WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:07.720 One thing that makes all the difference in the world is in these situations having Jesus 00:07.720 --> 00:17.740 in our life, number one, and like the topic we're talking about, knowing who we are in Christ. 00:19.380 --> 00:26.840 In every aspect of life, but especially the real difficult ones, it makes all the difference 00:26.840 --> 00:27.380 in the world. 00:27.380 --> 00:34.400 And that's the topic we're in at this point, is who am I in Christ, or our identity in Christ? 00:34.600 --> 00:38.260 And we've been in this series, I believe this is number five now. 00:39.560 --> 00:41.920 So we've got some groundwork laid out. 00:42.300 --> 00:48.660 So I want to just kind of prime the pump here of what I'm trying to see happen and what 00:48.660 --> 00:50.400 I believe the Lord wants to see happen. 00:51.120 --> 00:54.480 You know, we can say I'm a new creation in Christ, all things have passed away, behold 00:54.480 --> 00:55.680 all things have become new. 00:55.680 --> 00:57.880 So I'm a new creation in Christ. 00:58.760 --> 00:59.760 What does that mean? 01:02.600 --> 01:05.460 Could you describe it or explain it to someone? 01:06.660 --> 01:08.140 I'm a new creation in Christ. 01:08.280 --> 01:09.340 Well, tell me what that means. 01:10.300 --> 01:11.380 Explain that to me. 01:17.950 --> 01:24.910 No, I'm just letting you think, because some of you will do an excellent job, but I'm 01:24.910 --> 01:27.970 just trying to get you to think, but that is a good question because I'm quiet. 01:29.730 --> 01:30.610 I'm saved. 01:31.430 --> 01:32.290 Well, what does that mean? 01:34.190 --> 01:37.310 Could you describe or explain to me what it means to be saved? 01:38.770 --> 01:42.750 Because see, if you can't describe it or you can't explain it, you don't understand 01:42.750 --> 01:42.990 it. 01:45.270 --> 01:46.150 That's what's real. 01:47.590 --> 01:51.430 If we can't explain it to someone else, we don't understand it. 01:51.490 --> 01:52.130 We don't get it. 01:52.810 --> 02:04.550 We might think we do, but until you can actually describe or explain, we don't get it. 02:04.970 --> 02:06.790 Because once we get it, we can explain it. 02:06.870 --> 02:08.030 So we've been looking at this. 02:08.170 --> 02:10.610 We started on Ephesians 1 and 2. 02:10.730 --> 02:15.250 I'm going to finish 2 this morning, Ephesians 2, and then we're going to jump off a 02:15.250 --> 02:20.170 different direction because there's some other things that are also covered in who 02:20.170 --> 02:27.030 we are in Christ, which is like the big words that we hear a lot in churches that a lot of 02:27.030 --> 02:28.450 times, again, people don't understand. 02:30.230 --> 02:32.310 I am sanctified. 02:32.930 --> 02:33.770 I'm redeemed. 02:35.370 --> 02:36.910 I'm bought by the blood. 02:39.830 --> 02:42.030 I'm the righteousness of God. 02:42.710 --> 02:43.690 You know, we'll throw these out. 02:43.770 --> 02:45.170 Can you tell me what that means? 02:47.230 --> 02:48.650 What does it mean? 02:50.210 --> 02:51.110 Describe it to me. 02:51.930 --> 02:54.270 Because if we can't, we say, well, that's what I am. 02:54.370 --> 02:55.030 Well, then what are you? 02:55.230 --> 02:55.790 Describe it. 02:56.930 --> 02:57.790 Put it out there. 02:58.330 --> 03:01.370 So we're going to go into that next Sunday and move that direction. 03:02.050 --> 03:07.190 But I want to finish 1 and 2 because Ephesians 2, Paul does an excellent job of putting 03:07.190 --> 03:07.890 it in a nutshell. 03:08.370 --> 03:13.730 And I came out a last Sunday and I was not feeling satisfied with how I did it. 03:13.730 --> 03:16.310 So I redid the whole PowerPoint and made it huge. 03:16.950 --> 03:24.210 And the PowerPoints, what you see on the screen, is always available online once the message. 03:24.650 --> 03:28.330 We have the live stream channel, which gives the whole service. 03:28.830 --> 03:34.210 And then Monday or Tuesday or so, Kevin will pull the message out of that and put 03:34.210 --> 03:36.190 it on our message channel on YouTube. 03:37.070 --> 03:40.490 That PowerPoint is always with that message. 03:41.390 --> 03:46.790 So if you need to go back and refresh your mind on something, everything on the PowerPoint 03:46.790 --> 03:47.350 is there. 03:47.470 --> 03:54.170 And I made a lot of PowerPoints for today because there's just so much. 03:54.810 --> 03:58.530 If we can't go back and meditate on it and think about it, we'll forget it. 03:59.750 --> 04:04.410 So I thought I'm going to hit this really hard and make a lot of PowerPoints. 04:04.530 --> 04:05.490 So I did that. 04:05.630 --> 04:08.590 So you're going to be flipping through a lot of stuff here, but it's available 04:08.590 --> 04:09.050 for you. 04:09.050 --> 04:09.770 That's the point. 04:11.190 --> 04:16.890 So often we take our identity from what we do in this earth, from the physical realm. 04:17.730 --> 04:18.470 Well, who are you? 04:18.630 --> 04:25.210 Well, I'm a plumber, or I'm an electrician, or I'm an architect, an engineer, etc. 04:26.670 --> 04:28.690 In reality, that's not correct. 04:30.870 --> 04:32.930 So in other words, well, I'm a mechanic. 04:33.430 --> 04:37.210 So if something happens that you can no longer do mechanic work, you're nobody. 04:38.390 --> 04:39.110 You're nothing. 04:42.750 --> 04:48.550 Take your occupation and slide it off the table and answer this question. 04:48.710 --> 04:49.150 Who are you? 04:52.720 --> 04:54.540 I don't want to know what you do. 04:55.660 --> 04:56.320 Who are you? 04:58.920 --> 05:02.460 Because a lot of times we draw our identity from what we do. 05:03.380 --> 05:08.720 And that's why people will hit depression when they can no longer do what they claim 05:08.720 --> 05:09.640 their identity is. 05:12.300 --> 05:13.680 It's like, well, I'm worthless now. 05:13.760 --> 05:15.540 I can't do it anymore because that's who I am. 05:16.140 --> 05:16.980 That's the mistake. 05:17.140 --> 05:18.600 Our true identity comes from God. 05:21.780 --> 05:23.820 As human beings, our true identity comes from God. 05:25.220 --> 05:26.840 And that's what we need to nurture. 05:27.020 --> 05:31.800 Like for instance, I am more than a conqueror through him that loved me. 05:33.760 --> 05:35.060 So who am I? 05:35.620 --> 05:37.200 I'm a conqueror. 05:40.410 --> 05:43.450 And you should be one too because that scripture applies to you too. 05:45.790 --> 05:48.150 Doesn't it feel funny when you say, who are you? 05:48.310 --> 05:49.130 I'm a conqueror. 05:49.210 --> 05:51.870 Doesn't that kind of go inside? 05:53.530 --> 05:55.970 Because we don't really view ourselves that way. 05:57.170 --> 05:59.890 Well, some days and some days there's the problem. 06:00.870 --> 06:03.530 It doesn't say some days I'm a conqueror and some days I'm not. 06:04.050 --> 06:05.070 It says I'm a conqueror. 06:05.990 --> 06:08.190 And I'm more than a conqueror. 06:09.870 --> 06:13.630 If you just need a conqueror, you need to find somebody else because I'm more than a conqueror. 06:18.470 --> 06:21.170 But see, we don't normally think in that realm. 06:21.830 --> 06:25.010 Then of course you've got to take that and plug that into the context. 06:26.070 --> 06:29.950 Don't just grab that and apply it to anything because it doesn't apply to anything. 06:30.110 --> 06:36.050 Anybody remember when Paul quoted Romans 8 when he said we are more than conquerors through Christ? 06:37.210 --> 06:38.610 What was he applying that to? 06:41.520 --> 06:44.460 Because I hear people quoted all the time, we're more than conquerors. 06:44.980 --> 06:48.660 That plumbing leak is going to stop in the name of Jesus. 06:52.370 --> 06:53.430 Yeah, it doesn't apply there. 06:54.510 --> 06:57.750 Not unless the Holy Spirit specifically told you to apply it there. 06:57.950 --> 07:02.150 But you know, we'll just grab a phrase and then shoot it into life. 07:02.650 --> 07:04.370 And then we wonder why it doesn't work. 07:10.230 --> 07:12.570 Do you know what he's talking about at the end of Romans 8? 07:14.570 --> 07:18.770 Nothing can separate us from the love of God. 07:22.060 --> 07:24.040 He talks about it before the verse. 07:24.220 --> 07:28.860 He talks about it after I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels, 07:29.060 --> 07:30.560 no things present, no things to come. 07:31.020 --> 07:36.400 Nothing can separate me from the love of God in him or in Christ. 07:39.160 --> 07:46.620 So if you want a direct scriptural application of we are conquerors and more than conquerors, 07:46.960 --> 07:52.180 it has to do with us understanding we are loved. 07:54.080 --> 08:00.140 And that that love toward us can never be stopped by anything. 08:04.250 --> 08:06.250 And from there it can fan out. 08:07.190 --> 08:09.250 But that is the specific... 08:10.150 --> 08:15.530 I'm a conqueror in that all the doubt, all the I wonder if God even cares about me. 08:15.610 --> 08:19.070 My life really went bad this last week and it was tough. 08:19.130 --> 08:21.250 And I don't even know if God loves me and da da da da. 08:21.430 --> 08:22.550 You're not a conqueror. 08:24.550 --> 08:29.610 You need to conquer all those doubt thoughts of does God even love me? 08:29.710 --> 08:31.970 Is he even paying attention? Does he care? 08:33.470 --> 08:34.610 You've got to conquer that. 08:38.390 --> 08:41.630 Because faith works by... 08:43.650 --> 08:48.290 faith worketh, King James, faith worketh by love. 08:50.270 --> 08:54.470 If we're not secure in our love with God, our faith won't work well. 08:55.810 --> 08:59.450 If there's cracks, there's going to be all kinds of doubt that's going to come. 08:59.530 --> 09:04.230 I don't even know if God loves me and I'm not sure and I'm not worthy and I'm not good enough. 09:04.230 --> 09:06.070 And I do so much wrong and da da da. 09:06.390 --> 09:09.690 You've got to conquer that whole realm and come to the understanding, 09:09.970 --> 09:12.630 Paul did of there's nothing separate me from the love of God. 09:12.750 --> 09:16.230 I am loved. Period. So let's not even go there. 09:20.140 --> 09:22.080 Okay, message number two. Let's go on. 09:24.680 --> 09:30.860 A large reason we need to know who we are in Christ is because we rule our lives. 09:33.500 --> 09:35.880 By Scripture, we're told to rule our lives. 09:35.980 --> 09:38.920 It started with Adam and Eve. It comes all the way through Scripture. 09:40.520 --> 09:42.280 We're supposed to run our lives. 09:44.220 --> 09:46.060 We're supposed to rule our lives. 09:46.680 --> 09:50.840 We decide what will happen in our lives, in Christ. 09:52.100 --> 09:53.660 You know, you always got to add the in Christ part. 09:54.540 --> 10:00.460 But we are the ones who rule and so forth. 