To Be Like Jesus (Maturity)
Series: HIS PURPOSE OUR PURPOSE MY PURPOSE
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 17th November 2018
Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 Adolescence is the stage of human development between childhood and adulthood,
00:00:06 --> 00:00:10 and a stage of development that a number of you are currently sitting in.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:18 In medieval times, the adolescence didn't exist.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:27 It's something that's really come to exist in sociological terms in the last 150, 200 years.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:35 In fact, the concept of youth ministry, having a next-gen pastor, didn't exist in the church before the 1950s.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:40 And so this is even a concept that's relatively new for the church.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:46 But back in the Middle Ages, childhood ended at the age of seven.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:54 You were a child and then you grew up and you started to work and make a contribution for the life of the family.
00:00:54 --> 00:01:02 But since then, childhood and adolescence has constantly been refashioned.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:07 And earlier this year, it received its latest round of remodeling.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 Scientists announced, this is in the United States,
00:01:11 --> 00:01:18 scientists announced that adolescence, previously thought to begin at around about 13 years of age
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 and end around about 18 years of age,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:27 now stretches from 10 to 25 and some argue even up until 30.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:34 And in fact, I'm speaking at a youth camp in Singapore in a couple of weeks
00:01:34 --> 00:01:41 and I'm told that the youth there is 12 to 35.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 So I'm just out of that bracket now.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:49 Yeah.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:56 Children, it's true on, you know, imagine 10 to 25.
00:01:56 --> 00:02:00 Children are growing up faster nowadays as people are suggesting that they are.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:07 But they are plateauing for an extended length of time.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 They're staying in that bracket of adolescence for a long time.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:19 Sociologists and psychologists suggesting that 20-somethings are not growing up.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 They're not becoming independent or taking responsibility.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:31 And I wonder whether there is a similar phenomenon happening in the church.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:36 An extended period of spiritual adolescence.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 Perhaps this may be you.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:41 You become a Christian.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:46 When you were young, you experienced what the Bible calls new birth.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:48 You have new life.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 You are a baby Christian.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:57 And although there might be some initial growth, which often happens at that stage,
00:02:57 --> 00:03:03 is an initial growth, for way too many people, it just stops.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:07 They stay at this adolescent stage of spiritual development.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:13 In fact, I can suggest to you that way too many Christians that I talk to
00:03:13 --> 00:03:19 can talk about when they became a Christian,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:25 but very few can talk about what God is doing in them right now
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 and how he's grown them even in the last 12 months.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 That is, their growth has just kind of stopped.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 And so they talk about things from the past, experiences of the past.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 God answered the prayers from the past.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:48 Some, unfortunately, have even got comfortable and, in fact, made peace with their immaturity.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53 And if that's you, I want to encourage you tonight to pay attention
00:03:53 --> 00:03:58 as we explore this idea of spiritual maturity.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 Because God's purposes for Christians is to grow up.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:04 He wants them to grow up in their maturity.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:11 In the same way, when parents have a baby, they are kind of intending for that baby to grow up.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 That's the intention.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:16 They don't ever give birth to a child and just hope it just sort of stops there.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:23 Growth is a normal expression of life.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 The New Testament writers assume that growth
00:04:26 --> 00:04:30 and assume that there will be constant growth
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 and they urge constant growth.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:36 They urge pursuing constant growth, spiritual growth.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 In 2 Peter 3.18,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:43 Peter urges us to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:51 In fact, as distinct from physical growth,
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 Christians are never to stop growing spiritually.
00:04:55 --> 00:05:00 There's no such thing as an adult Christian who no longer needs to grow.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 We're always looking to grow, whereas physically we stop.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 I'm assuming you had the thing as you're growing up,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 little pencil marks on the doorpost to see how fast you're growing,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 little dates and stuff like that.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 At some point, I plateaued.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 I wasn't going any further.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 It was a bit shorter than what I was anticipating and what I like,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 but I look around the family and I go,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 yep, it's anticipated.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 I'm not really going to go beyond six foot.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:29 You know, short legs is part of our family DNA.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 And so I hit my plateau.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:36 And in fact, I'm anticipating in about 20 years to start shrinking
00:05:36 --> 00:05:40 because that also I've noticed happens in my family too.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 We just start shrinking.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 And so you get to a point physically where you just stop growing.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 But that's not the case spiritually.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 So this week, we're in third of our vision series,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 My Purpose, Our Purpose, God's Purpose.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 In week one, we answered the question,
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 what is the purpose of life?
00:06:00 --> 00:06:04 And we saw that God created and saved us for his glory.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:08 We use the word magnification to summarize that.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:12 In week two, last week, we narrowed it down.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 Well, if that's the purpose of life, what is the purpose of church?
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 And we saw that God had gathered us together,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 those he'd saved, he gathers together,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 as a new people for his glory.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:28 And we use the word membership to summarize and to capture that.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:33 Now, this week, now that God has gathered us together,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 he's given us new life,
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 what is his purpose for his gathered people?
00:06:39 --> 00:06:44 And the word that we're using to summarize all of this is maturity.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 So we're up to point two on your outline.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 Grab a pen.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 There's pens there.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 You can follow along, take notes as you go.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 What is God's purpose for his gathered people?
00:06:55 --> 00:07:00 Now, to understand, to help us understand God's purpose for his children,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 his gathered people,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:06 we're going to trace a dominant theme that runs through the Bible.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 And so what I'm going to do is I'm going to give you the big idea.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 I'm going to give you the dominant theme,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:17 and then we're going to take a bite at it, if you like.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 So the big idea is this.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:24 God wants to have children in his image and likeness.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 That's his purpose.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 That's his design.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 So we're going to go back to the beginning,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 Genesis chapter 1.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 If you've got your Bibles there and you can come with me, that's great.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:37 If not, skip ahead and go to Psalm 8.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 Psalm 8, you see that's two verses down on your outline.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 Just jump to Psalm 8.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 I'll get there in a moment.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 But I'm going to start in Genesis 1, 26.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 Then God said,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:59 So God makes humanity in his image and likeness,
00:07:59 --> 00:08:06 which gives them a dignity and an honor that no other creature on earth has.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:10 And when he creates us in his image,
00:08:11 --> 00:08:18 he's including people in his plan to declare to the world that he rules all things.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:34 So if you go to North Korea now and you would walk into that country and you would discover images and likenesses of Kim everywhere.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:39 Classrooms, public meeting places in the street.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 There'd be his likeness displayed everywhere.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:52 And the reason for that is we just want to remind everyone all the time who's in charge around here.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:57 Just so you don't forget who rules this place.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:04 And that is what God's design is, is in making people in his image and likeness,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:12 is that they are there to display to the universe the God who rules all things.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:18 But there's something interesting in Genesis 5, when we jump there.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 Genesis 5 verse 1.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:20 It says,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 This is the written account of Adam's family line.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 He created them male and female and he blessed them.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 And he named them mankind when they were created.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 So that's Genesis 1.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 We've just seen that.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 But have a look at what happens next.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 In verse 3,
00:09:38 --> 00:09:42 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:45 Now that in itself boggles the mind.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:49 You know, like, imagine being 130 and sleepless nights and stuff.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 Just, man, I was done at like 45 with that.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 130 years, he had a son.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 And see what it says?
