WEBVTT 00:00:00.580 --> 00:00:01.740 I want to invite you to Romans. 00:00:02.280 --> 00:00:03.650 Chapter 12 is where we are today. 00:00:03.840 --> 00:00:08.180 Romans Chapter 12, in a beautiful section of scripture. 00:00:08.180 --> 00:00:15.280 This passage is really the transitional section of the book of Romans that takes us from a place 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:22.600 of understanding really who we are in Christ and now how to live for Christ. 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:26.480 Chapter 1 to 11 deals with your relationship to God. 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:31.180 Chapter 12 to 16 now deals with your horizontal relationship with others. 00:00:31.200 --> 00:00:35.790 If you know the Lord and you live in the Lord, what should that look like as you live it out in your life? 00:00:35.940 --> 00:00:38.060 Chapter 1 to 11 is what God does. 00:00:38.060 --> 00:00:41.820 Chapter 12 to 16 is really about how we respond. 00:00:42.160 --> 00:00:45.720 God cares about what you believe and God cares about how you behave. 00:00:45.720 --> 00:00:50.380 And it's in that order because what you truly believe determines how you're going to live in your life, right? 00:00:50.380 --> 00:00:52.140 What you're going to do with your life. 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:59.260 And so these first 11 chapters, God dealt with our identity in Jesus, how we come to know God and live in God 00:00:59.260 --> 00:01:02.280 and the identity we receive through, through Christ. 00:01:02.500 --> 00:01:09.500 And now chapter 12 and on he's going to talk about how that should impact the world around you, starting with just general 00:01:09.500 --> 00:01:12.780 relationship into marriage, family, government, all that. 00:01:12.780 --> 00:01:16.160 If you if you want to talk about government, just hold on to Romans chapter 13. 00:01:16.180 --> 00:01:19.200 That's where we're going to be when we get to Romans 13. 00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:22.620 But beautiful section of scripture that describes all of this for us. 00:01:22.720 --> 00:01:28.880 This is for those that might come to the Lord and pray, pray a prayer like this, you might say to God, what you're doing in me. 00:01:28.940 --> 00:01:31.000 I don't want to just stay with me. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:33.080 I want it to be lived through me. 00:01:33.180 --> 00:01:37.320 And so, Lord, help me to honor you with my life, if that is your prayer. 00:01:37.660 --> 00:01:41.180 Romans Chapter 12 is the beginning basis for all of that. 00:01:41.240 --> 00:01:48.360 And one of the things I really love about these first few verses, Paul does a masterful job in the way he transitions from 00:01:48.360 --> 00:01:51.950 all he's communicated about the Lord into our lives and how we live. 00:01:52.080 --> 00:01:54.880 But one of the things I really love is the simplicity of this. 00:01:55.860 --> 00:01:59.060 You think in this world there are many paths that you can follow. 00:01:59.160 --> 00:02:06.400 Many, many idols or false gods that are just screaming at you to live for this and find your importance and identity in multiple 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:06.950 things. 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:09.460 But in Christianity, really, there's just there's one path. 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:12.900 There is one path that God calls us on in him. 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:13.780 And it's simple. 00:02:14.500 --> 00:02:21.640 For those that like to overcomplicate things, this passage should be very freeing to you and understanding what God desires for your life. 00:02:21.660 --> 00:02:28.680 And so the title of today is A Reasonable Response to God How God desires for you to respond to 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:29.800 all that He's done for you. 00:02:29.880 --> 00:02:34.380 Our relationship with God should impact our relationship with others. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:34.480 Right? 00:02:34.480 --> 00:02:40.960 Because in Christ you've been redeemed, reconciled, restored, and God has renewed you in Him. 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:47.960 And so we should mimic that in the way that we interact in this world, because the forgiveness and grace that's been given to us, we should be the most forgiving people on 00:02:47.960 --> 00:02:54.230 the planet and encouraging people to understand where we were apart from Christ and now who we are because of Christ. 00:02:54.340 --> 00:02:58.570 And other people have access to that too, because not because of them, but because of Jesus. 00:02:58.920 --> 00:03:03.720 And so this is our reasonable response to that God, because of all that He has done for us. 00:03:03.960 --> 00:03:11.240 And point number one in your notes is this reasonable response is to completely surrender to him, completely surrender 00:03:11.240 --> 00:03:12.120 to him. 00:03:12.200 --> 00:03:15.100 And Paul starts it this way in Romans chapter 12, verse one. 00:03:15.140 --> 00:03:21.780 And I'm just going to take us these first three verses, just a section at a time, through these first three verses, and then we're going to chunk out the rest here. 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:29.160 But he says, I appeal to you, therefore, brothers by the mercies of God, Paul is making this appeal 00:03:29.160 --> 00:03:29.560 to us. 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:34.150 Some translations say he is beseeching or begging or imploring. 00:03:34.620 --> 00:03:41.720 And the idea of the Apostle Paul begging us in these moments signifies how important and crucial this is 00:03:41.720 --> 00:03:48.820 for our lives, that Paul would come to this place with such urgency, to help our hearts recognize then how we're to respond in light 00:03:48.820 --> 00:03:49.880 of all of this. 00:03:50.740 --> 00:03:58.160 Now, Paul doesn't go through this whole, whole book begging you, but we come to this place and this is this is his appeal in this moment for you to understand the significance 00:03:58.180 --> 00:04:02.520 of what he's about to communicate and what Paul is going to ask of us. 00:04:02.580 --> 00:04:05.360 I've already I've already revealed it and giving all of you. 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:11.820 But what he's about to ask of us, I think it's important to know Paul's not going to ask of us more than Jesus was willing to give for you. 00:04:12.980 --> 00:04:15.580 As Jesus has given all his life for you. 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:19.300 Jesus now calls you to give your life and response back to Him. 00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:23.310 And he says it's by the mercies of God that he that he's doing this. 00:04:23.520 --> 00:04:28.920 And so Paul is helping you understand that this is a privileged position that you get to be in. 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:31.220 It is not because of what you've done. 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:32.920 This is because of what God has done. 00:04:33.520 --> 00:04:37.920 And the beauty of this is it's not just you get one shot at this and if you blow it, it's over. 00:04:38.920 --> 00:04:42.860 But rather what he's reminding us of this is God's mercies for you every day. 00:04:43.840 --> 00:04:45.730 God made you for this. 00:04:46.180 --> 00:04:52.020 And just because you mess up, he's a god of second chances and third chances and fourth chances. 