Sunday February 4th Service_transcript.txt

[0.00 --> 5.02]  James, I appreciated that comment about eating lamb.
[5.46 --> 6.84]  I grew up on a sheep farm,
[7.52 --> 9.98]  and so my parents, we want to thank you for eating lamb.
[10.86 --> 12.14]  Kept our family in business.
[15.02 --> 18.92]  We're in the third third of our series on Galatians.
[19.32 --> 22.86]  The first two chapters focused on what is the gospel and what it isn't.
[23.32 --> 26.62]  The second two chapters focused on what does it mean to be part of God's family.
[26.62 --> 33.44]  And the third section, chapter 5 and 6, is all about how we then live.
[34.06 --> 35.88]  And I'm pretty excited to preach on this passage
[35.88 --> 38.06]  because it is all about the power of the Spirit.
[38.78 --> 41.90]  And so if you have your Bible, turn with me to Galatians chapter 5,
[41.98 --> 44.26]  and we're going to read verse 13 to the end.
[49.94 --> 54.08]  You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
[54.08 --> 58.60]  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.
[59.26 --> 62.02]  Rather, serve one another humbly in love.
[62.52 --> 65.44]  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command.
[66.34 --> 67.72]  Love your neighbor as yourself.
[68.42 --> 70.86]  If you keep on biting and devouring each other,
[70.98 --> 73.92]  watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other.
[74.82 --> 77.58]  So I say, walk by the Spirit,
[78.06 --> 81.24]  and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
[81.24 --> 84.74]  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit,
[84.94 --> 87.18]  and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
[87.68 --> 89.46]  They are in conflict with each other,
[89.60 --> 92.46]  so that you are not to do whatever you want.
[93.04 --> 94.44]  But if you are led by the Spirit,
[95.04 --> 96.16]  you're not under the law.
[97.00 --> 99.34]  The acts of the sinful nature are obvious.
[100.06 --> 102.90]  Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery,
[103.24 --> 104.66]  idolatry and witchcraft,
[105.20 --> 108.06]  hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,
[108.06 --> 112.02]  selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy,
[112.72 --> 114.68]  drunkenness, orgies and the like.
[115.26 --> 117.04]  I warn you, as I did before,
[117.34 --> 118.54]  that those who live like this
[118.54 --> 120.68]  will not inherit the kingdom of God.
[121.56 --> 124.56]  But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
[125.60 --> 131.24]  joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
[132.00 --> 135.04]  faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
[135.04 --> 138.50]  Against such things there is no law.
[139.24 --> 140.56]  Those who belong to Christ Jesus
[140.56 --> 142.34]  have crucified the sinful nature
[142.34 --> 144.08]  with its passions and desires.
[144.82 --> 146.36]  And since we live by the Spirit,
[147.28 --> 149.10]  let us keep in step with the Spirit.
[149.86 --> 151.28]  Let us not become conceited,
[151.42 --> 153.62]  provoking, and envying each other.
[158.28 --> 159.96]  Well, a number of years ago now,
[160.18 --> 163.86]  I got to know a man who was involved in B.C. Corrections.
[163.86 --> 166.68]  His job, I did not envy his job one bit,
[166.74 --> 169.12]  his job was overseeing criminals
[169.12 --> 171.18]  who had finally finished serving their sentence
[171.18 --> 173.76]  now being reintegrated into society.
[173.86 --> 175.12]  It's a very important position.
[175.76 --> 177.86]  And he would meet with parole officers
[177.86 --> 180.02]  and halfway houses and community leaders
[180.02 --> 182.52]  to discern, okay, how does this person
[182.52 --> 184.36]  who's now served X amount of years
[184.36 --> 185.66]  at Kent Penitentiary,
[185.96 --> 187.24]  and where are we going to place them?
[187.30 --> 188.18]  How are they going to flourish?
[188.32 --> 189.92]  What are the parameters they need
[189.92 --> 192.60]  in order to live well back in society?
[193.66 --> 195.58]  The question he had to ask
[195.58 --> 197.36]  over and over again is,
[198.18 --> 199.32]  what's the risk?
[199.86 --> 201.12]  And perhaps even more deeply,
[201.62 --> 204.20]  will this person who spent this many years
[204.20 --> 207.10]  with prison guards and fences and bars,
[207.30 --> 209.18]  will they actually change
[209.18 --> 210.54]  and choose a life of freedom,
[210.54 --> 213.56]  or will they go back to the old habits,
[214.16 --> 215.64]  the old way of life,
[215.64 --> 216.78]  and re-offend?
[216.90 --> 217.98]  What will they do
[217.98 --> 219.68]  with this new found freedom?
[221.88 --> 224.54]  That's the question of Galatians 5.
[225.40 --> 226.50]  There are these new people
[226.50 --> 227.46]  who have come to the church,
[227.66 --> 229.02]  they've got a harsh background,
[229.18 --> 229.62]  many of them,
[229.68 --> 231.52]  a tough growing up.
[231.74 --> 233.00]  They've come to faith in Jesus,
[233.12 --> 234.06]  they've been set free,
[234.32 --> 235.38]  and now the question is,
[235.46 --> 236.32]  what are they going to do
[236.32 --> 237.44]  with this freedom?
[238.18 --> 239.40]  Are they going to go back
[239.40 --> 240.84]  to the old lifestyle they had,
[240.88 --> 241.72]  are they going to fall back
[241.72 --> 242.58]  into the old traps,
[242.64 --> 244.64]  or will they finally flourish?
[244.64 --> 247.32]  And if so, how?
[249.58 --> 250.42]  Important background
[250.42 --> 251.68]  to reading Galatians 5.
[252.28 --> 253.44]  Up until this point,
[253.52 --> 254.50]  as you've probably noticed,
[254.64 --> 256.18]  Paul has been sort of in a debate
[256.18 --> 257.84]  with these people called the Judaizers,
[258.20 --> 259.14]  who have been saying
[259.14 --> 260.24]  to the people in the churches,
[260.76 --> 261.58]  this Paul guy,
[261.68 --> 263.40]  he's not taking your faith serious enough,
[263.46 --> 265.32]  he doesn't take the law serious enough,
[265.56 --> 267.12]  you need to come under the law,
[267.22 --> 268.72]  you need to take the law more seriously,
[268.84 --> 269.80]  it needs to be at the center.
[270.58 --> 271.92]  And one of their concerns,
[272.12 --> 273.96]  I would say a legitimate concern,
[273.96 --> 274.90]  was this,
[275.74 --> 277.06]  you've got these new Christians
[277.06 --> 278.44]  coming into the church,
[278.62 --> 280.40]  they have a really rough background,
[280.60 --> 281.10]  some of them,
[281.24 --> 282.36]  as churches always do,
[282.80 --> 285.30]  and how will they know how to live
[285.30 --> 287.20]  if they don't have the law?
[287.30 --> 288.32]  What's going to curb
[288.32 --> 289.76]  the destructive desires,
[290.10 --> 292.14]  their old habits from reappearing,
[292.24 --> 293.36]  from them going back
[293.36 --> 294.56]  to what they were before?
[295.56 --> 296.80]  And you know what Paul's answer is?
[297.02 --> 297.90]  So powerful.
[297.90 --> 298.54]  Number one,
[299.42 --> 300.28]  the old nature
[300.28 --> 301.86]  has been crucified with Jesus.
[302.32 --> 303.18]  I mean, that's what we celebrated
[303.18 --> 304.76]  at Jebai's baptism last week.
[305.06 --> 305.84]  The old nature
[305.84 --> 307.34]  has been dealt with
[307.34 --> 308.32]  through the work of Jesus,
[308.48 --> 309.18]  but secondly,
[309.92 --> 311.98]  what's going to curb their desires,
[312.28 --> 313.32]  change their hearts,
[313.82 --> 315.00]  shift their ambitions,
[315.00 --> 317.34]  is the power of God
[317.34 --> 318.88]  through the Holy Spirit.
[321.36 --> 322.82]  I want us to notice,
[323.18 --> 324.84]  before we move anywhere else
[324.84 --> 325.52]  in this passage,
[325.52 --> 326.84]  how Paul starts.
[326.96 --> 327.26]  In fact,
[327.60 --> 328.76]  he makes a repeated point
[328.76 --> 329.78]  that I don't want us to miss,
[329.86 --> 330.34]  and that is,
[330.94 --> 331.52]  ultimately,
[331.84 --> 334.78]  Christianity will always be about freedom.
[336.04 --> 338.00]  Christianity is about freedom.
[338.96 --> 339.94]  It gets misconstrued
[339.94 --> 340.72]  in all sorts of ways.
[340.78 --> 341.52]  If you watch Netflix
[341.52 --> 342.54]  or whatever you watch,
[342.72 --> 343.36]  you'll know that,
[343.48 --> 344.28]  culturally speaking,
[344.40 --> 345.44]  Christianity gets stereotyped
[345.44 --> 346.50]  in many different ways.