00:09:57 --> 00:10:03 In his own likeness, in his own image.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 And he named him Seth.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 And it's the exact same words that are used there in Genesis 1.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 In his likeness and in his image.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 So God creates Adam and Eve in his own likeness.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 And then Adam has a son in his own image and likeness.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:23 That is, to father someone is to have them in your image and likeness.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:29 Whether you have a relationship with them is irrelevant.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 But they carry your DNA.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 Adam can be called God's son.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 That's little son.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 But he is, in fact, still a son.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 In fact, if you go to Luke 3.38,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:49 that's who Adam is called.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 God's son.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 So this is regardless of how Adam lives.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 Regardless of how, what he does.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 He is created in God's likeness.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 And he is God's son.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 I am the son of my father.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:08 As you are the sons and daughters of your fathers.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 I am in his image.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 I am in his likeness.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:14 We have some similar features.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 I have his DNA.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 And so there's a whole bunch of stuff that I share with him.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 Irrespective of how I behave.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 We are related.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 I am his offspring.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:27 In the same way that I've got three daughters who have my DNA.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 And some of my features.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 Fortunately, they've got some natty in there as well.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 But there is a sense.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37 And even to a greater or lesser extent.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:43 Where I reflect my dad's image and likeness in the way that I behave.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 So I have his DNA.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:55 But I can, in a greater way, reflect his image and likeness by my attitudes and my behavior.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 As my girls can with me.
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 There are times when I do or say something.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 And I just hear my dad saying exactly the same thing.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 And not that Nat ever does this.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 But she would have every right to say, well, hello, Keith Jeffrey.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 But she doesn't do that.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 And I see it in my girls too.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:18 I see the way their mannerisms and their attitudes.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 Their way of speaking.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 Their sense of humor.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:24 It's all stuff that they've picked up from me.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 Or, you know, from Nat.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 But from me.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:30 But I can certainly see my bits picked up and passed on to them.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:35 When Adam and Eve were creating God's image and likeness.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 God was giving them a dignity and honor as his offspring.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 As his children.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 And nothing else in creation had that.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:48 But he also, at the same time, extends an invitation to them.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 To become like him.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 To reflect him.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:59 To reflect and mirror the God in whose image they were created.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:04 That is, regardless of how Adam lived as his son.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 As a child of God.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 Still his son.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 Still his child.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:13 But he could live in a way that would really display.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 He is God's true son.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 True child.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 You see, being created in the image of God.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 And we can go blue in the face.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 Talking about will.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 And all kinds of different things.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 And intelligence.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 And all sorts of stuff.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 But being created in the image of God.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 Has purpose to it.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 It has a mission attached to it.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 It is to mirror God.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:49 It is to reflect his glory.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 And his magnificence.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 To live in such a way.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 That when people see us.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 They see a reflection of the character.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 And the quality of God.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 And I think that's the point of Psalm 8.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 So I hope you got your finger in there.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 If you go to Psalm 8.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:09 And I want you to look what happens here in this Psalm.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 We had it read out to us a couple of weeks ago.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 But let's go there now.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 Psalm 8 begins with this.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 Oh Lord, our Lord.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:23 How majestic is your name in all the earth.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 That's how it begins.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 And then in verse 9.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 It ends in exactly the same way.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 Oh Lord, our Lord.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 How majestic is your name in all the earth.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 That's its bookends if you like.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 God is majestic.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 That's clearly the point of this Psalm.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:46 It's interesting, however, how verses 2 to 8 all connect with that thing.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:51 You have set your glory above the heavens.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:54 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 Because of your enemies.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 To silence the foe and the avenger.
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 When I consider your heavens.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 And the work of your fingers.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 And the moon and the stars which you have set in place.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 What is man that you're mindful of him?
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 The son of man that you would care for him.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 So get that?
00:15:13 --> 00:15:17 That you've created all of this universe.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 And yet, what?
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 This people thing.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:24 Why did you choose them like that?
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 What's the answer?
00:15:27 --> 00:15:30 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 And you crowned him with glory and honor.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:38 Or you've crowned him with glory and majesty.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:45 And then the psalmist here goes on describing the uniqueness of humanity.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:49 You made him ruler over the works of your hands.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 That's Genesis 1 again.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 You're created to rule.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 You put everything under his feet.
00:15:57 --> 00:16:00 All flocks and birds and beasts of the field and birds of the air.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 The fish of the sea.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:08 All that swim the paths of the seas are under the feet of humanity.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:13 And you've made them just a little bit lower than the heavenly beings.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:17 So you see, Genesis 1 is coming out here in Psalm 8.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:21 And you would imagine, therefore, that you get to verse 9.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:27 And you'd hear the psalmist, oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is people.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 He doesn't do that.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:37 He says, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42 So the psalm ends with the point of praise of God.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:50 Which means, the point of the subordinate majesty of humanity
00:16:50 --> 00:17:00 is for the praise and the glory and the majesty of the God to whom they reflect.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 That's the point in Psalm 8.
00:17:03 --> 00:17:09 And so the invitation from God to all of humanity
00:17:09 --> 00:17:16 is to grow up and reflect his magnificence in the lives that they live.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:22 We are made with a mission, with a purpose,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:30 and it is to display the majesty of God in whose image and likeness we bear.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:35 And then you get to Genesis 3.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 Adam and Eve reject the invitation.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 They reject God.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 They decide to make life about them, not about God,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 to pursue their own majesty.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:48 They're scattered from God's presence, as we saw last week.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:52 And even though sin has ruined everything,
00:17:52 --> 00:17:58 they still bear the image of God after Genesis 3.
