WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: The Spirit And The People of God – Part 3 Publishing Date: 2024-03-29T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/the-spirit-and-the-people-of-god-part-3/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.000 Okay. 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:07.800 Guys, so we continue with the topic we were dealing with, the Spirit and the people of 00:00:07.800 --> 00:00:08.800 God. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:10.080 This is the third part. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:17.080 And so today, based on the fact that it is Good Friday, what do you say? 00:00:17.080 --> 00:00:19.280 Do you say Good Friday to you? 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:20.280 No. 00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:23.320 We were debating that on the way in. 00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:25.800 Is it Blessed Friday to you or Good Friday to you? 00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:32.280 So given that it was Good Friday, I want to chip away. 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:41.280 I want to chip away at something that the cross brings a sledgehammer to. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:46.280 At something that the cross brings a sledgehammer to. 00:00:46.760 --> 00:00:57.760 And what does the cross bring a sledgehammer to? 00:00:57.760 --> 00:01:00.760 The cross brings a sledgehammer to self-preservation. 00:01:00.760 --> 00:01:05.760 So let's try and chip away at it. 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:10.760 Because I know we are supposed to use the same thing that happened on the cross in our 00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:11.760 lives. 00:01:12.240 --> 00:01:17.240 It's so ingrained that it's sometimes hard to destroy in one shot, but at least we can 00:01:17.240 --> 00:01:20.240 begin the process if we haven't already started. 00:01:20.240 --> 00:01:24.240 So I want to chip away at something that the cross brings a sledgehammer to. 00:01:24.240 --> 00:01:29.240 The cross does bring a sledgehammer to self-preservation. 00:01:29.240 --> 00:01:40.240 Because Eugene Peterson used to say that most of us as humans and as believers have an exoskeleton. 00:01:40.720 --> 00:01:45.720 That exoskeleton is an outer covering of protection of self-preservation. 00:01:45.720 --> 00:01:53.720 And because we have that exoskeleton, the endoskeleton of Christ does not grow. 00:01:53.720 --> 00:01:54.720 That's how he put it. 00:01:54.720 --> 00:02:00.640 He said, whenever we have an exoskeleton, as in a shell that covers us from the outside, 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:03.480 it prevents any internal growth. 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:08.120 That's why mollusks and clams, they always remain the same. 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:10.920 You can take them when they are small, you can eat them at dinner. 00:02:10.920 --> 00:02:15.120 They always have that bulbous little mass that you see inside the shell. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:18.600 Nothing grows inside because the outside is covered. 00:02:18.600 --> 00:02:23.720 And he said once the exoskeleton is removed, then the endoskeleton begins to grow. 00:02:23.720 --> 00:02:27.800 That's why humans don't have an outer covering. 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:29.840 That's why they are so fragile when they are born. 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:33.940 But the intent is can things begin to grow inside? 00:02:33.940 --> 00:02:40.940 And so one of the exoskeletons that we have, or one or two of them, is protection and self-preservation. 00:02:40.940 --> 00:03:01.940 Until I abandon the exoskeleton or the outer covering of protection and self-preservation 00:03:01.940 --> 00:03:15.940 and trust the one who counts all my bones and knows how to preserve them, and knows 00:03:15.940 --> 00:03:29.560 how to preserve them, the endoskeleton of Christ cannot be formed in me, cannot be fully 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:32.060 formed in me. 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:33.060 Cannot. 00:03:33.060 --> 00:03:36.660 And that's one of God's desires, right? 00:03:36.660 --> 00:03:41.740 That Christ be fully formed in you. 00:03:41.740 --> 00:03:46.060 It's odd, eh, but it was prophesied that not one of his bones will be broken. 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:48.100 And it was true of Christ. 00:03:48.100 --> 00:03:49.340 Not one of his bones was broken. 00:03:49.340 --> 00:03:50.340 They beat him. 00:03:50.340 --> 00:03:52.100 They beat him badly. 00:03:52.100 --> 00:03:54.060 But none of his bones were broken. 00:03:54.060 --> 00:03:59.140 And when it came time for the soldiers to be sent to break the legs of those that hung 00:03:59.140 --> 00:04:03.320 on the cross, they broke the legs of the guys to the right and to the left of him. 00:04:03.320 --> 00:04:07.320 But by the time they got to Christ, he was already dead. 00:04:07.320 --> 00:04:09.200 And so they did not break his legs. 00:04:09.200 --> 00:04:13.640 None of his bones were broken. 00:04:13.640 --> 00:04:19.320 And so, until I abandon the exoskeleton of protection and self-preservation and trust 00:04:19.320 --> 00:04:25.360 the one who counts all my bones and knows how to preserve them, as in, until I trust 00:04:25.440 --> 00:04:32.440 him with protection and preservation, the endoskeleton of Christ cannot be fully formed. 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:40.120 And so, if you were to define self-preservation, let's just call it SP for now, self-preservation 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:44.680 is about doing what we can to be sure we remain safe. 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:51.680 Doing what we can to be sure we remain safe. 00:04:55.440 --> 00:04:59.660 Safe, or in other words, secure. 00:04:59.660 --> 00:05:05.220 Now, it's not to say that one should not be safe or one should not be secure. 00:05:05.220 --> 00:05:09.800 What happens is it becomes a primary value in our lives. 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:15.820 So God is not saying abandon safety, abandon security, be insecure, be unsafe. 00:05:15.820 --> 00:05:19.060 That's not how he wants us to live. 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:20.200 That's why he gives us parents. 00:05:20.200 --> 00:05:21.900 That's why he gives us protection. 00:05:21.900 --> 00:05:25.240 That's why he gives us the law. 00:05:25.240 --> 00:05:31.000 But the intent is, what happens to us as humans is this becomes primary. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:33.600 This becomes really important. 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:38.800 And that he does not want, because it prevents him from being fully formed and it prevents 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:44.080 him from advancing the kingdom through us, because everything in the kingdom is unpredictable 00:05:44.080 --> 00:05:48.400 and quite insecure and unsafe. 00:05:48.400 --> 00:05:55.400 So self-preservation is doing what we can to be sure we remain safe and secure. 00:05:56.480 --> 00:06:02.080 And so when we operate in self-preservation mode, when we are operating in self-preservation 00:06:02.080 --> 00:06:09.080 mode, we are playing it, on one hand we are playing it safe, we are playing it safe. 00:06:09.760 --> 00:06:16.760 And on the other hand, we show where our treasure is. 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:27.840 Self-preservation just means that my treasure is myself. 00:06:27.840 --> 00:06:29.840 I'm the treasure. 00:06:29.840 --> 00:06:33.280 Where my treasure is there, my heart will be also. 00:06:33.280 --> 00:06:38.420 And I mean, one of the places where you see this is in Matthew 25, where there was a servant 00:06:38.420 --> 00:06:41.380 who received one talent, and what did he do? 00:06:41.380 --> 00:06:47.380 He went into self-preservation mode, where his thing was, can I secure what I have and 00:06:47.380 --> 00:06:48.660 make sure I don't lose it? 00:06:48.660 --> 00:06:51.380 And that's usually how most of us live. 00:06:51.380 --> 00:06:54.220 Can I secure what I have so that I don't lose it? 00:06:54.220 --> 00:06:59.540 I'll trade it once I'm guaranteed that if I trade, I'll get more. 00:06:59.540 --> 00:07:02.260 But I will not trade it. 00:07:02.260 --> 00:07:09.260 I'll keep it safe and secure if I'm not guaranteed an outcome. 00:07:11.300 --> 00:07:18.300 So self-preservation mode is when, one, I play it safe, two, I become the treasure, 00:07:18.820 --> 00:07:24.300 and therefore my heart is towards keeping the treasure intact. 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:30.740 Any questions on that before we go on? 00:07:30.740 --> 00:07:37.740 So usually, if you were to draw concentric circles and decide what's at the center, what's 00:07:38.700 --> 00:07:45.700 next, what's next, what's next, I'd be hard-pressed to say that God is at the center of my life. 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:50.060 I'd say, I'm usually at the center of my life. 00:07:50.060 --> 00:07:55.060 And then God comes second, coffee, and then the Canucks. 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:57.540 Or something like that. 00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:03.340 But it's not usually me at the center. 00:08:03.340 --> 00:08:05.140 It's not usually God at the center. 00:08:05.140 --> 00:08:11.180 God and I have to sometimes tussle for the center because the moment self-preservation 00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:18.180 kicks in, it's hard to preserve myself and God together at the center. 00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:24.540 Because he doesn't share space like that. 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:26.260 Any questions? 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:30.420 So it's a struggle that must be overcome. 00:08:30.420 --> 00:08:31.740 We wrestle through it. 00:08:31.740 --> 00:08:37.740 And when we find God displaced from the center by us, when the idol at the center is you, 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:44.740 we have to displace it and might have to do it multiple times, but so what? 00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:46.100 Eventually he wins. 