10:00.460 --> 10:03.300 So on what basis are you ruling your life? 10:05.240 --> 10:12.200 See, if we don't know who we are, we will put up with stuff we should never put up with. 10:13.500 --> 10:18.580 And we will not pursue stuff we should be saying that is mine. 10:20.700 --> 10:24.620 This is who I am in God. That is mine by inheritance. 10:24.800 --> 10:26.180 That's covenant. That's mine. 10:28.160 --> 10:33.460 But we don't know. So we're kind of just floundering. 10:35.060 --> 10:37.660 So prayer had the emphasis of expansion. 10:38.960 --> 10:42.060 It has flowed kind of like right through the service. 10:42.600 --> 10:44.240 So apply it right here. 10:45.040 --> 10:50.980 We need to expand in understanding and revelation of who we are. 10:51.400 --> 10:54.920 The last half of the first chapter that Paul prayed. 10:56.220 --> 10:57.840 We need to expand into that. 10:59.120 --> 11:03.000 Because that is what lays out our identity and who we are and gets the whole thing kick started. 11:04.800 --> 11:06.500 So we started in Ephesians 1. 11:08.320 --> 11:11.020 And I made some notes here. 11:11.140 --> 11:14.320 So I'm going to go through. We went through a number of verses. 11:14.520 --> 11:17.180 We ended at verse 6. So I'm not going to reteach all that. 11:17.280 --> 11:20.500 But I want to see you, have you see what I did with the PowerPoint. 11:21.920 --> 11:23.980 So who am I in Ephesians 2? 11:24.600 --> 11:28.560 How am I being described? Just kind of keep that in your mind as we go through this. 11:28.740 --> 11:30.520 Who am I? How am I being described here? 11:31.080 --> 11:33.580 There is the first verse. So I listed. 11:34.720 --> 11:37.820 What does the first verse say I am? How am I being described? 11:38.200 --> 11:41.940 It describes me as alive in verse 1 and in verse 5. 11:43.260 --> 11:44.620 There is the second verse. 11:45.900 --> 11:47.080 How does it describe me? 11:48.320 --> 11:51.280 I no longer live in trespasses and sin. 11:52.640 --> 11:57.560 Because he says at which time you used to live 11:57.560 --> 12:01.460 following the course, fashion of the world and fashion of the world. 12:01.740 --> 12:07.300 Some of you got a little twinge or two when I talked about staying in style. 12:07.640 --> 12:08.620 Fashion last week. 12:10.420 --> 12:12.260 I had some comments this week. 12:12.840 --> 12:15.080 That's good. I made you think. That was my whole point. 12:16.300 --> 12:18.320 You got to figure it out between you and God. 12:19.880 --> 12:25.220 We're not going to prescribe fashion here. 12:28.860 --> 12:30.160 You got to figure it out. 12:32.240 --> 12:33.480 But I'll tell you this. 12:34.440 --> 12:38.400 Once fashion is so important, you can't afford to tithe. 12:38.880 --> 12:39.400 You're wrong. 12:40.740 --> 12:42.400 Well, I don't have enough money to tithe. 12:42.540 --> 12:45.120 You know how much clothes cost? Well, quit buying so many of them. 12:47.360 --> 12:48.920 Well, I got to stay in style. 12:48.920 --> 12:50.920 Well, do you? Really? 12:54.690 --> 12:57.690 You know, God made a comment to me two weeks ago. 12:59.230 --> 13:01.110 Because I've been asking this question. 13:02.290 --> 13:05.410 Because things on earth were under the prince and power of the air, 13:05.530 --> 13:06.490 and he skewed everything. 13:07.590 --> 13:09.170 Everything on this earth is skewed. 13:09.290 --> 13:12.970 That's what 1 John 2, 15 through 17 says. 13:13.170 --> 13:15.330 Everything's been touched. It's not of the Father. 13:15.970 --> 13:18.170 And I'd been asking this question for a long time. 13:18.170 --> 13:21.150 And he gave me an answer that actually surprised me. 13:21.810 --> 13:25.390 I said, what do you think about how people look physically? 13:28.510 --> 13:32.310 It's an odd question, but I've been asking it for a while. 13:33.070 --> 13:34.930 What do you think about how people look physically? 13:35.730 --> 13:36.790 No answer. Nothing. 13:38.150 --> 13:38.950 No, seriously. 13:39.990 --> 13:44.410 You know, what do you think of how people look physically? 13:44.410 --> 13:47.890 Because some people spend a lot of time on their physical being 13:47.890 --> 13:50.710 and a lot of money, and others, not so much. 13:54.010 --> 13:57.130 Where are you at on the whole thing? 13:58.110 --> 13:58.830 How people look? 13:59.910 --> 14:01.970 All of a sudden, right out of the blue, he said, 14:02.950 --> 14:06.270 you know, you've been asking me about what I think about how people look physically? 14:07.950 --> 14:09.730 He said, I don't care. 14:13.700 --> 14:15.840 I don't care how you look physically. 14:16.580 --> 14:18.300 It's not the issue. 14:22.560 --> 14:24.080 So I've been pondering that. 14:24.260 --> 14:25.760 It's like, you know what? 14:25.880 --> 14:27.680 You're probably right, God, on that one. 14:27.740 --> 14:28.880 I think I heard you on that one. 14:29.860 --> 14:31.100 It's not the issue. 14:32.200 --> 14:33.720 We make it the issue. 14:35.440 --> 14:36.780 Oh, it's so important. 14:37.160 --> 14:38.120 Is it? Really? 14:40.240 --> 14:41.280 He said, I don't care. 14:45.040 --> 14:46.800 And I was thinking he was going to go on. 14:46.860 --> 14:47.200 He never did. 14:47.360 --> 14:48.240 He just said, I don't care. 14:50.360 --> 14:51.820 So in other words, I don't care if you're tall. 14:52.020 --> 14:52.880 I don't care if you're short. 14:53.040 --> 14:53.660 I don't care if you're fat. 14:53.820 --> 14:54.460 I don't care if you're thin. 14:54.640 --> 14:54.840 I don't care. 14:55.240 --> 14:56.520 There's bigger fish to fry. 14:59.340 --> 14:59.940 So I don't care. 15:01.800 --> 15:05.180 And it's like, well, this world's been deceived on that one. 15:06.880 --> 15:11.240 Because man, is it important in this world how you look? 15:14.980 --> 15:17.100 So, there's all the points in that verse. 15:17.620 --> 15:18.580 I'm taking time here. 15:19.100 --> 15:20.520 There was verse number three. 15:20.980 --> 15:24.480 There's all the points that we talked about in verse number three. 15:25.460 --> 15:28.620 I no longer live or conduct myself by the passions of my flesh. 15:29.700 --> 15:33.400 I don't obey the impulses and thoughts of my flesh, the old nature. 15:33.600 --> 15:34.980 Because he were a new creation. 15:36.640 --> 15:40.060 I'm not a child of God's wrath, nor an heir of his indignation. 15:40.060 --> 15:41.880 We're a new creation. 15:42.960 --> 15:45.580 So now let me stop right there with those first two lines, 15:45.620 --> 15:47.960 because you're going to see it over and over as Paul lists this. 15:50.200 --> 15:56.220 The difference between calling something by face and it manifests 15:56.220 --> 16:01.060 is the difference between positional and progressive. 16:03.900 --> 16:08.460 I no longer live or conduct myself by the passions of my flesh. 16:11.500 --> 16:13.140 Positionally, that's how God sees us. 16:15.580 --> 16:17.800 Progressively, the Holy Spirit is working on us all the time. 16:19.640 --> 16:21.480 One piece at a time, cleaning us up. 16:21.580 --> 16:23.660 I don't obey the impulses and thoughts of my flesh. 16:24.020 --> 16:25.640 That should be our statement of faith. 16:26.440 --> 16:27.220 That's our goal. 16:28.480 --> 16:30.120 I'm not going to follow the flesh at all. 16:34.400 --> 16:38.540 Positionally, everything we need to be totally free of the flesh 16:38.540 --> 16:43.400 and following its impulses and its desires is already bought and paid for. 16:43.760 --> 16:46.280 It's ours by inheritance. It's mine. 16:49.080 --> 16:51.520 Progressively, I have to learn to walk this out. 16:53.800 --> 16:55.320 So when you read that, it's like, 16:55.420 --> 16:58.480 well, I don't obey the impulses and thoughts of my flesh. 16:58.480 --> 16:59.980 Well, that's not true. That's not me. 17:00.480 --> 17:01.440 Positionally, it is. 17:03.240 --> 17:09.720 God is calling you the righteousness of Himself. 17:10.940 --> 17:12.880 There is no sin in God whatsoever. 17:14.040 --> 17:18.280 And if we're His righteousness, there's nothing in us whatsoever. 17:18.700 --> 17:22.100 God is calling that by face through the blood of Jesus. 17:22.380 --> 17:23.720 He sees us that way. 17:25.160 --> 17:28.920 But there still is a progressive work the Holy Spirit's doing 17:28.920 --> 17:31.540 to bring us to that point. 17:32.000 --> 17:35.780 And here's the awesome part of the gift that comes with salvation 17:35.780 --> 17:36.980 or the gift of salvation. 17:37.800 --> 17:39.980 No matter how far we get in life, 17:40.060 --> 17:42.020 because it's a lifelong journey, we still won't get there. 17:42.560 --> 17:47.320 No matter how far we get as we pursue God 17:48.800 --> 17:51.580 and allow Him to keep changing us, 17:51.580 --> 17:54.760 if we only got this far and we die, 17:55.760 --> 17:59.300 we are dressed in robes of righteousness that are pure white. 17:59.680 --> 18:03.340 We are the righteousness of God, period. 18:04.580 --> 18:07.180 And this whole mess in between that we never got to, 18:08.000 --> 18:09.600 I don't want to think about it, God says. 18:10.380 --> 18:11.080 Just get rid of it. 18:11.820 --> 18:13.280 Jesus took care of that in His blood. 18:15.560 --> 18:17.360 You have to see yourself that way. 18:18.260 --> 18:18.860 Who am I? 18:18.860 --> 18:20.640 I'm the righteousness of God. 18:21.320 --> 18:24.840 From His perspective, He's calling that over me in faith. 18:25.460 --> 18:27.400 Yeah, there's still some things I'm working on, 18:27.800 --> 18:30.200 but when I stand before Him, 18:30.520 --> 18:33.500 as long as I am following and obeying, 18:33.660 --> 18:35.600 I will stand before Him clean. 18:37.080 --> 18:39.260 Perfect, holy, righteous. 18:39.820 --> 18:41.680 You say, but you weren't, you never got there. 18:41.780 --> 18:43.140 I know the rest is a gift. 18:45.400 --> 18:47.360 It's a gift. I couldn't earn it. 18:47.940 --> 18:49.420 He just gave it to me. 18:50.580 --> 18:51.540 That's who I am. 18:52.820 --> 18:53.780 You know, I've had people say, 18:53.900 --> 18:55.640 aren't you afraid of standing at judge... 18:55.640 --> 18:57.220 I am looking forward to judgment. 19:00.340 --> 19:03.820 To stand before Jesus and have Him lay it out, 19:03.960 --> 19:06.120 I am so looking forward to it. 19:07.640 --> 19:09.820 Because none of you, I mean, you're all good. 19:10.520 --> 19:13.880 But I have people who think I'm a certain way. 19:14.720 --> 19:16.540 And I've done certain things. 19:16.540 --> 19:19.620 And I'm disqualified because my heart is bad. 19:20.240 --> 19:22.880 And I want to stand before the judge 19:23.360 --> 19:24.980 and let Him set that straight. 