00:17:58 --> 00:18:01 They are alienated from their father,
00:18:02 --> 00:18:07 and therefore they won't grow up to reflect his true character.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:13 And yet God's plans are not ruined yet.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:17 He is still committed to having kids in his likeness.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 So let's fast forward in the Old Testament.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 A number of years later,
00:18:21 --> 00:18:25 God calls another son to himself,
00:18:26 --> 00:18:29 and this son is called Israel.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:33 In Hosea 11, verse 1, we read this.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:37 When Israel was a child,
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 I loved him,
00:18:39 --> 00:18:44 and out of Egypt I called my son.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:48 You see, when God calls the people of Israel out of Egypt,
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 out of slavery in Egypt,
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 and through the Red Sea,
00:18:52 --> 00:18:55 it's like he has given birth to a new nation,
00:18:56 --> 00:18:58 a new people, a new family, new children.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 They become God's people,
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 his children, his son.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 And at Mount Sinai,
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 when he gathers them to himself at Mount Sinai,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:11 he gives them his word, his law.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:14 And in a sense, what he's doing there,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 he's extending to them the invitation again
00:19:16 --> 00:19:21 to live in his image and likeness,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 to reflect his character,
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 his purposes,
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 his priorities.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 What does Israel do?
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 Well, if you read on the very next verse of Hosea 11,
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 it says this in verse 2.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 But the more they were called,
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 the more they went away from me.
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 They sacrificed to the Baals
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43 and they burnt incense to images.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 Just like Adam before them,
00:19:47 --> 00:19:51 Israel too fails to be the true son of God,
00:19:51 --> 00:19:54 reflecting the image and the likeness of God.
00:19:56 --> 00:20:00 And then there's silence in the Old Testament.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:06 And then you get to Colossians chapter 1 verse 15.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:12 And here we discover the one who is not just the son of God in name,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:17 but also the son of God in character and purpose.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:23 This is the one who truly mirrors the magnificence of God.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:27 The apostle Paul makes this comment that is just so profound.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 It says,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 The son,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 we're talking about Jesus,
00:20:32 --> 00:20:37 the son is the image of the invisible God,
00:20:37 --> 00:20:40 the firstborn over all creation.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:48 Jesus Christ is the son of God in a far more profound sense than Adam or Israel ever were.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 If you keep reading,
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 let me just keep reading in Colossians chapter 1.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 For in him,
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 this is Jesus still,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 all things were created,
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 things in heaven and on earth,
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 visible and invisible,
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities,
00:21:00 --> 00:21:03 all things have been created through him and for him.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:05 He is before all things,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 and in him all things hold together.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:10 This is God the son
00:21:10 --> 00:21:14 in the person of Jesus Christ.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:21 Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3 says this about Jesus,
00:21:21 --> 00:21:24 The son is the radiance of God's glory
00:21:24 --> 00:21:29 and the exact representation of his being.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:34 John 1 verse 14 says that Jesus is the word.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:38 He became flesh and made his dwelling amongst us.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 We have seen his glory,
00:21:40 --> 00:21:44 the glory of the one and only son
00:21:44 --> 00:21:48 who came from the father full of grace and truth.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:54 Jesus is God the son,
00:21:55 --> 00:22:00 the son of God in his image and his likeness.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:04 But he also reflects the image and likeness of God perfectly
00:22:04 --> 00:22:10 because he lives a life of righteous obedience to the father.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 So why does this matter to us?
00:22:15 --> 00:22:18 Let me keep reading in Colossians 1 verse 18.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 And he,
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 we're still talking about Jesus,
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23 and he is the head of the body,
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 the church,
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 he's the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead,
00:22:25 --> 00:22:30 so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:35 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwelling in him
00:22:35 --> 00:22:40 and through him to reconcile to himself all things,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 whether things on earth,
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 things in heaven,
00:22:43 --> 00:22:46 by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:50 Once you were alienated from God,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 you were scattered from God,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 you were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior,
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 because you rejected the image and likeness.
00:22:56 --> 00:23:00 But now he has reconciled you by his,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:03 by Christ's physical body through death
00:23:03 --> 00:23:06 to present you wholly in his sight
00:23:06 --> 00:23:10 without blemish and free from accusation.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:17 That is because of the son of God
00:23:17 --> 00:23:21 doing his work on our behalf,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:25 he now presents us in such a way
00:23:25 --> 00:23:28 that we bear the image and the likeness of our father
00:23:28 --> 00:23:30 through Christ.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 That's what matters to us.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 He gives us the image and the likeness
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 that we were created for.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 You see,
00:23:42 --> 00:23:46 God created us out of love to be part of his family.
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 However,
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 not just Adam and Eve,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 but all of us have rejected him
00:23:50 --> 00:23:53 and lived for our own magnification.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 We are his offspring.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 He gives us life,
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 but we walk away from his family
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 and he scatters us from his presence.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 But because we have dignity and honor
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 at a level
00:24:04 --> 00:24:09 that no other thing in creation does,
00:24:09 --> 00:24:12 he holds us particularly accountable for that.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 Death and separation from him,
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 eternal separation,
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 eternal scattering
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 is what we deserve.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 And the good news is
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 that Jesus Christ,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 the son of God,
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 God the son,
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 stepped into our world
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 and lived the life
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 that we should have lived.
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 He became like us.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 He didn't just bear the image of God.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 He bore the image of humanity.
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 He lived the perfect life
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 that we should have lived
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 and he died the death
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 that we should have died.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:43 He faced separation from his father,
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 but he rose triumphant
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 over sin and death.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:50 Now those who trust in Jesus
00:24:50 --> 00:24:52 and his finished work for us,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 we get adopted,
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 gathered back into the family.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:59 Jesus dealt with our penalties
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 so effectively
00:25:00 --> 00:25:02 that when God looks at us,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:04 he doesn't see the flaws.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 He doesn't see the sin.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:07 He doesn't see the pursuit
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 of personal magnification.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:11 He looks at his son
00:25:11 --> 00:25:14 and he sees us covered
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 in the blood of his son
00:25:15 --> 00:25:19 and he sees unblemished sons
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 and daughters
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 bearing his likeness,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 his image.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 God has gathered us together
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 through and in Jesus Christ.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:34 So what does he want from us?
00:25:34 --> 00:25:38 We exist for his magnification.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:40 He's saved us through Christ,
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 gathered us through himself.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 What does he want for us?
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 What does he want
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 for his children?
00:25:45 --> 00:25:47 Is it just that he wants
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 to give us new birth?