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:47.100 That's your desire. 00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:50.580 The strange thing is we all desire that God be at the center. 00:08:50.580 --> 00:08:51.580 So that's established. 00:08:51.900 --> 00:08:54.220 That's a huge start, eh? 00:08:54.220 --> 00:08:56.300 Because the world cannot even desire that. 00:08:56.300 --> 00:08:59.780 The world can't even desire it. 00:08:59.780 --> 00:09:06.780 We can have that passionate desire which then allows us to do what is required. 00:09:07.900 --> 00:09:14.900 On the cross, you see someone, and this is why the cross takes a sledgehammer to self-preservation, 00:09:15.980 --> 00:09:20.180 because everything about the cross is opposed to self-preservation. 00:09:20.180 --> 00:09:21.140 Everything about the cross. 00:09:21.700 --> 00:09:26.420 There's nothing that happens that day on the cross that has anything to do with preserving 00:09:26.420 --> 00:09:27.420 self. 00:09:27.420 --> 00:09:32.420 And so it goes against the grain of Christianity to preserve self. 00:09:34.420 --> 00:09:40.700 Which is, at every time someone decides not to preserve self, they become potent for the 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:43.420 kingdom. 00:09:43.420 --> 00:09:48.420 The prosperity gospel, in a sense, is preserving of self. 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:54.700 And once you preserve self, you can decide what you do with your stability, security, 00:09:54.700 --> 00:09:55.700 and your gain. 00:09:59.700 --> 00:10:04.700 And so, on the cross, you see someone not seeking their own gain. 00:10:04.700 --> 00:10:05.700 You see someone. 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:11.700 So the cross is diametrically opposed to self-preservation. 00:10:11.700 --> 00:10:14.700 And you see someone not seeking their gain. 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:22.480 You see someone who instead seeks the well-being of others. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:33.340 So the absence of self-preservation must result in the benefit of others. 00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:37.820 The absence of self-preservation must result in the benefit of others. 00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:43.300 Indifference is not the remedy to a lack of self-preservation. 00:10:43.300 --> 00:10:44.900 Someone can say, I don't care. 00:10:44.900 --> 00:10:47.100 It doesn't matter how I live. 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:49.740 That's indifference. 00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:54.500 The thing with self-preservation is, once the cross attacks it, it goes the same route 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:55.740 that Jesus took. 00:10:55.740 --> 00:10:58.220 On one hand, he doesn't seek his gain. 00:10:58.220 --> 00:11:01.300 On the other hand, he seeks the well-being of others. 00:11:01.300 --> 00:11:12.300 When you read Philippians 2, 6-9, Philippians 2, 6-9, that's the anti-self-preservation 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:13.420 scripture. 00:11:13.420 --> 00:11:20.420 Philippians 2, 6-9. 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:28.100 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:30.140 Instead he gave up his divine privileges. 00:11:30.140 --> 00:11:33.940 In giving up his divine privileges, he gives up heaven, he gives up glory, he gives up 00:11:33.940 --> 00:11:39.620 stability, he gives up security, he gives up being God. 00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:43.860 Instead he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:46.100 was born as a human being. 00:11:46.100 --> 00:11:50.860 When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's 00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:52.180 death on a cross. 00:11:52.180 --> 00:11:56.060 Therefore God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above 00:11:56.060 --> 00:11:57.340 all other names. 00:11:57.380 --> 00:12:08.380 So Philippians 2, 6-9 is about the end of self-preservation. 00:12:13.660 --> 00:12:20.660 My hope is that at the end of this teaching, that we will feel this nudge to it in different 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:26.460 areas of our life and self-preservation. 00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:31.860 It looks different for each of us, but there are things that we hold on to that we can't 00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:35.820 let go because in it is our security, in it is our stability, and it's different for different 00:12:35.820 --> 00:12:42.820 people at different levels and in different things too. 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:51.540 The father and son underwent excruciating suffering. 00:12:51.540 --> 00:12:56.060 We sometimes think the suffering was only that of the son, but the father and son went 00:12:56.060 --> 00:13:02.340 through excruciating suffering and they went through our rejection of them in order to 00:13:02.340 --> 00:13:04.340 save us. 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:07.580 So in giving up his son, the father is giving himself to us. 00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:10.300 In giving up his son, it's the only way. 00:13:10.300 --> 00:13:15.860 The only way that the father could give himself to me is by giving up his son. 00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:17.700 There's no other way. 00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:19.740 A holy God, that's the problem. 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:25.300 If this God was not holy, everything could be settled so easily. 00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:29.900 That's why most other gods and most other religions can do whatever they want and then 00:13:29.900 --> 00:13:36.900 give blessings or take away blessings because none of them ever, ever, you don't hear this, 00:13:36.900 --> 00:13:37.900 see? 00:13:37.900 --> 00:13:39.380 You don't hear this from any other religion. 00:13:39.380 --> 00:13:45.640 No other religion, no other God in any other religion says, I am holy. 00:13:45.640 --> 00:13:47.780 No one says that. 00:13:47.780 --> 00:13:51.100 It's crazy. 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:56.140 Not only does our God say, I am who I am, he then goes on to say, I am holy and that 00:13:56.140 --> 00:13:58.180 becomes a problem. 00:13:58.180 --> 00:14:04.420 So without a father giving us his son, he cannot give himself to us. 00:14:04.420 --> 00:14:09.780 And therefore he goes through excruciating suffering to give his son so that he can give 00:14:09.780 --> 00:14:11.900 himself to me. 00:14:11.900 --> 00:14:28.820 And so in a sense, not in a sense, in an absolute sense, God turns his back on his self-preservation. 00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:36.500 God turns his back on his self-preservation to love us. 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:47.420 Why is it then that we think that as believers, we can do, become, identify with him without 00:14:47.420 --> 00:14:53.100 chipping away at the self-preservation that is so a mark of our culture? 00:14:53.100 --> 00:15:02.860 Guys, we like finding our identity in Christ. 00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:04.540 Everyone loves that. 00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:13.380 But we're not too keen on identifying with Christ. 00:15:13.380 --> 00:15:15.260 That's a whole different ballgame. 00:15:15.260 --> 00:15:17.100 Finding one's identity in Christ is great. 00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:18.900 I want to find my identity in Christ. 00:15:18.900 --> 00:15:19.900 That's great. 00:15:19.900 --> 00:15:23.660 But identifying with Christ? 00:15:23.780 --> 00:15:34.540 Strangely enough, it's in identifying with Christ that I find my identity in Christ. 00:15:34.540 --> 00:15:44.380 So while self-preservation is human nature, God calls me to lose my life for his agenda 00:15:44.380 --> 00:15:45.380 and interests. 00:15:45.380 --> 00:15:47.420 He's very direct. 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:53.820 He expects us to gradually climb that curve, but he gives us the horizon right off the 00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:54.820 bat. 00:15:54.820 --> 00:16:03.380 And so his thing is, yes, I understand that self-preservation is your human, is your fallen 00:16:03.380 --> 00:16:05.340 human nature. 00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:07.820 Yes, I understand that. 00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:08.940 But here's what I'm calling you to. 00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:14.500 I'm calling you to lose your life. 00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:28.780 I'm calling you to lose your life for my agenda and my interests. 00:16:28.780 --> 00:16:37.460 To lose your security, to lose your safety for my agenda and my interests. 00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:41.460 Any questions? 00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:43.860 I love that he's an extreme God. 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:46.660 This is demand. 00:16:46.660 --> 00:16:53.460 But anything he asks of us is already something that the Godhead has done. 00:16:53.460 --> 00:17:01.660 The Godhead will never ask anything of us that they haven't already done. 00:17:01.660 --> 00:17:06.940 So Aaron, lose your life for his agenda and interests. 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:11.420 Tomo, lose your life for his agenda and interests. 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:15.380 Zeru, lose your life for his agenda and interests. 00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:22.460 Pradesh, lose your life for his agenda and interests. 00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:30.860 That's the end of self-preservation. 00:17:31.300 --> 00:17:38.300 Self-preservation disguises itself as individuality. 00:17:42.300 --> 00:17:45.580 I'm just a different individual. 00:17:45.580 --> 00:17:47.180 My individuality is important. 