[346.74 --> 347.62]  It gets mocked
[347.62 --> 348.46]  in many different ways,
[348.56 --> 349.72]  sort of the Ned Flanders,
[349.98 --> 350.30]  you know,
[350.90 --> 351.78]  if that's an old reference
[351.78 --> 353.28]  for some of us Simpsons watchers.
[354.46 --> 355.50]  But Christianity is about
[355.50 --> 355.84]  freedom.
[356.04 --> 356.72]  And I want to read
[356.72 --> 358.24]  verse 1 and verse 13
[358.24 --> 360.10]  because Paul repeats this point.
[360.68 --> 361.84]  He says in verse 1,
[363.18 --> 364.38]  it is for freedom
[364.38 --> 366.98]  that Christ has set us free.
[367.16 --> 367.90]  Verse 13,
[368.38 --> 369.60]  you, my brothers and sisters,
[369.72 --> 371.60]  were called to be free.
[372.94 --> 374.04]  And here's my conviction.
[375.00 --> 376.74]  We're here because we believe that.
[377.38 --> 378.32]  Or we're here because
[378.32 --> 379.62]  we're trying to explore that.
[379.80 --> 381.10]  The reason we go to church,
[381.20 --> 382.36]  the reason we want to read the Bible
[382.36 --> 383.64]  is because we have some sense
[383.64 --> 384.88]  of a life we're living
[384.88 --> 385.92]  that is not free.
[386.22 --> 387.28]  And we have some sense
[387.28 --> 388.70]  of what Jesus has on offer
[388.70 --> 389.52]  for His world
[389.52 --> 391.56]  is going to bring life.
[392.24 --> 393.22]  It's going to bring freedom.
[393.76 --> 394.68]  That's why we're here.
[397.48 --> 398.74]  Now, there are two things
[398.74 --> 399.54]  that we're going to look at
[399.54 --> 400.62]  this morning in this passage.
[400.74 --> 401.62]  The first is this.
[402.32 --> 403.58]  Paul defines freedom
[403.58 --> 405.08]  in a very important way.
[406.06 --> 406.88]  Freedom is not to do
[406.88 --> 407.44]  what you want.
[407.44 --> 408.74]  Freedom is to serve
[408.74 --> 410.72]  and love and humility.
[411.52 --> 412.06]  But secondly,
[412.24 --> 413.38]  perhaps even more important,
[413.64 --> 414.86]  if we want to be free
[414.86 --> 416.28]  and if we want to live free,
[416.36 --> 417.66]  the only way we can do it
[417.66 --> 418.24]  is through the work
[418.24 --> 418.98]  of the Holy Spirit.
[419.12 --> 420.34]  This will not come from within us.
[420.56 --> 421.96]  It does not come natural to us.
[422.16 --> 423.24]  It is a work from without.
[423.40 --> 424.82]  It's a work from the power of God
[424.82 --> 425.58]  by His Spirit.
[426.34 --> 427.50]  So let me read for us again
[427.50 --> 428.72]  verse 13 and following,
[429.26 --> 431.04]  and we'll get into this logic
[431.04 --> 431.62]  of freedom
[431.62 --> 432.84]  and how we find it.
[433.64 --> 434.22]  He writes,
[434.22 --> 436.02]  You, my brothers and sisters,
[436.02 --> 437.50]  were called to be free,
[438.20 --> 439.86]  but do not use your freedom
[439.86 --> 441.44]  to indulge the flesh.
[442.14 --> 443.74]  Rather, serve one another
[443.74 --> 445.92]  humbly in love.
[446.50 --> 447.12]  For the whole,
[447.34 --> 448.22]  I'll just continue here,
[448.26 --> 449.30]  for the entire law
[449.30 --> 450.42]  is fulfilled
[450.42 --> 451.68]  in keeping this one command,
[452.24 --> 454.12]  love your neighbor as yourself.
[455.14 --> 456.64]  But you hear the exhortation, right?
[457.14 --> 458.34]  You're free now, church.
[458.92 --> 460.30]  Don't use your freedom
[460.30 --> 462.92]  to go back to the old sinful nature.
[462.92 --> 464.52]  Don't use it to indulge
[464.52 --> 465.38]  the old lifestyle
[465.38 --> 467.66]  that you got rescued from.
[468.90 --> 469.74]  And part of the challenge
[469.74 --> 470.56]  with this word freedom
[470.56 --> 472.22]  is how we understand it.
[472.24 --> 472.98]  And I would say then,
[473.08 --> 474.08]  both then and now,
[474.50 --> 475.96]  people confuse and misunderstand
[475.96 --> 478.12]  and misdefine
[478.12 --> 479.02]  what freedom is.
[479.94 --> 480.70]  You know, it's attached
[480.70 --> 481.50]  to many movements,
[481.94 --> 482.74]  many court cases,
[482.92 --> 483.58]  many protests.
[483.74 --> 484.72]  We all want freedom,
[484.96 --> 486.06]  but we don't know what it is.
[486.50 --> 487.58]  Let me ask you this question.
[488.34 --> 489.70]  If you had to define it,
[490.18 --> 491.36]  what would you say freedom is?
[491.84 --> 492.90]  Someone sort of elbowed you,
[492.92 --> 493.46]  at work,
[493.54 --> 494.22]  or in the neighborhood
[494.22 --> 494.46]  and said,
[494.52 --> 494.86]  hey, like,
[494.90 --> 496.00]  what do you think freedom is?
[496.04 --> 497.28]  What does it mean to be free?
[497.84 --> 498.60]  What would you say?
[503.36 --> 504.16]  I'm guessing,
[504.54 --> 505.28]  most Canadians,
[505.36 --> 506.22]  and maybe Christians too,
[507.06 --> 508.26]  their first default
[508.26 --> 509.22]  when we think of freedom
[509.22 --> 511.08]  is freedom from having to do
[511.08 --> 512.94]  what someone else tells us.
[513.50 --> 514.50]  Is that what's going through your mind?
[515.72 --> 516.68]  At least two of us,
[516.72 --> 517.20]  one of us.
[518.56 --> 519.02]  Those of us,
[519.08 --> 520.00]  I'm not saying it now.
[520.40 --> 521.52]  Or freedom to sort of
[521.52 --> 522.84]  do whatever we want to do,
[522.90 --> 523.06]  right?
[523.10 --> 523.72]  You have a feeling,
[523.84 --> 524.36]  you have a desire,
[524.46 --> 524.90]  you have an ambition,
[525.02 --> 526.32]  you get to do what you want to do.
[526.38 --> 526.86]  You're free.
[527.34 --> 528.60]  I think that's the shorthand
[528.60 --> 529.54]  Canadian definition
[529.54 --> 530.52]  of freedom.
[531.42 --> 532.54]  But now I want to ask,
[533.02 --> 533.66]  is that
[533.66 --> 535.34]  actually freedom?
[536.82 --> 537.98]  And it seems to me,
[538.16 --> 539.22]  you could disagree with me,
[539.30 --> 540.36]  but that definition of freedom
[540.36 --> 541.96]  leads to a whole mountain of pain
[541.96 --> 543.20]  because what we do with freedom
[543.20 --> 545.32]  is exactly what Paul's concerned about.
[545.32 --> 547.72]  you're free to go back
[547.72 --> 550.50]  to the old sinful nature,
[550.88 --> 553.36]  to gratify all the old desires
[553.36 --> 554.30]  of the sinful flesh.
[554.66 --> 555.64]  And I think many of us,
[555.70 --> 556.22]  if we're honest,
[556.36 --> 557.90]  we know what I'm about to say
[557.90 --> 559.34]  too well in our own experience.
[560.80 --> 561.52]  In Canada,
[561.60 --> 562.66]  you're free to watch
[562.66 --> 563.38]  whatever you want.
[564.30 --> 565.42]  You can eat whatever you want.
[565.60 --> 566.66]  You can drink whatever you want.
[566.72 --> 568.20]  You can sleep with whoever you want.
[568.44 --> 569.74]  You can do with your money
[569.74 --> 571.12]  and time whatever you want.
[571.22 --> 572.08]  Very few people
[572.08 --> 573.92]  are breathing down your neck
[573.92 --> 575.10]  telling you how you need to do
[575.10 --> 576.68]  all these different dimensions of life.
[577.28 --> 578.34]  And it just so happens
[578.34 --> 579.60]  that in Canada,
[579.72 --> 582.28]  we have incredible amounts of anxiety.
[583.50 --> 584.82]  Many of us have trails
[584.82 --> 586.04]  of broken relationships
[586.04 --> 588.44]  and broken trust in our lives.
[589.14 --> 590.94]  Many of us have unhealthy ways
[590.94 --> 592.14]  we've treated our body
[592.14 --> 593.98]  and we live with crushing levels of debt.
