1 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,880 Welcome to the podcast of the White Church in Adelaide, South 2 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:16,680 Australia. This morning we have a wonderful 3 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,360 privilege of hearing from Hilary, which is going to be 4 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,600 amazing. So can I encourage you guys to 5 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,480 stretch out your hands? The Bible talks about stretching 6 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:27,840 out our hands and laying on of hands. 7 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:29,840 When we pray for people, we teach our kids that if 8 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,000 somebody's in the room and you're praying for them, you 9 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,600 reach out your hand or you place your hand on them. 10 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:36,760 I was actually going to get you to praise that, OK. 11 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,800 Father, we just, we thank you for the word that you've placed 12 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,520 on Hillary's heart. We thank you that you've placed 13 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,920 it in her heart for us to hear, for it to be a seed planted in 14 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,720 our heart for it to take deep root, Father God and, and for 15 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:55,600 your word to grow and transform and bring life to our lives and 16 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,920 to those around us. So Father, we just pray over her 17 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,680 mind, we pray peace and we just pray Lord that your will be done 18 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,720 this morning. Let your words flow and come out 19 00:01:05,960 --> 00:01:09,280 so naturally and so comfortably in Jesus name, Amen. 20 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:11,480 Awesome. Thank you. 21 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:19,160 Well, we've, well we've actually always talked a lot about being 22 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:26,200 a church family and was when Tai was with us a few weeks ago, he 23 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,480 brought a lot of points about the culture of a church. 24 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:35,720 And so today I just wanted to zoom in and look at it a little 25 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:39,440 bit more in depth on the culture of a church family. 26 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:46,320 So, so we've got 2 ideas that run alongside each other here 27 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:52,280 that we sort of have to, we have to acknowledge the fact that 28 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:56,360 we've been shaped by our own experiences and by the world 29 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,440 around us when it comes to church. 30 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:05,640 For starters, based on our past experiences, you know, maybe the 31 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,680 church that we were saved into, there's churches that we've 32 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,680 potentially been hurt by, There's all sorts of things that 33 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:19,160 go on that have shaped our perspective of what church is. 34 00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:24,120 And likewise, there's a whole bunch of things that shape our 35 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:30,640 perspective of what family is. If we if I said to someone, you 36 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:34,920 know, the church is your family and then you projected onto it 37 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:39,600 your perspective of family based on your own family, we would be 38 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:45,080 in a lot of trouble. I don't know about anyone else. 39 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,480 I love my family, but there's lots of unhelpful and 40 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:53,560 dysfunctional things that go on in the culture of my family. 41 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:58,920 And I'm sure we all have our things because let's face it, no 42 00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:06,240 one has a perfect family. So again, we need to bring these 43 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,680 things to God and say to God, Lord, what is it that has shaped 44 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,720 my perspective of church and what is it that has shaped my 45 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,640 perspective of family? And Lord, would you show me from 46 00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:19,160 your scripture what's actually true and right about your plan 47 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,840 and purpose for us as a church and as a family? 48 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:28,040 So the first thing we actually need to settle is that church is 49 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:32,280 in fact meant to be a family in the beginning. 50 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:36,760 In Genesis, the, the, the creation account tells us that 51 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:41,040 God created everything and then he created man. 52 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,920 And then, and then there's this story about God creating animals 53 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:52,000 as, as companions for men. And they all fall short and and 54 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,120 it makes me laugh because some people go, oh, I like dogs 55 00:03:55,120 --> 00:04:00,160 better. And that may be well and good, 56 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:03,320 but you're going to have to settle the fact that God said it 57 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:07,280 is not good that man be alone and submit yourself to the idea 58 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:11,120 that it's actually God's good plan and purpose that we live 59 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,560 together as a family because that was his solution. 60 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:25,640 Jesus told us to pray our Father in heaven in Matthew, Jesus 61 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,040 mother and brother and sister, his natural family come and his 62 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,320 disciples say, oh your mother and father, your mother and 63 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,640 brothers are over there. And he says, who are my brothers 64 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:38,080 and sisters and my mother, these who do the will of my father, 65 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,840 They are my family. In Romans 8 verse 29. 66 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:48,520 Dave read this last week. He said for those whom he 67 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:52,760 foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his 68 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,320 son in order that he might be the first born among many 69 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,800 brothers. And so again that it speaks of 70 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:03,120 the family ship with Jesus, but also the family resemblance. 