Who We Are Part 3
Series: Who I Am
Speaker: Debbie Gould
Date: 21st April 2013
Passage: 1 Peter 1:1-5:14
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Good evening, everybody. Lovely to be here with you.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 Oh, thank you, thank you.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 My identity is very secure, I want you to know.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:20 So, no, it is wonderful to give you the last of these series on identity.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 So let me first of all tell you a story.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 While walking through the forest one day,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:32 a man found a young eagle that had fallen out of its nest.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:37 He took this eagle home and he put it in his barnyard
00:00:37 --> 00:00:42 where it soon learned to eat and to behave like the chickens.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 One day a naturalist passed by the farm and asked,
00:00:47 --> 00:00:53 why is the king of the birds behaving and living in a barnyard with the chickens?
00:00:53 --> 00:00:58 The farmer replied that since he had given it chicken feed
00:00:58 --> 00:01:02 and trained it to be a chicken, it had never learned to fly.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:09 So, since it now behaved as a chicken, it was no longer an eagle.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:14 Still it has the heart of an eagle, said the naturalist,
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 and can surely be taught to fly.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:22 He lifted the eagle toward the sky and he said,
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 you belong to the sky and not to the earth.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 Stretch forth your wings and fly.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 The eagle, however, was confused.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 He did not know who he was.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 And seeing the chickens eating their food,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 he jumped down to be with them again.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:45 The naturalist took the eagle out of the barnyard
00:01:45 --> 00:01:46 and took him to a high mountain.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:53 There he held the king of the birds high above him
00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 and he encouraged him, saying,
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 you are an eagle, you belong to the sky.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 Stretch forth your wings and fly.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 The eagle looked around and he looked backwards
00:02:06 --> 00:02:11 towards the barnyard and then he looked up to the sky.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:15 Then the naturalist lifted him straight towards the sun
00:02:15 --> 00:02:20 and it happened that the eagle began to tremble.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 Slowly he stretched out his wings
00:02:23 --> 00:02:28 and then with a triumphant cry,
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 he soared away into the heavens.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:37 It may be that the eagle still remembers the chickens in the barnyard
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 with nostalgia.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:45 It may even be that he occasionally visits the chickens in the barnyard.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 But as far as anyone knows,
00:02:48 --> 00:02:52 he has never returned to the life of a chicken.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 So I share this story.
00:02:56 --> 00:03:03 Just like the eagle needed to learn to live as an eagle,
00:03:04 --> 00:03:10 we as God's people need to learn to live as God's people
00:03:10 --> 00:03:16 and to fly and soar with great freedom that God has given us.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:22 We can do that if we truly understand our identity
00:03:22 --> 00:03:29 and by living in that identity that has been given to us in Christ.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:34 We saw last week that we as believers,
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 then we are in Christ.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 We have a new identity.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:48 That Christ has given us where we have everything we need in abundance.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:57 But it's not that unusual that we might have trouble adjusting to our new identity.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:02 Just like the eagle had trouble adjusting to the fact that he was an eagle.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:07 We often go back to what we know best,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 what we find easiest.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:15 And sometimes that is the behaviour of our old selves
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 rather than who we are in Christ.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 In today's passage, Peter is writing this letter
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 to a group of new believers who have been scattered.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:32 They have been given new birth into a living hope in Jesus Christ,
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 just like many of us here.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:38 But they still need this encouragement
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 about who they are
00:04:40 --> 00:04:44 and we still need that same encouragement.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 Peter gives some powerful imagery in chapter 2.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:53 He explains that this new identity that we've been given,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 we have been given a spiritual house,
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 a royal priesthood.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 We are a royal priesthood.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 We are a spiritual house, I'm sorry.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 We are a chosen people
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 and we are God's possession.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 Verses 3 and 4 say,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:34 How do you feel about being described as a stone?
