The Discipline of Watching
Series: DISCIPLINES OF GRACE
Speaker: Adrian Wong
Date: 21st July 2019
Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 my wife, obviously my wife.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 Before I got married, I bought a house at Hornsby Heights.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:11 It's a little weatherboard house near the Birara Valley National Park.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 And if you look at the next slide,
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 the house was lined with about 10 to 15 meter tall trees.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:19 It's a bit of a nightmare, actually.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 It's all along the back fence and along the side fence up to the main road.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 As you can see, they've turned it way too close together.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 And you can see some of them, they don't even have leave from them properly.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 They're full of dead branches.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 So imagine if there was a bushfire at the nature reserve
00:00:36 --> 00:00:42 and the embers blew from the National Park to this wall of trees.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:43 What would happen?
00:00:44 --> 00:00:48 The mess of dry wood would just act as fuel for the fire.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:54 It would burn all the way along the back fence up the driveway and to my house.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 There would be a disaster waiting to happen.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 So I took up the following public service announcement
00:01:01 --> 00:01:02 to combat the threat of bushfire.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 Be alert, but not alarmed.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:10 So this catchphrase has been used in many public service relation campaigns,
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 maybe from counterterrorism to bushfire safety.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 So in order to apply this campaign properly,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:18 I needed to prepare my house.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:22 So with the council's permission, I cut down on those trees
00:01:22 --> 00:01:26 and to help to combat the threat of bushfire.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:32 So let's think about the consequence of not heeding that advice of be alert, not alarmed.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:36 So if I'm not alert, obviously I won't be alarmed.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 So I wouldn't have prepared my house for the threat of bushfire.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 There would have been a serious stretch of the house burning down.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:48 But however, if I lived in a constant state of being alarmed,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 I would have a nervous breakdown or be constantly anxious.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:56 The Bible was full of warnings of dangers around us.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:57 There's a devil.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 We are told to watch out for temptation around us
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 and be on guard against being deceived by sin.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:09 Are we alert and not anxious when it comes to watching out for attacks?
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 Do we even know what to do when an attack happens?
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 Today's topic is the discipline of watching.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:23 I want to look at how we can appropriately be alert and not be alarmed
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 when we watch against sin and the devil.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 And also in light of the topic, the discipline of grace,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:36 how do we use the means of grace provided by God to combat those two things?
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 So I'll focus mainly on two passages.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 If it helps you fold your outline in half, but you can't fold your app,
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 that's okay, you can take notes in there.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:49 You can write the note from Hebrews on one side and 1 Peter on the other side.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:53 So let us pray to get God's help so we can understand this topic.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:58 Dear God, we know that we are so easily deceived by sin and the devil.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:05 Pray that you can help us to know your means of being equipped to combat that.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 We thank you that we can do so through your word.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 Pray that I will speak clearly and that we will listen to you
00:03:11 --> 00:03:15 so that we will be attentive to change for your sake.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:16 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:22 So what sort of threats from sin and the devil should we watch out for?
00:03:22 --> 00:03:28 The first attack from sin is that sin is deceptive.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:33 We'll read again from Hebrews chapter 3, verses 12 to 13.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:40 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you have a sinful, unbelieving heart
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 that turns away from the living God.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:46 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:50 so none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 So what does it mean for sin to be deceptive?
00:03:55 --> 00:03:59 So I'll illustrate that with my health or the lack thereof.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 Around the start of the year, I twisted my back.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:07 So for those who were around, it was like around Lunar New Year.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 I was walking sort of really lopsided.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 I went to the doctor.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:15 He prescribed a set of back exercises for me to do
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 and told me to go back to check up once in a while.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 Now, being a classic male,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:26 I'm too stubborn and lazy and busy to go to do those exercises.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 I wanted a quick fix.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 I said, I'll just put a bit of photobium on it.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 It should be fine.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 I said, it's not that bad.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 I'll just stretch it out.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:34 It should be okay.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 Likewise, spiritually,
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 sometimes we think that we are strong enough
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 and healthy enough to deal with sin.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 And it's deceived when we are entangled by sin.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 I'll give you a few examples.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 Sometimes we discount the seriousness of sin.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 Some might think lying isn't a big deal.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 That's why it's called a white lie, right?
