WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.120 Three quick things before we get to the sermon. 00:00:03.439 --> 00:00:05.679 First of all, welcome back, Huff family. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:09.199 Jeanette and kids, it's so good to have you back. 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:10.800 And uh we missed you. 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:13.519 It's good to have you with us this morning. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:23.039 Secondly, happy Father's Day, Dad's, and uh may God continue to grow you as spiritual leaders. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:26.960 Thirdly, this is Trevor's farewell. 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:31.920 So, Trevor, um, we're gonna say goodbye later. 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:48.799 We're gonna have some cake downstairs and we're gonna give you a little send-off after the service, but uh I've had you in mind a lot in the preparation of this sermon, and just uh thank you for the way that you have led us in worship these past eight years. 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:53.119 And so we look to the sermon text. 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:57.280 It's still really, I just can't get out of this sermon series on the Holy Spirit. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:00.240 God just keeps extending it, and that's okay. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:03.840 We're gonna come back to this text next next week, as a matter of fact. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:10.319 It's it's a short paragraph, but there's so much in here, we're gonna take a couple of weeks to absorb this. 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:19.840 Paul reading to the Romans, verse 12 of chapter 8. 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:26.079 So then, brothers, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:29.519 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:35.200 But if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:51.599 For all who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God, for you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba, Father. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:02:09.520 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him, in order that we may also be glorified with him. 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:18.479 This is the reading of God's holy and infallible and inerrant word, and so we ask his Spirit to teach us this morning. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:32.080 Father, even as the Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Romans, we understand that they are just as important for our understanding this day, all these years later. 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:36.879 Spirit of God, would you please do your work in us this morning? 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:46.479 We cannot truly receive or believe or live out these promises unless you do your work in us, O Spirit. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:49.439 And so we invite you, we ask you now. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:50.879 Amen. 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:58.560 So there's so much we could say about this passage. 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:02.240 I'm gonna leave most of it till next week. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:05.280 What does it mean to be led by the Holy Spirit? 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:10.080 How does the Holy Spirit actually help us put to death? 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:12.800 The old nature. 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:17.439 How does the Holy Spirit actually teach us how to live out of the gospel? 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:34.240 And we're gonna look more at that next week, but this morning I just really want to simply focus on the prayer that the Holy Spirit alone can teach us to pray and actually pray it, which is Abba, Father. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:45.439 So, very briefly this morning, we're gonna note that this relationship with the Holy Spirit is personal, it's purposeful, and it's prayerful. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:48.159 It's so personal. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:50.719 It really is. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:04:09.520 The work of the Holy Spirit in your life is as personal as it will ever get with any person here in any relationship that you have, whether it's your marriage, whether it's your child, whether it's your best friend, it's personal. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:12.960 It just is. 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:15.120 It's just personal. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:26.879 Sinclair Ferguson, a great reformed theologian, said the notion that we are children of God, his sons and daughters, is the mainspring of Christian living. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:33.600 Our sonship is the apex of creation and the goal of redemption. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:36.240 He's right. 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:41.680 God gave us, this passage tells us two things that God gave us. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:47.519 He gave us his son, and we find really a parallel text in Galatians chapter 4, verse 6. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:51.120 Many of you know that as a famous sonship verse. 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:57.040 God sent his son into the world at just the right time. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:06.319 The son who was born under law, born under a woman, to redeem those who were under law, to redeem us, to take off the shackles. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:18.560 Calvin said, Jesus did this by taking off the shackles from us, he put them on himself to free us, to redeem us, to buy us back. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:43.600 But the second great sending in the New Testament that many Christians, many Christians, myself included, really just didn't understand for so much of my life is God not only sent his son into the world to redeem us, but he sent his spirit into the world that we might have the experience, the full rights. 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:54.560 Why is it that most of us are just so much more familiar with the sending of the Son than the sending of the Spirit? 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:58.000 And is one really more important than the other? 00:05:58.240 --> 00:05:59.600 I don't think so. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:10.240 God knew what he was doing when he sent his son to redeem you, to free you, to save you, to forgive you. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:25.600 But as John Stott said, he sent the son so that you would have the status of sons and daughters, but he sent the spirit so that you would have the experience of it. 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:28.000 That's where it gets so personal. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:30.480 It gets so personal. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:34.639 He gave us a new name, he gave us a new legal standing. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:37.199 God is no longer our enemy. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:40.480 Sending his son is the legal foundation. 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:44.800 Sending his spirit is the personal delight. 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:48.639 We're no longer slaves. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:58.639 John Wesley said in his diary, for many years in his life, a very deeply religious man. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:04.399 He said, For many years I had the I had the faith of a slave. 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:15.680 But it wasn't one until one day at Alders Gate in England that he had an experience where the Holy Spirit now gave him a new faith, new life in Christ. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:18.079 That's really when he became a Christian. 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:24.240 And that's when he gave him the faith, not of a slave, but of a son. 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:26.639 Has he given that to you? 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:36.319 There is no more intensely personal work that the Holy Spirit wants to do than to give you new life in Jesus Christ. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:39.360 To take the work of Christ on the cross. 