thought that friendship was the most virtuous.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:11 Because a friend is always there, dependable, carrying the burdens.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:15 So the first essence of friendship is one who sticks with the other
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 through thick and thin.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 A true friend is always dependable.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 The second one, second essence of true spiritual friendship
00:17:23 --> 00:17:26 is transparency or it's vulnerability.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:31 Now, what we have here, these are not words that are really used,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:35 transparency not used or vulnerability not used in Galatians.
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 But what we have here is, if you like,
00:17:37 --> 00:17:43 a case study of the transparent spiritual friendship in Galatians 6.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 Verse 1.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:47 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:51 you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently,
00:17:52 --> 00:17:55 but watch yourselves or you also may be tempted.
00:17:56 --> 00:18:01 So verse 1 describes a scenario
00:18:01 --> 00:18:04 where a member of this Christian community
00:18:04 --> 00:18:08 amongst the Galatians is caught in a sin.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 Now, this verse is not saying,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 let me just put a caveat here.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 This verse is not saying
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 that as a Christian,
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 you have a responsibility,
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 you are commanded
00:18:20 --> 00:18:23 to point out to everyone
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 where they are wronging,
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 where they are flawed,
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 where they are failing,
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 where they are sinning.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:33 Like, that's not what this passage is saying at all.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:36 And there is a lot of ways in the New Testament
00:18:36 --> 00:18:40 where we are instructed not to be quick to criticise,
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 where we're instructed
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 that love
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 looks
00:18:44 --> 00:18:47 many falls and failings
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 in one another.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 1 Peter 4, 8,
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 1 Corinthians 13, 5,
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 and 13, 7, for instance.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 This is quite specific.
00:18:57 --> 00:19:01 It says that caught in a sin.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:06 Now, that statement there
00:19:06 --> 00:19:09 indicates that this particular sin
00:19:09 --> 00:19:12 is a behavioural pattern.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 It means that this particular sin
00:19:15 --> 00:19:21 has got the upper hand of the person.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 When it says caught in a sin,
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 it doesn't mean you've opened the doors.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 Ah, I've caught you.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 It means the person themselves
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 is trapped in a sin.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 They're the ones who are caught.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 Not that you've caught them,
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 but they themselves are caught.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 It's a behavioural pattern
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 over and over and over again.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43 It's a habit of sinful behaviour
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 that the Christian
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 is not able to overcome
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 without the help of others.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 They're trapped.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 And in that sense,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 this particular sin
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 is therefore harming them.
00:19:57 --> 00:20:00 And because it's harming them,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:03 it's harming other relationships
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 that they are part of.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 So the spiritual friend
00:20:07 --> 00:20:10 is neither quick to criticise
00:20:10 --> 00:20:15 nor are they afraid to confront.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 Notice who Paul says
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 is the spiritual friend here.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 Brothers and sisters,
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 you who live by the Spirit.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 This is not an instruction
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 that Paul says,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 hey, by the way,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:33 the pastors of Galatians
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 or the wardens
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 or the parish council
00:20:35 --> 00:20:38 or just the community group leaders
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 of the Galatian church.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 It's not some special group of Christians.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 It's not just the leaders.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 This is instruction to the brothers
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 and this is all the Christian community.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:53 This is your all responsibility.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:58 And what he's saying is
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 to be a true spiritual friend
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 in that moment
00:21:00 --> 00:21:03 with someone who's caught in a sin,
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 habitual behaviours,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 you come in to restore gently.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 The word for restore
00:21:10 --> 00:21:13 in the original New Testament language here
00:21:13 --> 00:21:18 means to set back in place
00:21:18 --> 00:21:21 a dislocated bone joint.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:23 You know,
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 you've seen the,
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 you know,
00:21:24 --> 00:21:26 you've got to yank it into place
00:21:26 --> 00:21:29 and nowadays you get those green whistle things
00:21:29 --> 00:21:31 and you go off into la-la land
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 and, you know,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 doctors get their legs in
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 and, you know,
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 I think that's how they do it.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 I mean,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 according to Operation Ouch anyway.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:41 What that means is
00:21:41 --> 00:21:44 there's something dislocated,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 there's something out of place,
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 there's something
00:21:46 --> 00:21:49 that needs to be put right
00:21:49 --> 00:21:52 and to put it right,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:55 you need to inflict some pain
00:21:55 --> 00:21:57 in order to bring healing.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 That is,
00:21:59 --> 00:22:01 the pain is a healing pain
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 that needs to be brought in.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 The confrontation over the sin
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 will most likely be painful
00:22:07 --> 00:22:10 but its goal is to bring
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 a change of heart and life
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 and healing.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 That's the goal.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 And so,
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 therefore,
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 the true spiritual friend
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 will be gentle.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 The goal is to win over
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 for healing.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 The key to ensuring
00:22:28 --> 00:22:31 that there is gentleness
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 is in the last sentence
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 of verse one.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 Watch yourselves
00:22:36 --> 00:22:39 or you also may be tempted.