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 It's not that serious.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 Sometimes we compare ourselves with other people around the world
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 instead of what is in the Bible.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:09 For example, it doesn't matter if we stream live sports from certain websites.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 Everyone else is doing it.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 It's not stealing.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 It's okay.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 And at times, we justify our sin in periods of stress.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 We call anger.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 We're just blowing off some steam.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 And greed and materialism, a bit of retail therapy.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 Another more subtle way that sin deceives us is that
00:05:29 --> 00:05:32 if we are caught in a pattern of sin,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:37 we despair and think that God can't possibly help us or love us
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 because we sin repeatedly.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 And when someone asks us how we are going,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 no matter which way we are deceived,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 we pretend everything is fine, everything is okay.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 So these are just some of the many ways that sin deceives us.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 So in the same passage, we'll go back to that,
00:05:57 --> 00:06:01 the writer warns us about the long-term effect of being deceived by sin
00:06:01 --> 00:06:05 as hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 So what does it mean to be hardened?
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 That's actually a pretty important point to clarify.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 As Christians, we are often deceived by sin.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:18 So what's the difference between being deceived once in a while
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 and being hardened in the heart?
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 So I'll use the doctor analogy a bit further.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 So let's say if the doctor is giving me advice for checkups,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 I have to go back to him.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 If it became too annoying, I treated it as nagging,
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 I found him too annoying,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 I would start ignoring his advice.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 But let's imagine the following.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:45 If I think the doctor is basically a scammer
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 trying to get me to repeat my visit,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 to rip off Medicare,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 then I would doubt his character.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 I wouldn't go back to him.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 I would just stop seeing him altogether.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 In a similar way,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 these are the ways that we are hardened against God.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 Sometimes we think of the promises and commands of the Bible,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 sometimes even the Gospel.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 It's repetitive.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 And we become a bit blasé about listening to God's Word.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 In a more serious form,
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 sometimes we believe that sin is more attractive
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 than the promises of God.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 And we doubt the intentions and the character of God.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 So let's look at the second attack from the devil.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 We'll go to 1 Peter 5, verse 8.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:36 Now the devil prowls like a roaring lion,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 looking for someone to devour.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 So what this means is that
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 the devil is actively looking for ways
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 to snatch us away from God.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 So usually there are two ways
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 that we are sort of oblivious to the attack of the devil.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 So the more usual way is that
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 we don't think that the devil exists,
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 or if he does,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 he doesn't really do much these days.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 The reason is that for most of us,
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 we believe the world is purely material.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 We don't encounter animism or evil spirits.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 So what we think often is that
00:08:16 --> 00:08:20 sin is truly something that we can control by our will.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 That is, we think that the only factor
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 that affects whether I sin
00:08:25 --> 00:08:29 is whether I'm using my own willpower to stop it.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 On the flip side,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 some people give the devil too much power.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 As if God and the devil
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 is in a daily cosmic arm wrestle.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:45 And is in constant fear of demonic powers
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 influencing their everyday life.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 So you can actually see that
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 in sort of animism and shamanism
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 in many parts of the world, like Africa.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 So how are we to defend
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 the attacks from sin and the devil?
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 So God has given us
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 quite a few means to be prepared.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 So I'm glad that these are left up there.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 So the first way is God's word.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:11 God's word.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 In Hebrews 4, 11 to 13,
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 we can see that God's word
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 is the very means he has used
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 to battle against the threat of sin.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 So notice in the second part of the verse
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 from chapter 4, verse 11,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 joint and marrow.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 So most of us think that God's word,
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 to apply it,
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 it means to change our actions, right?
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 In some way, that's good.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 We need to change when we read God's word.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 But we only change our actions
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 with just changing the external stuff.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 It's like the double-edged sword
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 hitting the external bits of the body.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 But the word of God does more than that.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 It cuts to the heart.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 That's actually exactly the problem we have,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 as we read from the bits before in our passage.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 The problem of sin
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 is not that we have the wrong action,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 but a dull and unbelieving heart towards God.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 The reason why the word of God
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 is a means of grace
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 is that it's actually a means for us to be saved.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 So if we go back one verse to Hebrews 4.11,
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 it says,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 Let us therefore make every effort
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 to enter that rest,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 so that no one will perish
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 by following the example of disobedience.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 So in context,
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 if you read the next verse,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 which is verse 12,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 the writer gives us the answer,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 which is God's word.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 God's word is able to help us
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 to have some salvation
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 to enter the rest of God,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 the promises of God.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 The second preparation we have
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 is to rely on what Jesus has done,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 the priest and perfect example.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:56 So in Hebrews 4.14-16,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 let's have a look
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 why we should fix our eyes on Jesus
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 and rely on him.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 The first way you set Jesus is our priest,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 the person that acts as an agent
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 between a sinful man
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 and the holy God.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 His death on the cross
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 has enabled us
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 to approach God with confidence.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 You can see the confidence in verse 16.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 Let us approach with great confidence.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 Why can we be confident?