00:04:52.140 --> 00:04:53.430 And on and on it goes. 00:04:53.760 --> 00:04:53.780 But. 00:04:53.820 --> 00:05:01.040 But this is the call of every Christian for the rest of your life that actually this is the call of everyone to surrender who you are to 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:04.660 the Lord and to know him and to be made known through him. 00:05:05.320 --> 00:05:11.200 And so he goes on and says, To present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to him. 00:05:12.460 --> 00:05:20.400 And so he's saying to you, Look, God, God doesn't just want a piece of you, but rather God desires all of you and 00:05:20.400 --> 00:05:22.320 God. 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:25.220 He wants nothing less. 00:05:25.220 --> 00:05:29.380 God first wants you before God cares about what you do. 00:05:30.640 --> 00:05:34.160 Religion has the tendency of getting this backwards, like religion is all about. 00:05:34.340 --> 00:05:38.060 Let me fix myself up first so that then God would accept me. 00:05:38.320 --> 00:05:40.080 Christianity is the complete opposite of that. 00:05:40.080 --> 00:05:44.080 That your heart, your life does not change until God really has you. 00:05:44.080 --> 00:05:47.150 And when God has you, when God has your heart, God will transform. 00:05:47.380 --> 00:05:50.540 Your life doesn't start with you fixing yourself. 00:05:50.540 --> 00:05:54.120 It starts with you coming to him and allowing God to change your life from the inside out. 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:59.660 And so he begs us here to present all of our bodies. 00:05:59.700 --> 00:06:04.420 And this is the path of Christianity to know Christ. 00:06:05.820 --> 00:06:06.780 And to be known by him. 00:06:07.860 --> 00:06:15.280 In fact, in our church, we have five values that we live by in order to create a healthy culture within our community. 00:06:15.280 --> 00:06:17.720 And value number one is to know Christ. 00:06:17.720 --> 00:06:24.860 That value takes precedent over and above everything that God made you for relationship in him, 00:06:25.260 --> 00:06:28.420 and that from that, then all healthy things would spur forth. 00:06:29.780 --> 00:06:32.560 If the pursuit of your life would be to know Jesus. 00:06:32.660 --> 00:06:35.060 That's what Paul says in Philippians chapter three. 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:41.820 He forsook everything and counted it as rubbish, he says, in order that he may know Christ. 00:06:41.820 --> 00:06:42.460 Philippians three eight. 00:06:44.520 --> 00:06:47.680 If Paul is willing to make his life about that one pursuit. 00:06:49.220 --> 00:06:50.840 How important it is for your life. 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:52.680 To be about the same. 00:06:54.280 --> 00:06:55.500 God doesn't want a piece of you. 00:06:56.620 --> 00:06:58.860 But rather God wants all of you. 00:06:59.940 --> 00:07:07.220 Could you imagine in a marital relationship where two people come together and covenant in that relationship and they want to share their vows this morning? 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:09.260 Let's just say we're having that kind of a ceremony. 00:07:09.900 --> 00:07:16.060 And one of the spouse looks at the other and says, and, honey, I commit to you 75% of me. 00:07:16.700 --> 00:07:16.880 Right. 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:18.540 Does that sound right? 00:07:19.340 --> 00:07:20.720 Who wants to sign up for that? 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:28.730 If you hold yourself back to any degree, you know it's going to mess up the intimacy for which that relationship is intended to flourish. 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:32.460 In order for a marriage to be healthy, it's not about what you get. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.720 It's about what you give. 00:07:33.840 --> 00:07:36.880 You give all of yourself for the benefit of another, and they do the same. 00:07:36.880 --> 00:07:38.290 And through that there is blessing. 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:46.420 And the same is true with your relationship with Christ, that if you want to know the Lord, it's not about holding back a part of you or hiding from 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:49.620 him or lying to him or pretending to be something that you're not. 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:53.240 It's about laying it all down before the Lord. 00:07:53.260 --> 00:08:00.260 And the reason that we tend not to do that because as people the reason that we hold back from God, honestly, the enemy is 00:08:00.260 --> 00:08:00.680 pride. 00:08:03.180 --> 00:08:08.020 And pride is the greatest obstacle to intimacy. 00:08:10.750 --> 00:08:16.940 But Paul in this passage is calling us to present all of ourselves to him. 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:22.000 And he describes it like this as a living sacrifice, which is interesting because typically we think about a sacrifice. 00:08:22.320 --> 00:08:23.780 Once you give it, it's done right. 00:08:24.080 --> 00:08:25.260 A sacrifice dies. 00:08:25.620 --> 00:08:27.800 It's got a purpose, but that's it. 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:33.059 But here in this passage, he's saying that we, the way we present ourselves to God, that we go on living right. 00:08:33.260 --> 00:08:34.440 We die to ourselves, certainly. 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:35.559 But we go on living. 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:42.720 And so what Paul is encouraging us to think about is that in this Christian life, you're going to die a thousand deaths because you're going to find tons, millions of idols 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:43.960 presented to you in life. 00:08:44.020 --> 00:08:47.100 But there's only one God through which you should give your life towards. 00:08:47.380 --> 00:08:52.780 And so you continually, every day, offer yourself to the Lord each and every day. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:59.500 Some people say it like this It is easy to die for God, but it's much harder to live for God. 00:09:00.340 --> 00:09:06.630 Because every day you've got to be willing to surrender yourself, not to you as Lord, but to him. 00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:13.220 And to trust that what he has for you is better than anything else that this life has to offer. 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:15.100 And he describes it as this. 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:18.160 It's your it is your spiritual worship. 00:09:18.160 --> 00:09:23.440 Some some passages say it's your reasonable act of worship. 00:09:24.040 --> 00:09:29.140 And in terms of worship, I think it's important for us to know that worship is not just something that's exclusive to Sunday. 00:09:30.020 --> 00:09:31.280 We sometimes think that way. 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:32.420 Oh, it's Sunday. 00:09:32.420 --> 00:09:35.150 We better worship so that I can have the rest of my week. 00:09:35.380 --> 00:09:35.640 Right. 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:39.960 But to God, there is no separation between the sacred and the secular. 00:09:39.980 --> 00:09:41.180 It all belongs to him. 00:09:41.880 --> 00:09:42.540 Every. 00:09:42.660 --> 00:09:43.500 Every day. 