1 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,360 Good morning. Yeah, OK. 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:09,880 I'm sure by now giving you enough time to get to the book 3 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:13,480 of Romans chapter 8. I just want to launch off one 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,280 verse before we get into the weeds, so to speak. 5 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,680 And this is Romans 8, verse 31. If you're taking notes, it says 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,520 the following says simply. What then, shall we say in 7 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,880 response to these things? What things? 8 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,520 Well, obviously the things that we've covered in the last few 9 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,480 months in the chapter that we've been chewing on Romans chapter 10 00:00:33,480 --> 00:00:36,480 8, entitled More than Conquerors. 11 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:39,520 And he's saying, well, are we? What then shall we say in 12 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,320 response to these things? You see, Paul's a master 13 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,640 builder, He's a wordsmith. He's crafted this argument. 14 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:49,400 He's presented us the the evidence of what God has done on 15 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:51,240 our behalf in the way he sees us. 16 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:53,240 But this evidence demands A verdict. 17 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,640 And so he's saying, OK, what are you going to do with it? 18 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,720 You know, he's he's as a builder, so to speak, He's not 19 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:04,160 sure to test these foundations and say, have you set the the 20 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,400 foundations biblically in your life? 21 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,080 I remember many years ago for those who are joining us from 22 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,640 the heart of the beer sports, we started on this property in 2007 23 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,480 in a tent. And it's one of those snow peak 24 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,160 tents and it's this seats about 2000 people. 25 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:24,560 So it's quite a big structure and it required really solid 26 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,480 foundations. But because it's not a building, 27 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,480 these foundations essentially were blocks of cement. 28 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,840 So it was almost 2 meters by two meters by two meters that 29 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,480 they're buried in the soil and with rebar and everything inside 30 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:37,920 there. And then they brought a crane 31 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:43,280 along and they put up to 10 tons of pull pressure on these 32 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,680 massive blocks, these foundation stones. 33 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,960 They needed to stay in the ground because the entire 34 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,640 structure was anchored to these blocks. 35 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,960 And so the one day I came around to see what was happening. 36 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:58,560 And so I got the job of standing with, I don't know if you've 37 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:00,160 seen it. You know, those guys, the civil 38 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:01,920 engineers, they had the funny little thing that they're 39 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,240 scoping through. And I had to stand with a little 40 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:11,320 ruler, glorified ruler on this massive chunk of cements. 41 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:14,760 I did have a hard hats on. I don't know why I had a hard 42 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,640 hat on and I had this little thing and then there was this 43 00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,600 crane that came and pulled 10 tons worth of I'm just thinking, 44 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,080 you know, if this fails because I need to test it, but it 45 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,000 wouldn't fail when the tent is set up. 46 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:31,680 I'm like, if this thing fails, it's going to be so I'm standing 47 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:34,240 there. Only one of them did fail, but 48 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,040 it was the weirdest thing. It was just literally went and 49 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,960 it's 10 ton. Whatever that thing was was 50 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:44,000 about 2cm above the ground and the cable was rattling and we 51 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,520 had to take that thing out and we had to reset it because when 52 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,920 the storms come, that things, if it fails, then collateral damage 53 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:55,880 could cost our lives, definitely cost the future of three CR. 54 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,560 And so you test those foundations and Paul is saying 55 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,360 to us we need to do exactly the same. 56 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,760 What then shall we say in response to these things in 57 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,360 verse 31? He goes on to say in verse 38 58 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:14,760 for I am convinced, but are you, are you convinced what we've 59 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,920 covered what Scripture speaks about in Romans chapter 8, John 60 00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:21,920 Wesley tells in his Diaries, he was saying how he used to 61 00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:23,840 travel. John Wesley was a preacher up in 62 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,200 Europe and used to travel the circuit that he used to do in 63 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:30,200 about 10-12 years go from church to church, pulpit to pulpit. 64 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,560 And he's got one of his favorite places that he always looked 65 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,840 forward to going. It was a, it was a little town 66 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,600 set up on a harbour, but it was a natural harbour back in the 67 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,360 days, I think back in the 1700s where river mouth had opened up 68 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,160 and it had sort of created this natural harbour. 69 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:48,080 And he loved the place because business was flourishing. 70 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,240 There were Taverns there, churches there, massive ships 71 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,400 would come with their cargoes and trade happening. 