The Discipline of Committment
Series: DISCIPLINES OF GRACE
Speaker: John Lau
Date: 7th July 2019
Passage: Nehemiah 1:1-2:5
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 When I was dating Vivian,
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 we ran rolling in the national park a couple of times.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 In the spirit of being equal
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 and not wanting me to do all the driving and all the rolling,
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 I guess also wanted to be a bit more intimate.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 She would offer to sit next to me and roll with me.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 I would always tell her I enjoyed seeing her face
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 more than having her sitting next to me.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 And I do all the rolling myself.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:36 Have you ever rowed a boat with a very uneven force
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 or even on one oar?
00:00:39 --> 00:00:43 The boat will just move in circle and never goes anywhere.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:48 The two sides need to be equally strong to get somewhere.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:50 If you have met Vivian,
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 you will know why I would do the rolling myself.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:58 However, I was truly sincere about enjoying seeing her face-to-face.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 And not just seeing her face while we're dating,
00:01:02 --> 00:01:06 we make commitment to marry each other in November 2003,
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 which is a bit more than 15 years ago.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 We've made many different commitments in our lives.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 If you're a Christian,
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 can you remember the day you turned to Christ?
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 What was the reason that you decided to become a follower of Jesus?
00:01:23 --> 00:01:27 What commitment did you make at that point of decision
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 to follow Jesus for the rest of your life?
00:01:30 --> 00:01:34 If you are not yet a Christian or interested to find out more,
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 what are you looking for as you investigate into Christianity?
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 What are you waiting to find out?
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 Are you waiting to find out what you should do
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 or what you should bring to God as an entry fee?
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 Last week, we looked at disciplines of grace,
00:01:53 --> 00:01:57 and today we're going to look at three commitments of discipline.
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 But before we do so,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 I want to look at dependence with you.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 Imagine all the disciplines
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 that we are looking at this few weeks
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 is one side of the boat
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 and one of the oar that we go to roll.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:16 But dependence is the other oar that we need
00:02:16 --> 00:02:20 in order for that we'll not just go around
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 and run in a circle as a Christian.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 We need both discipline and dependence.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 The Westminster Catechism says that
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 the chief and highest goal of human
00:02:32 --> 00:02:36 is to glorify God and fully enjoy Him forever.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 We need both dependence and discipline
00:02:39 --> 00:02:43 to achieve the true and full meaning of life.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:45 We were reminded last week
00:02:45 --> 00:02:49 that grace of God allowed us to have full assurance
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 that despite the sin that we have done,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 we are loved and bought by Christ.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:59 By His death, our debts are paid.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 It's all about what God has done
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 to save and sanctify us.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:09 God's grace is unearned, undeserved, but a gift.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 Unearned because we did nothing to earn it,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 undeserved because of our sinful nature,
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 and God's grace transformed all Christians.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 We form Martin Luther's say,
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 Christians are simultaneously saints and sinners.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 In Christ we are saints,
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 in ourselves we are sinners.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 Keeping these two perspectives about ourselves
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 will help us to be humbly authentic
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 as we follow Jesus.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 As a saint and sinner simultaneously,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 we need both dependence and discipline
00:03:46 --> 00:03:50 to ensure we are going where God intended us to go.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 They are like the two oars on a rowing boat.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 Our oar that sums up all the disciplines
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 and our oar of dependence
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 need to be equal in size and portion.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 There are many examples in the Bible about dependence.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 We will look at one from the Old Testament,
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 from a person called Nehemiah.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 Nehemiah was a cupbearer to a Persian king,
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 a high-ranking official trusted by the king.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:26 His prestige in society did not lead to self-centeredness
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 or self-sufficiency.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 Instead, he was genuinely concerned
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 about the well-being of his countrymen and his homeland.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 After hearing the reports from his brother
00:04:37 --> 00:04:41 of the situation of the Jewish remnant and Jerusalem,
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 it says in Nehemiah 1, verse 4,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 that when I heard all these things,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 I sat down and wept.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 For some days I mourned and fast
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 and prayed before the God of heaven.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:59 Based on his belief that God keeps his confidence
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 of love with those who love him
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 and keep his commandments,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 God must be very pleased with him
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 to give him such a high-ranking official job
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 within the palace.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 But his concern was not just for himself.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 He was genuinely, sincerely concerned
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 about God's people and God's name.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:24 He considered himself as part of a sinful nation
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 of the Israelites.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 And he prayed in verse 6-7,
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 Let your ear be attentive
00:05:30 --> 00:05:34 and your eyes open to hear the prayer
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 your servant is praying before you
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 day and night for your servants,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 the people of Israel.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 I confess that since we Israelites,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 including myself and my father's family,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 have committed against you,
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 we have acted very wickedly towards you,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 we have not obeyed the commands,
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 decrees, and law you gave your servants, Moses.