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 That's it?
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 Just to be saved?
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 You know,
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 along the way to get to go to heaven,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 that's the main thing?
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 Is that all it is?
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 Or does he have
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 a much bigger purpose?
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 Romans 8, 28.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 And we know that in all things
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 God works for the good
00:26:03 --> 00:26:05 of those who love him,
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 who have been called
00:26:07 --> 00:26:10 according to his purpose.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:13 And so you ask the question,
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 well, what is his purpose?
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 And then you just need
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 to read the next verse.
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 Verse 29.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 And for those God foreknew,
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 he also predestined
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 to be conformed
00:26:24 --> 00:26:27 to the image of his son.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:39 God's purpose
00:26:39 --> 00:26:43 is to form us,
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 transform us,
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 conform us
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 into the likeness
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 and the image
00:26:48 --> 00:26:50 of his true son,
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 Jesus.
00:26:51 --> 00:26:55 God wants
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 every single one
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 of his children
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 to grow up,
00:26:58 --> 00:27:00 to be more
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 and more like Jesus,
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 to grow up,
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 to be like,
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 to act like,
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 to have the attitude
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 of the priorities
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 of Jesus.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 And maturity
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 is the word
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 that the Bible uses
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 for becoming
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 more and more
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 like Jesus.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 We see this
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 in Ephesians.
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 So if you've
00:27:21 --> 00:27:23 got the service outline,
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 let's go to Ephesians now.
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 We can use your Bible.
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 Going to linger here
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 for a bit.
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 Actually, use your Bible
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 because not every verse
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 I'm going to refer to
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 is right in front of you.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 But if you've got your Bibles,
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 that'll be good.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40 We see in Ephesians 4,
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 verse 1.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 So Christ himself,
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 he's about halfway
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 down the page,
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 Christ himself
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 gave the apostles,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 the prophets,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 the evangelists,
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 the pastors,
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 and the teachers.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 And he goes,
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 well, he did that,
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 so what's the purpose
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 of that?
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 Verse 12,
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 to equip his people
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 for works of service.
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 Well, why do you want
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 to do that?
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 So that the body
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 of Christ might be
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 built up.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 And how long
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 is that going to take?
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 Verse 13,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 until we all reach
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 unity in the faith,
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 in the knowledge
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 of the Son of God,
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 and become mature,
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 attaining to the
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 whole measure
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 of the fullness
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 of Christ.
00:28:11 --> 00:28:20 God's plan for you
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 conforms us
00:28:21 --> 00:28:23 more and more
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 into the image
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 and the likeness
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 of his true Son,
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 He does that both
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 individually and corporately
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 as a church.
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 That is what God's
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 plan for you
00:28:33 --> 00:28:35 if you are part of
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 his rescued and
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 adopted people.
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 He doesn't just want
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 to give birth to you
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 and you to be a baby.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 He wants you to grow up,
00:28:42 --> 00:28:44 to be more and more
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 and transformed
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 in the image
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 of the Lord Jesus.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 That is his design.
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 And according to
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 Romans chapter 8,
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 he will throw
00:28:50 --> 00:28:52 anything at you
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 in order for you
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 to pursue that.
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 He will throw
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 anything at you
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 that you might grow
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 to become more
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 like Jesus.
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 So,
00:29:05 --> 00:29:07 last point.
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 How can we grow
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 in maturity
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 on purpose?
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 Spiritual growth
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 doesn't just
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 happen.
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 Spiritual growth
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 occurs as a result
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 of
00:29:18 --> 00:29:20 intentional
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 and appropriate
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 effort.
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 There is intentional
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 pursuit
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 of a
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 clear goal
00:29:27 --> 00:29:29 and there is
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 an appropriate
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 use
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 of God-given
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 means for growth.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 It's both.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 Intentional
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 and appropriate.
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 Over 170
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 years ago,
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 Archibald Alexander,
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 the first president
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 of Princeton
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 Theological Seminary,
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 wrote down
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 some thoughts
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 on hindrance
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 to spiritual
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 growth.
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 And the first
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 hindrance he listed
00:29:50 --> 00:29:52 was what he
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 called a defect
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55 in our belief
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 in the
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 freeness
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 of divine grace.
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 And he went on
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 to say
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 that a
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 correct
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 understanding
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 of God's
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 grace
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 and a
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 constant
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 appropriation
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 of God's
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 grace
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 of the
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 gospel
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 in our
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 life
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 reminding us
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 that we
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 are true
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 sons of
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 God
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 made in
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 his image
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 and likeness.
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 It's all
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 by the
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 work of
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 Christ.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 It's not
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 by my
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 effort
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 but all
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 by Christ.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 He says
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 must be
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 the foundation
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 of all
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 personal
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 efforts to
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 grow.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 Otherwise
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 it's just
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 pure
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 legalism.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 Otherwise
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 it's just
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 pure
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 humanism.
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 Just my
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 effort to
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 make me
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 grow.
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 We need
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 the gospel
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 to shroud
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 us,
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 consistently
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 permeate
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 every effort
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 that we
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 make.
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 God's
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 grace
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 underpins
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 every
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 means
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 that God
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 gives us
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 to intentionally
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 grow up.
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 So I'm
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 going to
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 mention
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 four.
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 They're
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 on the
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 page
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 real quick
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 and they're
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 from
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 Ephesians
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 4.
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 Daily
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 devotions.
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 The
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 key
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 influencer
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 in us
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 growing
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 to
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 maturity
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 is the
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 Bible.
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 If you
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 want a
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 child to
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 grow up
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 into
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 maturity
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 you have
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 to feed
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 them.
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 Without
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 that the
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 child will
00:31:00 --> 00:31:02 become malnourished
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 and die.
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 That's
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 certainly the
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 case when
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 they don't
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 have a
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 pantry
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 that they
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 can access.
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 The
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 word of
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 God
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 is your
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 spiritual
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 food.
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 I'm not
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 going to
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 go into
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 a theology
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 of that.
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 It's
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 everywhere.
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 I'll just
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 take that
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 as a
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 given.
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 The
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 word of
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 God
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 is your
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 spiritual
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 food.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 To
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 grow up
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 into
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 spiritual
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 maturity
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 we need
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 to feed
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 on the
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 word
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 and live
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 out what
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 we feed
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 on.
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 It's not
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 just a
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 matter of
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 getting
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 Bible
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 knowledge
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 into your
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 brain.
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 It's about
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 obedience.
