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The Christian's Identity and Our Status as Sons of God · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Let's turn together now to hear the Word of God in the New Testament, in Paul's letter to Romans and in chapter number 8.
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! Romans chapter 8, reading at the beginning of the chapter, down to verse number 17.
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For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
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For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.
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By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
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in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us,
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who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
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For those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh.
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For those who live according to the Spirit, set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
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To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
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For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law.
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Indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
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You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.
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Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
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And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
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If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
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he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
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So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
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For if you live according to the flesh, you will die.
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But if by the Spirit you be to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
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For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
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For you did not receive the Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
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but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba, Father.
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The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
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and of children then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
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provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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This is God's word.
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We trust that he will bless to us, reading from it.
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We're now going to praise God from the Scottish Psalter from Psalm number 30.
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And at the beginning of the psalm, Psalm number 30, it's on page 239.
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Lord, I will thee extol, for thou hast lifted me on high,
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and o'er me thou to rejoice, may it's not mine enemy.
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From verse 1 to the verse mark 5, to God's praise.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Rejoice, it's not mine enemy.
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O thou who art the Lord my God, I am distressed to thee.
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With thy cries lifted up my voice, and thou hast healed me.
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O Lord, my soul, thou hast brought up, and rescued from the grave.
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That I to play should not go down, a life thou didst me save.
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O ye that are his holy ones, sing praise unto the Lord.
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And give unto him times when ye this holiness reward.
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For but a moment lost his wrath, life in his favor lies.
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We may fall and I endure, a Lord of joy arise.
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Let's turn together now to Paul's letter to Romans and chapter number 8.
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And we're going to read at verse number 14.
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Romans 8 and verse 14.
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And so on down to verse number 17.
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And I guess whatever we are looking at in life, if we have the opportunity to look from the outside inwards,
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we can see something of the issues that are involved.
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And at the beginning of our service this evening, we can perhaps pick up two lenses
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that will help us to understand what this church looks like.
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And that will help us, I hope, to understand what we look like ourselves.
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And when we look at this church in Rome in the first place,
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we see that in the masses of the population of the city,
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there was a mix of cultures,
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and most of them were made up of Greeks and of Jews.
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And in the culture of the church in Rome,
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there were two issues.
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And the Gentiles in the church in Rome,
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they found fault with the traditional Jewish Christians
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because of their observance of the Old Testament law
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and maintained that they were out of touch with reality.
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On the other hand,
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the Jewish Christians looked at the Gentile Christians
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and saw them as modern-day lawless Christians
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because they did not keep the Old Testament laws as the Jews did.
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And when Paul is writing this letter,
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he is writing it to,
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in a way, to level out the whole of the experience
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of all of the different cultures in Rome
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so that they would understand the error of their thinking
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and so that they would respect each other in the Lord.
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The second lens that helps us to see what this church was like
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is that there were two particular groups of people
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that Paul is trying to address.
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And the first of these is
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there were those who were what we call self-righteous.
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They saw themselves as good people.
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They were upright people.
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They were law-abiding citizens.
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They were self-righteous.
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But the problem with the self-righteous people in Rome,
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as it is with the self-righteous people in Stornoway,
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the problem is that they don't appreciate
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the passion and work of Christ.
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And Paul, in his writing,
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he is addressing these good people
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who saw themselves as good
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and saw themselves as good enough
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and he wants them to understand the gospel.
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The other group that we focus upon
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is a group that were Christians
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but they didn't understand that they were
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and they lacked the assurance of their faith.
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And as surely as it is important for Paul
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to address those who think they're so good,
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they're okay,
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Paul wants to address those who are Christians
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and yet don't realize it.
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He wants to give them the assurance of their faith.
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And it's important for ourselves
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to have that kind of lens
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when we come to think of ourselves.
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Where are we as we use these two lenses?
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Are we good enough
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and so good that we don't need the Lord Jesus?
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Are we Christians
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but perhaps we don't realize that we are
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and we struggle with anxiety and concern
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and we never come to a place
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where we are sure.
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and we know that
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in the world in which we live
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there is such an emphasis
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on personal identity.
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Who we are and who we think we are.
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And there's a fluidity in that same
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personal identity
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so that we can move from being identified
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as one thing to being identified as another.
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There's a crisis of identity in society
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and there is a crisis of identity
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in the church
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in the sense that
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where the gospel is preached
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there is a transition in our identity.
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We are either those sinners
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who are lost with our grace and salvation
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or we are those sinners
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who are saved and who are in Christ.
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And the nature of the gospel is
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that God takes us from this place
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to that place.
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From being lost sinners
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to being sinners saved by grace.
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And I want us to bear these things in mind
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and as we look at these verses
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to consider our Christian identity
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and our status as
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the sons, the children of God.