00:05:34 --> 00:05:39 Pretty odd for us today to be described as stones
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 and to get all warm and fuzzy about that.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 But for the people in Peter's day,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 it was a significant term.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:55 This living stone picture would have been so real in their minds
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 because of what they knew from the Old Testament.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 Daniel in Daniel 2,
00:06:00 --> 00:06:05 when he was interpreting a dream of Nebuchadnezzar,
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 he spoke of God's kingdom being a stone.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 Isaiah in a vision,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 he said,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 a cornerstone chosen and precious.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 In Psalm 118,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 In Psalm 118,
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 the psalmist also spoke of a cornerstone
00:06:25 --> 00:06:29 that would bring salvation to all who believed
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 as well as a stone that would be a stumbling block
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 for those who reject it.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 And in Luke's gospel,
00:06:36 --> 00:06:40 when we see Jesus' authority is questioned,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:44 Jesus answers with the parable of the tenants,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:48 quoting that same verse from Psalms
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 about being a rejected stone.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 And he was speaking about himself.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:56 You see,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 to the hearers of this letter,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:03 they knew full well what the terminology of a stone was.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:07 And Peter is saying that we are living stones
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 being built into a spiritual house
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 and Jesus is the cornerstone,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 the important rock
00:07:15 --> 00:07:19 that every other stone is aligned with
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 so that this building that is being built
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 will be straight,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 it will be secure,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 it will be strong
00:07:29 --> 00:07:33 because it's built with this cornerstone
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 and everything is lined up with that one stone.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 This spiritual house is the church.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:40 It's a collective.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:45 We are not individuals working at our own identities,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 although we do need to do that,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 but we are put together
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 as part of something grand.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 It is in the light of all of this rich
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 and contested history
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 regarding Israel's religious identity
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 that Peter says,
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 as you come to him,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 a living stone rejected by men,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 you yourselves,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 like living stones,
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 are being built up as a spiritual house
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 to be a holy priesthood,
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 to offer spiritual sacrifices
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 acceptable to God
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 through Jesus Christ.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:34 These are stunning words
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 and elevating beyond all measure.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 In one sentence,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:44 Peter grasps the entire wealth of Israel's identity
00:08:44 --> 00:08:49 and he applies it not only to Jesus alone,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:54 but he applies it to every man and woman and child
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 who comes to faith in Christ.
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 When we come to Jesus,
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 we come to the living stone.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 When we come to Jesus,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 we come into God's kingdom.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 When we come to Jesus,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 we become God's spiritual house
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 and holy priesthood.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:18 These phrases applied metaphorically
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 here to Peter's early readers
00:09:20 --> 00:09:25 represent the most exalted ideas
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 within all Judaism.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:28 After all,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 the spiritual house was the temple.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 If God was going to dwell anywhere,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 it's going to be in the temple.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 In addition,
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 the royal priesthood
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 consisted of those honoured ones
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 who had the privilege of standing
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 in the very presence of God.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 Yet now,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 following Jesus' example
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 in usurping these ideas,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 Peter claims that in Christ,
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 these truths
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 are likewise transferred
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 to each and every believer.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 Every person who is a follower of Jesus,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 we have those same truths
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 applied to us.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 In essence,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 the church has become
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 God's people
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 and God's place
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 in the world.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 Truly with these phrases,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 a spiritual house
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 and a royal priesthood,
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 Peter is raising the identity
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 of his early readers
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 to unimaginable heights.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 By way of a single metaphor,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:38 Peter proclaims
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 that they are
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 at the very heart
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 and centre
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 of God's activity
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 in the world.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 They are God's building
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 and in Christ,
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 they are being built up
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 into a residence
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 intended
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 for God's
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 very presence.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 They must have been thrilled
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 to learn that their identity
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 was secure.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:03 They were God's special
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 building project.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 We are God's
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 special
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 building project.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 How inspiring
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 to be reminded
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 by Peter
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 that if you come
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 to Jesus
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 as God's
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 living stone,
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 you are at the centre
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 of what God
00:11:23 --> 00:11:23 is doing
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 in this world.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:28 We are God's
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 spiritual house.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 The second new
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 identification
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 that Peter gives
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 to the readers
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 is the priesthood.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 Now Peter mentions
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 it in verse 5
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 and also in verse 9.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 The priesthood,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 of course,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 began with Aaron
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 and it was Aaron
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 who stood before
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 a holy God
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 and on behalf
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 of the sinful people.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 In some respects
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 he functioned
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 as an intermediary
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 between God
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 and the world.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 As such,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 the priests
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 were the ones
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 most intimately
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 acquainted
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 with God.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 Now consider
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 the impact
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 of this verse
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 in the light
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 of Israel's
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 priestly history.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 Peter calls
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 all believers
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 holy,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 royal,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 priesthood.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 This means
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 that every Christian
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 is the ultimate
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 insider.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 We're not merely
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 representatives
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 of God
00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 in this world.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 We serve
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 as God's
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 priests
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 before the world.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 No wonder
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 Peter closes
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 verse 10
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 by saying
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 once you were
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 not a people
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 but now
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 you are God's
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 people.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 Once
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 you had
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 not received
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 mercy
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 but now
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 you have
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 received
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 mercy.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 What an
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 encouraging word
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 for those
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 who were
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 identified
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 as those
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 exiles
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 in chapter 1
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 verse 1.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 The ones
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 who struggled
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 with a sense
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 of being
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 outsiders.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 They now
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 see in a fresh
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 way that they
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 are really
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 very special
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 to God
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 indeed.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 I hope
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 that these
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 awesome truths
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 that are put
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 forward by
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 Peter
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 encourage you
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 in your
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 faith.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 Your identity
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 in Christ
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 is an
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 exalted
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 one.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 How did
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 we get
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 to be in
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 that position?