72 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,120 And it was always the highlight of a circuit until one day he 73 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:58,800 hadn't been there for 10 or 11 years. 74 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,440 He came and it was a ghoster because what had happened was he 75 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,400 eventually found out was they had a number of storms inland 76 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:10,800 and it had brought floodwaters down from this river into the 77 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,160 river mouth, this harbour. And it's simply filled it up 78 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,000 with silt to the point where these massive ships could no 79 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,240 longer come in. So they went somewhere else with 80 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,560 their trade. And it's essentially strangled 81 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,880 the city 1 grain of sand at a time. 82 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,680 And you see that happens with us as Christians in our journey 83 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,640 with Jesus. Our hearts get filled with the 84 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,920 sediments of cynicism and and and struggle and what have you 85 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,960 and Romans 8 is meant to come and dredge the harbour of our 86 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:43,880 hearts. But has it have you let it 87 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,320 because Paul says what then shall we say in response to 88 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,720 these things? I'm convinced, but are you now 89 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,960 if you haven't been around for those who are visiting us today, 90 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,160 I wanted to pick up 88 things from Romans 8 that we've 91 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:57,400 covered, but I'm just going to do 8. 92 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,240 Hilton is like yours. It's going to be a long day, but 93 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:06,240 I just these are literally extrapolated from my notes going 94 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,200 to pop them up there. How does it land on your heart? 95 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,440 Here's the first one. Remember this, the same spirit 96 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:16,640 that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. 97 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:21,800 Let that sink in, dwells in you and will quicken your mortal 98 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:23,440 body. Remember we preached on healing. 99 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,960 Can you remember you walked out ordained to go and heal? 100 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:28,840 Can you remember there was a fire and you went and you 101 00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:30,720 decided I'm going to pray for everyone. 102 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,440 I see you sick. Are you still doing that? 103 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,680 Here's the second one. Romans 8 invites us to Zoe life. 104 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,000 This is where we started. Jesus said, I've come that you 105 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,240 may have life and life to the full Zoe life, the fullness of 106 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:46,040 all that God has for you and dreams for you. 107 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:51,480 Nothing missing, nothing broken. Has that leaked into your prayer 108 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:57,080 life? You said you promised Nothing 109 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,720 missing, nothing broken. I heard the other day the 110 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:06,560 simplest definition of prayer is Dad, you promised, He promised a 111 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,160 fullness that all that God has for you in dreams, so you're 112 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:16,880 nothing missing, nothing broken. Are you convinced #3 sin is the 113 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,480 greatest power known to man? Drew this out of my notes. 114 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,200 Next to God himself, this is Martin Luther Jones's quote. 115 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,560 Sin is the greatest power known to man next to God himself. 116 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:30,320 Sin is so powerful, even God's holy law cannot deliver us from 117 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,640 it, and we unpacked that. But are you still running back 118 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:37,480 to your To Do List, trying to earn your salvation, trying to 119 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:41,680 make right so that maybe God will like you because you're not 120 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,000 convinced? Another one. 121 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:49,160 Therefore now no Ted prayed it earlier, No condemnation, no 122 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:54,720 separation, no disqualification. What then shall we say in 123 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,720 response to these things? So can I ask you, what then have 124 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,640 you said in response to these things? 125 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,280 Is there fruit in your life? Is there a change or is your 126 00:07:04,280 --> 00:07:07,920 heart filled with assault and the cynicism of day-to-day and 127 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:13,520 you say, well, that's nice, but what then shall we say we looked 128 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:18,520 at justification to be free from any guilt or shame, to be 129 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,320 innocent, free from any debt, penalty or punishment, to be 130 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:26,120 pleasing to God. Do you know that that's which 131 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:30,280 you are, as a son and daughter of the Most High, pleasing to 132 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,960 God, whereby he finds no fault in you, holds no charge against 133 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:38,000 you, but rather sees you as valuable, useful and desirable? 134 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,400 What then shall we say in response to that? 135 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,600 Has it done anything in your life? 136 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:52,920 This is Chads quote. The Holy Spirit is not just the 137 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,120 seal of your salvation, but he is the force of your 138 00:07:56,120 --> 00:08:00,400 transformation. Oh, you are not on spiritual 139 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,600 probation. You are not barely. 140 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,520 You are not a barely tolerated Sinner. 