00:22:39 --> 00:22:44 We can never be
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 a gentle,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 spiritual friend
00:22:48 --> 00:22:51 with the goal of healing
00:22:51 --> 00:22:54 if we are tempted,
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 is what it's saying.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 If we are tempted,
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 primarily,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 here to be proud.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 Tempted to take
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 the high moral ground
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 over someone
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 who has got
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 the dislocated joint.
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 Someone caught
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 in the sin.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 Tempted to think
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 that
00:23:13 --> 00:23:16 I'm not,
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 I would not,
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 I would never do that.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 Tempted to think
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 that I'm not capable
00:23:22 --> 00:23:24 of a similar sin
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 or even an equal sin.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 Tempted to think
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 that I don't have
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 any dislocated joints
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 myself.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 If we ever feel
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 that we are above
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 the person morally,
00:23:38 --> 00:23:41 our air of superiority
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 will most certainly
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 come through
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 and we will destroy
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 not restore.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 Another way
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 of putting that
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 is to restore humbly.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 In other words,
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 the instruction here
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 is the same as Jesus.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 Be more mindful
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 of the log
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 in your own eye
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 than the speck
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 in the other.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:06 So the spiritual friend
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 is not afraid
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 to confront
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 but they also
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 don't enjoy it
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 either.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 This spiritual friendship
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 is so essential
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 for personal transformation.
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 We cannot
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 change for good
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 into the image
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 of God
00:24:24 --> 00:24:26 without spiritual friends.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:29 And spiritual friendship
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 is so hard
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 and it is very difficult
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 because it might
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 not work.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 The other person
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 might turn on you
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 and not like you
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 or they may even
00:24:42 --> 00:24:45 want to hurt you.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 And
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 that's the danger.
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 scarier.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 But what is
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 even scarier
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 is that it might
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 actually work.
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 It might
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 actually work.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 You see,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 when we are
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 spiritual friends
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 to others,
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 we are giving
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 them permission
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 to be a spiritual
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 friend back to us.
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 And I wonder
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 if the reason
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 we might
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 give permission
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 for
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 or we
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 justify
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 so much
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 or we
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 ignore
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 so much
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 or we
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 overlook
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 the sin
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 and the
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 unrighteousness
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 of others
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 in the
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 Christian
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 community
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 so much
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 is
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 mostly
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 to do
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 with us,
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 not with
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 them.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 It's mostly
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 to do
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 with we
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 actually
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 don't want
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 that level
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 of accountability
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 for ourselves
00:25:37 --> 00:25:40 because it's
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 painful.
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 A true
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 spiritual
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 friend
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 always lets
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 you in
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 and doesn't
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 let you
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 down.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 vulnerability,
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 transparency,
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 reliability,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 dependability,
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 sticking closer
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 than even
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 family.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 Now,
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 frankly,
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 that's the
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 kind of
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 friendship
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 we all
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 need.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02 But the
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 problem
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 with it
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 is
00:26:04 --> 00:26:07 is that
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 we have
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 hearts
00:26:08 --> 00:26:13 that are
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 so deeply
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 flawed,
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 flawed,
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 insecure,
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 and uncertain
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 of ourselves,
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 it's
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 always very
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 hard for us
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 to reach
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 out to
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 others
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 and start
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 that friendship
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 cycle.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 Our
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 natural
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 self
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 is,
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 in fact,
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 afraid of
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 this level
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 of transparency.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 We've all
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 got images
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 to maintain,
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 egos to
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 protect.
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 Our
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 natural
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 self
00:26:41 --> 00:26:43 is also
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 selfish
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 because we
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 have been
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 taught for
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 many decades
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 in our
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 society that
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 you are the
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 most important
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 person in the
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 world.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 world.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 And the
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 way to
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 discover
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 yourself is
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 to look
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 inside
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 yourself,
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 truly you.
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 Our
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 natural
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 selves are
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 afraid of
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 transparency and
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 our natural
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 self is
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 selfish because
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 we don't
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 want to have
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 to give
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 that level
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 of dependability
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 to someone
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 else.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 So we
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 don't like
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 dependability
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 and transparency.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 The
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 transparency
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 and the
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 vulnerability
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 are unsettling,
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 the
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 dependability
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 is
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 onerous,
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 too scared
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 and too
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 selfish to
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 be a true
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 spiritual
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 friend.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 Much
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 easier to
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 have
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 hundreds
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 of
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 Facebook
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 friends,
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 hundreds of
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 Facebook
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 friends
00:27:37 --> 00:27:40 that you
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 can pause
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 actually for
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 30 days if
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 you so
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 choose or
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 unfollow or
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 just send an
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 emoji when
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 they're having
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 a rough patch.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 Much
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 easier.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:56 chapter 5
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 verse 26
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 refers to
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 our heart
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 issues.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 Let us
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 not become
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 conceited,
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 provoking and
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 envying each
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 other.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 The word
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 conceit
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 there means
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 to be
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 hungry for
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 glory.