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:45.720 And everything belongs to the Lord. 00:09:45.880 --> 00:09:48.880 Every day you worship because you are a worship being. 00:09:48.940 --> 00:09:51.600 The question is what do you honor with your life? 00:09:53.020 --> 00:10:00.060 Worship means all of your relationships, all of your responsibilities get reoriented to the idea that 00:10:00.060 --> 00:10:03.020 Jesus is king of your life and not you. 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:10.340 We worship and making God the priority of my life. 00:10:10.400 --> 00:10:11.300 It doesn't mean this. 00:10:11.300 --> 00:10:15.520 It doesn't mean I come to my wife and I say, Look, honey, I wanted to have time for you today. 00:10:15.540 --> 00:10:16.840 But this God, he's so demanding. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:18.580 Like, I got to just cut out. 00:10:18.640 --> 00:10:19.260 I'm sorry. 00:10:19.260 --> 00:10:20.300 I've got to push you aside. 00:10:20.400 --> 00:10:20.620 And it's. 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:24.080 It's all about the Lord right now because he's first and yours second. 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:24.220 Right. 00:10:24.520 --> 00:10:27.780 Don't have that conversation with your wife because that is not healthy. 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:29.290 That's not what the Lord is saying. 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:36.720 He's saying rather, what he wants you to do is reorient all of your life to understand what it is that God desires to do in you through your relationships. 00:10:37.920 --> 00:10:38.620 He takes priority. 00:10:39.580 --> 00:10:46.620 And so because of that, you don't put your wife in second and your kids in third, but rather you reorient all of those 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:50.020 relationships to make Jesus King in order to bless others. 00:10:50.680 --> 00:10:56.080 Your marriage should be better because of your love for Jesus, because it helps you better love your spouse. 00:10:56.740 --> 00:11:02.270 Your family should be better because of your love for Jesus, because it helps you understand how to best love your children. 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:02.840 Right? 00:11:03.180 --> 00:11:06.120 This is this is not about putting putting people in a back seat. 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:13.300 This is about helping them become who God has called them to be because you understand who you are in relationship to the Lord, because you've connected to him in worship. 00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:20.020 And God wants us to do that with all of our being. 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:26.580 And so when you combine these thoughts, what he's saying is to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, as a means of worship. 00:11:26.660 --> 00:11:33.760 And what he's saying to you is that God cares about what you do with your body because what you do physically is a demonstration of what you believe 00:11:33.760 --> 00:11:38.220 internally, and it demonstrates who is lord of your life. 00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:43.940 It communicates who is God of your world and who you want to strive for and what you want to live for. 00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:47.380 God cares about what you see with your eyes. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:55.480 God cares about what you do in your home or what you do in your bed, or what you do with your sexuality or your hands or your heart or your mind or your thoughts. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:58.820 In this passage, he identifies all of those things. 00:12:02.040 --> 00:12:04.060 What is Lord of Your Life? 00:12:04.060 --> 00:12:05.180 Where do you spend your time? 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:11.680 Your resources, your energy, your praise, your talents. 00:12:11.780 --> 00:12:13.780 It points to your God. 00:12:13.880 --> 00:12:15.380 And we all worship. 00:12:16.920 --> 00:12:19.220 We all worship something. 00:12:21.160 --> 00:12:22.180 And we can even replace. 00:12:24.040 --> 00:12:25.640 God things with just good things. 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:29.810 But we all worship something. 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:32.120 And so he reminds us in this next verse. 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:34.700 Do not be conformed to this world. 00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:36.560 But be transformed. 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:46.850 The idea of being conformed means that you are shaped into a mold, that there's something that wants to press you into a particular form. 00:12:46.880 --> 00:12:54.060 And in our culture today, this happens through media or even social media or government or 00:12:54.060 --> 00:12:59.200 education or culture trying to get you to conform to another God other than the one true God. 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:05.400 To compare yourself to those things in order to see if you emulate them, it's constantly pressing you in this mold. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:09.100 And in American culture, our God is easy to identify. 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:11.700 The focus of life is all about self. 00:13:14.260 --> 00:13:22.060 We think self is God, the way that we elevate our self or evaluate our self, I should say, is 00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:24.160 really by people pleasing want to please people. 00:13:24.180 --> 00:13:25.800 So they praise us and elevate us. 00:13:25.800 --> 00:13:29.640 And if we can't please them, then we want to use them in order to serve us. 00:13:29.700 --> 00:13:32.900 Because after all, at the end of the day, what's most important is me. 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:38.180 And so in our culture, we'll say, sleep with who you want, identify with who you want, do what you want. 00:13:38.180 --> 00:13:40.380 Because loving yourself is the most important thing. 00:13:40.900 --> 00:13:42.530 After all, you're a good person. 00:13:42.880 --> 00:13:43.360 It's your body. 00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:44.220 It's your right. 00:13:44.400 --> 00:13:45.820 So do what you want. 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:48.300 Because we think we define what truth is. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:50.400 And so you live your truth. 00:13:50.420 --> 00:13:54.060 Unless your truth denies my truth, in which case you're intolerant. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:56.120 And then we shame you. 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:56.670 But it's okay. 00:13:56.760 --> 00:13:57.700 It's not your fault. 00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:59.340 Just blame someone else because you're the victim. 00:14:02.390 --> 00:14:04.760 But then there's a different identity other than conforming. 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.720 And it's the thought of transforming. 00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:17.480 And rather than live in the identity of victim and I'm not saying you don't go through hard things in life, but in Jesus rather you are now a victor. 00:14:19.140 --> 00:14:23.160 And you have a position and a purpose in Christ because you were designed by him. 00:14:23.160 --> 00:14:28.440 And rather than press you into the mold from the outside in, God wants to make you flourish from the inside out. 