71 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:07,080 We are called to be conformed to the to the image of the family 72 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:11,360 of God, of Jesus. There's many, many more 73 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,800 scriptures in in the Bible, but this one is perhaps one of my 74 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,960 favourites as well. In Psalm 68 verse 5 to 6, it 75 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:23,360 says a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in 76 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,880 his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families. 77 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,440 He leads out the prisoners with singing, but the rebelliously 78 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:35,760 live in the sun scorched land. So there's a promise there that 79 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,920 that that they would be a family of God, that God could set 80 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,040 people into, that they would have a family. 81 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:48,600 And so if God is our father, then we are brothers and 82 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:53,120 sisters. And so now we, the family of 83 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,080 God, come together and we all have our natural families and we 84 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:01,400 all have these cultures that are influenced by the nations that 85 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:05,120 we've come from. Again, your church traditions 86 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:09,520 and cultures and and the cultures of our society around 87 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:13,400 us. We've come from a very 88 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,560 multicultural church in the past and I love it. 89 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:22,200 There are some beautiful elements of the of culture that 90 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:27,520 come from from different groups. I can remember just watching the 91 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:32,120 Brazilian culture and how they do communities so, so well. 92 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,960 Then you know, they'll get together and they'll worship 93 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,000 together and they'll cook a BBQ. One family used to set up a 94 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,960 gazebo on their front driveway and invite their neighbors 95 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,960 along. Like just this beautiful image 96 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,840 of community and bringing people into that community with open 97 00:06:48,840 --> 00:06:52,320 hands. But then there's some also 98 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,840 unhelpful things, particularly from the nations or regions. 99 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,000 I've noticed that it tends to be something that comes from like 100 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:04,400 the tropical band of the world have this attitude to honouring 101 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:06,760 time. That's just out the window. 102 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,480 You know, I will make jokes like, Oh, we're, we're on Fiji 103 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,320 time and or you know, I've been in Darwin. 104 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,880 Oh, we run on Darwin time. It's like this, this joke. 105 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:22,560 And, and so as, as the community of God, we can look to the good 106 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,000 things and go, those are good things that we want to take a 107 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,840 hold of and then look to the unhelpful things and go, 108 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,400 actually in God, I need to let that go. 109 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:35,080 So, yeah. And the same can be said of 110 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:39,240 church cultures. We, we spoke a number of months 111 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:46,480 ago about a culture of worship and a culture of, of unabandoned 112 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,400 worship. I can remember visiting a church 113 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,120 once again coming, having come from a church that was very 114 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:56,880 extravagant in their worship. And we visited this church and 115 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:01,280 it had probably maybe 100 people went out and there was a group 116 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:06,360 of us that visited and, and they had their music time and we were 117 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,200 there and we all, we all went to like lift our hands and worship 118 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,160 God and not another person in the place We're lifting their 119 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,040 hands. And I watched someone else in my 120 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,160 my party, they would, they put their hands up and then they 121 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:21,040 sort of gone like, because that was the culture of worship they 122 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:25,320 had in that place. You know, we want we and we, 123 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,640 like I said, we've, we've talked about this, but we want to be a 124 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:29,760 people who worship God extravagantly. 125 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:37,120 So, yeah, the and then again, so social cultures, so our society 126 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:41,559 around us is very bent away from God and away from the gospel. 127 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:44,840 It will promote things like being selfish. 128 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:46,280 You've got to put yourself first. 129 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:47,800 No one else is going to look after you. 130 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,360 Cancel culture. Like, if I don't like what you 131 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,000 have to say, I'm just going to shut you out of my life. 132 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,120 I'm realizing more and more how much feminism has shaped my 133 00:08:59,560 --> 00:09:03,560 perspective of the world. And I'm also, you know, valuing 134 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:06,280 women at acknowledging how amazing and strong and and 135 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,960 wonderful that God created them, but not at the expense of our 136 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:13,600 men and not at the expense of our families. 137 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,160 And so we've got to be really real about these things. 