The Battleground
Series: NO OTHER GOSPEL
Speaker: Sam Low
Date: 21st October 2017
00:00:00 --> 00:00:10 One of the most profound things that I have ever learnt as a Christian was that following Jesus is and always will be a battle, at least until Jesus comes back.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:12 It's going to be challenging.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:18 And I remember during a series that we actually did here at St. Paul's a few years ago, looking at the book of Revelation.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 Revelation is the final book in the Bible.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:26 It's a prophetic vision that God gives to John about the end times.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:30 And there were two really significant things that I walked away from that series with.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:35 The first one was that heaven is going to be better than I've even begun to imagine.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:39 It's going to be more exciting and more satisfying than even my wildest dreams.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:45 There'll be no sickness, no pain, no hurting, no goodbyes, no tears.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:45 It will be amazing.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:47 And I can't wait to get there.
00:00:47 --> 00:01:04 But the second thing that I learnt or that sharpened for me in that series was I realised that right up until that moment when Jesus returns and comes to fix things that are broken and right wrongs, until then, life will be broken and wrong.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:14 Until heaven, our earthly existence as people who are trying to follow Jesus, trying to live for him, will be marked by opposition.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:21 The opposition that's out there, the people who try and limit our ability to love and follow Jesus, to worship him.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:33 The opposition of a world that is marked by the consequences of sin in the form of things like sickness, natural disaster, all of which can sometimes make it more difficult to stand up and say,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:34 God is good.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:36 God loves me.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:37 God is gracious.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 And there's a whole other sermon series right there.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 But the other opposition is internal opposition.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:51 The other thing that can make following Jesus a battle is our own weakness and our own failure.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:52 It's our own doubt.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:56 It's our own anger at God for not working the way that we want him to.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:03 The point being, following Jesus is a battle.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:06 Now that's not supposed to scare you off.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:08 Heaven's worth it.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 What Jesus did on the cross is worth it.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 Jesus himself is worthy.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:19 The point's not to scare us off, but to focus us, to open our eyes.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 Given it's a battle, how do we battle well?
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 How do we stand in the midst of the fighting and persevere and stand firm?
00:02:27 --> 00:02:33 How do we live now that we've been forgiven, that we are adopted, that we're in the family and that we're waiting for heaven?
00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 How do we do that well?
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 That's the struggle for the Galatians.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40 They've heard the gospel.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 They've started following Jesus.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:43 They were excited.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:44 Their lives changed drastically.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 But then they realized it's actually harder than we thought.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:49 It's hard to stay the course.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 There's people trying to convince us to do other things.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 There's our own questions, our own doubt.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:58 It's the question that every follower of Jesus must ask.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 It's the question Paul wants to wrestle with right now.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 How do you battle well as a follower of Jesus?
00:03:05 --> 00:03:11 How do you stand firm in the freedom that Jesus has purchased for you?
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 Well, let's look at three things in this passage.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 Firstly, how do you battle well?
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 You need to know where you are.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:27 It took me all of a month, but you're about to get your first marathon illustration.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 After this, you might be excited that I'm leaving.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:37 When I was running my half marathon a month ago, there was a lot of things conspiring to try and make me give up.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 It's fairly unpleasant, to be perfectly honest with you.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:48 The lack of conditioning in my muscles, the capacity for my blood to carry oxygen to all the parts of my body that need it, dehydration.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:52 But the biggest barrier in the half marathon was in my head.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:58 Because it's literally nearly two hours of arduous physical exertion.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 Just the same thing, step after step after step.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:06 21 kilometers, and every kilometer feels like it's getting longer and further away.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:11 And I find myself having this internal discussion as I'm running.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 There's nothing else to do.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 Internal discussion about, will I keep going?
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 Should I give up?
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 Is this worth all the effort?
00:04:18 --> 00:04:22 And every time I pass a kilometer marker, there'd be a big number on a bit of cardboard.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 There's a burst of optimism.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 I'm suddenly thinking, I'm making progress.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 Off I go.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 A little bit quicker for 100 meters.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:33 And each one of these markers is about five minutes apart at the pace that I run.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:46 And that's five whole minutes of focusing on how uncomfortable I am and doing a million different little mathematical equations about how far there is to go, looking for an answer that might be slightly encouraging.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:50 Trying to break it down into ridiculous little segments or something like that.