19:28.260 --> 19:29.260 Paul talked about that. 19:29.660 --> 19:30.740 Let's not judge each other. 19:31.100 --> 19:32.380 In fact, he says, don't even judge yourself. 19:33.740 --> 19:34.960 Don't get into that realm. 19:35.660 --> 19:37.620 I am so looking forward to judgment. 19:40.320 --> 19:41.820 Aren't you ashamed of some things? 19:42.860 --> 19:44.400 None of them are going to show up. 19:47.280 --> 19:48.480 You say, how can that be? 19:48.780 --> 19:51.540 Because I have been forgiven. 19:52.740 --> 19:54.160 I am saved. 19:55.620 --> 19:58.280 All the old things are gone. 19:58.620 --> 20:00.580 As far as the east is from the west. 20:02.100 --> 20:04.140 So it's like, you know, I had one person say, 20:04.220 --> 20:04.920 well, I get to heaven. 20:05.160 --> 20:07.360 I'm kind of expecting there's going to be a big screen 20:07.360 --> 20:09.340 and they're going to play my life for everybody. 20:09.340 --> 20:10.900 And I'm going to be so embarrassed. 20:11.820 --> 20:13.760 It's like, you have no clue who you are. 20:15.940 --> 20:17.500 That is not the way it works. 20:19.720 --> 20:21.860 Remember, let's see if I can remember his name. 20:22.500 --> 20:22.820 Roland. 20:23.220 --> 20:23.620 Roland. 20:23.800 --> 20:24.440 R.H. Buck. 20:25.180 --> 20:29.860 Back in the 70s, he had phenomenal visitations by angels. 20:30.580 --> 20:32.320 And they were explaining to him some things 20:32.320 --> 20:34.220 that the body of Christ desperately needed. 20:34.900 --> 20:36.460 I think you can still find his stuff on YouTube. 20:37.340 --> 20:37.940 R.H. Buck. 20:38.080 --> 20:38.340 Roland. 20:40.260 --> 20:41.080 Visitation of angels? 20:41.260 --> 20:42.400 Is that what it was called? 20:42.400 --> 20:46.100 Well, he caught so much flak, 20:46.220 --> 20:47.900 because he had one angel come to him 20:47.900 --> 20:49.620 and explained to him out of Scripture, 20:50.420 --> 20:53.360 judgment day is the day when the Father says thank you. 20:55.520 --> 20:58.680 Oh, they practically crucified the man. 20:59.600 --> 21:00.780 That is not true. 21:01.580 --> 21:04.100 That's the day all our sins are brought out 21:04.100 --> 21:04.900 and we're judged. 21:05.300 --> 21:06.380 Well, that's not true either. 21:07.620 --> 21:08.620 That's not scriptural. 21:09.940 --> 21:13.440 But they said, no, that's the day the, 21:13.620 --> 21:15.200 you know, because your sins are washed away. 21:15.360 --> 21:16.560 You're white as snow. 21:17.420 --> 21:19.760 So you're being judged for all this negative? 21:19.940 --> 21:20.580 There is no negative. 21:23.160 --> 21:25.940 You know that stuff you repented out 5, 6, 7 times? 21:28.240 --> 21:30.080 God don't even know what you're talking about. 21:31.440 --> 21:32.640 Why are you bringing this up? 21:32.740 --> 21:33.340 You never did it. 21:36.100 --> 21:37.340 You know how God thinks? 21:37.960 --> 21:39.180 Boy, we're into something here. 21:39.280 --> 21:40.080 That's not in them. 21:40.180 --> 21:41.080 We're not going to get very far. 21:42.760 --> 21:44.800 When he's talking about Abraham, 21:46.080 --> 21:48.180 he calls him the man of faith 21:48.840 --> 21:51.080 who, depending upon what translation you read, 21:51.380 --> 21:52.440 he did not falter. 21:52.600 --> 21:53.540 He did not sway. 21:54.000 --> 21:56.000 He did not lose faith at all. 21:56.500 --> 21:57.900 That's how God sees Abraham. 21:59.820 --> 22:00.160 Why? 22:01.560 --> 22:03.600 Because I'm sure at some point Abraham went, 22:03.700 --> 22:04.980 oh God, I messed that one up. 22:05.020 --> 22:05.380 I'm sorry. 22:05.700 --> 22:06.000 Forgive me. 22:06.720 --> 22:08.220 God don't even remember 22:09.060 --> 22:11.140 that Abraham messed this up. 22:11.640 --> 22:13.560 That Abraham faltered in his faith. 22:13.860 --> 22:14.860 God doesn't see it that way. 22:15.540 --> 22:17.340 He never stumbled in his faith. 22:20.590 --> 22:22.830 It's the human thinking that goes, 22:23.190 --> 22:24.850 yeah, but that ain't right because, 22:25.290 --> 22:26.790 I mean, you can read in the Bible. 22:27.730 --> 22:28.430 Why no? 22:28.870 --> 22:30.530 But God doesn't think that way. 22:31.810 --> 22:34.830 When he sees you clean, he sees you clean. 22:36.150 --> 22:39.390 When he says, you will no longer live 22:39.390 --> 22:40.790 by the lusts of the flesh. 22:42.010 --> 22:43.090 That's what he calls. 22:44.050 --> 22:45.290 And through the blood of Jesus, 22:45.550 --> 22:46.510 that's how he sees us. 22:48.310 --> 22:50.550 While these people are just walking it out, 22:50.790 --> 22:51.190 perfect. 22:52.010 --> 22:53.330 And the Holy Spirit's gone. 22:54.730 --> 22:56.890 We talking about the same one here because 22:57.850 --> 22:59.530 I'm working on some things here. 23:00.270 --> 23:02.910 But that perfect, that white as snow, 23:03.010 --> 23:04.250 without spot or wrinkle, 23:04.250 --> 23:07.770 no blemish, no matter how far we made it, 23:08.110 --> 23:09.790 when we go stand before him, 23:09.870 --> 23:11.270 that's how he's going to see you. 23:14.030 --> 23:17.150 So our job is to keep walking this thing out 23:17.150 --> 23:18.250 and keep submitting. 23:19.770 --> 23:21.610 Verse four changes everything, 23:21.830 --> 23:25.670 but God, this is what that verse says. 23:25.770 --> 23:27.510 Because of his intense love, 23:28.090 --> 23:29.050 God changed me. 23:29.930 --> 23:31.550 Not because of my good looks, 23:31.710 --> 23:33.310 because he doesn't care what you look like. 23:37.270 --> 23:39.070 You're still thinking about that one, aren't you? 23:41.590 --> 23:43.650 Well, I'm really working on myself. 23:43.750 --> 23:45.570 I hope God's impressing us at all. 23:48.030 --> 23:49.870 We've all been affected by sin 23:49.870 --> 23:51.870 and no matter how... 23:53.250 --> 23:55.230 Yeah, I don't know if I should say that. 23:59.980 --> 24:00.720 I will. 24:03.040 --> 24:03.740 You ready? 24:05.220 --> 24:06.560 I heard this saying 24:09.200 --> 24:12.600 two different sings when I got into Mary's family. 24:15.140 --> 24:17.840 You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. 24:21.010 --> 24:23.110 And no matter how much time and money 24:23.110 --> 24:25.370 you spend dressing up a pig, it's still a pig. 24:29.720 --> 24:30.600 Isn't that deep? 24:33.740 --> 24:35.360 You say, what's your point? 24:36.080 --> 24:37.060 My point is, 24:37.780 --> 24:39.880 these bodies are fallen. 24:40.240 --> 24:41.140 They're corruptible. 24:41.440 --> 24:42.540 They're full of sin. 24:43.000 --> 24:45.880 According to Romans 7, they're enemies of God. 24:46.460 --> 24:48.860 This flesh is yuck. 24:51.680 --> 24:53.520 And when God looks at it 24:54.720 --> 24:59.060 about the only way he can deal with us honestly and fairly 24:59.060 --> 25:00.860 is to look past it and say, 25:00.960 --> 25:02.320 yeah, that's all fallen. 25:02.420 --> 25:04.060 I got new bodies for all these people. 25:04.380 --> 25:06.260 I really don't care now. 25:06.260 --> 25:07.400 Let's keep them healthy. 25:07.640 --> 25:08.820 Let's keep them in their destiny. 25:08.940 --> 25:09.780 Let's keep them going. 25:10.000 --> 25:11.740 But whether one ear is bigger than the other 25:11.740 --> 25:13.260 or one eye is bigger than the other 25:13.260 --> 25:14.800 or whether their nose is on sideways 25:14.800 --> 25:16.260 or I really don't care. 25:16.460 --> 25:18.720 Because from God's perspective, the whole thing is ugly. 25:20.300 --> 25:23.960 Compared to what it would have been without sin. 25:28.010 --> 25:29.690 Somebody here is struggling with your looks. 25:30.490 --> 25:31.950 I'm on that this morning. 25:34.010 --> 25:34.910 God don't care. 25:35.690 --> 25:37.210 You know, if I could just lose some weight 25:37.210 --> 25:38.050 God would be impressed. 25:38.150 --> 25:38.650 God don't care. 25:40.310 --> 25:41.090 It's the heart. 25:41.650 --> 25:42.290 It's the heart. 25:42.730 --> 25:43.730 It's the inner man. 25:45.350 --> 25:46.710 It's not the outer man. 25:47.150 --> 25:51.170 The outer man is the deception of the Prince of Darkness. 25:52.330 --> 25:54.410 All the focus is on the outer man. 25:55.010 --> 25:56.710 How are you between you and God? 25:56.850 --> 25:57.810 We're not going to talk about that. 25:59.330 --> 26:00.370 See, it's flipped. 26:02.090 --> 26:03.390 So let's flip it back. 26:04.490 --> 26:04.610 Okay. 26:05.470 --> 26:06.790 Verse 5, there it is. 26:06.790 --> 26:07.730 We talked about it. 26:08.090 --> 26:09.790 Here's what it says in verse 5. 26:10.530 --> 26:11.050 I am alive. 26:11.210 --> 26:12.370 I have fellowship with Christ. 26:12.510 --> 26:14.730 I'm also in union with Him. 26:15.310 --> 26:19.890 The same life force Jesus has lives in me and I am saved. 26:20.070 --> 26:22.130 And what that means is I'm delivered from judgment 26:22.130 --> 26:25.990 and made a partaker of what He brought us in salvation. 26:26.230 --> 26:27.550 Made a partaker of salvation. 26:28.110 --> 26:30.990 I grew up in a predominantly Catholic community 26:31.350 --> 26:35.570 and one of the gripes that those of that persuasion 26:35.570 --> 26:41.870 had with us is you people, you always say you're saved. 26:42.970 --> 26:43.870 Well, I am. 26:45.930 --> 26:47.190 Yeah, but you're saved. 26:47.330 --> 26:49.250 You can't know until you die. 26:49.630 --> 26:50.850 It's too late if you're not. 26:51.890 --> 26:53.250 You got to know early. 26:55.870 --> 26:57.210 It'd be good to know early. 26:58.390 --> 26:59.930 But that was a gripe. 27:00.030 --> 27:01.530 They bring it up in a sarcastic way. 27:01.650 --> 27:03.050 And you're always saved. 27:03.430 --> 27:04.250 I'm saved. 27:06.890 --> 27:09.570 Well, that's what it says right there. 27:10.270 --> 27:15.490 Verse number six, there's the verse and here's the points in it. 27:15.690 --> 27:18.850 We won't go through them again except I do want to hit this 27:18.850 --> 27:20.610 because I briefly hit it last week 27:20.610 --> 27:23.850 and now I'm going to hit it again and challenge you. 27:25.570 --> 27:27.030 Let's read the verse again. 27:27.670 --> 27:30.590 And He raised us up together with Him. 27:31.150 --> 27:32.470 That's who we are now. 27:32.790 --> 27:34.150 That's how it's describing you. 27:34.150 --> 27:38.370 He raised you up together with Him being Christ 27:38.370 --> 27:41.050 and made you sit down together 27:41.890 --> 27:48.230 giving you joint seating with Him in the heavenly sphere. 27:49.790 --> 27:51.330 And where is He seated? 27:52.510 --> 27:53.370 Right hand of the Father. 27:55.130 --> 28:01.270 Gave you that by virtue of our being in Christ. 28:02.250 --> 28:03.450 How did we get this? 28:03.450 --> 28:06.210 By virtue of our being in Christ. 28:07.330 --> 28:08.750 That's how this happens. 