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First of all, I want us to notice
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that there is confusion
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facing us in these verses.
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And the confusion is with regard
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to the characteristic
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that makes us the children of God.
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There is only one way this evening
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that we are Christians.
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There is only one way this evening
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that we are the children of God.
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And through these verses
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Paul lays his finger on that.
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It's those who have
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the Spirit of God.
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And it's important for us
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to always remember
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that in our thinking
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that we think the Holy Spirit
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is so much lesser
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than God the Father
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and the Lord Jesus.
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When we read about the Spirit of God
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anywhere in the Bible
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there's an equality
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at the level at which
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the Holy Spirit
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is held in honour
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and respected
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and he has the same level
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of honour and respect
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as God does
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and as the Son of God does.
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And what marks us out this evening
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and in any other time in life
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as the children of God
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is what we see referred to
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for example
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in verse number 9
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where he speaks about
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the Spirit of God
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dwelling in you.
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And remarkably
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for you and I this evening
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if your life is going to be changed
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it's God coming home to you.
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It's a wonderful thought
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that the eternal God
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in all of his power
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and in all of his glory
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that for us to become
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the children of God
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he is coming to dwell
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in our hearts.
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Our hearts are to be
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his home.
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God is in that sense
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coming home to us
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to dwell with us
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forever.
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He's not coming
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as a visitor
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who's going to speak to us
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through his word
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this evening
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in the church
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in Kenner Street.
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He is
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the Holy Spirit of God
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who will be with us
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forever.
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And we should
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never be so confused
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in our thinking
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that we think
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we can be Christians
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and we can be
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the children of God
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without this
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God coming home
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to you.
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And in all of your
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thinking this evening
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as we enter into
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looking at these words
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we remind ourselves
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of that important fact
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if you're a child of God
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it is because
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of what the Spirit
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of God has done
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and not because
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of what you have done.
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And when we think
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of that characteristic
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that makes us
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the children of God
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let us notice also
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that God does not
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make a forced entry
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into our hearts
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to make us
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the children of God.
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In this moment
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at which we become
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the children of God
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he comes to dwell
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with us
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and as we read
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in version number 15
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you have received
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the Spirit.
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And the whole picture
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that we have
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in receiving everything
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is welcoming.
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It's going to my door
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and seeing who's
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at the door
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and welcoming
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this person
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with open arms
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because we have
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longed to see them.
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It's that welcome
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of faith
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that self-prompted
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action
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that movement
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of our hearts
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that receives
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and welcomes
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the Spirit of God.
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And however much
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we understand
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what it means
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to be the children
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of God
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if we are
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children of God
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tonight
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we will know
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something of that
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welcome
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something of God
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coming home to us
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as if he comes
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to knock on the door
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of our hearts
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which by grace
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he opens himself
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and we
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welcome
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the Spirit
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of God
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into our hearts.
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No one ever
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had salvation
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pushed down
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their throats
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by God.
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It is
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the point
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at which
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two parties
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who were estranged
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from each other
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suddenly come
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together
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embrace each other
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and God
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comes to dwell
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in the
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person's
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heart.
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And Paul
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Paul says
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in version
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number 9
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of this
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chapter
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that
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the person
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who does
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not have
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the Spirit
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of Christ
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does not
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belong
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to Christ.
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And as we
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look further
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into the confusion
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it is
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important
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for you
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and for me
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to recognize
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that
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critical fact.
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Could you
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be confused
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into thinking
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that you are
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the child
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of God
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and this
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has not
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happened
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to you.
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It is
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the work
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of God
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that opens
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the hearts
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of the sinner
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like you
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and like me
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so that
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he himself
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comes into
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our hearts
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and brings
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about
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that change.
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And perhaps
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one of the
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signs of that
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already taking
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place
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is what
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Jesus
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promises
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in John
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chapter 16
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when the Holy
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Spirit comes
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to dwell
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in our
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hearts
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he will
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do many
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things
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but one
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of the
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things
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he will
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do
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is
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he will
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take
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what
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belongs
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to Jesus
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and he
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will show
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it to you.