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 He fully entrusts himself to God
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 by praying day and night.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 He called on God to remember his promises
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 to his people.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 He prayed in verse 11 for God
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 to make your servant success today
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 by granting him favor in the presence of this man.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 He wanted to be successful,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 not for his own good.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 But to be able to fix the situation of his homeland.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 Nehemiah illustrated his dependence on God
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 by his prayer.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 And there were two kinds of prayers,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 planned and spontaneous.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 It's said he prayed before God
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 day and night for some days,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 which in fact was about four months
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 before God gave him an answer.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 We can assume during that time,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:48 he mostly set aside time and planned his day
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 so that he can go to God and pray regularly
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 in between performing his official duty
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 as a king cupbearer.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:01 His planned prayer was with endurance,
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 persistence, and perseverance.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 And after four months of praying,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 the king noticed his face look sad.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 And he had not been sad in front of the king,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 so the king asked about the cause of his sadness.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 And Nehemiah explained to the king in chapter 2,
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 verse 1 to 3,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 and then the king asked him in verse 4,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 what is it you want?
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 He had prayed for four months,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 and the opportunity is right there for him
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 to lay before the king his request
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 to go to Jerusalem and rebuild its wall.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 But before he answered the king,
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 verse 4 says he prayed to the God of heaven.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 He offered up an unplanned,
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 spontaneous prayer to God.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 Nehemiah sent a quick, silent prayer to God
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 as he was opening up his mouth to speak to the king.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 He did not just burst out.
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 He did not wait till this moment to pray.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 He saw a need and persisted in prayer
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 until God's answer.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 At the same time,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 he was very conscious of his total dependency of God.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 So he did not burst out with his request to the king
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 without first praying quickly and silently.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 Because of his consciousness of his total dependence on God,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 his quick and silent prayer was a reflex action
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 rather than a planned one.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 His planned prayer for four months
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 helped him to depend on God.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 His spontaneous prayer showed
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 he was authentically humble and dependent.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:41 If you have been praying for a pay rise
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 or a change of position for a period of time,
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 and the answer came as a question,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 what is it you want?
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 How would you respond?
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 Would you respectfully pray or do you panic?
