WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.240 We are in this series on knowing Jesus. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:20.719 About three weeks ago, we looked at Philippians chapter three, where Paul looks back at his life, all the things that he has accomplished, all the things that he has done, and he compares them to hot garbage in comparison to knowing Jesus. 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:26.640 Knowing Jesus is the most important thing for Paul. 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:28.399 It is the best. 00:00:28.640 --> 00:00:33.039 It is not just an add-on to the other cool spiritual things that he's doing. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:36.960 It is the pinnacle from which everything else flows. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:39.840 Knowing Jesus is everything. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:45.520 And we want that to be true of everybody at West Village Church as well. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:48.560 We want to be fully orbed disciples, right? 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:49.759 Well-rounded. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:01:01.600 We want to be well-rounded to know Jesus more and more and more and more and continue to go deep into him. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:06.159 So we want to grow as disciples as we go. 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:08.640 Want to grow as disciples as we go. 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:10.159 So how are we going to do that? 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:13.840 We've been talking through our foundations of discipleship. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:15.680 Um, five B's. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:19.920 They are believe, belong, behold, become, bless. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:23.680 Believe to know him is to trust him more. 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:28.799 Belong to know him is to be united more to him. 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:33.200 Behold, to know him is to be with him more. 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:38.239 Become to know him is to be like him more and bless. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:41.840 To know him is to love him more. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:45.040 So last week I covered two of them. 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:48.079 And then the week prior, Matt hit one of them. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:54.079 So far, um, we have hit believe, belong, and behold. 00:01:55.599 --> 00:02:04.159 This has now built us to the place where we are going to talk about how do we become like him? 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:06.560 Become like him. 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:12.319 So become like him, to know him is to be more like him. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:22.719 About 11 years ago, I started my role in Houston, Texas as an associate pastor there. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:31.039 And so we moved from Tempe, Arizona, um multiple states away, um, to Houston, Texas. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:36.800 And I went from the college and young adults pastor role to an associate pastor role. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:42.240 And when I arrived, my boss wanted me to show up like I belonged. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.280 And so he gave me a dress code. 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:47.599 I like your laughter. 00:02:47.759 --> 00:02:48.879 I felt the same. 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:59.039 So on Sundays, we needed to be one level more formal than everybody else who came. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:02:59.520 Right. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:04.159 So the congregation where we were in Houston was filled with a lot of business types. 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:12.400 So those guys would show up on a Sunday, button up, collared shirt, nice, tucked in, nice slacks, killer shoes. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:12.960 All right. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:21.680 So if that's what everybody else was, our dress code was that plus a suit coat. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.280 Always had to have a suit coat. 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:34.719 Well, I did own one suit, and that one suit was for marrying and burying. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:36.400 It was black. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:39.520 It wasn't something that I brought out all the time. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:41.360 And so I went to Goodwill. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:44.159 That's like the salvation army around here. 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:48.159 And I went and I said, I want some discount suit coats. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:54.319 And so I looked, I picked up two, and um they generally fit. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:04:01.360 They fit my shoulders, they almost fit my arms. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:04.639 They didn't so much fit my body. 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:08.240 And every week I wore them dutifully. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:12.400 Every week I felt very uncomfortable, right? 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:16.079 Like I didn't move in them like I felt comfortable in them. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:19.600 I didn't look like I knew how to act. 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:25.680 And frankly, it was hot in Houston in the summer. 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:28.240 And I'm wearing a suit coat. 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:31.120 So I'm miserable and I'm always miserable in it. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:38.079 And so thankfully, after about six months of this, he graciously said, Um, I can tell this is not you. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:40.639 You don't have to wear the suit coats anymore. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:43.839 And so thank God I ditched that never again. 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:49.600 Um, have you ever had anybody set a bar for you? 00:04:50.240 --> 00:05:07.040 They set a bar for how you need to act and do this or that, what you need to say with such and such, or where X and Y to meet the bar that I have set for you. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:11.600 If you know, okay, yes, I've had that happen to me. 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:17.920 How many of you know that you could do it, but you absolutely hated every moment of it? 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:19.199 Show of hands. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:21.360 If that was, that's a lot of hands. 