00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:48.900 These are the things that the world feeds on. 00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:51.780 The world just builds up. 00:17:51.780 --> 00:17:56.180 Everything that the world presently builds up is exactly diametrically opposite to what 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:59.540 the cross portrays. 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:02.420 So we give high value to individuality. 00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:08.220 But at the end of the day, the characteristics of individuality are again, self-preservation, 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:17.220 independence, assertiveness. 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:21.020 The very things that the world wants us to increase in. 00:18:21.020 --> 00:18:28.020 And these three things actually hinder my spiritual life. 00:18:30.020 --> 00:18:35.020 They hinder my spiritual life. 00:18:35.020 --> 00:18:40.020 And worse, it stifles my God-given personality. 00:18:40.020 --> 00:18:42.540 Stifles my God-given personality. 00:18:42.540 --> 00:18:48.140 There's a personality that you and I have that has been shaped by the world. 00:18:48.140 --> 00:18:51.540 And that can be pretty messed up. 00:18:51.540 --> 00:18:57.180 But then there is a personality that has been given us by God, shaped by him, that every 00:18:57.220 --> 00:19:00.220 so often believers display. 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:04.060 Where you can say that person has such a sweet spirit, or that person is so kind, or that 00:19:04.060 --> 00:19:09.500 person has such generosity, or that person has, you see different aspects of people. 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:12.020 And you can look around this room and you can pick. 00:19:12.020 --> 00:19:16.580 And you'll find it in everybody, whether you know them a lot or know them a little, you'll 00:19:16.580 --> 00:19:23.540 find that there are certain aspects of God that have been woven into your personality. 00:19:23.540 --> 00:19:26.620 Even without knowing each other much, you can identify it. 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:31.020 Now that gets stifled when these three things are in operation. 00:19:31.020 --> 00:19:35.220 Independence, assertiveness, self-preservation. 00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:41.740 Those are like straight jackets that prevent God-given personality from even expressing 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.620 itself. 00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:46.700 What do we tell our children when they start getting too generous and give all their toys 00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:53.700 away? 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:57.580 Why is it that we take away all the new toys that they get for Christmas and for birthday 00:19:57.580 --> 00:20:01.620 and keep them on top of a cupboard that they can't reach till three years from now when 00:20:01.620 --> 00:20:08.620 Elmo is no longer popular? 00:20:15.060 --> 00:20:22.060 Instead of preserving the things of life, instead of preserving, instead of preserving 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:29.620 the things of life, instead of preserving things of life, sometimes when we say self-preservation 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:33.100 of life, we have to think of things of life. 00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:40.100 Instead of preserving the things of life, can I seek, can I seek to preserve and further 00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:49.900 God's glory and kingdom? 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:59.180 God's glory and kingdom while trusting God to preserve my life. 00:21:06.340 --> 00:21:09.540 This is the story of most of the heroes of the Bible. 00:21:09.540 --> 00:21:16.540 And we must understand that you cannot preserve the things of life and preserve God's glory 00:21:16.540 --> 00:21:17.460 and kingdom. 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:19.300 They cannot be done together. 00:21:19.300 --> 00:21:20.740 You have to choose. 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:22.340 You always have to choose. 00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:23.340 We choose. 00:21:23.340 --> 00:21:25.460 I'm not saying we are not down this path. 00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:30.880 I'm just saying sledgehammer blows are not part of our equation. 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.880 We tip away at it. 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:35.180 And you're right, I started off saying let's tip away at it some more. 00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:39.020 But the cross delivers sledgehammer blows to this. 00:21:39.020 --> 00:21:41.020 And so it's not like we are not down this path. 00:21:41.020 --> 00:21:44.820 All of us are down this path. 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:49.900 But I'm saying it's just not enough to tip away at it slowly. 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:56.900 So, instead of preserving the things of life, and everyone here preserves something or the 00:21:57.260 --> 00:21:58.420 other, right? 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.660 We're preserving. 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:04.220 Instead of preserving things of life, can I seek to preserve and further God's glory 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.220 and kingdom? 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.320 And both are incompatible. 00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:08.620 You cannot hold one and do the other. 00:22:08.620 --> 00:22:10.820 You have to let go of one to have the other. 00:22:10.820 --> 00:22:14.740 And if you do, can you also trust God to preserve your life? 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:18.940 This is basically what Jesus says when he says, those that hold on to things will lose 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:19.940 them. 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:25.340 Those that will sacrifice them will gain them. 00:22:25.340 --> 00:22:29.940 We just take it as, ah, give my life away and he'll give me eternal life. 00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:32.740 And if I don't give my life away, I'll lose it anyways. 00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:34.960 He wasn't talking about salvation. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:37.140 He was talking about all of life. 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:40.900 And there are, I mean, may the Spirit of God just begin to touch different things in your 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:46.700 life that are so strong that to give it away, not to give it away, to release it would be 00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:49.820 so difficult. 00:22:49.820 --> 00:22:50.820 Sometimes it's not money. 00:22:50.820 --> 00:22:53.500 Do not focus only on money. 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:56.420 There are other things too. 00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:58.620 We may touch on some of them. 00:22:58.620 --> 00:23:02.460 But the cross is supposed to bring a sledgehammer blow to these things because everything about 00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:07.300 the cross is supposed to self-preservation. 00:23:07.300 --> 00:23:13.220 A willingness to sacrifice, a willingness to sacrifice, actually Jesus sacrificed all, 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:15.740 so the operative word really is all. 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:17.700 That's such a stretch for us, eh? 00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:19.980 A willingness to sacrifice all. 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.980 What does all look like? 00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:23.980 Let's touch on a few things that all looks like. 00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:29.660 Money and life are what we usually think of. 00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:32.240 And life probably won't be demanded of you. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.240 Money maybe. 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:35.100 But there are other things too. 00:23:35.100 --> 00:23:37.860 Your rights. 00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:41.020 Loyalty to different things. 00:23:41.020 --> 00:23:47.100 Tradition, culture, family, friends. 00:23:47.100 --> 00:23:52.420 Loyalty. 00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:57.500 Directions that you have received from people before or even directions that you received 00:23:57.500 --> 00:24:00.660 from God maybe a year ago that we are holding on to. 00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:03.820 Nothing wrong with it, but what if God is changing something? 00:24:04.540 --> 00:24:05.540 Principles. 00:24:09.540 --> 00:24:10.540 Reason. 00:24:12.540 --> 00:24:13.540 Conscience. 00:24:16.540 --> 00:24:17.540 Freedom. 00:24:22.540 --> 00:24:33.740 Whenever these things which are good things compete with obedience or soul allegiance 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:38.660 to Christ, they actually become monsters. 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:42.060 This is what happened to the Jews. 00:24:42.060 --> 00:24:46.860 The Torah, which is meant to be something that showed them God became a monster and 00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:51.660 began to literally have them crucify the one who wrote the commandments. 00:24:51.660 --> 00:25:06.420 Here's a terrible truth. 00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:35.180 I cannot follow Christ freely if my heart is set on myself, my family, money, work. 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:45.180 Possessions. 00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:47.180 These won't allow me to. 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:52.260 I have to choose. 00:25:52.260 --> 00:25:53.820 I cannot follow Christ freely. 