[594.06 --> 595.42]  I mean, I just read about this this week,
[595.66 --> 596.74]  how so many Canadians
[596.74 --> 597.68]  have deep anxiety
[597.68 --> 599.12]  just about money,
[599.86 --> 601.56]  even though we're free to do with it
[601.56 --> 602.40]  whatever we want.
[602.40 --> 604.52]  Canadian freedom
[604.52 --> 606.94]  looks a lot like what Paul is saying.
[607.04 --> 608.02]  Do not use your freedom
[608.02 --> 610.90]  to indulge in the old self,
[611.72 --> 613.38]  the desires of the flesh.
[613.44 --> 614.54]  And what he's saying to the church is,
[614.88 --> 617.02]  church, you've been freed from that.
[617.46 --> 619.34]  You don't have to go back to that anymore
[619.34 --> 621.12]  because of what Jesus has accomplished.
[621.28 --> 622.22]  This is a very powerful point.
[622.46 --> 623.84]  You've been rescued from
[623.84 --> 625.38]  the need to go back
[625.38 --> 627.32]  to that old way of life.
[628.48 --> 629.70]  And I want to read for you a quote.
[629.70 --> 632.38]  This comes from a fellow named William Barclay
[632.38 --> 634.14]  and he says it very well.
[634.24 --> 634.44]  He says,
[634.52 --> 637.20]  Christians are not men and women
[637.20 --> 639.44]  who have become free to sin,
[640.18 --> 642.30]  but people who, by the grace of God,
[642.34 --> 645.32]  have become free not to sin.
[645.98 --> 646.82]  You hear what he's saying there?
[647.30 --> 648.76]  You've been freed from the need
[648.76 --> 651.82]  to go back to old enslaving habits,
[652.60 --> 654.40]  to old enslaving things
[654.40 --> 655.50]  that are taking hold of you,
[655.62 --> 656.42]  giving you shame,
[656.80 --> 658.16]  making you feel stuck.
[658.16 --> 660.98]  He's like, you've been rescued from it
[660.98 --> 662.54]  through the work of Jesus.
[663.32 --> 665.22]  You're actually free.
[666.80 --> 668.80]  And now we get Paul's definition of freedom.
[670.72 --> 671.90]  Paul's definition of freedom
[671.90 --> 673.14]  is abundantly clear.
[673.24 --> 673.78]  He says,
[674.24 --> 677.02]  serve one another humbly in love.
[677.54 --> 678.88]  That's freedom for the Christian.
[679.74 --> 683.08]  Serve one another humbly in love.
[684.12 --> 685.84]  That sounds a lot like Jesus, doesn't it?
[685.84 --> 687.42]  And it's interesting to me,
[687.56 --> 688.76]  I also have a hunch
[688.76 --> 691.08]  that most of us have some sense
[691.08 --> 692.22]  of what that feels like.
[693.46 --> 695.18]  Perhaps if you think about your life
[695.18 --> 697.10]  or maybe I'll just throw some scenarios out there,
[697.54 --> 699.84]  you serve as part of our Wednesday night crew
[699.84 --> 701.24]  at the Cloverdale Community Kitchen
[701.24 --> 702.92]  and you get to make meals
[702.92 --> 704.46]  and sit down with and share meals
[704.46 --> 705.50]  with our vulnerable neighbors
[705.50 --> 706.86]  who are struggling to find a home
[706.86 --> 709.18]  and you feel free doing it.
[709.70 --> 711.16]  Or perhaps you've got a family member
[711.16 --> 711.90]  going through addiction
[711.90 --> 713.16]  and they're staying in your home
[713.16 --> 714.02]  and you're helping them out,
[714.10 --> 715.14]  you're doing what you need to do,
[715.24 --> 716.06]  opening up space,
[716.26 --> 717.28]  and you just know that
[717.28 --> 718.64]  in this act of caring for them,
[718.98 --> 720.30]  it's making you feel free.
[720.94 --> 722.26]  Or perhaps you're being generous
[722.26 --> 722.76]  with your money
[722.76 --> 723.96]  towards a cause that matters
[723.96 --> 724.98]  deeply to your family
[724.98 --> 726.20]  and you know that that money
[726.20 --> 728.70]  is best spent in that
[728.70 --> 729.62]  rather than whatever you want
[729.62 --> 730.44]  to buy for yourself.
[730.78 --> 731.58]  And somehow,
[732.18 --> 733.08]  does this resonate with you?
[733.14 --> 734.60]  Somehow as you give yourself away,
[734.84 --> 736.18]  as you serve in humility,
[736.30 --> 737.60]  as you try to love your neighbor,
[737.92 --> 739.18]  you become more human.
[739.98 --> 741.94]  You become more fully alive.
[742.64 --> 745.46]  You become what you were created for,
[746.10 --> 748.72]  to serve in humility with love.
[749.92 --> 750.66]  Walter Brueggemann,
[751.42 --> 751.88]  New Testament,
[752.00 --> 753.20]  actually Old Testament theologian,
[753.24 --> 753.90]  he puts it this way,
[753.94 --> 754.06]  he says,
[754.12 --> 755.52]  when you give your life away
[755.52 --> 756.48]  in humble service,
[756.98 --> 758.50]  you get it back enhanced.
[759.20 --> 759.92]  Have you felt that before?
[760.22 --> 761.76]  You give your life away
[761.76 --> 762.46]  to serve others
[762.46 --> 763.54]  and somehow you become
[763.54 --> 765.78]  more fully human in the process.
[765.78 --> 768.24]  You feel the life of Jesus
[768.24 --> 769.34]  in your own life.
[770.88 --> 772.28]  But here's the main point now.
[772.40 --> 773.60]  I want to underscore this one
[773.60 --> 774.72]  because this is what Paul says.
[775.08 --> 776.90]  It is not enough just to know
[776.90 --> 778.40]  Paul's definition of freedom.
[779.06 --> 780.30]  It's not enough to have in your head,
[780.38 --> 781.04]  hey Dave, okay,
[781.30 --> 782.80]  I now know that to be free
[782.80 --> 783.90]  is to serve with humility
[783.90 --> 784.68]  and to love others.
[784.94 --> 785.36]  There we go,
[785.40 --> 785.96]  I'm going to do it.
[786.60 --> 788.08]  It's very likely the case
[788.08 --> 789.00]  that you just like me
[789.00 --> 790.02]  will go home from church,
[790.10 --> 790.96]  will have this definition
[790.96 --> 791.56]  in our heads,
[791.68 --> 793.02]  and we'll probably still be
[793.02 --> 794.48]  very tempted to go back
[794.48 --> 795.24]  to the old habits
[795.24 --> 796.44]  of watching whatever we want,
[796.68 --> 797.68]  eating whatever we want,
[797.92 --> 798.68]  wasting time
[798.68 --> 799.70]  in very unproductive ways
[799.70 --> 800.64]  and not actually loving
[800.64 --> 801.64]  and serving our neighbors.
[802.78 --> 803.66]  What's needed,
[804.32 --> 805.70]  according to Galatians 5,
[806.50 --> 807.96]  is the power of the Holy Spirit.
[809.14 --> 810.06]  What is needed
[810.06 --> 812.26]  is something beyond ourselves
[812.26 --> 814.66]  to change our sinful nature,
[815.22 --> 816.52]  and that is the Holy Spirit.
[817.70 --> 819.04]  Now, if you've been reading
[819.04 --> 819.92]  Galatians carefully,
[820.50 --> 821.74]  you will probably have noticed
[821.74 --> 822.34]  that the Spirit
[822.34 --> 823.70]  has showed up a lot already,
[823.70 --> 825.50]  and we haven't focused on it yet
[825.50 --> 826.40]  because there's just so many
[826.40 --> 827.28]  other things that Paul
[827.28 --> 828.58]  is trying to say in Galatians.
[828.82 --> 829.64]  But let me give us
[829.64 --> 831.12]  just a really brief summary
[831.12 --> 832.44]  of what Paul has already said
[832.44 --> 832.94]  in Galatians
[832.94 --> 834.32]  about the Holy Spirit.
[835.14 --> 835.76]  Number one,
[836.70 --> 838.54]  Christians receive the Holy Spirit
[838.54 --> 841.24]  at the time of their conversion.
[842.66 --> 844.46]  The moment you came to faith,
[845.32 --> 846.24]  the Spirit of God
[846.24 --> 847.26]  was operative in your life.
[847.28 --> 847.68]  And I would say,
[847.74 --> 848.70]  even mysteriously,
[849.16 --> 850.04]  wonderfully,
[850.24 --> 851.06]  even before that,
[851.06 --> 852.80]  creating in you this desire,
[852.94 --> 853.50]  this ambition,
[853.64 --> 854.36]  this intent
[854.36 --> 855.30]  to sort of know
[855.30 --> 855.88]  what you believe
[855.88 --> 856.84]  and why you exist.