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 The reason is that a Christian relies
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 on the perfect work of Jesus,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 not the works that we have done.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 And hence,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 Jesus has the credentials
00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 to speak on behalf of us.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 That's how he acts as a priest.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 And Jesus also acts as an example.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 If we go to verse 15,
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 we see that he can empathize
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 with our weakness.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:47 And also,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 Jesus has been tempted in every way,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 just as we are,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 yet without sin.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 Jesus is an example
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 of how we can overcome sin.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 If we look at his life
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 in the Garden of Gethsemane,
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 or during his temptation
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 in the desert,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 he uses God's word.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 It is his belief in God's word
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 that made him overcome the devil.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 A third way that we can achieve a victory
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 is in other aspects of Jesus' life.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 Jesus is the shepherd.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 So we go back to 1 Peter.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 We can see how the devil
00:12:25 --> 00:12:28 is prowling around like the lion.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 So whether we are oblivious
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 to the devil's attack,
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 or we give them too much power,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 the answer is the same.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40 We need to not look at the lion,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 but the shepherd.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 What we often forget
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 is that Jesus has already
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 driven away the lion.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 He has already defeated
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 the devil on the cross.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:53 If we rely on the victory of Jesus
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 in our daily struggle
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 against sin,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 then we will be able to resist.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 That's why we go
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 a couple of verses down
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 in verse 10.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 It says,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 For those who have resisted,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:08 Jesus can restore you
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 and make you strong,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 firm, and steadfast.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 So having looked at
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 the sins,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 the attack from sin and the devil,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 and the means that we can have victory,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 let's see how we can be prepared.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 So I want to separate
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 sort of two aspects
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 of being prepared.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 The goal of being prepared
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 and the means
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 which we get prepared.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 I'll give you an example
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 of what I mean.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 So the first thing we looked at
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 was God's word.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 If God's victory is achieved
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 through the power of his word,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 the application is to
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 read the Bible, right?
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 I'm going to say no
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 and don't condemn me
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 to be a heretic right now.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 So hear me out.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 The way that we are prepared
00:13:55 --> 00:13:58 is to listen to God's word.
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 And listening is a little bit different
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 from reading.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 So there are a few different aspects
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 of listening.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 So if we only read the Bible
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 as a habit
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 or something to tick off
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 in our boxes,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 that doesn't actually
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 achieve the goal of listening.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 It's just a habit
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 to tick a box.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:18 If we read the Bible
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 for information,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 that's only going to
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 build our knowledge.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 And we're not even reading
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 the Bible
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 to transform our behavior.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 As good as that sounds,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 in the worst form,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 if we just read
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 to change our behavior,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 we might be tempted
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 to rely on our behavior
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 rather than Jesus
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 to prepare against
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 the sin and the devil.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 So how are we
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 to read the Bible?
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 We need to read the Bible
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 and listen
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 in a way
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 that's for our hearts.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 To understand the words
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 on the page of the Bible
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 or in your app,
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 it's not a daily habit
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 you tick off
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 or a guide to life,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 but it's actually
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 the word of God.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 God is speaking to us
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 through his word.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 The aim of reading
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 is to listen
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 to who God is.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 That's why we need to pray
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 before we read the Bible.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 We want the Holy Spirit
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 to help us to recognize
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 that the words
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 are actually God's words.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 And then through knowing God,
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 can we keep believing in him?
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 And only in this way,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 we won't harden our hearts
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 and we'll be able
00:15:25 --> 00:15:28 to correctly prepare ourselves
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 and resist
00:15:28 --> 00:15:31 the deception of sin.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 So the implication of this
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 is pretty big.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 So I want to ask you
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 a question.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 When you read the Bible,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 do you recognize
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 that it's actually
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 God speaking to you?
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 If the answer is no,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 I would love for you
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 to fill in a card.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 Don't be shy
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 if no one else is grabbing it.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 Just grab it
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 and fill out a card saying,
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 I would like some help
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 to know how to read the Bible
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 so that I can recognize
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 that it's God speaking to me.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 And I would love
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 to help you to do this.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 I'm the missions pastor,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 but I'm really glad
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 that I can help you
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 if you want to do this.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 Fill it in,
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 I'll let you
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 read the Bible with me.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 I'd actually want to love
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 to ask you to
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 ask each other
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 after the service.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 What would it take
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 in terms of time
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 or environment,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 routine,
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 patterns,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 for us to read
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 in such a way
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 that we are listening
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 to God
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 from the Bible?