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And here
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is the
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clear indication
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that God
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has changed
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my heart
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and God
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has changed
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your heart
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if suddenly
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you see
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Jesus Christ
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in a way
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that you
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have never
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seen before
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and in a way
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that makes
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you leave
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everything else
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behind
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and realize
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that Jesus
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Christ
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is my
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savior
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I am
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saved by
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grace
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alone
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on the
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basis
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of what
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Christ
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alone
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has done
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that's
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the defining
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characteristic
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and it is
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with regard
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to that
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characteristic
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that we
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find
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confusion
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in this
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passage
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and we
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see that
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confusion
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in verse
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number
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15
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for you
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did not
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receive
18:09
the spirit
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of slavery
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to fall
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back
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into
18:12
fear
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the spirit
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is not
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the one
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who produces
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slavery
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and whether
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they're Jews
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or Gentiles
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whoever they
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are
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the history
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is such
18:27
that
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they were
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slaves
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ask a Jew
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what slavery
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means
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and the Jew
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will tell you
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the children
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of Israel
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were slaves
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in the land
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of Egypt
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they were
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pushed into
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serving the
18:41
Egyptians
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they knew
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what slavery
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was
18:44
they knew
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what a hard
18:46
taskmaster
18:47
was
18:47
they knew
18:48
what it was
18:48
to fear
18:49
the taskmaster
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and the
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confusion
18:53
here
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in Rome
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is such
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that
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those who
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have the
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spirit of
18:58
God
18:58
in their
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hearts
18:59
the spirit
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that we
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see at the
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beginning
19:01
of this
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chapter
19:02
bringing
19:03
about
19:03
freedom
19:04
are actually
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falling back
19:08
again
19:08
returning
19:10
to
19:11
the
19:11
sense
19:12
of
19:12
slavery
19:15
they were
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rescued
19:17
from the
19:18
fear
19:18
of the
19:19
taskmaster
19:20
who expected
19:21
them to
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give perfect
19:23
obedience
19:23
to his
19:24
most holy
19:24
law
19:25
they had
19:26
that fear
19:27
of God
19:27
it was a
19:28
slavish fear
19:29
and God
19:30
has rescued
19:31
them from
19:31
that
19:31
but now
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they're
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reverting
19:33
to that
19:34
default
19:35
position
19:35
where they
19:36
see
19:37
themselves
19:37
having
19:38
to
19:39
keep
19:40
the
19:40
law
19:40
of
19:40
God
19:40
perfectly
19:41
and
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because
19:43
they
19:43
see
19:44
that
19:44
they're
19:44
not
19:45
able
19:45
to
19:45
do
19:45
that
19:46
instead
19:47
of
19:47
enjoying
19:48
their
19:48
freedom
19:48
they're
19:49
going
19:49
about
19:50
with
19:50
anxiety
19:51
with
19:52
no
19:52
assurance
19:53
and
19:54
doubtless
19:57
doubting
19:58
their
19:58
very
19:58
conversion
19:59
to
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Christ
20:00
and
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their
20:01
being
20:01
the
20:02
children
20:02
of
20:03
God
20:03
confusion
20:09
that
20:11
arises
20:11
between
20:13
the
20:13
freedom
20:13
that
20:14
God
20:14
gives
20:15
by
20:16
a
20:16
spirit
20:16
in
20:16
Christ
20:17
and
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the
20:19
inclination
20:20
that we
20:21
have to
20:21
always
20:22
look at
20:23
fulfilling
20:24
God's
20:24
law
20:25
to be
20:25
accepted
20:26
by
20:26
him
20:27
and
20:29
I'm
20:30
fairly
20:30
confident
20:31
that in
20:32
this
20:32
gathering
20:32
tonight
20:33
there
20:33
are
20:34
those
20:34
who
20:34
have
20:35
faith
20:35
there
20:36
are
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those
20:37
who
20:37
are
20:37
the
20:37
children
20:38
of
20:38
God
20:38
and
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yet
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spend
20:40
their
20:41
lives
20:41
feeling
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themselves
20:44
as a
20:45
complete
20:46
failure
20:46
because
20:47
they don't
20:48
understand
20:48
what
20:49
God
20:49
has
20:49
done
20:50
and
20:51
because
20:52
of what
20:52
God
20:53
has
20:53
done
20:53
they
20:54
are
20:54
striving
20:54
earnestly
20:55
!
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To
20:56
keep
20:57
the
20:57
law
20:57
of
20:57
God
20:57
perfectly
20:58
trying
21:00
to
21:00
achieve
21:01
what
21:01
cannot
21:01
be
21:02
achieved
21:02
and
21:04
failing
21:04
to
21:04
understand
21:05
that
21:05
they
21:05
have
21:06
been
21:06
set
21:06
free
21:06
from
21:07
the
21:07
law
21:08
as
21:08
their
21:08
taskmaster
21:09
or as
21:09
the
21:09
means
21:10
to
21:10
which
21:10
they
21:10
are
21:10
to
21:10
be
21:10
saved
21:11
that
21:13
Jesus
21:14
Christ
21:15
is
21:15
what
21:15
Paul
21:16
calls
21:16
later
21:16
on
21:16
this
21:17
letter
21:17
!
21:18
to
21:19
God
21:19
is
21:20
the
21:22
end
21:22
!