[857.14 --> 857.98]  And when you come to faith,
[858.04 --> 858.36]  you could say,
[858.42 --> 858.92]  praise the Lord,
[858.98 --> 859.86]  the Spirit of God
[859.86 --> 861.18]  is at work in me.
[861.52 --> 862.48]  You do not need to doubt it.
[862.56 --> 863.00]  Number two,
[863.64 --> 864.94]  the plan from the beginning,
[865.12 --> 866.62]  according to Galatians 3, 14,
[866.68 --> 867.10]  and following,
[867.36 --> 868.32]  was that the nations
[868.32 --> 869.08]  around the world
[869.08 --> 870.78]  would come to faith in Jesus
[870.78 --> 872.16]  and receive the power
[872.16 --> 873.04]  of the Holy Spirit,
[873.26 --> 874.42]  and communities
[874.42 --> 875.98]  would live and move
[875.98 --> 877.06]  and follow the leading
[877.06 --> 878.24]  of God's Spirit.
[878.24 --> 880.32]  Thirdly,
[881.38 --> 882.46]  as Jonathan preached
[882.46 --> 883.26]  on last week,
[883.84 --> 885.02]  the Holy Spirit
[885.02 --> 888.12]  enables us to call God Dad,
[888.86 --> 889.10]  right?
[889.16 --> 889.98]  In Galatians 4,
[890.64 --> 891.38]  4 to 7,
[891.82 --> 892.78]  it's Abba, Father,
[892.86 --> 893.32]  that language
[893.32 --> 894.14]  that comes from us.
[894.20 --> 894.68]  That is because
[894.68 --> 896.30]  the Spirit enables us
[896.30 --> 897.40]  to have this intimate
[897.40 --> 898.50]  relationship with the Father.
[898.60 --> 899.64]  It's not natural to us
[899.64 --> 900.18]  in our rebellion.
[900.46 --> 901.10]  It's the Spirit
[901.10 --> 902.54]  who brings us back
[902.54 --> 903.70]  into a relationship
[903.70 --> 904.30]  with our Father
[904.30 --> 905.14]  who loves us.
[905.60 --> 906.10]  And finally,
[906.18 --> 906.66]  this is what we're
[906.66 --> 907.56]  going to focus on today.
[907.56 --> 909.20]  It is the Spirit
[909.20 --> 911.04]  that enables us
[911.04 --> 912.68]  to have victory
[912.68 --> 914.80]  over our sinful flesh,
[915.32 --> 916.34]  the old self,
[916.74 --> 917.72]  the old desires
[917.72 --> 918.62]  that enslave us,
[918.72 --> 919.94]  and then it is the Spirit
[919.94 --> 921.20]  that produces in us
[921.20 --> 923.02]  the fruit of love,
[923.30 --> 924.32]  joy, peace,
[924.82 --> 925.70]  patience, kindness,
[925.92 --> 926.38]  goodness,
[927.06 --> 927.54]  gentleness,
[927.88 --> 928.76]  and self-control.
[932.06 --> 934.12]  Jonathan mentioned last week
[934.12 --> 935.58]  I think something very profound
[935.58 --> 936.40]  that I want to repeat.
[936.40 --> 937.74]  He said it's important
[937.74 --> 938.14]  that we know
[938.14 --> 939.00]  that when Jesus came
[939.00 --> 939.96]  and defeated death
[939.96 --> 941.02]  and sin and Satan,
[941.02 --> 942.12]  he went through the grave
[942.12 --> 943.22]  into resurrection life.
[943.42 --> 944.46]  He didn't look at the church
[944.46 --> 944.76]  and say,
[944.86 --> 945.44]  all right people,
[946.40 --> 947.04]  go get them.
[947.42 --> 948.72]  I'm going off to the Father.
[949.08 --> 950.02]  You've got this.
[950.84 --> 951.14]  No,
[951.24 --> 951.94]  what he said is,
[952.34 --> 953.42]  you're going to need me.
[954.28 --> 955.58]  You're going to need my power.
[955.84 --> 957.02]  And I'm actually delighted
[957.02 --> 958.10]  to go back to the Father
[958.10 --> 958.78]  because I know
[958.78 --> 959.82]  you are receiving
[959.82 --> 960.84]  the Holy Spirit
[960.84 --> 962.62]  which is the very same power
[962.62 --> 964.08]  that rose him from the dead
[964.08 --> 965.50]  that is now poured out
[965.50 --> 966.58]  in the hearts of believers
[966.58 --> 967.98]  in the communities
[967.98 --> 968.96]  of faith in Jesus.
[970.52 --> 971.68]  And so I want to read for you
[971.68 --> 973.22]  my favorite verse
[973.22 --> 973.94]  in this passage
[973.94 --> 975.04]  and it was hard to pick,
[975.14 --> 975.82]  I will admit.
[976.36 --> 977.26]  Verse 16,
[979.00 --> 979.70]  Paul writes,
[979.82 --> 980.60]  so I say,
[981.46 --> 982.52]  walk by the Spirit
[982.52 --> 986.08]  and you will not gratify
[986.60 --> 988.28]  the desires of the flesh.
[989.74 --> 990.98]  Here's my question, church.
[992.42 --> 993.76]  Do you believe this?
[995.54 --> 996.72]  I was saying to the staff
[996.72 --> 997.06]  this week
[997.06 --> 998.00]  when I was working on my sermon,
[998.06 --> 998.98]  I think this is my sermon
[998.98 --> 999.86]  in a nutshell right here.
[1000.16 --> 1000.94]  This powerful,
[1001.14 --> 1001.52]  beautiful,
[1001.76 --> 1002.42]  amazing thing
[1002.42 --> 1003.04]  that Paul says
[1003.04 --> 1003.54]  that I'm going to ask,
[1003.90 --> 1005.94]  do we truly believe this?
[1006.66 --> 1007.58]  And I'm going to sharpen
[1007.58 --> 1008.34]  my point here.
[1008.40 --> 1009.26]  I'll put verse 19
[1009.26 --> 1010.34]  on the screen
[1010.34 --> 1011.96]  and I want to just continue
[1011.96 --> 1012.60]  to contrast
[1012.60 --> 1013.46]  what Paul is saying
[1013.46 --> 1014.86]  because this is what he's saying.
[1014.86 --> 1016.10]  So I say,
[1016.56 --> 1017.34]  walk by the Spirit
[1017.34 --> 1019.72]  and you will not fall prey
[1019.72 --> 1021.26]  to sexual immorality
[1021.26 --> 1022.02]  and impurity.
[1022.68 --> 1023.40]  So I say,
[1023.54 --> 1024.56]  walk by the Spirit
[1024.56 --> 1026.54]  and you will not become people
[1026.54 --> 1027.60]  who are idolatrous,
[1028.20 --> 1028.82]  hateful,
[1029.34 --> 1029.98]  descending,
[1030.80 --> 1031.82]  causing division,
[1032.36 --> 1032.88]  and envious.
[1033.70 --> 1034.32]  So I say,
[1034.42 --> 1035.32]  walk by the Spirit
[1035.32 --> 1036.28]  and you will not be
[1036.28 --> 1037.38]  an angry person.
[1039.14 --> 1039.82]  I say,
[1039.90 --> 1040.74]  walk by the Spirit
[1040.74 --> 1043.12]  and you will not gratify
[1043.12 --> 1044.36]  the desires of the flesh.
[1044.36 --> 1044.98]  So church,
[1045.44 --> 1046.72]  do you believe this?
[1047.72 --> 1047.96]  I mean,
[1048.00 --> 1049.04]  this passage is so important.
[1049.12 --> 1049.94]  I hope it works its way
[1049.94 --> 1050.62]  into your minds,
[1050.70 --> 1051.32]  your imaginations,
[1051.42 --> 1051.90]  and your hearts,
[1052.06 --> 1052.98]  the way it's been working
[1052.98 --> 1053.40]  into mind
[1053.40 --> 1054.54]  because it is so powerful
[1054.54 --> 1055.46]  we have to ask ourselves,
[1055.68 --> 1056.54]  do we really believe
[1056.54 --> 1057.26]  that this is true?
[1057.40 --> 1058.62]  That when God's Spirit
[1058.62 --> 1059.96]  takes hold of our lives,
[1060.06 --> 1061.76]  it will actually change
[1061.76 --> 1062.72]  these old habits
[1062.72 --> 1064.24]  and create new desires
[1064.24 --> 1066.50]  as a result of God's power.
[1068.84 --> 1069.24]  Now,
[1069.40 --> 1070.80]  I'm just going to be forthright
[1070.80 --> 1071.70]  about my own upbringing.
[1071.80 --> 1072.32]  I grew up
[1072.32 --> 1073.26]  in the Reformed tradition.
[1074.46 --> 1075.34]  And we didn't talk
[1075.34 --> 1076.16]  a lot about the Spirit.
