WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:02.000 Good morning. 2 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:15.000 I ask that you will accept my apology. My voice is a bit scratchy this morning, so if it fades, it may be to your blessing, but we'll just see how we go there. 3 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:19.000 Let us pray. 4 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:31.000 Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the blessing that it is to live in a state and in a country where we are blessed abundantly by your grace, your love. 5 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:39.000 We thank you, Father, that we can come freely together to worship you and praise you and give thanks for all that you're doing. 6 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:56.000 And we pray, Father, this morning that you would open our hearts and minds to you, that you would reveal your truth through us and into our lives, that we may live for you and serve you obediently throughout this day and this week. 7 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:03.000 Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. O God, my rock and my redeemer. 8 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:05.000 In Jesus name we pray. 9 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:10.000 Amen. 10 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:15.000 To get your mind operational. 11 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:21.000 As we start, I have some big words. 12 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:30.000 Transformation is to salvation and transformation through sanctification. 13 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:37.000 I almost had to look up each one individually to understand what they mean. 14 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:46.000 What this boils down to is, have you been changed? 15 00:01:46.000 --> 00:02:00.000 As Mark mentioned, if you have come to Christ, if you've given your life, have you been changed? 16 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.000 I titled this sermon the all new you. 17 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:20.000 It appears that every time we look on an advert or a screen somewhere, it says the all new model, the all new car, the all new product. 18 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:24.000 So we're going to focus on some change. 19 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.000 Who loves change? 20 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:29.000 Oh, we've got a couple. 21 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:39.000 That even surprises me who gets excited when you need to change. 22 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:59.000 It may be a job, it may be where you live or it may be some of the other favorites like you need to change your diet or you need to change to an exercise program. 23 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:07.000 Change can be exciting. You're getting married or you start a family. 24 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:11.000 But other change can be difficult. 25 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:16.000 You have to move away from family for work or for study. 26 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:27.000 You receive a diagnosis of a life threatening disease or you get injured in an accident and your life changes forever. 27 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:31.000 We have all experienced change in our lives. 28 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:43.000 Some awesome, some unimaginably difficult, but change just the same. 29 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:52.000 Mr. Don Barnes shared with us last week and he asked, are you willing to be trained? 30 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:56.000 Are you willing to be changed? 31 00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:12.000 And he explained that being in the yoke with Jesus is where we get to learn from walking with him, working with him and being obedient to him. 32 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:28.000 It is said that change is inevitable, it is unavoidable, but it is also absolutely necessary for healing, for growth and for life. 33 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:39.000 CS Lewis said, as only CS Lewis could It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird. 34 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:46.000 It would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. 35 00:04:46.000 --> 00:05:01.000 We are all like eggs at present and you cannot go on indefinitely being just ordinary decent egg. 36 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:09.000 We must be hatched or go bad. 37 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:19.000 What Lewis is saying that not facing change or staying still is not an option. 38 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:37.000 So this begs the question, if change is necessary and unavoidable, how can we not only accept change and work with it, but thrive and prosper through it? 39 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:44.000 This morning we will focus on the changes that are a combination of those I've mentioned. 40 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:48.000 We are looking at transformational change. 41 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:52.000 They can be difficult and a blessing at the same time. 42 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:58.000 They can frighten us and excite us simultaneously. 43 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:04.000 In some ways this is such a time for God's church here at Summer Hill. 44 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:17.000 Last year we had Pastor Matty After 10 years leading us, moved on and we're now looking forward to our new pastor, Steve Fitzallen, to start very soon. 45 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:19.000 For many this is exciting. 46 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:25.000 It's a new direction, fresh teaching and a hope of engaging with our community for Christ. 47 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:27.000 But for others it is a concern. 48 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:36.000 How is church as I've known and loved going to be different. 49 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:42.000 There are two areas of transformational change that we each need. 50 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:58.000 One the need to begin the journey with Christ that is salvation and two the need to become like Christ through the journey that is sanctification. 51 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:07.000 Salvation for all people is the same in that Jesus death on the cross paid for the sin of all who will come to him. 52 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:15.000 But the sanctification process is different for every one of us. 53 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:24.000 Let us begin with two examples of transformation from Scripture that reveal our desperate need of salvation. 