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 We'll come to
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 that in a
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 moment in my
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 second point.
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 We see the
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 significance of
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 the word of
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 God in
00:31:39 --> 00:31:41 Ephesians 4.
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 Who does
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 Christ give to
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 the church so
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 that they might
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 mature?
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 Verse 11
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 says the
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 apostles,
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 the prophets,
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 the evangelists,
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 the pastors,
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 the teachers.
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 What is
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 interesting is
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 all of
00:31:51 --> 00:31:53 those roles
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 are word
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 based ministries.
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 It's the
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 word of
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 God that
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 grows the
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 church.
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 Now the
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 Center for
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 Bible
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 Engagement
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 in the
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 United States
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 released a
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 research paper,
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 extensive
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 research paper
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 back in
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 2009.
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 The title
00:32:10 --> 00:32:12 of it is
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 Understanding
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 the Bible
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 Engagement
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 Challenge.
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 Scientific
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 Evidence
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 for the
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 Power of
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 Fall.
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 Now the
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 bottom line
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 conclusion of
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 this research
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 was that
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 people who
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 read the
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 Bible,
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 engage in
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 the Bible,
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 personal
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 devotions,
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 four or
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 more times
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 a week
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 saw
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 significant
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 spiritual
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 growth.
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 Four or
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 more times
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 a week.
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 What is
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 troubling
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 however,
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 was the
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 conclusion
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 that those
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 who read
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 the Bible
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 between
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 one and
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 three times
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 per week
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 on average
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 experienced
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 the same
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 level of
00:32:53 --> 00:32:55 growth as
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 those who
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 didn't read
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 it at all.
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 Basically
00:32:58 --> 00:33:00 none is
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 what they're
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 saying.
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 So how's
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 your Bible
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 reading going?
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 I think
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 there's very
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 good reason
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 here to
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 adopt the
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 motto
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 more than
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 four.
00:33:14 --> 00:33:16 more than
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 four.
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 Write it
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 down,
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 stick it
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 in your
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 diary,
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 more than
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 four.
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 There is
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 no
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 shortcut
00:33:23 --> 00:33:25 to growth.
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 There's
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 no
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 shortcut.
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 Don't,
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 you know,
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 if you're not
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 actually engaging
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 with the
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 Word of
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 God as
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 a regular
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 personal
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 devotional
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 thing,
00:33:38 --> 00:33:40 don't assume
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 you're growing.
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 growing.
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 The mistake
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 we make
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 in churches
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 is because
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 we're hanging
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 around the
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 place,
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 we just
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 think it's
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 an osmosis
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 thing.
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 Because we've
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 got longer
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 history,
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 we've got
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 more stories
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 to tell,
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 we just
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 assume we're
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 growing.
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 But you're
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 not.
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 If you're not
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 reading the
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 Scriptures,
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 you're not.
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 You've got to
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 understand you're
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 an adolescent.
00:34:05 --> 00:34:09 So friends,
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 as I said,
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 there's no
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 shortcut here.
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 At some
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 point,
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 you're going
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 to have to
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 make a
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 conscious
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 decision to
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 prioritize the
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 reading of
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 your Bible,
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 the reflection
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 on your
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 Scriptures,
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 the meditation
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 over it,
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 reflecting on
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 it,
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 praying over
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 it.
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 You've got to
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 prioritize that
00:34:27 --> 00:34:29 over responding
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 to emails,
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 Facebook,
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 TV,
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 sleep,
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 even sleep.
00:34:33 --> 00:34:35 And if
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 you follow
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 the words
00:34:36 --> 00:34:36 of Jonathan
00:34:36 --> 00:34:36 Edwards,
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 even food.
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 Nothing
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 gets in
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 the way
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 of this.
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 You know,
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 like,
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 okay,
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 we'll move
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 to point
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 two.
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 Regular
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 repentance.
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 Too often,
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 I think,
00:34:53 --> 00:34:55 in the
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 Christian circles,
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 we think of
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 repentance as a
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 one-off moment
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 when we come
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 to Jesus,
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 need to repent,
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 forgive your sins,
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 and turn to
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 Jesus.
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 The biblical
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 word for
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 repentance,
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 means to
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 change your
00:35:04 --> 00:35:04 mind.
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 And so,
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 as we
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 engage with
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 the Bible,
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 so it's not
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 just Bible
00:35:09 --> 00:35:09 knowledge,
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 it's not
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 just understanding
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 more and
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 more the
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 technicalities,
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 academic stuff
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 in the
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 Bible,
00:35:15 --> 00:35:17 but as
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 we read
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 the Bible,
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 God is
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 constantly
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 working in
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 our hearts
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 to bring
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 our minds
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 and our
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 lives in
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 line with
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 it.
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 Repentance
00:35:29 --> 00:35:29 is this
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 constant process
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 of changing
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 course.
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 I'm heading
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 down this
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 direction,
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 and I
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 engage
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 with the
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 scriptures
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 and it
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 says,
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 I need
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 to go
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 in this
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 direction.
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 This is
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 the life
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 that
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 pursues
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 God's
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 glory.
00:35:39 --> 00:35:39 This is
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 for my
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 joy.
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 This is
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 for my
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 good.
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 I go
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 this
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 direction.
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 It's the
00:35:43 --> 00:35:43 daily
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 process of
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 what Ephesians
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 4 calls
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 taking off the
00:35:47 --> 00:35:47 old self and
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 putting on the
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 new self.
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 Have a look.
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 Ephesians 4
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 verse 22.
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 If you've
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 got your
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 Bibles
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 there,
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 you were
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 taught with
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 regard to
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 your former
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 way of
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 life to
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 put off
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 your old
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 self,
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 which has
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 been corrupted
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 by its
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 deceitful
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 desires,
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 to be
00:36:00 --> 00:36:00 made new
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 in the
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 attitude of
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 your minds
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 and to
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 put on
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 the new
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 self
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 created
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 to be
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 like
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 God.
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 Created
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 to be
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 in his
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 image and
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 likeness in
00:36:17 --> 00:36:17 true righteousness
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 and holiness.
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 So I
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 wonder if
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 one of the
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 main reasons
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 so many
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 Christians
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 start well
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 and then
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 they just
00:36:27 --> 00:36:27 hit this
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 plateau
00:36:28 --> 00:36:30 of
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 spiritual
00:36:31 --> 00:36:31 adolescent
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 stage is
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 frankly because
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 they've just
00:36:34 --> 00:36:34 stopped repenting.