00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:56.700 I can follow Christ, but not freely. 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:59.180 I cannot follow Christ freely. 00:25:59.180 --> 00:26:00.340 I can follow Christ. 00:26:00.340 --> 00:26:05.740 It's not that we can't follow Christ with all these things because 95, 98 percent of 00:26:06.060 --> 00:26:09.540 Christians follow Christ with these things. 00:26:09.540 --> 00:26:14.460 God is looking for that 2 percent because then he has them at his disposal to do as 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.460 he wills. 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:24.140 But you cannot follow Christ freely if my heart is set on myself, my family, money, 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:25.780 work or possessions. 00:26:25.780 --> 00:26:30.100 Those things won't allow me to. 00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:32.300 It doesn't mean I have to let them go. 00:26:32.300 --> 00:26:34.780 It just means the priority should be super clear. 00:26:34.820 --> 00:26:36.820 There should never be a struggle. 00:26:36.820 --> 00:26:39.820 There shouldn't be a struggle. 00:26:39.820 --> 00:26:44.820 And there are enough scriptures to show this. 00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:46.820 There's Matthew 14, 26. 00:26:46.820 --> 00:26:48.820 There's Luke 9, 52 to 59. 00:26:48.820 --> 00:26:52.820 There's Mark 10, verse 28 to 30. 00:26:52.820 --> 00:26:53.820 Write them down. 00:26:53.820 --> 00:26:54.820 You can check them later. 00:26:54.820 --> 00:26:55.820 Matthew 14, 26. 00:26:55.820 --> 00:26:57.820 Luke 9, 52 to 58. 00:26:57.820 --> 00:26:59.820 Mark 10, 28 to 30. 00:26:59.820 --> 00:27:03.820 The disciples come to him and he says this again and again and again in different 00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:06.860 gospels saying, it's not possible. 00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:09.860 He actually uses harsher words than I'm using. 00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:12.860 He says, you're not even worthy to be my disciples. 00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:14.860 Those are the words he uses. 00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:18.860 I'm softening it because to say that sounds a little too harsh. 00:27:22.860 --> 00:27:24.860 What is he trying to do here? 00:27:24.860 --> 00:27:28.860 He's trying to bring an end to self-preservation because in bringing an end to 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:32.860 self-preservation, he suddenly has the right to ask you the question, 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:34.900 do you love me more than these? 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:37.900 And if you do, well then, feed my sheep. 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:43.900 That's what he's bringing Peter to a week from now, 00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:45.900 or three days from now. 00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:48.900 He asks Peter the same thing. 00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:55.900 Because this is the case, work together on it. 00:27:55.900 --> 00:28:00.900 We have to work on it together as a family, 00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:02.940 as couples, 00:28:03.940 --> 00:28:05.940 as a family, 00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:08.940 as a church. 00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:12.940 Because if you can work on it together, then everybody gets to start the journey 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.940 together. 00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:17.940 Otherwise you have one who begins to get it and runs while the other one is left 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:19.940 behind and then that brings in conflict. 00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:22.940 But what if you can work this together as a couple? 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:23.940 It may not happen in a day. 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:27.940 It may take three years, but in three years, imagine the freedom you arrive at 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:29.980 and imagine the freedom God has. 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:42.980 When you want to get married to someone, don't look at whether they can fit into 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:45.980 Acts 29 or whether they know as much as you know. 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:50.980 It is whether they are willing to put an end to self-preservation. 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:55.980 You find someone like that, lock them up in a room and get married. 00:28:56.020 --> 00:28:58.020 Lock them up in a room and get married. 00:28:59.020 --> 00:29:02.020 Yeah, just call me, I'll quickly... 00:29:06.020 --> 00:29:09.020 I'll get calls tomorrow, Jacob, I've got someone locked up. 00:29:12.020 --> 00:29:14.020 I'll say, I'll get there before 9-1-1 does. 00:29:18.020 --> 00:29:22.020 I don't know who said these lines, but they're brilliant lines. 00:29:22.020 --> 00:29:25.020 Self-preservation is the greatest enemy of boldness. 00:29:25.060 --> 00:29:36.060 Self-preservation is the greatest enemy of boldness. 00:29:40.060 --> 00:29:43.060 The reason we are not bold, the reason we don't say anything 00:29:43.060 --> 00:29:45.060 is usually because of self-preservation. 00:29:46.060 --> 00:29:48.060 The strange thing is whenever you preserve yourself, 00:29:48.060 --> 00:29:54.060 you come up with decent reasons and excuses to have taken that stance. 00:29:55.060 --> 00:29:59.060 We always come up with good reasons for, and that was the wise thing to do. 00:30:00.060 --> 00:30:02.060 Self-preservation is the greatest enemy of boldness. 00:30:03.060 --> 00:30:08.060 It means then that absolute obedience, 00:30:10.060 --> 00:30:14.060 absolute obedience to self-preservation, 00:30:14.060 --> 00:30:18.060 absolute obedience to your instinct of self-preservation 00:30:18.060 --> 00:30:21.060 is actually cowardice. 00:30:25.060 --> 00:30:28.060 Absolute obedience to your instinct of self-preservation 00:30:28.060 --> 00:30:31.060 is actually cowardice, being a coward. 00:30:32.060 --> 00:30:36.060 So on one hand, self-preservation opposes boldness. 00:30:36.060 --> 00:30:40.060 On the other hand, because we so capitulate to self-preservation, 00:30:40.060 --> 00:30:42.060 we are actually cowards. 00:30:44.060 --> 00:30:47.060 Very hard to work with cowards, right, for God? 00:30:50.060 --> 00:30:53.060 Which is why then he would have to go and say to Joshua, to Gideon, 00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:57.100 be of good courage, be strong, do not be afraid. 00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:10.100 Self-preservation takes the route of waiting, not acting. 00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:16.100 So many times we do this, I do this, 00:31:16.100 --> 00:31:20.100 where I'm so sure it's God who's speaking, 00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:22.140 but I'm so scared because if I take that step, 00:31:22.140 --> 00:31:24.140 I'm going to lose something that's important to me, 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:26.140 or I have to give away something that's important to me. 00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:28.140 And so I wait, I do not act. 00:31:28.140 --> 00:31:32.140 I'm hoping that by waiting I can avert the risk. 00:31:37.140 --> 00:31:40.140 The greater the cause, the greater the risk, guys. 00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:43.140 The greater the cause, the greater the risk. 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:47.140 And the greater the risk, 00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:49.140 the greater the urge of self-preservation. 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:54.140 The greater the cause, the greater the risk, 00:31:54.140 --> 00:31:59.140 the greater the urge of self-preservation. 00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:07.140 We take the route of waiting instead of acting. 00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:12.140 That's what was happening in the garden 00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:14.140 when Tune was singing that song, 00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:17.140 Do Not Forget Get Seemly, that's what was happening. 00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:18.180 That's what was happening. 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:22.180 I mean, Peter had sworn he would die with Jesus, 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:24.180 but at that particular moment, 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:30.180 his feet were fleeing, his heart was failing, 00:32:30.180 --> 00:32:34.180 and he had a distrust of God to preserve him. 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:38.180 Given the weight and the horror of the circumstances, 00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:40.180 the disciples fled. 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:46.180 Here are some other nasty things about self-preservation. 00:32:46.220 --> 00:32:55.220 It seeks to predict, this is so important, 00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:58.220 it seeks to predict the safest, 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:11.220 most favorable, most in control outcome. 00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:17.220 Self-preservation, 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:22.220 it seeks to predict the safest, most favorable, 00:33:22.220 --> 00:33:24.220 most in control outcome, 00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:32.220 the one that keeps us most comfortable. 00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:38.220 The one that keeps us most comfortable. 00:33:38.260 --> 00:33:40.260 The one that keeps us most comfortable. 00:33:42.260 --> 00:33:47.260 And it helps avoid doing right. 00:33:50.260 --> 00:33:53.260 It helps avoid doing right 00:33:53.260 --> 00:33:56.260 if doing right will bring 00:33:59.260 --> 00:34:02.260 pain, loss, 00:34:05.260 --> 00:34:07.260 if it brings pain, loss, or hardship. 