WEBVTT 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:05.200 Thank you for joining us on the CCW podcast. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:11.039 Make sure you connect with us on social media to stay up to date on ministries and events happening at CCW. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:14.960 We hope you're encouraged, inspired, and motivated by today's message. 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:19.120 To find out how to connect with us, keep listening after the message ends. 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:21.440 Amen. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:23.199 Good morning, CCW. 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:26.399 You can hear my mic clear now. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:27.359 Amen. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:28.879 Well, it's been a good week. 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:31.359 I hope that you had a great week. 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:33.840 I was sharing just a moment ago. 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:40.000 I had the great opportunity to go with Pastor Eli and our kids to Kids Camp. 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:42.640 First time doing it over at Hargis. 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:45.520 And it was a blast. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:47.200 It was such a good time. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:50.880 I'm not going to tell you how many hours of sleep I've had this weekend. 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:53.759 Maybe the message will share the story. 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:56.079 But it really was a good thing. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:00.960 And I want to thank all the parents for entrusting us with these gifts. 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:07.439 And I'll share in a moment, but it wasn't about 30 minutes into kids' camp before God had. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:08.959 I didn't have to hear a message. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:10.640 Your kids told me one. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:12.640 And uh it was such a blessing. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:14.159 So thank God for that. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:20.560 I do want to say a word of congratulations to some friends that uh go to church here. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:25.280 The Peacock family opened SoCal, soft opening Saturday. 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:29.120 So uh heard everything was great. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:33.439 If you need a smoothie or a coffee or a drink, please see our friends. 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:35.120 We support the body. 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:37.280 And anyway, that was exciting. 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:41.840 And uh we have some folks that are getting ready to go on some missions trips this week. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:46.719 So as the service ends, if you overmind, we would be glad to pray over that. 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:48.480 And a lot of exciting things. 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:53.040 If you look around, summer hasn't necessarily slowed us at CCW. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:02:00.079 We try to ramp it up just a little bit more, and uh that is fun, and so thank you all that are visiting. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:10.560 It is our honor to have you with us today, and for all those that went on vacation, we're really glad you're visiting with us today because it looks good here, filling these seats. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:13.360 Well, turn your Bibles to Colossians chapter 3. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:15.599 We're continuing our rooted study. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:20.560 Today, the message is entitled Clothed in Christ. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:30.080 As you're turning to Colossians chapter 3, I want to read verses 12 through 14, and uh, we'll jump in from there. 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:43.439 It says, Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:50.879 If anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:56.159 But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 00:02:56.400 --> 00:03:00.080 Father, we ask that you would bless your word. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:05.599 We know it has the ability to change every life in this room. 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:08.719 God, your word lifted up today. 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:11.759 God, we ask that you would draw us to the feet of Jesus. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:19.439 God, I don't know what every person came in with today from their week, from their month, or from the last few months. 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:26.319 And maybe people are weary or tired and just need strength from you. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:28.800 They need to be spoken to from your word. 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:34.639 Lord, I pray that you would provide that and draw us into your presence as we sang. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:36.719 We love you in Jesus' name. 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:37.680 Amen. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:42.639 Two times in verse 12 through 14, you see the word put on. 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:43.759 Put on. 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:47.759 It's important when words are reiterated in scripture that you pay attention. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:49.599 I would highlight that, I would mark that. 00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:57.759 So, with that idea of putting on, today we're going to be looking at putting on, clothed, what we put on in Christ. 00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:04.400 And so thinking about that took me back to my younger years when I was trying to discover who I was. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:06.240 Y'all remember being a teenager? 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:08.240 We got some teenagers, they remember. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:12.479 But you remember when you were trying to discover via your clothes? 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:14.400 You were trying to put out that vibe. 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:15.439 Anyone remember? 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:17.759 Anybody really messed up on this? 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:19.519 Be honest, it's okay. 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:20.319 We're in church. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:23.120 He raised his hand real tall. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:23.920 I did. 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:29.519 So for a little while, it was really cool and accepted to have a wallet chain. 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:35.360 And the really cool part wasn't necessarily the wallet, but the chain that stuck out in your pocket. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:39.439 And some people I remember had two and three chains because that wallet must have been really heavy. 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:42.399 Um, but they had two and three, and the chain just looked cool. 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:44.319 So I found me a chain. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:46.639 But I had no wallet. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:48.560 I literally found a chain. 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:51.600 I don't know if it went to a wallet or nothing, but I wore a chain for a while. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:53.040 It could have been a bike chain. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:53.600 I don't know. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:59.360 I wore it into the back pocket, had it hooked in there, and I wore it everywhere I went for a while, right? 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:01.600 Because that made me look cool. 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:04.879 I was, they call that face like grunge alternative. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:05.920 So that was that stage. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:07.360 That didn't last real long. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:10.959 And then in the 90s, look, it was all baggy and saggy, right? 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:14.240 Y'all went if you were a 90s kid, this is what it was. 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:16.480 I worked as a DJ at a skate rink. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:18.480 Some of y'all please don't leave, okay? 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:19.199 Okay. 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:24.319 I had short hair, I had a little skinny beard line, and I had baggy and saggy, okay. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:29.519 That was my clothes, and I thought that I was something by the way that I looked, okay? 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:30.879 I had everything had to match. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:33.040 And why is we going through this right now? 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:35.600 My shirt had to match my shoes every time. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:39.680 I was not gonna wear some green shoes with some old orange shirt, right? 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:45.600 And so, according to my clothes, I felt like I had identity. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:54.720 I want to take you back one verse that we left off with last week where it said that there was no Jew, no Greek. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:06:03.680 It's that verse, verse number 11, right there in chapter 3, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, nor free. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:06.720 In Christ is all and in all. 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:12.160 And so the identity he's telling the Colossians, when you're in Christ, we're all right here. 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:13.680 We're all right here. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:18.720 It doesn't matter about wealth, it doesn't matter about social status, we're right here. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:25.600 And so our identity, he says though, we have to put off and put on some things. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:30.800 I want to tell you, I want to confess, I shared with our prayer team. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:34.319 I put on the wrong clothes heading to kids camp. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:40.240 After an hour, God did something in my heart. 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:49.519 I put on these clothes that had been saying for two weeks, three weeks, a month, that I have a son named Weston who's in kids' ministry. 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:53.040 I got two teens, Callie and Wyatt, who are in teen ministry. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:54.959 I've become the pastor. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:59.040 And I'm going to teen camp and kids camp still. 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:02.240 That was sort of the way I would word it to people. 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:05.120 Um, and I missed a big opportunity. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:07.439 I wasn't joyful about that. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:09.680 I was kind of saying it in a joke. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:17.040 But I was about an hour in at kids camp, and these kids, let me tell you, they're amazing. 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:25.519 I started digging into their life and watching their little personalities, and they just, we all need to be a kid again for a couple of days. 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:26.399 Amen. 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:27.759 There's no worries. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:32.720 They will go from this thing to the next thing with endless energy, and if you're in, they'll go in. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:37.519 They want to play, they want to have fun, and they just see life and all its value. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:45.040 And God got a hold of my heart after one hour of watching kids and said, You've been missing it, man. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:47.680 You've been wearing the wrong clothes. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:57.759 Like you came here and told people you came because you were the parent to this child, but you get the chance to invest in people. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:01.279 And God told me, Rick, you're not called to adults. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:06.079 You're not called to babies, you're called to people and to love people. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:12.240 So God was reminding me very soon at kids' camp that I needed to put on the right clothes. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:16.800 We ended last week putting off certain things of our flesh. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.800 And so I want to start today. 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:20.480 I brought out some very important clothes. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:25.279 The first point this morning is letter A, a garment of demeanor. 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:26.000 All right. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:29.120 So you can see here a very valuable piece of clothing. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:30.399 Some of you might not like it. 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:31.279 I'm sorry if you don't. 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:33.440 You can get your heart right in a little bit. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:34.159 Okay. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:36.720 This here's my Red Sox jersey. 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:39.200 I've been a Red Sox fan for a while. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:43.840 If I put this on, it means something. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:47.200 If I'm a professional and I put this on, it really means something. 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:48.080 That demeanor. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:53.279 I want you to know to be a Red Sox baseball player, there's a uniform code. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:58.960 You don't just get to show up and wear your jogging pants and your tennis shoes and what you want. 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:02.960 To be a professional baseball player, there's a demeanor. 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:05.919 There are some rules about the clothing you wear. 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:08.480 The uniform includes pants, a hat. 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:10.879 The uniform includes a shirt, a belt. 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:16.559 The shoes, even, I didn't know this, I studied, they have to be 51% the team's colors. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:17.759 Whatever that is. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:19.440 I don't know who judges that. 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:19.919 Okay. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:22.399 But you have to be dressed and matched. 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:24.399 Your undershirt has to match. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:25.759 Listen to me. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:30.639 The demeanor of a Christian is not to be dressed in the world. 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:33.120 We are supposed to be set apart. 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:36.559 Your outward behavior is supposed to mean something. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:44.720 If your mind is right, which we looked at last week, you will, it says here, as the elect of God look a certain way. 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:49.840 Now I said we were going to get deeper, so I'm going to hit this word here, because I'm not going to skip the Bible. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:50.320 Okay? 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:51.600 A big church word. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:55.039 Now, hang with me so we can get somewhere, but we we have to cover this. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:57.759 Election is a big topic in church. 00:09:58.080 --> 00:09:58.720 Alright? 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:05.679 And the meaning of the election, when you look it up, there are people who will be saved because God decided. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:06.559 Okay? 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:09.440 People who will be saved because God decided. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:11.279 Deeper, okay, let's go deeper. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:21.279 The topic, and I want you to hear this, church, the topic of election and predestination has been on trial in churches and will continue until we go to heaven one day. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:23.519 And I'm going to tell you something. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:26.559 I don't think you're going to solve it. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:31.039 Here's the way that people debate. 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:34.399 They debate as if there are two sides, and only two sides. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:38.720 There's a Calvinistic side, and there is an Arminian side. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:41.679 And I want to tell you this, the side that I believe. 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:42.320 I believe this. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:44.399 The Bible is not incongruent. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:47.440 The Bible says what it says and it means what it says. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.600 It says in 2 Peter 3 9, the Lord is not slack concerning his promise. 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:53.679 He's not willing that any should perish. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:55.679 That means exactly what it says. 00:10:55.919 --> 00:11:01.600 God is not willing that any should perish, and then it says that all should come to repentance and faith. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:14.159 This verse in Colossians says that the elect of God, and what I'm saying is, God is not meaning to say anything other than what he says. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:15.600 He means what he says. 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:19.039 And I want to tell you, I'm not Calvinist, I'm not Arminian. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:21.440 Because that's following a man. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:25.840 And I'm not here to follow a man, I'm here to follow a book that is written by God. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.279 I might be a little bit of both. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:29.039 I might be Calvininian. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:36.000 Is it possible that there are some things that our minds don't understand? 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:39.519 Is it possible? 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:45.360 Because the Bible says that God says his ways are higher than my ways, his thoughts than my thoughts. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:48.399 The Bible says that there's mysteries of God. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:52.879 I've never not been in church my entire life. 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:55.600 Okay, I'm 41 years of age. 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:58.480 I've never, I went to Christian school my whole life. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.039 I've studied every book of the Bible. 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:02.320 Okay, this is not me. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:03.919 I've just been around it. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:06.879 I've never, I was thinking back 20 years in ministry. 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:09.600 We've never missed more than three services in a year. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.840 We're talking a thousand and something service. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.279 I've been around the Bible. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:16.240 I've been memorizing Scripture since I was five. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:22.080 And the longer I'm lived, the more I'm convinced that there are things that I don't have a total grasp of. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:26.879 It seems to me though, there are people who believe that they do. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:30.320 And that they totally have a grasp of God's mind. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:33.039 And I'm telling you, I don't. 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:43.840 I don't know the mind of God, but I do believe this: that God understood what he said, and God, what he wrote through men, meant what he says. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:48.080 Well, Pastor Rick, the scripture says that you're supposed to be ready to give an answer. 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:49.679 That's about the gospel. 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:53.440 And if you point me in a direction, I'm ready to give the simple gospel. 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:54.240 Okay? 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:59.600 I do believe that we're to be studied and learned and given the best. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:04.240 But I do want to try my best to hit what I believe about this topic. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:10.480 So, with all that preemptively said, let me hit because I said this series we're going to dig deeper. 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:13.360 Did God say He is not willing that any should perish? 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:13.919 Yes. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:15.600 Did God say He chose? 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:16.480 Yes. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.360 Do we have free will inside of that? 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.159 Yes. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:23.519 How can I picture this with my finite human mind? 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:25.759 I picture a DVD. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:26.559 Okay. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:30.720 Kids, that's something you used to put in the machine and you'd watch movies. 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:31.519 Okay. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:33.120 There's a DVD. 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:36.799 And God, the DVD is playing. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:39.360 For you and me, it's live, real time. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:44.159 And inside the DVD, we're characters in the plot that's coming too. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:50.159 And inside of that plot, we have choices, real live choices within it. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:54.159 Outside of the DVD is God who knows the start. 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:55.759 He's seen the end. 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:58.320 And he knows everything in between. 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:03.919 And so, is there people that have the free will within it? 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.519 Yes, I believe so. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:09.039 Does God know on the end of it who's going to choose? 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:10.799 Yes, I believe so. 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:13.440 Do I understand how all that works? 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:15.759 I'm sorry, no, I do not believe so. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:17.600 This is my best way. 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:18.879 But this is what I like. 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:21.200 Pastor Danny used to say this about the leg. 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:25.759 It sure seems like the more I tell people about Jesus, the more get elected. 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:27.679 Amen. 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:33.759 The more I'm involved, so what do we do with that as Christians? 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:34.960 What are we supposed to do? 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:37.519 We're supposed to put on the right clothes. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:43.360 Because even though God knows and understands, we get a blessing in being involved in his work. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:48.960 Whatever he's going to do, and he knows, we get a blessing or don't. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:53.360 Depending on the clothes that we put on. 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:56.960 So the way we present ourselves is important. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:58.960 No longer of the cosmos. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.399 That word means the world. 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:03.120 We've been chosen, Scripture says, peculiar. 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:06.080 We are royalty, we're called. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:08.320 And let me tell you about royalty. 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:11.039 Royalty means a responsibility. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:14.879 I can't be a Red Sox player and just show up, not in the uniform. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:17.679 I'm expected to show up in the right clothes. 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:20.000 I'm expected to have a certain demeanor. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:24.399 As a Christian, he says we're holy and beloved. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:26.159 Set apart. 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:28.960 Our demeanor is to be guided by right actions. 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:30.879 We are clothed in righteousness. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.320 Remember what we said last week? 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:33.120 It's a clause. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:35.600 If, then, big if. 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:38.799 If you're a Christian, then. 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:44.799 And he says, if you're a Christian, all this is available, but you got to put on. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:47.360 You've experienced all of the Holy Spirit. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:49.519 Now you put off and you put on. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.120 So what clothes do you put on? 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:55.360 As royalty, we're to look like Christians. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:16:06.960 You know, if you were a king of England and you had children in England and you had royalty in your family, do you think that royalty gets to go out publicly and wear whatever they want? 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:09.759 You know, there's clothing guidelines. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:10.960 Okay? 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:14.399 They don't just go out looking like trash. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:18.320 We are supposed to be royalty as Christians. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:27.519 Not because inherently I'm good, but because my father is the king of heaven and he's good and covered me. 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:29.519 And so I have this opportunity. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.200 You've been adopted by a king. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:34.639 Letter B is this, it's a garment of our dealings. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:42.320 With this Red Sox jersey on, if I'm gonna be on a team, I'm gonna have to excel. 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:45.440 I have to wear this uniform. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:48.320 There are expected attributes because of it. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.600 Right? 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:58.240 If I'm on the Red Sox baseball team, then I've got to be one of the best if I've made it to that point and I've put on that garment. 00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.600 One of the best. 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:03.360 So he says there's some things that we need to put on. 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:07.920 Let's look at some of those dealings in 12 through 14. 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:13.279 First of all, he says, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies. 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.920 He says, put on mercies. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:23.680 Scripture says, you have received mercy, so because you have received mercy, you can deliver mercy. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:33.039 You are a recipient of something, and so as a byproduct, you are able as a fruit of Christianity to deliver mercy. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:37.359 It says here, holy beloved, put on. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:42.559 And so I want to ask you that big if. 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.680 Back to if. 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.920 Are you a member? 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.680 Are you a member of Christianity? 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:49.839 Have you called on Christ as your Savior? 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:52.880 Because if not, mercy would be a struggle for you. 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:55.839 Have you become a part of the membership? 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:57.279 Are you part of the club? 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:59.440 I'm part of a few clubs. 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:02.319 One club, it's called Anytime Fitness. 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:02.799 Okay? 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:05.359 Because of my membership, I hit my key on a five. 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:09.519 I get to go in, and I have access to all kinds of things that I don't really love. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:10.960 But I need. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.839 I was telling the kids all week at kids' camp. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:15.680 Y'all, this is free exercise. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:18.880 They charge you$37 a month in the real world for this. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.960 You get to do all of it that you want. 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.720 This is amazing. 