54 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:40.000 Firstly, and arguably the second most transformational event in history, from Genesis 1, verse 27 so God created mankind in his own image. 55 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:45.000 In the image of God he created them male and female. He created them. 56 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:51.000 From verse 31 God saw all that he had made and it was very good. 57 00:07:51.000 --> 00:08:11.000 Then from chapter 2, verse 25 Adam and his wife Eve were both naked and felt no shame at creation. God made everything perfect, every element working together in perfect harmony. 58 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:15.000 The first couple living as one with God. 59 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:22.000 This was the design and desire of God for his creation. 60 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:32.000 No sin, not corrupt, nothing crude, only love and obedience. 61 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:35.000 Simply love and obedience. 62 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:39.000 Can you imagine how that must have been? 63 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:42.000 The potential for mankind at the beginning? 64 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:49.000 Love for God, love for each other, and an obedience to God's direct instructions. 65 00:08:49.000 --> 00:09:04.000 How simple, how free would life have been if we could have simply left perfection alone. 66 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:24.000 Sometimes I wonder if Eve was the world's first engineer, looking at what was working just fine and asking, how can I make it better? 67 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:30.000 But from this perfect beginning came a dangerous change. 68 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:33.000 From Genesis 3:6. 69 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:43.000 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. 70 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:49.000 She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 71 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:55.000 Then the Lord God called to the man. 72 00:09:55.000 --> 00:10:06.000 God asks man the saddest question that has ever been asked in history. 73 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:13.000 Where are. 74 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:14.000 You? 75 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:18.000 God knew where the man was physically. 76 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:26.000 What he is saying is, you've left our spiritually perfect relationship. 77 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:33.000 Where are you? 78 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:40.000 The man answered, I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid. 79 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:54.000 And God said, who told you you were naked? 80 00:10:54.000 --> 00:11:00.000 In that moment, mankind fell into enmity with God. 81 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:04.000 We became enemies of God. 82 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:16.000 In the time it takes to eat an apple, disobedience transformed the whole direction of humanity. 83 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:26.000 And we can easily ask, what on God's new earth were they thinking? 84 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:31.000 But we need to be careful. 85 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:44.000 How many times in the past week, no, in the last day, no in the last hour? 86 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:54.000 Have you been disobedient to God for just 15 minutes? 87 00:11:54.000 --> 00:12:06.000 Have you loved the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind for the past 60 minutes? 88 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:13.000 Or didn't you think about him at all? 89 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:16.000 Friends, we're no better than Adam and Eve. 90 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:22.000 Always wanting more, more for us. We want more power. 91 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:36.000 We want the control, more respect, more authority, more money, more love, more joy, more power, more time, more peace, more. More wisdom. 92 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:43.000 Have I missed anybody? 93 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:52.000 We want to control our own lives, live our own way. Essentially, like Adam and Eve, we want to be our own God. 94 00:12:52.000 --> 00:13:05.000 Here is a challenging question, but it makes clear the seriousness of our sin. 95 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:21.000 If you were to pass from life to death tonight in your sleep, do you believe you are sinful enough for holy God to allow you to go to hell? 96 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:25.000 You can ponder that question for a moment. 97 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:41.000 While you do, we will look at the second, but probably the most transformational event in history. And that is what God did for humankind to restore that broken relationship with him. 98 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:52.000 In Isaiah 9:6, we read for us. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And the government will be on his shoulders. 99 00:13:52.000 --> 00:14:00.000 He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 100 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:11.000 The relationship God had intended between himself and us at the beginning of time would now be substantially restored. 101 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:19.000 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 102 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:36.000 1 Timothy 1:15 the transformation from the men and women who were created to be in the image of God to sinners came through our desire to be like God. 103 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:44.000 From Genesis 3:5 we read, For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God. 104 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:56.000 The transformation back from sinners to sons and daughters of God was only made possible by God's grace alone to us. 105 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:14.000 For Paul, read to us in the Bible, reading what Paul, the author of Ephesians, wrote in verses 2, 8 and 9. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves. It is a gift from God, not by works that none should boast. 106 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:19.000 I return to the question. 