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 Well,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 verses 6
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 and 7
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 or parts
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 of them,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 whoever
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 believes in
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 him will
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 not be put
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 to shame
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 and in
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 verse 7,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 so the
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 honour is
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 for you
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 who believe.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 Remember
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 one of the
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 consequences
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 that I spoke
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 about two
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 weeks ago?
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 One of the
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 consequences
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 of the fall
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 was that
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 we inherited
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 shame
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 on our
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 lives?
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 Here,
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 we have
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 clearly
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 written out
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 for us
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 that we
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 will not
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 be put
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 to shame.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 This new
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 and exalted
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 identity
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 is held
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 out for
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 all who
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 believe that
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 Jesus is
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 God's
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 ruler.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 Conversely,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 anyone who
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 rejects Jesus
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 as God's
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 cornerstone
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 shall stumble
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 and fall.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 That's also
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 made very
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 clear.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 Put simply,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 what you
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 and I
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 do with
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 Jesus
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 will mean
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 everything
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 to our
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 standing
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 and our
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 identity
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 before God.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 Jesus
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 alone
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 is the
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 full expression
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 of God
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 in the
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 world.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 And by
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 this,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 his
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 sacrifice,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 he has
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 brought us
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 close to
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 God.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 What will
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 you do
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 with Jesus?
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 May you
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 come to
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 Jesus as
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 God's
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 living stone
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 and may
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 you experience
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 in fresh
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 ways your
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 new and
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 treasured
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 identity in
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 Christ.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 But there
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 is more.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 You are a
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 chosen people,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 people, some
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 Bible versions
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 might say that
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 you're a
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 chosen race.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 This is a
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 corporate identity.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 He's talking
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 about the
00:15:13 --> 00:15:15 church, the
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 true Israel.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 But the
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 implication is
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 also individual
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 because the
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 race is not
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 racial.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 The chosen
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 race is not
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 black or
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 white or red
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 or brown.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 the chosen
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 race is the
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 new people
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 from all
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 peoples
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 everywhere.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 All
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 colours,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 all cultures
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 who are now
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 aliens and
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 strangers in
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 the world.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 You and
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 me.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 What gives
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 us our
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 identity is
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 not colour
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 but chosenness.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 Out from
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 all the
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 races we
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 have been
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 chosen,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 one at a
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 time,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 not on
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 the basis
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 of belonging
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 to any
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 group at
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 all.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 That's why
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 this amazing
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 phrase is
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 individually
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 very crucial
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 for you
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 and for
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 me.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 You are
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 part of
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 the chosen
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 race.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 So your
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 identity is
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 that you
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 are chosen.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 God chose
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 you.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 Not because
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 of your
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 race or
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 for any
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 of your
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 qualifications.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 Who I am
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 and who
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 you are,
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 we are
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 chosen.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 We did
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 not earn
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 it or
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 merit it
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 or meet
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 any conditions
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 to get
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 it.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 It happened
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 before we
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 were born.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 We stand
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 in awe
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 of it.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 We should
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 tremble with
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 joy for
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 it.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 We should
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 bow and
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 accept it
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 and we
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 definitely
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 should be
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 living to
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 be faithful
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 to its
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 purpose.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 We are
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 chosen.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 So we
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 are a
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 spiritual
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 house.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 We are
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 a royal
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 priesthood
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 and we
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 are chosen.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 But wait,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 there is
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 more still?
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 Just like
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 the ads
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 on TV.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 This is
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 expressed
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 in verse
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 9 that
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 we are
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 God's
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 possession.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 You are
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 a chosen
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 people,
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 a people
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 belonging to
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 God and
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 now you
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 are the
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 people of
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 God.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 God takes
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 you to
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 be his
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 possession.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 You are
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 God's
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 inheritance.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 You are
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 the ones
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 he will
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 spend
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 eternity
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 with and
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 we with
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 him.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 When God
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 says in
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 2 Corinthians
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 6,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 16,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 he says,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 I will
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 be their
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 God and
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 they will
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 be my
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 people,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 my
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 possession.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 What it
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 means is
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 I will
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 dwell in
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 them and
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 walk among
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 them.