[1076.84 --> 1077.06]  In fact,
[1077.10 --> 1077.70]  there are several people
[1077.70 --> 1078.98]  even here today
[1078.98 --> 1080.46]  who have grown up
[1080.46 --> 1081.50]  in charismatic traditions
[1081.50 --> 1082.28]  who have said to me
[1082.28 --> 1083.04]  and other people
[1083.04 --> 1083.68]  who preach at Hope,
[1083.74 --> 1083.94]  they're like,
[1083.98 --> 1084.72]  you guys don't preach
[1084.72 --> 1085.84]  on the Spirit very much.
[1086.36 --> 1087.22]  And ouch,
[1087.92 --> 1088.72]  we're going to preach
[1088.72 --> 1089.68]  on that after Easter,
[1090.02 --> 1090.82]  message received.
[1090.94 --> 1091.32]  Don't worry,
[1091.36 --> 1091.78]  we're going to talk
[1091.78 --> 1092.60]  about spiritual gifts,
[1093.02 --> 1093.80]  spiritual power,
[1093.90 --> 1094.60]  a lot of different things
[1094.60 --> 1095.22]  around the Spirit.
[1095.36 --> 1095.92]  That's coming.
[1096.34 --> 1096.80]  But today,
[1096.86 --> 1097.40]  we get to talk
[1097.40 --> 1098.46]  about the Spirit as well.
[1099.42 --> 1100.68]  It's not common for me
[1100.68 --> 1101.46]  to use language
[1101.46 --> 1102.64]  of walking in the Spirit,
[1103.34 --> 1104.20]  keeping in step
[1104.20 --> 1104.80]  with the Spirit,
[1105.02 --> 1105.54]  and that's part
[1105.54 --> 1106.02]  of my upbringing,
[1106.14 --> 1106.58]  maybe it's part
[1106.58 --> 1107.40]  of yours as well.
[1107.56 --> 1108.56]  So we want to unpack
[1108.56 --> 1109.76]  what in the world
[1109.76 --> 1110.54]  it means
[1110.54 --> 1112.50]  to walk in step
[1112.50 --> 1113.76]  with the Spirit.
[1115.22 --> 1115.48]  Now,
[1115.48 --> 1116.26]  I first want to share
[1116.26 --> 1116.72]  a story.
[1117.32 --> 1118.18]  This comes from a book
[1118.18 --> 1118.68]  I was reading
[1118.68 --> 1119.16]  in preparation
[1119.16 --> 1119.90]  for this sermon.
[1120.60 --> 1121.36]  I think it'll be helpful
[1121.36 --> 1122.42]  to discern this together.
[1123.32 --> 1124.56]  The writer tells the story
[1124.56 --> 1125.60]  of going whale watching
[1125.60 --> 1126.62]  and then relates
[1126.62 --> 1127.74]  this story of whale watching
[1127.74 --> 1128.72]  to our relationship
[1128.72 --> 1129.54]  to the Holy Spirit.
[1129.64 --> 1130.40]  So let me explain.
[1131.24 --> 1131.94]  He tells the story
[1131.94 --> 1133.16]  of going off the coast
[1133.16 --> 1133.88]  of Newfoundland
[1133.88 --> 1135.72]  on this giant vessel
[1135.72 --> 1136.56]  and then they go out
[1136.56 --> 1137.12]  into the ocean
[1137.12 --> 1137.74]  to whale watch.
[1137.80 --> 1138.04]  I'm curious,
[1138.10 --> 1138.58]  how many of us
[1138.58 --> 1139.44]  have gone whale watching?
[1140.08 --> 1140.54]  Oh man,
[1140.56 --> 1141.58]  I'm so jealous.
[1142.06 --> 1142.86]  I'm hoping that day
[1142.86 --> 1143.22]  will come.
[1143.30 --> 1144.06]  I'm actually secretly
[1144.06 --> 1144.84]  waiting for my parents
[1144.84 --> 1145.54]  to come into town
[1145.54 --> 1146.64]  and offer to pay for it.
[1146.82 --> 1147.70]  That's a different story.
[1149.70 --> 1151.02]  So they get on this vessel
[1151.02 --> 1152.32]  and they're driving out
[1152.32 --> 1152.76]  to the ocean.
[1152.86 --> 1153.76]  It's a fairly large group
[1153.76 --> 1154.26]  and the guy's
[1154.26 --> 1154.90]  with his family.
[1155.26 --> 1155.98]  He's feeling like
[1155.98 --> 1156.96]  it's the trip of his lifetime
[1156.96 --> 1158.56]  and it takes a long time
[1158.56 --> 1159.28]  to get out there.
[1159.52 --> 1160.46]  There's a lot of waiting
[1160.46 --> 1161.54]  and looking in the ocean
[1161.54 --> 1162.54]  trying to find whales
[1162.54 --> 1163.32]  or if it's a wave
[1163.32 --> 1163.94]  and not a whale.
[1164.36 --> 1165.44]  And after a while,
[1165.92 --> 1166.90]  some people go down
[1166.90 --> 1167.58]  below deck,
[1167.72 --> 1168.76]  including his kids.
[1168.98 --> 1169.58]  And one of them,
[1169.66 --> 1170.38]  I won't say which,
[1170.46 --> 1171.64]  was on a screen
[1171.64 --> 1173.12]  scrolling through their phone.
[1173.60 --> 1174.68]  I'm not jealous, you know.
[1175.26 --> 1176.16]  And then, you know,
[1176.22 --> 1177.14]  more time passes,
[1177.24 --> 1178.16]  they go out into the ocean
[1178.16 --> 1179.76]  and then some other people
[1179.76 --> 1180.46]  who are by the deck
[1180.46 --> 1181.44]  move to the middle of the boat
[1181.44 --> 1182.70]  where there's this glass enclosure
[1182.70 --> 1183.66]  and they can just sit down
[1183.66 --> 1184.36]  because they've been standing
[1184.36 --> 1184.88]  for a while.
[1185.34 --> 1186.20]  And then there's another group
[1186.20 --> 1187.56]  of people who are holding
[1187.56 --> 1188.48]  on to that railing.
[1188.54 --> 1188.82]  They're like,
[1188.86 --> 1189.58]  we paid good money
[1189.58 --> 1190.92]  to be on this whale watching tour.
[1191.16 --> 1192.66]  We're not going to miss this whale.
[1192.78 --> 1193.56]  We're going to wait
[1193.56 --> 1194.54]  and see for this thing
[1194.54 --> 1195.10]  to show up.
[1196.54 --> 1197.44]  Well, their moment came.
[1197.44 --> 1199.22]  And they had their,
[1199.32 --> 1200.00]  what you might call
[1200.00 --> 1201.42]  national geographic moment
[1201.42 --> 1202.12]  because a whale,
[1202.32 --> 1203.70]  bigger than the boat itself,
[1203.86 --> 1205.28]  breached right beside the boat,
[1205.64 --> 1207.34]  launched itself up into the air
[1207.34 --> 1208.52]  right beside them.
[1208.70 --> 1209.98]  And as it was going down,
[1210.04 --> 1210.94]  it turned sideways,
[1211.14 --> 1211.74]  coming down,
[1211.90 --> 1213.22]  and then soaked
[1213.22 --> 1214.60]  all the people
[1214.60 --> 1215.58]  on the side of the boat,
[1215.64 --> 1216.54]  not just with water,
[1216.94 --> 1217.70]  but mucus.
[1218.20 --> 1219.20]  They were drenched.
[1221.04 --> 1221.96]  But here's the thing.
[1222.22 --> 1223.40]  Not everyone who was on that boat
[1223.40 --> 1224.40]  had the same experience.
[1224.84 --> 1225.60]  Those below deck
[1225.60 --> 1226.46]  felt the waves.
[1226.54 --> 1227.66]  They knew something was happening.
[1228.08 --> 1228.90]  Those in the middle
[1228.90 --> 1229.80]  were behind glass,
[1229.88 --> 1230.64]  maybe got a photo,
[1230.76 --> 1231.20]  and the people
[1231.20 --> 1232.08]  on the side of the boat,
[1232.08 --> 1233.52]  they got drenched.
[1234.00 --> 1235.16]  And we'll never forget it.
[1236.78 --> 1237.86]  Here's how he relates it
[1237.86 --> 1238.40]  to the Spirit.
[1239.32 --> 1239.74]  He says,
[1239.88 --> 1241.30]  many of us in the church
[1241.30 --> 1243.48]  have a differing relationship
[1243.48 --> 1244.34]  with the person
[1244.34 --> 1245.14]  of the Holy Spirit.
[1245.36 --> 1246.58]  Some of us are below deck.
[1246.68 --> 1247.04]  We're sort of
[1247.04 --> 1248.04]  at a comfortable distance,
[1248.12 --> 1249.56]  and we're not too upset
[1249.56 --> 1250.06]  about that.
[1250.44 --> 1251.66]  Some of us are above deck,
[1251.70 --> 1252.28]  but we're behind
[1252.28 --> 1253.28]  the glass enclosure,
[1253.48 --> 1253.68]  you know,
[1253.68 --> 1254.66]  open but cautious.