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 So this actually
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 sets ways
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 into the second thing
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 that we need
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 to be prepared for
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 is that we
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 need to encourage each other,
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 have people around us
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 to encourage each other.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 We'll go to Hebrews 3
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 and look at what it means
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 to encourage each other.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 3.13
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 But encourage one another daily
00:16:50 --> 00:16:53 as long as it is called today
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 so that none of you
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 is deceived
00:16:56 --> 00:16:59 by sin's deceitfulness.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 So,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 you can see from this verse,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 on this side of heaven,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 we need to encourage
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 each other every day.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 So the implication of this
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 is that
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 the health of the church
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 is not measured
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 by how many people
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 attend church
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 or in our small groups,
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 but whether we actually
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 come together
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 with the aim
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 of encouraging each other.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 And encouragement
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 isn't just
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 the slap on the back
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 like you're going well,
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 hollow encouragement,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 not hollow compliments.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 In this passage,
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 the type of encouragement
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 we need
00:17:34 --> 00:17:37 is a type that will help us
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 to not be deceived
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 by sin.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 You think of the nature
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 of deception,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 no one knows
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 that they are deceived.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 Otherwise,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 you won't be right.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 You'll figure it out yourself.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 So in order for other people
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 to help us
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 not to be deceived,
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 we really need
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 the value
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 of humble authenticity.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 The reason why
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 we need that
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 is that
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 we need
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 to let other people
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 point out
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 the instances
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 when we are deceived.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 And,
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 on the flip side,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 we need to
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 be humble
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 and courageous
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 to approach other people
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 to point out
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 when they are being deceived.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:18 even at the cost
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 of friction
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 during the relationship.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 So the other thing
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 that it means is
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 if the goal is
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 encouragement,
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 not attendance,
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 we'd love for you
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 to keep going to church,
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 but
00:18:28 --> 00:18:31 it's a really deep way
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 of
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 relating to each other.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 is that
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 we,
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 even when we are sick
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 or we have
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 unavoidable situations,
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 we'll make efforts
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 to encourage each other.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 So,
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 I'll give an example
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 of how this works.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 I'm in a Sunday
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 morning
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 community group
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 led by Adam Ma.
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 So,
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 there are many
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 young parents
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 in that group
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 and
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 you know
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 with young parents
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 in winter,
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 what happens is that
00:19:00 --> 00:19:02 a lot of the people
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 in the group
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 get sick
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 and sometimes
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 some people
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 have work trips,
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 got a couple of
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 mothers that are
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 expecting.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 So,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 for all various
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 reasons,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 not all of us
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 can attend
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 every week.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 But we still
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 aim to encourage
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 each other
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 by having a
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 WhatsApp group.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 So,
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 we can actually
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 send messages
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 to each other
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 to keep each other
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 accountable
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 and encourage
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 each other
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 in that way.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 So that
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 even when we
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 can't see each other,
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 we have the
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 intention to
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 help each other
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 to grow.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 We can also
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 apply this
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 to the way
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 that we
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 meet at church.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 So,
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 if we are keen
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 to encourage
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 each other,
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 then we would
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 love to stay
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 behind.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 We won't
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 duck out
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 after the
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 service.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 And I think
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 the afternoon
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 service does
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 a great job
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 at staying
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 right here
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 and talking
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 with each other.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 We actually
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 want to get
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 to know
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 each other
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 and not just
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 have a
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 superficial
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 greeting,
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 but we
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 will be
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 eager
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 to help
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 one another
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 if we
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 see someone
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 going off
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 track
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 because of
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 sin's
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 deception.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 That's why
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 all these
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 events
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 in the last
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 couple of
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 months
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 have been
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 so helpful.
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 I hope
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 that through
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 all these
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 events,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 we have
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 gotten to
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 know each
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 other a
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 bit better,
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 but more
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 than that,
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 once there's
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 a relationship,
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 we can get
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 into the
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 task of
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 encouraging
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 each other.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 And if for
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 any reason
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 that you
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 have felt
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 that you've
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 been on
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 the outside
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 of the
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 church,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 not really
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 getting into
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 the group,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 whether you
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 find it
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 hard to
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 share your
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 situation,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 maybe due
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 to language
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 or life
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 circumstances,
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 this passage
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 is for you.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 We would
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 actually,
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 all of us
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 would love
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 to be in
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 community
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 with you
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 because,
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 as we can
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 see from
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 the Bible,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 it's so
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 easy to
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 be deceived
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 by sin.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 So I
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 would encourage
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 you to sign
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 up to
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 community
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 group
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 afterwards,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 we'll bring
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 the iPads
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 around,
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 and stay
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 behind at
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 church and
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 meet us.