107 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:34.000 If you were to die tonight in your sleep, do you believe you are sinful enough for a holy God to allow you to go to hell? 108 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:37.000 You see, the choice is ours. 109 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:41.000 God doesn't send anyone to hell. 110 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:43.000 We choose. 111 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:45.000 He simply allows it. 112 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:57.000 If we decide we don't want anything to do with God here on earth, why would we want to spend eternity with Him? 113 00:15:57.000 --> 00:16:03.000 Scripture tells us in Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 114 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:08.000 Who is included in that verse? 115 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:10.000 Everyone. 116 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:14.000 All have sinned and fallen short. 117 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:18.000 And in Romans 6:23 tells us, for the wages of sin is death. 118 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:23.000 Friends, you can see we all need this transformation. 119 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:25.000 We are all sinners. 120 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:56.000 Christ died. He went to the cross to pay for our sin. He simply asked us to turn away from our desire for more, for ourselves and submit our lives to him. Repent of our sin, turn from it and follow him. 1 John 19 tells us that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 121 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:09.000 This is the first step into a journey that takes you from darkness into light, from death into a new life in Christ. 122 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:19.000 Jesus calls us in Revelation 3:19 those whom I love, I will rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 123 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:20.000 Here I am. 124 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:29.000 I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in, eat with that person and they with me. 125 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:37.000 Jesus is pleading with us, those he loves, to be earnest and repent. 126 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:47.000 Please take this seriously. His invitation is to all. 127 00:17:47.000 --> 00:18:01.000 If you've never committed your life to Christ, I plead as he does do it today, as Mark mentioned, look to his word. 128 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:17.000 Ask a Christian you trust how you can accept God's invitation into your life and his transformation for you will begin, you will begin the journey with Christ. 129 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:22.000 So now, what does it look like to become Christlike through the journey? 130 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:31.000 This transformation from saved sinner by the grace and love of God to Christlikeness is called sanctification. 131 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:39.000 And Paul the apostle tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4, 3, for this is the will of God, your sanctification. 132 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:44.000 Sanctification in the Greek hagiosmos means holiness. 133 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:48.000 It is closely related to the word saint. 134 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:55.000 To sanctify something is to set it apart. For special use to sanctify a person is to make them holy. 135 00:18:55.000 --> 00:19:03.000 Set apart for God and the result of sanctification is a changed life. 136 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:10.000 The evidence of his transformation is a changed life. 137 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:23.000 So for you, the believer, have you been changed? 138 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:32.000 We return to the question in a moment, but let us look at three elements of sanctification. Firstly, it is a lifelong process. 139 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:41.000 You will be being conformed into his likeness every day of your earthly life. 140 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:49.000 Secondly, you are being called from participating in and being influenced by evil. 141 00:19:49.000 --> 00:20:01.000 And thirdly, you are being called to grow in holiness and moral purity, in attitudes, thoughts and your actions. 142 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:07.000 We have been made perfect, yet we are still being made holy. 143 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:14.000 Hebrews 10:14 explains, for by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 144 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:22.000 Jesus death paid for our sin completely making us perfect in God's sight. 145 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:27.000 But we're still being made holy through the process of sanctification. 146 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:33.000 Let us go to Romans 12:1 that our Paul read for us. 147 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:41.000 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 148 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:44.000 This is your true and proper worship. 149 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:57.000 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you'll be able to test and approve what God's will is. His good, pleasing and perfect will. 150 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:08.000 Often when the Bible has a therefore it is followed by a directive, a call to move, a call to action. 151 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:16.000 This morning the call is for us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 152 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:26.000 In other words, to be prepared and willing to be changed on an ongoing basis. 153 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:38.000 The sacrifice for sin in the Old Testament often meant you would kill an animal to atone for a sin committed or for cleansing. 154 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:45.000 Once the animal was dead and had been offered on the altar, that was it. 155 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:51.000 To be a living sacrifice, however, is not just a one off. 156 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:55.000 Salvation and sanctification are not events in your life. 157 00:21:55.000 --> 00:22:13.000 They are a process. Through it often in today's world, the Gospel is presented as, pray, ask God to forgive you and promise to follow him and you're saved. 158 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:22.000 Or if you come forward and respond at an altar call, promising your life to Jesus, you're good to go. 159 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:42.000 Do not hear me wrong. The intent of these is good, but we need to exercise caution, as it is possible to do either of these things with absolutely no change in your heart, in your actions, in your words, or in your life. 160 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:59.000 As our salvation has been God given through Christ crucified and the Holy Spirit empowered, how can we not change? 