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 When a
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 person comes
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 to faith in
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 Christ, his
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 or her
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 identity is
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 not the
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 only thing
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 that changes.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 Our text
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 says that
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 one's calling
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 to life
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 does too.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 The latter
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 half of
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 verse 9
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 says,
00:18:05 --> 00:18:08 all this
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 occurs so
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 that you
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 may proclaim
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 the praises
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 of him who
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 called you
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 out of
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 darkness
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 into his
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 marvellous
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 light.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 Wow,
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 what an
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 exalted
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 calling that
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 is.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 What an
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 exalted
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 purpose.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 We now
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 exist to
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 proclaim the
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 praises of
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 God.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 Could
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 anything be
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 better than
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 that?
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 Are you
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 doing that
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 each and
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 every day?
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 Are you
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 proclaiming the
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 praises of
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 God?
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 I don't
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 mean are
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 you preaching
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 to every
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 person that's
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 in your
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 eyesight,
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 but are you
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 living your
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 life with a
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 grateful heart
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 knowing that
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 in everything
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 God has
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 blessed you
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 with great
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 abundance?
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 is your
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 heart thankful?
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 Are you
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 aware that
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 you are the
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 Lord's
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 ambassador each
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 and every
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 day?
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 Do you
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 show humility
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 and grace
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 in all you
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 do?
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 Does your
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 life point
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 to Jesus?
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 I know
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 that I
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 fail very
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 frequently,
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 but I
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 am learning
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 as I
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 mature as a
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 Christian that
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 my identity
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 is not
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 shaken when
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 I fail.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 I know
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 that I'm a
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 work in
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 progress.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 I know
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 that perfection
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 will only
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 arrive when
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 Jesus returns
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 and makes me
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 new and fit
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 for God's
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 presence.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 In the
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 meantime, I
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 am very
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 aware of
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 what my
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 weak spots
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 are, and
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 I would
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 really encourage
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 each of you
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 to examine
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 what are
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 your weak
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 spots,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 because I
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 can guarantee
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 you,
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 wherever your
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 weak spot
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 is, that
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 is where
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 you're going
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 to be
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 tempted by
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 Satan.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 So what
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 do we do
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 when we
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 fail?
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 Because we
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 all will,
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 this side
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 of heaven,
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 or what do
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 we do when
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 we realise
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 that we
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 have believed
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 the lie
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 that the
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 world has
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 told us
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 about who
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 we are,
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 that we
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 have succumbed
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 to believing
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 that our
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 identity lies
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 in things,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 in achievements
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 and the
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 like.
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 How do we
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 make things
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 right when
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 we know
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 that Christ
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 has given
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 us everything
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 in abundance
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 for us to
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 be secure,
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 significant
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 and accepted?
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 If you
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 catch yourself
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 returning to
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 the world's
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 view of who
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 you are,
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 then I
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 would encourage
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 you, you
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 repent
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 immediately.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 Keep very
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 short accounts
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 with the
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 Lord.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 Repent and
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 believe the
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 truth of
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 who God
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 has made
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 you.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 Just like
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 the eagle in
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 the story at
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 the beginning
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 who looked
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 back towards
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 the barnyard,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 we too
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 look back
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 sometimes.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 But looking
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 back will
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 actually confuse
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 you.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 Our eyes
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 are to be
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 fixed on
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 Jesus and
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 we are to
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 grow and
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 to be
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 Christ-like
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 in our
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 growth.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 Verse 2
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 says,
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 like newborn
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 babies,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 crave spiritual
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 milk so
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 that by it
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 you may grow
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 up in your
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 salvation.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 This refers
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 to the very
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 things that
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 nourish the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 Christian community
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 in its growth.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 Knowledge of
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 God,
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 prayer,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 instruction
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 in the
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 gospel,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 faithful
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 obedience,
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 hearing God's
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 word preached.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 The desire for
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 spiritual nourishment
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 needs to be the
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 desire of the
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 church that
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 wants to know
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 the Lord and
00:22:06 --> 00:22:08 to grow and
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 to live by
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 his will.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 This desire
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 is accompanied
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 by learning to
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 rid yourselves
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 thoughts of
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 all malice
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 or deceit,
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 hypocrisy and
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 envy and
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 slander of
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 every kind.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 All of
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 these things
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 are very
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 common
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 problems that
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29 arise in
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 Christian
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 communities or
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 churches when
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 spiritual things
00:22:32 --> 00:22:34 are not the
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 desired priority
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 in individuals'
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 lives.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 things.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 We have been
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 given so much
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 in Christ and
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 as one of my
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 community members
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 said this week
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 in our group,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 we need to
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 exercise our
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 muscles.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 We need to
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 have spiritual
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 muscles and
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 get strong.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 By this, we
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 need to not
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 only be in the
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 word, but we
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 need to be
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 encouraging each
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 other to be
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 in the word.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 We need to
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 be encouraging
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 each other to
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 grow spiritually,
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 challenging each
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 other when we
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 sense that we
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 have taken on a
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 worldly view of
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 our own identity
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 and to grow
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 together to be
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 the spiritual
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 house of the
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 Lord.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 We are in a
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 highly privileged
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 position that
00:23:28 --> 00:23:30 each of us are
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 individual bricks
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 or individual
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 stones.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 of the temple
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 of God.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 And yet, one
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 brick or one
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 stone cannot
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 sit out on the
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 grass in the
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 sun and build
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 something all by
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 itself.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 All of the
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 bricks, all the
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 stones need to be
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 brought together
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 with Christ as the
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 cornerstone to
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 build something
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 strong, to build
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 God's temple.