141 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,360 That's probably why you're sitting at home watching online 142 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,040 right now. Because you genuinely think that 143 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:15,080 you are a barely tolerated Sinner trying to make your way 144 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,400 home, and instead of letting Rome's take a hold of your 145 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,440 heart, you're sitting there and the enemy has you captive. 146 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,800 Rather, you're justified, adopted, deeply loved child of 147 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:27,240 God. And no one can reverse that 148 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:32,400 verdict, not even you. That last one, the God of all 149 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,480 creation has set His sights on you, longing to pour Himself out 150 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:40,799 on you to rescue, redeem and restore if only you would let 151 00:08:40,799 --> 00:08:42,240 Him. Have you. 152 00:08:43,799 --> 00:08:45,520 Essentially that what Paul is asking. 153 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,640 That's what Scripture is asking. That's what I am asking. 154 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:58,200 Have you let God have you. See, our response should be just 155 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,280 like Paul's response verse 31. What then shall I say in 156 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,880 response to these things? These are some of the things 157 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:04,800 that should come out of your mouth. 158 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:08,360 If God is for me, who can be against me? 159 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,640 He didn't spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all. 160 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,960 How will He not also, along with all things, graciously give us 161 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:19,040 all things? Who will bring any charge 162 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:20,440 against those whom God has chosen? 163 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,840 There's God who justifies. Who then is the one who 164 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:26,520 condemns? No one Christ Jesus who died 165 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:29,320 more than that, who is raised to life is at the right hand of God 166 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,600 and is also interceding for us. Hey, if you put a list down and 167 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,240 say I know you're interceding for me. 168 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,280 Can I just put a few things on your prayer list? 169 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,440 Jesus who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall trouble 170 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,880 or hardship or persecution or feminine or nakedness or 171 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,120 dangerous sword. Verse 37 no, and all these 172 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,680 things we are more than conquerors through him who loved 173 00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:50,560 us for I am convinced, says Paul. 174 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,040 But this church is painfully quiet. 175 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:10,800 I see you there. Is this you 100% or throughout 176 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,560 the entire series of Romans chapter eights? 177 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:17,760 All that's happened is foundation after foundation 178 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:23,800 after foundation. If not if, if that's if you're 179 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:28,120 going like I can see you going. It's like I don't even know if I 180 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:36,500 want to take notes. Yeah, it's amazing. 181 00:10:36,500 --> 00:10:42,260 I can feel the spiritual pushback on the promises of God. 182 00:10:42,940 --> 00:10:44,940 And if that's you, let me tell you why. 183 00:10:46,060 --> 00:10:47,500 Let's look at these verses again. 184 00:10:48,340 --> 00:10:53,280 Verse 31 point #2 We have all of this, and if it's not landing on 185 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,440 a house, This is why. What then shall we say in 186 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,280 response to these things? If God is for us, what does it 187 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:02,760 say? Who can be against us? 188 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,600 He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, 189 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,240 how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all 190 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:14,000 things? Who will bring any charge 191 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:15,440 against those whom God has chosen? 192 00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:18,720 It is God who justifies. Say it with me. 193 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,240 Who then is the one who condemns no one? 194 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:25,040 Christ Jesus, who died more than that who was raised to life, is 195 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:28,080 at the right hand of God, and is also interceding for US1 More 196 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,920 time. Who shall separate us from the 197 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:34,920 love of Christ? Can I tell you who The Who is? 198 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:44,600 You said Doctor Zeus, The Who is you don't sit there like this, 199 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:50,920 look in a mirror. But so in the Bible, I want to 200 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,000 show you something and I don't want to make a theology out of 201 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,320 this, but this is my little observation. 202 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,600 In the Bible, it was very frowned upon when you were 203 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:03,160 writing scripture to use emojis. So what they did instead was 204 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,960 they would repeat things to emphasize it went punctuation 205 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:09,200 like we have or underlining or in bold. 206 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,480 So when they talk spoke about like a really big pit, it would 207 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:16,680 be a pit pit, you know, maybe we use it when it was a really hard 208 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:17,920 exam. It was hard, hard. 209 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:23,880 And so Scripture uses that to emphasize, which is why God, 210 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:28,960 who's holy is not just holy. He's spoken of as holy, holy, 211 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:32,240 holy. That's how they try and 212 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,040 describe. So I'm looking at this and I see 213 00:12:35,560 --> 00:12:40,120 you've got God, holy holy holy but got you 4 times. 