28:10.070 --> 28:11.550 So I made this comment. 28:12.210 --> 28:13.270 Go to the last one. 28:13.410 --> 28:17.670 Consequently, everything in chapter 1, 21 through 23 is now mine. 28:18.710 --> 28:23.890 So it says He raised us up, made us sit in heaven with Christ. 28:24.710 --> 28:28.630 So I want to hit this hard enough now that this really shocks you. 28:28.630 --> 28:33.450 Could you bring up Ephesians 1, 21 through 23 in the amplified? 28:35.150 --> 28:42.530 Because this is how it describes that what He just applied to us, 28:42.670 --> 28:47.390 you're sitting in on the throne with Christ because you're in Christ. 28:48.830 --> 28:52.990 Here is how chapter 1 describes Christ in that. 28:53.650 --> 28:54.550 There we go. 28:56.190 --> 28:56.930 It's speaking. 28:57.170 --> 28:58.050 Go back to verse 20. 28:58.170 --> 28:58.830 Can you quickly? 28:59.070 --> 28:59.790 Does that work for you? 29:01.610 --> 29:05.050 Which He produced in Christ when He raised him from the dead 29:05.050 --> 29:07.830 and seated him at His own right hand in heavenly places. 29:08.430 --> 29:10.090 So you did good on the... 29:10.090 --> 29:12.490 He seated at the right hand because we just read it last week. 29:13.630 --> 29:15.010 Verse number 21. 29:15.670 --> 29:17.130 So where is this spot? 29:17.690 --> 29:20.950 Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, 29:20.950 --> 29:22.550 whether angelic or human. 29:22.970 --> 29:25.110 And far above every name that is named, 29:25.250 --> 29:28.110 above every title that can be conferred, 29:28.230 --> 29:31.410 not only in this age, but also in the one to come. 29:31.490 --> 29:33.010 So stop right, we'll hold it right there. 29:33.970 --> 29:42.190 He gave us joint participation with Him being in Christ. 29:42.670 --> 29:44.310 We're seated with Him. 29:45.370 --> 29:48.190 So if this describes Him, 29:49.010 --> 29:51.230 He said, I'm going to bring you here 29:51.230 --> 29:54.150 and you're going to do this with me just like me. 29:54.350 --> 29:56.550 It describes you. 30:00.170 --> 30:02.050 Your authority is far. 30:02.590 --> 30:07.730 Your rule and authority and power and dominion is above. 30:09.010 --> 30:10.910 Your rule and authority, 30:11.690 --> 30:16.230 your power and dominion is above angels, humans, 30:16.230 --> 30:19.470 and anything that can be named 30:20.470 --> 30:24.230 and any title that can be conferred. 30:25.910 --> 30:27.070 That's who you are. 30:28.990 --> 30:29.530 In Christ. 30:30.670 --> 30:32.290 Get out of Christ and none of that applies. 30:33.150 --> 30:37.870 But in Christ, not only in this wretched place 30:37.870 --> 30:38.930 we're living in now, 30:40.950 --> 30:44.670 but also in eternity, the one to come. 30:46.210 --> 30:49.390 So you say, do you mean that we're going to rule and reign in eternity? 30:49.710 --> 30:51.330 Oh, it's better than that. Go to the next verse. 30:54.530 --> 30:57.050 And He put all things in every realm 30:58.590 --> 31:00.570 in subjection under Christ's feet. 31:00.710 --> 31:03.150 Now verse 23 is going to tell us we're the body of Christ 31:03.630 --> 31:06.350 and that we're the ones that He does this through. 31:07.350 --> 31:09.690 Now He wants to do it here, not just there. 31:09.950 --> 31:10.870 He wants to do it here. 31:11.430 --> 31:14.650 Put all things in subjection under Jesus. 31:15.470 --> 31:17.170 By us doing it. 31:19.130 --> 31:20.710 By you doing it. 31:21.670 --> 31:26.970 And appointed Jesus as supreme and authoritative. 31:27.790 --> 31:30.670 He's over all things where? 31:32.490 --> 31:35.010 In the church, depending upon what translation, 31:35.250 --> 31:36.790 it might say through the church. 31:37.650 --> 31:38.670 So go to the next verse. 31:40.090 --> 31:41.550 Which is His body. 31:41.750 --> 31:43.290 The church and the body are synonymous. 31:43.290 --> 31:44.750 The body of Christ is the church. 31:44.870 --> 31:46.090 The church is the body of Christ. 31:46.790 --> 31:50.650 The fullness of Him who is Him, Jesus, 31:51.950 --> 31:55.570 who fills and completes all things 31:57.570 --> 31:59.510 in all believers. 32:01.670 --> 32:04.590 Let me read this to make sure, 32:04.670 --> 32:06.130 because there's different amplifies. 32:08.330 --> 32:13.170 Ephesians chapter 1 verse 23. 32:15.850 --> 32:18.410 Yep, I like my amplified better. 32:19.730 --> 32:21.450 Can you go to the classic version? 32:22.290 --> 32:22.630 Got it? 32:23.170 --> 32:24.270 Oh yeah, see the difference? 32:25.350 --> 32:28.650 It's a different way of explaining those original Greek words. 32:29.370 --> 32:31.490 Which is His body, the fullness of Him, 32:32.130 --> 32:33.730 who fills all in all. 32:36.310 --> 32:37.810 Who fills all in all? 32:37.910 --> 32:38.970 Go back to verse 22. 32:40.950 --> 32:45.330 He is supreme throughout the church, 32:45.870 --> 32:51.430 comma, next verse, which is His body. 32:53.790 --> 32:57.890 The fullness of Him, the body is the fullness of Christ 32:57.890 --> 33:00.650 who fills all in all. 33:01.450 --> 33:05.110 Because we've been given authority over all. 33:07.670 --> 33:09.890 That's how, go back to the first message. 33:10.010 --> 33:12.170 That's how we were created, our design. 33:13.970 --> 33:16.790 For in that body lives the full measure of Him 33:16.790 --> 33:18.330 who makes everything complete, 33:18.630 --> 33:24.290 and Him who fills everything everywhere with Himself. 33:24.810 --> 33:28.250 Do you know how Jesus, who is locked into a human body now, 33:28.330 --> 33:29.790 He is no longer omnipresent. 33:30.030 --> 33:32.150 He gave that up to come and die for you. 33:35.110 --> 33:37.490 The Father is a spirit, the Holy Spirit is a spirit. 33:38.450 --> 33:42.210 Jesus is locked in to a human body. 33:42.810 --> 33:44.430 He is not omnipresent anymore. 33:45.690 --> 33:48.290 He gave that up to be our Savior. 33:49.610 --> 33:52.410 So how is He going to fill and cover everything? 33:53.730 --> 33:54.810 Somebody tell me. 33:56.410 --> 33:59.530 Through us, through you. 34:01.110 --> 34:02.150 That's who you are. 34:03.350 --> 34:04.970 He wants to do it now, 34:05.570 --> 34:07.570 and He's going to do it throughout eternity. 34:08.690 --> 34:09.590 That's who we are. 34:11.990 --> 34:13.010 We're His rulers. 34:15.250 --> 34:17.670 We're the ones who fill everything for Him. 34:19.670 --> 34:21.910 Because He gave us all the authority to do that. 34:24.900 --> 34:27.120 Now I can tell you what, if I quit right here 34:27.120 --> 34:30.060 and say go home and just meditate on those three verses, 34:32.140 --> 34:33.220 they're going to stretch you. 34:35.980 --> 34:37.120 They're going to stretch you. 34:37.760 --> 34:39.440 Because part of the gift is, 34:39.800 --> 34:42.100 when He brought us up and sat us on the throne, 34:42.200 --> 34:44.240 we'll go back to that PowerPoint in that verse here. 34:44.300 --> 34:45.460 If you could bring that up, that'd be great. 34:45.940 --> 34:48.680 When He brought us in and sat us on the throne with Him, 34:48.960 --> 34:53.240 He gave all those things to us as a gift. 34:53.360 --> 34:54.280 Not because we earned Him, 34:54.360 --> 34:55.360 not because we were good enough, 34:55.440 --> 34:56.800 not because we were good looking enough. 34:56.800 --> 34:58.420 A gift. 35:01.060 --> 35:02.440 Because He doesn't care how you look. 35:05.630 --> 35:06.910 Man looks at the outward, 35:08.770 --> 35:11.850 but God looks at the heart. 35:14.050 --> 35:15.250 See, it's even scriptural. 35:18.230 --> 35:19.890 Some of the looks on your face are like, 35:23.170 --> 35:24.350 just ponder it. 35:25.070 --> 35:25.650 It'll be fun. 35:28.650 --> 35:29.930 Verse 6. 35:30.070 --> 35:31.830 He raised us up together. 35:32.410 --> 35:34.250 Can you take us to that PowerPoint? 35:35.010 --> 35:35.810 Verse 6. 35:36.710 --> 35:38.650 He raised us up together with Him 35:38.650 --> 35:39.910 and made us sit down together, 35:40.170 --> 35:43.310 giving us joint seating. 35:44.270 --> 35:47.690 When you are joint with someone on a contract 35:47.690 --> 35:49.170 or on a deed or whatever, 35:49.870 --> 35:51.070 who owns the most? 35:53.170 --> 35:54.390 It's equal. 35:55.470 --> 35:57.370 Joint means equal. 35:59.610 --> 36:02.670 He brought us into that spot of rulership 36:02.670 --> 36:06.190 and made us equal with Him 36:06.190 --> 36:08.390 as long as we're in Christ. 36:09.630 --> 36:11.570 All right, if we're going to get halfway through this, 36:11.650 --> 36:12.790 we got to kick it in gear and go. 36:14.030 --> 36:15.050 So verse 7. 36:15.770 --> 36:16.590 He did this. 36:16.810 --> 36:17.690 Why did He do this? 36:17.810 --> 36:19.850 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate 36:19.850 --> 36:20.950 through the ages to come 36:20.950 --> 36:22.510 the immeasurable, limitless, 36:22.510 --> 36:25.330 surpassing riches of His free grace, 36:26.210 --> 36:28.770 His unmerited favor in His kindness 36:28.770 --> 36:31.590 and goodness of heart toward us 36:31.590 --> 36:33.370 in Christ Jesus. 36:34.630 --> 36:37.290 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate. 36:37.670 --> 36:40.050 My mind goes to demonstrate to who? 36:43.980 --> 36:45.080 Demonstrate to who? 36:45.340 --> 36:48.000 In the ages to come. 36:48.460 --> 36:50.100 We're talking eternity to come. 36:50.640 --> 36:53.080 He wants the living demonstration 36:54.320 --> 36:55.500 of who He is. 36:57.300 --> 36:58.680 So I got a thought for you. 37:00.700 --> 37:03.180 Who is the one that is continually 37:03.180 --> 37:04.880 saying God is a creep? 37:05.120 --> 37:06.040 God is unfair? 37:06.420 --> 37:07.400 God is not just? 37:07.700 --> 37:09.280 God is out to destroy you? 37:09.540 --> 37:11.140 God will take advantage of you? 37:11.320 --> 37:13.560 God wants your ties so you can be poor? 37:13.880 --> 37:14.980 God wants you sick? 37:15.400 --> 37:17.440 God wants you worshiping Him? 37:17.560 --> 37:19.300 Because He's some kind of egomaniac? 37:19.600 --> 37:21.080 God, God, God, He's just... 37:21.080 --> 37:22.040 God is just a mess. 37:22.160 --> 37:22.920 Who is that one? 37:23.760 --> 37:25.100 Satan, Lucifer. 37:26.180 --> 37:26.400 Satan. 37:28.960 --> 37:30.240 I think... 37:30.240 --> 37:32.680 I could be wrong... 37:32.680 --> 37:35.860 but I think God is kicking him in the teeth. 37:38.520 --> 37:39.940 Right there in that verse. 37:41.320 --> 37:41.980 He says, 37:42.140 --> 37:43.700 You've called me this 37:43.700 --> 37:46.320 and billions of people have believed it. 37:47.340 --> 37:48.940 So for eternity, 37:49.680 --> 37:52.060 I have done something that demonstrates 37:52.660 --> 37:55.100 I am not what you accuse me of being. 