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 I asked you
00:36:36 --> 00:36:36 two weeks
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 ago,
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 I asked you
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 two weeks
00:36:39 --> 00:36:39 ago,
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 when was
00:36:40 --> 00:36:41 the last
00:36:41 --> 00:36:41 time you
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 lamented
00:36:42 --> 00:36:42 over your
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 sin?
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47 We hit
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 this thing
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 where we
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 just stop
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 repenting,
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 we just
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 stop changing,
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 we get
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 into a
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 settled
00:36:52 --> 00:36:52 position.
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 You know,
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 is there
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 part of
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 your old
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 self where
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 you've just
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 become
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 comfortable
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 with it?
00:37:00 --> 00:37:00 Like an
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 old blanket,
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 just got
00:37:02 --> 00:37:02 comfortable
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 with it.
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 Maybe
00:37:05 --> 00:37:05 you've
00:37:05 --> 00:37:07 got friends
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 with it,
00:37:09 --> 00:37:09 started to
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 make excuses
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 for the
00:37:11 --> 00:37:11 smell.
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 Is
00:37:16 --> 00:37:16 there?
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 bitterness,
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 unforgiving
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 spirit,
00:37:20 --> 00:37:20 pride,
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 arrogance,
00:37:21 --> 00:37:21 an ungodly
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 relationship,
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 greed,
00:37:23 --> 00:37:23 gossip,
00:37:23 --> 00:37:23 pornography,
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 spiritual
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 laziness.
00:37:28 --> 00:37:28 You
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29 could just
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 go on.
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 Paul says
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 here,
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 take it
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 off and
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 put on
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 the new
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 self in
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 the image
00:37:34 --> 00:37:34 and the
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 likeness of
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 your father.
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 Number
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 three,
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 other
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 Christians.
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 The third
00:37:41 --> 00:37:41 thing that we
00:37:41 --> 00:37:41 need to
00:37:41 --> 00:37:42 mature on
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 purpose is
00:37:43 --> 00:37:43 other
00:37:43 --> 00:37:43 Christians.
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 You see,
00:37:44 --> 00:37:45 reading your
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45 Bible,
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45 listening to
00:37:45 --> 00:37:46 sermons
00:37:46 --> 00:37:46 online,
00:37:46 --> 00:37:47 getting prayer
00:37:47 --> 00:37:48 updates on
00:37:48 --> 00:37:48 your phone
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 and mission
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 newsletters in
00:37:50 --> 00:37:50 your mailbox.
00:37:50 --> 00:37:50 They're all
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 good stuff.
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 But if that
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 is all you
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 do,
00:37:55 --> 00:37:56 then it is a
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 sign of
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 immaturity.
00:37:59 --> 00:38:00 It's a sign
00:38:00 --> 00:38:01 of immaturity.
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 Let me push
00:38:03 --> 00:38:03 this point.
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 You can have
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 every Bible
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 app on your
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 phone from
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 all the
00:38:08 --> 00:38:09 ace
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 Christian
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 organizations
00:38:11 --> 00:38:12 and receive
00:38:12 --> 00:38:12 their prayer
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 points.
00:38:13 --> 00:38:13 You can
00:38:13 --> 00:38:14 even have
00:38:14 --> 00:38:14 a fish
00:38:14 --> 00:38:14 sticker on
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 your car.
00:38:16 --> 00:38:17 But if
00:38:17 --> 00:38:17 you are
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 doing it
00:38:18 --> 00:38:18 all in
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 isolation,
00:38:19 --> 00:38:19 you can
00:38:19 --> 00:38:19 listen to
00:38:19 --> 00:38:19 the great
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 preachers of
00:38:20 --> 00:38:20 the world,
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 download your
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 podcast on
00:38:22 --> 00:38:22 the way to
00:38:22 --> 00:38:22 work.
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 But if
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 you're doing
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 it in
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 isolation,
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 it's
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 actually a
00:38:27 --> 00:38:27 sign of
00:38:27 --> 00:38:28 immaturity,
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 not maturity.
00:38:31 --> 00:38:32 Maturity is
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 a team
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 sport.
00:38:34 --> 00:38:35 Have a look
00:38:35 --> 00:38:36 at Ephesians
00:38:36 --> 00:38:37 4 verse
00:38:37 --> 00:38:37 15.
00:38:37 --> 00:38:40 Speaking the
00:38:40 --> 00:38:40 truth in
00:38:40 --> 00:38:42 love, we
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 will grow to
00:38:43 --> 00:38:43 become in
00:38:43 --> 00:38:45 every respect
00:38:45 --> 00:38:46 the mature
00:38:46 --> 00:38:46 body of
00:38:46 --> 00:38:47 him who
00:38:47 --> 00:38:48 is the
00:38:48 --> 00:38:48 head that
00:38:48 --> 00:38:49 is Christ.
00:38:51 --> 00:38:52 So verse
00:38:52 --> 00:38:53 11 tells
00:38:53 --> 00:38:54 us about
00:38:54 --> 00:38:55 the apostles
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 and others
00:38:56 --> 00:38:57 who have the
00:38:57 --> 00:38:57 job of
00:38:57 --> 00:38:58 bringing the
00:38:58 --> 00:38:58 word of
00:38:58 --> 00:38:58 God to
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 the church.
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 That's
00:39:00 --> 00:39:00 verse 11.
00:39:01 --> 00:39:01 And then
00:39:01 --> 00:39:03 verse 15,
00:39:04 --> 00:39:04 we are
00:39:04 --> 00:39:06 instructed to
00:39:06 --> 00:39:07 speak the
00:39:07 --> 00:39:08 word that's
00:39:08 --> 00:39:09 brought to
00:39:09 --> 00:39:10 us to
00:39:10 --> 00:39:10 each other.
00:39:12 --> 00:39:13 Speak the
00:39:13 --> 00:39:14 word, speak
00:39:14 --> 00:39:14 the truth to
00:39:14 --> 00:39:15 each other so
00:39:15 --> 00:39:16 that together
00:39:16 --> 00:39:16 we might
00:39:16 --> 00:39:18 grow up.
00:39:19 --> 00:39:20 As we, the
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 church, speak
00:39:21 --> 00:39:21 the truth to
00:39:21 --> 00:39:22 each other,
00:39:22 --> 00:39:23 the whole
00:39:23 --> 00:39:24 church grows
00:39:24 --> 00:39:25 up.