214 00:12:41,560 --> 00:12:45,360 Which means that all of Romans chapter 8 that Paul has been 215 00:12:45,560 --> 00:13:00,640 lavishing us with comes down to 1 tiny little The Who is you 216 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:07,800 when you forget? I don't know if you know Laura's 217 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,280 story. That's her name, Laura Story. 218 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:13,600 I don't know if you know Laura's story. 219 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,480 Story. So Laura's story, she's a Grammy 220 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,560 award-winning singer-songwriter, a lovely believer, very 221 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:22,680 outspoken about her faith, married to a man who's very 222 00:13:22,680 --> 00:13:26,200 famous in the baseball world, also outspoken about his faith. 223 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,680 His name is Martin. And they were newlyweds and 224 00:13:28,680 --> 00:13:31,720 Martin discovered he had a tumor and he needed an operation. 225 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:35,040 And so the doctor sat the couple down and said, listen, just so 226 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,600 you know, this is part of the prefrontal cortex and it means 227 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:40,760 that when we take out this tumor, we might take out 228 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:42,160 memories. You know, it's just the way that 229 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,200 it works where this tumor is situated. 230 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:48,280 So we don't quite know how much function he's going to have post 231 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:51,480 op and how many, many memories he's going to have post op. 232 00:13:52,680 --> 00:13:56,120 And so goes through the operation of successful full 233 00:13:56,120 --> 00:14:00,360 functionality, but he has literally been hemorrhaging 234 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:02,080 memories because of this operation. 235 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:08,080 And so one of the things that he forgot, well, the details about 236 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:13,000 his marriage, forgot wooing her, dating her, forgot getting down 237 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,440 on one knee, saying those vows, forgot the honeymoon, forgot the 238 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:18,880 first few years of their marriage. 239 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,440 But one thing he didn't forget it was he remembers having a 240 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,880 massive crush on Laura back when they were in school together. 241 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,680 So they're sitting there post op and what have you and Laura's 242 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:32,000 there. Obviously the doctor's doing all 243 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,400 the tests. And you know, later on, a day or 244 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,800 two later, he says, listen, Laura, sorry, can I ask you 245 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,120 something like really personal? She says, sure, what do you want 246 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:45,200 to know? He's like, why are you always 247 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:49,280 here? So she says some, you know, I 248 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:52,760 don't know how to break this to you, but I'm actually your wife, 249 00:14:54,600 --> 00:15:00,920 like, stares for a second. And he's like, yes, side notes, 250 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:03,000 guys, if you ever get a brain tumor, have an operation, lose a 251 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:04,880 whole bunch of memories, and the lady on the end of the bed says 252 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:07,000 to you, she's your wife. That is the answer. 253 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:14,960 Back to the sermon. Imagine forgetting something 254 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:18,120 like that. We do it every day. 255 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,240 We sit on a Sunday with singers, the songs. 256 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:26,760 We might take some notes. We're not quite convinced that 257 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:34,160 on Monday it's gone and The Who becomes you and all of this 258 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:38,960 comes to a standstill because The Who that is you has 259 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:40,520 forgotten. Or maybe you're just not 260 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,600 convinced. I think I might have mentioned 261 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:48,000 the story I heard about a guy who's his dad was a mean drunk. 262 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,440 At his worst, he actually stuffed him as a boy into the 263 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,480 washing machine to try and drown him. 264 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,000 But the worst was he said that was nothing. 265 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:00,160 The worst for him was that whenever his dad was drunk, he 266 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,360 called him stupid #5 that was this. 267 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,560 The guy was the fifth boy in the family, and the dad just called 268 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:10,280 him stupid #5 worse than attempted murder. 269 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:16,400 Stupidness stupid #5 stupid #5 now you put that man on your end 270 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,640 of the pulpit, hearing about a God who loves and cares and 271 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:24,040 pursues and delights. Not convinced if he calls 272 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,280 himself Father? Not convinced we're much the 273 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:32,640 same. Finally, how the demons and all 274 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:37,880 our past far more convincing than a God who gives his only 275 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,400 begotten Son to die in your stead. 276 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:44,200 Why is it that we are more convinced by the demons of our 277 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,360 past and the God of our future, our Father? 278 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:53,400 Maybe that's why you or The Who just not convinced. 279 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:55,600 Maybe it's a little bit of Stockholm syndrome. 280 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,240 I don't know if you know Stockholm Syndrome. 281 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,440 It was in the back of I think in 1973. 