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 Nehemiah did not allow his social prestige
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 to get in the way for his genuine concern
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 of his countrymen.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 He did not rely on his position
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 to rush into fixing things by his own strength.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 He depended on God
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 to enable him to be successful.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 In chapter 2, verse 8,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 he says,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 because the gracious hand of God was on me,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 the king granted my requests.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 In the Old Testament,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 the hand of God upon someone
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 is often referred to the Holy Spirit
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 is at work at that person.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 Nehemiah set aside each day
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 for planned, persistent, enduring,
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 persevering prayers
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 for four months
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 for God's Holy Spirit
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 to enable him to deal with the situation.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 And he prayed spontaneously
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 when God answered his prayer.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 Prayer helped us to focus
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 our dependency on God
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 instead of our own willpower
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 as we live out our life
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 and bring the assistance of Holy Spirit
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 into our life.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 We need both planned
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 and spontaneous prayer,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 both to help us cultivate
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 a sense of our dependency on God
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 and to receive his help
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 that he sends through his Spirit.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 As we look at different disciplines
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 in this series,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 remember to balance the boat
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 with ever-increasing
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 orc of dependence
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 because in failing to do so,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 you will only move in circle
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 and will not go anywhere.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 Now I would like to talk to you
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 about the three commitments
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 of this discipline
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 and let's turn to Romans 12, verse 1,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 starting with the first commitment,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 which is commitment
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 to show Christ-likeness
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 and resist sin.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 Let's read from Romans 12, verse 1.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 Therefore, I urge you,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 brothers and sisters,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 in view of God's mercy,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 to offer your body
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 as a living sacrifice,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 holy and pleasing to God.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 This is your true
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 and proper worship.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 I quoted Martin Luther,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 the Reformer, earlier,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 of his conclusion
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 that Christians are simultaneously
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 saints and sinners.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 We are saints
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 in view of what Jesus
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 has done for us,
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 and we are sinners
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 because we still sin
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 every day
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 and many times a day.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 That is what we are.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 We are brought by Christ
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 to be a new person.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 We are saints of God,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 and we need to commit ourselves
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 in showing Christ-likeness,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 Christ-like characters
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 in our daily life
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 as we are committed
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 to resist sinful habits.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 Paul calls and urges
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 to offer our body
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 as a living sacrifice
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 in view of God's mercy.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 An offering
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 is once for all,
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 all in,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 without holding back
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 a shot of action.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 At the same time,
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 a living sacrifice
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 means a constant,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 a constant,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 repeated dedication
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 that is never to be regretted,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 a decisive commitment
00:12:07 --> 00:12:10 that is continually reaffirmed.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:14 The term in view of God's mercy
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 helped me to think
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 about the time
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 I learned to ride a pushback,
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 which was a very long time ago.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 I was so concerned
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 about falling
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 and running into other people,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 I keep looking
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 at the front wheel
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 to make sure I'm okay.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 And as I focus so much
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 on this short distance
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 right in front of me,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 I keep wobbly
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 and eventually fall down
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 because I could not
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 find my balance.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41 And then I was suggested
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 to pick a target
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 in the distance
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 and stop looking
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 so closely
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 in front of me.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 It was at that point
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 that I found my balance.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 Our scenes
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 are like that front wheel
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 that are real
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 every day
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 right in front of us.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 We need to make
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 a commitment
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 to resist it.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 However,
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 if we focus on it too much,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 we will fall even more.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 We need to fix
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 our eyes
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 on God's mercy
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 and grace.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 Consider more
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 on how to show
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 our Christ-likeness
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 in our daily life
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 while you're driving,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 while you're doing
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 your shopping,
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 in your dealing
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 with an interaction
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 with people
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 that God put
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 into your path,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 with your family
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 and friends,
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 sprouts and children,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 and your colleagues
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 and fellow students.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 There are many occasions
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 in daily life
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 that you can present
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 Christ's character
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 to them
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 in how you love
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 and stand up
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 for righteousness
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 and truth.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 In whatever you do,
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 in what your eyes
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 look at,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 your mouth speaks,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 your hands
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 and your feet do,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 in your mind
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 and in your heart,
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 be committed
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 to show Christ-likeness
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 with a feel
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 to God's mercy
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 and grace.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 It's almost impossible
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 to resist sins
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 if we are not
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 fully committed
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 to become
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 like Christ,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 to live out
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 our true identity
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 as a saint,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 to glorify God
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 and enjoy Him.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 It seems almost
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 impossible
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 to keep such a commitment
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 and we are often
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 reluctant to make
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 a commitment
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 we know
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 we will not keep.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 but if you are
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 a Christian,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 I believe you have
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 once made
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 similar commitment.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 Are you confident
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 in telling others
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 that you are Christians?
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 Have you been
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 focusing
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 on the funwill
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 of sin
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 on your pushback
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 of Christian life
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 and wobble
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 and fail?
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 Or have you
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 lost the focus
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 of God's grace,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 stopped pedaling
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 completely,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 only doing things
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 to look like a rider?