00:39:26 --> 00:39:27 So let me
00:39:27 --> 00:39:28 highlight again,
00:39:28 --> 00:39:28 it was said
00:39:28 --> 00:39:29 already tonight,
00:39:29 --> 00:39:29 I'm going to
00:39:29 --> 00:39:30 do it again,
00:39:30 --> 00:39:30 the important
00:39:30 --> 00:39:32 place that
00:39:32 --> 00:39:32 community groups
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 have in the
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 maturing
00:39:34 --> 00:39:34 process.
00:39:34 --> 00:39:38 this
00:39:38 --> 00:39:39 tonight is
00:39:39 --> 00:39:40 an opportunity
00:39:40 --> 00:39:40 for you,
00:39:40 --> 00:39:41 if you're not
00:39:41 --> 00:39:41 in a community
00:39:41 --> 00:39:41 group, this
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 is an opportunity
00:39:42 --> 00:39:42 for you to
00:39:42 --> 00:39:43 repent
00:39:43 --> 00:39:44 tonight.
00:39:45 --> 00:39:45 That is,
00:39:46 --> 00:39:46 change your
00:39:46 --> 00:39:47 mind, start
00:39:47 --> 00:39:48 hitting on a
00:39:48 --> 00:39:48 course to
00:39:48 --> 00:39:50 grow up, and
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 go out there
00:39:51 --> 00:39:52 to the sign
00:39:52 --> 00:39:52 up table,
00:39:53 --> 00:39:53 speak to
00:39:53 --> 00:39:53 Paul, speak
00:39:53 --> 00:39:55 to James, and
00:39:55 --> 00:39:55 get yourself
00:39:55 --> 00:39:55 into a
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 community
00:39:56 --> 00:39:56 group.
00:40:01 --> 00:40:01 Don't
00:40:01 --> 00:40:01 deprive
00:40:01 --> 00:40:02 others or
00:40:02 --> 00:40:03 yourself.
00:40:04 --> 00:40:05 Fourthly,
00:40:06 --> 00:40:06 worship
00:40:06 --> 00:40:07 Christ.
00:40:09 --> 00:40:09 That is,
00:40:09 --> 00:40:10 pay attention
00:40:10 --> 00:40:11 to the
00:40:11 --> 00:40:11 affections of
00:40:11 --> 00:40:12 the heart.
00:40:13 --> 00:40:14 What do
00:40:14 --> 00:40:15 the
00:40:15 --> 00:40:17 longings of
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 your heart
00:40:17 --> 00:40:18 tell you
00:40:18 --> 00:40:19 that you
00:40:19 --> 00:40:19 are worshipping?
00:40:21 --> 00:40:22 You see,
00:40:22 --> 00:40:22 what we
00:40:22 --> 00:40:23 revere,
00:40:24 --> 00:40:25 we come
00:40:25 --> 00:40:26 to resemble.
00:40:27 --> 00:40:28 Whatever
00:40:28 --> 00:40:28 it is that
00:40:28 --> 00:40:29 we revere,
00:40:30 --> 00:40:31 we come
00:40:31 --> 00:40:32 to be
00:40:32 --> 00:40:33 like it.
00:40:35 --> 00:40:35 Get
00:40:35 --> 00:40:36 remade in
00:40:36 --> 00:40:37 its image.
00:40:39 --> 00:40:40 We become
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 what we
00:40:40 --> 00:40:41 worship.
00:40:41 --> 00:40:41 Set your
00:40:41 --> 00:40:42 affections on
00:40:42 --> 00:40:42 Christ, and
00:40:42 --> 00:40:43 you will
00:40:43 --> 00:40:44 more and
00:40:44 --> 00:40:44 more become
00:40:44 --> 00:40:45 like Christ.
00:40:46 --> 00:40:46 Of course,
00:40:46 --> 00:40:47 if you long
00:40:47 --> 00:40:48 after and set
00:40:48 --> 00:40:48 your affections
00:40:48 --> 00:40:49 on other
00:40:49 --> 00:40:49 things, apart
00:40:49 --> 00:40:50 from Christ,
00:40:50 --> 00:40:51 on money,
00:40:51 --> 00:40:51 sex, power,
00:40:51 --> 00:40:52 approval,
00:40:52 --> 00:40:52 control,
00:40:54 --> 00:40:54 you'll be
00:40:54 --> 00:40:55 controlled by
00:40:55 --> 00:40:56 those things,
00:40:56 --> 00:40:57 and it will
00:40:57 --> 00:40:58 ruin you because
00:40:58 --> 00:40:59 you're not ever
00:40:59 --> 00:41:00 meant to be
00:41:00 --> 00:41:00 controlled by
00:41:00 --> 00:41:01 those things.
00:41:02 --> 00:41:03 Now, we
00:41:03 --> 00:41:04 can apply
00:41:04 --> 00:41:05 this fourth
00:41:05 --> 00:41:05 point to a
00:41:05 --> 00:41:06 whole range
00:41:06 --> 00:41:06 of things.
00:41:06 --> 00:41:07 Let me
00:41:07 --> 00:41:07 just take
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 this opportunity
00:41:08 --> 00:41:09 given that
00:41:09 --> 00:41:09 Vision Sunday
00:41:09 --> 00:41:10 is two
00:41:10 --> 00:41:10 weeks away,
00:41:11 --> 00:41:11 and we
00:41:11 --> 00:41:12 are looking
00:41:12 --> 00:41:12 to raise
00:41:12 --> 00:41:13 $55
00:41:13 --> 00:41:14 on one
00:41:14 --> 00:41:15 day and
00:41:15 --> 00:41:16 increase our
00:41:16 --> 00:41:17 offertory for
00:41:17 --> 00:41:18 next year by
00:41:18 --> 00:41:19 5%.
00:41:19 --> 00:41:20 So I want
00:41:20 --> 00:41:21 to take money
00:41:21 --> 00:41:22 as an
00:41:22 --> 00:41:22 example,
00:41:24 --> 00:41:25 because Jesus
00:41:25 --> 00:41:25 does.