282 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:03,680 There's a bank robbery in Sweden and they gathered a whole bunch 283 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,280 of ladies who were working at the time and they stuffed them 284 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:09,520 into a vaults with explosives and they threatened to kill them 285 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,000 all if they didn't get their ransom demands or whatever the 286 00:17:12,599 --> 00:17:15,800 robbers do other than steep robbing the bank. 287 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,440 And what happened was by the time, I think it was almost a 288 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,920 week, maybe more than a week by the time that came, you know, 289 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:26,520 where it's like they're trying to negotiate and eventually they 290 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,840 come through the windows and, you know, repelling through the 291 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:31,120 ceiling. Whatever the case might be. 292 00:17:31,120 --> 00:17:35,000 By the time that moment happened, those ladies would not 293 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,400 give up their captors because they'd already given them their 294 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,880 hearts. Somehow through the week, 295 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:48,280 compassion, concern, worry led to actually giving them their 296 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:50,600 hearts. They would not testify in court, 297 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,840 wouldn't identify them because the captives held them so long 298 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:56,440 that they'd actually given them their hearts. 299 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:02,360 So too with your sin. It holds you captive for so long 300 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:07,040 that actually it's really nice being the center of attention 301 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:12,760 and feeding the flesh to give this tiny little thing up. 302 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:17,200 For that, I'm not so sure. So you become The Who. 303 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:23,040 Or lastly, we glamorize our struggles. 304 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,720 Yeah, but you don't know what it's like being married to him. 305 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,840 Yeah, but you don't know him. My dad was an alcoholic and my 306 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:40,160 grandfather, you know, like, it's a kind of a given. 307 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:45,200 We glamorize our struggles. Can I just say that if you've 308 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:49,320 been struggling with something for the last ten, 11-12 years, 309 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:54,920 it's not a struggle. It's a stronghold and we pander 310 00:18:54,920 --> 00:19:02,400 towards it and we fiddle with it and eventually you become The 311 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:09,320 Who who condemns no one. It is God who justifies. 312 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:11,920 But you sent me. Oh, sorry, sorry for you. 313 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:21,640 I'll hold the keys. So if you are The Who to all the 314 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:26,120 dearly beloved, arms crossed wormies looking over their 315 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:32,680 glasses at me, all the youngsters going like, yeah, you 316 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,840 don't know what I've done. I want to take the last portion 317 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:40,680 of our time together. I want to show you how how you 318 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:45,400 get to this point that Paul got to you, how I got there. 319 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,800 I want to share one thing. I'll tell you if there's one 320 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:50,920 thing I could give each and every one of you, if I had to do 321 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,520 coffee with all of you and just I would scooch the Bible across 322 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:57,520 and have you read a portion of Scripture and tell you what I'm 323 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:00,560 about to tell you now. That it is the single most 324 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:05,120 powerful, freeing, life changing revelation I've ever had in my 325 00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:08,120 whole entire life. And I want to encourage you and 326 00:20:08,120 --> 00:20:12,680 I want to invite you take a hold of this, lay a hold of this one 327 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:17,080 thing, because if you don't, you will remain The Who. 328 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:21,720 The one that keeps you back. So I want to show you and I lost 329 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,960 10 minutes together, that which has helped me overcome some 330 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:28,760 strongholds, struggles, the sediments in our hearts. 331 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,960 And I want to tie it into where we've started right at the very 332 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:34,680 beginning. Remember for those who are 333 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:39,880 visiting from Harti Saad, we began Romans eights by showing 334 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,880 the inheritance that Israel was meant to have. 335 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,000 Remember it was from the mountains to the sea, from the 336 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,400 the rivers to the wilderness and it was about four or five times 337 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,280 the size of South Africa. What God had intended them the 338 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,200 so-called promised land. But after a whole bunch of sin 339 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,840 and stupidity they were living and are still living and 340 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,360 something about the size of the Kruger National Park. 341 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:06,160 And we presented this as a Old Testament image of what happens 342 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:11,800 in our lives as that sediment strangles the God life in in US 343 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:16,600 saying that actually, if you are able to lay hold of and apply 344 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:20,200 Romans chapter 8, you will live in the fullness of what God has 345 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,600 for you, right? So that's where we started. 346 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,480 Now we've gone through Romans chapter 8. 347 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:28,240 Now, if you started saying like, I think I'm living in a 20% of 348 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:32,000 what God has for you and now you may be 21%, I think you've 349 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,680 seriously missed it. But I want to show you how to go 350 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:39,640 from there today because this is how God says the nation of 351 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,160 Israel was meant to go from there to there. 