00:04:50 --> 00:05:05 And in amongst this internal discussion, I catch myself hoping that every time I can't see around a corner, or every time there's a hill where I can't see the other side, I start hoping that this next corner or this next hill will have another kilometer marker.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:15 Now, the reality is, I've only been running for about 10 seconds since I passed the last one, but you start to lose track of time when you're just thinking about markers for two hours straight.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:24 And it's that hope that I'm almost there that costs you more than anything because it's false hope.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 I mean, it's completely unrealistic hope.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 It doesn't make sense at all.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:31 If I turned around, I could see the marker that I just ran past.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 A thousand meters is a long way, just quietly.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:39 One kilometer is an uncomfortable distance, especially when it's kilometer 15 or 16.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:45 And so it's completely ridiculous that I would think just around this corner, this would be the shortest kilometer in the history of the world.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 But I convince myself that it's going to be there.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 And so I pep up.
00:05:50 --> 00:06:01 And then as I come around the corner and it's not there, and suddenly I can see hundreds of meters down the road and there are no markers, I feel incredibly crushed.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:06 It feels like an eternity since the last marker, but there is none coming.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 And so I'm not as far progressed as I thought.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:16 I'm not as far progressed as I want to be, as I need to be for a little bit of affirmation and encouragement.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 And it's the same when it comes to following Jesus.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:24 We start following Jesus and we trick ourselves into thinking we're through the worst bit.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 We're through the hardest period of change.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 We're through the hardest bit of opposition.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:36 We're through the hardest bit of realizing that there's stuff in us that's embarrassing and shameful that we need to repent of and confess.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:40 And we trick ourselves into thinking we're nearly there.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 One more challenge.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 One more sin I've got to overcome.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 One more family member making fun of the fact that I follow Jesus.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:54 We think all the hard work is done and that if we just get through this one struggle, it will be easier.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 But when you're around the corner, there's another struggle.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:04 There's another sin that you are not on top of, that you need to confess.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:11 There's another part of your life that you probably need to repent of and acknowledge to God and start working on.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:18 And the reality is that what the Bible teaches is until we get to heaven, there will always be another struggle.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:25 There will always be parts of our lives, parts of our own desires that will be pushing us away from God.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 Things we have to fight.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:31 There will always be another hill, another corner, another sin, another doubt, another challenge.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 Following Jesus is and will be a battle.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 And so when Paul says in verse 16,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:45 walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 It sounds so simple.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 Just walk by the Spirit.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:56 And then you won't do all these things that you're embarrassed about or that you're ashamed of or that you've been doing your whole life.
00:07:56 --> 00:08:02 The instruction sounds easy, but then he follows it with verse 17.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:02 He says,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 And the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 And here's the key bit.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 They are in conflict with each other.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 So you're not to do whatever you want.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:22 It's important if we're in a battle, and we are, to know that we're in a battle.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 It's important to have our eyes open to that reality.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 Conflict is where we live as followers of Jesus.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 This new life, this freedom that God has won for us,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:37 this desire and opportunity to please and to serve God,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 is fighting with everything that we used to be.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 It's fighting with a lifestyle, a learned lifestyle,
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 that puts us at the centre,
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 that loves ourselves and our own comfort more than it loves Jesus.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 Deb mentioned this last week.
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 She took us to Romans 7,
00:08:55 --> 00:09:00 where Paul talks about the torture of deep down wanting to serve God
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 with every minute of every day,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 but knowing that so much of the time you compromise.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 You say,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 I'm going to serve God with everything,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 but first there's a few things that I need to do to look after me.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 Conflict is the reality for the Christian.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 So we need to expect it.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:26 In fact, if there's a lack of moral conflict and inner wrestling
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 in your life following Jesus,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:32 that's probably not evidence that you've made it.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 It could be a sign that you've conceded defeat.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:42 Your default setting will be to go back to your old way of life,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 and conflict is the reality of the one
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 who is progressively becoming more like Jesus.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 The only time that that old desire,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 that old way of life will be fully destroyed
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 is when we get to heaven.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 Conflict is the reality for those who follow Jesus.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 Internal conflict.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 But this next verse is really, really important.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 Verse 18.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 If you're led by the Spirit,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 you are not under the law.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 Let me say this really clearly.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 Where you are as a Christian in this battle,
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 there is conflict,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 but there is no condemnation.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 There is conflict,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 but there is no condemnation.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 You will struggle,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 you will wrestle,
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 you will fall sometimes,
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 but there is no condemnation.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 This is more a paintball skirmish
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 than an actual war.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 If you've never done paintball,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 it hurts,
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 it's uncomfortable,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 it'll leave a mark,
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 it'll do some damage,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 but it won't kill you.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 If you succumb to temptation,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 it'll be painful.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 There'll be consequences.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 You might damage relationships,
00:10:56 --> 00:11:00 but it can't undo what God has already done for you.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 It can't uncrucify Jesus.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 It can't put him back in the tomb.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 So as a Christian,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 you battle with life insurance.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 You battle with a guardian angel.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 You battle with a medic team.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 You battle in such a way that you are safe.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 We battle as those who have been adopted.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 And so we struggle and grow slowly,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:26 but surely completely secure
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 that we are and will always be loved
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 by our heavenly father.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 In our great moments of victory
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 over sin and temptation,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 and in our moments of despair and failure,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 still secure in the love of our heavenly father,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:44 battling well means knowing where you are.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 You are in conflict,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 but there is no condemnation,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 which means when you fail,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 you're secure.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 It means when you realize
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 that you haven't grown as much as you wanted to,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 when you catch yourself falling back
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 into an old habit,
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 you have the security to confess that,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 to admit it,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 and to get up and try again.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 You have the freedom
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 to hand over guilt
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 and to take the next step,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 to face the next challenge,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 to have the perseverance
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 to keep going around the next corner.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 Knowing where you are
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 spares you the disappointment
00:12:24 --> 00:12:28 of thinking life was supposed to be easy
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 and then being shocked
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 when actually you need to fight.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 You need to battle.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 You need to persevere
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 if you want to become more like Jesus.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 If you want to live in the freedom
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 that God has got for you,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 know up front,