37:57.580 --> 37:58.920 Just think about it. 38:00.080 --> 38:01.760 So what does it say I am there? 38:01.900 --> 38:05.700 I am the recipient of His immeasurable, limitless free grace, 38:06.240 --> 38:08.560 favor, kindness, and His good heart. 38:10.840 --> 38:12.300 That's who I am. 38:12.400 --> 38:13.520 I'm the recipient of this. 38:14.060 --> 38:14.760 God loves me. 38:15.820 --> 38:18.420 And I've conquered all the stuff that tells me He doesn't. 38:22.860 --> 38:24.770 Am I going too fast for you? 38:25.650 --> 38:26.090 Verse 8. 38:26.610 --> 38:27.450 I'm going to speed up then. 38:27.930 --> 38:29.910 For it is by grace, free grace. 38:30.090 --> 38:32.610 God's unmerited favor that you are saved. 38:32.810 --> 38:33.810 I am saved. 38:34.970 --> 38:36.350 I am saved. 38:37.390 --> 38:39.490 I am delivered from judgment 38:39.490 --> 38:42.510 and made partakers of Christ's salvation through my face. 38:43.590 --> 38:44.870 That's how I get in Christ. 38:45.670 --> 38:49.710 And this salvation is not of me or yourselves. 38:50.350 --> 38:51.250 It's not my doing. 38:51.770 --> 38:54.750 It came not through my work or my striving. 38:55.010 --> 38:56.110 This is a gift. 38:56.990 --> 38:59.130 So what is that verse telling me about me? 38:59.830 --> 39:03.990 By God's gift of grace and through my faith, I am saved. 39:04.910 --> 39:07.770 Delivered from justice and made a partaker of His salvation. 39:08.330 --> 39:11.210 Not because of works, not fulfillment of the law. 39:11.410 --> 39:14.030 And this is a repeat of verse 8, so I didn't put it there. 39:14.090 --> 39:14.890 I put it under 9. 39:15.350 --> 39:18.290 Not because of works, not the fulfillment of the law's demands. 39:19.170 --> 39:21.190 That's works, by the way, scriptural. 39:22.850 --> 39:25.370 Well, we don't have to go to church to live for God. 39:25.870 --> 39:27.010 God's not into works. 39:28.070 --> 39:30.670 Going to church, God does not consider a work 39:31.230 --> 39:33.810 unless you're trying to earn your salvation through it. 39:34.310 --> 39:37.770 He considers what the law tells us we're supposed to do 39:37.770 --> 39:40.690 the kind of works we're not supposed to do. 39:41.310 --> 39:41.590 Okay? 39:42.370 --> 39:42.870 Follow me? 39:43.750 --> 39:45.310 Lest any man should boast. 39:46.930 --> 39:50.350 I was just talking with a guy this last week who is... 39:53.350 --> 39:58.810 He's suffering from Calvinism, legalism and performance. 39:59.270 --> 40:03.890 He's Christian, but those three really messed him up 40:03.890 --> 40:05.590 and he's struggling with it. 40:06.690 --> 40:09.590 And we were talking about some things 40:10.410 --> 40:13.850 and he said, I'm just tired of telling me 40:13.850 --> 40:18.530 if I... people telling me if I would live like them 40:18.530 --> 40:21.090 my life would be as great as theirs is. 40:22.070 --> 40:23.690 He said, I'm just tired of it. 40:25.370 --> 40:25.930 Redeverence. 40:27.850 --> 40:31.670 Not because of works, fulfillment of all the things we do 40:31.670 --> 40:33.010 and all the rules. 40:34.110 --> 40:35.710 Lest any man should boast. 40:36.890 --> 40:38.030 That's what they're doing. 40:39.270 --> 40:40.530 When they tell them. 40:41.490 --> 40:44.330 You know, if you would do what I do, 40:44.650 --> 40:46.030 if you would read your Bible every day, 40:46.110 --> 40:48.070 if you went to church every time the doors are open, 40:48.410 --> 40:49.830 your life would be good too. 40:50.110 --> 40:52.970 You're bragging on your efforts. 40:54.550 --> 40:55.950 Exactly what Paul says. 40:56.090 --> 40:57.050 No, no, no, no, no. 40:57.870 --> 41:01.410 It's not the result of what anyone can possibly do. 41:01.550 --> 41:03.390 So now he expanded it beyond the law. 41:04.010 --> 41:05.690 Anything you can possibly do. 41:06.330 --> 41:09.350 Because if we can do something that impresses God, 41:09.350 --> 41:10.990 we get proud, we brag. 41:11.250 --> 41:15.730 So no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself. 41:16.990 --> 41:18.210 So what's it saying? 41:18.410 --> 41:22.110 It's not the result of me keeping the law by my works 41:22.110 --> 41:24.950 and or Paul did expand it according to the Amplified 41:24.950 --> 41:27.990 into anything we can do that we can wave out there 41:27.990 --> 41:29.610 and say, look how great I'm doing. 41:30.770 --> 41:33.270 For we are God's own handiwork. 41:33.490 --> 41:37.070 His workmanship created in Christ Jesus, 41:37.070 --> 41:40.310 born and new, that we may do good works which God predestined, 41:40.450 --> 41:42.270 planned beforehand for us, 41:42.590 --> 41:44.970 taking paths which he prepared ahead of time, 41:45.290 --> 41:46.710 that we should walk in them, 41:47.110 --> 41:49.450 living the good life which he pre-arranged 41:49.450 --> 41:51.550 and made ready for us to live. 41:52.670 --> 41:55.230 Paul is not contradicting himself 41:55.230 --> 41:58.270 between verse 8 and 9 and 10. 41:59.870 --> 42:02.390 8 and 9 he says, this is not by works. 42:03.170 --> 42:04.670 Verse 10 he says, by the way, 42:05.390 --> 42:07.110 the reason God did this for you, 42:07.830 --> 42:09.190 so you can do good works. 42:12.050 --> 42:14.110 See, right there the Bible contradicts itself. 42:14.270 --> 42:14.530 No, don't. 42:17.030 --> 42:18.670 We got into it in this... 42:19.210 --> 42:20.810 we were doing podcasts this last week 42:20.810 --> 42:21.790 and I don't know if it was in... 42:21.790 --> 42:22.890 I don't think it was in the first one. 42:22.950 --> 42:23.810 We got into it later 42:23.810 --> 42:25.930 and we were dealing with Galatians 5 42:25.930 --> 42:29.310 walking by the Spirit versus by the flesh. 42:30.370 --> 42:32.190 And Paul makes a statement in there 42:33.410 --> 42:34.970 that I've said over and over 42:34.970 --> 42:36.310 and he just nails it in one verse 42:36.310 --> 42:37.650 so you have to listen to the podcast 42:37.650 --> 42:38.390 to find that verse. 42:40.590 --> 42:43.650 If we live by the Spirit, 42:44.670 --> 42:46.450 he says we're not under law. 42:49.700 --> 42:51.020 For under law, 42:51.280 --> 42:52.860 we're not living by the Spirit. 42:54.300 --> 42:55.280 What's he saying? 42:56.200 --> 42:58.780 Human beings, especially church people, 42:59.180 --> 43:00.160 love rules. 43:01.720 --> 43:02.980 They love rules. 43:02.980 --> 43:05.220 Let's make a rule about this. 43:07.400 --> 43:09.360 Did you see how that person came dressed? 43:09.520 --> 43:10.800 Yes, we need to make a rule. 43:13.140 --> 43:14.360 They love rules. 43:15.100 --> 43:16.560 Just tell me what I need to do. 43:16.720 --> 43:17.980 Tell me what the rule is. 43:21.660 --> 43:23.800 You can't live by rules 43:24.540 --> 43:25.860 and by the Spirit. 43:27.220 --> 43:29.120 Rules were Old Testament. 43:30.080 --> 43:31.740 New Testament is 43:32.560 --> 43:35.100 the Holy Spirit has come inside of you 43:35.100 --> 43:37.440 to teach you, guide you, equip you, 43:37.640 --> 43:39.400 lead you, take you where you need to go. 43:43.550 --> 43:44.630 And in this chapter, 43:44.810 --> 43:46.470 Paul is going to really disillusion 43:46.470 --> 43:47.830 some of us who love rules. 43:49.530 --> 43:51.910 So let's get there before our time is up. 43:54.070 --> 43:56.230 Verse 10, we are God's own handiwork. 43:56.330 --> 43:58.290 We read the verse. Let's not go through it again. 43:58.430 --> 43:59.270 Here's what it's saying. 44:00.790 --> 44:02.770 I am God's workmanship. 44:04.530 --> 44:07.530 I've been created in Christ to do good works. 44:07.790 --> 44:09.870 What's the difference between good works and bad works? 44:10.290 --> 44:11.970 Bad works are based on rules. 44:12.210 --> 44:14.490 Good works are based on the Spirit told me to do it. 44:16.450 --> 44:18.930 Just, if you want, it's just a simple definition. 44:20.650 --> 44:22.530 Why don't you wear a suit when you go to church? 44:23.070 --> 44:23.770 Isn't that the rule? 44:24.350 --> 44:25.590 Yeah, exactly why I don't do it. 44:28.570 --> 44:30.810 I'm not going to obey rules. 44:32.810 --> 44:35.110 I'm going to try to follow the Spirit. 44:35.270 --> 44:38.330 Them who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God. 44:39.470 --> 44:43.810 Those who keep all the rules are a bunch of Pharisees, scribes, and... 44:45.670 --> 44:46.910 Okay, move on. 44:47.190 --> 44:50.870 I have a preplanned life that God has designed for me to live in. 44:51.790 --> 44:55.790 The works God wants me to do are part of that design, that life. 44:58.670 --> 44:59.770 What are the works? 44:59.770 --> 45:00.750 I'm going to say it again. 45:01.030 --> 45:01.810 What are the works? 45:01.950 --> 45:05.850 Because he is about to take the rules and kick them out. 45:07.910 --> 45:09.050 So get ready for that. 45:10.250 --> 45:11.330 So what are the works? 45:11.690 --> 45:13.030 What has God asked you to do? 45:15.010 --> 45:15.790 That's the works. 45:16.450 --> 45:17.670 What has he asked you to do? 45:19.170 --> 45:21.990 What he asked you to do, he's going to... 45:21.990 --> 45:22.830 You're his handiwork. 45:22.950 --> 45:23.730 He's working in you. 45:23.830 --> 45:24.650 He's working in your life. 45:24.750 --> 45:26.150 He's maturing you. He's changing you. 45:26.270 --> 45:27.510 He's helping you get over some things. 45:27.810 --> 45:29.350 Because he's asked you to do some things. 45:29.350 --> 45:31.550 It's part of the reason you hear that preplanned life. 45:31.710 --> 45:33.690 And by the Spirit, he's going to lead you into that. 45:33.930 --> 45:35.490 If you lock down and get stubborn and say, 45:35.550 --> 45:36.230 I ain't doing that. 45:36.710 --> 45:37.870 Yeah, now we have a problem. 45:40.010 --> 45:44.790 The things that God's looking for is obedience to what he's asking us to do. 45:45.350 --> 45:47.710 Those are the works he's prepared us for. 45:48.510 --> 45:49.130 Verse 11, 45:49.130 --> 45:52.370 Therefore remember that at one time you were Gentiles. 45:52.750 --> 45:53.230 Heathens. 45:55.150 --> 45:55.790 In the flesh. 45:56.010 --> 45:59.070 Called uncircumcision by the Jews, the circumcised ones. 45:59.890 --> 46:03.090 In the flesh, it's merely a mark in the flesh made by human hands. 46:03.250 --> 46:03.970 So who am I? 46:04.110 --> 46:05.170 How does this apply to me? 46:05.870 --> 46:07.270 I'm no longer a heathen. 46:09.090 --> 46:10.390 I'm not without God. 46:10.650 --> 46:11.250 I have God. 46:15.430 --> 46:16.350 I'm not a heathen. 46:16.930 --> 46:17.850 You're not a heathen. 46:19.790 --> 46:22.430 So don't call when your children are doing things you don't like. 46:22.570 --> 46:23.870 Don't call them a bunch of little heathens. 46:25.050 --> 46:26.570 Not a bunch of little heathens. 