00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:10.260 It is in this, in human nature. 00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:14.260 The only way to overcome this is when you love somebody, 00:34:14.260 --> 00:34:16.260 that's when it's overcoming. 00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:18.260 It's always overcome when you love somebody. 00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:21.260 Self-preservation goes out of the window 00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:23.260 when you love somebody. 00:34:23.260 --> 00:34:25.260 When spouses love each other, 00:34:25.260 --> 00:34:27.260 when parents love their children, 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:31.260 when someone loves somebody who they don't know, 00:34:31.260 --> 00:34:33.260 self-preservation goes out of the window. 00:34:33.260 --> 00:34:35.260 This is why self-preservation could not stand a chance 00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:37.260 with Christ, because Christ loved. 00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:39.260 And Christ loves his enemies, 00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:41.260 and therefore self-preservation must go. 00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:46.260 Otherwise, self-preservation will always seek to predict 00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:51.260 the safest, most favorable, most in control option 00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:54.260 that keeps me most comfortable, 00:34:54.260 --> 00:34:57.260 and that way it helps me avoid doing right. 00:34:57.260 --> 00:35:01.260 If that doing right brings me pain or loss or hardship, 00:35:01.260 --> 00:35:04.260 then self-preservation kicks in, unless I love. 00:35:04.260 --> 00:35:06.260 And once I love, it goes out of the window. 00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:10.260 I pray, God, that for some of us, 00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:12.260 this will be so convicting 00:35:12.260 --> 00:35:14.260 by the sheer power of the Spirit of God 00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:16.260 that in some area we will stop. 00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:19.260 We will stop. 00:35:22.260 --> 00:35:24.260 So for some of us, may there be hammer blows. 00:35:24.260 --> 00:35:26.260 For others, may the chipping stop, 00:35:26.260 --> 00:35:28.260 but may no one escape. 00:35:28.260 --> 00:35:31.260 Yeah, I pray, God, that we don't resist the Spirit of God. 00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:37.260 The sin of self-preservation is the sin of self-preservation. 00:35:37.300 --> 00:35:39.300 The sin of self-preservation. 00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:41.300 No, we begin to justify, 00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:46.300 we begin to justify that Jesus would not ask us 00:35:50.300 --> 00:35:54.300 to give a month's salary away 00:35:56.300 --> 00:36:00.300 or would not ask us to lose our job 00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:06.300 or would not ask us to do anything that would risk our lives. 00:36:07.300 --> 00:36:08.300 So, 00:36:15.300 --> 00:36:17.300 when I come up with excuses to preserve myself, 00:36:17.300 --> 00:36:19.300 you spot it so easily. 00:36:20.300 --> 00:36:22.300 The ones that don't spot the excuses 00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:24.300 are the ones that are making them. 00:36:25.300 --> 00:36:27.300 When you ask me something and I come up with an excuse 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:29.300 saying I have this and that, 00:36:29.300 --> 00:36:30.300 you can immediately spot, 00:36:30.300 --> 00:36:32.300 this guy's just trying to preserve us, hide. 00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:36.300 The ones that don't see it are the ones making the excuses. 00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:44.300 I don't think Jesus asks us for things that don't have risk in it. 00:36:45.300 --> 00:36:48.300 Most of the things Jesus asks us carries risk in it. 00:36:49.300 --> 00:36:51.300 Because if there is no risk, there is no need for faith. 00:37:02.300 --> 00:37:05.300 So where is the sin in self-preservation? 00:37:05.340 --> 00:37:08.340 Where is the sin in self-preservation? 00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:11.340 Where is the sin? 00:37:11.340 --> 00:37:15.340 The sin is that I begin to prioritize, 00:37:15.340 --> 00:37:20.340 I begin to prioritize my well-being, 00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:26.340 dignity, 00:37:28.340 --> 00:37:30.340 safety, 00:37:31.340 --> 00:37:33.340 comfort, 00:37:33.380 --> 00:37:35.380 provision, 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:38.380 plan, 00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:41.380 and life 00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.380 over, 00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:46.380 one, the leading of the Spirit, 00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:51.380 two, 00:37:52.380 --> 00:37:54.380 Scriptures, 00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:58.380 three, you. 00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:00.380 Therein lies the sin. 00:38:00.420 --> 00:38:02.420 That's where the sin is. 00:38:04.420 --> 00:38:06.420 The reason self-preservation is an evil sin, 00:38:07.420 --> 00:38:10.420 even when we say sin, it doesn't carry weight. 00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:12.420 The reason self-preservation is evil, 00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:15.420 and it's an evil that I'm doing, 00:38:15.420 --> 00:38:18.420 is because it prioritizes my well-being, 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:20.420 my dignity, my safety, 00:38:20.420 --> 00:38:23.420 my comfort, my provision, my plan, 00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:27.420 and my life first over the leading of the Holy Spirit. 00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:30.460 Therein lies the biggest resistance. 00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:32.460 I'm resisting the Spirit 00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:37.460 because he's asking me to do something that will jeopardize my self. 00:38:37.460 --> 00:38:39.460 Therein lies the first sin. 00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:41.460 This is the order that we should follow. 00:38:41.460 --> 00:38:43.460 Leading of the Spirit, 00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:45.460 Scriptures, where the Scriptures say, 00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:47.460 follow the Holy Spirit, where the Scriptures say, 00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:49.460 you need to do this, where the Scriptures say, 00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:51.460 do not say to him who is cold, 00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:53.460 be warm, I will pray for you. 00:38:53.460 --> 00:38:55.460 It says so in the Book of James. 00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:59.500 And then the third one is prioritizing it over you. 00:38:59.500 --> 00:39:01.500 Because in that one commandment, 00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:03.500 everything is broken, right? 00:39:03.500 --> 00:39:04.500 He said, keep two commandments. 00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:06.500 Love the Lord your God, 00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:09.500 love your neighbor as you love yourself. 00:39:12.500 --> 00:39:13.500 There is the sin. 00:39:13.500 --> 00:39:15.500 Any questions before we go on? 00:39:21.500 --> 00:39:22.500 Yeah, assertiveness is bad 00:39:22.540 --> 00:39:25.540 when assertiveness requires that I trample you down. 00:39:25.540 --> 00:39:27.540 To assert myself, 00:39:27.540 --> 00:39:31.540 if you have to be tread down, 00:39:31.540 --> 00:39:34.540 then assertiveness is bad. 00:39:34.540 --> 00:39:36.540 I'm not saying assertiveness as in 00:39:36.540 --> 00:39:38.540 at times you have to take a stance. 00:39:38.540 --> 00:39:40.540 Not that kind of assertiveness. 00:39:40.540 --> 00:39:42.540 Assertiveness that requires that 00:39:42.540 --> 00:39:46.540 dillna be pushed down so that I can rise. 00:39:46.540 --> 00:39:48.540 That assertiveness is bad 00:39:48.540 --> 00:39:50.540 and that's very common in the world. 00:39:50.580 --> 00:39:52.580 Then let's use the word aggressiveness 00:39:52.580 --> 00:39:54.580 where one tries to 00:39:54.580 --> 00:39:58.580 I have to stand on your back to rise up 00:39:58.580 --> 00:40:01.580 without doing that I won't be able to rise up. 00:40:01.580 --> 00:40:03.580 It's an assertiveness that harms you 00:40:03.580 --> 00:40:05.580 so that I may benefit. 00:40:05.580 --> 00:40:09.580 Yeah, and you can use the word aggressiveness too. 00:40:09.580 --> 00:40:11.580 Any other questions? 00:40:11.620 --> 00:40:14.620 Yeah, so when I prioritize my well-being, 00:40:14.620 --> 00:40:16.620 my dignity, my safety, my comfort, my provision, 00:40:16.620 --> 00:40:19.620 my plan in life over yours, 00:40:19.620 --> 00:40:21.620 then therein I'm sinning. 00:40:21.620 --> 00:40:23.620 The whole Samaritan story, 00:40:23.620 --> 00:40:25.620 the whole love the Lord your God and love your neighbor. 00:40:25.620 --> 00:40:28.620 Everything that is summed up in just those two. 00:40:28.620 --> 00:40:29.620 It says that I'm sinning. 00:40:29.620 --> 00:40:30.620 I'm sinning. 00:40:30.620 --> 00:40:31.620 I'm sinning. 00:40:31.620 --> 00:40:32.620 I'm sinning. 00:40:32.620 --> 00:40:33.620 I'm sinning. 00:40:33.620 --> 00:40:34.620 I'm sinning. 00:40:34.620 --> 00:40:35.620 I'm sinning. 00:40:35.620 --> 00:40:36.620 I'm sinning. 00:40:36.620 --> 00:40:37.620 I'm sinning. 00:40:37.620 --> 00:40:38.620 I'm sinning. 00:40:38.620 --> 00:40:39.620 I'm sinning. 00:40:39.620 --> 00:40:40.620 I'm sinning. 00:40:40.660 --> 00:40:42.660 It says the law and the prophets are fulfilled in those two. 00:40:42.660 --> 00:40:44.660 It says the law and the prophets are fulfilled in that command. 