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 Find your aim
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 of God's grace again
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 in view of His mercy
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 and start pedaling again
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 and you will realize
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 you are not alone
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 in this journey
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 because God's Spirit
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 is always by our side
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 as we live out
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 Christ-like character
00:15:09 --> 00:15:12 and resist sinful behaviors.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 This leads to
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 the second commitment
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 we need,
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 a commitment
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 to be led
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 by the Spirit.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 Let's read on
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 in Romans 12,
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 verse 2.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 Do not conform
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 to the pattern
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 of this world
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 but be transformed
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 by the renewing
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 of your mind.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 We're presented
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 with two alternatives.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 We are either
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 conforming
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 to the pattern
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 of this world
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 or be transformed
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 by the renewing
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 of our mind.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 These two alternatives
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 are very hard
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 to realize
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 because we often
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 not realize
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 that we are doing
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 the first one
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 or the second one
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 are being done
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 to us.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 I do not know
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 about you
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 but I like
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 patterns.
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 In most things
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 I do
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 I like something
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 that I can follow
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 along.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 When I cook
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 a new dish
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 I like to look
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 at cookbooks
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 and when I write
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 an essay
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 I need sample
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 essay to give me
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 the structure
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 and guideline.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 I often look
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 for some
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 foolproof way
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 to do things
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 because I genuinely
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 do not think
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 do not like
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 to think
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 or do not think.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 And if I follow
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 a pattern
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 and things
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 did not work
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 at least I can
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 have someone
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 to blame.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 What kind
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 of pattern
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 are you looking
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 for or are you
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 following
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 in being a Christian?
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 Do you have
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 a list of things
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 to take off
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 and tell yourself
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 that you are right
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 with God?
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 Can you give
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 a reason
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 to why you
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 do what you do?
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 Do you come
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 to church
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 read the Bible
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 and pray
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 do charity works
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 because they are
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 the right thing
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 to do?
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 All these show
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 that you are
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 only following
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 a pattern
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 and not having
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 a renewing mind.
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 We are being
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 urged to be
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 transformed
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 by the renewing
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 of our mind
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 and extend
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 through the commitment
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 to be led
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 by the Holy Spirit.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 How do we know
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 whether we are
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 being led
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 by the Spirit?
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 Remember Nehemiah?
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 He knows
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 because he spent
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 time thinking
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 and praying.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 When he prays,
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 he can recall
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 what God
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 has done
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 through history.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 He meditates
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 on the great
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 and awesomeness
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 of God.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 He remembers
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 God's promise
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 to his nations
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 and reminds God.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 God's promise
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 and he did
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 that day
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 and night
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 over a long
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 period of time.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 When we talk
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 about meditating
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 on God
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 day and night,
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 it does not mean
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 every moment
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 in life,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 especially like
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 Nehemiah.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 We all have
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 works
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 and other
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 duties to fulfill.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 We need to
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 commit
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 to turn
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 our mind
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 to God
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 and his word
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 when our mind
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 is free
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 to turn
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 to anything.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 When you can
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 think about
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 anything
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 you want
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 to think about,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 what do you
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 think about?
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 Do you think
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 about your problems
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 or do you
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 engage in mental
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 arguing with
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 someone else
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 or perhaps
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 even allowing
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 your mind
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 to drift
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 into wasteland
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 of impure
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 thoughts?