161 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:02.000 Verse 2 goes on. 162 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:08.000 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 163 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:15.000 The Greek word for conform means simply to form according to a pattern or mold. 164 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:23.000 Paul is saying here, do not allow your life to be moulded into the ways of this world. 165 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:26.000 Do not think like the world thinks. 166 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:30.000 Do not talk like the world talks. 167 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:37.000 Do not act like those in the world around you act. 168 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:42.000 Who here works with other people? 169 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:48.000 Many of you who work with lives with other people. 170 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:54.000 For most of us, to avoid people is impossible. 171 00:23:54.000 --> 00:24:11.000 As much as we search for that one spot where we can be on our own, the challenge exists when others don't think like we do, don't speak like we do, or they don't act like we do. 172 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:29.000 The process of sanctification is for us to become more like Christ in a world that is rapidly becoming less like Christ. 173 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:33.000 The solution? 174 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:35.000 Move up the bush. 175 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:37.000 Live in a cabin on your own. 176 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:46.000 Study your Bible every day without interruptions. Live on meat you caught and vegetables you grown in your own garden. 177 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:51.000 Pete, Garwood and I are going to give a cabin each. 178 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:55.000 We're going to need more cabins. 179 00:24:55.000 --> 00:25:03.000 We're going to need a bigger boat. 180 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:13.000 The word goes on to say, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 181 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:18.000 So how do we renew our mind? 182 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:26.000 By training, engagement and repetition. 183 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:34.000 In your day, there are things that you do almost automatically. 184 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:44.000 For some, you get up, you go to the loo, you get dressed, and all that before you've even woken up. 185 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:50.000 Or are you one of these gifted people who can type without even looking at the keyboard? 186 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:56.000 I wish I could do that when I was doing my server print. 187 00:25:56.000 --> 00:26:03.000 In my job, I operate an excavator. 188 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:05.000 I move dirt. 189 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:10.000 I often put the dirt into a truck and the truck takes it away. 190 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:22.000 In my life, I would have loaded hundreds of trucks, and I do it without thinking. I move my hands and the dirt goes from the ground into the truck. 191 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:28.000 I sometimes feel like I could do that in my sleep. 192 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:38.000 But like getting up and dressed, typing without looking or loading a truck, we do it effortlessly. 193 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:49.000 Probably not so effortlessly getting up some mornings. Because of our training, engagement and repetition, our mind has been trained and our body responds to that training. 194 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:53.000 It is the same for living a Christlike life. 195 00:26:53.000 --> 00:27:08.000 If we are willing to train our minds that's learned from Scripture, engage in the Christian walk and continue in it daily, we will become like him. 196 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:14.000 Verse 2 continues. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. 197 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:25.000 As we grow in knowledge of God's truths, commands and teachings, he it is incredible how we will begin to live more like Jesus lived. 198 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:41.000 Through this process, from unbeliever to believer, from unsaved to saved, we learn the basic truths of the Gospel message. God loves us. Christ died for us, and if we turn from our sin and commit our lives to him, we will be saved. 199 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:46.000 But then, as we grow in this faith, we remain committed to Christ. 200 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:56.000 We slowly build a deep understanding of what it is to live like Him. 201 00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:06.000 For many of you here this morning, you have been on this journey for decades, for others only a year or two, or for some, maybe only a few days. 202 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:13.000 But regardless of the time you have been a believer, the journey always continues. 203 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:25.000 As we heard earlier, we need to go on learning what God is teaching us, regardless of our age, circumstances, position, or even disposition. 204 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:36.000 To that end, have you been changed? 205 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:51.000 Not once 30 years ago or even 10 years ago, but last week, yesterday, this morning, have you been changed? 206 00:28:51.000 --> 00:29:01.000 Here are four questions we can ask ourselves to see if we are in fact becoming more like Jesus. 207 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:12.000 They are from a sermon by Vodi Baucum, a Baptist pastor in America that I listened to recently but felt they would be helpful for us today. 208 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:23.000 Number one, do the sins of your past continue to characterize your present? 209 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:29.000 The question is not do you struggle with from time to time with an old sin? 210 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:35.000 What it is asking is, are you still the same person you were then? 211 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:58.000 In 1 Corinthians 6, verses 9 and 10, Paul lists some of the serious sins of those in the Corinthian Church, after which he says from verse 11 and that is what some of you were but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God. 212 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:09.000 He goes on to say in 2 Corinthians 5:17, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come. 213 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:16.000 Do the sins of your past Continue to characterize your present. 