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 So in
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 the morning
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 service,
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 and probably
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 in the
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 afternoon as
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 well,
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 we've got
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 a roughly
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 half and
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 half split
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 between
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 Anglo-Australians
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 and people
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 from other
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 backgrounds.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 So my
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 hope is that
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 we'll have a
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 similar split
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 in our
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 community
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 group.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 Right now,
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 we don't
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 have that
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 at the
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 moment.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 So we
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 actually really
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 do want
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 all of us
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 to sign
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 up.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 The third
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 way we get
00:21:21 --> 00:21:23 prepared is
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 how we
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 relate in
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 light of
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Christ being
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 our shepherd.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 So we
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 go to
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 1 Peter
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 now.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 In 1 Peter
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 chapter 5,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 verse 2,
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 we can see
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 the elders,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 the leaders
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 of the
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 church,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 are to
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 lead in
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 light of
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 Christ's
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 suffering as
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 a shepherd.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 So just
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 as Christ
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 as a
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 shepherd,
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 the leaders
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 are to
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 lead and
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 have oversight
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 of the
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 church or
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 the flock
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 as
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 shepherds.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 so some
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 people from
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 probably a
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 more
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 eastern
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 culture
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 might take
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 that to
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 mean for
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 all the
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 pastors to
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 take care
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 of each
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 person in
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 the congregation.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 But how
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 we do
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 things here
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 is that the
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 biblical command
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 is for
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 oversight,
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 to have
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 oversight of
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 the entire
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 church.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 And the
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 way that we
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 do this
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 is that we
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 want everyone
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 to have an
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 opportunity to
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 be cared
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 for.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 So the
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 way we
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 organize
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 things is
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 that we
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 have got
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 a group
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 of community
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 group
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 leaders.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 And not
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 all of
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 them are
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 in full-time
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 ministry.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 In fact,
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 most of
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 them aren't.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 But the
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 group leaders
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 are to
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 act as
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 mini-shepherds.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 So we've
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 got more
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 people taking
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 care of
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 everyone.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 And that
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 way we can
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 actually
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 connect,
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 care,
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 and grow
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 with God
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 and one
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 another.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 The
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 pastoral
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 staff and
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 Paul Fitzpatrick,
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 the community
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 group director,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 has taken
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 on the
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 task of
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 discipling and
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 coaching these
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 leaders.
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 So we can
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 actually do
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 the task of
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 oversight well,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 so we can
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 take care of
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 everyone.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 So notice in
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 this structure,
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 it's not about
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 how old you
00:22:59 --> 00:23:01 are, or how
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 long you've
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 been at
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 church, or
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 what status
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 you have.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 That determines
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 who is
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 leading, but
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 the role
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 is assigned.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 So in the
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 Sunday group,
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 for example,
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 Adam Ma is
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 leading.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 I'm the
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 mission pastor
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 at church,
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 but in that
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 group, he's
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 the leader.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 I gladly
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 submit to
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 him, and
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 I gladly
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 support him
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 in the
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 Sunday group,
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 so that he
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 can help all
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 the other
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 members to
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 take care of
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 each other
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 and to
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 grow.
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 So I
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 want to go
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 back, now
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 that we've
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 looked at
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 the means
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 that we
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 can get
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 prepared and
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 equip ourselves
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 against the
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 attack of the
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 devil, I
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 want to go
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 back to the
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 picture of
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 the house
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 that I
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 used to
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 live in.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 And if
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 you have
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 to imagine
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 your spiritual
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 state as
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 that house,
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 all would
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 be like,
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 are you
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 currently not
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 alert to
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 the work of
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 sin and the
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 devil, a
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 little bit
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 like a
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 house surrounded
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 by all these
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 tall dead
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 trees, in
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 the constant
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 danger of
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 trees
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 getting,
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 waiting to
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 catch fire?
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 or are
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 you too
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 alarmed and
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 anxious to
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 trust God
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 and rely on
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 the gracious
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 means that
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 is provided
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 through his
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 word or the
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 people around
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 him?
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 Or are you
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 rightly
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 armed by
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 God's means
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 to be
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 alert and
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 not alarmed?
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 May God
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 help us to
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 use these
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 means to
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 do so.