21:23
I
21:23
need
21:23
no
21:23
longer
21:24
to
21:24
look
21:24
at
21:25
achieving
21:25
or
21:27
looking
21:28
at
21:28
my
21:28
own
21:29
performance
21:30
in
21:31
order
21:31
to
21:32
know
21:33
that
21:33
I'm
21:33
the
21:33
child
21:33
of
21:34
God
21:34
I
21:34
simply
21:35
need
21:35
to
21:35
understand
21:36
what
21:37
God
21:38
has
21:38
done
21:38
and
21:39
I
21:39
think
21:40
it's
21:40
it's
21:41
a
21:41
question
21:41
that
21:41
we
21:41
can
21:42
all
21:42
ask
21:42
ourselves
21:43
how
21:44
much
21:45
will
21:46
our
21:46
lives
21:46
be
21:47
governed
21:48
by
21:48
our
21:48
own
21:48
performance
21:49
instead
21:51
of
21:51
by
21:51
the
21:52
promises
21:52
of
21:52
God
21:53
and
21:53
the
21:54
power
21:54
of
21:54
the
21:54
Spirit
21:55
of
21:55
God
21:55
in
21:55
our
21:55
lives
21:56
let's
21:58
ask
21:58
ourselves
21:58
that
21:58
question
21:59
are
22:00
we
22:00
confused
22:01
are
22:02
we
22:02
dependent
22:03
on
22:03
our
22:03
own
22:03
performance
22:04
or
22:06
do
22:06
we
22:06
have
22:06
the
22:06
freedom
22:07
that
22:08
we
22:08
depend
22:09
on
22:10
the
22:10
performance
22:11
of the
22:11
Lord
22:12
Jesus
22:12
who
22:13
lived
22:13
the
22:14
perfect
22:14
life
22:15
who
22:16
died
22:16
the
22:16
death
22:16
of
22:17
the
22:17
cross
22:17
who
22:17
was
22:17
raised
22:18
again
22:18
and
22:19
to
22:19
his
22:19
glory
22:19
do
22:20
we
22:20
trust
22:21
in
22:21
his
22:22
finished
22:23
work
22:23
the
22:25
confusion
22:26
secondly
22:29
there is
22:30
a
22:31
correction
22:32
and we
22:34
see the
22:34
correction
22:35
in that
22:35
same
22:35
verse
22:36
you did
22:37
not
22:37
receive
22:37
the
22:37
spirit
22:37
of
22:38
slavery
22:38
to
22:38
fall
22:38
back
22:39
into
22:39
fear
22:39
but
22:40
you
22:40
have
22:40
received
22:41
the
22:42
spirit
22:42
of
22:42
adoption
22:44
as
22:44
sons
22:45
what
22:47
does
22:48
this
22:48
God
22:48
coming
22:49
home
22:49
to
22:49
me
22:49
mean
22:50
what
22:51
does
22:51
the
22:51
spirit
22:52
of
22:52
God
22:52
in my
22:53
heart
22:53
mean
22:54
for me
22:54
and what
22:54
does it
22:55
mean
22:55
for you
22:55
it's
22:57
not
22:57
the
22:57
spirit
22:57
that
22:58
produces
22:58
the
22:59
sense
22:59
of being
23:00
a
23:00
slave
23:00
it
23:01
is
23:02
the
23:02
spirit
23:02
that
23:03
produces
23:04
the
23:05
sense
23:05
of being
23:06
a
23:07
son
23:07
of
23:08
God
23:08
and
23:10
Paul
23:10
is
23:10
using
23:11
the
23:12
sense
23:13
of
23:13
being
23:13
placed
23:14
as a
23:15
son
23:15
in a
23:15
family
23:15
which
23:17
was
23:17
understood
23:17
in the
23:18
days
23:18
in which
23:18
Paul
23:19
was
23:19
writing
23:19
where
23:20
there
23:20
would
23:21
be
23:21
a
23:21
family
23:21
where
23:22
there
23:22
was
23:22
no
23:23
obvious
23:23
heir
23:24
where
23:25
there
23:25
was
23:25
no
23:25
male
23:26
son
23:26
to
23:27
whom
23:28
the
23:28
family
23:29
lineage
23:29
would
23:29
belong
23:30
and
23:30
to
23:31
have
23:31
that
23:32
responsibility
23:33
as
23:33
the
23:33
head
23:34
of
23:34
the
23:34
family
23:35
and
23:36
in
23:36
that
23:37
kind
23:37
of
23:37
situation
23:37
it
23:38
was
23:38
the
23:39
legal
23:40
thing
23:40
to
23:40
do
23:40
the
23:41
obvious
23:41
thing
23:42
to
23:42
do
23:42
was
23:43