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 it will be hard.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 It will be difficult,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 but you can do it secure
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 in the love that God has for you
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 and with your eyes focused
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 on the destination
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 that you're hoping for.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 Battling well means
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 knowing where you are.
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 Second thing,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 it means focusing
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 on the real issue.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 Have a look at verse 19.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 The acts of the flesh
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 are obvious.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 Sexual immorality,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 impurity and debauchery,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 idolatry and witchcraft,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 hatred,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 discord,
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 jealousy,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 fits of rage,
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 selfish ambition,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 dissensions,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 factions and envy,
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 drunkenness,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 orgies and the like.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 I warn you,
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 as I did before,
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 that those who live like this
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 will not inherit
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 the kingdom of God.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 So Paul's digging into
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 this conflict for us
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 a little bit,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 giving us a deeper view
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 and we experience
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 this conflict
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 in the two halves.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 So the first half
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 is what he calls
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 the acts of the flesh
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 and when Paul uses
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 that word flesh,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 he's kind of meaning
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 our basic carnal desires,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 our default human setting,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 the thing that everyone
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 in the world goes after
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 until they meet Jesus
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 and discover that he's better.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 It's our internal
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 default instincts,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 it's the way we operate
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 before we meet Jesus.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 But there's two really
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 interesting things
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 in these verses.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 First, have a look
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 at what's listed
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 in these verses.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 You've got some obvious ones,
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 some ones that we all assume
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 God's not going to be happy about,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 idolatry,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 witchcraft,
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 sexual immorality.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 But there's also
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 a couple of more subtle ones,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 maybe even things
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 that we would see
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 as kind of acceptable
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 in small doses.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 Envy,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 jealousy,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 the odd bit of drunkenness.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 selfish ambition
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 is even sometimes
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 considered a virtue
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 in our culture.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 Look after yourself,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 get what you deserve.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 But look where the focus
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 is in this list.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 See, the emphasis
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 isn't on those specific acts,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 it's just a list of examples.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 The focus is on the source
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 of those acts.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 acts.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 They come from the flesh.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 They're evidence
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 of a life
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 that is driven
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 by rejecting God.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 They're evidence
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 that the center
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 that makes the decision,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 the center
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 that desires things
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 and then pursues things,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 is not in line
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 with God,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 is not submitted
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 to Him
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 as King.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 The real issue
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 is not the acts.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 He does the same thing
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 when he moves on
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 to the positive half
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 in verse 22.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 He says,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 but the fruit
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 of the Spirit
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 is love,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 joy,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 peace,
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 forbearance,
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 kindness,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 goodness,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 faithfulness,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 gentleness,
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 and self-control.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 Against such things
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 there is no law.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 So you've got
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 the acts
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 of the flesh
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 and then you've got
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 the fruit
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 of the Spirit.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 That is acts
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 and fruit
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 that are produced by.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 They're the result
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 of something
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 that's going on
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 deeper inside.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 See,
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 the conflict
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 that we experience
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 as Christians,
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 the battle
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 that we need
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 to fight in,
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 that we need
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 to commit to,
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 that we need
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 to struggle in,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 the disagreement
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 that we feel,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 the tension
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 between our old way
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 of life
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 and the new life
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 that we have
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 in Jesus
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 is not a battle
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 that is waged
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 in our hands
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 and feet.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 It's not a battle
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 that is waged
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 in your eyes
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 or your mouth.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 life,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 it's deeper.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 It's a battle
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 for your heart.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 It's a battle
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 for the very core
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 of you.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 And so if we spend
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 our energy
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 in this battle
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 focusing on our
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 hands and feet,
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 focusing on the acts,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 focusing on the fruit,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 we're missing
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 the real issue.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 See,
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 the jealousy
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 that I feel
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 or the jealousy
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 that I act on,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 the kindness
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 that I don't feel
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 or the kindness
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 that I don't act on,
00:16:40 --> 00:16:44 they're both
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 the result
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 of what's going
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 on in my heart.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 Which means
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 I can't fix them
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 by just trying harder
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 or changing
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 my behaviour.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 It might kind of
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 put on a show
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 for a little while.