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 It means
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 I'm always
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 hungry for
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 glory because
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 I have
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 such a
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 deep,
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 deep need
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 for affirmation
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 and approval.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 That's what
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 the word
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 conceit
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 means.
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 So if a
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 person who
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 is insecure
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 and unsure
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 of their
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 own self
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 worth,
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 constantly
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 needing
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 approval and
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 when it
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 comes, that
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 approval that
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 comes is
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 never enough,
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 it's just a
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 bottomless pit,
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 then what that
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 means is we
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 tend to move
00:28:39 --> 00:28:41 out into our
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 friendships and
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 other relationships
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 in two ways.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:47 we provoke
00:28:47 --> 00:28:49 them, that
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 is we
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 lord it
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 over them,
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53 or we
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 envy them,
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 which is to
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 feel inferior
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 to others.
00:28:58 --> 00:29:00 Exploiting and
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 using others
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 rather than
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 being a true
00:29:02 --> 00:29:04 friend is all
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 an attempt to
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 fill that
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 hole of the
00:29:07 --> 00:29:09 fragile identity.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 both of them
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 are doing
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 exactly the
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 same thing.
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 Can't do the
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 criticism because
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 the ego is
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 too fragile,
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 can't do the
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 dependability
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 because it
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 doesn't fill up
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 my ego,
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 unless of
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 course the
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 ego that
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 needs to be
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 filled up is
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 the affirmation
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 that I need to
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 receive from
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 others that I
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 am a true
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 helper and a
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 friend.
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 That is,
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 you've got the
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 idolatry of
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 being a
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 helper.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 In that case,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 if you have,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 if your
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 affirmation is
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 constantly coming
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 from being that
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 person who is
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 always there,
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 if that's your
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 affirmation,
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 then ultimately
00:29:46 --> 00:29:48 you are moving
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 into the
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 burden,
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 not to lighten
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 their burden,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 but to feel
00:29:52 --> 00:29:54 your sense of
00:29:54 --> 00:29:56 worthlessness.
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 It's you.
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 It's about you.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 You're using the
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 burden for your
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 own glory.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 Now, this does
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 not have to be the
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 case for the
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 Christian.
00:30:07 --> 00:30:10 verses 3 and
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 4, chapter 6,
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 they are quite
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 remarkable.
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 If anyone thinks
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 they are something
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 when they are
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18 not, they
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 deceive themselves.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 Each one should
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 test their own
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 actions.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 Then they can
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 take pride in
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 themselves alone
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 without comparing
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 themselves to
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 anyone else.
00:30:30 --> 00:30:33 See, I don't
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 know, you put
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 those two verses
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 together, verse 1
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 says, the
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 Christian is
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 nothing.
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 You think
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 you're something
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 when you're
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 not?
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 Christian is
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 nothing.
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 Verse 4, Paul
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 calls them to be
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 proud of
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 themselves.
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 I mean, what
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 category do you
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 put that in?
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 The Christian
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 knows that they
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 are more sinful
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 and unworthy
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 than they ever
00:30:52 --> 00:30:54 imagined, and
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 therefore transparency
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 should not be a
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 problem.
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 And at the same
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 time, they are
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 more loved and
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 affirmed than
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 they ever dreamed,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:02 and so defendability
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 should not be a
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 problem.
00:31:03 --> 00:31:05 our sinfulness
00:31:05 --> 00:31:08 humbles us out
00:31:08 --> 00:31:10 of selfishness, and
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 God's approval of
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 us in Jesus
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 affirms us out of
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 our fear of
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 transparency.
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 Then we can be a
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 true spiritual
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 friend.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:22 So, last point,
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 empowered for
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 spiritual friendship.
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 Where do we get
00:31:26 --> 00:31:28 the power to be
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 that kind of
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 friend?
00:31:29 --> 00:31:32 amongst our
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 brothers and
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 sisters here at
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 St. Paul's in
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 this Christian
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 community?
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 The answer is
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 verse 2.
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 Carry each
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 other's burdens,
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 and in this
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 way, you will
00:31:43 --> 00:31:45 fulfil the law
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 of Christ.
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 The reason we
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 are commanded
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 here to carry
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 each other's
00:31:49 --> 00:31:51 burdens is
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 because it
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 fulfills the
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 law of Christ.
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 Now, the word
00:31:55 --> 00:31:57 law there means
00:31:57 --> 00:31:59 modelling our
00:31:59 --> 00:32:01 whole life on
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 the example
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 of Jesus
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 Christ.