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:43.040 It was Jesus who died, who was crucified on the cross. 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:45.519 It was Jesus who was buried in the ground. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:48.480 It was Jesus who was raised from the dead on the third day. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:54.959 And 40 days after his resurrection was raised up into heaven. 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:59.759 Jesus is really the first paraclete, if you will. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:06.000 But he didn't want us to be alone on this earth, so he gave us the second paraclete, which is the Holy Spirit. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:10.639 But the first thing that the Holy Spirit wants to do in your life is to give you new life. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:16.639 The first thing that the Holy Spirit wants to do in your life is to bring you to Jesus for salvation. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:20.000 There's no greater work that he does. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:29.600 Do you have the faith of a daughter, son, or do you still have the faith of a slave? 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:35.519 Are you still trying to serve Christ out of a sense of duty, an unlimited obligation? 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:38.639 Are you still trying to just please God enough? 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:42.960 And with that comes all the fear. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:46.720 With that comes all the sense of heaviness and duty. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:48.399 Am I doing enough? 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:50.399 Have I done enough? 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:55.840 But you haven't been set free yet. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:06.480 If it's all about the duty, and if it's all about the burden, he's waiting for you. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:10.639 He wants you to come to Christ for salvation. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:15.600 He wants you to come to Christ to receive a spirit of a child. 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:17.519 What can a child do? 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:19.279 What does a child do? 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:23.679 Not every kid gets to jump on your dad's lap. 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:29.679 Not every kid gets to call you daddy. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:34.240 Not every kid receives your gentle discipline. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:38.159 Only your kids in that sense. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:41.039 But that's true spiritually. 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:48.879 Not everyone in this world, and not necessarily everyone in this room, is a son or a daughter of God. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:52.720 Has he given you that spirit of sonship? 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:55.919 Do you know that you're forgiven? 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:01.039 Do you have a growing joy in your life? 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:05.519 I've seen that, Trevor. 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:08.720 I've seen a growing joy in your life. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:14.879 I've seen a growing confidence that you're his son and he's your father. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:19.279 And because of that, you've grown as a gospel risk taker. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:24.720 Less and less concerned about what was prepared. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:30.879 And more and more open to follow the Spirit's leading as you lead us. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:32.480 That's a son. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:36.960 Rehearsal is important. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:43.919 Practice is good, but it never takes the place of the leading of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:53.039 And what the Holy Spirit does in your personal life has everything to do with what the Holy Spirit does in the worship leader's life, is what he does in the worship service. 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:55.759 There's such a strong correlation. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:58.480 And I know you know that. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:00.480 And you're going to continue to grow in that. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:02.799 How about you? 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:05.200 What does that look like in your life? 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:08.159 You're not the worship leader at APC. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:11.120 But you have a calling from God. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:14.399 Are you leading in fear? 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:19.120 Is it just all about can I do enough? 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:20.639 Am I doing enough? 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:26.480 Are you learning how to live out of a love relationship? 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.879 It's personal. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:43.519 It's personal, and some of us still are really struggling because we just can't seem to get beyond our own view of ourselves and our the way we think of ourselves. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:50.960 It's just still getting in the way in some ways, and that's really tough. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:58.399 It's hard when you see yourself a certain way and you can't really come to believe. 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:03.440 What is it that happens in the life of somebody when all of a sudden they start to believe? 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:06.240 They start to believe. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:13.759 They've had it in their head for years, maybe they've had it in their head for a lifetime, but they start to believe. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.399 You know what I'm talking about? 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:19.200 We've been talking about this the last few weeks. 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:22.720 It's the Holy Spirit that sheds the love of God abroad in your heart. 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:28.240 That doesn't happen just because you keep saying, God loves me, God loves me, God loves me. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:30.320 That's not the way it works. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:32.720 You have to read it. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:36.399 It does come in propositional statements. 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:39.200 You can't just feel it. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:41.200 You have to believe it. 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:47.840 But for you to really live it out, you need the Holy Spirit to convince you. 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:49.519 He's the one. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:56.000 I had a counseling session with a couple. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:57.919 And I've just been thinking about that. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:03.759 The last, you know, for this sermon, I just thought, okay, let's just take a week, any week. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:06.320 Let's take this last week. 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:08.559 What has the Holy Spirit been doing in my life? 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:10.799 What has he been doing in other people's lives? 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:15.120 And I was with a couple who've just really been going through a really, really hard time. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:20.240 And they um they've got a lot on their plate. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.080 And it's really intense. 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:29.360 And we talked about may the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:33.360 May the God of all hope, do you need hope? 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:36.080 Most of us do. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:49.600 May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, as you trust in him, so that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:55.360 Are you struggling, believing God's love for you? 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:58.559 Are you struggling for hope? 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:00.639 Are you struggling for peace? 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:08.960 All these things, only the Spirit can make it believable and grow. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.320 So it changes you. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:17.279 The purpose of worship is not information, folks, it's transformation. 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:20.000 That's what this is about. 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:22.559 And so much gets in the way. 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:27.919 There's a man that wrote a book, Leading by Naming. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:40.399 He talks about in India, the nation, the untouchables in India are required by a Hindu law to be given one name and it must be derogatory. 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:41.679 How about that? 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:43.600 Ugly? 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:45.759 That's their name. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:47.039 Dung? 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:48.960 Stupid? 00:14:50.799 --> 00:15:04.159 Imagine the transformation when they discover that in Jesus Christ, Jesus came as the untouchable to make them children. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:09.120 And that has, he has the power to rename them. 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:12.480 When you become a Christian, you get renamed. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:17.840 Whatever name you've been giving yourself, sometimes we are the hardest on ourselves, aren't we? 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:20.799 Sometimes we are the ones that can't forgive ourselves. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:25.120 Sometimes we are the ones that can't get out of the shadow of our shame. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:32.879 Sometimes we're the ones, whether it's been spoken to us, whether other people have tried to name us, or whether we've named ourselves. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:37.200 And you can't live like a son or daughter doing that. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.799 Jesus came to give you a new name. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:43.279 Beloved. 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:45.600 Loved. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:48.480 Chosen. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:50.960 Precious. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:54.639 Are you learning how to live out of your new name? 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:58.399 Only the Holy Spirit can help you do that. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.799 It's so personal. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.639 It's so personal. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:08.639 I think about a couple, another couple this week. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:12.240 Going through a hard time in their marriage. 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:15.600 By the way, they're not the only ones in this church. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:17.200 Alright? 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.399 Let's be honest. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.080 Marriage is hard. 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:21.919 Life is hard. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:28.080 And something just happened this week. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:30.879 Something happened. 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:36.000 Where I think they got a new picture as the Spirit has been at work in them. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:39.120 They got a new vision for their marriage. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:43.039 That their marriage is not about just getting along better. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:46.399 Isn't that sometimes what we settle for? 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:49.120 Boy, and I just wish it was better. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:51.120 I just wish I was happier. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:57.120 I just wish that there wasn't so much tension and there wasn't so much fighting in my marriage. 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:59.519 If you just gave me that, that would be enough. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:01.440 Don't you dare believe that. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.840 You've missed the point of marriage. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:16.160 The point of a growing, maturing marriage is not to take the pressure off of you, it's to make you look more like Jesus Christ. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:27.920 And that your marriage, your marriage is pointing you to Christ, how much you need a Savior who can give you the love supernaturally to love your spouse. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:30.240 It's about Christ, not you. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:33.920 And that may be new to some of us. 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:44.000 I think about a conversation this week with a man, and he's got his own challenges and he's got his own fears. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:52.240 And just talking about in the Holy Spirit showing up, and I think giving him new boldness to have conversations. 00:17:53.759 --> 00:18:03.279 To have new conversations that have just been so hard to be able to have with people close. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:05.440 Do you struggle with this stuff? 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.759 Of course you do. 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:16.640 Are you inviting the Holy Spirit in to replace your fear with faith? 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:19.279 Your timidity with courage. 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:24.720 Is he taking away the bitterness that you have towards certain people? 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:27.599 Is he giving you reconciliation? 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:32.079 Is he giving you faith to believe the promises of God in a new way? 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.839 We've talked about that this spring, right? 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:36.079 In the Capitol, the Arise Capital campaign. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:49.440 What a testimony to the work of the Spirit that so many people in this church finally faced their fears about money and stripped off their ornaments and started to trust God in a new way with their money. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:52.559 I'll never forget the journey we've been on this year. 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:54.559 It's been powerful. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:58.319 The Holy Spirit has so much He wants to give you. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.920 It's personal. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:04.640 Oh, by the way, this is the way it looks, too. 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:13.119 In the last week and a half, I had I just had to repent to my wife and ask her forgiveness. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:16.160 Because I hurt her with my words. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:20.240 I hurt her with my words. 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:23.279 And the Holy Spirit convicted me of that. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:27.200 And the Holy Spirit showed me you need to ask her forgiveness. 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.440 Can you do that? 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:32.799 Do you do that in your marriage? 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:37.599 When was the last time? 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:47.839 You went to your spouse and just asked them for forgiveness because you hurt them with your words or your actions. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:20:06.960 If you think that this is something that only happens like once every ten years, if you think that this is something that only happens once a year, listen to me, you're not walking in the Holy Spirit. 