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 I might be able
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 to feel really jealous
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 and pretend
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 that I'm not.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 I might be able
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 to fake kindness.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 But if
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 drunkenness
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 is my issue,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 I might somehow
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 force myself
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 to stop drinking
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 and that's a good thing
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 but I actually
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 haven't dealt
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 with the issue.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 There's a reason
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 that I'm doing that.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 I have to dig deeper.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 That's why in verse 24
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 he says,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 those who belong
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 to Christ Jesus
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 have crucified
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 the flesh
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 with its passions
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 and desires.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 What's called for here
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 is not a slight
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 change in behaviour
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 but it's a killing
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 of sin,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 a destroying
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 of desires
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 that drag us
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 away from this
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 new life
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 that Jesus
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 has purchased
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 for us.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 We need to put
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 that sin to death
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 and in order
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 to do that
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 we've got to ask
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 the question,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 why
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 do I get drunk?
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 Why
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 am I jealous?
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 Why
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 am I immoral?
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 Why
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 do I look at things
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 that I know
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 that I shouldn't?
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 What is it
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 that I desire
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 that I think
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 getting drunk
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 or being angry
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 or jealous
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 or whatever it is
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 will deliver for me?
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 That's the
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 heart question.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 Only
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 if we begin
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 to engage
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 that question
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 can we begin
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 to deal
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 with the actual
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 enemy.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 Heart change
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 is what is needed
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 and heart change
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 is something
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 that can only happen
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 by the grace
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 of God
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 and in the power
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 of the Holy Spirit.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 Here's what the
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 process looks like.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 As you ask
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 that deeper
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 question
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 and maybe
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 there's something
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 in your life
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 right now
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 that you can
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 insert in this
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 process.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 As you dig
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 behind the
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 acts of the
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 flesh
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 or the absence
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 of the fruit
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 of the Spirit
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 and you discover
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 what it is
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 that you want
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 that you're
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 hoping those
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 things will
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 deliver,
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 the Spirit
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 whose main
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 role
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 is to help
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 you and me
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 and all of us
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 know and see
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 Jesus in his
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 all satisfying
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 joy-giving
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 majesty,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 the Spirit
00:19:10 --> 00:19:12 shows you
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 how Jesus
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 meets that
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 desire more
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 completely
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 and more fully
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 than whatever
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 it is you're
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 doing instead.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 But you need
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 to know
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 what that
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 desire is
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 before you
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 can go
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 through that
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 process.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 Otherwise
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 all you'll
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 ever focus
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 on is
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 am I being
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 envious,
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 am I being
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 jealous,
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 am I being
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 kind,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 am I being
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 good and
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 you can
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 try to
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 do those
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 things but
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 deep down
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 you'll still
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 be jealous
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 and you
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 still won't
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 be kind
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 and eventually
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 you'll get
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 weary and
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 you'll go to
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 your default.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 If you
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 never dig
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 down to
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 see the
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 why behind
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 your sin,
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 if you
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 never look
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 into where
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 the battle
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 is really
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 raging,
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 then the
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 hatred you
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 feel for
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 some annoying
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 person will
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 be really
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 difficult to
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 see how
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 Jesus has
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 anything to
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 do with
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 it.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:03 You need
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 to ask
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 why.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 Because in
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 the gospel,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 in Jesus,
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 we have
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 everything we
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 need.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 Our problem
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 is we
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 haven't worked
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 out what
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 it is we're
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 chasing and
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 so we
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 can't see
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 how Jesus
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 provides and
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 satisfies.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 Conflict in
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 the Christian
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 life, the
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 battle to
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 live as
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 people worthy
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 of the name
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 Jesus is
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 not a battle
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 that's fought
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 in our hands
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 and feet.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 It's a battle
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 that goes on
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 in our hearts.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 And because
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 you lack
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 the power
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 to change
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 your own
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 heart,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 focusing here
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 means that we
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 can battle
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 well by being