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 Verse 2
00:32:06 --> 00:32:09 reflects back
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 into what
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 Paul has
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 already said
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 in chapter 5,
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 verses 13
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 and 14.
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 You, my
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 brothers and
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 sisters, serve
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 one another
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 humbly in
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 love, for
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 the entire
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 law is
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 fulfilled in
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 keeping this
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 one command,
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 love your
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 neighbour as
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 yourself.
00:32:28 --> 00:32:30 God, the
00:32:30 --> 00:32:32 God, the
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 Son, the
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 one who
00:32:34 --> 00:32:36 existed in
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 eternity in
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 perfect
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 relationship, in
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 harmony, came
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 into this world as
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 a human being.
00:32:42 --> 00:32:44 God, the
00:32:44 --> 00:32:47 God, the
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 Son, the
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 one who
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 existed in
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 eternity in
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 perfect
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 relationship, in
00:32:52 --> 00:32:54 harmony, came
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 into this world as
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 a human being
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 and he didn't
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 just come near
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 to us.
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 He didn't just
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 come in our
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 orbit around
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 us, he
00:33:03 --> 00:33:05 became one
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 of us,
00:33:06 --> 00:33:08 one of us.
00:33:08 --> 00:33:10 and even
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 more, he
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 didn't just
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 come along
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 beside us
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 to carry
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 some of
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 our burdens
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 in allowing
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 some of
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 our sin
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 and frailty
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 and our
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 failures and
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 our flaws
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 to come
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 across onto
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 him until
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 we can pull
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 ourselves
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 together and
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 move on
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 with the
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 burden.
00:33:27 --> 00:33:29 He allowed
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 the entire
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 weight of
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 the burden
00:33:31 --> 00:33:33 of all of
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 humanity to
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 slide across
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 onto him.
00:33:36 --> 00:33:38 the only
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 perfect human
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 being.
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 He took
00:33:41 --> 00:33:41 it all.
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 He took
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 the full
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 weight of
00:33:44 --> 00:33:46 human sin
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 and suffering
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 upon the
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 cross at
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 Calvary.
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 Isaiah 53
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 puts it like
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 this.
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 He took
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 up our
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 pain and
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 bore our
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 suffering.
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 He was
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 pierced for
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 our transgressions.
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 He was
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 crushed for
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 our iniquities.
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 The punishment
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 that brought
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 us peace
00:34:07 --> 00:34:09 was on
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 him.
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 And by
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 his wounds
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 we have
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 been healed.
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 The major
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 dislocation
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 has been
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 fixed through
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 Jesus suffering
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 the pain
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 for us
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 to put us
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 right with
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 God.
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 The Lord
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 has laid
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 on him
00:34:28 --> 00:34:30 the iniquity
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 of us
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 all.
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 He was the
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 one who
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 was crushed
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 by the
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 weight of
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 the burden
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 of human
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 sin
00:34:37 --> 00:34:39 because of
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 our rejection
00:34:39 --> 00:34:41 of our
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 creator God.
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 God
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 crushed
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 himself
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 with the
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 burden
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 that should
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 be ours.
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 Why?
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 Because he's
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 the ultimate
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 friend.
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 He has
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 loved his
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 neighbour.
00:34:59 --> 00:35:01 he has
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 loved those
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 who are
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 unlovable.
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 In
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 John 15
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 Jesus
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 says
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 love each
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 other
00:35:08 --> 00:35:10 as I
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 have
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 loved
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 you.
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 Greater
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 love has
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 no one
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 than this
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 to lay
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 down
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 one's
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 life
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 for
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 one's
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 friends.
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 And
00:35:19 --> 00:35:19 you
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 are
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 my
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 friends.
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 Not
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 you are
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 my
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 followers.
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 Not
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 you are
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 my
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 servants.
00:35:29 --> 00:35:29 Not
00:35:29 --> 00:35:29 you are
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 my
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 subjects.
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 You
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 are
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 my
00:35:32 --> 00:35:34 friends
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 if you
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 do what
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 I
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 command.
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 I
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 no
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 longer
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 call
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 you
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 servants
00:35:39 --> 00:35:39 because
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 a
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 servant
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 does
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 not
00:35:42 --> 00:35:42 know
00:35:42 --> 00:35:42 his
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 master's
00:35:43 --> 00:35:43 business.
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 Instead
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 I
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 have
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 called
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 you
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 friends.
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 So
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 love
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 each
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 other
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 as
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 I
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 have
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 loved
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 you.
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 How
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 much
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 more
00:35:53 --> 00:35:53 vulnerable
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 can
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 you
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 get
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 than
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 being
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 stripped
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 naked
00:35:56 --> 00:35:58 in front
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 of all
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 of your
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 followers
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 all
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 of your
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 friends
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 all
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 of your
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 families
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 all
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 of your
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 village
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 outside
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 of a
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 city of
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 Jerusalem
00:36:09 --> 00:36:09 on a
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 hill
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 nailed
00:36:11 --> 00:36:11 to a
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 cross
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 for
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 there is
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 nothing
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 hidden.