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 people.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 When we look at
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 our 2020
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 booklet, which
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 Tashi has, the
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 red book, that
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 each of you should
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 have, and if you
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 don't have one, I
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 have plenty spare.
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 But when we look at
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 that 2020 booklet
00:24:15 --> 00:24:17 that has our core
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 values in it, it is
00:24:18 --> 00:24:21 by no accident that
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 our core values are
00:24:23 --> 00:24:26 directly related to
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 this community of
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 believers being
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 built up in
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 Christ.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 Why are we so
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 passionate about
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 every one of us
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 having a secure
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 identity in
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 Christ?
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 Well, I think it's
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 twofold.
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 Having a secure
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 identity in
00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 Christ will
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 confirm in
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 yourself, but
00:24:50 --> 00:24:52 also to others
00:24:52 --> 00:24:55 that you belong
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 to the King of
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 Kings, the Lord
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 of Lords.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 And the way
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 that you respond
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 to what the
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 world throws at
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 you, all those
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 difficult scenarios
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 that come in
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 life, because
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 that's what life
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 is about, the
00:25:10 --> 00:25:12 way you respond
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 will also tell
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 people, and it
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 will be dependent
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 upon what your
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 identity is.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 problems won't
00:25:22 --> 00:25:25 go away, but
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 you can be very,
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 very confident
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 and secure in
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 knowing that
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 Christ is with
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 you.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 The second
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 reason why we
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 would be very
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 passionate about
00:25:38 --> 00:25:40 us understanding
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 our identity in
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 Christ is that
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 collectively we
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 reflect the
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 temple of God.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 I've already
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 said this.
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52 But we can't
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 be God's
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 people on our
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 own.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 So it's
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 extremely important
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 that we encourage
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 each other in our
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 faith.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 We can do that by
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 meeting together,
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 by being on
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 time when we
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 come for corporate
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 worship.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 It's important that
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 we challenge each
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 other when we
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 think that there
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 is ungodly
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 behaviour.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:22 it means giving
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 each other
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 permission to
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 speak into
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 each other's
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 lives life
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 words.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 Not negative
00:26:30 --> 00:26:32 words, but
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 life words.
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 If you have a
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 brother or sister
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 in Christ in
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 this congregation
00:26:37 --> 00:26:39 that needs life
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 words, you are
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 the one.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 If you know
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 that, you're the
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 one to actually
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 speak those words
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 into their life.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:50 in so
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 doing, as
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 scripture actually
00:26:52 --> 00:26:54 tells us, they
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 will know us,
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 they being the
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 community outside
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 this fellowship of
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 God's people,
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 they will know us
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 by the way we
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 love each other.
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 This is an
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 awesome
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 responsibility,
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 but a necessary
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10 one for God's
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 church to grow.
00:27:11 --> 00:27:14 identity in
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 Christ.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 Our identity
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 is in
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 Christ.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 We are being
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 built up into
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 a spiritual
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 house, a
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 royal priesthood.
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 We are chosen
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 people and we
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 are God's very
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 precious possession.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 All of this has
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 been given in
00:27:35 --> 00:27:37 abundance so
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 that we can be
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 very secure,
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 significant and
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 accepted.
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 As a church
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 here in
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 Chatswood, just
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 part of God's
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 kingdom worldwide,
00:27:50 --> 00:27:52 may we live to
00:27:52 --> 00:27:54 glorify God in
00:27:54 --> 00:27:56 who we are, in
00:27:56 --> 00:27:58 what we say and
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 in what we do.