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 humble and
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 dependent on
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 God for that
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 transformation.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 It means
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 rather than
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 keeping our
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 weaknesses and
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 our failures and
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 our sins secret
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 and trying to
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 fix them before
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 we let anyone
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 else know that
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 they're an
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 issue,
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 instead of doing
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 that which won't
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 work, we can go
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 to God first and
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 regularly and say,
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 God, I failed,
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 I need your
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 forgiveness, I need
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 your help, and I
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 need you to change
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 my heart.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 I need your
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 spirit to help
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 me see that
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 Jesus is better.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 I need your
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 spirit to grow
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 in me a love
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 for Jesus that
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 drives my
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 actions, that
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 produces fruit.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 I need your
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 help to be
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 loving, kind,
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 good, patient,
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 joyful, peaceful,
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 faithful, gentle,
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 self-controlled.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:24 They're called
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 fruit of the
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 spirit because
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 they grow
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 slowly but
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 surely in the
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 life of a
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 Christian who
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 is being led
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 by the spirit
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 that's in them.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 Battling well
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 means knowing
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 to expect
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 conflict but
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 not condemnation.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 It means
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 focusing on
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 your heart,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 which means
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 depending on
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 God to do
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 the work of
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 transformation.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 And the last
00:21:48 --> 00:21:50 thing, battling
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 well as a
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 Christian,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 means getting
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 ahead of the
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 game.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 Or to use
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 Paul's language,
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 it means
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 keeping in
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 step with the
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 spirit.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 Verse 25.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 Since we
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 live by the
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 spirit, that
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 is since we've
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 been given
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 life by the
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 spirit, that's
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 what Galatians
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 has taught us,
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 let us keep
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 in step with
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 the spirit.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 Now it took
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 me a month to
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 give you the
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 first one, you're
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 going to get
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 two in one
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 day, two
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 running
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 illustrations.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 The other
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 running that I
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 do, apart from
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 trying to do a
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 half marathon, is
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 a weekly park run
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 with a bunch of
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 people in this
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 room.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 There's a bit of
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 healthy competition
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 amongst us about
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 who can be the
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 fastest.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 It's supposed to
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 be a race against
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 yourself, but
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 nobody actually
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 believes that.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 And you get a
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 time every week as
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 to how fast you
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 can run the five
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 kilometres.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 If you don't
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 believe me about
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 the competition,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 note how many
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 people are talking
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 about their times
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 at morning tea.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 Anyway, it's a
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 five kilometre time
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 trial.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 And in my
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 marathon training, a
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 good win about
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 investing all those
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 hours was that my
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 times got better and
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 better and better and
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 I had something to
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 brag about and gloat
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 about.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 And then I set
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 myself a bit of a
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 target about what
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 time I would get to.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 I wanted to get
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 faster than 22
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 minutes.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 And I got kind of
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 close and I was
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 pretty happy with
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 that.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 And then after my
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 marathon I thought
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 that's where I'm
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 going to focus my
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 energy.
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 And I had a couple
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 of weeks break
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 because my body was
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 kind of exhausted.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 But the first time I
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 went back I ran like
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 quite a bit slower
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 than I'd been running
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 beforehand.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 I was very frustrated
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 and so I went home a
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 little bit disappointed
00:23:22 --> 00:23:24 and agitated and I
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 thought I'll go back
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 next week and I'll get
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 that goal.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 Because once I've got
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 that goal I can relax.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 Job done.
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 The next week still
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 nowhere near my 22
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 minute goal.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 Very disappointed and
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 frustrated.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 And as I'm running
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 around the five
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 kilometres trying to
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 beat this time I'm
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 getting angry at
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 myself.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 Like what are you
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 doing?
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 Just put some extra
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 effort in.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 Run faster.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 But there's some
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 physiological issues
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 like having to throw
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 up next to the track
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 that were limiting me
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 getting to my time.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 And that's because the
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 reality is what I do
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 in that moment actually
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 counts very little in
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 the scheme of things as
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 to whether or not I can
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 actually produce the
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 result that I want.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 The factors that
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 influence whether or not
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 I can get that goal
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 and get victory if you
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 like in that moment is
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 the work that's done
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 beforehand.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 It's the whether or not
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 I ate KFC the night
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 before I did.
