WEBVTT 00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:02.879 We are in our fourth week of Lent. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:09.279 So Lent's those 40 days, the 40 days we are in, that lead us into Good Friday and Easter. 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:18.160 And we're studying passages that help us feast, our hearts feast on the lavish goodness of Jesus for us. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:29.120 And this morning we're going to see how the gospel is not just the entry into being a Christian, the Christian walk, but actually the gospel is the totality of being a Christian. 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:33.439 Meaning it doesn't just welcome us, it welcomes us and empowers us. 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.000 And so let's dig into this Ephesians passage. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:38.560 We're going to break it down into different chunks. 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:41.920 Ephesians 5, 1 and 2. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:53.439 Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:00:53.759 --> 00:01:01.359 Point number one is this you are a dearly loved child of the Heavenly Father. 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:03.679 In verse 1, we see the word therefore. 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:07.359 Now anytime in the Bible we see the word therefore, we ask, what is it? 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:08.959 Yeah, very good. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:10.480 Y'all love Bible study. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:10.879 Great. 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:12.159 And so what is it therefore? 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:13.120 What's Paul doing? 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:13.920 What's going on? 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:15.120 What's he saying? 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:19.840 Well, Paul is setting up a framework of something that's throughout the entire New Testament. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:29.680 And it's something that can transform us really from a guilt-driven, exhausting faith to a grace-centered, restful faith. 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:30.959 And here's what I mean by that. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:36.159 What Paul is setting up for us is that we live the imperatives through the indicatives. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:37.920 Now we've said that in our church before. 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:53.519 We live the imperatives through the indicatives, meaning how we should live is fueled by what is already true about us, what's been indicated, the promises we have in Christ, deemed as a dearly loved child, as you are right now. 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:55.040 That's kind of amazing. 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:58.400 That's the grace, forgiveness, and righteousness we have in Jesus. 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:00.799 We live out of that what we should live like. 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:01.760 That's what fuels us. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:06.480 So who we are fuels how we live. 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:12.159 We don't just skip over to how we live, we live that out of who we are. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:22.800 The word beloved is the Greek word agapatos, meaning esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love. 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:25.919 In January, I was in St. 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:31.360 Louis for a week for a doctorate class, and I got home after just a week gone. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:35.199 Not long, not six months, not three months, just a week. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:43.199 And on Friday, I was so excited to pull into the driveway and see my three girls come running out of the house. 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:47.360 You would have thought I was gone six months, you know, to Siberian prison or something. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:52.080 All I wanted, all I wanted, right, is just to hug them, right? 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:54.879 Hug them, kiss them, watch a Seinfeld with them. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:56.159 This is my dreams in my life. 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:56.800 Y'all know this. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:58.719 Small dreams, that's all I need. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:05.280 And the hugs I gave and the hugs I received, I mean, you would have thought I'd gone forever. 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:16.479 And no matter what those three girls were going through that week, what their condition was, how perfect or imperfect they were, what was going on, what anxieties or mistakes or uncertainties, right? 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:23.360 Like my love as an imperfect father, very imperfect, my love for them was coming at them. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:26.159 Like I didn't stop and get like a report card from each of them. 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:27.599 Like, what's your righteousness report? 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:28.400 How are you this week? 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:29.919 You know, no, oh, I'll hug you now. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:31.599 You know, like that's not what I did, right? 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:38.000 No, like you're like, oh, I missed you, like I'd seen you, like esteemed, dear, worthy of love. 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:42.719 Because they're my dearly loved children. 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:43.680 Right? 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:48.719 Underneath all of our roles and masks, we're all asking. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:49.840 All of us. 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:51.599 All of us are asking. 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:53.280 Who am I? 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:55.120 Who am I? 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:59.199 Could I could I be esteemed? 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.159 Like apart from my job or my role? 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:04.560 Like, could I be worthy? 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:06.639 Like, am I a pastor? 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:11.360 Or am I something much more profound? 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:13.360 Are you just like an accountant? 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:14.560 Is that like who you are? 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:15.439 Or a mom? 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:16.560 Is that who you are? 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:19.120 Or is there something deeper at the core of you? 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:30.560 Brendan Manning, author of Abba's Child, writes, and we've read this before, define yourself radically as one beloved by God. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:33.120 This is the true self. 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:36.160 Every other identity is illusion. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:43.199 See, Paul says in verse 1 to be followers of God's example as dearly loved children. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:48.000 So how we should live is empowered by who we are deemed. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:52.720 Paul does the same thing in Romans 8, 14 through 16. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.360 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:09.519 We say sons and daughters 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. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:12.560 Adoption, not orphans, you're not orphans. 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:16.639 We're children by whom we cry, Abba Father. 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:24.000 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:26.800 Now that word father is the Greek word pater. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:32.319 It's a common term in the New Testament for God is a father, a heavenly father. 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:36.480 What a beautiful image that we get to receive of what God is for us. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:40.399 And then Paul goes even further, and he uses that word Abba. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:41.759 I love that word Abba. 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:43.279 It's best translated Papa. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:50.319 And Abba speaks of tender endearment and trust by a child toward a father. 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:59.600 I mean, this would have been radical to any Jewish person at the time where such respect for God was like, don't even speak the name. 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:02.959 And Paul's saying, oh, he's like a papa. 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.720 The Father loves us fiercely and tenderly. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:09.199 He loves you fiercely and tenderly. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:15.680 And see, God being Abba makes you, makes you a dearly loved child. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.920 Now, if we go back to verse 1 of that Ephesians 5. 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:24.240 Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:29.120 And maybe say, followers of God, or as dearly loved children. 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:35.759 Paul's addressing that great question, as we are Abba's child, how now shall we live? 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:37.600 Well, he answers it. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:39.680 Verse 2, and walk in love. 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:44.480 As Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:54.639 So point number two is this as dearly loved children, who we are, who we've been deemed by Christ, as dearly loved children, we walk in the way of love. 00:06:55.519 --> 00:07:00.000 I mean, what a wonderful and horrible calling, right? 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:02.720 If you've ever tried to love anybody over a length of time. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:03.920 Horrible. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:06.879 Your mother's still impossible. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:08.240 Right? 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:11.040 And your kid, we don't start on your kid. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:17.920 And you thought that really sweet, you know, you joined that sweet Bible study, and that sweet Christian lady was in that Bible study, and then she stabbed you in the back. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:20.000 You're like, what is going on? 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:22.160 Impossible, people. 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:27.759 How do we love in a world where loving is really hard? 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:36.000 Well, Paul tells us first we love as Christ loved us, which means we love others lavishly. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:38.560 But that's not easy. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:42.560 So I love that he points us to how Christ loves us. 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:46.399 We love as an offering or sacrifice to God. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:48.879 That's actually quite helpful. 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:56.240 Because it's almost as when we're loving that impossible person, we can understand that this is a sacrifice. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:58.399 And that's okay, that's part of love. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:03.519 That loving this person is not gonna be easy and it's gonna be a sacrifice. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:10.560 If you're gonna try to love me, if you're gonna try to love me over time, you better pack a lunch of sacrifice. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:11.600 You're gonna need it. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:12.720 You just are. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:18.879 And if I'm gonna love you, I'm gonna need some sacrifice to love you. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:22.319 Verse 3, Ephesians 5. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:24.560 Paul continues, what does it mean to walk in love? 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:25.920 What does it mean to be a child of God? 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:28.000 What does it mean to walk in godliness? 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:37.759 Verse 3, but sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:47.039 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:59.279 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, who is covetous, that is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:05.600 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:08.960 Therefore do not become partners with them. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:18.080 So point number two is this as dearly loved children, there's our beginning point again, we live out of that, we live as children of light. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:27.279 Walking in light is a walk away from destruction and darkness, away from lust, sexual morality, impurity, greed, hurtful words. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:36.720 We are all painfully aware that these things are destructive to our hearts, to relationships, families, society. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:42.559 But we're called dearly loved children, called to walk in love, and called to walk in light. 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:45.120 Now, I don't know if you caught verse 5 in there. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:46.399 It's a tricky one. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.320 Let's look at it again. 00:09:49.600 --> 00:10:04.960 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous, that is idolatry, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ in God. 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:07.919 And we've got, like, oh, we we are all in trouble. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:10.080 I love to covet. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:15.200 I won't even go into the other areas, but we're all guilty. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:17.039 That's a tricky verse. 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:22.639 But we read the tricky verses in light of the context and in light of what is clear. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:27.360 And Paul's not talking about believers who struggle, all of us. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:30.240 We don't have to raise our hands, but all of us. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:38.320 Paul's already established believers as secure and forever God's children by Christ's word. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:40.960 That's already secure, that's already been cleaned up, that's secure. 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:41.600 We got that. 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:43.519 So we come into this verse. 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:48.639 This verse speaks to people whose vice is their savior. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:52.639 And that's very different than people who struggle with something. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:54.240 Their vice is their savior. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:55.600 Jesus is not their savior. 00:10:55.759 --> 00:11:03.679 No, they run to their destructive way as a way for wholeness or peace or worth. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:07.279 And it doesn't work, but they keep doing it. 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:18.559 Paul's rhythm of writing about obedience shows us that the way beyond destruction and darkness and the way toward godliness is not for me to tell you to stop. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:26.879 I mean, what if I told you there is a red button in this building somewhere? 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:29.279 There is. 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:31.519 There is a red button in this building. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.559 Please do not try to find it. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:35.120 Okay? 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:36.000 Just don't. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:37.840 Just please don't try to find it. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:40.480 And please don't touch, don't press it. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:41.039 Okay? 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:42.399 Just don't. 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:44.399 Right away. 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:46.720 Some of you are gonna press the red button. 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:51.440 But I can guarantee all of you want to find the red button. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:52.240 Right? 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:54.240 It's the nature of demand. 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:59.840 The nature of law and what happens in our sinful nature when we come up against demand. 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:02.399 I'm gonna press that red button. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:04.639 At some point, I will press it. 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:09.360 When you're not looking, when I'm by myself, at some point that's gonna come. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:09.759 Right? 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:12.720 And all of us want to press the red button. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:15.360 That's the nature of demand and law. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:19.360 The law by itself does not have the power to generate godliness. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:25.279 My demand to you to not press the red button could be the best advice you could ever receive in your entire life. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:31.360 But it doesn't have the power to generate unless, unless, unless I really love you. 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:34.159 And you know I love you. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.600 And you love me. 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:38.720 And now that changes the demand, doesn't it? 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:43.600 Because then you go, I think he really knows what's best for me. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:46.480 And out of that love, my behavior changes. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:52.480 See, we need what Paul is lavishing on, that the gospel is not just the beginning, it's the totality of our life. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:55.519 You are dearly loved children of the loving Abba. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:58.480 Now, how should we live? 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:04.240 Since that's true, since that love is so lavish, we are free in Christ, how should we live? 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:06.720 And then verse 7 says, Don't be partners with them. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:10.720 So the people that are going into darkness, don't be partners with why? 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:12.480 Why should we not be partners with them? 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:13.600 Verse 8. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:16.559 For at one time you were darkness. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:20.559 And here's why, but now you are light in the Lord. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.720 Walk as children of light. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:27.600 For the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:30.720 And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:35.840 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:39.600 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:42.720 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.720 For anything that becomes visible is light. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:50.879 Therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:53.440 Paul's saying, You're light. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:56.320 Live in the light, behave in the light. 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:00.080 We respond to the light because we have been deemed this. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:04.480 And this response is not merit for God's love. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:07.279 It's not payback for God's love. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:09.279 It's fruit. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:15.759 Jesus tells a parable about our hearts and life fruit in Luke chapter 13. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.080 Luke 13, verse 6. 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:27.840 And he told this parable, a man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:33.200 And he said to the vine dresser, look, for three years now I've come seeking fruit on this fig tree. 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:34.080 I found none. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:35.039 Cut it down. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:37.360 Why should it use up the ground? 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:41.919 And he answered him, this gardener, answers the owner. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:47.360 Sir, let it alone this year also until I dig around it and put on manure. 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:53.120 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good, but if not, you can cut it down. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.879 Here's point number three. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:15:02.240 When we're thinking about who we are and the fruit in our life, point number three, Jesus is patient with you. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:07.360 Working in your heart and creating fruit in your life. 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:14.000 So the vineyard owner is God the Father, the gardener is Jesus, you're the fig tree, I'm the fig tree. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:17.279 And the owner says, Well, if the tree's not producing fruit, I might as well cut it down. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:18.480 Let's be done with it. 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:22.639 And that's the good news where the gardener steps in in verses eight and nine. 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:26.799 And Jesus says, Oh, that beat up. 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:32.559 Broken down, worn down, end of themselves, can't get themselves together. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.080 I know her. 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:38.960 And I know him. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:43.039 Let me, hey, let me work with them. 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:46.799 Let me work in their hearts for a little bit. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.240 They'll be garden a little bit. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:55.200 A few weeks ago, I showed you this picture of Christy's granddaddy and Nana. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.639 Talk about them often. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:59.200 We love going over to their house. 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:06.320 Little ranch house, pretty big lot, and garden all over, and granddaddy would force speed us Briars ice cream. 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:08.320 You know the vanilla with the specks in it? 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.360 Four-speed. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:10.960 Dairy intolerance was not an option. 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:16.559 He's had your ice cream, went to the toilet, and then we all toured, all toured the garden. 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:18.639 You went out and you toured the garden. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:22.159 And his garden and flowers, vegetables, unbelievable. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.840 I told you about the Linton Rose, Murder Linton Rhodes. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:26.799 Well, his tomatoes, though, were just renowned. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:28.320 They were amazing. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:34.080 Until I came into the family, you know, I thought tomatoes were basically just for ketchup. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:35.679 That's all I knew of tomatoes. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:37.360 I'd never had a tomato like this. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:40.559 I mean, this is the tomato, I discovered the tomato sandwich, right? 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:45.440 White bread, not healthy like bird seed bread. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:47.440 Like it, white, like a cake. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.559 You know what I'm talking about? 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:56.320 And you put on a bunch of mayonnaise, a little pepper, sliced, just a couple big slices of tomato, tomato sandwich. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:58.720 I mean, his tomatoes were so good. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.480 They were so they were amazing. 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:05.279 They were so and he labored for these tomatoes. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:08.240 I mean, it happened because he was a caring gardener. 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:10.240 Here's a picture of him tending the soil. 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:17.200 As any good grandpa letting a child run machinery, heavy machinery is always a good thing. 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:19.359 Yeah, that's just a grandpa move right there. 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.359 Grandpa can do stuff like that. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:24.799 He tended that soil. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:28.319 He worked it. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:31.119 He mulched. 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:42.559 Like verse 8 talks about the unearthing at the base of the plant that would create fruit. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:52.720 Now, the point of the parable is not that you'll be fruitless and you should be inferior your entire life because God's gonna disown you and kick you out of the family. 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:54.000 That's not the point. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:57.759 The point's also not that you're gonna always be flourishing. 00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:00.319 But the point is that you have a gardener. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:06.319 The owner's never gonna get a chance to cut you down because the gardener steps in. 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:14.079 Jesus' response to the owner is just a call for more grace toward us and for him to have time with us. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.359 He's just saying, hey, give me more time with these children. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.720 I'd like a little more time. 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:21.200 I mean, I know he's really stubborn. 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:23.519 Yeah, I know she's really rebellious. 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:27.119 I'd like more time to work in their hearts. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:34.559 And that's where I go, like, how much I need to be quieted by his love. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:46.799 For all the love and worth I'm trying to find out there, and to understand that dearly loved, esteemed, worthy, dear. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:57.839 Allow the Holy Spirit to unearth and kill up those motives that I need to repent of and the wounds that I'm coping from. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:00.480 For the joy of more freedom. 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:09.440 For the joy not of destruction, but of godliness and light to walk in love and light out of being a dearly loved child. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:13.759 On Thursday, our staff was in here praying. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:24.079 And as we were praying, and I'm pondering this Ephesian passage, you know, all week for the sermon, the worship song Tend comes on by Emmy Rose. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:30.079 And I want to pray the chorus for us as a closing of our message. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:32.240 Because I thought the words were so fitting. 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:39.759 And so as we pray, if you're you're willing, if you just open your hands as a way of surrender, a posture of surrender. 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:41.599 If that's weird to you, I understand. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:44.400 We do weird stuff in church and you don't have to do it. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.559 But let's pray together. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:20:08.960 Ah, but quiet our hearts in these moments as we receive the prayer of this song. 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:13.519 So be the gardener of my heart. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:16.720 In the soil of my soul. 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:19.599 Break up the fallow ground. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.799 Cut back the overgrown. 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:26.000 And I won't shy away. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:28.640 I will let the branches fall. 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:31.839 So what you want can stay. 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:35.119 And what you love can grow. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:42.559 Heavenly Father, we pray you are the Abba and we are your dearly loved children. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:52.799 Help us to live out in love and light from the identity that we have in you as dearly loved children. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:56.319 Jesus, you are our full forgiveness and full righteousness. 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:58.799 Thank you for the lavish love we have. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:01.680 Thank you for the welcome. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:13.039 And thank you also for the empowerment we have in you to walk away freedom and joy and godliness. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.799 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:15.680 Amen.