to
23:43
adopt
23:44
a
23:44
son
23:44
to
23:46
take
23:46
a
23:46
son
23:46
who
23:46
belonged
23:47
to
23:47
another
23:47
family
23:48
and
23:48
to
23:48
place
23:49
it
23:49
in
23:49
that
23:50
person's
23:51
own
23:51
family
23:52
to
23:53
give
23:53
that
23:54
new
23:55
son
23:55
the
23:56
same
23:56
rights
23:57
the
23:57
same
23:58
privileges
23:58
the
23:59
same
23:59
obligations
24:00
the
24:00
same
24:00
responsibilities
24:01
to
24:02
be
24:02
in
24:03
that
24:03
family
24:04
as
24:05
a
24:05
real
24:06
living
24:06
active
24:07
son
24:08
with
24:08
all
24:09
of
24:09
the
24:10
rights
24:10
and
24:12
that
24:12
son
24:12
that
24:13
was
24:13
now
24:13
adopted
24:14
into
24:14
that
24:15
family
24:15
would
24:16
conform
24:17
to
24:17
all
24:18
of
24:18
the
24:18
family
24:18
life
24:19
and
24:20
all
24:20
that
24:20
was
24:20
involved
24:22
in
24:22
the
24:22
family
24:23
home
24:23
he
24:24
is
24:25
taking
24:25
what
24:26
they
24:26
understood
24:26
from
24:27
what
24:27
happened
24:27
around
24:28
them
24:28
but
24:29
he
24:29
is
24:29
also
24:30
going
24:30
back
24:30
to
24:31
the
24:31
Old
24:31
Testament
24:31
sense
24:32
of
24:33
God
24:33
saying
24:34
in
24:34
Exodus
24:34
chapter
24:35
4
24:35
Israel
24:37
my
24:37
covenant
24:38
people
24:38
those
24:40
whom
24:40
I have
24:40
come
24:41
to
24:41
rescue
24:41
from
24:42
Egypt
24:42
they
24:43
are
24:43
my
24:44
firstborn
24:45
son
24:46
when
24:48
I read
24:48
sonship
24:49
in the
24:49
Bible
24:49
with
24:50
regard
24:50
to
24:51
the
24:51
people
24:51
of
24:51
God
24:52
it
24:52
reminds
24:53
me
24:53
of
24:53
God's
24:54
covenant
24:54
commitment
24:55
to
24:55
save
24:56
a
24:56
people
24:56
for
24:57
himself
24:57
and
24:58
down
24:58
through
24:59
the
24:59
Old
24:59
Testament
24:59
into
25:00
the
25:00
new
25:00
the
25:01
people
25:02
that
25:02
he
25:02
saves
25:03
they
25:04
become
25:05
his
25:05
sons
25:06
we
25:08
saw
25:08
in
25:08
Psalm
25:09
2
25:09
the
25:09
way
25:09
in
25:09
which
25:09
there's
25:10
that
25:10
conversation
25:11
between
25:11
the
25:12
father
25:12
and
25:13
the
25:13
son
25:13
you
25:13
are
25:13
my
25:14
son
25:14
today
25:15
I've
25:15
begotten
25:16
you
25:16
there is
25:18
that
25:18
sense
25:18
of
25:18
sonship
25:19
that
25:19
belongs
25:20
to
25:21
Jesus
25:21
Christ
25:21
as
25:22
God's
25:22
son
25:22
and
25:23
now
25:24
there
25:24
is
25:24
the
25:24
sense
25:25
of
25:25
sonship
25:26
that
25:27
belongs
25:27
to
25:28
the
25:29
children
25:29
of
25:30
God
25:31
and
25:33
Paul
25:33
wants
25:33
them
25:34
to
25:34
understand
25:36
that
25:37
when
25:37
God
25:38
came
25:38
into
25:38
their
25:38
lives
25:39
and
25:40
God
25:40
changed
25:40
their
25:40
hearts
25:41
that
25:42
this
25:42
is
25:42
what
25:43
the
25:43
spirit
25:44
of
25:44
God
25:45
produces
25:46
he
25:47
does
25:47
nothing
25:47
different
25:48
whoever
25:49
they are
25:50
whether
25:51
they were
25:51
self
25:51
righteous
25:52
before
25:52
whether
25:53
there
25:53
were
25:53
Gentiles
25:54
before
25:54
whether
25:55
Jews
25:55
before
25:56
it
25:56
does
25:56
not
25:56
matter
25:57
God
25:57
does
25:58
not
25:58
have
25:58
a
25:58
different
25:59
way
25:59
of
26:00
dealing
26:00
with
26:00
different
26:01
people
26:01