00:40:52.660 --> 00:40:54.660 We did a teaching called, 00:40:54.660 --> 00:40:56.660 and the second is like it, long ago. 00:40:56.660 --> 00:40:59.660 And in that teaching it says that 00:40:59.660 --> 00:41:03.660 God is not saying love Sheldon instead of yourself. 00:41:03.660 --> 00:41:05.660 God is saying love Sheldon as yourself. 00:41:05.660 --> 00:41:08.660 Therefore, as you desire provision for yourself, 00:41:08.700 --> 00:41:10.700 as you desire provision for Sheldon. 00:41:10.700 --> 00:41:13.700 Therefore, as you desire that he be welcome, 00:41:13.700 --> 00:41:16.700 therefore, as you desire that you be welcome in a group of strangers, 00:41:16.700 --> 00:41:18.700 make sure that he is welcome. 00:41:18.700 --> 00:41:21.700 Therefore, as you desire to be warm in winter, 00:41:21.700 --> 00:41:23.700 desire that for him. 00:41:23.700 --> 00:41:26.700 So there is an element to loving yourself, 00:41:26.700 --> 00:41:30.700 but self-preservation completely hollows that out. 00:41:30.700 --> 00:41:32.700 Because self-preservation is, 00:41:32.700 --> 00:41:34.700 once everything is taken care of, 00:41:34.700 --> 00:41:36.700 then I will begin to think of him 00:41:36.740 --> 00:41:38.740 if I have enough. 00:41:40.740 --> 00:41:43.740 And that is where my preservation has entirely become 00:41:43.740 --> 00:41:45.740 my exoskeleton, my protection. 00:41:45.740 --> 00:41:48.740 I'm not trusting my preservation to God 00:41:48.740 --> 00:41:51.740 because I have to first gather into my barn 00:41:51.740 --> 00:41:54.740 so that I have plenty before I can supply him. 00:41:54.740 --> 00:41:56.740 And therein lies the sin. 00:41:56.740 --> 00:41:59.740 This is a radical religion, guys. 00:42:00.740 --> 00:42:02.740 And the radic... 00:42:02.740 --> 00:42:04.740 What is radical about this religion? 00:42:04.780 --> 00:42:08.780 It just refuses you to be the king of your life, 00:42:08.780 --> 00:42:10.780 to be the idol of your life, 00:42:10.780 --> 00:42:12.780 to be the main part of your life. 00:42:12.780 --> 00:42:14.780 It does not allow you that privilege. 00:42:15.780 --> 00:42:17.780 Self is not allowed 00:42:17.780 --> 00:42:20.780 except in its identification with Christ. 00:42:21.780 --> 00:42:24.780 And then your true self is discovered. 00:42:25.780 --> 00:42:27.780 Not in your identity in Christ, 00:42:27.780 --> 00:42:30.780 but in your identifying with Christ. 00:42:34.780 --> 00:42:37.780 By picking on some things that you know 00:42:37.780 --> 00:42:39.780 are so important to you 00:42:39.780 --> 00:42:41.780 that if I took it away from you, 00:42:41.780 --> 00:42:43.780 it would be like... 00:42:43.780 --> 00:42:46.780 it would completely disrupt your life. 00:42:46.780 --> 00:42:49.780 It can be different things for different people. 00:42:49.780 --> 00:42:51.780 For some of us it could be our job, 00:42:51.780 --> 00:42:53.780 for some of us it could be our independence, 00:42:53.780 --> 00:42:55.780 for some of us it could be our money, 00:42:55.780 --> 00:42:57.780 for some of us it could be... 00:42:57.780 --> 00:42:58.780 Cat. 00:42:58.780 --> 00:42:59.780 It could be our cat. 00:42:59.780 --> 00:43:01.780 Praise the Lord for problems I don't have. 00:43:01.820 --> 00:43:03.820 Praise the Lord for problems I don't have. 00:43:04.820 --> 00:43:06.820 So it could be different things. 00:43:06.820 --> 00:43:08.820 It could be different things. 00:43:10.820 --> 00:43:11.820 Yeah. 00:43:11.820 --> 00:43:14.820 And so start with the one thing. 00:43:14.820 --> 00:43:15.820 While I'm doing this, 00:43:15.820 --> 00:43:17.820 I know what the one thing is. 00:43:19.820 --> 00:43:23.820 You'll find self-preservation is a repetitive habit. 00:43:24.820 --> 00:43:27.820 You'll find so many times in life 00:43:27.820 --> 00:43:28.820 you will know what God wants, 00:43:28.820 --> 00:43:30.820 you know what is right through scriptures, 00:43:30.860 --> 00:43:32.860 you know what is right by the Holy Spirit. 00:43:32.860 --> 00:43:35.860 You won't know what is right in terms of the community 00:43:35.860 --> 00:43:38.860 and yet your heart desires to do it 00:43:38.860 --> 00:43:41.860 but then up comes this wall of self-preservation 00:43:41.860 --> 00:43:43.860 and you begin to take a step or two back 00:43:43.860 --> 00:43:45.860 and you say tomorrow. 00:43:47.860 --> 00:43:50.860 One of the ways to identify the things you are preserving 00:43:50.860 --> 00:43:52.860 is by seeing what you delay. 00:43:54.860 --> 00:43:57.860 In your delay of doing something, 00:43:57.900 --> 00:44:01.900 you will begin to spot the things you are taking more time on. 00:44:01.900 --> 00:44:03.900 You don't want to pull the trigger on it. 00:44:03.900 --> 00:44:04.900 You just want to wait another day. 00:44:04.900 --> 00:44:06.900 You want another confirmation. 00:44:06.900 --> 00:44:09.900 Sometimes the reason we ask for confirmations 00:44:09.900 --> 00:44:12.900 is just so that we can secure something from God 00:44:12.900 --> 00:44:14.900 before we give something away 00:44:14.900 --> 00:44:15.900 and God ain't playing that game. 00:44:15.900 --> 00:44:18.900 So often the confirmation doesn't come from God. 00:44:19.900 --> 00:44:22.900 And then you have to go looking at every license plate. 00:44:22.940 --> 00:44:24.940 God won't play that game. 00:44:26.940 --> 00:44:28.940 When I desire confirmation 00:44:28.940 --> 00:44:31.940 because I want to secure something from God 00:44:31.940 --> 00:44:33.940 before I will take a risk, 00:44:33.940 --> 00:44:34.940 God will not give me that, 00:44:34.940 --> 00:44:36.940 especially if you're an older Christian 00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:39.940 as in if you've been around with Christ for a while. 00:44:39.940 --> 00:44:41.940 Definitely ain't happening. 00:44:46.940 --> 00:44:47.940 I speak from experience, 00:44:47.940 --> 00:44:49.940 not from my experience, 00:44:49.980 --> 00:44:51.980 I speak from experience, 00:44:51.980 --> 00:44:53.980 not from five years ago, 00:44:53.980 --> 00:44:55.980 from five days ago. 00:44:58.980 --> 00:45:01.980 This is perhaps the most basic instinct of flesh. 00:45:02.980 --> 00:45:04.980 Most basic instinct of flesh this is. 00:45:07.980 --> 00:45:08.980 Self-preservation. 00:45:08.980 --> 00:45:10.980 See it as absolutely evil. 00:45:10.980 --> 00:45:12.980 Think of what the Sanhedrin, 00:45:12.980 --> 00:45:15.980 the 72 most knowledgeable, 00:45:15.980 --> 00:45:16.980 most well-trained, 00:45:16.980 --> 00:45:18.980 most taught Jews 00:45:19.020 --> 00:45:20.020 of the land. 00:45:20.020 --> 00:45:21.020 Think of what they're saying. 00:45:22.020 --> 00:45:23.020 For the sake of a nation, 00:45:23.020 --> 00:45:24.020 one man should die. 00:45:24.020 --> 00:45:25.020 What are they saying? 00:45:25.020 --> 00:45:28.020 To preserve ourselves 00:45:28.020 --> 00:45:30.020 and our way of functioning 00:45:30.020 --> 00:45:31.020 and our systems 00:45:31.020 --> 00:45:32.020 and our power, 00:45:32.020 --> 00:45:34.020 we must get rid of him. 00:45:35.020 --> 00:45:37.020 It's the most basic of instincts. 00:45:40.020 --> 00:45:42.020 Think of the woman who brings a child 00:45:42.020 --> 00:45:43.020 and says to Solomon, 00:45:43.020 --> 00:45:45.020 go ahead and sever this child in two. 00:45:45.060 --> 00:45:46.060 Basic instinct, eh? 00:45:49.060 --> 00:45:51.060 It's what national geographic 00:45:51.060 --> 00:45:53.060 documentaries are made of. 00:45:53.060 --> 00:45:54.060 Self-preservation. 00:45:56.060 --> 00:45:58.060 It's perhaps the most basic instinct of our flesh 00:45:58.060 --> 00:46:00.060 and the most deadly to our faith. 00:46:00.060 --> 00:46:03.060 Most deadly to our faith. 00:46:03.060 --> 00:46:04.060 Why? 00:46:04.060 --> 00:46:05.060 Because it, 00:46:08.060 --> 00:46:09.060 because it dulls. 00:46:10.060 --> 00:46:12.060 It's the most basic instinct 00:46:12.060 --> 00:46:13.060 of our flesh. 00:46:13.100 --> 00:46:15.100 Because it dulls. 00:46:16.100 --> 00:46:18.100 It dulls our witness. 00:46:19.100 --> 00:46:21.100 It dulls our witness. 00:46:21.100 --> 00:46:23.100 It absolutely dulls our witness. 00:46:26.100 --> 00:46:29.100 So how can we begin to 00:46:29.100 --> 00:46:30.100 chip away at it 00:46:30.100 --> 00:46:31.100 or bring a sledgehammer to it 00:46:31.100 --> 00:46:33.100 so that Christ may be formed? 00:46:34.100 --> 00:46:36.100 Let's look at two or three 00:46:36.100 --> 00:46:38.100 and then I'll make sure I stop 00:46:38.100 --> 00:46:40.100 by the next 10 minutes. 00:46:40.140 --> 00:46:42.140 First, 00:46:43.140 --> 00:46:45.140 keep thinking of these lines. 00:46:45.140 --> 00:46:47.140 I'm not my own. 00:46:50.140 --> 00:46:52.140 I belong to Christ. 00:46:55.140 --> 00:46:57.140 I belong to you. 00:47:00.140 --> 00:47:02.140 This, if I began to practice 00:47:02.140 --> 00:47:03.140 or you began to practice 00:47:03.140 --> 00:47:06.140 would absolutely shatter self-preservation. 00:47:06.140 --> 00:47:07.140 Just this one line 00:47:07.140 --> 00:47:09.140 and it's scripture. 00:47:10.140 --> 00:47:11.140 If, 00:47:11.140 --> 00:47:12.140 we've been through this 00:47:12.140 --> 00:47:13.140 about two years ago 00:47:13.140 --> 00:47:15.140 but some of you perhaps were not there. 00:47:15.140 --> 00:47:16.140 When someone asks you the question 00:47:16.140 --> 00:47:18.140 who do you belong to 00:47:18.140 --> 00:47:20.140 most Christians who are born again will say 00:47:20.140 --> 00:47:22.140 I belong to Christ. 00:47:22.140 --> 00:47:24.140 But according to 1 Corinthians 6 00:47:24.140 --> 00:47:26.140 you cannot belong to Christ 00:47:26.140 --> 00:47:28.140 till you get to a point 00:47:28.140 --> 00:47:30.140 where you say I am not my own. 00:47:31.140 --> 00:47:32.140 The scriptures say 00:47:32.140 --> 00:47:35.140 do you not know that you are not your own? 00:47:35.140 --> 00:47:37.140 You have been born at a price 00:47:37.140 --> 00:47:39.140 that you do not belong to yourself anymore. 00:47:39.180 --> 00:47:41.180 One has to first arrive at 00:47:41.180 --> 00:47:43.180 I am not my own. 00:47:44.180 --> 00:47:45.180 And then you can go to 00:47:45.180 --> 00:47:47.180 I belong to Christ. 