138 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:23,120 So in a natural family, the culture that's set in your home 139 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:27,240 is set by the adults. There is a culture in your home, 140 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:31,360 even if you live alone. And we have to be really, really 141 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:35,840 intentional about the culture that we allow in our, our home, 142 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,440 in our actual homes, and the culture that we allow in this 143 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:44,440 home. My children, they're born into 144 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,120 my home and they don't get a choice about the culture that 145 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:52,200 they grow up in. They, they're forced to 146 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,480 assimilate to whatever culture we said. 147 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,040 And sometimes they'll bring behaviours home that are not of 148 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:01,120 our culture. And sorry, dude, that's not how 149 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:07,720 we operate in this house. And so likewise, as babies come 150 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:12,960 into this home, there's, there's a culture that they'll 151 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:16,160 assimilate to. And This is why Tyrone shared on 152 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:17,800 this. It's really important for us to 153 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,760 be really aware of what it is that shapes our view and be 154 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:26,400 willing to change if we need to be willing to submit ourselves 155 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:33,160 to the ways of God and let him form our our our culture and the 156 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:37,240 way that we live together. If I want to change the culture 157 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:41,080 in my home, I have to be so intentional and I have to be 158 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,480 persistent. One thing that Dave and I have 159 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:49,320 changed recently in the recent months is we don't have the TV 160 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:53,280 on by and large through the week, especially for the kids, 161 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:58,280 but then also what we actually put on the TV. 162 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,520 It really matters. The scripture talks about 163 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:04,880 setting no worthless thing before your eyes. 164 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,640 And so this is something that that we talked about months ago 165 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:14,560 and we put it into practice. And then time goes on and oh, I 166 00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:16,600 just need to Chuck something mindless on the TV. 167 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:19,840 And then next minute you're watching something and you're 168 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:23,280 just like, oh gosh, this is just not the culture that we want in 169 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:26,560 our home, right? And so you have to like, bring 170 00:11:26,560 --> 00:11:28,240 yourself back and bring yourself back. 171 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,640 And that's why being together is important because we help each 172 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,360 other bring ourselves back. Cool. 173 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:40,600 So I just wanted to pull a little bit out of Acts 2 just on 174 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,520 just to have a look at what the culture or the the group of 175 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:46,840 believers looked like early in the early church. 176 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,200 So just in the lead up to this, we're looking at Acts 2, verse 177 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,520 41. And in the lead up to this is 178 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:58,040 where Peter has preached the gospel for the first time. 179 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:00,520 The people have been cut to their hearts and gone. 180 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:02,160 What? What is it that we must do? 181 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,880 And he says, repent and be baptized and you'll receive the 182 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:10,520 gift of the Holy Spirit. And 3000 that day were added to 183 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:12,040 them. So it was like a massive 184 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:15,680 outpouring of salvation in that moment. 185 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,920 And so then in 41 it says, so those who received his word were 186 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,000 baptized and they were added, Oh, there we go. 187 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:24,760 They were added that day, 3000 souls. 188 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,560 And they devoted themselves to the apostles, teaching and the 189 00:12:28,560 --> 00:12:32,440 fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers, and all 190 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,960 came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were being 191 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,760 done through the apostles. I wonder if God was intentional 192 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:46,560 with saying that all came upon every soul that happened first 193 00:12:46,560 --> 00:12:49,880 potentially, and then many signs and wonders were done. 194 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,800 When we're when we're living in a place of awe and love and 195 00:12:55,800 --> 00:13:02,600 reverence and holy fear of the Lord, it's like a it's like a 196 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,280 conduit for the spirit just to be glorified and for him to do 197 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,720 amazing things. And all who believed we're 198 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:11,560 together and had all things in common. 199 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,400 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and 200 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,000 distributing the proceeds to all as any had need. 201 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:22,040 And day by day attending the temple together and breaking 202 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,040 bread in their homes, they received their food with a glad 203 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:29,160 and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all 204 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:32,120 the people and the Lord added to their number day by day those 205 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,880 who are being saved. What an amazing family that 206 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,880 though that people who are being saved for being added to. 207 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:42,760 It was that there was a culture there of amazing things that was 208 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:49,960 the the platform for the church. So, so they talk a bit there 209 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,160 about it says that they were devoted to a number of things. 