[1255.50 --> 1256.62]  And then there are those of us
[1256.62 --> 1258.08]  who have our arms and hands
[1258.08 --> 1259.94]  latched to the side railing,
[1260.00 --> 1260.50]  and we say,
[1260.50 --> 1262.44]  we want to be soaked
[1262.44 --> 1264.22]  in the power
[1264.22 --> 1265.64]  and the presence
[1265.64 --> 1267.00]  of the Holy Spirit.
[1267.74 --> 1268.98]  We're not going below deck.
[1269.52 --> 1270.30]  We're not going to go
[1270.30 --> 1271.12]  behind the glass.
[1271.50 --> 1272.12]  We are waiting
[1272.12 --> 1273.62]  until something happens
[1273.62 --> 1275.36]  because we are expectant
[1275.36 --> 1276.36]  that that whale
[1276.36 --> 1277.24]  is going to show up.
[1278.38 --> 1279.12]  And church,
[1279.76 --> 1281.90]  the whale will show up.
[1282.44 --> 1283.86]  The Spirit has been given
[1283.86 --> 1284.64]  to the church.
[1285.14 --> 1286.02]  And I want to ask you
[1286.02 --> 1287.28]  the hard question perhaps,
[1287.58 --> 1288.08]  and that is,
[1288.14 --> 1289.00]  if you were on the boat
[1289.00 --> 1290.06]  as you imagine yourself
[1290.06 --> 1290.84]  in this story,
[1291.16 --> 1292.68]  where are you on that boat?
[1294.06 --> 1295.26]  I will say honestly
[1295.26 --> 1296.44]  that for the vast majority
[1296.44 --> 1297.12]  of my life,
[1297.40 --> 1298.78]  I was very comfortable
[1298.78 --> 1300.54]  staying below deck.
[1301.62 --> 1302.82]  And I had people in my life
[1302.82 --> 1303.78]  who were very suspicious
[1303.78 --> 1305.66]  of charismatic traditions,
[1305.84 --> 1306.64]  suspicious of how people
[1306.64 --> 1307.34]  talked about the Spirit.
[1307.44 --> 1308.12]  I get that.
[1308.46 --> 1309.50]  But I had many,
[1309.64 --> 1310.42]  many years of saying,
[1310.48 --> 1311.26]  I don't know what's going on
[1311.26 --> 1311.76]  with that Spirit,
[1311.82 --> 1313.14]  but I'm comfortable below deck.
[1313.50 --> 1314.08]  And I have people
[1314.08 --> 1314.96]  in our church today
[1314.96 --> 1315.66]  who were saying to Dave,
[1315.88 --> 1317.20]  this is what it might look like
[1317.20 --> 1317.86]  to have your hands
[1317.86 --> 1318.44]  on the railing.
[1318.58 --> 1319.64]  And you're going to love it
[1319.64 --> 1320.52]  when you get soaked
[1320.52 --> 1321.64]  by the power of that whale.
[1325.50 --> 1326.28]  I'm convinced
[1326.28 --> 1327.46]  that when Paul says,
[1327.86 --> 1328.62]  walk by the Spirit,
[1329.54 --> 1330.68]  what he's saying
[1330.68 --> 1331.98]  to every single believer
[1331.98 --> 1333.48]  is surrender.
[1335.44 --> 1336.28]  I'm convinced
[1336.28 --> 1337.12]  that when he says,
[1337.38 --> 1337.86]  keep in step
[1337.86 --> 1338.50]  with the Spirit,
[1338.96 --> 1340.34]  he's inviting every believer
[1340.34 --> 1341.72]  to hold out their ambitions,
[1342.10 --> 1342.68]  their intentions,
[1342.90 --> 1344.22]  their desires for their life,
[1344.36 --> 1344.86]  and say,
[1344.96 --> 1345.74]  not my will,
[1345.74 --> 1347.84]  but your will be done, Lord.
[1348.58 --> 1349.82]  You get to lead.
[1350.54 --> 1351.72]  I get to follow.
[1352.22 --> 1353.18]  That's, by the way,
[1353.46 --> 1354.62]  exactly with the language
[1354.62 --> 1355.94]  of keeping in step.
[1356.18 --> 1357.50]  You are not setting the pace.
[1357.80 --> 1358.46]  You are not the one
[1358.46 --> 1359.12]  leading the way.
[1359.38 --> 1360.56]  You are following the way
[1360.56 --> 1361.26]  of our God
[1361.26 --> 1363.02]  who lives within us
[1363.02 --> 1364.28]  and leads the church
[1364.28 --> 1365.66]  by his Spirit.
[1366.86 --> 1367.84]  So walking in step
[1367.84 --> 1368.42]  with the Spirit
[1368.42 --> 1369.82]  is surrendering.
[1370.28 --> 1372.28]  And that is a lifetime project,
[1372.38 --> 1372.80]  by the way.
[1373.16 --> 1373.88]  At least it is
[1373.88 --> 1374.94]  in my own experience.
[1374.94 --> 1376.42]  It is a daily sense
[1376.42 --> 1378.00]  of loosening the grip
[1378.00 --> 1379.06]  we have on our lives,
[1379.48 --> 1380.60]  loosening our desire
[1380.60 --> 1381.62]  to be in control
[1381.62 --> 1382.08]  and saying,
[1382.20 --> 1383.50]  Lord, I trust you
[1383.50 --> 1384.84]  and I need your Spirit
[1384.84 --> 1385.60]  to lead me
[1385.60 --> 1386.52]  because on my own
[1386.52 --> 1387.60]  I will hold control
[1387.60 --> 1388.76]  and I'll probably run
[1388.76 --> 1389.98]  this ship into the ground
[1389.98 --> 1391.32]  to borrow another
[1391.32 --> 1392.00]  boating metaphor.
[1394.98 --> 1396.94]  The door that opens
[1396.94 --> 1399.30]  the work of the Spirit
[1399.30 --> 1401.06]  is prayer.
[1402.28 --> 1403.16]  And that's not just
[1403.16 --> 1403.82]  my opinion.
[1404.46 --> 1405.48]  This is the Scriptures.
[1406.42 --> 1407.70]  If I had more time,
[1407.70 --> 1408.62]  I would walk us
[1408.62 --> 1409.50]  through all the passages
[1409.50 --> 1410.90]  in the Gospel accounts
[1410.90 --> 1413.08]  that narrate Jesus' own life.
[1413.54 --> 1414.48]  Jesus in Matthew
[1414.48 --> 1416.02]  and especially in Luke.
[1416.10 --> 1417.00]  Luke is always
[1417.00 --> 1417.70]  pointing this out.
[1418.02 --> 1418.94]  He sees the crowds.
[1419.12 --> 1419.94]  He sees the demands
[1419.94 --> 1420.52]  of his disciples.
[1420.64 --> 1421.46]  He sees the needs
[1421.46 --> 1421.96]  of the city.
[1422.22 --> 1422.96]  And he's constantly
[1422.96 --> 1424.04]  retreating
[1424.04 --> 1425.86]  to the mountainside
[1425.86 --> 1426.38]  to what?
[1427.56 --> 1428.14]  To pray.
[1428.98 --> 1430.54]  Now, if Jesus needs prayer,
[1430.54 --> 1431.66]  perhaps we do too.
[1432.12 --> 1432.62]  In fact, one of my
[1432.62 --> 1433.08]  favorite stories,
[1433.14 --> 1433.80]  I didn't even check
[1433.80 --> 1434.50]  between services.
[1434.66 --> 1435.46]  I said this boldly
[1435.46 --> 1435.92]  in the 9 a.m.
[1435.92 --> 1437.14]  I think it's Matthew 14.
[1437.54 --> 1438.60]  It's the story of Jesus
[1438.60 --> 1439.60]  walking on the water.
[1439.86 --> 1440.86]  And we often miss
[1440.86 --> 1442.08]  the story right before that.
[1442.14 --> 1442.56]  You know what Jesus
[1442.56 --> 1443.48]  is doing right before
[1443.48 --> 1444.26]  he walks in the water?
[1444.94 --> 1446.24]  He's on the mountainside
[1446.24 --> 1446.60]  praying.
[1447.24 --> 1448.62]  And Jesus is so filled
[1448.62 --> 1449.84]  with the Spirit of God
[1449.84 --> 1450.84]  after he prays,
[1450.92 --> 1452.24]  he's walking on water
[1452.24 --> 1453.06]  and his disciples are like,
[1453.12 --> 1454.04]  how does he do this?
[1454.20 --> 1455.26]  And Matthew is very
[1455.26 --> 1455.98]  intentional to say
[1455.98 --> 1456.94]  it goes from the mountain
[1456.94 --> 1457.46]  of prayer
[1457.46 --> 1459.08]  to the walking on water.