00:47:48.180 --> 00:47:49.180 And that would be convenient 00:47:49.180 --> 00:47:51.180 but then he takes it one step further 00:47:52.180 --> 00:47:54.180 and he says I belong to you. 00:47:55.180 --> 00:47:58.180 That is an absolutely certain way 00:47:58.180 --> 00:48:00.180 to destroy self-preservation 00:48:01.180 --> 00:48:03.180 and that is so hard to do. 00:48:05.180 --> 00:48:07.180 I can't force you to belong to me 00:48:07.220 --> 00:48:09.220 but I can choose to belong to you. 00:48:11.220 --> 00:48:12.220 And then if that is said 00:48:12.220 --> 00:48:13.220 what does it look like 00:48:13.220 --> 00:48:15.220 when you begin to believe that? 00:48:19.220 --> 00:48:21.220 This, sorry go ahead. 00:48:26.220 --> 00:48:28.220 Yeah, it has to start 00:48:29.220 --> 00:48:30.220 it's impossible. 00:48:31.220 --> 00:48:32.220 Yeah, it's impossible 00:48:32.220 --> 00:48:33.220 the only one who could pull it off 00:48:33.220 --> 00:48:35.220 for the entire earth was 00:48:35.260 --> 00:48:36.260 Christ. 00:48:37.260 --> 00:48:39.260 But start with a small group of people 00:48:40.260 --> 00:48:41.260 and include in that group 00:48:41.260 --> 00:48:44.260 people that you don't yet fully love. 00:48:45.260 --> 00:48:46.260 It's easy to do this 00:48:46.260 --> 00:48:47.260 for someone you love. 00:48:47.260 --> 00:48:48.260 You do it for your spouses 00:48:48.260 --> 00:48:49.260 and your children 00:48:49.260 --> 00:48:50.260 and your family 00:48:50.260 --> 00:48:51.260 on a regular basis. 00:48:52.260 --> 00:48:54.260 Every parent, every spouse 00:48:54.260 --> 00:48:55.260 does this 00:48:55.260 --> 00:48:56.260 I am not my own 00:48:56.260 --> 00:48:57.260 I belong to Christ 00:48:57.260 --> 00:48:58.260 I belong to you 00:48:58.260 --> 00:49:00.260 I mean that is the marriage vow 00:49:00.260 --> 00:49:01.260 isn't it? 00:49:01.300 --> 00:49:03.300 That I am laying myself down before you 00:49:03.300 --> 00:49:05.300 I no longer belong to myself 00:49:05.300 --> 00:49:06.300 I am yours 00:49:06.300 --> 00:49:08.300 that's what we say in our vows to each other. 00:49:09.300 --> 00:49:10.300 So spouses and families 00:49:10.300 --> 00:49:12.300 and parents do this on a regular basis 00:49:12.300 --> 00:49:14.300 but it is still so compact 00:49:14.300 --> 00:49:16.300 it has to go beyond that 00:49:16.300 --> 00:49:17.300 and that is where 00:49:17.300 --> 00:49:19.300 why not start with a small group of people 00:49:23.300 --> 00:49:25.300 and the sooner we get here 00:49:25.300 --> 00:49:26.300 the more you will find 00:49:26.300 --> 00:49:28.300 God beginning to use you part of you 00:49:28.300 --> 00:49:29.300 and that is the way 00:49:29.340 --> 00:49:30.340 the sooner you will find 00:49:30.340 --> 00:49:32.340 God beginning to use you powerfully 00:49:33.340 --> 00:49:35.340 because the end of self preservation 00:49:35.340 --> 00:49:36.340 will be the beginning 00:49:36.340 --> 00:49:38.340 of power through you 00:49:39.340 --> 00:49:41.340 because there is nothing that can stop now 00:49:42.340 --> 00:49:44.340 so include in your group 00:49:44.340 --> 00:49:47.340 a few that you do not yet 00:49:47.340 --> 00:49:48.340 love the way you love 00:49:48.340 --> 00:49:50.340 the ones that you love 00:49:52.340 --> 00:49:53.340 start small 00:49:53.340 --> 00:49:55.340 and then let it increase 00:49:57.340 --> 00:49:58.340 any questions? 00:49:59.340 --> 00:50:00.340 I am not my own 00:50:00.340 --> 00:50:02.340 I belong to Christ 00:50:02.340 --> 00:50:04.340 I am not my own is difficult too 00:50:05.340 --> 00:50:07.340 I am not my own is to say 00:50:07.340 --> 00:50:09.340 this is the end of self determination 00:50:11.340 --> 00:50:12.340 I do not determine 00:50:12.340 --> 00:50:14.340 or make decisions 00:50:14.340 --> 00:50:16.340 for my life anymore 00:50:16.340 --> 00:50:18.340 because someone else makes them 00:50:21.340 --> 00:50:23.340 this is what John 21 00:50:24.340 --> 00:50:26.340 Jesus says to Peter in John 21 00:50:26.380 --> 00:50:27.380 when you were young 00:50:28.380 --> 00:50:29.380 you would decide where to go 00:50:29.380 --> 00:50:30.380 but the days are coming 00:50:30.380 --> 00:50:32.380 where they will bind you 00:50:32.380 --> 00:50:33.380 and take you 00:50:33.380 --> 00:50:34.380 where you do not want to go 00:50:38.380 --> 00:50:40.380 what a beautiful religion we serve 00:50:41.380 --> 00:50:43.380 this is no ordinary religion 00:50:43.380 --> 00:50:45.380 this is not for namby pamby 00:50:46.380 --> 00:50:48.380 pamper wearing devotees 00:50:49.380 --> 00:50:50.380 this is hard man 00:50:50.420 --> 00:50:52.420 this is hard man 00:50:58.420 --> 00:50:59.420 I am not my own 00:50:59.420 --> 00:51:00.420 I belong to Christ 00:51:00.420 --> 00:51:01.420 I belong to you 00:51:03.420 --> 00:51:06.420 and if this is backed by love 00:51:06.420 --> 00:51:07.420 it becomes so easy 00:51:08.420 --> 00:51:09.420 so easy 00:51:10.420 --> 00:51:11.420 so easy 00:51:14.420 --> 00:51:15.420 why do you do 00:51:15.420 --> 00:51:17.420 what your will does not want to do 00:51:17.420 --> 00:51:19.420 why would I do 00:51:19.460 --> 00:51:20.460 why would I do 00:51:22.460 --> 00:51:24.460 what my will 00:51:27.460 --> 00:51:28.460 does not 00:51:29.460 --> 00:51:31.460 want to do 00:51:32.460 --> 00:51:33.460 simple 00:51:34.460 --> 00:51:35.460 because 00:51:35.460 --> 00:51:37.460 I love someone 00:51:41.460 --> 00:51:42.460 because I love someone 00:51:43.460 --> 00:51:44.460 more than 00:51:47.460 --> 00:51:48.460 my life 00:51:49.460 --> 00:51:51.460 and my will 00:51:53.460 --> 00:51:54.460 that's the only way 00:51:54.460 --> 00:51:55.460 you can get a cat into my house 00:51:57.460 --> 00:51:59.460 I have to love you so much 00:52:00.460 --> 00:52:01.460 that you can bring a cat in 00:52:03.460 --> 00:52:04.460 and thank God 00:52:06.460 --> 00:52:07.460 that ain't happening 00:52:12.460 --> 00:52:13.460 moving on 00:52:14.460 --> 00:52:15.460 why would I do 00:52:15.460 --> 00:52:16.460 what my will does not want to do 00:52:16.460 --> 00:52:18.460 this is the reason why 00:52:18.500 --> 00:52:19.500 so 00:52:20.500 --> 00:52:21.500 to try self preservation 00:52:22.500 --> 00:52:23.500 to try and self preservation 00:52:23.500 --> 00:52:25.500 without loving God 00:52:26.500 --> 00:52:27.500 is going to be really difficult 00:52:27.500 --> 00:52:28.500 very difficult 00:52:30.500 --> 00:52:31.500 it's going to be very difficult 00:52:31.500 --> 00:52:32.500 but if you begin to love him 00:52:33.500 --> 00:52:34.500 this will become easy 00:52:35.500 --> 00:52:36.500 and the strange thing is 00:52:36.500 --> 00:52:37.500 if you love him 00:52:37.500 --> 00:52:39.500 he'll deliver hammer blows 00:52:40.500 --> 00:52:41.500 he'll collapse it 00:52:48.500 --> 00:52:51.500 Matthew 26 verse 39 00:52:51.500 --> 00:52:52.500 earlier today 00:52:52.500 --> 00:52:53.500 or last night when he was in the garden 00:52:53.500 --> 00:52:54.500 at Gethsemane 00:52:54.500 --> 00:52:55.500 that's what you're seeing 00:52:57.500 --> 00:52:59.500 Father is there any way 00:52:59.500 --> 00:53:00.500 I can escape this cup 00:53:00.500 --> 00:53:01.500 is there any way 00:53:01.500 --> 00:53:02.500 I can 00:53:02.500 --> 00:53:04.500 I can escape what I'm going to 00:53:04.500 --> 00:53:05.500 what I know I'll have to go through 00:53:06.500 --> 00:53:08.500 and then he makes that statement 00:53:08.500 --> 00:53:10.500 but not my will 00:53:10.500 --> 00:53:11.500 but yours be done 00:53:11.500 --> 00:53:12.500 he does not want 00:53:13.500 --> 00:53:14.500 no 00:53:14.500 --> 00:53:15.500 no 00:53:15.500 --> 00:53:16.500 no 00:53:16.500 --> 00:53:17.500 no 00:53:17.540 --> 00:53:18.540 no 00:53:18.540 --> 00:53:19.540 no real human being 00:53:19.540 --> 00:53:20.540 would want to be put 00:53:20.540 --> 00:53:21.540 through the torment 00:53:21.540 --> 00:53:22.540 that he would be put through 00:53:23.540 --> 00:53:24.540 and then he says 00:53:24.540 --> 00:53:25.540 not my will but 00:53:25.540 --> 00:53:26.540 yours be done 00:53:28.540 --> 00:53:29.540 and the Holy Spirit will 00:53:29.540 --> 00:53:30.540 help us make these choices 00:53:32.540 --> 00:53:33.540 because 00:53:34.540 --> 00:53:35.540 he 00:53:35.540 --> 00:53:36.540 guys he lives fully in me 00:53:36.540 --> 00:53:37.540 if I want this 00:53:38.540 --> 00:53:39.540 he can begin to help me 00:53:39.540 --> 00:53:40.540 and like I said 00:53:40.540 --> 00:53:41.540 wrestle through it 00:53:41.540 --> 00:53:42.540 fail 00:53:42.540 --> 00:53:43.540 get up 00:53:43.540 --> 00:53:44.540 wrestle through it 00:53:44.540 --> 00:53:45.540 fail 00:53:45.540 --> 00:53:46.540 get up 00:53:46.580 --> 00:53:47.580 there's no harm 00:53:48.580 --> 00:53:49.580 in failing while you're wrestling 00:53:50.580 --> 00:53:51.580 the harm is in not wrestling 00:53:55.580 --> 00:53:56.580 the shame is when 00:53:56.580 --> 00:53:57.580 we don't wrestle 00:53:58.580 --> 00:53:59.580 the shame is not in failing 00:53:59.580 --> 00:54:00.580 when you're wrestling 00:54:01.580 --> 00:54:02.580 the shame is 00:54:02.580 --> 00:54:03.580 is in not wrestling 00:54:05.580 --> 00:54:06.580 and when you wrestle 00:54:06.580 --> 00:54:07.580 invite a few people to watch 00:54:09.580 --> 00:54:10.580 one of the 00:54:10.580 --> 00:54:11.580 one of the easiest ways 00:54:11.580 --> 00:54:12.580 to win 00:54:12.580 --> 00:54:13.580 is to invite 00:54:13.580 --> 00:54:14.580 and encourage us to watch 00:54:14.620 --> 00:54:15.620 those that wrestle 00:54:15.620 --> 00:54:16.620 quietly without anyone 00:54:16.620 --> 00:54:17.620 watching 00:54:17.620 --> 00:54:18.620 usually don't win 00:54:22.620 --> 00:54:23.620 invite a few people to watch 00:54:23.620 --> 00:54:24.620 share your story with them 00:54:24.620 --> 00:54:25.620 I'm struggling through this 00:54:30.620 --> 00:54:31.620 there's nobody here 00:54:31.620 --> 00:54:32.620 who does not need 00:54:32.620 --> 00:54:33.620 an Aaron and a Hermann 00:54:39.620 --> 00:54:40.620 the Spirit of God 00:54:40.620 --> 00:54:41.620 really likes helping 00:54:41.660 --> 00:54:42.660 the Spirit of God 00:54:42.660 --> 00:54:43.660 really likes helping 00:54:47.660 --> 00:54:48.660 what does it look like 00:54:48.660 --> 00:54:49.660 when Jesus can help 00:54:49.660 --> 00:54:50.660 I'll end with these questions 00:54:51.660 --> 00:54:52.660 what does it look like 00:54:53.660 --> 00:54:54.660 what does it look like 00:54:57.660 --> 00:54:58.660 when Jesus can 00:55:02.660 --> 00:55:03.660 help himself 00:55:06.660 --> 00:55:07.660 to my life 00:55:09.660 --> 00:55:10.660 at will 00:55:11.660 --> 00:55:12.660 what will happen 00:55:13.660 --> 00:55:14.660 if I'm serious about this 00:55:14.660 --> 00:55:15.660 he'll start 00:55:16.660 --> 00:55:17.660 using 00:55:18.660 --> 00:55:19.660 the