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:34.980 God's desire is to renew your heart to him as your life is given over to the Lord. 00:14:35.140 --> 00:14:40.640 But what He's acknowledging in this passage is there a there's a battle taking place. 00:14:40.660 --> 00:14:43.060 There is a conflict between God and the world. 00:14:43.160 --> 00:14:44.820 And the question is, what do you honor? 00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:45.940 Because you can't do both. 00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:53.250 There's a passage we're going to see in just the days ahead in Romans 1218 that says live at peace with all men as long as it's possible. 00:14:54.760 --> 00:14:54.760 Right. 00:14:54.760 --> 00:14:58.740 But the point of it is, at the end of the day, you can only please one Lord. 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:01.310 And so you've got to choose. 00:15:02.520 --> 00:15:09.080 Do you do you want to honor the world and dishonor God or do you want to live for God and upset the world? 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:10.710 Because you can't have it both ways. 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:16.620 Friendship with God is enmity against the world. 00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:18.650 And vice versa. 00:15:20.800 --> 00:15:27.860 And so this passage becomes a place to recognize that God has given you the gift of your life to determine what it's going to be about and where 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:30.960 you're going to surrender it and how you're going to find your value. 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:39.280 And in Christ, really, there's one way it's Jesus alone, all of me to all of you, because you have given all of yourself for 00:15:39.280 --> 00:15:39.600 me. 00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:43.390 And so it's to come to a place like this and make the decision. 00:15:43.760 --> 00:15:46.820 I will give my body in worship to the Lord. 00:15:46.900 --> 00:15:49.920 I will live my life not for selfishness, but for selflessness. 00:15:51.780 --> 00:15:57.960 And through that, I want to honor my wife, my family, my church, my community. 00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:59.360 I'm going to read God's word. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:01.000 I'm going to live for his glory in this world. 00:16:03.140 --> 00:16:04.400 Which is what he says in the next passage. 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:04.800 Right. 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.720 By the renewal of your mind. 00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:09.100 Don't be conformed to this world. 00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:09.870 They want to press you. 00:16:11.160 --> 00:16:13.920 Way to turn your mind off and just think what they tell you. 00:16:15.300 --> 00:16:15.880 Don't do that. 00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:20.920 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:24.120 God cares about what you think. 00:16:24.580 --> 00:16:31.720 Get this Sometimes when I talk to people as it relates to belief systems, I don't know where they come from, but a lot of people treat belief systems 00:16:32.140 --> 00:16:34.040 as something that's just driven by feeling. 00:16:35.040 --> 00:16:42.120 Yet your creator gave you a brain and he wants you to use that brain to love him with all of 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:42.740 your mind. 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:44.240 And I know that's none of you, okay? 00:16:44.680 --> 00:16:45.720 It's nobody here today. 00:16:47.020 --> 00:16:51.760 And you are renewed in that because what we understand is we walk in this world. 00:16:51.760 --> 00:16:58.880 The world wants us to think like it, but we don't want to embrace that, but rather we want our mind renewed daily and the truth of God and 00:16:58.880 --> 00:17:01.840 the way that we find that renewal is through the Word of God. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:08.099 God communicates His truth through his word so that our minds could be renewed. 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:13.339 And He says this, that you will prove the will of God, meaning your life will demonstrate the will of God. 00:17:14.060 --> 00:17:21.940 Sometimes I talk to people about what is God's will for their life, and typically when they ask that question, they want to find a specific thing 00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:22.859 they're supposed to do. 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:24.599 What is God's will for me? 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:26.400 What is it I'm supposed to do? 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:34.500 But can I tell you you'll never discover what you're supposed to do without first discovering who you're called to 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.400 be. 00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:43.120 And you'll never discover who you're called to be without discovering the one who created you for the purpose for which he's designed you. 00:17:43.840 --> 00:17:48.280 And you'll never find that person until you're willing to surrender to him fully. 00:17:49.040 --> 00:17:54.940 But it's when you surrender your life to God that you begin to know about God and learn the character of God. 00:17:55.060 --> 00:18:02.180 And in learning about God and the character of God, you discover the reason that God has created you and the kind of person He is called you to be, so that when you live in this world, you start 00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:03.820 to do the things that God has called you to do. 00:18:05.280 --> 00:18:10.640 We obsess with the will of God as if there's this particular dot that we're supposed to find and live and do for the rest of our lives. 00:18:11.840 --> 00:18:16.220 But a lot of what God has called you to do is to be a certain kind of person in this world. 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.980 To live his character and goodness. 00:18:20.100 --> 00:18:21.080 Wherever you go. 00:18:22.560 --> 00:18:26.040 That way, the grace of God could be made known in your life. 00:18:26.040 --> 00:18:27.700 And so he goes on in verse three, and he says this. 00:18:29.840 --> 00:18:36.900 For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:42.160 with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:51.010 This approach of verse three brings us to this place of humility, which is a countercultural way of living life. 00:18:52.360 --> 00:19:00.260 A worldly, conforming culture tells you to get yours, to use people as tools and even abuse because, well, you're 00:19:00.260 --> 00:19:02.690 the most important thing in this world and what you want matters. 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:07.660 But in a biblical transforming, countercultural life. 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:09.420 It's not about you, but about him. 00:19:10.800 --> 00:19:12.060 To the benefit of others. 00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:15.290 It's really a life of meekness. 00:19:15.320 --> 00:19:16.240 But meekness. 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:18.910 We've talked about as a church is not weakness. 