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 How
00:36:18 --> 00:36:18 much
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 more
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 dependable
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 could
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 someone
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 be
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 that
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 they
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 would
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 rather
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 die
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 for
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 your
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 flaws
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 for
00:36:28 --> 00:36:28 your
00:36:28 --> 00:36:28 failing
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 for
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 your
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 sin
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 for
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 your
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 selfishness
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 for
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 your
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 pride
00:36:32 --> 00:36:35 than
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 give
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 up
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 on
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 you.
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 You
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 see
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 when
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 we
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 see
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 Jesus
00:36:39 --> 00:36:39 being
00:36:39 --> 00:36:39 that
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 friend
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 to
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 us
00:36:40 --> 00:36:41 bearing
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 our
00:36:42 --> 00:36:42 infinite
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 burden
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 then
00:36:44 --> 00:36:44 we
00:36:44 --> 00:36:44 can
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 bear
00:36:45 --> 00:36:45 each
00:36:45 --> 00:36:46 other's
00:36:46 --> 00:36:46 finite
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47 burdens
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 as
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 true
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 spiritual
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 friends
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 to
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 one
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 another.
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 So let
00:36:52 --> 00:36:52 me just
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 say
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 really
00:36:54 --> 00:36:54 briefly
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 there is
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 so much
00:36:56 --> 00:36:56 to unpack
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 here.
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 I want
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 to say
00:36:59 --> 00:37:03 three
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 things by
00:37:04 --> 00:37:04 implication.
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 I think
00:37:05 --> 00:37:05 there's only
00:37:05 --> 00:37:05 two in
00:37:05 --> 00:37:05 your
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 notes.
00:37:06 --> 00:37:06 Very
00:37:06 --> 00:37:06 quickly
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 number
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 one
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 which is
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 not in
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 your
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 notes.
00:37:09 --> 00:37:09 If
00:37:09 --> 00:37:09 you're
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 already
00:37:10 --> 00:37:10 in a
00:37:10 --> 00:37:10 community
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 group
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 and
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 your
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 community
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 group
00:37:13 --> 00:37:13 is
00:37:13 --> 00:37:14 about
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 information
00:37:15 --> 00:37:15 transfer
00:37:15 --> 00:37:17 and
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 not
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 about
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 building
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 connection
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 with
00:37:20 --> 00:37:20 one
00:37:20 --> 00:37:20 another
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 there's
00:37:21 --> 00:37:21 an
00:37:21 --> 00:37:21 imbalance
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 that
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 needs
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 to
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 shift.
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 I'll
00:37:22 --> 00:37:23 just
00:37:23 --> 00:37:23 leave
00:37:23 --> 00:37:23 that
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 one
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 there.
00:37:25 --> 00:37:25 Secondly,
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 the
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 second
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 implication
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 is our
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 three
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 vision
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 series
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 projects.
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 Let
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 me
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 try
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 to
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 connect
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 them
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 to
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 you
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 a
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 little
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 bit
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 in
00:37:34 --> 00:37:34 this.
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 We
00:37:35 --> 00:37:35 are
00:37:35 --> 00:37:35 raising
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 money
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 in
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 this
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 vision
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 series
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 to
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 see
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 our
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 neighbours
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 come
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 to
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40 know
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 the
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 ultimate
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 friend
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 in
00:37:41 --> 00:37:41 Jesus.
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 The
00:37:43 --> 00:37:43 ultimate
00:37:43 --> 00:37:44 friend
00:37:44 --> 00:37:45 who
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45 will
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45 never
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45 leave
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45 them,
00:37:46 --> 00:37:46 who
00:37:46 --> 00:37:46 will
00:37:46 --> 00:37:46 never
00:37:46 --> 00:37:47 abandon
00:37:47 --> 00:37:47
00:37:47 --> 00:37:47 them,
00:37:48 --> 00:37:48 the
00:37:48 --> 00:37:48 one
00:37:48 --> 00:37:48 who
00:37:48 --> 00:37:48 truly
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 loves
00:37:49 --> 00:37:49 their
00:37:49 --> 00:37:49 neighbour,
00:37:51 --> 00:37:51 an
00:37:51 --> 00:37:51 ultimate
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 friend
00:37:52 --> 00:37:52 who
00:37:52 --> 00:37:52 will
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 fill
00:37:53 --> 00:37:53 up
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 every
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 single
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 longing
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 of the
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 heart.
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 And we
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 are seeking
00:37:58 --> 00:37:58 to do
00:37:58 --> 00:38:00 it in
00:38:00 --> 00:38:00 our
00:38:00 --> 00:38:01 church
00:38:01 --> 00:38:01 family
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 home.