46:26.650 --> 46:27.270 You never listen. 46:28.830 --> 46:31.370 If they're saved, they're not heathens. 46:32.990 --> 46:34.050 I'm not a heathen. 46:34.210 --> 46:34.990 You're not a heathen. 46:35.530 --> 46:36.690 In other words, without God. 46:37.230 --> 46:42.190 Remember that you were at that time separated living apart from Christ. 46:43.310 --> 46:44.510 Before you got in Christ. 46:44.610 --> 46:46.450 You were excluded from all part in Him. 46:46.450 --> 46:51.890 Utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation. 46:52.710 --> 46:57.610 And strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the messianic promise. 46:57.950 --> 47:03.270 With no knowledge of or right in God's agreements, His covenants. 47:03.670 --> 47:04.850 And you had no hope. 47:05.090 --> 47:05.870 You had no promises. 47:06.770 --> 47:08.990 You were in the world without God. 47:09.130 --> 47:10.470 I mean that is a huge verse. 47:11.470 --> 47:13.510 But who am I in that verse? 47:13.510 --> 47:15.290 I am connected with Christ. 47:18.090 --> 47:20.190 It should have the word have there. 47:20.330 --> 47:22.890 I have the rights of the nation of Israel. 47:23.230 --> 47:24.950 I didn't type that out just right. 47:25.370 --> 47:27.290 I have the rights of the nation of Israel. 47:28.070 --> 47:33.850 I share in the sacred compacts of the Messiah's promises. 47:34.410 --> 47:38.150 I have knowledge of and I have right to God's covenants. 47:38.370 --> 47:43.070 I have hope because I have God while I'm in this world. 47:43.070 --> 47:44.850 Who am I? That's who I am. 47:47.410 --> 47:50.630 Now if you just take that one verse and go well who are you? 47:51.030 --> 47:51.730 Well I'm a plumber. 47:55.380 --> 47:58.300 That's really lame compared to that right there. 48:00.240 --> 48:02.460 You say what are the rights of the nation of Israel? 48:02.600 --> 48:03.160 The covenants. 48:03.580 --> 48:06.820 The covenants were given to Israel and we were brought in under them. 48:07.860 --> 48:11.300 Some group of people had to bring the Messiah into the world. 48:11.420 --> 48:13.700 That's what the nation of Israel, that's what that whole thing is about. 48:13.700 --> 48:17.020 Some group of people had to bring the Messiah in. 48:17.880 --> 48:22.140 Abraham started it, they became his lineage, nation of Israel. 48:22.760 --> 48:24.840 They brought in the Messiah. 48:25.880 --> 48:32.540 There were promises, covenants made through Jesus that I have right to. 48:33.500 --> 48:35.000 I've been brought into this. 48:35.740 --> 48:38.680 And of course we could take that verse and make a series out of that verse. 48:39.100 --> 48:39.840 Don't have time. 48:40.240 --> 48:41.480 But that's who you are. 48:41.480 --> 48:44.340 That's who you are. 48:45.640 --> 48:47.560 If you just understand the first line. 48:48.060 --> 48:49.900 I am connected to Christ. 48:50.060 --> 48:51.220 What does the word Christ mean? 48:53.900 --> 48:56.620 Messiah anointed one in his anointing. 48:57.400 --> 49:00.400 I am connected to the anointing. 49:01.000 --> 49:05.540 The anointing breaks the yoke, loses the bondage. 49:06.000 --> 49:09.120 So if I just believe, wait a second. 49:09.520 --> 49:11.620 I am connected to the anointing. 49:11.740 --> 49:13.080 Jesus explained it this way. 49:13.200 --> 49:14.280 He said I'm the vine, you're the branches. 49:14.460 --> 49:15.480 You can do nothing without me. 49:15.580 --> 49:18.860 But if you stick in me, anything's possible. 49:19.080 --> 49:20.120 Well, I'm connected to Christ. 49:20.280 --> 49:21.600 I'm connected to the anointing. 49:22.480 --> 49:26.640 So when things aren't working, if we actually understand that's who I am. 49:26.900 --> 49:29.720 And things aren't working, it riles us up. 49:33.570 --> 49:35.670 People who don't understand who they are will go, 49:35.670 --> 49:38.210 well, I don't know, I prayed, maybe this is what God wants. 49:38.410 --> 49:39.330 Yeah, you don't know who you are. 49:40.110 --> 49:41.430 You're connected to the anointing. 49:43.470 --> 49:45.790 The anointing is supposed to be fixing this problem. 49:48.070 --> 49:49.710 Well, then why isn't it? I don't know. 49:50.230 --> 49:52.630 But you need to get riled up enough to find out. 49:53.970 --> 49:56.250 Study, to show yourself approved. 49:58.230 --> 49:59.990 And that comes, you've got to get motivated. 50:00.770 --> 50:02.130 Something's got to make you go, 50:02.590 --> 50:04.490 I'm going to find out what this is all about. 50:04.490 --> 50:06.470 Because I am connected to the anointing. 50:06.690 --> 50:08.590 And the anointing is not showing up in my life. 50:08.790 --> 50:11.630 What is the issue here? Because I am that. 50:15.580 --> 50:16.720 That's an amen spot. 50:20.720 --> 50:21.220 Next verse. 50:23.040 --> 50:26.200 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far away 50:26.200 --> 50:30.220 through by in the blood of Christ have been brought near. 50:31.140 --> 50:31.840 What does that mean? 50:32.400 --> 50:35.480 In Jesus I am brought near to the Father. 50:35.480 --> 50:38.540 The Father and I have a wonderful relationship. 50:39.580 --> 50:41.400 Most Christians are afraid of the Father. 50:43.120 --> 50:45.540 Father and I have a wonderful relationship 50:45.540 --> 50:46.760 because I'm near Him. 50:47.900 --> 50:49.480 I've been brought near Him. 50:50.340 --> 50:51.120 He talks to me. 50:52.860 --> 50:53.600 He talks to you. 50:55.340 --> 50:56.260 He loves you. 50:57.360 --> 50:59.980 There's nothing you can do to separate yourself from His love. 51:01.360 --> 51:02.120 That's who I am. 51:03.380 --> 51:05.460 I can make the worst decisions tomorrow 51:05.460 --> 51:07.860 and my whole entire lifetime and on Tuesday morning 51:07.860 --> 51:09.780 the Father will love me as much as He does 51:09.780 --> 51:11.220 before I ever made those decisions. 51:12.400 --> 51:15.840 Because see, I've conquered all that doubt about that. 51:16.580 --> 51:17.740 I'm a conqueror. 51:18.420 --> 51:19.700 In fact, I'm more than a conqueror. 51:21.940 --> 51:26.940 You're either going to leave happy, mad, or confused this morning. 51:27.740 --> 51:29.820 Because I'm challenging all your religion. 51:30.600 --> 51:31.760 Verse 14, 51:32.440 --> 51:35.240 For He Himself is our peace, our bond of unity and harmony. 51:35.460 --> 51:38.680 He has made us both, Jew and Gentile, one body 51:38.680 --> 51:40.180 and has broken down and destroyed, 51:40.680 --> 51:45.900 abolished the hostile dividing wall between us. 51:46.180 --> 51:47.240 What does that say? 51:48.100 --> 51:51.320 Jesus is my peace and unity with the Jewish people. 51:52.680 --> 51:55.140 I have been made one body with them. 51:56.280 --> 51:59.920 Now, this was a huge, a bigger issue for them back there 51:59.920 --> 52:01.500 than it is for us because of culture, 52:01.980 --> 52:05.360 because of salvation had come through the nation of Israel 52:05.360 --> 52:07.480 and not was going to the Gentiles. 52:07.840 --> 52:10.060 Paul was dealing with the Gentiles 52:11.860 --> 52:13.620 and the Jews didn't like it. 52:13.660 --> 52:14.860 That's why they followed them around 52:14.860 --> 52:16.740 and tried to kill them all the time, persecuted them. 52:17.280 --> 52:18.020 They didn't like it. 52:19.100 --> 52:24.940 So, the issue of what Jesus did 52:24.940 --> 52:30.440 was take the Jew and Gentile and make one out of them 52:31.520 --> 52:35.800 and he had to break something, destroy something, 52:35.980 --> 52:37.960 remove something, let's say it that way, 52:38.360 --> 52:40.320 that was dividing the two. 52:42.180 --> 52:45.040 Well, if you know anything about the old Jewish mindset, 52:45.040 --> 52:46.320 you already know what that is. 52:47.980 --> 52:49.360 But let's read on. 52:50.840 --> 52:51.640 How did he do it? 52:53.180 --> 52:55.980 By abolishing in his own crucified flesh 52:55.980 --> 52:58.520 the enmity, the enemy status, 52:59.040 --> 53:02.780 caused by the law with its decrees and ordinances 53:02.780 --> 53:04.820 which he annulled. 53:08.400 --> 53:10.880 That he might, from the two, 53:11.380 --> 53:13.380 create in himself one new man, 53:13.380 --> 53:17.220 a new quality of humanity out of the two 53:17.220 --> 53:19.920 making peace, making peace what? 53:20.240 --> 53:22.820 Between the Gentiles nations 53:22.820 --> 53:25.840 and the nation of Israel, the Jewish people. 53:26.480 --> 53:30.140 Why? Because these people were really full of themselves. 53:31.300 --> 53:35.520 We are Abraham, see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 53:35.520 --> 53:38.860 is our father. We have the law. 53:39.460 --> 53:42.200 You are nothing but Gentile dogs. 53:42.200 --> 53:47.280 And we are not going to share with you 53:47.280 --> 53:49.520 because you discussed us. 53:50.040 --> 53:51.980 We are the chosen people. 53:53.040 --> 53:55.700 To get salvation to the Gentile, 53:55.860 --> 53:57.840 God had to kick that wall down. 53:58.820 --> 54:04.380 They were so proud of who they were 54:04.380 --> 54:07.400 and they have Moses' law 54:07.400 --> 54:10.160 that God wrote with his finger. 54:10.160 --> 54:12.800 See, we are the ones. 54:13.660 --> 54:15.720 And that whole thing was getting in the way 54:15.720 --> 54:16.800 of saving the world. 54:17.460 --> 54:18.780 So what did God do? 54:19.760 --> 54:21.700 He says, let's just get the law out of the way. 54:22.240 --> 54:25.380 We're going to abolish it. 54:30.760 --> 54:33.160 With all its decrees and ordinances 54:33.160 --> 54:35.980 we're going to annull the law. 54:36.600 --> 54:38.380 There's many scriptures in Hebrews 54:38.380 --> 54:40.180 that explains that. 54:45.140 --> 54:47.120 So let's just jump there 54:47.120 --> 54:48.080 because we don't have much time. 54:48.920 --> 54:50.240 If you pay attention, 54:51.440 --> 54:53.400 we don't have the Ten Commandments 54:53.400 --> 54:55.140 posted any place in this building. 54:57.800 --> 54:59.740 Are they bad? No, they're not bad. 55:01.080 --> 55:02.400 We're just not under them. 55:10.840 --> 55:11.780 He killed them. 55:13.360 --> 55:15.100 Fulfilled them. Ended them. 55:16.580 --> 55:17.160 Why? 55:18.260 --> 55:20.720 To get the Jews off their high horse 55:20.720 --> 55:23.220 so salvation could go to the world. 55:25.780 --> 55:26.980 That's why he did it. 55:28.160 --> 55:30.420 Because as long as they were so proud 55:30.420 --> 55:32.460 of who they were and what they had, 55:32.960 --> 55:35.280 we were not going to be allowed in 55:35.280 --> 55:36.720 from their perspective. 