210 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,680 Other versions say they continued steadfastly. 211 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:04,200 There was like a commitment that that the apostles teaching and 212 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,640 being together, it was of utmost importance to their being. 213 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:14,880 And so they they devoted and they gave themselves to it. 214 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,520 I talked a little bit when he was here about a culture of 215 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:21,720 conviction. And so we see in this picture is 216 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:28,280 that they was just so hungry for the for for Jesus and for his 217 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,920 teachings which the apostles had walked with him and had learnt 218 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:33,320 everything that they could from him. 219 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,800 And so they were responsible for administrating that and they 220 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:38,200 were hungry to be a part of that. 221 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:43,520 They were hungry for the Kingdom of heaven in their lives, just 222 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:48,880 like Jesus had taught. So I just wonder, are we hungry 223 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:53,720 for for the conviction that that Jesus brings to us that we would 224 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,640 see the Kingdom of heaven at work in our lives? 225 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:02,200 Matthew 633 says seek first the Kingdom of God and his 226 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:06,720 righteousness. So in that we seek every part of 227 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:13,040 our lives to be right with God. We can easily look at our lives 228 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,640 individually and we would know that there's things that God's 229 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,480 spoken to us about. We would know that there's 230 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:23,240 things in in the way we conduct ourselves, the way we treat the 231 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,960 people around us, whatever it may be that don't line up with 232 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,560 who he is. And so there's a good place just 233 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:33,200 to start prayerfully to to go, God transform me here. 234 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:40,960 Philip Philippians says it's God's will for you to sorry, 235 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,920 it's got at work in you to will, so to want to change and to 236 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,960 change. And so if you have a will to 237 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:52,000 change, then then it's got at work at you, in you. 238 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:54,760 But we need to be submitted to him to allow him to do that. 239 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,680 So sometimes I think in the grace teaching of the church, we 240 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:05,760 can get a bit confused because salvation is a free gift and you 241 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:07,920 cannot earn that. We do not deserve it. 242 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:11,920 All we need to do for that is to come to, to, to God and just go. 243 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:15,600 Thank you. I repent of my, of my old ways 244 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,200 and I turn to you and I and I thank you for the cross and I 245 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,480 thank you that you've died, that I could be made clean and whole 246 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:26,440 and, and like worthy through Jesus to come into your 247 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:28,720 presence. And that is a free gift. 248 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:31,200 And there is nothing that can ever take that away from you. 249 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:37,960 But seeking righteousness isn't working for salvation. 250 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:42,080 Seeking righteousness is the only reasonable response. 251 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,960 It's like when someone gives you something that's just crazy 252 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:52,040 generous and you're kind of like, oh gosh, like, what can I, 253 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:54,640 what can I give you in return? Like there is nothing that comes 254 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:58,840 close to this amazing gift. But you know, let me do this. 255 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:03,520 That's what, that's what seeking righteousness is. 256 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:08,640 It's like God has given us the most amazing gift, and the only 257 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:11,560 thing that I can possibly do in return is to do my best to be 258 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,680 worthy of it, you know? And so it's not earning it, but 259 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:18,839 it's a response. And the New Testament calls us 260 00:17:18,839 --> 00:17:26,920 to journey this together. Hebrews talks about throwing off 261 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,280 the sin that so easily entangles us. 262 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,840 James talks about confessing our sins to one another. 263 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,840 Galatians says that if someone is in sin, restore them gently. 264 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:43,640 Our revelation of this matters because if we're accepting of 265 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,680 sin in our life, God knows where I'm at. 266 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:50,480 God's doing a work on me. You know that kind of language. 267 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:54,600 Then the people who are joining us, that's what their 268 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:56,560 expectation is. That's the culture that they're 269 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:02,960 being brought into. The relationships around us tend 270 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:07,080 to expose those things that God wants to work on ultimately. 271 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:12,080 I mean, like they're sin sins. Well, the Scripture says the 272 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:16,320 greatest command is to love God and to love others as yourself 273 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,680 and fulfilling the law is fulfilled in that. 274 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,800 And so everything that we do that falls short of the glory of 275 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:27,880 God, it fits within those two items. 