352 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,480 Because right in the middle of where we were tearing that page 353 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:49,000 and losing our inheritance and the the the plans and purposes 354 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,480 that God had for Israel, right in the middle of them losing it 355 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:54,440 all. He says one thing in one verse 356 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,520 that has radically changed my life and can change your life 357 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:59,360 and was meant to change their life as well. 358 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:05,600 And that is in Jeremiah 2 verse 19, he says this. 359 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:09,480 He says consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you 360 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:15,320 when you abandon the Lord your God and have no awe of me, 361 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:21,960 declares the Lord God Almighty. He's basically saying you've 362 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:25,040 abandoned me. The reason for that is that you 363 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:29,760 have no awe of me. I looked in the amplified 364 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,360 version and says you are indifferent. 365 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,160 You know, it's being different means you come week after week, 366 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,720 Sunday after Sunday, Romans 8th sermon after Romans 8th sermon 367 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:51,400 and at the end of it, your responses consider and realize 368 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:54,240 how evil and bitter it is for you when you abandoned the Lord 369 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:57,320 your God and have no awe of me. I want to show you what that 370 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:00,360 abandoned looks like. Hilton's been begging for a hug 371 00:23:00,360 --> 00:23:02,280 publicly. So Hilton, come give me a hug 372 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,880 publicly. All righty. 373 00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:12,560 So this to that no keep hugging. Keep this to that no keep 374 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:17,160 hugging. This is abandoned. 375 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:28,720 Thank you, thank you. See, we think abandoned. 376 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,400 You know, you join the the the satanic cults in the corner. 377 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:39,320 You know, it's just that 1° off in your heart when you walk out 378 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:41,640 on a sudden and go, you know, they really didn't sing the 379 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,840 songs that I like. We're not singing to you. 380 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:52,600 Sorry, sorry. My therapist says on this, 381 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:57,760 consider and realize the evil, how evil and bitter it is for 382 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:01,040 you when you abandon the Lord your God and have no or when a 383 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:07,880 lack of awe just leads to this. So I want to add this in here 384 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:12,520 because this is the best way I can describe this thing, but I 385 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,480 apologize ahead of the time because I'm going after you men. 386 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,280 But Doctor William Bradford Wilcox, he's a secular scientist 387 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:23,520 and he studied marriages, secular guy, not, not through a 388 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:25,840 biblical lens. He's not a Christian at all. 389 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,640 I think actually he's got like agnostic leanings. 390 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:30,760 But he found something fascinating. 391 00:24:31,120 --> 00:24:34,160 He said, you know, the, the people that sit at the very top 392 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:36,880 of the power when it comes to marriages are Christians. 393 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,240 And, you know, the people that sit at the very bottom when it 394 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:42,760 comes to marriages are Christians. 395 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:45,720 So he did a little bit of digging going, you know, 396 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:47,320 something seriously wrong with these people. 397 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:50,480 And this is what he found. Let's talk about the ones at the 398 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:54,120 very top. The happiest women and the 399 00:24:54,120 --> 00:24:57,160 happiest marriages are ladies who are married to actively 400 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:00,000 involved evangelical Christian men, quote UN quote. 401 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:05,000 In other words, those who are still captivated by Jesus. 402 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:11,080 The happiest marriages when ladies are married to actively 403 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,600 involved evangelical Christian men, they are four times happier 404 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:17,000 than how they measure that than any other. 405 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:18,960 Have ideas? But I don't think that's what he 406 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:23,360 did. Four times happier than any 407 00:25:23,360 --> 00:25:27,800 other segment of society. They are the most loving and 408 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:32,280 engaged fathers and husbands. And they also produce the lowest 409 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:36,160 rates of divorce of any group. And then he also added they are 410 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:41,320 the safest men to marry because that's actually the backbone of 411 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:44,000 the study. It was a gender based violence 412 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:49,040 study said the safest. There's all these other knock on 413 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:52,000 effects, but the safest is to be married to a man who stole in 414 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,800 awe of Jesus. Flip the tables. 415 00:25:55,160 --> 00:26:02,880 The most vulnerable to abuse, pain and rejection of those 416 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:06,120 married to nominal Christian men. 417 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:08,680 You know what a nominal Christian man is? 418 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:20,440 It looks like this just simply does that goes on to say you 419 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:23,360 would be safer ladies to be single. 