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 It's whether or not I
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 ran during the week or
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 two weeks or actually
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 three weeks beforehand
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 I didn't.
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 The preparation is where
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 the victory is won.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 In the battle you might
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 have all the willpower in
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 the world but if you have
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 not prepared yourself and
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 strengthened yourself you
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 will lose.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 You will be defeated.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 We have life in the
00:24:39 --> 00:24:41 spirit so the call is to
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 keep in step with the
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 spirit.
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 To constantly be led by
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 the spirit.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 To have the spirit
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 shaping us and equipping
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 us so that when the
00:24:50 --> 00:24:54 temptation comes we know
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 that Jesus is better.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 When the failure comes we
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 know that God is gracious
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 and will still forgive us.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 So what does it look like
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 to keep in step with the
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 spirit?
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 How do we do that
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 concretely?
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 How do we prepare for the
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 battle?
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 Two things.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:16 Sharing and sowing.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 Sharing and sowing.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 Firstly sharing.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:25 Spirit led life is
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 community life.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 Have a look at verse 26.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:31 Let us not become
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 conceited, provoking and
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 envying each other.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 Brothers and sisters if
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 someone is caught in a
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 sin you who live by the
00:25:37 --> 00:25:39 spirit should restore that
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 person gently.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 But watch yourselves or
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 you also may be tempted.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 Carry each other's
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 burdens and in this way
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 you fulfill the law of
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 Christ.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 If anyone thinks they are
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 something when they are
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 not they deceive
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 themselves.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 Each one should test their
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 own actions then they can
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 take pride in themselves
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 alone without comparing
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 themselves to someone
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 else for each one should
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 carry their own load.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 Spirit life, living by the
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 spirit, being led by the
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 spirit, keeping in step
00:26:07 --> 00:26:09 with the spirit has to do
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 with how we live together.
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 The first thing that Paul
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 goes to after saying keep
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 in step with the spirit is
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 how we perceive ourselves
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 and how that impacts the
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 way we relate to and love
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 one another.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 Don't provoke each other out
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 of some sense of
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 superiority.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 Don't envy each other out
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 of feelings of inferiority
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 because both attitudes
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 reflect conceit or
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 self-absorption or focus
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 on me.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:40 This echoes back to
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 chapter 5 when Paul talks
00:26:41 --> 00:26:43 about being free and what
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 it looks like to live free
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 is to lovingly serve our
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 neighbours.
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 The spirit that God has
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 given us didn't draw us
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 into this little quiet
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 private one-on-one
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 relationship with God.
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 It drew us into a
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 community that would be
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 the people of God.
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 Plural.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 The point being that
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 keeping in step with the
00:27:07 --> 00:27:09 spirit requires you
00:27:09 --> 00:27:11 to be engaged with the
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 people of the spirit.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 Engaged with Christian
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 community.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 Preparation for the battle
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 in your heart, the battle
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 to resist temptation,
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 the battle to deal with
00:27:21 --> 00:27:24 your failures is best
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 done in partnership with
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 your brothers and
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 sisters in Christ.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 Carrying each other's
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 burdens.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 Gently correcting one
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 another.
00:27:35 --> 00:27:37 Not comparing ourselves
00:27:37 --> 00:27:39 but pointing each other
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 to the freedom of the
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 gospel, to the obedience
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 that the gospel enables.
00:27:43 --> 00:27:46 And here's a little
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 challenge for us in
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 this.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 I think it's much
00:27:49 --> 00:27:52 easier for us to
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 carry someone else's
00:27:53 --> 00:27:56 burden with them than
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 it is for us to ask for
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 or accept help for our
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 own burdens.
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 We're happy to offer
00:28:02 --> 00:28:04 help but accepting
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 help is a little more
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 difficult.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 It's much easier to
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 recognise sin in someone
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 else and to gently seek
00:28:10 --> 00:28:13 to restore them than it
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 is to have somebody
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 recognise sin in you
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 and gently seek to
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 restore you.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:20 We live in a culture
00:28:20 --> 00:28:22 that prides itself on
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 independence.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 But we serve a God who
00:28:26 --> 00:28:28 delights in and designed
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 us for interdependence.
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 The challenge for us as a
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 community and as
00:28:34 --> 00:28:37 individuals, will you ask
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 for help?