276 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:32,400 And so it tends to be the relationships closest to us that 277 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:38,600 expose these things the most, our marriages, our parenting and 278 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,240 our family. And again, when we live in a 279 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:46,000 society that's so quick to cut people off, we need to be really 280 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,400 careful that we don't subscribe to that. 281 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:51,640 But we actually followed the scriptural pattern for for 282 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:55,520 dealing with sins. You know, Jesus talks in, I 283 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,120 think it's Matthew 18. There's a pattern. 284 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:00,600 If someone has hurt you or sinned against you, there's a 285 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,920 pattern. If you need to know how to work, 286 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:05,600 journey that through. Do it with your leaders, with 287 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:10,200 your family. So yes, always, always with 288 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,560 grace and mercy, but always calling each other upward. 289 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:20,880 Paul says not that I have attained it, but I press on. 290 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:25,240 So we've got this this tension. We are a new creation. 291 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:30,280 We are we have been closed in righteousness, but but not that 292 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:33,600 I have attained it. I press on for that which Jesus 293 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:40,680 purchased for me. So yes, I've already said that 294 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,000 the it's not good that man be alone. 295 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,320 The other thing, the next thing that I sort of wanted to, to 296 00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:53,720 zoom in on, I guess, and it, and it flows on from that is the 297 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:59,760 culture of community. We as people have a need for 298 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,640 community. You, you see it through through 299 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:08,640 COVID, the, the, how isolated everyone was and it just exposed 300 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:11,040 that we actually just need community. 301 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:15,280 In this piece of axe, we see that these people were enjoying 302 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:18,440 their faith together. I I remember when we first came 303 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:23,080 back to to Jesus. There was just this hunger, like 304 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,960 we want to be a part of what the church is doing and we want to 305 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:29,120 be with the people and we want to do, you know, do our part. 306 00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:32,800 And Dave used to come cleaning and they'd have this beautiful 307 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,600 community together where someone brought morning tea and, and 308 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:40,360 they cleaned the church together And, and it was just a, it was 309 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,760 just, there was life there because it was the people of God 310 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:47,880 being together, eating together. Obviously Dave's just done a 311 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,200 period of fasting and he's realized that we, we knew it 312 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:55,840 already, but eating together is such a vital part of, of being 313 00:20:55,840 --> 00:21:00,360 together and growing together. Our community groups are 314 00:21:00,360 --> 00:21:05,400 families within the family in the same way that I always think 315 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,640 of Justin's family when I think of this because it's just neat 316 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:09,120 and tidy. He's got his parents and then 317 00:21:09,120 --> 00:21:11,800 he's got his three brothers and the three boys are all married 318 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:13,080 now. And so the boys have their 319 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:16,120 families and then they come together as a family. 320 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:22,000 And and so it is with us in many ways, but we are a family and 321 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,880 our community groups are families within families and 322 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,160 Eva's are a family within the family and the figures are a 323 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:30,760 family, you know, But we are all one family together. 324 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:38,160 Being together builds familiarity, family parity, 325 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,560 going through life struggles and triumphs together. 326 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:50,160 It builds trust, deep relationships that are eternal. 327 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:55,280 Romans 12 says in verse 15, rejoice with those who rejoice 328 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:59,240 and weep with those who weep. It's doing life together and 329 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,080 going through the ups and downs. You never have to go through 330 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:06,560 things alone when you've got a real family, a real church 331 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:09,040 family. And if that hasn't been the case 332 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:12,960 for us in our past, maybe we need to consider our part to 333 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:16,960 play in that because relationships are give and take 334 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:20,880 in the natural. No one wants to be a part of a 335 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:25,040 relationship where you've got nothing to offer in return, 336 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:29,000 where you're just can you feel like you're just a constant ZAP 337 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:33,560 on another person. And, and you know, there's times 338 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:37,120 in our lives when, when things are going on and that can be a 339 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:40,240 reality for, for a period. And we need to humble ourselves 340 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:42,040 and realize that it's OK to receive. 