214 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:20.000 2. Have you learned to love your brothers and sisters in Faith? 215 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:28.000 From John 13:34 5. Jesus directs us a new command I give you love one another. 216 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:32.000 As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 217 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:52.000 By this all men will know that you are my disciples. If you love one another, we need to remember that our Christian family are the family we will spend eternity with. 218 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:58.000 Look around at the people around you. 219 00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:03.000 Your Christian family are those you will spend eternity with. 220 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:08.000 It's a little scary, isn't it? 221 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:11.000 I'm joking. 222 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:29.000 From Philippians 2 we read, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 223 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:45.000 What Paul is saying is that we need to have an intense care and a deep sympathy for our Christian family. 224 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:50.000 Have you learned to love your brothers and sisters in the faith? 225 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:54.000 Number three. 226 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:57.000 This is a little more challenging. 227 00:31:57.000 --> 00:32:08.000 Do you exhibit godly character when nobody's looking? 228 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:15.000 Where do your actions and thoughts go when you're on Your own? 229 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:22.000 Ephesians 5:8, 11, 12 for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. 230 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:36.000 Live as children of light have nothing to do with fruitless deeds or darkness, but rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 231 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:42.000 Do you exhibit godly character when nobody is looking? 232 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:44.000 And 4. 233 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:55.000 Have those who are closest to you seen the change in your walk as well as your talk? 234 00:32:55.000 --> 00:33:00.000 Maybe again, you've been a Christian for many years. 235 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:06.000 Have those around you seen you grow in faith? 236 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:10.000 Matthew 5, 14, 16 you are the light of the world. 237 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:19.000 A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on a stand as it gives light to everyone in the house. 238 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:27.000 In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and and praise your Father in heaven. 239 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:41.000 Have those who are closest to you seen the change in your walk as well as your talk? 240 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:47.000 Have you been changed? 241 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:55.000 As we draw to a close, there is one point we should not let go of. 242 00:33:55.000 --> 00:34:10.000 As we look back over what we have just learned about our need to become more like Christ, we can rest on the fact that we are saved and we can go on living the best we can. 243 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:16.000 Because what we often hear people say is but nobody's perfect. 244 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:21.000 And that is true. 245 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:31.000 This is dangerous, probably because the greatest weapon, the evil one uses against believers is apathy. 246 00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:41.000 Regardless of our age, knowledge or experience to stop desiring to be more like Christ. Every day is like stopping eating. 247 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:51.000 You fall away, you grow weak, you no longer take an interest in life, and you pass away. 248 00:34:51.000 --> 00:35:04.000 Romans 5:8 5 reminds us, those who are living according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires. But those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 249 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:15.000 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 250 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:25.000 Salvation and sanctification are only ever evidenced by an outward change of an inward one. 251 00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:36.000 Salvation and sanctification are only ever evidenced by an outward change of an inward one. 252 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:47.000 Christ did not die a horrible death on that cross for you and I to just be saved and live a good life. 253 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:52.000 Our purpose is to glorify God, our Creator. 254 00:35:52.000 --> 00:36:02.000 And we do that by loving him and loving others, learning from him and serving him obediently. 255 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:09.000 As we grow every day into his likeness. 256 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:14.000 This side of heaven, we will not be perfect. 257 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:39.000 But if we remain faithful and we're willing to learn and change and grow in faith in him, we will be the most like him that we can be when we meet him face to face. 258 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:42.000 Let us pray. 259 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:48.000 Father, we thank you again for this beautiful day. 260 00:36:48.000 --> 00:37:01.000 I thank you, Lord, for granting us ears to hear, minds to understand, the blessing of fellowship and friendship. 261 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:13.000 And I pray this morning, Lord, that you would strengthen us and help us to be transformed into the likeness of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. 262 00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:29.000 And I pray, Father, that you would go with us before us this week, bless us in our journey with you, that we would lean into you, trusting you by faith, and become more like your son, Jesus. 263 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:32.000 And this we pray in the name of your son. 264 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:34.000 Amen.