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:22.000 Right? 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:23.839 I'm gonna go out on a limb. 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:26.560 See, I wrote this even before you raised your hands. 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:28.560 I'm going to say that's most of us. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:29.519 It was. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:41.920 And even the most holy here, the most holy here, you don't like being told what to do or how to act, even if it's from God Almighty. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:49.040 So we do the things that God asks us to do, but we don't do them out of joy. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:59.839 Is knowing Jesus and growing as his disciple simply something that we endure because somebody said so? 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.680 Or is it something more? 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:12.959 If we know Jesus, we will be like him as we go. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:14.879 This is where we're going today. 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:19.680 If we know Jesus, we will be like him as we go. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:28.879 Many here just heard that, and as very diligent rule followers said, Oh, yes, that does make sense. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:30.399 I should do that. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:34.639 You just put something else that I, as a Christian, feel I can't say no to. 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:42.079 And there are others of you who are also listening and said, sure, perhaps, but why? 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:44.079 Why? 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:47.920 Why should we become like Jesus? 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:51.839 Okay, so for us today, we are going to answer this. 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:54.079 We are going to run all the way back to the beginning. 00:06:54.240 --> 00:07:03.040 We are going to set our sights again on the goal that Jesus is calling us to, and then we are going to run forward through the rest of our phrase to get to it again. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:05.360 So we're going to break it into three parts. 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:10.959 We will be, be like him, and as we go. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:15.199 We will be, be like him as we go. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:15.839 Okay. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:19.600 So we will be. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:24.720 We will be join me back at the beginning, Genesis chapter one, verse one. 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:27.439 That is quite literally the beginning. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.439 In the beginning, God created. 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:36.000 God was there before time began. 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:38.800 God was not created. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:50.000 God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, not created, have existed in all eternity, before time and after time, God is. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:08:02.079 Okay, so there is one God in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, existing eternally, and then it comes to chapter 1, verse 26, when they made us. 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:16.000 He God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky and over the livestock and all the wild animals and over all the creatures that move along the ground. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:19.360 So God created mankind in his own image. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:21.680 In the image of God, he created them. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:24.800 Male and female, he created them. 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:32.639 So humanity, man and woman were created in the image and the likeness of God. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:34.879 In the image and likeness of God. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:37.600 God looked at us and he called us very good. 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:40.080 So we are unique from all of creation. 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:46.639 We are different than the other things that he created because we alone bear his image and likeness. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:52.960 Okay, so fast forward some number of days, Adam and Eve mutiny. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:53.600 Right? 00:08:53.759 --> 00:09:00.240 They try to take the throne by eating from the fruit that the serpent tempted them with. 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:07.279 And they said, We can eat from this, from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and we can be like God. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:09.519 Humanity was already like God. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:14.879 We were already made in his image and his likeness, but they wanted more. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:17.360 They wanted to be like God. 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:19.120 They wanted the same status. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:21.919 God is withholding himself from them. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.080 When they did this, that was the fall. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:27.919 Everything was broken. 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:35.120 Our relationship with God, our relationship with ourselves, our relationship with each other, our relationship to creation. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:38.159 It was all broken completely. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:40.480 And God removed them from the gardens. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:47.840 God removed them from the gardens so that they did not have to remain in that brokenness for eternity. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:49.759 It was actually a kindness. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:59.279 But he promised them one day, one day, one would come who was going to make all things new. 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:01.600 He was going to mend what was broken. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:03.919 He was going to heal their pain. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:11.039 Okay, so we have our nice little six stops in the story of God. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:13.120 I just hit creation and fall. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:16.960 We are going to race right on through, promise, right? 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:17.679 It's there. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:18.720 You see it above. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:19.919 It's great. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:21.840 God made a lot of promises. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:22.639 God made covenants. 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:24.159 He continued to stay close to his people. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:26.399 He said, This is how I will make you new. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:28.799 And they have said, sure, maybe. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:29.600 No. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:30.720 Right? 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:32.320 And they continued the cycle. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:47.679 And then at the turn of time, whether you are a B C and A D person or a B, C, E, and C E person, at the turn of time, Jesus, God the Son, comes to earth to save us. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:50.159 He takes on human form. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:51.600 He is fully God. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:53.360 He is fully man. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:56.080 He is born of a virgin. 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:57.919 He lived a perfect life. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:10:59.840 He died a sinner's death. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:04.320 And he takes on the sin of the whole of humanity for all of time. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:07.200 And then he raises to life. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:13.279 Three days later, he defeats our two greatest enemies, sin and death, and then he sets us free. 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:14.799 We are free in him. 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:17.360 We have an opportunity to be free in him. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:23.279 Jesus has beaten and done all the things that we needed him to, and this is incredible. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:24.960 So how does this look? 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:28.480 Hebrews chapter 1, verse 3. 00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:35.600 The sun, so this is this is really drilling down on who Jesus is, Son of God, all right? 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:47.519 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:56.000 After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty in heaven because it was complete. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:00.399 The Son was the exact image and likeness of God. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:03.039 He was God in the flesh. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:08.080 Yet he didn't fall like Adam and Eve did. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:23.600 He actually came and was perfect, the pinnacle of humanity, what we were meant to be, not God, but we were meant to be made in his image and in his likeness, and we were supposed to have this full and wonderful life relating to God, and it was going to be beautiful. 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:26.559 And we fell, but Jesus didn't. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:31.039 This is how we were supposed to be at creation. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:37.919 We were supposed to be in right relationship with God, ourselves, each other, the earth. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:41.279 This is what was supposed to happen at creation. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:45.440 And when the we fell, fall, it was broken. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:49.679 But Jesus comes and says, I didn't fall. 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:56.799 In this, my image is what you are supposed to be. 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:01.360 Jesus came to restore and reconcile us. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:13.279 So this idea that we will be, that I pitched at the beginning, our first of three, it is the image of God that Jesus is to restore us to. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:16.639 It's the image of God that Jesus is to restore us to. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:23.200 It's not just a neat and shiny version of us, right? 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:27.039 Where we gleam and we all smile and our teeth sparkle. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:27.679 Right? 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:30.080 And this is the best version. 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:33.279 God wants so much more for us. 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:36.320 He wants us to be like him. 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:40.399 Second Corinthians chapter 3, verse 18. 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:56.159 And we all who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:02.000 Think of this as the renewing of our being as we know him. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:02.720 Right? 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:03.919 This is transformation. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:09.600 This transformation will be more and more and more glorious as we become like him. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:10.240 Right? 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:15.120 So our being becomes more like Jesus. 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:18.000 1 John chapter 3, verses 2 through 3. 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:19.120 Gillian read this one. 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:22.639 Dear friends, now we are children of God. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:26.080 And what will be has not yet been made known. 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:31.519 But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:35.200 When Christ appears, we shall be like him. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:39.039 Our being shall be shaped and changed towards his. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.879 This is his promise to us. 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:28.480 We will be made pure, not because it's a nameless, faceless goal given by God, these strictures put on us. 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:31.600 Wear this suit coat because you need to. 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:37.039 Instead, this is because of who he is. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:45.039 And God wants us to be renewed in his image, and he promises us to get there. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:52.159 All right, so the first John verse kind of bleeds over into this second theme. 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:54.000 So I'm going to jump to the second part. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:55.120 Be like him. 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:58.000 We just hit we will be in the image of God. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:59.279 Be like him. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:05.360 Being like Jesus is absolutely core to the idea of being a disciple. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:13.840 So a disciple desires to follow their leader in every possible way. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:15.600 That's what a disciple is. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:17.279 That's what a disciple does. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:22.480 So if we are his disciples, then that means we want to be like him. 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:26.559 If we claim we know him, we want to be like him. 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:33.919 Growing, being restored back into his likeness, it's, well, it's all over the Bible. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:36.399 So I'm only going to hit a few quickly. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:39.519 Galatians chapter 2, verse 20. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:42.080 Many of you may have this memorized. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:50.320 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:58.960 The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:10.640 When we talk about being like Jesus, that means every single action that we do should be conformed to his likeness. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:28.480 If you've heard that the phrase Christ-likeness, being like Christ, this describes that externally visible set of actions that we do and how they mirror Jesus or how we imitate Jesus. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:32.000 Paul gives us the why. 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:39.759 We have died in Christ and now live renewed in his image and in his likeness. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:48.160 Jesus made a way for us to be whole, a way for us to be how we were always meant to be. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:51.680 But it's not just in our being, it's in our likeness. 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:54.799 It's how we show up, it's in the stuff that we do. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:57.039 It should look like Jesus. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:00.640 Philippians chapter 2, verse 5. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:10.240 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:18.880 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:27.119 Jesus calls us to be like him in all things, a a whole of life way of being like him. 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:37.440 And we can't actually do that unless all of the things that are broken, even the deepest parts of ourselves, are renewed. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:52.160 Our minds, our thoughts, our feelings, even, even some of our favorite pet things that we love to fight about and defend and argue over. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:54.720 And we're real convinced we're right. 00:18:56.319 --> 00:19:00.480 Even that needs to come to Jesus because there is a chance. 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.480 Is it still broken? 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:07.920 Are we having Christ's mind in this thing? 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:13.119 Absolutely everything it is, all up for being made new. 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:35.759 So Peter joins Paul to point his brothers and sisters, us, to follow in Jesus' steps. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:38.799 We walk like him. 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:42.079 We become like Jesus in all things. 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:50.319 So if Peter and Paul haven't been clear enough, let's add John to the party. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:53.359 Go back to 1 John chapter 2, 3 through 6. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:58.160 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:06.799 Whoever says, I know him, but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:09.200 These are some hard verses, y'all. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:18.640 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:21.359 This is how we know we are in him. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:26.880 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:31.279 To know Jesus is to be like him. 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:35.599 To know Jesus is to be like him. 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:40.000 I'm I'm very excited. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:42.640 I think I'm trying to hold it back just a little bit. 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:48.960 I hope I'm not like over exuberant, but like this sort of thing is all over Scripture. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:50.240 Jesus has saved us. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.519 He wants to make us new. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:53.920 He wants to shape us in his image. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:21:08.160 And I don't want to just highlight the invite for all of us to be made new in him without actually pointing out that there are some really broken and gross parts about the way you live. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:17.839 That's me too. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:24.880 We all have things that are broken and need to be shaped into his image. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:45.519 So if we see that we need to be like him, if we see that we need to love like him, if we see that the idea of growing in his image and his likeness, knowing him in all things is the most important thing we can do, then that means the sin that is in our life that is still present is serious. 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:53.200 Is it the John Owen quote uh be killing sin or it be killing you? 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:59.599 Like we need to be serious about the things in our lives that don't look like Jesus. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:04.640 We don't need to just say, uh, eventually. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:07.279 It'll be fine. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.960 Covered by Jesus. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:09.839 I'm good. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.680 Hashtag blessed. 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:16.400 We cannot say that we know God. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:20.000 Say that we love being a follower of His. 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:24.000 With a smile on our face, invite everybody to our MCs. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:31.279 Get rah-rah-rah about being on mission and then walk out of those conversations and treat people like garbage. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:40.559 We can't try to do both and act like they're synonymous where they can exist together. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:48.799 I know that's harsh, but do we treat our sin as seriously as John talks about it here? 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:52.319 Do I know I don't. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:57.599 Do we treat our sin as seriously as John talks about it here? 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:00.400 What does John tell us? 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:04.079 If we don't do what God says, we are liars. 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:07.359 That is a tall task. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:14.160 John doesn't write for perfection. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:18.000 But it is a warning. 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:30.480 Knowing Jesus is good, becoming like him is the best, and we must get after killing all the things within that rebel against Jesus. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:31.440 Okay? 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:36.799 So now that everybody's uncomfortable, let's turn up the heat. 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:46.400 Um, we want to be the most fully human that we can be. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:49.519 We were created in his image and in his likeness. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.799 There was brokenness. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:24:00.960 Jesus has come to make us new and make us not just the best versions of ourselves, but to look like him in all things. 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:03.119 So how do we do that? 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:07.440 We are being restored back to that creation, right? 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:09.920 So here is our last phrase. 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.839 As we go. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.319 John 17. 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.880 I'm so excited. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:20.559 All right, John 17, verses 18 through 26. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:23.839 As you, this is Jesus, this is called the high priestly prayer. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:29.119 Jesus is is praying with his disciples, and he is praying for unity. 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:34.480 And it is one of the best, it's one of the best pieces of all of Scripture. 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:36.880 Jesus is praying, talking to God. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:42.400 He says, As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:48.720 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:57.519 Okay, so sanctified means being made holy, set apart, holy, set apart for divine purposes. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:10.559 To be truly sanctified is to be made anew in our core with this singular, united, righteous mission of propulsive Christ-likeness. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:13.039 I like the word propulsive, right? 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:17.519 You can say Christ-like, but what is this propulsive, like this thing that is supposed to go out? 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:23.599 It is supposed to be overflowing, it is supposed to be seen and witnessed and as you go. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:38.079 We aren't to be made new just for the comforts of our own homes, but for the whole world to see that Jesus is in the business of making all things new, including us. 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:41.759 Okay, bear with me, but this is just so great. 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.880 Verse 20. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:51.440 I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message. 00:25:51.599 --> 00:26:03.119 Again, that's you, that's me, that's everybody who came to faith after these early disciples, that all of them may be one. 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:13.839 Father, just as you are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:28.720 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be as one, may be one as we are one, I in them, and you in me, so that they may be brought to complete unity. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:39.119 Then, when we are unified, then the world will know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:50.319 Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory that you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:59.440 Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:14.160 I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known, in order that the love you have for me may be in them, and that I myself may be in them. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:21.039 Disciples for all time have been called to be like him. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:28.640 We don't just learn about the ways of Jesus, we don't just tuck away really cool facts in our minds. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:31.119 We embody Jesus. 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:39.519 We become like him in all ways so that we know him and the world knows him through us. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.920 It's that unity peace. 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:48.000 We are unified with one mission to know him and make him known. 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:53.920 Note, we now have Jesus, Paul, Peter, and John. 00:27:54.240 --> 00:28:02.480 They all agree we must know him, we must be like him, and when this happens, the world will take note. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:07.920 When this happens, the world will take note. 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:10.720 This is a big deal. 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:18.000 If we know Jesus, we will be like him as we go. 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:23.200 If we know Jesus, we will be like him as we go. 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:29.599 I am starting the landing of the plane, but it is going to be a little bit more of a cruise. 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.319 Okay. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:33.759 First thing, there are individual responses. 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:44.000 When we hear that Jesus is calling us to be like him, there are individual responses that you may feel you need to take to what Jesus has called you to. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:46.559 So, one, here's my encouragement. 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:53.440 Familiarize yourself with who Jesus is and what he does to even know what it means to become like him. 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:55.759 I can't tell you, be like Jesus. 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:59.359 And if you don't know what that means, you're out of luck. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:03.839 Get into God's word, be shaped by him, get to know Jesus. 