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:25.039 But I'm a part of that club. 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.559 Many time fitness. 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:27.759 I'm a member of another club. 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:29.039 It's very elite. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:32.559 It's usually hush-hush that I talk about this, but I have permission. 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:38.880 This club allows you to walk around the grandest aisles with the grandest supplies known to man. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:46.480 This club gets me nine packs of butter, tubs with 170 ounces of sour cream. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:49.759 I get items in bulk. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.559 And Heather likes me when I'm bulky. 00:18:54.079 --> 00:19:03.279 If I was tilting around a 14-pack of paper towels right now, Heather would say, it's the dream. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:09.200 I get to drive a 14-foot long cart down aisles. 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:11.279 I get eyed on the way in. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:14.400 I get suspiciously eyed and double-checked on the way out. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:17.680 I have paid to become a part of the club. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.799 The Costco Club. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:22.880 I'm a proud card-carrying member. 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:25.440 They don't even try to hide it right in their name. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.240 Did you hear it? 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.000 It is the cost company. 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.759 They're literally telling you in the name. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:31.279 If you come here, it's going to cost. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:33.680 You're part of the club. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:37.519 But this membership gets me all these blessings. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.799 All these blessings. 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:48.160 You see, people involved in Christianity are allotted the opportunity to have mercy. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:53.039 Do the people in Colosi look like club members? 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.599 Are they given this mercy? 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:57.279 Do you, church? 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:00.319 Because you have been given so much mercy. 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.680 Are you merciful? 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:05.440 Do you look for ways to help people who need help? 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:09.119 When people come at you, do you give mercy? 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.799 Are you quick to condemn? 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:16.799 Are you quick when somebody has wronged you to hold it up and put it on the whiteboard? 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:21.440 He says, Blessed are the merciful, Matthew 5, 7, for they receive mercy. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:23.440 Are you a mercy dealer? 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:25.839 Paul said to the Colossians, that's part of this game. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:29.039 You've been given mercy, so now you have to be a giver. 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:30.559 Husbands? 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:34.720 Are you merciful with your wife, with your children? 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.559 Are you merciful? 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.720 Well, verse 12 continues. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.559 He said, That was a put on. 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:43.119 What about humility? 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.319 Meekness. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:51.680 It's interesting to talk about humility and meekness because I live with some teenagers, and today we live in what's called the goat culture. 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.960 Y'all know what I'm talking about? 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.000 The goat culture? 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:56.079 The greatest of all time. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:57.039 The goat. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:59.920 He is the goat at bottle flipping. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.799 Oh man. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.000 Watch him, watch him. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:03.440 He landed it. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:07.440 That was not the greatest of all time. 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:12.559 And so we live in this goat culture, right? 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:16.480 Everybody is celebrating their greatest of all times. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:20.319 Have y'all seen the LeBron James Michael Jordan thing? 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:21.839 Oh my goodness. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.039 It's never ending. 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:24.960 The goat, the goat, the goat. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:28.079 I want to take you to Mark chapter 9. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:32.880 Look back at Mark chapter 9. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:36.640 I know some of y'all are looking and saying, does he even know that his pants are wet? 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.359 Yes. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.839 I feel that. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.960 God is literally keeping me humble as I speak. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.200 Who is the greatest? 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:52.880 Is this question the disciples are having as they go to Capernaum? 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:55.759 Mark chapter 8, 33 through 35. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:59.519 Then he came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house, I'm sorry, chapter 9. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:04.079 He asked them, What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road? 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:10.400 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed amongst themselves who would be the greatest. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:19.440 And he sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, If anyone desires to be first, he should be last and servant of all. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.920 Who's the greatest? 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:24.799 You see, pride says, look at what you did. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:27.759 Pride says, you deserve. 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:30.960 Pride says you should have. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:36.880 And we live in a world that says, go get yours, do you, eat or be eaten. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.079 It's all about you. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:42.160 And I want you to know the Bible talks much about pride. 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:45.839 Proverbs 16 says, pride comes before destruction. 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:52.640 You see, the fall of Satan is marked in Isaiah 14 as he was an angel named Lucifer because of pride. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:57.680 Psalms 10, 4 says a prideful person can't even look upon God. 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.720