55:37.200 --> 55:38.980 He says, well, let's just take everything 55:38.980 --> 55:42.080 that you're so flutin' high-minded about 55:42.080 --> 55:44.180 and let's just do away with it. 55:44.380 --> 55:45.000 Annull it. 55:49.520 --> 55:52.160 You say, well, if we don't have any rules, 55:53.420 --> 55:54.660 what do we live by? 55:55.960 --> 55:57.000 Oh, we have a rule. 55:58.460 --> 55:58.980 Love. 56:00.860 --> 56:03.040 And the Holy Spirit takes that one rule 56:03.040 --> 56:05.380 and he applies it to all of our life 56:05.380 --> 56:07.880 as we follow the Spirit. 56:08.780 --> 56:09.880 Not the rules. 56:11.800 --> 56:13.460 Rules make us judgmental. 56:13.740 --> 56:14.960 Rules make us critical. 56:15.580 --> 56:17.440 Rules make us look down on other people 56:17.440 --> 56:19.540 and they never measure up to as good 56:19.540 --> 56:22.240 as we're doing it because we are so awesome. 56:27.420 --> 56:29.020 I'm trying to remember the phrase. 56:29.220 --> 56:30.280 Felicia might remember it. 56:32.800 --> 56:34.600 There was a person in our past, 56:34.840 --> 56:36.580 I'll just say it this way, who was a leader, 56:36.820 --> 56:37.900 a person of influence. 56:38.600 --> 56:40.120 Correct me if I'm wrong in this. 56:40.800 --> 56:43.280 He was working with young people 56:43.900 --> 56:45.420 and he made this statement. 56:46.840 --> 56:48.720 He said, don't you dare 56:49.660 --> 56:51.640 look at the opposite sex 56:51.640 --> 56:55.300 with lost or unclean thoughts or anything. 56:56.420 --> 57:01.380 I have never had an unclean thought. 57:01.440 --> 57:02.140 Is that how he said it? 57:03.220 --> 57:07.200 I have never had a sexual thought 57:07.200 --> 57:09.480 towards a woman in my lifetime. 57:14.300 --> 57:16.040 So the rule is, 57:17.140 --> 57:19.900 based on my either delusion or lying, 57:23.900 --> 57:25.000 he wasn't. 57:25.100 --> 57:25.980 He was married, he had children. 57:28.520 --> 57:30.240 But it is a valid question. 57:33.500 --> 57:37.540 See, Christians love rules. 57:40.660 --> 57:42.320 That is Old Testament law. 57:42.900 --> 57:46.120 God gave 10 rules and by the time 57:46.120 --> 57:48.240 the Jewish nation was done with them, 57:48.240 --> 57:49.920 didn't they have 630 some rules? 57:51.780 --> 57:53.160 They love rules. 57:54.400 --> 57:55.980 The church loves rules. 57:56.980 --> 57:58.620 You can't wear that kind of clothes at church. 57:59.000 --> 58:00.220 Why? Well, it's not godly. 58:00.420 --> 58:01.060 Where does it say that? 58:01.580 --> 58:03.740 Well, anybody who is mature in God knows that. 58:03.820 --> 58:05.280 It's a rule. Get over it. 58:05.940 --> 58:07.100 It's a dumb rule. 58:15.100 --> 58:16.260 I'm pushing on you. 58:19.480 --> 58:21.960 What are the rules to attend word of life? 58:22.960 --> 58:25.280 Learn to love and follow the Spirit. 58:26.460 --> 58:28.080 You don't got any more rules than that? 58:28.180 --> 58:29.740 Well, we've got organizational stuff, 58:29.740 --> 58:31.800 so if you get weird, we can say, hey, you know. 58:33.720 --> 58:35.100 Back up a little bit here. 58:35.260 --> 58:36.880 You're getting a little weird now. 58:38.360 --> 58:41.160 But as far as living for God, there's two rules. 58:41.640 --> 58:42.860 If you want to call them rules, 58:43.620 --> 58:45.520 love God with all your heart, soul and mind and strength. 58:45.600 --> 58:46.600 Love your neighbors yourself. 58:47.680 --> 58:50.240 And the Spirit has been given 58:51.660 --> 58:53.600 because God got rid of the rules. 58:53.700 --> 58:55.240 Why did he get rid of the rules? 58:55.360 --> 58:56.380 I like the rules. 58:56.680 --> 58:58.640 The rules were the problem. 59:02.330 --> 59:03.830 So I've had people say to me, 59:04.710 --> 59:08.050 they'll quote something out of the Ten Commandments to me. 59:08.730 --> 59:09.690 One way or the other. 59:10.070 --> 59:11.130 And my response is always, 59:11.290 --> 59:12.730 why are you going to the Ten Commandments? 59:12.930 --> 59:13.810 That doesn't apply to me. 59:14.590 --> 59:15.670 And then the jaw drops. 59:17.350 --> 59:18.510 I thought this is a church. 59:18.630 --> 59:19.350 I thought you're a minister. 59:20.010 --> 59:20.530 Why am? 59:21.670 --> 59:23.170 You don't believe in the Ten Commandments? 59:23.410 --> 59:24.050 No, I believe in them. 59:24.090 --> 59:24.970 They just don't apply to me. 59:27.430 --> 59:28.570 How can you say that? 59:29.950 --> 59:30.810 Paul said it. 59:31.930 --> 59:33.710 Hebrews, it says it over and over and over. 59:34.790 --> 59:35.750 They don't apply to us. 59:35.810 --> 59:36.770 We're not under that covenant. 59:40.290 --> 59:41.950 Well, you must think you got it pretty good. 59:42.070 --> 59:43.810 Yeah, this is a better covenant than that one. 59:45.070 --> 59:46.310 That's what the Bible says. 59:47.070 --> 59:48.410 We got a better covenant. 59:49.750 --> 59:52.550 You said, well, you possibly can't just live by love. 59:55.410 --> 59:56.130 God does. 59:59.900 --> 01:00:01.360 Well, people can get away with anything. 01:00:01.740 --> 01:00:04.400 Ah, we need a rule. 01:00:05.720 --> 01:00:07.740 Because they're going to get away with stuff. 01:00:08.540 --> 01:00:10.580 And somebody's got to shut this down. 01:00:11.720 --> 01:00:13.300 You know, we don't need a rule. 01:00:13.420 --> 01:00:14.120 Do you know what we need? 01:00:14.120 --> 01:00:16.120 We need to learn how to follow the Holy Spirit. 01:00:17.300 --> 01:00:20.820 Because he won't let you get away with anything if you've noticed. 01:00:22.180 --> 01:00:24.920 If you can hear him at all and you're paying attention, 01:00:26.020 --> 01:00:27.480 just go do something stupid. 01:00:27.600 --> 01:00:31.000 It takes a day or two and he's going to say, by the way... 01:00:31.000 --> 01:00:31.980 You know what you did? 01:00:33.040 --> 01:00:34.100 Sometimes a lot quicker. 01:00:34.860 --> 01:00:37.040 You know what you said back there to your wife? 01:00:38.200 --> 01:00:41.100 And you're going, oh, man, he was listening. 01:00:41.100 --> 01:00:42.340 Yeah, he's listening to everything. 01:00:44.020 --> 01:00:46.080 And he's going to call you on it because it wasn't love. 01:00:48.480 --> 01:00:49.980 Okay, did I make my point there? 01:00:51.640 --> 01:00:54.040 So, the point is, I am now a new creation, 01:00:54.220 --> 01:00:56.240 a new man with the Jewish people. 01:00:57.040 --> 01:00:59.680 So to say, well, these people are Messianic Jews. 01:00:59.800 --> 01:01:01.040 There is no such thing. 01:01:02.220 --> 01:01:04.800 Well, these people are Gentiles. 01:01:05.260 --> 01:01:06.720 Well, not if you're in Christ, you're not. 01:01:07.480 --> 01:01:08.700 You're no longer Gentile. 01:01:09.120 --> 01:01:10.220 You're no longer Jew. 01:01:10.220 --> 01:01:14.820 There is a new creation made. 01:01:15.780 --> 01:01:20.140 Taking both of them, bringing them together as one. 01:01:22.200 --> 01:01:23.740 I'm a new creation. 01:01:24.480 --> 01:01:30.560 And he designed to reconcile to God both Jew and Gentile 01:01:30.560 --> 01:01:34.820 united in a single body by means of his cross. 01:01:35.340 --> 01:01:38.760 So he brought the two together as one. 01:01:39.360 --> 01:01:40.640 So God sees it. 01:01:41.920 --> 01:01:45.880 And as a result of that, killing the mutual enmity 01:01:45.880 --> 01:01:47.800 and bringing the feud to an end. 01:01:48.880 --> 01:01:52.900 So I am reconciled to God and now joined as one man 01:01:52.900 --> 01:01:54.780 with the Israelites who are in Christ. 01:01:55.260 --> 01:01:57.540 Israelites who are not in Christ, that's different. 01:01:57.840 --> 01:01:59.700 It all revolves around being in Christ. 01:02:00.320 --> 01:02:03.300 And he came and preached glad tidings of peace to you 01:02:03.300 --> 01:02:05.640 who were afar off and peace to those who were near. 01:02:06.060 --> 01:02:08.020 I have received the message of peace. 01:02:10.800 --> 01:02:12.980 And by the Holy Spirit I will live in peace. 01:02:14.640 --> 01:02:16.820 And anything that tries to take my peace, 01:02:18.220 --> 01:02:19.440 we're going to have it out. 01:02:22.380 --> 01:02:23.420 I'm going to live in peace. 01:02:24.040 --> 01:02:24.940 He's the Prince of peace. 01:02:25.080 --> 01:02:25.960 Peace he's given to us. 01:02:26.000 --> 01:02:27.500 Not as the world gives give on to you. 01:02:27.660 --> 01:02:29.200 So do not let your heart be troubled. 01:02:29.320 --> 01:02:29.900 Do not be afraid. 01:02:30.180 --> 01:02:31.280 I'm not going to lose my peace. 01:02:32.660 --> 01:02:33.440 Throw your fit. 01:02:33.700 --> 01:02:34.340 Jump up and down. 01:02:34.340 --> 01:02:35.580 Whatever you got to do. 01:02:35.960 --> 01:02:38.360 I'm not going to lose my peace over you. 01:02:40.000 --> 01:02:43.780 And we shouldn't lose our peace over anyone or anything. 01:02:45.220 --> 01:02:48.540 Because we've received the message we can live in peace. 01:02:48.780 --> 01:02:51.140 For it is through him that we both, 01:02:51.540 --> 01:02:53.840 whether far off or near, Jew and Gentile, 01:02:54.200 --> 01:02:57.800 now have an introduction accessed by one Holy Spirit 01:02:57.800 --> 01:03:00.880 to the Father so that we are able to approach him. 01:03:00.880 --> 01:03:04.180 I have access with the Israelites to the Father. 01:03:04.500 --> 01:03:06.820 I now have the promises of that nation. 01:03:07.520 --> 01:03:10.880 I now have the Holy Spirit working with me and in me. 01:03:11.380 --> 01:03:15.360 Therefore, you are no longer outsiders. 01:03:16.540 --> 01:03:17.340 I'm not an outsider. 01:03:18.180 --> 01:03:20.980 But you now share citizenship with the saints 01:03:20.980 --> 01:03:23.840 and you belong to God's household. 01:03:24.360 --> 01:03:25.060 Who am I? 01:03:25.240 --> 01:03:26.100 I'm not an outsider. 01:03:26.940 --> 01:03:28.480 I'm a citizen of heaven. 01:03:28.480 --> 01:03:30.480 And by the way, I'm part of his family. 01:03:31.600 --> 01:03:35.100 Both of those are upgrades from Adam and Eve, by the way. 01:03:38.800 --> 01:03:42.440 You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets 01:03:42.440 --> 01:03:45.140 with Christ Jesus himself, the chief cornerstone. 01:03:46.020 --> 01:03:48.440 In Christ, my spiritual life, 01:03:50.260 --> 01:03:52.040 my spiritual being, 01:03:52.820 --> 01:03:55.720 is built on the solid foundation of Jesus, 01:03:56.020 --> 01:03:57.420 the apostles and the prophets. 01:03:58.180 --> 01:04:02.620 How do you know that you're going the right direction? 01:04:02.780 --> 01:04:04.060 He's answering that question. 01:04:05.560 --> 01:04:07.620 Well, how do you know Judaism isn't right? 01:04:07.780 --> 01:04:09.520 Because Judaism isn't built on Christ 01:04:10.180 --> 01:04:11.720 and the apostles and the prophets. 01:04:13.820 --> 01:04:16.500 Prophets were part of it, but not the whole picture. 