[1459.72 --> 1460.80]  That comes from
[1460.80 --> 1461.40]  the empowerment
[1461.40 --> 1462.12]  of the Spirit.
[1463.16 --> 1463.50]  And church,
[1463.58 --> 1464.02]  let me say this
[1464.02 --> 1464.74]  even more clearly.
[1464.86 --> 1466.08]  What's available to Jesus
[1466.08 --> 1468.00]  is available to us.
[1469.24 --> 1470.52]  Jesus was not upset
[1470.52 --> 1471.58]  by him going to be
[1471.58 --> 1472.02]  with the Father
[1472.02 --> 1472.54]  because he knew
[1472.54 --> 1473.22]  the Spirit
[1473.22 --> 1474.98]  would lead the church.
[1475.50 --> 1476.26]  And the door
[1476.26 --> 1477.38]  to the life of the Spirit
[1477.38 --> 1478.88]  is prayer.
[1480.74 --> 1481.60]  This power
[1481.60 --> 1482.90]  is not separated
[1482.90 --> 1483.66]  and given
[1483.66 --> 1484.32]  just to people
[1484.32 --> 1485.34]  who work for the church,
[1485.72 --> 1486.68]  just missionaries,
[1486.68 --> 1487.70]  Bible translators
[1487.70 --> 1488.34]  and pastors.
[1489.06 --> 1489.82]  The gift of the Spirit
[1489.82 --> 1490.88]  is for all of us
[1490.88 --> 1492.16]  all the time
[1492.16 --> 1493.40]  in whatever mess
[1493.40 --> 1494.10]  you're going through
[1494.10 --> 1495.16]  in your life right now.
[1495.40 --> 1496.18]  Do you believe that?
[1497.06 --> 1498.24]  The Spirit of God
[1498.24 --> 1499.00]  is ours
[1499.00 --> 1500.22]  for the receiving.
[1501.24 --> 1502.12]  It's ours
[1502.12 --> 1503.28]  for the transforming.
[1504.40 --> 1505.16]  And the Spirit
[1505.16 --> 1506.28]  is after
[1506.28 --> 1507.52]  our freedom.
[1509.00 --> 1509.76]  I'm struck by how
[1509.76 --> 1510.72]  in Jesus' own ministry
[1510.72 --> 1512.12]  as he comes out
[1512.12 --> 1513.02]  of his time of prayer
[1513.02 --> 1514.28]  on the side of the mountain
[1514.28 --> 1515.52]  often with his disciples,
[1515.52 --> 1517.16]  he has the ability
[1517.16 --> 1518.36]  by the Spirit's leading
[1518.36 --> 1519.76]  to love
[1519.76 --> 1520.76]  and serve in humility,
[1520.98 --> 1522.04]  to resist the temptation
[1522.04 --> 1522.60]  of Satan,
[1522.80 --> 1524.12]  to know what's most important
[1524.12 --> 1524.78]  and what isn't,
[1524.92 --> 1526.04]  and to go into the cities
[1526.04 --> 1527.24]  proclaiming the kingdom of God
[1527.24 --> 1528.08]  in humility
[1528.08 --> 1529.26]  and love.
[1529.38 --> 1530.20]  And again, church,
[1530.66 --> 1531.70]  that same power
[1531.70 --> 1532.44]  is available
[1532.44 --> 1533.76]  to us.
[1534.40 --> 1535.06]  To resist
[1535.06 --> 1536.10]  the temptation of Satan
[1536.10 --> 1537.14]  however it shows up
[1537.14 --> 1537.70]  in our life,
[1537.86 --> 1539.82]  to resist the incredible pull
[1539.82 --> 1541.12]  of the old sinful nature
[1541.12 --> 1542.44]  which is still operative
[1542.44 --> 1543.00]  in our life,
[1543.00 --> 1543.94]  and say yes
[1543.94 --> 1544.74]  to the way of Christ
[1544.74 --> 1545.52]  which is obedience,
[1546.64 --> 1547.46]  self-denial,
[1547.92 --> 1548.76]  and humble service
[1548.76 --> 1549.24]  and love.
[1549.86 --> 1550.60]  That power
[1550.60 --> 1551.94]  is for all of us.
[1556.00 --> 1557.32]  I want to loop back
[1557.32 --> 1559.40]  to the big picture
[1559.40 --> 1560.20]  of Galatians 5
[1560.20 --> 1560.82]  and just allow you
[1560.82 --> 1561.58]  to marvel with me
[1561.58 --> 1562.50]  at what Paul is saying.
[1563.12 --> 1563.52]  He's saying,
[1563.76 --> 1564.28]  the solution
[1564.28 --> 1565.32]  to the division
[1565.32 --> 1566.10]  in the church
[1566.10 --> 1567.40]  between Judaizers
[1567.40 --> 1568.16]  and new converts
[1568.16 --> 1568.88]  and others,
[1569.36 --> 1570.40]  and the solution
[1570.40 --> 1571.58]  to the temptation
[1571.58 --> 1572.38]  of going back
[1572.38 --> 1573.48]  to the old patterns
[1573.48 --> 1573.92]  of life
[1573.92 --> 1574.94]  before we were believers
[1574.94 --> 1576.46]  and the way
[1576.46 --> 1577.16]  we experience
[1577.16 --> 1577.88]  serving in love
[1577.88 --> 1578.40]  and humility
[1578.40 --> 1580.04]  is the Spirit.
[1581.92 --> 1582.66]  And the door
[1582.66 --> 1583.72]  to experiencing
[1583.72 --> 1585.02]  the power of the Spirit
[1585.02 --> 1586.86]  is prayer.
[1588.38 --> 1589.22]  Now I don't have this
[1589.22 --> 1589.74]  on the slides
[1589.74 --> 1590.88]  but I want to read for you.
[1591.62 --> 1592.54]  This comes from
[1592.54 --> 1593.88]  the Heidelberg Catechism.
[1594.00 --> 1594.92]  It's a teaching document
[1594.92 --> 1595.66]  in our church
[1595.66 --> 1596.94]  and there's a question
[1596.94 --> 1597.20]  in there.
[1597.48 --> 1598.84]  The whole Heidelberg Catechism
[1598.84 --> 1599.90]  is questions and answers.
[1600.42 --> 1601.24]  One of the questions is
[1601.24 --> 1602.28]  why do Christians
[1602.28 --> 1602.98]  need to pray?
[1603.36 --> 1604.36]  Such an important question
[1604.36 --> 1604.92]  that we should ask
[1604.92 --> 1605.70]  in every generation
[1605.70 --> 1606.88]  and here's the answer
[1606.88 --> 1608.18]  with like a ton of footnotes
[1608.18 --> 1609.10]  on scripture passages.
[1609.82 --> 1610.48]  The answer is
[1610.48 --> 1611.84]  prayer is the most
[1611.84 --> 1612.84]  important part
[1612.84 --> 1614.76]  of the thankfulness
[1614.76 --> 1616.48]  God requires of us.
[1617.52 --> 1618.24]  And also
[1618.24 --> 1619.70]  prayer is
[1619.70 --> 1620.76]  sorry I'll say that again
[1620.76 --> 1621.44]  and also because
[1621.44 --> 1622.64]  God gives His grace
[1622.64 --> 1623.70]  and Holy Spirit
[1623.70 --> 1625.02]  only
[1625.02 --> 1626.74]  to those who pray
[1626.74 --> 1627.42]  continually
[1627.42 --> 1628.96]  and groan inwardly
[1628.96 --> 1630.30]  asking God
[1630.30 --> 1631.08]  for these gifts
[1631.08 --> 1632.76]  and thanking Him
[1632.76 --> 1633.96]  for them.
[1637.06 --> 1637.88]  The door
[1637.88 --> 1638.62]  to the power
[1638.62 --> 1639.32]  of the Spirit
[1639.32 --> 1640.80]  is available
[1640.80 --> 1641.88]  to all of us
[1641.88 --> 1642.98]  through prayer.
[1644.04 --> 1644.58]  I want to
[1644.58 --> 1645.34]  just share a story
[1645.34 --> 1646.00]  about my own life.
[1646.14 --> 1646.96]  Before I was ordained
[1646.96 --> 1647.54]  as a pastor
[1647.54 --> 1648.58]  I jumped through
[1648.58 --> 1649.52]  all the same ordination
[1649.52 --> 1650.68]  hoops as Jonathan
[1650.68 --> 1651.22]  jumped through
[1651.22 --> 1652.40]  and before I was
[1652.40 --> 1653.20]  publicly examined
[1653.20 --> 1653.58]  I had to meet
[1653.58 --> 1654.34]  with three pastors
[1654.34 --> 1655.52]  pastors to sort of
[1655.52 --> 1656.32]  make sure I was
[1656.32 --> 1657.44]  eligible to be examined
[1657.44 --> 1658.34]  for being a pastor
[1658.34 --> 1659.38]  and we had this
[1659.38 --> 1659.84]  conversation
[1659.84 --> 1660.38]  two of them were
[1660.38 --> 1660.92]  asking a lot of
[1660.92 --> 1661.30]  the questions
[1661.30 --> 1662.18]  and in that room
[1662.18 --> 1663.32]  was a retired pastor
[1663.32 --> 1664.04]  he had just finished
[1664.04 --> 1664.90]  ministry a few years
[1664.90 --> 1666.00]  before this conversation.