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:22.460 It's someone that truly understands their identity in the Lord. 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:25.740 And because of who they are in Christ, they live for the score. 00:19:25.760 --> 00:19:31.140 They've discovered that the value they have in Jesus is far better than any other value this world can place on them. 00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:37.540 But truth be told, the only way you live a life of humility. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.360 Is to be content with who you are in Christ. 00:19:43.280 --> 00:19:50.380 To know that what you have in Jesus matters beyond anything else, because nothing else in this world can offer what 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:52.640 Christ gives you through Him. 00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:57.900 You can serve because you've been served. 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:07.240 Reality is what makes Christianity so hard is that you've got to surrender the greatest of idols. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.240 Which is you. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:15.120 In order to live for the purpose for which he has created you. 00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:16.820 So let me just ask this morning. 00:20:20.100 --> 00:20:21.160 What are you holding back from? 00:20:21.280 --> 00:20:21.380 God? 00:20:25.300 --> 00:20:28.120 What piece of you is not fully surrendered to him? 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:33.220 What is it that you need to let go of? 00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:42.760 When I consider the battle that's taking place in this passage between conforming and transforming. 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:45.410 For the life of the believer. 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:49.300 I think it's important for us to say, look. 00:20:50.280 --> 00:20:54.340 If your faith in Jesus really hasn't cost you, is it really faith in Jesus? 00:20:56.100 --> 00:20:57.020 You can't please the world. 00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:57.880 And please God. 00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.880 You've got to choose. 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:03.500 What does your what's your life going to be about? 00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:06.260 What are you really going to live for? 00:21:07.820 --> 00:21:11.740 At the end of your life, what kind of person are people going to say you were? 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:16.040 Point number two then. 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:21.600 The result of that life surrendered to Christ will end up this way. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.460 It will bless others. 00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:27.860 It will bless others in verse four and five. 00:21:28.020 --> 00:21:30.320 He describes for us what that looks like. 00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:32.360 He starts off this way, and this is the next point of your notes. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.600 We all have a part to play. 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:38.410 All of us have a part to play and God has created you for community. 00:21:40.280 --> 00:21:46.000 You think about the way that God has designed us as human beings from the very beginning, He said, It's not good for man to be alone. 00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:49.540 He identifies community the way the spirit of God works and the people of God. 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:50.540 It's for community. 00:21:51.820 --> 00:21:56.980 God has created you to be a communal being that glorifies him and the way that you live your life. 00:21:58.120 --> 00:22:04.510 And in verse four, he reminds us of that for as if as in one body, we have many members and the members do not all have the same function. 00:22:05.760 --> 00:22:10.700 So we though many are one body in Christ and individual members one of another. 00:22:11.280 --> 00:22:12.480 That's important. 00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:13.140 We're not trying to be like each other. 00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:16.920 God has made you uniquely for the purpose He desires for you to accomplish in this world. 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:22.620 That's important to not try to duplicate what you see every other Christian do. 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:29.740 There are certain characteristics we certainly want to model in the life of Jesus, but God has gifted us all differently, and that's important. 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:36.840 There are some positions in Christ that are prominent and other positions that may not be as prominent but are but are important. 00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:38.900 I heard a pastor once describe it like this. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:42.540 He said, sometimes my position can be seen as prominent. 00:22:42.580 --> 00:22:42.680 Right? 00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:45.380 Sort of like if you've got big ears like I do. 00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:45.600 Right. 00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:48.620 So that kind of sticks out from the side of your head, sort of large. 00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:50.020 I kind of worry about this as I get older. 00:22:50.020 --> 00:22:51.520 I'm told your ears never stop growing. 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:53.180 It's prominent. 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:56.430 That's prominent, but it doesn't mean necessarily important. 00:22:57.400 --> 00:23:01.080 And there are some things on your body that you overlook until you realize how important they are. 00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:07.400 Like if you get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and you stub your pinky toe, you reminded how important your pinky toe is, right? 00:23:07.800 --> 00:23:13.040 There is things that are prominent and there are things that are important and God doesn't make mistakes. 00:23:14.060 --> 00:23:18.740 And he's made us all uniquely for the purpose he desires for us to glorify him in this valley. 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:21.640 What God wants you to accomplish in this world. 00:23:22.300 --> 00:23:24.420 He knows where you're at and he knows what you need. 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:29.560 And so the last point then, on your notes is this We all have gifts to give. 00:23:31.060 --> 00:23:32.360 We all have gifts to give. 00:23:32.360 --> 00:23:34.220 And the Bible we talk about spiritual gifts. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:38.100 Spiritual gifts mean that you give them away. 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:40.500 That's the point of gifts you have them to give away. 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:48.460 When you read about spiritual gifts in the Bible, there are four chapters that talk about spiritual gifts First Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Galatians four, Ephesians four, 00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:50.200 all sections that talk about spiritual gifts. 