01:04:18.240 --> 01:04:21.780 For people who struggle, you need to realize 01:04:22.480 --> 01:04:23.980 people who struggle with knowing, 01:04:25.800 --> 01:04:28.780 maybe Muslims are right, maybe Buddhists are right, 01:04:28.920 --> 01:04:31.280 maybe Hindus are right, maybe whatever is right. 01:04:31.880 --> 01:04:36.180 Go to God and say, like Paul did last half of that first chapter, 01:04:36.320 --> 01:04:37.900 he says, you got to see this. 01:04:38.480 --> 01:04:41.380 You have to have supernatural revelation to see 01:04:41.380 --> 01:04:44.160 you are built on good ground. 01:04:46.140 --> 01:04:46.840 You're not off. 01:04:47.960 --> 01:04:50.120 You have to see that in your spirit. 01:04:50.220 --> 01:04:52.160 I can talk to you all day long, not convince you. 01:04:52.160 --> 01:04:53.780 You have to see it in your spirit. 01:04:54.040 --> 01:04:55.940 You are built on the right foundation. 01:04:56.400 --> 01:04:59.280 That was Paul's prayer leading into this. 01:05:02.700 --> 01:05:04.440 Okay, next verse. 01:05:05.220 --> 01:05:07.060 In him the whole structure is joined, 01:05:07.420 --> 01:05:09.400 bound, welded together harmoniously. 01:05:09.560 --> 01:05:12.280 So now he's talking about the structure, the body. 01:05:13.100 --> 01:05:15.020 It continues to rise, grow, increase 01:05:15.020 --> 01:05:16.680 into a holy temple in the Lord, 01:05:16.800 --> 01:05:19.380 a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated and sacred 01:05:19.380 --> 01:05:21.220 to the presence of the Lord. 01:05:24.100 --> 01:05:26.060 Lot in there. Let me just say it this way. 01:05:26.700 --> 01:05:28.780 I am part of the whole structure. 01:05:29.160 --> 01:05:33.020 That's the corporate body, the corporate building 01:05:33.020 --> 01:05:34.500 that is being built. 01:05:36.940 --> 01:05:38.780 That's what that verse says. 01:05:39.620 --> 01:05:43.820 In him the whole structure is being welded 01:05:43.820 --> 01:05:47.280 and put together into a holy temple in the Lord. 01:05:48.220 --> 01:05:49.720 The whole structure. 01:05:49.720 --> 01:05:54.300 Well, I'm in that structure as the body, okay? 01:05:55.140 --> 01:06:00.600 So I'm part of that structure and in him... 01:06:00.600 --> 01:06:02.980 Now the structure, he's into the structure. 01:06:03.460 --> 01:06:06.260 The structure is in him and it's with each other, the body. 01:06:07.000 --> 01:06:10.020 In him and in fellowship with one another, 01:06:11.080 --> 01:06:14.180 you yourselves also are being built up. 01:06:14.300 --> 01:06:15.960 See, I'm in that structure. 01:06:16.620 --> 01:06:18.300 You are in that structure. 01:06:19.480 --> 01:06:23.140 You are being built up into the structure with the rest. 01:06:23.940 --> 01:06:24.800 Here we go. 01:06:25.720 --> 01:06:30.560 To form a fixed abode, a dwelling place of God in 01:06:30.560 --> 01:06:34.100 by through the Spirit. 01:06:34.860 --> 01:06:36.220 He just hits the Spirit. 01:06:36.420 --> 01:06:39.380 He just hits it on a glancing blow in verses 21 and 22. 01:06:41.060 --> 01:06:45.580 But that is the open door into everything we live in. 01:06:46.180 --> 01:06:50.180 In Christ and in fellowship with each other, corporate body. 01:06:51.060 --> 01:06:55.560 I am part of the corporate anointing that allows the 01:06:55.560 --> 01:06:59.280 Holy Spirit to abide and be active among us. 01:06:59.440 --> 01:07:00.720 Read the verse again, you'll see it. 01:07:01.400 --> 01:07:06.560 In him and with each other, you are being built into 01:07:06.560 --> 01:07:09.060 a structure with each other with the rest. 01:07:09.980 --> 01:07:18.900 To form a fixed dwelling place of God by and through the Spirit. 01:07:19.400 --> 01:07:24.440 So as a corporate body, the Holy Spirit comes, 01:07:24.980 --> 01:07:28.220 fixes himself here and works here. 01:07:29.240 --> 01:07:31.420 Well, how does the anointing get into that? 01:07:31.860 --> 01:07:35.360 The Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me 01:07:35.360 --> 01:07:38.460 and He has anointed me. 01:07:40.140 --> 01:07:44.600 The word Christ means Messiah, anointed one and His anointing. 01:07:45.460 --> 01:07:51.080 First John chapter 2, you all have an anointing from God. 01:07:51.940 --> 01:07:56.080 Because if you're in Christ, you've got the Holy Spirit. 01:07:57.860 --> 01:08:02.720 So as a result, in Christ as a corporate body with each other, 01:08:03.700 --> 01:08:06.260 I'm part of this, you're part of this. 01:08:06.800 --> 01:08:10.040 There is a corporate anointing that forms, 01:08:10.200 --> 01:08:14.780 that allows the Holy Spirit to not only rest here in power 01:08:14.780 --> 01:08:17.900 and strength and might, but to be active here. 01:08:18.680 --> 01:08:19.700 That's who we are. 01:08:21.440 --> 01:08:22.560 It's who we are. 01:08:27.440 --> 01:08:31.900 So here is my challenge to us. 01:08:33.100 --> 01:08:34.600 And there's more in that PowerPoint. 01:08:34.600 --> 01:08:36.720 We'll just pick it up next week and finish that PowerPoint. 01:08:36.960 --> 01:08:37.440 There's more there. 01:08:37.920 --> 01:08:39.660 But here's my challenge to us. 01:08:42.570 --> 01:08:43.970 We need to pray. 01:08:44.570 --> 01:08:51.610 Can you bring Ephesians 1 back up? 01:08:54.760 --> 01:09:00.360 We'll start at verse 16 in my amplified version. 01:09:01.340 --> 01:09:05.300 I do not cease to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers. 01:09:05.920 --> 01:09:09.300 For I always pray to God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, 01:09:09.480 --> 01:09:14.000 the Father of glory, that He may grant you the spirit of wisdom and revelation. 01:09:15.040 --> 01:09:21.920 Insight into mysteries and secrets in the deep and intimate knowledge of Him. 01:09:22.000 --> 01:09:25.520 This is what Paul prayed for the Ephesians and he prayed for the body of Christ. 01:09:26.820 --> 01:09:31.520 Getting the eyes of your heart flooded with light so that you can know 01:09:31.520 --> 01:09:35.840 and understand the hope He's called you to. 01:09:36.640 --> 01:09:37.600 Verse 19, 01:09:38.320 --> 01:09:42.580 So you can know and understand what is the immeasurable, unlimited, 01:09:43.060 --> 01:09:49.660 and surpassing greatness of His power in us and His power for us who believe. 01:09:50.940 --> 01:09:53.640 As demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength. 01:09:55.020 --> 01:09:58.700 Take the PowerPoint from this morning when it comes up online, 01:09:58.880 --> 01:10:00.820 grab that, print it out, do something with it. 01:10:00.820 --> 01:10:05.180 Take that PowerPoint and pray Paul's prayer over yourself. 01:10:06.440 --> 01:10:11.180 Over and over and over. I got to see this. I have to understand this. 01:10:11.640 --> 01:10:16.220 If it doesn't drop into our heart supernaturally, it won't get in our heart. 01:10:18.080 --> 01:10:22.400 It's way too big for our ears to understand, our head to understand. 01:10:22.800 --> 01:10:27.720 It is way beyond. This has to drop into my heart. 01:10:27.720 --> 01:10:32.920 And if it gets into my heart, it'll change me forever. 01:10:33.340 --> 01:10:38.800 Because now I begin to see, oh, that's who I am. 01:10:41.080 --> 01:10:44.280 Now I want you to notice something. I'm going to point it out at the end and we're done. 01:10:44.360 --> 01:10:45.180 Because there's your homework. 01:10:46.340 --> 01:10:50.180 Pray those three verses over yourself. Pray it over yourself. 01:10:50.380 --> 01:10:51.780 Pray it. Put your name in there. 01:10:52.100 --> 01:10:55.700 Call what He's calling for us. Call it for yourself. 01:10:56.120 --> 01:10:58.460 Pray it. Pray it. Pray it. 01:10:58.800 --> 01:11:03.460 So that the ground gets formed so these seeds can go in and be planted. 01:11:03.560 --> 01:11:07.720 Then go back through that PowerPoint and say, that's what I am. That's what I am. That's what I am. That's what I am. 01:11:10.590 --> 01:11:12.090 I want to point something out to you. 01:11:14.290 --> 01:11:17.770 When God was talking to Moses and Moses said, who do you say? 01:11:18.550 --> 01:11:21.390 Who am I supposed to say you are when they say who sent you? 01:11:23.010 --> 01:11:26.050 What did He say? I am. 01:11:28.070 --> 01:11:29.450 Now I want you to notice something. 01:11:30.590 --> 01:11:34.150 We are the children of the I am. 01:11:34.750 --> 01:11:35.390 Okay? 01:11:36.850 --> 01:11:39.710 So in our culture we pick up the surname. 01:11:41.150 --> 01:11:50.770 So Matt's children are Ruth and my children are Pelts and, you know, what I am, 01:11:50.770 --> 01:11:53.270 they pick up that same. They're the children. Okay? 01:11:54.570 --> 01:11:55.790 He's the great I am. 01:11:57.450 --> 01:12:01.330 And in Christ, you know what we keep saying? I am. 01:12:04.410 --> 01:12:11.150 I am reconciled. I am redeemed. I am forgiven. I am. I am bought by the blood. I am. 01:12:11.530 --> 01:12:18.990 What gives us the right to say that? Being in Christ, we are children of the great I am that makes us I ams. 01:12:22.150 --> 01:12:24.310 You might need to think about that for a bit. 01:12:25.990 --> 01:12:30.710 I can give you scripture on that if you say, well, I don't know if that's good. I'll give you scripture on it. 01:12:31.150 --> 01:12:31.970 You need that. 01:12:34.570 --> 01:12:40.490 So when I say I am saved, I'm using His name. 01:12:41.770 --> 01:12:43.570 Tell them who sent you. I am. 01:12:45.870 --> 01:12:49.990 By the way, I am also in Christ. 01:12:49.990 --> 01:12:51.010 I am. 01:12:53.530 --> 01:12:55.270 What He is, I am. 01:13:00.240 --> 01:13:03.420 Wait into that one. Swim around on that one for a while. See what He reveals. 01:13:05.980 --> 01:13:08.960 Heavenly Father, expand us. 01:13:10.200 --> 01:13:15.400 Expand us beyond rules. Expand us beyond religion. Expand us beyond tradition. 01:13:16.300 --> 01:13:21.280 Expand us to understand who we are in Christ. 01:13:22.280 --> 01:13:29.300 And how to live that out. Expand us. Give us wisdom. Give us revelation. 01:13:29.860 --> 01:13:34.480 Give us insight. Drop this thing into our inner man, our heart. 01:13:35.620 --> 01:13:37.640 Get it boiling in there. 01:13:40.340 --> 01:13:45.340 Because as a man thinketh, so is he. 01:13:46.780 --> 01:13:53.260 We have to understand who we are if we're going to walk this thing out. 01:13:54.560 --> 01:13:57.160 Increasingly in the glory, from glory to glory to glory. 01:13:57.560 --> 01:14:00.120 And increasingly, overcomingly. 01:14:01.960 --> 01:14:04.640 Growing, growing, growing. Winning, winning, winning. 01:14:04.900 --> 01:14:08.700 Succeeding, succeeding, succeeding. Why? Because I am in Christ. 01:14:09.020 --> 01:14:10.380 And this is who I am. 01:14:13.640 --> 01:14:16.360 You convince us, Father, in Jesus' name, amen.