[1666.68 --> 1667.50]  Didn't say much
[1667.50 --> 1667.90]  throughout the whole
[1667.90 --> 1668.38]  conversation
[1668.38 --> 1669.30]  and then at the end
[1669.30 --> 1669.74]  he was sitting
[1669.74 --> 1670.32]  right beside me
[1670.32 --> 1671.32]  he leaned right
[1671.32 --> 1672.12]  into my face
[1672.12 --> 1672.80]  and he asked me
[1672.80 --> 1673.34]  two questions
[1673.34 --> 1673.84]  that I will never
[1673.84 --> 1674.14]  forget.
[1674.26 --> 1674.98]  The first is this
[1674.98 --> 1676.16]  how are you going
[1676.16 --> 1676.82]  to protect your
[1676.82 --> 1678.48]  marriage in ministry
[1678.48 --> 1679.72]  and not sacrifice
[1679.72 --> 1680.56]  your family
[1680.56 --> 1681.84]  on the altar of ministry?
[1682.26 --> 1683.10]  Such a good question.
[1683.10 --> 1684.10]  The second question
[1684.10 --> 1684.88]  I mean picture him
[1684.88 --> 1686.32]  eyes wide open
[1686.32 --> 1687.18]  face to face
[1687.18 --> 1687.98]  he's like breathing
[1687.98 --> 1688.42]  on me
[1688.42 --> 1688.86]  he said
[1688.86 --> 1689.94]  are you praying
[1689.94 --> 1690.66]  every day
[1690.66 --> 1692.08]  for the infilling
[1692.08 --> 1693.30]  power of the Holy Spirit?
[1694.06 --> 1694.90]  I'm sitting to look
[1694.90 --> 1695.10]  at him
[1695.10 --> 1695.36]  I'm like
[1695.36 --> 1696.22]  nope
[1696.22 --> 1697.76]  but I want to now
[1697.76 --> 1699.92]  and from that point
[1699.92 --> 1700.66]  I've tried to make
[1700.66 --> 1701.60]  a practice of daily
[1701.60 --> 1702.62]  praying for the power
[1702.62 --> 1703.10]  of the Spirit
[1703.10 --> 1703.68]  because I look at
[1703.68 --> 1704.56]  this retired pastor
[1704.56 --> 1705.04]  and I say
[1705.04 --> 1706.02]  I want to finish
[1706.02 --> 1706.52]  like him
[1706.52 --> 1707.70]  I want to finish
[1707.70 --> 1708.04]  well
[1708.04 --> 1708.86]  not be tripped up
[1708.86 --> 1709.32]  by the old
[1709.32 --> 1709.96]  simple nature
[1709.96 --> 1710.66]  that's going to come
[1710.66 --> 1711.46]  in all sorts of ways
[1711.46 --> 1712.32]  for me as a pastor
[1712.32 --> 1713.44]  as it does for you
[1713.44 --> 1714.12]  in your life
[1714.12 --> 1715.18]  and so I pray
[1715.18 --> 1716.34]  seeking to do this
[1716.34 --> 1716.90]  every day
[1716.90 --> 1718.40]  asking for the Spirit
[1718.40 --> 1719.32]  of the living God
[1719.32 --> 1720.42]  to fill me
[1720.42 --> 1721.30]  and transform me
[1721.30 --> 1721.76]  so that I can
[1721.76 --> 1722.66]  serve him faithfully
[1722.66 --> 1724.36]  and the power
[1724.36 --> 1724.94]  of the Spirit
[1724.94 --> 1726.32]  is available
[1726.32 --> 1728.86]  for all of us
[1728.86 --> 1731.54]  and so what I want
[1731.54 --> 1732.08]  to do now
[1732.08 --> 1732.76]  is pray
[1732.76 --> 1734.52]  and I've written
[1734.52 --> 1735.50]  just a couple points
[1735.50 --> 1736.18]  of things I want
[1736.18 --> 1736.76]  to pray for
[1736.76 --> 1738.02]  and I'm going
[1738.02 --> 1738.28]  to leave
[1738.28 --> 1739.36]  an extended time
[1739.36 --> 1739.86]  for us
[1739.86 --> 1740.66]  to bring before
[1740.66 --> 1741.08]  the Lord
[1741.08 --> 1742.24]  whatever might be
[1742.24 --> 1742.66]  going through
[1742.66 --> 1743.18]  our hearts
[1743.18 --> 1744.72]  perhaps it's conviction
[1744.72 --> 1746.78]  about not feeling
[1746.78 --> 1748.00]  safe with the Spirit
[1748.00 --> 1749.02]  perhaps it's guilt
[1749.02 --> 1749.84]  around whatever
[1749.84 --> 1750.78]  we don't pray on
[1750.78 --> 1751.76]  perhaps it's just
[1751.76 --> 1752.50]  a hunger
[1752.50 --> 1753.16]  you're feeling
[1753.16 --> 1754.84]  pray into those things
[1754.84 --> 1755.32]  and then we're going
[1755.32 --> 1756.08]  to worship together
[1756.08 --> 1757.24]  before we break bread
[1757.24 --> 1759.08]  so would you join me
[1759.08 --> 1760.16]  and allow me to lead us
[1760.16 --> 1761.10]  in a time of extended
[1761.10 --> 1761.46]  prayer
[1761.46 --> 1771.40]  God we're not even sure
[1771.40 --> 1774.02]  what it would look like
[1774.02 --> 1775.28]  for your Spirit
[1775.28 --> 1776.74]  to breathe life
[1776.74 --> 1777.56]  in our church
[1777.56 --> 1780.06]  we're cautious
[1780.06 --> 1782.30]  we're fearful
[1782.30 --> 1785.20]  and we really want
[1785.20 --> 1786.26]  to stay in control
[1786.26 --> 1789.30]  and so I pray
[1789.30 --> 1790.50]  come Holy Spirit
[1790.50 --> 1792.88]  pour out your love
[1792.88 --> 1793.72]  upon us
[1793.72 --> 1795.64]  so that we
[1795.64 --> 1796.82]  can be free
[1796.82 --> 1799.70]  free to be the body
[1799.70 --> 1800.30]  of Christ
[1800.30 --> 1803.18]  free to love
[1803.18 --> 1803.90]  others
[1803.90 --> 1805.10]  as you love them
[1805.10 --> 1807.74]  free to serve
[1807.74 --> 1808.86]  in humility
[1808.86 --> 1812.26]  Father we're tired
[1812.26 --> 1814.04]  of living life
[1814.04 --> 1815.22]  in our own strength
[1815.22 --> 1817.86]  we're exhausted
[1817.86 --> 1819.50]  by the temptations
[1819.50 --> 1820.94]  that trip us up
[1820.94 --> 1822.08]  every single day
[1822.08 --> 1824.40]  we're tired
[1824.40 --> 1825.92]  by trying
[1825.92 --> 1826.90]  to be in control
[1826.90 --> 1827.94]  of our lives
[1827.94 --> 1829.80]  and Father
[1829.80 --> 1830.62]  I ask that you
[1830.62 --> 1831.10]  would give us
[1831.10 --> 1832.84]  a deep hunger
[1832.84 --> 1833.82]  for change
[1833.82 --> 1835.76]  we ask that your
[1835.76 --> 1836.82]  Spirit would give us
[1836.82 --> 1838.34]  a profound desire
[1838.34 --> 1839.74]  to let you
[1839.74 --> 1841.06]  lead the way
[1841.06 --> 1843.06]  and so I pray
[1843.06 --> 1843.48]  again
[1843.48 --> 1844.84]  come Holy Spirit
[1844.84 --> 1846.52]  have your way
[1846.52 --> 1847.62]  in our church
[1847.62 --> 1849.48]  have your way
[1849.48 --> 1850.28]  in our marriages
[1850.28 --> 1851.64]  and our families
[1851.64 --> 1853.00]  our shared
[1853.00 --> 1854.64]  and private lives
[1854.64 --> 1856.82]  hear our prayers
[1856.82 --> 1858.06]  as we lift them up
[1858.06 --> 1858.62]  to you now
[1858.62 --> 1868.16]  to look arrested
[1868.16 --> 1869.04]  a favor
[1869.04 --> 1869.46]  for a psychiatric
[1869.46 --> 1869.86]  sense
[1869.86 --> 1870.60]  as we bring this
[1870.60 --> 1872.00]  together
[1872.00 --> 1872.84]  to keep us
[1872.84 --> 1874.84]  inbuilt