things of my life 00:55:19.660 --> 00:55:20.660 he'll use 00:55:20.660 --> 00:55:21.660 time 00:55:21.660 --> 00:55:22.660 treasure 00:55:23.660 --> 00:55:24.660 talent 00:55:25.660 --> 00:55:26.660 strength 00:55:27.660 --> 00:55:28.660 and things 00:55:28.660 --> 00:55:29.660 in my life 00:55:30.660 --> 00:55:31.660 and he'll use 00:55:32.660 --> 00:55:33.660 time 00:55:34.660 --> 00:55:35.660 and he'll use 00:55:36.660 --> 00:55:37.660 time 00:55:37.660 --> 00:55:38.660 and he'll use 00:55:39.660 --> 00:55:40.660 time 00:55:40.700 --> 00:55:41.700 in my life 00:55:42.700 --> 00:55:43.700 to serve 00:55:44.700 --> 00:55:45.700 his interest 00:55:49.700 --> 00:55:50.700 in others 00:55:53.700 --> 00:55:54.700 and he'll do it 00:55:56.700 --> 00:55:57.700 he'll do it 00:55:59.700 --> 00:56:00.700 by emptying me out 00:56:07.700 --> 00:56:08.700 before 00:56:08.740 --> 00:56:09.740 replenishing me 00:56:13.740 --> 00:56:14.740 so here are the scary parts 00:56:15.740 --> 00:56:16.740 what does it look like 00:56:16.740 --> 00:56:17.740 when Jesus can help himself 00:56:17.740 --> 00:56:18.740 to my life at will 00:56:19.740 --> 00:56:20.740 he'll start 00:56:20.740 --> 00:56:21.740 he'll start using 00:56:21.740 --> 00:56:22.740 what 00:56:22.740 --> 00:56:23.740 time, treasure, talent, strength, things 00:56:24.740 --> 00:56:25.740 things that are important to me 00:56:25.740 --> 00:56:26.740 he'll start using 00:56:26.740 --> 00:56:27.740 to do what 00:56:27.740 --> 00:56:28.740 to serve his interest 00:56:28.740 --> 00:56:30.740 great, I love doing things for the Lord 00:56:31.740 --> 00:56:32.740 serve his interest in others 00:56:33.740 --> 00:56:34.740 why others 00:56:34.740 --> 00:56:35.740 why can't it be just you and me 00:56:35.740 --> 00:56:36.740 doing great things 00:56:36.740 --> 00:56:37.740 for the Kingdom 00:56:37.780 --> 00:56:38.780 nope, for others 00:56:38.780 --> 00:56:39.780 how will he do it 00:56:39.780 --> 00:56:40.780 he'll do it by emptying me out 00:56:41.780 --> 00:56:42.780 nuts, is there another way 00:56:42.780 --> 00:56:43.780 nope 00:56:43.780 --> 00:56:44.780 but after he empties me out 00:56:44.780 --> 00:56:45.780 he'll replenish me 00:56:46.780 --> 00:56:48.780 just the other way around it 00:56:52.780 --> 00:56:53.780 what a cool God 00:56:55.780 --> 00:56:56.780 he's an all or nothing God 00:56:56.780 --> 00:56:57.780 but he can live 00:56:57.780 --> 00:56:58.780 in between 00:57:00.780 --> 00:57:01.780 but it's not his favorite 00:57:01.780 --> 00:57:02.780 thing to do 00:57:05.780 --> 00:57:06.780 do you love me more than these 00:57:07.780 --> 00:57:08.780 well then, feed my sheep 00:57:10.780 --> 00:57:11.780 he's not talking to pastors 00:57:11.780 --> 00:57:12.780 he's talking to each of us here 00:57:12.780 --> 00:57:13.780 do you love me more than these 00:57:15.780 --> 00:57:16.780 feed my sheep 00:57:17.780 --> 00:57:18.780 you know in the 00:57:18.780 --> 00:57:20.780 in Philippians 2 verse 17 and 18 00:57:21.780 --> 00:57:22.780 it says 00:57:22.780 --> 00:57:23.780 if I'm 00:57:23.780 --> 00:57:24.780 Paul is talking and he says 00:57:24.780 --> 00:57:25.780 if 00:57:25.780 --> 00:57:26.780 even if I am to be 00:57:26.780 --> 00:57:27.780 poured out as a drink offering 00:57:28.780 --> 00:57:30.780 upon the sacrificial offering of your faith 00:57:31.780 --> 00:57:32.780 I am glad and I rejoice with you 00:57:33.780 --> 00:57:34.780 even if I am 00:57:34.780 --> 00:57:35.780 poured out 00:57:35.820 --> 00:57:36.820 as a drink offering 00:57:37.820 --> 00:57:38.820 upon the sacrificial offering 00:57:39.820 --> 00:57:40.820 that you are 00:57:41.820 --> 00:57:42.820 I'm glad 00:57:43.820 --> 00:57:44.820 and it's such a cool thing 00:57:45.820 --> 00:57:46.820 once 00:57:46.820 --> 00:57:47.820 you read it in Numbers 15 verse 3 and 5 00:57:48.820 --> 00:57:49.820 here's what it says 00:57:50.820 --> 00:57:51.820 it says that once 00:57:51.820 --> 00:57:52.820 Israel entered the promised land 00:57:53.820 --> 00:57:54.820 whenever anyone would bring 00:57:55.820 --> 00:57:56.820 an offering to the Lord 00:57:57.820 --> 00:57:58.820 like a voluntary offering to the Lord 00:57:59.820 --> 00:58:00.820 once they entered the promised land 00:58:01.820 --> 00:58:02.820 they had to pour upon 00:58:03.820 --> 00:58:04.820 the promised land 00:58:05.820 --> 00:58:06.820 on the offering 00:58:07.820 --> 00:58:08.820 on the altar 00:58:09.820 --> 00:58:10.820 a liter of wine 00:58:11.820 --> 00:58:12.820 they had to 00:58:13.820 --> 00:58:14.820 a drink offering was suddenly commanded 00:58:15.820 --> 00:58:16.820 once they entered the land 00:58:17.820 --> 00:58:18.820 so you could bring an offering 00:58:18.820 --> 00:58:19.820 put it on the altar 00:58:20.820 --> 00:58:21.820 then you had to bring some grain 00:58:22.820 --> 00:58:23.820 and overall that you would have to pour out 00:58:24.820 --> 00:58:25.820 and then the fragrance would rise to the Lord 00:58:26.820 --> 00:58:27.820 and it used to be called an ascending 00:58:28.820 --> 00:58:29.820 fire fragrance or whatever 00:58:30.820 --> 00:58:31.820 and so what Paul is saying is this 00:58:32.820 --> 00:58:33.820 I am being poured out so that they can be 00:58:33.860 --> 00:58:34.860 beautifully 00:58:35.860 --> 00:58:36.860 I am being poured out 00:58:37.860 --> 00:58:38.860 so they can be offered up 00:58:39.860 --> 00:58:40.860 just think of that 00:58:41.860 --> 00:58:42.860 when God begins to do that with you 00:58:43.860 --> 00:58:44.860 where you begin to say 00:58:45.860 --> 00:58:46.860 Father pour me out 00:58:47.860 --> 00:58:48.860 I am being poured out 00:58:53.860 --> 00:58:54.860 I am being poured out 00:58:55.860 --> 00:58:56.860 so you can be 00:58:59.860 --> 00:59:00.860 offered up 00:59:01.860 --> 00:59:02.860 isn't that brilliant 00:59:03.860 --> 00:59:04.860 wouldn't you love to do that 00:59:05.860 --> 00:59:06.860 who here wouldn't 00:59:07.860 --> 00:59:08.860 who here wouldn't 00:59:09.860 --> 00:59:10.860 it's just so natural for us as believers 00:59:11.860 --> 00:59:12.860 to work this 00:59:13.860 --> 00:59:14.860 this is what you do for your children 00:59:15.860 --> 00:59:16.860 this is what you do for the ones you love 00:59:17.860 --> 00:59:18.860 you being poured out so they can be 00:59:19.860 --> 00:59:20.860 offered up 00:59:21.860 --> 00:59:22.860 which believer here wouldn't want this 00:59:23.860 --> 00:59:24.860 but to be poured out 00:59:25.860 --> 00:59:26.860 self preservation must end 00:59:27.860 --> 00:59:28.860 we pour ourselves out 00:59:29.860 --> 00:59:30.860 so that they can be offered up 00:59:31.860 --> 00:59:32.860 so labor guys 00:59:33.860 --> 00:59:34.860 work give 00:59:35.860 --> 00:59:37.860 so that you can present others 00:59:38.860 --> 00:59:39.860 as ones that you 00:59:40.860 --> 00:59:41.860 offer up 00:59:42.860 --> 00:59:43.860 this is Paul's desire 00:59:44.860 --> 00:59:45.860 this is my desire 00:59:46.860 --> 00:59:47.860 and once you have the desire 00:59:48.860 --> 00:59:49.860 run labor work fail 00:59:50.860 --> 00:59:51.860 run labor work fail 00:59:52.860 --> 00:59:53.860 run labor work fail 00:59:54.860 --> 00:59:55.860 but more and more will be offered 00:59:56.860 --> 00:59:57.860 this is how we do it 00:59:58.860 --> 00:59:59.860 any questions 00:59:59.900 --> 01:00:00.900 let me pray 01:00:01.900 --> 01:00:02.900 Jesus 01:00:05.900 --> 01:00:06.900 I need 01:00:07.900 --> 01:00:09.900 you to bring a sledgehammer 01:00:10.900 --> 01:00:11.900 Holy Spirit to 01:00:12.900 --> 01:00:13.900 our lives here 01:00:14.900 --> 01:00:15.900 that have such chunks 01:00:16.900 --> 01:00:17.900 and blocks of self preservation 01:00:22.900 --> 01:00:24.900 please oh God spare nobody 01:00:24.940 --> 01:00:26.940 I'm asking as the pastor of this church 01:00:27.940 --> 01:00:28.940 spare nobody 01:00:31.940 --> 01:00:33.940 start with me but spare nobody 01:00:38.940 --> 01:00:41.940 I'm asking that we resist you but that you spare nobody 01:00:42.940 --> 01:00:43.940 if we resist you yes 01:00:44.940 --> 01:00:45.940 there's nothing you can do 01:00:46.940 --> 01:00:47.940 because you don't usurp our will 01:00:48.940 --> 01:00:49.940 but I ask oh God 01:00:50.940 --> 01:00:51.940 please 01:00:51.980 --> 01:00:52.980 across this room and to anybody else 01:00:53.980 --> 01:00:54.980 who hears 01:00:55.980 --> 01:00:56.980 self preservation must end 01:00:57.980 --> 01:00:58.980 otherwise the glory of God 01:00:59.980 --> 01:01:00.980 and the kingdom of God 01:01:01.980 --> 01:01:02.980 cannot advance 01:01:03.980 --> 01:01:06.980 so we bring before you our exoskeletons 01:01:07.980 --> 01:01:08.980 our outer covering 01:01:09.980 --> 01:01:10.980 whatever it is 01:01:11.980 --> 01:01:12.980 independence pride 01:01:13.980 --> 01:01:14.980 money 01:01:15.980 --> 01:01:16.980 whatever it is 01:01:17.980 --> 01:01:18.980 independence pride 01:01:19.980 --> 01:01:20.980 money 01:01:21.980 --> 01:01:22.980 risk aversion 01:01:23.980 --> 01:01:26.980 individuality our own individual traits 01:01:27.980 --> 01:01:28.980 distrust 01:01:29.980 --> 01:01:30.980 hurt 01:01:35.980 --> 01:01:38.980 all this drives us into this place where we begin to preserve 01:01:39.980 --> 01:01:41.980 please ask that you end it so that you may have 01:01:42.980 --> 01:01:44.980 a group of ordinary people that can be used 01:01:45.980 --> 01:01:48.980 as and when you want oh God please 01:01:51.980 --> 01:01:54.980 yes we understand that if you begin to do this 01:01:55.980 --> 01:01:58.980 that it will be to serve your interest in others 01:01:59.980 --> 01:02:01.980 sometimes locally sometimes at other places 01:02:02.980 --> 01:02:04.980 and that it will require an emptying of myself 01:02:05.980 --> 01:02:07.980 but then I've got to trust you to preserve my life 01:02:10.980 --> 01:02:11.980 on Good Friday 01:02:12.980 --> 01:02:15.980 on the day that you did nothing to preserve your life 01:02:16.980 --> 01:02:18.980 when you could have called down 12 legions of angels 01:02:19.020 --> 01:02:21.020 when you did nothing to preserve my life 01:02:22.020 --> 01:02:23.020 this is our prayer 01:02:24.020 --> 01:02:25.020 granted I pray in Jesus name 01:02:26.020 --> 01:02:27.020 Amen 01:02:28.020 --> 01:02:30.020 cool guys see you Sunday if you need prayer 01:02:31.020 --> 01:02:32.020 there will be people here to pray with you 01:02:33.020 --> 01:02:34.020 feel free to come up to them and they'll pray for you