WEBVTT 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:07.280 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:11.679 We exist to awaken this generation to a new life in Christ. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:13.039 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:16.399 To find out more, go to awakeningchurch.com. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:36.320 Well, as we head into the election this week, it just feels like uh as a community, we're uh holding our collective breath, wondering what does 2020 hold in store for us next. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:43.759 And it's so easy to see around that our nation is absolutely divided. 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:50.399 And it just feels like everybody's shouting at one another and nobody's listening. 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:57.759 And sadly, sadly, the church doesn't look any different. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:13.599 You know, the church that was intended to bring about the renewal of cultures, the renewal of cities and systems has simply became or become a reflection of our culture and around us. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:32.159 And we've been wrestling with this question over the last few weeks in our We Believe series is what does it look like for the church to once more return to being that renewing agent in our culture rather than just a reflection of it? 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:37.760 And we talked about and began with Jesus' command. 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:45.439 It was the command that he said, this is the way all believers will be known by. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:51.599 This is the the this is exactly, you know, what is to describe a follower of Jesus. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:55.760 And he said it this way: a new command I give you. 00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:57.920 Love one another. 00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:02.640 As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:11.520 And then by this, the entire world will know you're my disciples if you love one another. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:20.800 Like the distinguishing mark for us as believers is how we love and that we love the way Jesus loves sacrificially. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:32.240 Love in a way that lays down our life even for those we disagree with and dislike, or maybe even think of as enemies. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:39.919 And so you're confronted, and I'm confronted with the same problem, I think, that the first followers were confronted with. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:48.080 How in the world do we love somebody who thinks and sees life very differently than we do? 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:58.400 How do we love somebody, right, who who is voting differently than you, or posting differently than you, or quarantine differently than you? 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:04.560 How do you love someone in a world that where it's just so divisive and divided? 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:09.599 How do we then respond and be that renewing agent in our culture? 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:15.520 Well, the early church was an incredibly diverse group of people. 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:28.400 In fact, uh, they were diverse socioeconomically, they were diverse politically, they were diverse ethnically, and even Scott McKnight, theologian, describes them as a fellowship of difference and unlikes. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:39.520 I mean, you just imagine the first gatherings of the church, and there was the Jewish and the Greek believers, there were the slaves and masters worshiping together, there were men and women. 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:42.719 This was unheard of in the ancient day. 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:49.840 And uh even the first followers of Jesus, the 12 disciples, they were incredibly diverse. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:04:06.560 Yes, they were all Jewish believers, but if we just kind of think about, you know, let's just take um, like we did in our first week, um, Simon the zealot, uh, before following Jesus, he was a participant in the revolutionary group against the Roman Empire. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:19.680 And then in the same group was Matthew the tax collector, who had, you know, unfortunately disowned his Jewish people by being a participant with the Roman Empire. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:30.399 And here these two are sitting side by side in the presence of Jesus, and he's saying, love one another. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:47.519 And the question the question is, how did this deeply divided, diverse group transform into a unified, uh, irresistible, unstoppable movement of God that changed the world as we know it? 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:48.879 What changed? 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:56.639 And as we've said over the weeks, the thing that changed, what changed was the resurrection of Jesus changed everything. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:03.839 At that moment, the resurrection made all the difference in the world. 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:22.959 It just seemed like all their differences and their disagreements were so petty and small compared to the reality that God visited the planet, that he was on this rescue mission in the person of Jesus and took on death itself and defeated the grave. 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:27.439 It was that event that changed the world, that changed their world. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:31.199 And it was changing people's worlds ever since. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:35.920 And no longer was it my way, their way. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:40.800 It was Jesus, have your way in me. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:46.639 It was the resurrection that compelled this self-centered bunch of misfits. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:54.160 Listen to this, to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Jesus. 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:55.839 No. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:08.399 The command of Jesus, think about this, to love each other as he has loved you is not just a hard command. 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:10.319 It's impossible. 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:13.040 It's an impossible command. 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:19.040 How in the world do we sacrificially lay down our lives for our enemies? 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:26.800 How do we pray for those who vote differently or in leadership in our government that we disagree with? 