00:23:50.260 --> 00:23:52.350 But what's important to know, those gifts are not exhaustive. 00:23:52.780 --> 00:23:53.890 None of those gifts are exhaustive. 00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:56.980 And I don't think anyone just has one spiritual gift. 00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:58.220 You can have a cluster of gifts. 00:23:59.320 --> 00:23:59.320 Right? 00:23:59.320 --> 00:24:03.880 But the point is to understand that God has gifted us all uniquely and God wants to live us to live for his glory. 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:06.100 The question is, what are you gifted in? 00:24:06.120 --> 00:24:07.930 And the way I think we can discover those gifts. 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:11.520 Sometimes in our life we learn as we grow in Christ, right? 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:15.740 I think the gifts that you have today may develop and grow through through time. 00:24:15.760 --> 00:24:20.450 And sometimes you might find a cluster of gifts you didn't realize that you had in the beginning as you follow Jesus. 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:26.300 But we all have spiritual gifts to live for the Lord and for His glory. 00:24:26.320 --> 00:24:27.910 And the way that you discover those is one. 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:28.690 What are you passionate about? 00:24:29.020 --> 00:24:30.060 Two What are you good at? 00:24:30.060 --> 00:24:31.500 And three, what are people blessed by? 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:35.500 Sometimes I'll meet Christians that they'll read certain gifts and they're like, I want that one. 00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:37.320 And they'll start telling people they have that one. 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:37.840 And people are like, They don't. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.240 They don't have this one, right? 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:40.840 This is this is not. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:44.380 So sometimes listen to other believers affirming those gifts around you. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:48.420 You may have certain things you want to do, but that may not be what blesses other people. 00:24:48.560 --> 00:24:51.460 And so it's important to discover what those gifts are. 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:54.560 And Paul lists some of those gifts in this passage of scripture. 00:24:54.580 --> 00:25:00.140 And again, not exhaustive, but he starts to describe there's different ways that we can live for the Lord in this world, He says. 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:04.460 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them. 00:25:05.280 --> 00:25:09.120 If prophecy in proportion to faith, if service in our serving to those who teach. 00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:16.600 And in his teaching, the one who exhorts in his exhortation, the one who contributes in generosity, the one who leads with zeal, the one who does acts 00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:17.810 of mercy with cheerfulness. 00:25:20.290 --> 00:25:22.360 He's listing for us several gifts. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:26.660 Let me let me just walk through these very quickly and just give you an idea. 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:30.180 I think what the Apostle Paul is helping us to think about in terms of prophecy. 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:33.020 I would say he really starts off heavy here in the beginning. 00:25:33.020 --> 00:25:36.140 This is probably one of the most abused ones in all of scripture. 00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:38.940 I'm going to tell you where I stand in this. 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:40.360 If you disagree with me, that's okay. 00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:41.170 We can still be friends. 00:25:41.280 --> 00:25:41.580 All right. 00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:49.180 But I am one that does not believe in the New Testament, in the in the position, and be very careful here in the position 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:50.360 of apostle and prophet. 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:53.400 I don't I don't hold to that anymore unless we're talking about Jesus. 00:25:54.280 --> 00:26:00.320 I think the Bible very clearly tells us in Hebrews one chapter, one verse one and two, that God in former times spoke through the prophets. 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:05.960 But today he speaks to us in Jesus that Jesus is the final prophet and the final revelation of truth to us. 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.820 He is God in the flesh. 00:26:06.840 --> 00:26:08.960 He is everything that you need, right? 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:16.220 So in terms of title and I've written blogs on this, why I don't believe in the position of Apostle today, though you might find people that are apostolic write 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:18.400 the word apostle means sent forth. 00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:21.160 We use the word missionary today, but that's really what we're doing. 00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:28.110 We're sending out in the world to proclaim Jesus so you can have a certain gift set that might make you good to go to the ends of the earth and proclaim Christ. 00:26:28.780 --> 00:26:31.180 But the title of Apostle, the title of Prophet. 00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:33.680 I don't hold to today another passage. 00:26:34.520 --> 00:26:35.560 Ephesians 220. 00:26:36.280 --> 00:26:41.820 He gave apostles and prophets to lay the foundation for the equipping of the saints and building a building. 00:26:42.320 --> 00:26:44.230 When you build a building, you only lay a foundation once. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:50.920 Which is why when you read the rest of the New Testament, you don't see a prescription of Here's how you appoint apostles and prophets, right? 00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:53.670 What you have is here's how you appoint elders and deacons. 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:56.440 That's what God intended to lead the church. 00:26:56.440 --> 00:27:03.000 And so he gives us a prescription for appointing elders and deacons, because that was God's prescription for how he wanted the church to move forward. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.240 That's what I hold to. 00:27:05.080 --> 00:27:08.820 However, I will say you've still got to deal with the gift of prophecy, right? 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:15.520 Because while I don't believe in the title or position for today, the Scripture certainly uses the gift of prophecy. 00:27:15.520 --> 00:27:16.380 And what do you do with that? 00:27:17.060 --> 00:27:21.680 Some people look at this and obsess with prophecies is just simply all about predicting the future. 00:27:22.260 --> 00:27:24.960 I don't think that's the predominant way the word prophecy is used in the New Testament. 00:27:25.800 --> 00:27:32.820 I think the word prophecy is used for not foretelling, but for telling someone that proclaims truth in a way that impacts the heart. 