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 To allow
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 yourself to
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 turn to God
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 and meditate
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 about him,
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 we need to
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 be practical.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 When we
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 read the
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 Bible,
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 take notes
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 of passages
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 that remind
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 you of God,
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 passages that
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 address issues
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 that you are
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 dealing with
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 in life,
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 address sins
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 that easily
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 entangle you.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 Take time
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 and find a way
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 to memorize
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 those passages.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 Write them
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 on your hand
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 in a card
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 to keep
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 on you
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 or on your
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 desk.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 When you
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 have God's
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 words in you
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 or near you,
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 when you are
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 free to think
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 about anything,
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 you can think
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 of greatness
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 of God
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 or draw on
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 them to
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 deal with
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 sin when
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 temptation
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 arises.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 We can
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 meditate about
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 what the
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 Bible tells
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 us about
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 God,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 how is it
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 different to
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 what you
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 assume him
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 to be,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 and how
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 are you
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 going to
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 respond to
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 this new
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 knowledge.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 We can
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 reflect on
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 your own
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 life to
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 determine the
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 degree of
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 conformity
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 between your
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 character or
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 conduct to
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 what God
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 has set for
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 his people,
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 and how
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 are you
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 going to
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 respond to
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 this
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 information.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 Like Nehemiah,
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 we allow the
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 Spirit to
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 guide us
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 and to
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 bear fruits
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 in our
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 life as
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 we meditate
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 on God's
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 word and
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 pray day
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 and night,
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 and our
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 mind will
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 be renewed
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 and our
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 life will
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 be transformed.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 And
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 finally,
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 we need
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 commitment to
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 search God's
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 word.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 Let's follow
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 on with
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 Romans 12
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 verse 2.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 Then you'll
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 be able to
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 test and
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 prove what
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 God's will
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 is,
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 his good,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 pleasing,
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 and perfect
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 will.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 As we
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 commit ourselves
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 to meditate
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 on God
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 and the
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 Bible,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 we need to
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 be confident
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 that the
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 Bible do
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 tell us
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 about God's
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 will.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 We will
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 not be able
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 to test and
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 approve God's
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 good,
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 pleasing,
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 and perfect
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 will if we
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 are not
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 committed to
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 search and
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 examine the
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 scripture to
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 confirm what
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 we heard is
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 in fact the
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 truth of
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 God.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 As mentioned
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 last week,
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 God has a
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 multitude of
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 options to
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 show us
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 his will,
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 especially
00:20:39 --> 00:20:41 when ours
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 is not in
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 line with
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 his.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 He uses
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 preaching
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 words of
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 someone in
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 our community
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 group or
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 a friend to
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 correct and
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 train us.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 Our
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 commitment
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 should be
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 like the
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 period in
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 Acts 17.
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 They
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 received the
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 message with
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 great eagerness
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 and examined
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 the scripture
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 every day to
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 see if what
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 they heard
00:21:05 --> 00:21:08 was true.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 To be able
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 to receive
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 God's message
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 with great
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 eagerness and
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 to allow
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 ourselves to
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 examine it,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 we need to
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 be a person
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 that is quick
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 to listen and
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 slow to
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 speak.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 We need to
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 listen and
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 revisit what
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 has been
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 said.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Imagine we
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 only rely on
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 listening to
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 God's word
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 for 20 to
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 30 minutes
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 on Sunday
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 once a
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 week to
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 be healthy
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 and grow
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 spiritually.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 It's like
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 having only
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 one meal a
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 week and
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 starving
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 yourself for
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 the rest of
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 the time.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 We will
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 become
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 spiritually
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 anorexic.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 If we let
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 our busy
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 life get
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 into our
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 way to
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 search into
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 God's
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 word,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 we will
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 be left
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 desperately
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 wanting.
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 The word
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 of God
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 is the
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 fruit of
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 the spirit
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 without which
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 it would
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 be impossible
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 for us to
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 become holy
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 and be like
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 God.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 Our attitude
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 and commitment
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 to the
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 word of
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 God should
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 be like a
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 tree planted
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 by streams
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 of water
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 which uses
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 fruits in
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 season to
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 glorify God.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:15 a commitment
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 to a good
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 spiritual diet
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 is so
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 important and
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 most of us
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 know that.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 However, as
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 you open the
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 Bible, are
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 you at a
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 loss in
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 where to
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 start reading?
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 Should I
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 start from
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 the Old
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 Testament or
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 one of the
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 Gospels?
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 As you are
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 reading more,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 what should
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 you do when
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 there are
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 things that
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 seem not in
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 unison or
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 words still
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 contradict each
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 other?