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:33.120 How do we, you know, bless those who quarantine differently than us? 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:34.879 It's not just hard. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:41.360 It's impossible to love the way Jesus loved unless. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:48.319 Unless the resurrection wasn't just the end of the story. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:56.160 The resurrection actually was the beginning of God initiating a new way to be human. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:04.240 You know, in Jesus' day, there was this longing for God to initiate a new way to be human. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:11.279 There was this recognition that the brokenness in our world couldn't be fixed by more rules. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:13.279 It couldn't be fixed by better education. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:17.279 It couldn't be fixed by advancing technology or anything else. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:22.000 The brokenness in our world was a human heart issue. 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:26.399 And so what they needed is what we need. 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:31.360 We needed not just a better version of the old. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:58.000 The world can't understand it because it neither seen him or knows him. 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:07.600 Now listen to this, but you know him for he lives with you and in you, and he will be in you. 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:10.960 Something new is about to happen. 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:12.080 This is what Jesus is saying. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:17.039 Something new is about to happen, and it hasn't happened before in human history. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:28.639 God is up to something completely new, and it's no longer God with you, but it is God in you, an awakening to new life in you. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:33.279 In your power, you cannot love the way Jesus has loved us. 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:40.399 But with the spirit of God in you, working in you, you can love the way Jesus loves. 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:44.480 That's why the Apostle Paul in Romans 8, 11 would say it this way. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:55.039 He said, And if the spirit of him who raised Christ Jesus from the dead is living in you, think about that. 00:09:55.200 --> 00:10:20.399 If the spirit who raised Christ Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies, because the life of the spirit who lives in you, the same power that raised Christ from the dead is now actively at working, bringing about new life, new heart, new responses. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:32.080 The long-awaited hope for God to initiate just this new way to be human, new responses. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:44.720 Now able to love instead of retaliate and hate, now able to be kind instead of responding in cruelty, now able to extend reconciliation instead of retribution. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:11:03.759 And the result of this new humanity formed the supernaturally empowered by the Spirit of God community that loved the way Jesus loved, and it turned the world up aside, but down. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:07.600 This is why the creed then concludes this way. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:14.240 I believe, I believe in the Holy Spirit of God. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:17.279 This is the spirit Ezekiel was talking about. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:22.639 This is the spirit that Jesus had promised his followers that would come. 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:28.559 This is the spirit that Paul said raise Christ from the dead and lives in you. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:33.759 So the question then is who is the Spirit of God? 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:35.759 Who is this spirit? 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:47.840 Well, the Spirit, like we talked about last week, is the third person of the Trinity, God and very God, who is alone gives life to the believer. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:58.879 It's this idea of regeneration that is to be spiritually made alive and empowers the believer to live out this new life. 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:05.279 That's the idea of sanctification, that we're gradually becoming more and more like Jesus. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:07.200 The Spirit is at work doing that. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:19.360 The Holy Spirit indwells every single follower of Jesus and it testifies to our spirit that we are indeed children of God. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:26.879 And the picture Paul uses is the picture of that your body is the temple of God. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:29.759 Over and over, your body is the temple of God. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:34.320 In the ancient day, if you wanted to worship, you had to go to a temple to worship. 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:47.519 And you know, if you're part uh of you know a polytheistic view, you had all these different temples and all these different gods, and and and the Jewish people would go to Jerusalem to the temple to worship God and be there. 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:55.200 And Paul says this that your body, your physical body, now is the temple of God. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:00.399 In 1 Corinthians 6, he says it this way in the context, it's it's very interesting. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:03.039 He says, flee from sexual immorality. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:10.720 Don't do stuff with your body that that would that that would harm it sexually, that is not in alignment with God's will. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.360 Why? 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:13.840 Uh he says, flee sexual immorality. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:21.440 All other sins a person commits are outside their body, but the one who sins sexually sins against his own body. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.919 And you're like, okay, Ryan, why are you going down this road? 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:24.879 Well, listen to this. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:35.200 He says, Do you not know your bodies are temples of the Spirit of God who is in you, whom you receive from God. 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:50.720 Therefore, honor God with your body that you would begin to understand and recognize the minute you said yes to Jesus, the Spirit of God came and dwelled inside of you. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:53.519 And now you don't have to go anywhere to worship. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:58.080 And we're in this wonderful church at Saratoga Federated worshiping, and they let us be here. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:59.759 We're so grateful for that. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:04.240 But the Spirit of God lives in you. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:09.200 And so, what is the activity of the Spirit of God in you? 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:16.080 Well, like I said, the moment you believe in Jesus, you receive the Spirit of God. 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:29.200 And what takes place, the scripture tells us, is the baptism of the Spirit of God, where you become spiritually made alive in Christ, where your dead spiritual self is raised to life. 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:38.960 The picture of baptism are water baptism is, you know, the physical picture of an inward spiritual reality. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:46.080 It's the picture of someone standing into the waters of baptism and they're going down, having been crucified with Christ. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:15:00.159 And the waters is always a symbol of purity, that you're being washed clean and made new, and then being raised to new life, just as the Spirit of God raised Jesus from the grave, spiritually, you're being awakened and raised to new life. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:03.360 That is the baptism of the Spirit of God. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:06.639 It happens the moment you say yes to Jesus. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:09.120 And it only happens once. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:20.159 And here's the reason why is the minute you say yes and the Spirit of God indwells you, he not only baptizes you, he then seals you by the Spirit of God. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:38.000 In fact, Ephesians 1, 13 through 14 says, and you also were included, speaking to Gentiles in Christ, when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, when you believed you were marked in him with a seal. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:43.039 Now, a seal in the ancient day had a few different things connected to it. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:53.120 One, it was the seal of authority, it was the seal of security, that it was the seal of ownership, that this is mine. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:16:03.039 It designated, set aside, and had this protection, like this is mine, and God's saying, you are mine forevermore. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:08.879 Over and over, the scriptures talk about the seal of the Spirit of God. 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:17.759 When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is now listen to this: a deposit. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:26.320 So not only this seal that is security, like God, you can't undo what God has done in your life. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:37.440 Like, like his love is greater than anything, his faithfulness is greater than any of your unfaithfulness, his forgiveness is greater than any of your wandering. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.200 You're sealed by the Spirit of God. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:40.720 And then says it's a deposit. 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:46.320 It's supposed to remind us when you recognize that the Spirit of God is active, living inside of you, working. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:52.720 A deposit is I put something down to let you know that I'm coming back for that. 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:56.559 And God said, I've placed my spirit inside of you. 00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.919 Think about this, how good. 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:01.440 Because I'm coming back for you. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:05.119 It's a seal, it's a deposit. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:12.240 And then not only that, is then the Spirit of God empowers us to live out this life. 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:24.079 Acts 1.8, Jesus said, and you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you to be my witnesses in Judea, Samaria, and all the ends of the earth. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:35.440 And then in 2 Peter, Peter, who sat there and heard Jesus say these words, he then is writing a letter to those that are undergoing suffering and hardship and pain. 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:39.599 And he says this, this has been such a powerful verse in my life. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:50.000 His divine power has given us everything we need for a life and godliness through our knowledge of him who's called us by his own glory and goodness. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:54.720 His divine power, think about this, has given you everything you need. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:18:00.480 You presently have all that you need in Christ right now. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:09.119 And COVID can't take it away, and election can't take it away, and the struggles in your marriage can't take that away. 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:18.079 And even the addiction and the wrestling and the coping and all the us, he says, you have, if you're a follower of Christ, you have everything you need. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:23.279 You're not lacking anything right now in Christ. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:26.240 The empowering work of the Spirit of God. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:28.000 There's a few ways it's expressed. 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:30.880 One, he deposited a spiritual gift inside you. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.079 Think about this. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:34.640 Like, this is not just natural talent. 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:43.839 He's deposited a spiritual gift when you operate out of it, whether it's encouragement, maybe it's a word of knowledge, prophecy, leadership, um, uh, hospitality. 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:46.799 It brings about supernatural good around you. 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:50.480 It builds up the body of Christ and it gives you supernatural joy. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.680 He's empowered you. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:56.480 Jesus called the Spirit of God the Paraclete, the comforter, the counselor. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:59.440 He said, the spirit will illuminate the truth. 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:07.680 Like the Spirit of God will then take God's word and make it alive that you can understand and guide and give you wisdom and counsel. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:09.839 Don't you need wisdom and counsel right now? 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:11.200 Don't you need direction? 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:14.640 He says, you have the spirit of God empowering you in this. 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:19.680 And it says the spirit of God brings peace and hope and life. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:25.039 You know, Jesus said, uh, my peace I give to you, I leave with you. 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:32.720 And in Romans chapter 15, verse 13, this has been just an anchor verse during this season for me. 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:49.039 It says, May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit of God. 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:56.960 Friends, I just got to tell you, if you're not attentive to the Spirit of God, you're missing out on the power of God in your life. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:13.119 And finally, Spirit of God to strengthen and sanctify that perseverance, that ability to endure and under the ability to withhold a tongue and to sanctify and to make us more and more like Christ. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:17.680 The Spirit of God is the baptizing, the sealing work, the empowering work. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:21.680 And then for some, you're like, Ryan, I've never experienced that before, okay? 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.880 I've never had this. 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:31.599 Um I I trusted Jesus, and chances are you've not um allowed the Holy Spirit to fill you. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:36.400 You've not just allowed yourself to be filled by the Holy Spirit of God. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:39.200 Ephesians, um, what is it? 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.240 Oh my goodness. 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:42.079 Ephesians 4.18, there it is. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:50.240 It says this, and do not get drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery, uh, which, you know, is just this whole drunkenness. 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:53.920 Instead, be filled with the spirit. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.000 It's this command to be filled. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:02.480 In Galatians, the apostle Paul would say it this way, and walk in step with the Holy Spirit. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:04.559 And so do not get drunk with wine. 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:09.440 Don't allow yourself to be under the influence of an outside substance, is what it's saying. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.880 And that's a command, too. 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:16.720 But the point of it is allow yourself to be under the influence of the Spirit of God. 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:21.119 Or you'd say, you wake up in the morning, Holy Spirit, I need you today. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:24.799 Is there anything in me that that is just not of you? 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.319 I want to confess that. 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:30.720 I want to be attentive to your voice and where you check in throughout your day. 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:33.680 You know, you can quench the spirit of God in your life. 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:35.599 First Thessalonians talks about that. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:38.640 You can grieve the Spirit of God as the temple of God. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:43.279 And as you do things that are unholy, you are grieving the Spirit of God. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:49.839 Would you choose and say, no, no, I'm gonna choose to be filled with the Spirit of God, to walk and step. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:54.559 And here's what happens as you do that, you experience the fruit of the Spirit. 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:59.759 Galatians 5 22 says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.079 Goodness, gentleness. 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:03.680 Oh, I always forget one. 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.640 Self-control. 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:07.599 Um I probably missed one. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:10.960 Um, but the fruit of the spirit. 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:14.079 Now, here's how we miss it in the Christian life, friends. 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:16.640 We often are trying to be more loving. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:18.720 We're trying to get more joy. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:21.759 In COVID, you're trying to get peace, right? 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.599 Or self-control. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:26.079 Jesus flips the paradigm. 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:29.680 The Christian life isn't how do I become more loving, joyful all the time. 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:37.599 It says that's the overflow of your deep connection and relationship with the Spirit of God, with Jesus in your life. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:45.039 It says, when you are filled, when you're walking in step with the Spirit, when your life is saying, Go, okay, God, I want to get into your word. 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:46.720 I want your word to get into me. 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:49.440 And I'm going to be attentive to your voice and leading. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:51.440 And when you prompt, I'm going to take a step. 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:57.279 And that's when you hear the voice more clearly of God, then the fruit just plays itself out. 00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:58.400 You become more loving. 00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:59.680 You become more gentle. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:06.400 You be you become more joy-filled and peaceful and patient and faithful and self-control. 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:09.920 See, the picture is your body. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:12.559 It is the temple of God. 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:16.960 Wherever you're going, the Spirit of God lives and dwells in you. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:19.119 But it's even better than that. 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:25.200 The other picture is now that you are a member of the body of Christ. 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:28.400 You are a member of Christ's body. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:39.119 Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 talks about it this way: that, you know, even though, you know, like a body has different members, you got hands and feet and toes and eyes and all this, we make up one body. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:43.279 See, we're not supposed to be this uniform, you know, sameness. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:49.920 We we are this incredibly unique, but we're all part of one whole body of Christ. 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:50.960 You're now a member. 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:54.799 And so we're all part of each other together. 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:56.160 That's important. 00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:02.640 Because in our individualistic society, you're kind of going like, I'm doing my thing and I have my own spirituality. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:10.160 And it's like, no, we're all one body together, and Jesus is the head of that body. 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:11.839 It's a new community. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:16.799 It's what's called the church or the ekklesia, the called out ones. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:18.400 And the creed continues on. 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:21.519 I believe in the Holy Spirit of God. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:23.839 And then the Holy Catholic Church. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:28.319 It's the word Catholic there isn't actually connected to the Roman Catholic Church. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:30.720 Catholic just means universal. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:35.039 I believe in the universal church of Christ. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:38.400 That there aren't like multiple, like this church and that church. 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:42.640 And it's actually in the kingdom of God, there's the church, big C church. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:45.200 And yes, we have different expressions of that. 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:52.000 But in heaven, I just got to tell you, there's not going to be like the Methodist, the Pentecostal, the Baptist, or whatever. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:25:01.519 Your brand of churches, there's going to be the church, one tribe, one tongue, one language, celebrating and worshiping God. 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:04.480 And I said that a little different. 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:13.119 Every tribe, every tongue, every language worshiping God. 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:15.359 And so what is the church? 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:32.640 Well, the church then is the supernaturally empowered community of God that has experienced the radical grace of God in their lives, and then they are, and we are, expressing his love to a hurting and broken world. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:34.880 Jesus is the head of the church. 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:36.880 Ryan's not the head of the church. 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:40.000 Your favorite online pastor is not the head of the church. 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:46.079 Jesus is the head of the church, and he calls the shots. 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:53.200 And he has given every single believer spiritual gifts, like we talk about, to belong. 00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:54.160 Isn't that amazing? 00:25:54.240 --> 00:26:03.119 Don't you, isn't it incredible that you belong to a new community, a new family, and you have a purpose to build up that community? 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:09.599 And the creed goes on and gives us three just distinguishing marks of the church. 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:14.880 It's actually the overflow of what Jesus' command would be. 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:20.960 You know, if we really love each other the way Jesus loved us, well, first we'd have unity. 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.720 We'd have unity. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:25.279 Again, not uniformity, unity. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:29.759 The creed goes on and says the communion of the saints. 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:35.519 One way to think about this is uh together oneness. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:38.720 We're all together one. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:46.400 Uh, you know, in Ephesians chapter four, and I'm just gonna go ahead and turn there. 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:52.640 The apostle Paul unpacks this. 00:26:52.720 --> 00:27:01.519 He says, as prisoners for the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:03.440 Be completely humble and gentle. 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:04.720 How do we live worthy? 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:07.119 Be completely humble, gentle. 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:12.160 Wouldn't that be amazing if that's how every follower of Christ responded online right now? 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:14.480 Be completely humble and gentle. 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.359 Be patient. 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:19.039 Now notice this: bearing with one another in love. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:24.559 The only reason you have to bear with one another is because the other person is a bear. 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.519 I don't like them. 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:29.200 They're annoying. 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:34.079 Just they, Ryan, you don't get it. 00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:37.200 And he says, bear with one another in love. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:39.200 Make every effort, how much? 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:43.440 Every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:56.000 There's one body and one spirit, just as you're called to one hope when you're called one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father over all and through all and in all. 00:27:56.319 --> 00:28:01.279 The first thing he says, this distinguishing mark of the church is unity, the communion of the saints. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:03.440 The second is forgiveness. 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:06.160 This is getting lost today in our culture. 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:10.079 And the next line in the creed says the forgiveness of sin. 