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:39.520 There are certain people that just have the spiritual gift to refer to scripture in a way that's like a surgeon with a scalpel. 00:27:40.040 --> 00:27:43.880 They'll come to you and they'll say things and it speaks into your heart in a way that feels like it pierces you. 00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:44.430 And you're like, Oh, that hurt. 00:27:44.560 --> 00:27:46.940 But it felt so good at the same time, right? 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:53.140 That's some people have the ability to proclaim the truth of God's word in that way, and it impacts our lives. 00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:54.480 It makes us think about the Lord. 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.600 It spurs us on. 00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:57.700 And I think that's what He's saying in this passage, right? 00:27:58.160 --> 00:28:02.330 Otherwise, if he's not, then he's given no credence to the proclamation of God's word. 00:28:02.540 --> 00:28:09.540 And so he says in this passage, the prophecy, the proclaiming, the fourth telling of God's word in proportion to our faith, to make sure that 00:28:09.540 --> 00:28:14.540 when people speak on behalf of God, let's just say that is a dangerous thing to think that you represent God. 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:21.880 And if you're going to say things about the Lord, you better make sure that what you say is truthful because you can really mislead people. 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.260 And there is judgment for that. 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:31.740 And so in terms of this prophecy, he's saying do it in proportion to the faith, understand what truth is and represent that 00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:36.340 if you desire to see people living for God and you want to compel them in that way, do that. 00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:41.120 In fact, when it describes prophecy in Scripture, I think it mentions it in that accord. 00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:48.400 It says, on the other hand, the one who prophesies look at this, speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 00:28:49.120 --> 00:28:54.260 It's using the truth of God to proclaim to people what God desires for them to do and living their life for the Lord. 00:28:54.800 --> 00:29:01.020 In fact, in first Thessalonians five, it gives a warning Do not despise prophecy, but test everything. 00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:02.280 Hold fast that which is good. 00:29:02.760 --> 00:29:04.800 Abstain from every form of evil. 00:29:05.580 --> 00:29:11.960 Meaning There are some people that might say things that are contrary to what Jesus wants you to know, say, and do. 00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:18.700 And it's important that whatever someone says, that you come back to the scriptures to make sure it aligns with it. 00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:29.420 In fact, in First John, chapter four, John says in verse one, Believe 00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:31.320 not every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God. 00:29:31.320 --> 00:29:33.620 Because many false prophets have gone into the world, they're representing Jesus in a way that Jesus doesn't want himself represented because they're teaching a different Jesus than the Jesus proclaimed in the Bible. 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:35.620 And so it's important to align that. 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:36.870 But there is this certainly the gifting. 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.640 Let me let me go back to that. 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:42.690 And prophecy in proportion to faith if serving. 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:46.280 There are people whose hearts are just like they look for a need and they just want to be there. 00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:46.540 Right. 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:53.760 Let me let me find a position and do good in the way that I serve or one who teaches which is different than just simply proclaiming God's word. 00:29:53.760 --> 00:29:55.840 It's people that like to go back and study books. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:57.170 They study books of dead people. 00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:57.660 Right? 00:29:57.660 --> 00:30:03.400 They want to they want to know the theology of the Christian history, and they want to come back and just lay that out for you. 00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:03.720 Right. 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:05.380 And a concise way. 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:07.200 And then there's those who exhort. 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.040 You have people that are encouraging. 00:30:09.040 --> 00:30:12.520 Encouragement is one that one that puts courage in someone else. 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.710 They want to spur you on in the faith. 00:30:14.820 --> 00:30:18.090 And then there's those that want to contribute in generosity. 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:22.640 They don't give because they think giving is a blessing or they don't give in order to be blessed. 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:24.440 They see giving as a blessing in and of itself. 00:30:25.320 --> 00:30:27.360 They just they see a need and they want to help out. 00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:30.740 God's blessed them in certain ways and they provide it for other people. 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:36.130 They contribute in generosity by the way, just throwing this out there. 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:40.580 Our church, we're looking to build a future building, right? 00:30:40.580 --> 00:30:47.720 I had a meeting with Lehigh City again this week over over a piece of property we're looking at and trying to figure out what the cost and 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.140 all that. 00:30:48.580 --> 00:30:53.280 I just want you to know as a church that a lot of what we're going to be able to do is going to be based on our history of giving. 00:30:54.540 --> 00:30:59.780 And because we look at being able to afford something and talking to banks and things, they want to know the history of the generosity of our people. 00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:01.600 And so your generosity matters. 00:31:02.780 --> 00:31:09.960 And so when we think about the future of our church as your heart is given, I want to say thank you for a heart of generosity, but also 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:13.740 acknowledge in this passage that the Lord uses that to make a difference in this world. 00:31:13.820 --> 00:31:18.240 We would not even be able to dream about a future possibility if it weren't for the generosity of God's saints. 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:25.640 The one who leads with zeal that God puts leaders out there to guide people. 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:27.440 Leadership is about influence. 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:30.980 And so if you want to, we're all influencing some way. 