00:38:02 --> 00:38:02 We
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 serve
00:38:03 --> 00:38:03 our
00:38:03 --> 00:38:04 community
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 with
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 this
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 news
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 from
00:38:06 --> 00:38:06 this
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 base,
00:38:07 --> 00:38:07 our
00:38:07 --> 00:38:07 church
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 family
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 home,
00:38:08 --> 00:38:09 that
00:38:09 --> 00:38:09 needs
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 its
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 upgrades
00:38:11 --> 00:38:11 and
00:38:11 --> 00:38:12 its
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 other
00:38:13 --> 00:38:13 maintenance
00:38:13 --> 00:38:14 issues
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 to make
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 it fit
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 for a
00:38:16 --> 00:38:17 gathering
00:38:17 --> 00:38:17 point
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 for
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 connection
00:38:19 --> 00:38:19 and
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 hospitality
00:38:20 --> 00:38:20 and
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 dialogue
00:38:21 --> 00:38:21 and
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 friendship
00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 for
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 members
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 of our
00:38:24 --> 00:38:25 community
00:38:25 --> 00:38:25 that
00:38:25 --> 00:38:26 are
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 feeling
00:38:26 --> 00:38:28 a
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 growing
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 weight
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 of
00:38:30 --> 00:38:30 isolation
00:38:30 --> 00:38:32 and
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 loneliness.
00:38:33 --> 00:38:35 And we're
00:38:35 --> 00:38:36 seeking to
00:38:36 --> 00:38:36 raise funds
00:38:36 --> 00:38:37 not just
00:38:37 --> 00:38:37 for those
00:38:37 --> 00:38:38 two things
00:38:38 --> 00:38:38 but with
00:38:38 --> 00:38:39 a particular
00:38:39 --> 00:38:40 focus
00:38:40 --> 00:38:41 on youth
00:38:41 --> 00:38:42 and young
00:38:42 --> 00:38:42 adults
00:38:42 --> 00:38:42 in our
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 neighbourhood
00:38:43 --> 00:38:44 who are
00:38:44 --> 00:38:44 the most
00:38:44 --> 00:38:45 isolated
00:38:45 --> 00:38:46 and lonely
00:38:46 --> 00:38:46 in this
00:38:46 --> 00:38:47 day.
00:38:49 --> 00:38:49 And so
00:38:49 --> 00:38:51 to
00:38:51 --> 00:38:52 use the
00:38:52 --> 00:38:53 words of
00:38:53 --> 00:38:53 Jesus
00:38:53 --> 00:38:53 if you
00:38:53 --> 00:38:54 like,
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 give
00:38:56 --> 00:38:56 to these
00:38:56 --> 00:38:57 projects,
00:38:58 --> 00:38:58 give
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 generously
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 that you
00:39:00 --> 00:39:01 might win
00:39:01 --> 00:39:02 eternal
00:39:02 --> 00:39:02 friends
00:39:02 --> 00:39:03 for
00:39:03 --> 00:39:04 yourself.
00:39:05 --> 00:39:06 The
00:39:06 --> 00:39:07 third
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 implication
00:39:07 --> 00:39:08 is what
00:39:08 --> 00:39:08 is your
00:39:08 --> 00:39:09 personal
00:39:09 --> 00:39:09 next
00:39:09 --> 00:39:09 step.
00:39:10 --> 00:39:11 There is
00:39:11 --> 00:39:11 absolutely
00:39:11 --> 00:39:12 no such
00:39:12 --> 00:39:12 thing
00:39:12 --> 00:39:13 in the
00:39:13 --> 00:39:13 Bible,
00:39:13 --> 00:39:14 Old
00:39:14 --> 00:39:14 Testament
00:39:14 --> 00:39:14 and
00:39:14 --> 00:39:14 New
00:39:14 --> 00:39:15 that
00:39:15 --> 00:39:15 would
00:39:15 --> 00:39:16 in
00:39:16 --> 00:39:16 any
00:39:16 --> 00:39:16 way
00:39:16 --> 00:39:17 encourage,
00:39:17 --> 00:39:18 support,
00:39:18 --> 00:39:18 condone,
00:39:19 --> 00:39:19 isolated
00:39:19 --> 00:39:20 Christian
00:39:20 --> 00:39:20 faith.
00:39:21 --> 00:39:21 It does
00:39:21 --> 00:39:22 not exist.
00:39:22 --> 00:39:23 It's a
00:39:23 --> 00:39:23 concept,
00:39:23 --> 00:39:24 a category
00:39:24 --> 00:39:24 that does
00:39:24 --> 00:39:26 not exist
00:39:26 --> 00:39:27 in
00:39:27 --> 00:39:27 Christianity.
