WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:00.959 Well, good morning. 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:04.080 We are studying our way through the book of Acts. 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:08.400 So I want to tell you two stories from Acts chapter 5. 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:11.599 And I'll go ahead and warn you the first story is a doozy. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:22.000 So remember, this first church has become incredibly brave, contagious with joy, bold, and generous. 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:23.440 Incredibly generous heart. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:34.640 So in Acts chapter 5, we hear about a guy named Joseph who he sells a field that he owned and he sells it, and then he takes all the money, he gives all the money to the church. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:36.240 Now that's amazing, fantastic. 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:38.079 What a great model for some of this. 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:47.439 Then Luke, the writer of Acts, says, but there's this other guy, Ananias. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:55.280 This other guy, he sells a field that he owns, and he gives some of the money to the church, and he keeps some of the money. 00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:57.600 Fantastic, we think. 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:07.840 But this guy Ananias, the thing he does is he goes on to tell everybody that he gave all the money. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:09.200 Right? 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:11.760 We have a word for this. 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:13.120 Lying. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:16.879 So he said one thing and he did another. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:22.079 So Peter, the church leader, he says to this guy Ananias, here's what he says in Acts 5, 3 through 4. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:29.120 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:31.840 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.400 And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:37.680 Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:40.799 You have not lied to man but to God. 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:45.040 Now the story goes on and it gets strange. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:46.159 Verse 5. 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:52.239 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:55.680 And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 00:01:55.760 --> 00:02:05.519 So here's the church's first model for motivating tithing is the model that we're gonna perpetuate in our church, you're just gonna die. 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:07.359 Everybody's gonna be afraid. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:10.639 Alright, the story keeps going. 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:11.759 It's interesting. 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:20.240 Three hours later, his wife, Sapphira, comes to Peter, verse 8, and Peter said to her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much. 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:22.000 And she said, Yes, for so much. 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:26.159 But Peter said to her, How is that you have agreed together to test the spirit of the Lord? 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:31.280 Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:35.840 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her lines. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:39.520 When the young men came in, they found her dead. 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:43.439 And they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:46.240 The word of the Lord. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:47.680 I mean, that's just weird, right? 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:49.599 Strange. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:52.000 I've always wrestled with it. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:54.479 I've wrestled with the story every time I read it. 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:57.039 Because I don't view God like this. 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:07.520 I don't view God as vindictive, especially this side of the cross, where I believe all the wrath of the rightful justice of God toward our sin is absorbed in the cross. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:12.159 So this story is the, ooh, is I mean, it's it's a strange one. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:14.719 I'm not always sure what to do with it, but we have a few options. 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:17.759 Here's the first option we can do with a passage like this in this passage. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:20.800 Option one, we can dismiss the Bible. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:22.479 Or parts of the Bible. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:23.599 That is an option. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:26.159 It's not a good option, but it is an option. 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:30.560 You could just say, I'm not going to read any of the difficult parts of the Bible. 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:32.639 That's very limited, though. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:40.960 And it's ignoring the way that the Bible's constructed and what we're supposed to do with the Bible, our role toward the Bible, of what the Bible's doing. 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:46.639 Now, when we read any passage of the Bible, we read that given passage in light of the whole Bible. 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:48.479 That helps a lot. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:57.199 So that when we face an odd passage, an odd story, we're not sure how to fit it in, we think about it in light of the entire story. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:12.159 And so these apparent exceptions, I would say apparent, because usually it's that we don't quite understand how it fits in or the context or something, the apparent exceptions to the whole story should be overwhelmed by the whole story. 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:15.759 So we read the micro in light of the macro. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:19.360 And then we have to remember the context when we read the Bible. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:23.040 These are not modern Western people. 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:27.360 This is ancient Near East thousands of years ago. 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:40.000 Our job is to try as best we can, and it's not easy, is to try to figure out what did this mean to these people at that time. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:43.360 Now that's called hermeneutics. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:46.319 So we do hermeneutics all the time. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:47.920 We do it every Sunday morning. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:49.759 You do it when you read your devotion. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:51.120 You do it in a Bible study. 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:51.920 We do it all the time. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:05:02.800 And hermeneutics is a very big, impressive word, I can tell you, so you think more of me, which means how to properly interpret the Bible considering its original context. 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:10.240 Because that means a big difference of just taking it and making it feel like what fits Western modern world. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:13.439 Second option is this for this passage. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:16.000 These deaths were an act of God. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:20.000 Now that's the traditional interpretation of this passage. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:22.879 Now, some theologians think this guy just had a heart attack. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:27.279 Like he just he was found out and just plop. 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:29.680 She was found out, plop, right? 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:32.319 And think about this early church. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:34.560 There's just one church. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:35.759 This is it. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:43.759 There's not like the Baptist church and the Methodist Church and like us and this old sock factory warehouse, right? 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:45.759 I mean, there's not all these options. 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:48.560 There's just one church. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:50.319 Right? 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:52.319 One church, one shot. 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:54.560 As Eminem tells us. 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:56.800 You only get one shot. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:00.959 Do not miss your chance to blow. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:02.240 This opportunity comes once a lot. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:03.279 You know I'm talking about it. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:06.160 But that's what this is. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:07.519 That's what this is. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:09.439 It's just there's just one church. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:10.639 It hadn't spread. 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:12.959 There's not multiple, there's not networks or denominations. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:13.519 This is it. 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:15.680 Just this one group of people. 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:16.399 This is it. 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:22.240 And so the traditional view would say there's just one church, and God is preserving that church. 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:25.839 Now, I know that doesn't help with the harshness. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:31.519 That doesn't help with what feels quite vindictive from our point of view. 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:39.360 But I also know this only a high view of God's justice can bring us the relief of God's grace. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:46.000 God's grace doesn't mean anything unless we have a high view of sin and rebellion and justice. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:48.639 And then it's like, oh, and yet God loves me? 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:49.439 Oh my God. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:51.120 Amazing. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:53.439 Third option is this. 00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:56.160 I'm not sure. 00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:59.279 I just call that the mystery view. 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:01.920 I think it's a good option. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:04.879 I think options two and three together work pretty good. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:06.399 I don't recommend option one. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:10.160 But just add it to your list of questions that you have for God. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:15.040 That is a legitimate option for you as a mature, smart Christian. 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:18.720 It is completely okay to say, I'm not, I don't know. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:20.000 I'm not sure. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:21.120 I'm not sure. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:23.920 I have a growing list as I get older. 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:27.920 The greater question as we come out of this is what is this story? 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:34.480 What in the world could this story have to do with us and our hearts? 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:42.079 Point number one is this sin and judgment destroy, grace rescues and restores. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:45.759 Sin and judgment destroy, grace rescues and restores. 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:52.399 About a year and a half ago, something amazing happened at the New York City Public Library. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:08:03.519 From October of 2021 to February of 2022, 90,000 overdue books came in. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:04.879 90,000. 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:08.639 I don't know if you're up to date on the data, overdue books, but that's a lot. 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:12.160 Like it was an insane amount of overdue books. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:14.560 And some came back with notes. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:17.519 One person wrote this. 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:20.399 Enclosed are books I have borrowed. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:22.079 Borrowed. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:26.720 And kept in my house for 28 to 50 years. 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:32.799 I am 75 years old now, and these books have helped me through motherhood and my teaching career. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:35.360 Now, why all of a sudden? 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:39.039 Why all of a sudden this flood of 90,000 books? 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:39.919 Why all of a sudden? 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:41.679 I mean, this change of behavior. 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:52.399 Well, on October 6th of 2021, right before the flood of the books, the New York City public library system eliminated all eight fees. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:54.480 Just abolished it. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:56.080 It's gone. 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:57.120 Absolved. 00:08:57.279 --> 00:08:59.039 The debt wiped away. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:02.080 So the sin was real. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:05.759 People stole books. 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:07.440 Right? 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:13.039 So there was clear destruction of the relationship between the reader and the library. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:18.639 Clear distance that had been seen in the attendance of library participation. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:24.320 I mean, some readers hadn't been to the library for years and years and years. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:28.159 And then all of a sudden the debt is gone. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:30.320 The judgment was removed. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:34.399 The library, they absorbed the losses. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:37.200 Which is what grace is. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:39.679 Which is what Jesus did on the cross. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:41.279 Our sin is put upon him. 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:43.919 His righteousness is given to us. 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:47.039 The library decided to be gracious. 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:47.759 You know what happened? 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:49.200 Books returned. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:52.399 And people began to return to the library. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.840 You know, this is what happened in church, it happens in churches. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:57.679 All the time. 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:08.639 If a church decides it's going to stop trying to fix people, judge people, punish people, or strong-armed people into groups or discipleship, you know what happens? 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:11.360 People actually feel relieved to be there. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:13.600 It's an amazing thing. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:26.000 And if what they hear is the primary message, is the absolution of Christ upon their weary and beat-down, ashamed and burdened guilty souls. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:28.960 It's amazing what happens. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:35.679 For you to hear, for me to hear, what Owen said after in the greedy? 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.240 We're more broken than we originally thought. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:42.720 We can confess that because we're more loved by God and Jesus. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:44.480 We ever dare to dream. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:49.120 That we are fully known and fully loved. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:51.120 That grace of God changes us. 00:10:54.159 --> 00:11:00.879 This weird story of Ananias and Sapphira shows us when justice is carried out upon our sin. 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:04.879 Without grace, sin and judgment destroy. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:19.600 But the entirety of the Bible, the story of the gospel, shows us that God's abundant grace to us is relieving and Jesus is enough. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:24.000 So I can't explain everything about Ananias and Sapphira, neither can you. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:31.120 But what is clear is the one-way love of God to me and to you really is enough. 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:36.240 Point number two is this we are learning to live in honesty with God and others. 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:39.440 This tragic story happened through dishonesty. 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:41.200 Lies find you out. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:42.559 That's why we teach our kids. 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:43.519 You know what we teach them? 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:45.919 Liar, liar, pants on fire, right? 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:48.320 Because lies find you out. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:49.759 They're gonna get you. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:54.720 Dishonesty erodes trust, which is the building blocks of relationships. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:12:02.639 Theologian John Stott says that what Luke's trying to communicate here is that falsehood ruins fellowship. 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:04.879 Falsehood ruins fellowship. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:11.440 It will in your marriage, your friendships, with your children, co-workers, neighbors, family. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:14.720 Falsehood ruins fellowship. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:24.639 Christians in East Africa have a saying, they say, we live in a house without a ceiling and without walls. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:37.440 Meaning that we're trying, as best we can, we're trying to live with openness and honesty to God, and openness and honesty to each other. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:40.399 That's a call of being a Christian. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:42.399 Okay, second story. 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:46.480 These upset religious leaders, they arrested the apostles, they put them in prison. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:56.399 During the night, an angel comes, opens the doors, and says to the apostles, Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:01.200 And here's where the story picks up Acts 5, verse 24. 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:04.480 A bit of reading, I'm going to read down through 32. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:12.080 Now, when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:18.080 And someone came and told them, Look, the men whom you put in prison are staying in the temple and teaching the people. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:25.440 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:29.039 And when they had brought them, they set them for the council. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:35.200 The high priest questioned them, saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:41.039 Yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:43.600 So we're talking about the death of Christ. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.639 Verse 29. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:49.600 But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:54.960 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:14:04.559 God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins, and we are witnesses to these things. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:10.159 And so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:15.039 So the religious leaders wanted to kill these apostles. 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:22.639 And what we read as Acts 5 plays out is one guy one guy goes, ah, guys. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.679 That always worked out. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.679 Maybe something else. 