00:28:39 --> 00:28:41 Will you share your
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 burden?
00:28:43 --> 00:28:45 Will you hear
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 correction?
00:28:49 --> 00:28:52 I remember when we
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 were having kids in that
00:28:53 --> 00:28:55 crazy bit when they're
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 first born and you just
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 don't know which way is
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 up and you can't sleep.
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 And lots of people
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 graciously and generally
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 offered meals, offered to
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 babysit Bailey when
00:29:04 --> 00:29:06 Hudson was born, offered to
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 do whatever we needed for
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 help.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 And we'd have
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 conversations about that
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 and we're like, oh, that's
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 really nice.
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 And some people really
00:29:12 --> 00:29:14 graciously forced their
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 help on us.
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 And I mean that when I say
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 it.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 They forced their help on us
00:29:17 --> 00:29:19 and we had to receive it.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 But I remember having
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 conversation.
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 We'd be sitting there
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 going, surely somebody else
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 needs help more than us.
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 We're surviving.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 And we were.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:29 We were tired, but we were
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 surviving.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 But what if that's not the
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 goal?
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 What if God's goal for you is
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 not that you survive in your
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 own strength?
00:29:36 --> 00:29:39 What if in that moment
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 what we were doing was
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 actually robbing ourselves
00:29:41 --> 00:29:43 of the blessing of
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 journeying together and
00:29:45 --> 00:29:48 robbing our church family
00:29:48 --> 00:29:50 of the blessing of doing
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 what we're instructed to do
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 when it comes to living in
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 line with the Spirit?
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 Keeping in step with the
00:29:57 --> 00:29:59 Spirit requires us to be in
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 Christian community.
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 And that doesn't mean
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 attending church once a
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 week.
00:30:03 --> 00:30:06 Being in Christian
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 community means having
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 substantial, honest
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 relationships with other
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 Christians.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:14 Having people that you feel
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 secure enough to ask help
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 from.
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 People who you trust enough
00:30:18 --> 00:30:20 to confess sin with.
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 Maybe the people in your
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 community group.
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 Maybe others that you have
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 long-standing relationships
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 with.
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 But either way, ensuring that
00:30:30 --> 00:30:32 you are there to share the
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 burden when they need it.
00:30:33 --> 00:30:35 And they are there to share
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 your burden when you need it.
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 We are in a battle.
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 And the Spirit's power to
00:30:43 --> 00:30:45 win that battle is built
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 into the kind of Christian
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 relationships that are
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 described in these verses.
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 Where we journey together.
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 So keeping in step with the
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 Spirit, staying ahead of the
00:30:55 --> 00:30:57 game means sharing your life
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 with your brothers and
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 sisters in Christ so that
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 you don't battle alone.
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 And the second bit it means
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 keeping in step with the
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 Spirit is about sowing.
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 Have a look quickly with me
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 at verse 7.
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 Do not be deceived.
00:31:09 --> 00:31:11 God cannot be mocked.
00:31:12 --> 00:31:14 A man reaps what he sows.
00:31:15 --> 00:31:17 Catch the seriousness of that
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 soundbite there.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:20 Be easy to just skip past it
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 and focus on the reaping and
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 sowing.
00:31:21 --> 00:31:24 God cannot be mocked.
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 It's a timeless principle.
00:31:28 --> 00:31:30 You get out what you put in.
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 You sow apple seeds, you get
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 an apple tree.
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 You sow rocks, you get
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 nothing.
00:31:35 --> 00:31:37 As followers of Jesus, it is
00:31:37 --> 00:31:41 mocking God to sow that which
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 is not honoring to him into your
00:31:42 --> 00:31:44 life and then to act surprised
00:31:44 --> 00:31:46 or disappointed when you don't
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 see the fruit of the Spirit being
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 produced.
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 Verse 8,
00:31:51 --> 00:31:53 Whoever sows to please their
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 flesh from the flesh will reap
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 destruction.
00:31:56 --> 00:31:58 Whoever sows to please the
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 Spirit from the Spirit will reap
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 eternal life.
00:32:01 --> 00:32:03 The things you fill your life
00:32:03 --> 00:32:06 with, the things you watch, the
00:32:06 --> 00:32:09 people you spend time with, those
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 are the things that you are
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 sowing into your character.
00:32:12 --> 00:32:14 Those are the things that will
00:32:14 --> 00:32:17 produce either the acts of the
00:32:17 --> 00:32:19 flesh or the fruit of the Spirit.