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:38.000 But if you want to be a godly leader submitted to the Lord and do it with zeal and then acts of mercy, you look for those that are down and out and you just want to you 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.600 want to help them up. 00:31:41.060 --> 00:31:42.160 God has gifted us all. 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:46.940 Uniquely God has gifted us all differently. 00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:48.980 Sometimes. 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:52.260 If we're not careful, though, we'll see our gift as the most important gift. 00:31:53.080 --> 00:31:58.720 Sometimes we even get critical of the church if we don't see them doing what we think is important. 00:31:58.740 --> 00:32:00.340 Because God has burdened your heart for that. 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:03.000 Our church doesn't do this enough, right? 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:11.460 But let me just encourage you, if you see a need within the body of Christ and you think, man, the church is not doing this enough, perhaps it's not 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:14.920 the fault of the church, but rather maybe God is provoking you to do more. 00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:16.940 Maybe it's a burden. 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:20.850 God's laying on your heart to help lead and guide and help make a difference. 00:32:24.320 --> 00:32:25.120 What is reasonable? 00:32:25.420 --> 00:32:28.200 What is the reasonable call that God has on our life? 00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:28.820 Number one. 00:32:31.080 --> 00:32:33.960 That we would submit all of ourselves to him. 00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:36.440 And number two in that submission. 00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:39.250 We would bless others. 00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:43.570 When I consider this passage practically. 00:32:45.320 --> 00:32:45.880 It can get messy. 00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:48.580 And it can be hard. 00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:51.460 Because their sacrifice. 00:32:53.620 --> 00:32:58.540 There's a laying of yourself down in the world wants you to get your eyes on them. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:00.640 And fear them. 00:33:01.540 --> 00:33:04.620 So that it can conform you. 00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:11.500 But the motivation of our lives should be driven by the greatness of God. 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:14.500 And the grace that we receive in him. 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.020 You can't. 00:33:17.260 --> 00:33:17.840 Please. 00:33:17.840 --> 00:33:19.060 Two masters. 00:33:21.340 --> 00:33:24.360 So what is your life going to be lived for? 00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:27.600 In the 16th century. 00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:32.740 People in the Netherlands face extreme persecution. 00:33:34.580 --> 00:33:36.220 Because of their pursuit for Christ. 00:33:37.780 --> 00:33:42.640 1580 Protestant leader by the name of a man by the name of Claes. 00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:45.380 Was captured. 00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:45.920 Tried. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:52.900 Found guilty, condemned as a heretic, and burned at the stake because of his faith in Jesus. 00:33:53.000 --> 00:34:00.200 In fact, if you Google it, there's lots of graphic pictures that were drawn of the persecution that happened to God's people during 00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:00.520 this time. 00:34:02.760 --> 00:34:07.440 When Klaus was burned at the stake, his wife, now a widow, became concerned. 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:13.870 She was concerned for her son and how he would respond to this. 00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:16.280 He she was worried that. 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:20.880 Rather than live for Christ, he might run away from the Lord. 00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:25.659 And so after her husband was burned, she grabbed her son by the hand. 00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:29.380 And she walked up to the hill following the back streets. 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:38.179 And she got to the place where her husband was burned and she grabbed a handful of ashes and she put it in a satchel and she tied a string around 00:34:38.179 --> 00:34:40.960 it and she hung it on her son's neck. 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:43.460 And she pushed the satchel against his chest. 00:34:43.520 --> 00:34:44.320 And she said, this son. 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:53.500 I placed these ashes on your heart and on the heart of every son of these Netherlands in all of eternity. 00:34:54.760 --> 00:34:59.280 Whenever and wherever in this world there is an injustice or wrong committed. 00:34:59.660 --> 00:35:06.800 These ashes will beat on your heart and you will speak out without fear, even at the fear of 00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:06.900 death. 00:35:10.580 --> 00:35:14.920 Because when you think about the cost that the Lord is calling you to this morning. 00:35:17.140 --> 00:35:24.360 I don't have ashes to place on your heart today to say remind yourself of this and the goodness of God and let 00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:26.200 your life be lived for his glory. 00:35:26.560 --> 00:35:34.000 But what we do have in this passage is just before Romans Chapter 12 begins, Paul ends Romans Chapter 11 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:38.660 with this beautiful description, this doxology of the beauty of who God is. 00:35:38.700 --> 00:35:44.480 And he says in verse 33, Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God. 00:35:44.720 --> 00:35:48.360 How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways? 00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:55.600 For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor, who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid. 00:35:56.320 --> 00:36:03.340 For from him and through him and to him are all things to him be glory forever and 00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:03.720 ever. 00:36:04.200 --> 00:36:04.500 Amen. 00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:07.780 Do you believe God is in control? 00:36:11.520 --> 00:36:16.140 It's important to consider the magnitude of who he is. 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:21.240 Because in Christ we may go through hard things, but we are we are not defined as victims. 00:36:23.200 --> 00:36:23.930 We are victors. 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:31.620 And so rather than throw pity parties and struggles, we get to throw praise parties because of what God has done. 00:36:32.740 --> 00:36:39.580 And it's the privilege of his people to walk in the joy of knowing him, to live for the glory of God in this world. 00:36:39.640 --> 00:36:42.240 Because what we do matters beyond today. 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:44.580 It matters for all of eternity.