00:39:28 --> 00:39:29 The
00:39:29 --> 00:39:29 main
00:39:29 --> 00:39:30 source
00:39:30 --> 00:39:31 of such
00:39:31 --> 00:39:31 spiritual
00:39:31 --> 00:39:32 friendships
00:39:32 --> 00:39:32 here at
00:39:32 --> 00:39:32 St.
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 Paul's
00:39:33 --> 00:39:33 is our
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 community
00:39:34 --> 00:39:34 groups.
00:39:34 --> 00:39:35 If you're
00:39:35 --> 00:39:35 not in
00:39:35 --> 00:39:35 one,
00:39:36 --> 00:39:36 I want
00:39:36 --> 00:39:36 to encourage
00:39:36 --> 00:39:37 you strongly
00:39:37 --> 00:39:38 to join
00:39:38 --> 00:39:38 one.
00:39:39 --> 00:39:39 And if
00:39:39 --> 00:39:39 you're
00:39:39 --> 00:39:40 already
00:39:40 --> 00:39:40 one,
00:39:41 --> 00:39:41 go back
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 to my
00:39:42 --> 00:39:42 first point,
00:39:42 --> 00:39:43 what is
00:39:43 --> 00:39:43 your next
00:39:43 --> 00:39:44 step to
00:39:44 --> 00:39:44 take the
00:39:44 --> 00:39:45 relationships
00:39:45 --> 00:39:45 in that
00:39:45 --> 00:39:46 group
00:39:46 --> 00:39:47 to a
00:39:47 --> 00:39:47 deeper
00:39:47 --> 00:39:47 level?
00:39:49 --> 00:39:50 What we're
00:39:50 --> 00:39:50 going to do
00:39:50 --> 00:39:50 now is we're
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 going to
00:39:51 --> 00:39:51 participate
00:39:51 --> 00:39:52 together in
00:39:52 --> 00:39:52 the Lord's
00:39:52 --> 00:39:52 Supper.
00:39:52 --> 00:39:53 love
00:39:53 --> 00:39:54 to
00:39:54 --> 00:39:55 love
00:39:55 --> 00:39:55 to
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 love
00:39:56 --> 00:39:56 to
00:39:56 --> 00:39:57 love
00:39:57 --> 00:39:57 to
00:39:57 --> 00:39:58 love
00:39:58 --> 00:39:58 to
00:39:58 --> 00:39:59 love
00:39:59 --> 00:39:59 to
00:39:59 --> 00:39:59 love
00:39:59 --> 00:40:00 to
00:40:00 --> 00:40:01 Jesus,
00:40:02 --> 00:40:03 our
00:40:03 --> 00:40:03 true
00:40:03 --> 00:40:04 and
00:40:04 --> 00:40:06 dependable
00:40:06 --> 00:40:07 friend
00:40:07 --> 00:40:08 who
00:40:08 --> 00:40:08 became
00:40:08 --> 00:40:09 vulnerable
00:40:09 --> 00:40:10 for us,
00:40:10 --> 00:40:11 for you.
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 And we're
00:40:14 --> 00:40:15 going to
00:40:15 --> 00:40:15 thank God
00:40:15 --> 00:40:16 and I
00:40:16 --> 00:40:17 encourage you
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 to do
00:40:17 --> 00:40:18 this in a
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 moment of
00:40:18 --> 00:40:19 reflection
00:40:19 --> 00:40:19 and
00:40:19 --> 00:40:19 quietness.
00:40:19 --> 00:40:20 Can I
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 get my
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 helpers
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 to come
00:40:20 --> 00:40:21 and
00:40:21 --> 00:40:22 distribute
00:40:22 --> 00:40:22 now?
00:40:24 --> 00:40:24 In a
00:40:24 --> 00:40:25 moment of
00:40:25 --> 00:40:25 reflections
00:40:25 --> 00:40:25 and
00:40:25 --> 00:40:26 quietness,
00:40:27 --> 00:40:29 thank God
00:40:29 --> 00:40:30 for the
00:40:30 --> 00:40:31 spiritual
00:40:31 --> 00:40:31 friends that
00:40:31 --> 00:40:32 he has
00:40:32 --> 00:40:32 put in
00:40:32 --> 00:40:33 your life,
00:40:33 --> 00:40:33 including
00:40:33 --> 00:40:34 the ones
00:40:34 --> 00:40:35 in this
00:40:35 --> 00:40:35 church
00:40:35 --> 00:40:35 right now.