00:32:20 --> 00:32:22 If you spend all your time with
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 people who encourage you to be
00:32:23 --> 00:32:25 dishonest or arrogant or
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 competitive or to compare
00:32:26 --> 00:32:28 yourself, if you watch things on
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 TV or movies that fill your mind
00:32:29 --> 00:32:31 with violence or hatred or
00:32:31 --> 00:32:35 immorality, what do you think you
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 will reap?
00:32:39 --> 00:32:41 Now the point isn't that we should
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 all go live in the desert and hide
00:32:42 --> 00:32:44 away from the big bad world out
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 there.
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 Remember the battle's in here so
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 we're taking the battle with us
00:32:47 --> 00:32:49 even into the desert.
00:32:51 --> 00:32:53 Plus God sent us into the world
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 to call people out of darkness
00:32:54 --> 00:32:56 into light with the hope of the
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 gospel.
00:32:56 --> 00:32:59 The point is you reap what you sow.
00:33:00 --> 00:33:02 And so if your heart's desire is to
00:33:02 --> 00:33:04 truly live a life that honors God, a
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 life that shines so brightly that
00:33:05 --> 00:33:07 others are drawn into the hope and
00:33:07 --> 00:33:11 joy of the gospel, then you need to be
00:33:11 --> 00:33:13 sowing to please the Spirit.
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 Spirit.
00:33:15 --> 00:33:17 And the Spirit's desire is to make
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 much of Jesus.
00:33:20 --> 00:33:22 So if you want to please Him, fill
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 your life with Jesus.
00:33:24 --> 00:33:26 Fill your mind and your heart with
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 Jesus.
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 Soak in His Word.
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 Pray.
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 Spend time just hanging out with Him.
00:33:31 --> 00:33:33 Avoid the things that you know will
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 lead you away from Him.
00:33:35 --> 00:33:37 Walk out of the movie that you've paid
00:33:37 --> 00:33:39 good money to watch if you can see
00:33:39 --> 00:33:41 that that movie is sowing into you
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 things that are going to lead you away
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 from Jesus.
00:33:44 --> 00:33:46 Stop doing that hobby if it's become
00:33:46 --> 00:33:48 something that is sowing selfish
00:33:48 --> 00:33:50 ambition or jealousy in you.
00:33:51 --> 00:33:54 Gather with and invest in Spirit-filled,
00:33:54 --> 00:33:56 interdependent relationships with
00:33:56 --> 00:33:58 brothers and sisters in Christ.
00:33:59 --> 00:34:01 Serve and allow yourself to be served.
00:34:02 --> 00:34:05 Confess your sins and entrust yourself
00:34:05 --> 00:34:08 to Jesus who died and rose again so
00:34:08 --> 00:34:12 that you could be forgiven even as you
00:34:12 --> 00:34:14 battle, even in your moments of doubt
00:34:14 --> 00:34:16 and failure.
00:34:18 --> 00:34:20 Walk with Jesus who has already won the
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 war.
00:34:22 --> 00:34:24 We are in a battle.
00:34:25 --> 00:34:27 So we need to know that there will be
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 conflict.
00:34:29 --> 00:34:31 And yet we are secure.
00:34:31 --> 00:34:34 There will not be condemnation for those
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 who are in Christ Jesus.
00:34:35 --> 00:34:38 We are in a battle.
00:34:39 --> 00:34:41 And that battle is not fought in our
00:34:41 --> 00:34:43 hands and feet but deep within us, in our
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 hearts.
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 So we need to pray.
00:34:45 --> 00:34:47 We need to depend on God and on the
00:34:47 --> 00:34:49 power of His Spirit within us to shape
00:34:49 --> 00:34:51 and mould us to win the battles,
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 to stand firm.
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 We are in a battle.
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 So we need to get ahead of the game.
00:35:00 --> 00:35:02 We need to listen to the Spirit.
00:35:02 --> 00:35:04 We need to share our lives with one
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 another, journey together, share
00:35:05 --> 00:35:08 burdens and we need to sow for a future
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 harvest.
00:35:11 --> 00:35:14 We need to take the things in that will
00:35:14 --> 00:35:16 produce the fruit that we desire most.
00:35:18 --> 00:35:22 Since we live by the Spirit, since we have
00:35:22 --> 00:35:24 been given life by the Spirit, we have
00:35:24 --> 00:35:26 been brought to life through the death and
00:35:26 --> 00:35:29 resurrection of Jesus which gifted us the
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 Holy Spirit.
00:35:30 --> 00:35:35 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 in step with it.