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.599 You're just not. 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:15.519 I mean, it'd be ridiculous to think that we can live close with people, and this is true with your friendships. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:22.319 It would be ridiculous to think that we could just coexist, sinners as we are, and not wound each other. 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:28.720 Only the Holy Spirit can open you up and give you the freedom and the honesty to be honest. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.279 It's personal. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:38.559 So we're out of time to talk about it's purposeful. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.880 We'll talk about that next week. 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:43.599 What the Holy Spirit wants to do. 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.960 Let me just give you one example. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:47.839 We've talked about this for the last five weeks off and on. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:21:03.519 When it comes to your evangelism, you're not going to really be much of a gospel witness to others if you're still depending on the training programs and the techniques. 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:06.480 That's just not the way it works. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.799 Let's get good teaching. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:10.079 I'm all for good teaching. 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:12.799 I'm all for good training. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.799 I've got a lot of that in my life. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:24.160 But the thing that is most valuable to be a witness for Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit, causing the love of God to be shed abroad in your heart where you just can't help yourself. 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:26.640 You have to talk about Jesus. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.839 That's the way it works. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.920 And it's prayerful. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:36.799 Look at the language. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:41.359 Can you cry out, Abba, Father? 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:43.440 That's really a prayer. 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:50.240 That only the Holy Spirit can make you believe that you're the Father's daughter. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:53.200 And that the Father loves his daughters. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:59.599 And the Father sent his spirit so that the Spirit will convince you more that you're his daughter. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:05.039 I did a wedding yesterday. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:08.640 Boy, it was great to see the father-daughter dance. 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:11.200 I was just reminded one more time. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:18.240 You know, of my father-daughter's dances, and it just, there's something about it. 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:26.720 When a father is giving his daughter away to another man and marriage, and there's just that closeness and there's that connection. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:30.079 And you just, and yesterday it was beautiful to watch. 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:40.880 I was reminded what it's like when the Holy Spirit convinces us to believe. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.880 And we believe. 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:45.279 And we start thinking differently. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:48.319 We start realizing, wait a minute, that's not my name. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:50.240 I'm not stupid. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:51.680 I'm not ugly. 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.279 I'm his beloved. 00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:00.559 I'm his chosen. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:02.799 I'm his precious. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:05.440 Don't ever stop believing that. 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:10.720 It'll change your life if you yield to the Holy Spirit. 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:18.000 Tim Keller tells a story of an old Puritan. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:27.680 And this Puritan one day observed a father and son walking along the way. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.359 He was Thomas Goodwin. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:39.839 And as they were, he was watching this father and son going down the street, suddenly the father swept the son up into his arms and hugged him and kissed him for like a minute. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:42.720 And then he finally put his son down. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:53.599 Was the little boy more of a son in the father's arms than he was when he was on the street? 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:54.960 Good question. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:55.759 Was he? 00:23:56.559 --> 00:24:05.119 Was the little boy more the father's son when he was swept up in his daddy's arms and he was being hugged and he was being embraced? 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:09.279 Was he more of a son then than when daddy put him down? 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:11.119 What's the answer, class? 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.079 No. 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:20.319 He was just as much the son when he was put down as when he was swept up. 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:35.519 But I think you know that that little boy felt more like his daddy's beloved when daddy swept him up into his arms and twirled him around and hugged him and gave him kisses. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:39.279 That's what the father does when the spirit is at work. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:42.400 That's what the father wants to give you. 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:44.240 He wants to give me. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:58.000 As Trevor and the band come up as we close our service, I want to just highlight some words that my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.519 Is that true? 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:04.400 Is your hope built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness? 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:11.119 I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but I wholly trust in Jesus' name. 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:17.039 Christ alone, cornerstone, weak made strong in the Savior's love. 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:21.920 Through the storm, He is Lord of all. 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:25.440 Friends, you've got storms ahead of you. 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:30.559 You've got storms behind you, but you've got more storms ahead of you. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:38.079 And this has felt a little bit like a storm, but it's okay. 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:41.359 Because Christ is our cornerstone. 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:44.799 No other person is your cornerstone. 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:51.359 When darkness seems to hide his face, I rest on his unchanging grace. 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:59.359 In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:02.079 Jesus is your anchor. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.839 No one else. 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:05.519 Nothing else. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:08.000 He's your cornerstone. 00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:11.440 Lord Jesus, thank you for being our cornerstone. 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:22.079 And even now, as we continue to lift your name up in praise and adoration with hearts that explode with joy, because you are our cornerstone. 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:26.480 Hear and receive our praise and our adoration. 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:28.480 Lord Jesus, amen.