and
26:01
different
26:02
cultures
26:02
there
26:03
is
26:03
one
26:03
way
26:04
it's
26:05
the
26:05
new
26:05
birth
26:05
and
26:06
it's
26:06
the
26:06
spirit
26:06
of
26:06
God
26:07
coming
26:07
to
26:07
dwell
26:07
in
26:08
our
26:08
hearts
26:08
it
26:09
is
26:09
the
26:09
spirit
26:10
that
26:11
produces
26:11
sonship
26:13
and that
26:15
of course
26:15
brings us
26:16
to
26:17
our
26:17
identity
26:19
if
26:21
God
26:22
has
26:22
come
26:23
home
26:23
to
26:23
your
26:23
heart
26:23
if
26:25
you
26:25
are
26:25
welcomed
26:25
to
26:26
the
26:26
Lord
26:26
Jesus
26:26
into
26:27
your
26:27
life
26:27
who
26:30
tonight
26:31
do
26:32
you
26:32
think
26:32
you
26:33
are
26:33
do
26:36
you
26:36
understand
26:37
who
26:37
you
26:38
are
26:38
do
26:40
you
26:41
understand
26:41
that
26:42
there
26:42
has
26:42
been
26:42
the
26:43
transition
26:43
where
26:45
God
26:45
has
26:45
taken
26:45
you
26:46
from
26:46
being
26:46
a
26:47
sinner
26:47
under
26:48
his
26:48
judgment
26:49
and
26:49
lost
26:50
to
26:51
being
26:51
a
26:52
sinner
26:52
saved
26:52
by
26:52
grace
26:53
who
26:54
is
26:55
now
26:55
the
26:56
son
26:57
of
26:57
God
26:57
the
26:57
child
26:58
of
26:59
God
26:59
who
27:01
do
27:01
you
27:02
think
27:02
you
27:03
are
27:03
who
27:05
do
27:05
you
27:05
believe
27:06
you
27:06
are
27:06
our
27:08
identity
27:08
is
27:09
defined
27:09
by
27:09
external
27:11
things
27:11
and in
27:13
this
27:13
case
27:13
defined
27:14
by
27:14
who
27:15
God
27:15
is
27:16
and
27:16
what
27:16
God
27:16
has
27:17
done
27:17
and
27:17
what
27:18
he
27:18
has
27:18
done
27:18
in
27:18
our
27:19
hearts
27:19
and
27:19
our
27:20
lives
27:20
and
27:21
we
27:22
need
27:22
to
27:22
ask
27:22
ourselves
27:23
that
27:24
simple
27:25
question
27:26
who
27:27
do
27:27
we
27:27
think
27:28
we
27:29
are
27:29
God
27:30
knows
27:30
who
27:30
we
27:30
are
27:31
God
27:31
doesn't
27:32
want
27:32
us
27:32
tonight
27:32
to
27:32
be
27:33
lost
27:34
in
27:34
the
27:35
sense
27:35
of
27:35
anxiety
27:36
and
27:36
of
27:36
fearing
27:37
and
27:37
the
27:38
absence
27:38
of
27:38
freedom
27:39
God
27:41
wants
27:41
you
27:42
and
27:42
me
27:42
as
27:43
the
27:43
children
27:44
of
27:44
God
27:44
to
27:45
know
27:45
to
27:46
understand
27:46
his
27:47
love
27:48
the
27:51
prophecy
27:51
of
27:51
Jeremiah
27:52
there's
27:52
a
27:52
great
27:52
passage
27:53
in
27:53
chapter
27:54
31
27:55
where
27:55
God
27:56
is
27:56
speaking
27:56
about
27:57
Ephraim
27:58
as
27:59
his
27:59
own
27:59
people
28:00
and
28:01
he's
28:01
raising
28:01
the
28:02
question
28:02
himself
28:02
is
28:03
Ephraim
28:04
not
28:04
my
28:05
dear
28:05
son
28:05
in
28:06
whom
28:06
I
28:06
delight
28:06
as
28:08
if
28:08
would
28:09
anyone
28:09
dare
28:09
suggest
28:10
that
28:11
even
28:11
although
28:11
the
28:12
children
28:12
of
28:13
God
28:13
are
28:13
in
28:14
exile
28:14
would
28:14
anyone
28:14
dare
28:15
to
28:15
suggest
28:16
that
28:16
they
28:16
are
28:17
not
28:17
the
28:17
children
28:17
of
28:17
God
28:18
I
28:21
still
28:21
remember
28:22
him
28:22
says
28:23
God
28:23
my
28:24
heart
28:24
yearns
28:25
for
28:25
him
28:25
that's
28:27
the
28:27
love
28:28
that's
28:28
the
28:28
care
28:29
that's
28:31
the
28:31
correction
28:32