341 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,600 But generally speaking, we want to be in a place where we all 342 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:47,800 have something to give and we all have something that we can 343 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,400 take from it. I can think of times when I've, 344 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:56,000 I can remember giving a lady a lift to a women's thing once and 345 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:57,800 I was so arrogant. I don't know if I've mentioned 346 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,080 this before, but I just thought that I was this and that and I 347 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:03,880 was going to minister to her. And she gets in the car and she 348 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:05,480 just starts sharing her life with me. 349 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,280 And I got to the end of the driver just like, Oh my gosh, 350 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:14,240 she had so much to offer me in that moment and she didn't even 351 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:15,760 know it. She was just talking and telling 352 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:17,920 me about life. And I'm like, oh Lord, I've been 353 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:21,840 so blessed by this time. So we, we need to be humble 354 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:25,840 enough to realize that in even in the moments where we think 355 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:27,800 that someone has nothing to give, they have everything to 356 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:30,960 give. And that's why we, we need to 357 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:35,280 know, even if I think that I have nothing left, that God will 358 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:39,040 use me. So yes, it takes humility. 359 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:42,160 How much does pride inhibit our relationships? 360 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:46,480 I think pride is so much more pervasive in US, or at least in 361 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:49,120 me. Then then I might be willing to 362 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:55,520 admit the the willingness to be vulnerable, to open up if 363 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:57,480 someone said or done something that's hurt me. 364 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,840 The willingness to accept help. I'm really bad at that. 365 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:06,720 Willing to admit when we're wrong, to apologize. 366 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:12,200 We really need to find a place where we can humble ourselves so 367 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,760 that we can do this family well. I think you'll find in in 368 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,440 natural families that do these things well, they're quite 369 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:21,280 healthy. And so we want to be a healthy 370 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:23,680 family. And again, we need to consider 371 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:25,480 the next generation of believers. 372 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:29,920 How can God meet the lonely into family if we're not living as a 373 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:32,720 family? You know, I can, I think about, 374 00:24:33,120 --> 00:24:36,400 you know, if a young single mom or a single mom came to be a 375 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:40,120 part of us, what would the community of God look like to 376 00:24:40,120 --> 00:24:42,760 her? OK, we have a happy clappy 377 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,920 family on on Sunday and the times that we're together, but 378 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:48,680 then all throughout the rest of the week I've got my own life. 379 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:53,920 Sorry, can't help or or even not even offering to. 380 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,720 So I guess the question we can ask ourselves is what kind of 381 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,800 family would believers be knit into based on my involvement or 382 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,640 my commitment to this church family? 383 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,080 Again, Ty reminded us they learned from our example. 384 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,640 So when it comes to to church and being together, what's our 385 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:15,840 attitude? Is it religious? 386 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:21,360 Are we doing it out of an obligation or a duty, or are we 387 00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:24,440 devoted to God and to fellowshipping with His people? 388 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:30,520 Lord, let us, let us be devoted to you and your ways and your 389 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:35,720 word and, and to accept by faith. 390 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:39,640 That's your intention for us to grow into the image of Christ 391 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:44,480 and that every single step of obedience takes us there, takes 392 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:49,160 us closer. So then the the third thing that 393 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:53,880 I wanted to zoom in on was what Ty called a culture of caring 394 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,440 Acts 244. It was all who believed we're 395 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:00,800 together and had all things in common. 396 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:03,240 And I was selling their possessions and belongings and 397 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:05,840 distributing the proceeds to all as any had need. 398 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:10,840 I've been amazed by this in the last few years, that all 399 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:15,000 throughout Scripture God cares about taking care of people's 400 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,160 needs. In Genesis we read about 401 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,920 offerings and they were an act of worship 1st and they always 402 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,000 should be. But when God commanded tithing, 403 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:30,000 it was to take care of the priests who didn't have an 404 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:31,760 inheritance with the rest of the Israelites. 405 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:34,480 They had no way of taking care of their families because they 406 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:41,200 were set aside to serve God. In Leviticus 23 verse 22, He 407 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:44,640 says when you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the 408 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:47,720 very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your 409 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:50,280 harvest. Don't gather up everything. 410 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:54,280 Leave some there. Leave them for the poor and the 411 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:57,440 foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God. 412 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:01,400 He cares about the people who can't take care of themselves. 413 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:05,280 We don't rape fields anymore. You know, we get, many of us 414 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:08,760 might get a pension or we work or, or whatever. 