420 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:28,480 This is an unsaved non Christian, no agenda man you. 421 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:32,200 According to the study, you'll be safer to be single or married 422 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:37,520 to an atheist, he said, then married to a man who is 423 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:42,440 indifferent. See, that's why I think Jeremiah 424 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:46,520 219 starts by saying consider and realize how evil and bitter 425 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:48,120 it is for you when you abandon the Lord. 426 00:26:48,120 --> 00:26:50,880 You see, it's not just a case of, well, the jury's out, you 427 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:53,240 know, use it, don't use it. No, no, no. 428 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:55,880 You need to realize there is a dividing line. 429 00:26:56,120 --> 00:27:02,480 Either you are in awe of God and his lifeblood is flowing through 430 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:06,720 you, or you are indifferent and you're poisoning your soul and 431 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:09,800 all those around you. Why would you bother getting 432 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:13,560 dressed on a Sunday, showering and coming all the way here in 433 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:20,040 the rain to leave indifferent. Paul says to you, what shall we 434 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:24,360 say in response to these things? And I mentioned when we're 435 00:27:24,360 --> 00:27:28,560 looking at at work, I mentioned that essentially as Christians, 436 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:33,840 that worry is practical atheism. I take it from this life lesson 437 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:36,480 that I learned, but I want to build on that. 438 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:40,240 When you worry, you are more in awe of the situation that you're 439 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:44,040 facing than the power of God to rescue you. 440 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:47,080 I mean, if it's a financial situation you're more in awe of, 441 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:49,440 like I don't know how that's going to happen than the God who 442 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:51,880 can solve that financial problem with planets. 443 00:27:56,560 --> 00:28:01,600 When you're feeling guilty, I'm not going to come to church, I'm 444 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:03,840 just going to watch online. When you're feeling guilty, 445 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:07,480 you're more in awe of the filth of your sin than the power to 446 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:12,080 forgive. When you're insecure, you're 447 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:16,920 more in awe of your lack then the God who's spoken of is one 448 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,120 who does exceedingly, abundantly above. 449 00:28:21,360 --> 00:28:26,120 When you're dabbling with porn or self medicating, you're more 450 00:28:26,120 --> 00:28:30,320 in awe and that tiny little dopamine hit than the God that 451 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:37,680 created every neural network that fires in your brain and the 452 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:42,760 God who's holy and the God who can set you free. 453 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:47,320 When you're carrying around shame, would God have me? 454 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:52,000 You're more in awe of the disappointment you are than the 455 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:59,080 delights that God has in you. Consider and realize how evil 456 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,560 and bitter it is for you when you abandoned the Lord your God 457 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:11,080 and have no awe of me. Where are those who rediscover 458 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:16,520 the awe of Romans Acts? You know what God can do with 459 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:20,920 one person. Paul was one of them. 460 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:25,320 Planted churches, changed the nation was used to write most of 461 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,600 the New Testament. One man filled with awe. 462 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:33,000 Augustine was another. Don't know if you know him. 463 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,120 It's one of the first names we learned at Bible college. 464 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:39,640 He's referred to as Saint Augustine, but before that, he 465 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:44,560 ain't no state in his own words. Debauched, depressed and a 466 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:47,720 disappointment. And then he was sitting with a 467 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,880 hangover in a park and there were kids screaming and singing 468 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:53,600 and round around the Rosies, but they were singing the song take 469 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,240 up and read, take up and read. And he just felt he needed to 470 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:58,880 take up and read the Bible. And what he did was he said he 471 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:01,560 opened the Bible and it fell to Romans chapter 8. 472 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:04,520 What he found, they so blew him away. 473 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:07,280 He became the foremost theologian not only of his day, 474 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:11,840 but they say for the last few thousand years, next to Paul, 475 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:20,080 the foremost theologian, one man who is an awe of God, Martin 476 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:27,000 Luther's another one religious, strapped with shame, trying so 477 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:31,560 hard to make right with God out of effort that he would crawl to 478 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:35,520 their prayer, their prayer sessions, on his hands and knees 479 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:37,760 up the stairs, repenting on each state. 480 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:41,800 They say he was known to spend up to six hours in confession 481 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:45,360 every day. Yes. 482 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:48,800 But I didn't really thank God for the porridge this morning 483 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:50,880 because it was a little cold. And that's not knows. 484 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:52,400 It doesn't know how to make porridge away. 485 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:54,000 Oh, please forgive me. And then, OK. 486 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:56,360 But I also just kind of shoveled that into my mouth. 487 00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:59,680 So forgive me for my gluttony. And, you know, I think I've used 488 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:01,880 a little bit too much sugar and said Johnny didn't get enough 489 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:02,520 sugar. I'm sorry. 490 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:06,880 I've like, I mean this guy just wrapped in guilt and shame and 491 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:12,320 hated the holiness of God until one verse in the book of Romans 492 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:15,680 took his breath away and out of that the Reformation. 