that
28:32
you
28:32
and I
28:33
need
28:33
tonight
28:35
to
28:36
let
28:36
the
28:36
light
28:37
of
28:37
the
28:38
sonship
28:39
that
28:39
the
28:39
spirit
28:40
of
28:40
God
28:40
produces
28:41
in
28:41
our
28:41
hearts
28:41
to
28:42
let
28:42
that
28:42
shine
28:43
in
28:44
our
28:45
hearts
28:45
to
28:46
bring
28:46
about
28:47
the
28:47
sense
28:47
of
28:48
freedom
28:48
that
28:50
is
28:50
so
28:50
often
28:50
so
28:51
far
28:52
from
28:53
us
28:53
and
28:55
that
28:55
very
28:56
spirit
28:58
that
28:59
produces
28:59
sonship
29:00
it is
29:02
evidenced
29:03
also by
29:04
the way
29:05
in which
29:05
that
29:07
spirit
29:07
produces
29:08
a family
29:10
conversation
29:11
there's
29:14
something
29:14
wrong
29:14
in any
29:15
family
29:16
there's
29:16
a
29:16
breakdown
29:17
in
29:17
any
29:17
family
29:17
if
29:18
people
29:19
aren't
29:19
talking
29:19
to
29:20
each
29:20
other
29:20
there's
29:22
a
29:22
serious
29:22
breakdown
29:23
if
29:23
children
29:24
aren't
29:24
talking
29:25
to
29:25
their
29:25
parents
29:26
the
29:27
family
29:28
unit
29:28
works
29:28
and
29:29
operates
29:29
on the
29:30
basis
29:30
that
29:30
relationships
29:31
are
29:32
working
29:33
as
29:33
they
29:33
should
29:34
and
29:36
here
29:36
in the
29:36
sense
29:37
of
29:37
the
29:37
family
29:37
of
29:37
God
29:38
and
29:39
the
29:39
sonship
29:40
and
29:40
the
29:40
children
29:41
of
29:41
God
29:41
we
29:42
have
29:42
received
29:42
the
29:42
spirit
29:43
of
29:43
adoption
29:43
of
29:44
sons
29:44
by
29:45
whom
29:45
we
29:46
cry
29:46
Abba
29:48
Father
29:50
the
29:53
newborn
29:53
child
29:55
cries
29:57
the
30:00
person
30:00
who
30:00
is
30:00
a
30:00
newborn
30:01
child
30:01
of
30:01
God
30:02
cries
30:04
to
30:04
God
30:05
cry
30:07
in the
30:07
Old
30:07
Testament
30:08
is
30:08
a
30:09
cry
30:09
that's
30:10
expressed
30:13
by the
30:13
person
30:13
who's
30:14
crying
30:14
in a
30:15
case
30:15
of
30:16
emergency
30:16
crying
30:17
out to
30:18
God
30:18
in the
30:18
day
30:19
of
30:19
trouble
30:20
it's
30:22
a
30:22
come and
30:22
rescue
30:22
me
30:23
cry
30:23
it's
30:24
a
30:24
come and
30:24
help
30:24
me
30:25
cry
30:25
it's
30:27
a
30:27
cry
30:27
that
30:27
sometimes
30:28
may not
30:28
have
30:28
words
30:29
but
30:29
there's
30:29
that
30:29
sense
30:30
of
30:30
groaning
30:31
and
30:31
of
30:31
reaching
30:32
out
30:32
to
30:32
God
30:33
for
30:34
the
30:34
help
30:34
that
30:35
only
30:35
God
30:36
can
30:37
give
30:37
and
30:40
in a
30:40
sense
30:40
our
30:42
relationship
30:43
with
30:44
God
30:44
always
30:45
leads
30:46
us
30:46
and
30:46
brings
30:46
us
30:46
to
30:47
places
30:47
where
30:48
we
30:48
are
30:49
in
30:49
an
30:49
emergency
30:50
and
30:52
the
30:52
emergency
30:53
means
30:54
that
30:54
we
30:55
need
30:55
always
30:55
to
30:56
trust
30:56
in
30:57
God
30:57
and
30:58
to
30:58
depend
30:58
upon
30:59
him
30:59
I
31:01
may
31:01
go
31:02
out
31:02
from
31:02
the
31:02
service
31:03
this
31:03
evening
31:03
and
31:04
something
31:05
may
31:05
happen
31:05
something
31:06
may
31:06
trigger
31:06
something
31:07
in my
31:07
mind
31:07
in my
31:08
life
31:08
something
31:09
that I
31:09
did not
31:09
expect
31:10
it is
31:11
an
31:11
emergency
31:11
what does
31:13