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:13.519 So, my encouragement over the course of this month, pick one of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and just read one of them over the month, right? 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:17.039 Get into God's word, familiarize yourself with him. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:22.240 Second thing, pray after you read. 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:32.000 I don't have time to talk about all the ways that we actually get to pray, to seek God's face. 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:38.160 If we have come to him, if we have given our lives to Jesus, he has given us his Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is in us. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:43.279 When we read God's word, we should go to him and say, Lord, what is not in line with you? 00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:46.400 Where am I out of balance? 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:48.799 Where do I need to be made whole? 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:50.960 And then listen. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:54.000 And then respond. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:30:00.000 If the Holy Spirit is speaking, respond, which leads us to our last one. 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:01.440 Dave, this is for you. 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:04.319 I'm calling this the proactive CRA. 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:08.880 Proactive CRA. 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:10.559 It's a tax joke. 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:15.759 Um, we need to not just be reactive, we need to be proactive. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:21.839 So confess, repent, and give account. 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:22.960 C R A. 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:25.119 Confess, repent, give account. 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:29.920 Go to another and say, hey, this is what God has shown me that I need to be doing. 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:31.519 I'm not trying to hide it. 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:35.920 I'm letting you know the spirit is encouraging me to grow in him in this way. 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:39.839 Can you help me keep me honest on this? 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:48.720 Confess to God, repent, new actions, give account, tell somebody about it so that they can encourage you in it. 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:49.359 Right? 00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:52.319 So these are individual ways. 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:55.519 But Jesus calls us to be unified. 00:30:55.759 --> 00:31:00.400 Jesus calls us to be unified and as people see us. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:04.160 As as I it made me so happy. 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:07.119 Jillian didn't just say y'all, she said all of y'all. 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:09.759 And it made my heart very happy. 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:12.000 Exactly. 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:13.839 So it's spreading. 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:18.799 Um we need to respond collectively. 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:27.839 We need to respond collectively because if we know Jesus, we will be like him as we go. 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:32.960 So this, the world should see our newness. 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:37.279 Our newness should be on display as a corporate body. 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:44.079 Not just people who come and hang at our houses, but where we live, learn, work, and play. 00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:47.039 Okay, I'm looking at my time. 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:48.480 I'm gonna try to do this quickly. 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:50.079 I don't know if you've known this. 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:52.319 Halloween is coming up. 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:57.440 Okay, I'm like tipping into next week, but bear with me. 00:31:57.599 --> 00:32:02.559 I just said that Halloween was coming up and I heard noises. 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.880 There was not an excitement. 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:08.000 I don't know if you know this or have noticed this. 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:11.519 Victoria really loves Halloween. 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:17.519 I just want to let you all know, last year, first Halloween here, it was a bit eye-opening. 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:27.279 The level of buy-in and excitement for all of Victoria around Halloween, they go all out for it. 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:30.079 Everybody that you know celebrates it. 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:32.480 Stick with me. 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:44.880 What if the body of Christ showed up that day to love and serve our neighbors? 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:55.039 What if on Halloween we blessed the socks off of everybody we interacted with? 00:32:55.359 --> 00:33:03.039 What if we said we are going to not just give out some candy, but the best candy? 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:19.119 What if we set up spots around town where children and parents alike are going to be blessed and that they were excited to stop by our homes? 00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:25.440 That they went home saying, okay, that place and those people, that was my favorite. 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:44.880 What if we went about this not because we had the best costumes or we had the best theme, but because we expressed the love of Christ to be a blessing to everyone. 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:48.720 So what could this look like? 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:50.480 I would have done this next week. 00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:56.240 I would have explained it much more further, but I need, I needed that one more week for you to think about this. 00:33:58.319 --> 00:34:05.279 What if we as West Village say we are going to kind of collectively do a Halloween blessing event? 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:10.480 We picked five or six homes throughout the community. 00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:23.280 And we as a church said, okay, we're going to spread out through the West Shore and we aim to love people like Jesus because we have been shaped by him in his image and in his likeness. 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:30.000 We want to show up as a blessing to others so that the world can see who our king is. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:38.639