415 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:11,840 And so we get this money dropped in our bank account. 416 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,400 And So what can it look like for us to adopt this heart of God 417 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:17,480 that takes care of the people around us? 418 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:21,360 Well, I'm a budget head. So in my house we budget. 419 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,760 And so in addition to my offerings, we budget for 420 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:29,480 generosity. Some of us put extras in the 421 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:33,360 shopping basket to put in the in the pantry here. 422 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:36,760 We actually do this too. We buy extra bags every week for 423 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:40,720 the hampers. Some people will will 424 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:43,600 deliberately put money aside and keep it in their wallet to 425 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:46,720 prayerfully bless someone throughout their week. 426 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:53,560 So there's lots of ways that we can practice this and you know 427 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:56,600 it doesn't. Jesus saw the the woman in the 428 00:27:56,600 --> 00:28:00,320 temple who put in her, her coin into the offering and he said 429 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:03,800 she's given more than anyone. So we cannot let what we think 430 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,560 is that we don't have means or whatever inhibit us from 431 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:10,600 participating in this. God will honour whatever it is 432 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:14,360 that you do out of revelation of his goodness and his heart to 433 00:28:14,360 --> 00:28:17,200 take care of people. It just takes us making a step. 434 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:22,040 Lots of people out there have ideas of what the church should 435 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:25,840 be doing in terms of taking care of people and all the rest of 436 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,280 it. But nothing that we do happens 437 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:31,560 outside of the generosity of the people of our of our family. 438 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:34,920 There's no government funding for us. 439 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:38,960 There's there's no, you know, cash advances or whatever. 440 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,200 For us, when we do our ministries, everything that we 441 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:44,320 do, whether it be Christmas or hampers or anything that we do, 442 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:47,440 it comes from the, from the generosity of this church 443 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:51,880 family. And so, and, and, and we've got 444 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:55,760 such a generous church family. It's, it's really beautiful, but 445 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:58,280 there's always an opportunity for us to participate in that. 446 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:02,640 And, and that's what this is. So I guess the question again, 447 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:05,920 if we're asking ourselves questions is do I have a heart? 448 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:09,840 Do I know God's heart to take care of, of those who are in 449 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:11,640 need? And do I share that heart with 450 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:14,000 him? And Lord, would you grow my 451 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,920 heart in that area? Caring is not just financial, 452 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:23,040 it's how we serve each other. Jesus demonstrated serving each 453 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:25,400 other in washing each other's feet. 454 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,200 In Philippians it says do nothing from selfish ambition or 455 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,520 conceit, but in humility count others more significant than 456 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:36,800 yourselves. In Galatians it says for we 457 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:40,280 we're called to freedom brothers and they do not use your freedom 458 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:44,320 as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one 459 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:47,720 another. So we can always be looking for 460 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,840 ways that we can serve each other again when we come 461 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:53,080 together. Who can I get a drink for? 462 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:55,640 Who can I? I love Chantelle when I she was 463 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:59,040 still pregnant and I had eaten and she would every time we were 464 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:01,920 together as a group, she would go to the come to me. 465 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:04,280 She goes, let me get you some food, what do you want or 466 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:05,600 whatever. And then she would go and get me 467 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:08,640 a plate and come back. Like how beautiful. 468 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:14,440 Again, when we're together, we know when we're sick, when we 469 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:18,040 know when babies are being born. We think about the lonely 470 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:20,680 people, the people who aren't married, who have dinner by 471 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:23,400 themselves every night. You know, can we invite someone 472 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:26,840 over to have dinner with us? Can we take someone out for a 473 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:30,000 coffee? There's so many opportunities 474 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:33,040 for us to to take care of each other's needs. 475 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:37,040 And again, it's going to take humility. 476 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:40,240 It's going to take opening our eyes and asking God to show us 477 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:44,760 where can I bless and serve the people around us that you have 478 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:49,840 called to be my family. And again, when people come into 479 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:52,440 this environment, they're going to come into a place where 480 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:54,760 they're so cared for, not just on a weekend or when we're 481 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:57,000 together, but all the time and they catch it. 482 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,120 And that's the culture that I believe is a Kingdom culture 483 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:05,480 that we're called to. Ty reminded us that community is 484 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:09,600 the final apologetic. It's it's the thing that shows 485 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:13,600 God's love. Jesus says by this all people 486 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:16,000 will know that you are my disciples if you have love for 487 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:20,040 one another. God is love, Jesus is love. 488 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:25,120 We have a family resemblance. I love again. 