00:41:26 --> 00:41:26 Matthew 6,
00:41:26 --> 00:41:27 24,
00:41:27 --> 00:41:28 Jesus says,
00:41:28 --> 00:41:28 no one can
00:41:28 --> 00:41:29 serve two
00:41:29 --> 00:41:29 masters,
00:41:30 --> 00:41:30 either you'll
00:41:30 --> 00:41:31 hate the
00:41:31 --> 00:41:31 one and
00:41:31 --> 00:41:31 love the
00:41:31 --> 00:41:31 other,
00:41:31 --> 00:41:32 or you'll
00:41:32 --> 00:41:32 be devoted
00:41:32 --> 00:41:32 to the
00:41:32 --> 00:41:33 one and
00:41:33 --> 00:41:33 despise the
00:41:33 --> 00:41:33 other,
00:41:33 --> 00:41:34 you cannot
00:41:34 --> 00:41:34 serve both
00:41:34 --> 00:41:35 God and
00:41:35 --> 00:41:35 money.
00:41:36 --> 00:41:37 One way we
00:41:37 --> 00:41:38 worship God
00:41:38 --> 00:41:39 with our
00:41:39 --> 00:41:41 money is
00:41:41 --> 00:41:41 giving it
00:41:41 --> 00:41:42 away.
00:41:43 --> 00:41:43 Now, I
00:41:43 --> 00:41:43 don't have
00:41:43 --> 00:41:44 time here to
00:41:44 --> 00:41:44 go on a
00:41:44 --> 00:41:45 full theology
00:41:45 --> 00:41:46 of giving,
00:41:46 --> 00:41:47 so just let
00:41:47 --> 00:41:48 me say that
00:41:48 --> 00:41:50 radical generosity
00:41:50 --> 00:41:51 is a sign of
00:41:51 --> 00:41:53 spiritual maturity.
00:41:54 --> 00:41:55 So again,
00:41:56 --> 00:41:56 in the next two
00:41:56 --> 00:41:57 weeks, you have an
00:41:57 --> 00:41:57 opportunity to
00:41:57 --> 00:41:59 repent, to
00:41:59 --> 00:41:59 change your
00:41:59 --> 00:42:02 mind, to
00:42:02 --> 00:42:04 engage with
00:42:04 --> 00:42:04 God in his
00:42:04 --> 00:42:05 word, to
00:42:05 --> 00:42:06 obey him and
00:42:06 --> 00:42:07 be made more
00:42:07 --> 00:42:07 into the
00:42:07 --> 00:42:07 likeness of
00:42:07 --> 00:42:08 the Lord
00:42:08 --> 00:42:08 Jesus.
00:42:11 --> 00:42:11 Spend your
00:42:11 --> 00:42:12 time in the
00:42:12 --> 00:42:13 next couple of
00:42:13 --> 00:42:13 weeks, ask
00:42:13 --> 00:42:13 yourself the
00:42:13 --> 00:42:14 question, how
00:42:14 --> 00:42:14 can I worship
00:42:14 --> 00:42:15 God with my
00:42:15 --> 00:42:15 money?
00:42:16 --> 00:42:16 How can I
00:42:16 --> 00:42:17 take steps to
00:42:17 --> 00:42:18 grow, mature
00:42:18 --> 00:42:20 in radical
00:42:20 --> 00:42:20 generosity?
00:42:21 --> 00:42:21 The German
00:42:21 --> 00:42:22 church reformer
00:42:22 --> 00:42:23 and theologian
00:42:23 --> 00:42:24 Martin Luther
00:42:24 --> 00:42:24 once said that
00:42:24 --> 00:42:25 everyone needs
00:42:25 --> 00:42:26 three conversions,
00:42:26 --> 00:42:27 conversion of
00:42:27 --> 00:42:28 the mind to
00:42:28 --> 00:42:29 gospel truth,
00:42:30 --> 00:42:30 conversion of
00:42:30 --> 00:42:31 the heart to
00:42:31 --> 00:42:32 embrace the
00:42:32 --> 00:42:33 Lord Jesus as
00:42:33 --> 00:42:33 saviour and
00:42:33 --> 00:42:35 master, and
00:42:35 --> 00:42:36 conversion of
00:42:36 --> 00:42:37 the wallet, the
00:42:37 --> 00:42:38 laying of one's
00:42:38 --> 00:42:39 money at Christ's
00:42:39 --> 00:42:40 feet, and he
00:42:40 --> 00:42:41 says that's always
00:42:41 --> 00:42:41 the last one,
00:42:42 --> 00:42:43 because Jesus
00:42:43 --> 00:42:44 was right.
00:42:45 --> 00:42:46 You cannot
00:42:46 --> 00:42:47 serve both God
00:42:47 --> 00:42:48 and money, and
00:42:48 --> 00:42:49 he put money up as
00:42:49 --> 00:42:49 the alternative.
00:42:49 --> 00:42:54 Luther certainly
00:42:54 --> 00:42:54 knew that taking
00:42:54 --> 00:42:55 off the old
00:42:55 --> 00:42:56 self in relation
00:42:56 --> 00:42:56 to our money is
00:42:56 --> 00:42:57 one of the most
00:42:57 --> 00:42:58 difficult dimensions
00:42:58 --> 00:42:58 of our maturity
00:42:58 --> 00:42:59 as Christians.
00:42:59 --> 00:43:00 What we need as
00:43:00 --> 00:43:03 a church is not a
00:43:03 --> 00:43:03 whole bunch of
00:43:03 --> 00:43:04 rules on this
00:43:04 --> 00:43:05 stuff, is a
00:43:05 --> 00:43:06 vision of what
00:43:06 --> 00:43:07 God could do in
00:43:07 --> 00:43:08 us and through
00:43:08 --> 00:43:10 us as we pursue
00:43:10 --> 00:43:10 maturity.
00:43:12 --> 00:43:13 We won't attain
00:43:13 --> 00:43:14 full maturity
00:43:14 --> 00:43:16 until Jesus comes
00:43:16 --> 00:43:18 back, but he does
00:43:18 --> 00:43:19 call us to grow
00:43:19 --> 00:43:19 up.
00:43:21 --> 00:43:22 And so don't
00:43:22 --> 00:43:22 settle.
00:43:23 --> 00:43:24 Wherever you are,
00:43:24 --> 00:43:24 and maybe you've
00:43:24 --> 00:43:25 been settled there
00:43:25 --> 00:43:26 for a long time,
00:43:26 --> 00:43:27 don't settle for
00:43:27 --> 00:43:29 being an adolescent
00:43:29 --> 00:43:29 Christian.
00:43:31 --> 00:43:32 Do the My Purpose
00:43:32 --> 00:43:33 check-up, as I've
00:43:33 --> 00:43:34 been reminded of
00:43:34 --> 00:43:37 again tonight, and
00:43:37 --> 00:43:38 plan to grow up.