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:33.840 And so they bring the apostles in. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:35.039 They just beat them. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.480 Just beat them really bad. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:41.679 They don't kill them, just beat them, and then they charge them and said, you know, don't speak in the name of Jesus. 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:43.360 Stop this uprising. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:45.360 You're throwing off the system. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:48.639 And here's what happens in verse 41. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:58.080 Then they, the apostles, left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:06.799 And every day in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:09.120 So how in the world? 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:13.440 Right, this is the question we keep coming back to when we read this story of this early church. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.720 How in the world? 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:20.080 This is all this story also includes Peter, who was so wimpy there at the end of Jesus' life. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:23.679 How in the world are they this brave? 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:32.159 Unto this measure of boldness, of a proclamation, obedience to God rather than men, even unto persecution. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:42.639 And maybe for us, we don't think unto persecution, maybe, maybe not, maybe it's just even unto complete inconvenience, loss of friends, loss of a relationship. 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:49.200 And Peter says Acts 5, 29, we must obey God rather than men. 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:59.919 Point number three is this as we rest in our forever approval in Christ, we grow free from being a people pleaser. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:08.559 So we could say because of Jesus, God is forever pleased and approves of us, and this actually changes everything else about your life. 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:16.639 Twenty years ago, at the University of Georgia, I had a large economics class, one of those big auditorium classes, huge auditorium, maybe 250 people in there. 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:21.440 And I got in class first day of school and I sat in the top row, top right, back row. 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:23.600 I'm a back row person, back row people. 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:24.720 That's where I would be. 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:28.799 If I wasn't paid to sit up front, I would sit in the back row. 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:35.120 I was the back right, you could oversee everything, quick exit, everything happens. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:37.840 And then she walked in. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.919 I wasn't married at the time, single, just to clarify. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:47.120 This girl walked in, she sits down to my left section over. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.080 Oh man. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.639 She was beautiful. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.799 Class ended. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:56.639 We ended up both exiting out the same door with the chances, right? 00:16:56.879 --> 00:17:00.480 We take the same sidewalk down to the Tate Center. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.519 We get on the same bus to go to South Campus. 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:04.799 I can't believe it. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.079 I'm aware of all this. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:08.000 She's aware of none of this. 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:14.000 Clearly, clearly, why she was aware of none of it. 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.279 This is what I'm working with. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:18.720 Same bus to South Campus. 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:20.640 We get off at the same stop. 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:25.279 We take the same sidewalk into the same building. 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:29.920 Thank you, Lord, for this bountiful provision. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.440 Thank you. 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:33.440 This is my future wife. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:40.240 I go home back to my roommates, and I tell them the situation that I have here. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.640 This provision from the Lord. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:45.039 And we formed my plan. 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:48.319 So the next day, come in class, I sit right next to her. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.759 Right next to her. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:53.759 Start to chit-chat, get her to laugh a few times. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.599 Kind of played cool the rest of the class. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:58.559 We exit out the same door, same sidewalk, but I'm not buddy buddy. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.759 I'm keeping some distance. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:02.400 We get on the same bus, still some distance. 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:05.680 We get on the same sidewalk, headed to the same building. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:07.599 I kind of cruise up next to her. 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.960 Oh my gosh. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.480 What are the chances? 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.559 We were just together. 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:16.079 And that was it. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:25.680 We sat together, we walked together, we talked, I got her number, and then I brought her dinner one night. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:29.279 She had a friend with her. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:34.319 Now, as a girl dad, now I'm all for this. 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.440 Like, like I'm proud of this girl. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:39.680 Safety first, right? 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:42.799 But I kind of knew what was playing out here. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:44.000 I'm getting friend zoned, right? 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:45.839 I mean that's clearly what's going on. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:47.839 But I kept at it. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.039 I kept at it. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:53.279 I worked so hard for a month. 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:55.440 So hard. 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.240 Nothing. 00:18:58.640 --> 00:18:59.599 Nothing. 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:03.519 I couldn't cause her to like me. 