489 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:28,200 I'm pretty sure I bring it up every time I speak because it's 490 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:31,200 just such a but first Corinthians 13. 491 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:34,120 I use it as a litmus test for my love of people. 492 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:37,520 Am I being patient? Am I being kind? 493 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:41,440 Am I bearing were held of wrong? Am I believing the best of 494 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:45,280 people? These are like this is who God 495 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:48,400 is and we are created in his image and we've been reborn into 496 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:50,240 his family. And so these are the things that 497 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:54,360 that we can prayerfully seek to participate in. 498 00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:58,360 So I just want to close with this scripture. 499 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:02,560 I've read it a few weeks ago and I was just like, oh gosh, this 500 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:06,440 is just amazing. It's Romans 12, verse 9 to 18. 501 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:12,520 It says, let love be genuine, abhor what is evil, hold fast to 502 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:17,280 what is good, love one another with brotherly affection, outdo 503 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:21,200 one another with showing honour. Do not be slothful in zeal, but 504 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:25,160 fervent in spirit. Serve the Lord, rejoice in hope, 505 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:29,160 be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer, Contribute 506 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:31,960 to the needs of the Saints and seek to show hospitality. 507 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:35,800 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them. 508 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:39,720 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 509 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:42,240 Live in harmony with one another. 510 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:45,200 Do not be haughty, but associate with the Lily. 511 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:49,400 Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but 512 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:51,920 give thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all, 513 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:55,600 if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably 514 00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:59,800 with all. So yeah, so that's that's what 515 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:02,160 God had put on my heart. And it was really cool when Ty 516 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:05,320 was here because he touched on so many of them. 517 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:09,080 So my prayer is, is that as a church family, we would just 518 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:12,360 take a hold of the things that God speaking to us to and just 519 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:15,160 be committed to doing that which he's called us to do. 520 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:19,680 So Lord, we thank you. We thank you for this amazing 521 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:21,800 family that you've established on the earth. 522 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:27,040 We thank you that that Jesus is the head and we are the body and 523 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:31,440 that we have this opportunity to partake in in everything that 524 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:33,200 you've created for us to be a part of. 525 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:36,280 We thank you that your purpose for us is growth and 526 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:40,120 transformation to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. 527 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:44,160 We thank you that even as families by design, they grow 528 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:47,760 and multiply that we would take a hold of this Kingdom culture, 529 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:50,280 Lord, and that and that the babies that come into this 530 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:54,600 family, Lord, would be would be also transformed into your image 531 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:57,920 in these ways that the platform of culture would get more and 532 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:01,800 more closer to to heaven the more that we grow and continue 533 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:03,960 on this path. Lord God, we pray for 534 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:06,560 perseverance. We pray that you would help us 535 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:09,840 to to call each other onward and upward to the things that you 536 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:11,800 have for us. Lord, We pray that you would 537 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:15,520 help us to restore each other with with gentleness and love 538 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:19,800 and life and hope. Lord, we just pray that that you 539 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,960 would be glorified this morning, Lord, anything that was not of 540 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:25,960 your heart, God, I just pray let it fall aside, Lord, but but 541 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:31,400 that which was of your word, of your, of your stamp of approval, 542 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:34,440 Lord, that would take a deep press on our hearts, God, that 543 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:38,639 we would just be committed to, to throwing off the, the sin 544 00:34:38,639 --> 00:34:41,560 that entangles us and to pursuing your Kingdom and your 545 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:44,159 righteousness. Lord, we thank you that as we do 546 00:34:44,159 --> 00:34:47,239 that we, we come into closest communion with you Father, and 547 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:50,679 we know you better and we enjoy your peace and your joy and your 548 00:34:50,679 --> 00:34:53,040 life and your hope. And we thank you for this in 549 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:59,360 Jesus name, Amen. Thank you for joining us for 550 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:01,800 today's message. For more information about The 551 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:06,000 Way Church, please visit ourwebsite@thewaychurch.com dot 552 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:07,360 AU. Have a blessed day.