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:27.200 Colossians 1 13 says, For he rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loved, uh, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:34.240 Like you are fully forgiven by God forever. 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:40.480 The psalmist says, as far as the east is from the west, so far has he taken your sin from us. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:49.119 And then chapter three of Colossians says this therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself. 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:50.160 Like put this on. 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:57.039 This is to be the attire of followers of Jesus with compassion and kindness and gentleness and patience. 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:59.039 And then it says this again. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:11.920 Bear with each other and forgive one another. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:17.759 If any of you have any grievances, any grievances against someone, forgive how? 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:21.599 As the Lord has forgiven you. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:32.480 And then he says this, going back to Jesus' command, and over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together. 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:40.160 And again, this is impossible without the indwelling, empowering Spirit of God inside of you. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:42.960 The first mark of unity, the second mark of forgiveness. 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:47.680 May we be a community that forgives the way Jesus has forgiven us. 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:53.759 And third, eternity, the resurrection of the body and a life everlasting. 00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.519 Guess what? 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:59.200 Life is short, eternity is long. 00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:02.160 So let's start living like it. 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:06.240 This life right now is just but a blank. 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:09.759 But eternity's long. 00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:16.799 And what we do in this life affects all of eternity and someone else's eternity. 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:22.480 And we will be bodily raised one day with all other believers, whether you like them or not. 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:26.079 If they're a true follower of Jesus, we're going to be in heaven together. 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:29.039 So you might as well learn to like them right now. 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:38.240 In fact, in Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul unpacks this idea of a resurrection, chapter 4, verse 13. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:43.519 He says, Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death. 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:52.880 In fact, the early church, because Jesus had defeated death in the grave, they talked about death as sleep, because you would be awakened to life in Christ. 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:59.920 You would be raised again, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind who do who have no hope. 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:09.200 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who've fallen asleep in him. 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:19.359 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, and with a loud command, and the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:27.200 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:30.559 And so we will be with the Lord forever. 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:34.640 Therefore, encourage one another with these words. 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:39.920 Unity, forgiveness, eternity. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:44.880 I mean, is this really a big deal in the scope of eternity? 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:58.240 How did this deeply divided diverse group turn into this unified, irresistible, unstoppable movement of God? 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:18.480 Well, is the resurrection that initiated a new kind of humanity where now your body is the temple of God and you are now a member of the body of Christ. 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:29.839 And when we lean in and live this out and we allow the Spirit of God to work in us, then we're the church. 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:41.440 We're the church that brings renewal to a fragmented and hurting city and world that brings hope and life and peace. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:48.000 You know, as we close this series, I actually just want to leave you with a benediction. 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:54.319 It's the Apostle Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesus. 00:32:54.720 --> 00:33:06.880 And it's my prayer for you as we move into election week, and I don't know what it's going to look like, and I don't know if we'll even know really who's president by the end of the week. 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:16.799 And I don't know a lot of things, you know, whether there will be a peaceful transfer of power, whether we'll have, you know, rioting, if our country will be torn apart. 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:19.599 I don't know any of those things. 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:22.559 But here's what I do know. 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:31.119 For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:35.839 And this is my prayer for you, that Paul prayed for them and for us. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:44.880 I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power through the spirit in your inner being. 00:33:45.200 --> 00:34:02.640 God, I just so pray for an awakening church that you would strengthen us, strengthen each person in power in their inner being by your spirit, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:26.639 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the Lord's holy people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know the love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:31.679 And then he closes with this benediction. 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:34.880 Now to him who's able. 00:34:52.800 --> 00:35:03.280 Now to him who's able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that's at work within us. 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:06.880 That's the Spirit of God dwelling inside of you and me. 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:21.360 To him be glory in the church in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, in this generation, and the generation to come, and the generation after that, forever and ever. 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.119 Amen.