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:04.880 Nothing. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:10.559 And then finally just a retreat back over to the top right of the auditorium. 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:12.559 After an exhausting month. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.599 Couldn't cause her to like me. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.599 We do that, don't we? 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:27.039 We do it with a girl, we do it with a boy, do it with a group of friends, you can do it with a neighbor, do it with a boss, just somebody, will this person like me? 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:29.279 Could this person be pleased with me? 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:31.519 You know, do you approve of me? 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:33.039 Do you respect me? 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:36.160 See, like we all need a source. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:42.799 We're all looking, craving for a source of approval and love. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:55.119 And if that journey is not rightly placed and our approval from God to us in Christ, we just start looking for it all over the place. 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.440 It's exhausting. 00:19:57.599 --> 00:20:00.000 1 Thessalonians 2, 4 through 6 says this. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:02.720 Listen to the motivation for such boldness. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:04.640 Listen to where the motivation comes from. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.480 Verse 4. 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:13.359 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, there it is. 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:19.279 So we speak not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:24.160 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:32.079 God is witness, nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:38.960 So by living in our already secure approval from God, we actually live for God. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:44.960 Now, just skipping over to go try to live for God, you will exhaust yourself. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.559 We live from our approval from God. 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:54.400 And out of that we can relate in a calm confidence, a bravery, a boldness, joy grows in our hearts. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:21:00.000 We learn to desire godliness and walk in it because of the grace given to us. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:03.839 Almost 15 years ago, we had our first daughter of three. 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:05.759 Here's a picture of baby number one. 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:07.599 There she is, right there. 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:12.319 We're in the hospital, hours and hours of labor. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:18.480 And then boom, just like that, baby's not coming, so we're in an operating room, getting a C-section. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:20.720 She is not me, I'm watching. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:24.880 And then they pull out that baby right out of the tummy. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:28.240 Just reach in and just pull out that baby. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:30.400 It doesn't look like that baby. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:35.920 Like kind of purpley and gooey. 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:39.359 I look at Tracy and I'm like, we made that. 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:43.039 That's what we did. 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:46.880 And the first thing they do, right? 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:53.759 They go, I mean, stuff, I don't know the, I don't know the terms, lots of stuff going on. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:57.279 And they cut the umbilical cord, right? 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:07.119 Because her source of life had it was coming from another human being, but for her to be her own being, they had to cut that cord. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:16.799 See, we can't live and grow or obey when we're constantly attaching our metaphorical umbilical cords to other people. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:22.640 Here's what my mentor, Scotty Smith, writes about this passage. 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:24.319 We'll close with this. 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:36.000 On one hand, there are people to whom I attach my umbilical cord, metaphorically speaking, and look to them for life. 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:50.480 Their praise is like an elixir of joy, sometimes more so than the gospel, and their disappointment or rejection can taste like a potion of self-contempt, causing me to withdraw, retaliate, or medicate. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:55.759 Nobody deserves that much power over our hearts. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:23:01.359 Because the gospel is true, I can freely confess these things. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:06.480 Because the gospel is powerful, I have hope for change. 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:08.400 Let's pray together. 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:19.200 God, as we look at this story, we're called towards honesty and our fellowship, openness with you, openness with others. 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:25.920 And we're really challenged of what it means to obey you and not other people. 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:31.759 For our approval is rooted solely in you. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:41.680 Our justification as the redeemed, our justification is worthy, is only satisfied in you. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:45.599 Your grace to us, the work of the cross for us. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:54.720 God, we confess that we as a church and a group of people and as individuals, we can pretend and we can be dishonest. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:24:01.119 And we also proclaim that we don't want to be approval sucks and we don't want to be worn out. 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:02.880 So please forgive us. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:09.680 Help us to grow deeper in your welcome of us and our identity in you. 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:13.680 And with the Holy Spirit do great work this morning. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:27.759 And our hearts and all the places where we keep seeking to obey men and not you to be pleased by men and people and groups of people rather than you, and may our hearts be wooed by you. 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:31.839 To the great welcome we have in Christ. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:34.480 The great justification. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:39.440 In Jesus' name. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.400 Amen.