00:40:37 --> 00:40:37 Because
00:40:37 --> 00:40:38 God has
00:40:38 --> 00:40:40 not just
00:40:40 --> 00:40:41 chosen us
00:40:41 --> 00:40:41 as his
00:40:41 --> 00:40:42 friends in
00:40:42 --> 00:40:43 Jesus,
00:40:43 --> 00:40:44 in terms
00:40:44 --> 00:40:44 of our
00:40:44 --> 00:40:44 relationship
00:40:44 --> 00:40:45 with him,
00:40:45 --> 00:40:46 he in
00:40:46 --> 00:40:47 his
00:40:47 --> 00:40:49 providence
00:40:49 --> 00:40:50 has
00:40:50 --> 00:40:50 chosen
00:40:50 --> 00:40:51 us
00:40:51 --> 00:40:52 to be
00:40:52 --> 00:40:53 friends
00:40:53 --> 00:40:55 in
00:40:55 --> 00:40:55 Jesus
00:40:55 --> 00:40:56 together
00:40:56 --> 00:40:56 right now
00:40:56 --> 00:40:57 in this
00:40:57 --> 00:40:58 day and
00:40:58 --> 00:40:58 age.
00:41:00 --> 00:41:01 So that
00:41:01 --> 00:41:02 means that
00:41:02 --> 00:41:02 if your
00:41:02 --> 00:41:03 spiritual
00:41:03 --> 00:41:04 friends are
00:41:04 --> 00:41:04 primarily
00:41:04 --> 00:41:05 outside of
00:41:05 --> 00:41:05 this
00:41:05 --> 00:41:06 community,
00:41:06 --> 00:41:07 there's
00:41:07 --> 00:41:07 another
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 imbalance
00:41:08 --> 00:41:08 that needs
00:41:08 --> 00:41:09 to be
00:41:09 --> 00:41:09 corrected.
00:41:13 --> 00:41:13 In the
00:41:13 --> 00:41:14 Lord's
00:41:14 --> 00:41:14 Supper,
00:41:15 --> 00:41:16 it is
00:41:16 --> 00:41:16 Jesus
00:41:16 --> 00:41:17 who has
00:41:17 --> 00:41:17 provided
00:41:17 --> 00:41:18 the feast
00:41:18 --> 00:41:20 and so
00:41:20 --> 00:41:20 we're
00:41:20 --> 00:41:20 reflecting
00:41:20 --> 00:41:21 on him.
00:41:21 --> 00:41:21 It is
00:41:21 --> 00:41:22 he who
00:41:22 --> 00:41:22 has
00:41:22 --> 00:41:23 provided
00:41:23 --> 00:41:23 the
00:41:23 --> 00:41:24 feast
00:41:24 --> 00:41:26 and
00:41:26 --> 00:41:26 this
00:41:26 --> 00:41:27 day
00:41:27 --> 00:41:29 in his
00:41:29 --> 00:41:30 providence,
00:41:31 --> 00:41:31 it is
00:41:31 --> 00:41:32 he who
00:41:32 --> 00:41:32 has
00:41:32 --> 00:41:33 chosen
00:41:33 --> 00:41:33 the
00:41:33 --> 00:41:34 guest
00:41:34 --> 00:41:34 list
00:41:34 --> 00:41:35 to
00:41:35 --> 00:41:35 enjoy
00:41:35 --> 00:41:36 it
00:41:36 --> 00:41:36 together.
00:41:40 --> 00:41:41 So as
00:41:41 --> 00:41:41 we do
00:41:41 --> 00:41:41 this,
00:41:42 --> 00:41:42 let us
00:41:42 --> 00:41:42 not forget
00:41:42 --> 00:41:43 our host
00:41:43 --> 00:41:44 as we
00:41:44 --> 00:41:45 eat and
00:41:45 --> 00:41:45 drink
00:41:45 --> 00:41:46 with
00:41:46 --> 00:41:46 grateful
00:41:46 --> 00:41:47 hearts
00:41:47 --> 00:41:48 for the
00:41:48 --> 00:41:48 mercy
00:41:48 --> 00:41:49 of
00:41:49 --> 00:41:49 himself
00:41:49 --> 00:41:50 and
00:41:50 --> 00:41:50 the
00:41:50 --> 00:41:51 mercy
00:41:51 --> 00:41:51 of
00:41:51 --> 00:41:52 each
00:41:52 --> 00:41:52 other.
00:41:53 --> 00:41:54 And as
00:41:54 --> 00:41:55 we do,
00:41:56 --> 00:41:56 may we
00:41:56 --> 00:41:57 also be
00:41:57 --> 00:41:58 reflecting
00:41:58 --> 00:41:59 and praying
00:41:59 --> 00:42:00 that we
00:42:00 --> 00:42:01 might become
00:42:01 --> 00:42:01 better friends
00:42:01 --> 00:42:02 of Jesus
00:42:02 --> 00:42:03 and that we
00:42:03 --> 00:42:04 might become
00:42:04 --> 00:42:05 better friends
00:42:05 --> 00:42:06 of Jesus
00:42:06 --> 00:42:07 together
00:42:07 --> 00:42:08 as we
00:42:08 --> 00:42:09 become better
00:42:09 --> 00:42:10 friends of
00:42:10 --> 00:42:10 each
00:42:10 --> 00:42:10 other.