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 It is at
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 those points
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 that we
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 need to
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 use our
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 arc of
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 dependency
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 to keep
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 us on
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 course.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 Bring those
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 issues to
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 God in
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 prayer,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 speak with
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 each other
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 within God's
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 families to
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 ask for
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 suggestions,
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 but most
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 importantly,
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 remember that
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 we are not
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 alone in
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 our journey.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 The Spirit
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 of God is
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 always by
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 our side.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 God's
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 Spirit
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 enables us
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 to be
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 successful
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 in pleasing
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 God and
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 to live out
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 His will.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 I am so
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 glad that
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 God is
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 not like
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 me.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 He will
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 not ask
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 me to
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 sit on
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 the other
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 side of
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 the boat
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 and do
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 all the
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 rowing
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 himself and
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 make me
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 feel useless.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 God
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 involves us
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 to sit
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 next to
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 Him and
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 do the
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 rowing
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 without
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 discipline.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 On the
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 same time,
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 rely on
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 Him to
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 do the
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 rowing on
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 the side
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 of the
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 dependents.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 even
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 though
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 there is
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 such a
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 great
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 mismatch
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 of
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 strength,
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 the
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 boats
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 can
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 and
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 will
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 always
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 get to
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 where
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 God
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 wants
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 us
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 to
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 go
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 if
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 we
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 keep
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 rowing
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 and
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 paddling.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 Because
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 God knows
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 exactly how
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 much strength
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 we have
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 and He
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 will match
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 it to a
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 point to
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 keep the
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 boats on
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 course.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 Our
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 tendency
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 is to
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 even out
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 all our
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 disciplines on
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 both sides.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 We lie on
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 our own
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 strength.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 It will
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 work in
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 a very
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 short
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 period.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 But you
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 will be
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 so
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 exhausted
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 and you
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 cannot go
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 any
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 further.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 God does
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 not want
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 that to
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 happen to
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 us.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 In His
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 mercy,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 He wants
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 us to
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 glorify Him
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 and at
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 the same
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 time fully
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 enjoy Him
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 forever.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 He's there
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 sitting next
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 to us and
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 work with
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 us to
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 get there.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 As we
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 look at
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 different
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 disciplines in
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 this series,
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 remember to
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 balance the
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 boats with
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 an
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 ever-increasing
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 auger of
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 dependence.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 Because in
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 failing to
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 do so,
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 you will
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 only move
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 in circles
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 and will
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 not go
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 anyway.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 There's a
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 hymn that I
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 learned a
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 long time
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 ago and
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 it helped
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 me to
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 renew my
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 commitment to
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 God,
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 especially when
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 I want to
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 stop growing.
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 It says,
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 I am
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 resolved no
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 longer to
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 linger,
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 charmed by
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 the world's
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 delight.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 Things that
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 are higher,
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 things that
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 are no
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 bore.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 These have
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 elude my
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 sight.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 I am
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 resolved to
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 go to the
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 Savior,
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 living my
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 sins and
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 strife.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 He is a
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 true one,
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 he is a
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 just one,
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 he has the
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 words of
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 life.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 I am
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 resolved to
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 follow the
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 Savior,
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 faithful and
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 true each
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 day.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 Hear what
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 he said,
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 do what
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 he will,
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 he is a
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 living way.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 I am
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 resolved to,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 and who
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 will go
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 with me,
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 come friends,
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 without
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 delay,
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 taught by
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 the Bible,
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 led by
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 the Spirit,
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 will walk
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 the heavenly
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 way.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 The
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 chorus say,
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 I will
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 hasten to
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 him,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 hasten so
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 glad and
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 free,
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 Jesus'
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 greatest and
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 highest,
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 I will
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 come to
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 thee.
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 If you're a
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 Christian,
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 can you
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 remember what
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 commitment you
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 made on the
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 day you
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 turned to
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 Christ?
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 Let's
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 live out those
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 commitments again
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 in your life
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 to glorify
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 God and
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 fully enjoy
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 him.
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 And if you
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 have been
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 searching and
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 investigating about
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 Christianity,
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 I hope you
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 join on this
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 heavenly way
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 soon.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 Thank you.