493 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:19,920 John Wesley spoke about him earlier. 494 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:24,640 John Wesley didn't read Romans. He didn't even read a commentary 495 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:27,760 on Romans. John Wesley was a nominal 496 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:31,720 Christian. His words he was but he is 497 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:37,400 reading the intro to a commentary to Romans and God got 498 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:41,560 a hold of him and he's like can this be true and through John 499 00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:45,080 Wesley got swept revival through Europe and tipped over into the 500 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:46,480 US. If you've ever heard of the 501 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:48,920 great awakenings, it came from that moment. 502 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:55,040 The intro to a commentary to Romans, Robert Moffett, same 503 00:31:55,040 --> 00:32:01,720 thing, same chapter, same all. And he was so in awe of how God 504 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:03,440 was able to use Paul. He said, you know what, I want 505 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:04,760 to go where no one's gone before. 506 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:07,200 I don't want to just go resources in someone else's 507 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:08,960 field. And he came to Africa. 508 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:14,320 The reason why we have the gospel in Africa, partly thanks 509 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:19,880 to one verse in one chapter where one man is captivated by 510 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:24,240 all that God has done. And like I said right at the 511 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:30,080 very beginning, every revival in U.S. history has begun as a 512 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:35,280 result the study of the book of Romans, because Romans is the 513 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:39,560 Bible in a nutshell. It is all that God is, all that 514 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:44,000 He's done and all that He's done for and wants to do through you 515 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:49,680 in a nutshell. And when you get that, there's 516 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:53,080 nothing like it. There's nothing like it in 517 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:55,840 handling your sin. There's nothing like it and 518 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:58,560 handing yourself worth. There's nothing nothing like it 519 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:01,400 and and the struggles that you say you're facing and the 520 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:03,080 battles that you're going through. 521 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:08,680 The God says if I have to distill when talking to Israel, 522 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,440 if I have to distill, how does you got yourself here and how 523 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:21,840 you'll get yourself out of here. One word or do I still take your 524 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:24,440 breath away? He says 3 CR. 525 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:27,960 And so that's all I have to say this morning. 526 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:36,760 Where are the Moffets and the Luthers and the John Wesley's 527 00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:40,680 and the Pauls and the Esters and the Priscillas and Aquilas and 528 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:46,920 the Ruths who rediscover the awe of God, not just rediscovered, 529 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:51,800 but are convinced, as Paul said, Because here's the crazy thing. 530 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:56,760 God has been saying this the same way all year long, just a 531 00:33:56,760 --> 00:34:01,440 little different angle from the very first sermon preached this 532 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:06,400 year out of Psalm 46, Be still and know that I'm God. 533 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:13,440 You know that be still is actually a sound all the way 534 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:17,120 through Ecclesiastes and now Romans 8, He's been saying one 535 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:19,679 thing over and over and over again. 536 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:27,159 You want to know what will set you free, Tov, when you find Tov 537 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:32,400 and the God who loves you, who pursues you, who gave his Son 538 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:37,719 for you. But he says, what then shall we 539 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:43,719 say in response to this? The evidence demands A verdict. 540 00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:45,880 What is that verdict in your life? 541 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:53,800 Is it the sheer gobsmacking awe of God or is it meh? 542 00:34:56,920 --> 00:35:04,600 It's up to you, let's pray. Lord, I don't know what more to 543 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:10,400 do but to point us as a community to you because I know 544 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:13,800 my heart and I'm sure it's two 3000 times over. 545 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:23,240 I forget. I get so cynical, I give 546 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:27,440 credence to the ghosts of my past and I actually fail to 547 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:32,520 recognize this unbelievable, relentless pursuit of my 548 00:35:32,520 --> 00:35:36,920 Heavenly Father for my heart. Lord, I acknowledge that I am 549 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:42,080 The Who and I want to repent this morning and on behalf of 550 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:45,320 those here whose hearts are stirred to reach out and lay 551 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:50,000 hold of this awe inspiring God. We repent, Father, we repent for 552 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:55,160 not being convinced, for listening to other voices or 553 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:58,440 allowing our hearts to be taken captive. 554 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:03,280 I just asked Lord Jesus that by your Holy Spirit you would come 555 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:10,880 captivate us again. Come, Holy Spirit, I know I 556 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:15,240 can't convince a soul through words, but just a moment of 557 00:36:15,240 --> 00:36:19,200 gazing at your glory and we are forever changed. 558 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:20,560 And I just asked for that thought. 559 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:25,880 May we see you and would you take a hold of us? 560 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:30,360 Take a hold of our families, our finances, our future of the city 561 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:35,840 where we work. May we never be the same again. 562 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:44,760 Instead, may we live genuinely in all of you, in Jesus name.