the child
31:13
of God
31:14
do
31:14
with the
31:15
emergency
31:16
the child
31:19
of God
31:19
cries
31:20
Abba
31:22
Father
31:24
that
31:26
double
31:26
cry
31:27
that
31:27
speaks
31:28
of
31:28
warmth
31:30
of
31:31
intimacy
31:32
of
31:33
love
31:34
and
31:35
of
31:35
care
31:35
my
31:37
father
31:38
and
31:42
it
31:42
is
31:42
a
31:43
cry
31:44
that
31:44
remarkably
31:45
we
31:46
share
31:47
with
31:47
the
31:47
Lord
31:47
Jesus
31:48
himself
31:49
in
31:51
the
31:51
garden
31:51
of
31:52
Gethsemane
31:52
in
31:53
the
31:54
emergency
31:54
in
31:55
the
31:55
crisis
31:55
of
31:56
going
31:56
to
31:57
the
31:57
cross
31:57
and
31:58
the
31:58
darkness
31:58
of
31:58
that
31:59
moment
31:59
Abba
32:01
Father
32:02
all
32:03
things
32:04
are
32:04
possible
32:04
with
32:05
you
32:06
there's
32:07
a
32:07
closeness
32:08
there's
32:09
a sense
32:09
of a
32:10
bond
32:11
there's
32:11
a sense
32:12
of an
32:12
unbreakable
32:13
relationship
32:13
the
32:15
situation
32:15
is
32:15
changing
32:16
but it
32:17
doesn't
32:18
alter
32:18
the
32:19
cry
32:19
of
32:20
the
32:21
son
32:21
to
32:21
the
32:22
father
32:22
Abba
32:23
father
32:25
and
32:26
perhaps
32:28
it is
32:28
worth
32:28
noticing
32:29
that
32:30
the
32:30
same
32:31
Jesus
32:31
who
32:32
says
32:32
Abba
32:33
father
32:33
in
32:33
the
32:34
garden
32:34
is
32:35
the
32:35
same
32:35
Jesus
32:36
who
32:36
goes
32:36
to
32:36
the
32:36
cross
32:37
and
32:37
who
32:38
says
32:38
my
32:38
God
32:39
my
32:39
God
32:39
why
32:40
have
32:40
you
32:40
forsaken
32:41
me
32:41
there
32:44
is
32:44
at
32:44
least
32:44
the
32:45
suggestion
32:46
that
32:47
when I
32:48
address
32:48
God
32:48
as
32:48
my
32:49
God
32:49
it
32:50
may
32:50
be
32:50
in
32:50
a
32:50
place
32:51
of
32:51
crisis
32:51
but
32:52
it
32:52
does
32:52
speak
32:53
of
32:53
distance
32:54
whereas
32:56
when I
32:56
address
32:56
God
32:57
as
32:57
my
32:58
father
32:58
it
32:59
does
32:59
suggest
33:00
intimacy
33:02
and
33:05
tonight
33:05
what is
33:07
your
33:08
prayer life
33:10
what does
33:10
it look
33:11
like
33:11
or what
33:12
does
33:12
your
33:12
prayer life
33:13
sound
33:15
like
33:15
is
33:17
it
33:18
is
33:17
it
33:18
a
33:18
prayer
33:18
life
33:18
that
33:19
speaks
33:21
loudly
33:21
of
33:21
your
33:22
distance
33:22
from
33:23
God
33:23
or
33:24
is
33:24
it
33:24
a
33:25
prayer
33:25
life
33:25
that
33:26
speaks
33:26
loudly
33:27
of
33:27
your
33:27
closeness
33:28
to
33:28
God
33:29
and
33:31
sometimes
33:31
in the
33:32
life of
33:33
the
33:33
church
33:33
it
33:34
was
33:34
claimed
33:35
to be
33:36
a
33:36
sign
33:36
of
33:36
humility
33:37
if
33:38
we
33:39
did
33:39
not
33:39
use
33:40
the
33:42
address
33:42
my
33:43
father
33:43
but
33:45
the
33:45
Bible
33:45
makes
33:46
clear
33:46
as
33:47
we
33:47
see
33:47
in
33:47
the
33:47
life
33:47
of
33:47
the
33:47
Lord
33:48
Jesus
33:48
in
33:49
this
33:49
passage
33:49
and
33:50
also
33:50
in
33:50
Galatians
33:51
chapter
33:51
4
33:51
it
33:53
is
33:53
the
33:54
kind
33:54
of
33:54
cry
33:55
that
33:56
the
33:57
children
33:57
of
33:57
God
33:57
have
33:58
with
33:59
regard
34:00
to
34:00
their
34:02
father
34:02
what
34:04
does
34:04
your
34:06
prayer
34:06
life
34:07
sound
34:07
like
34:08
if
34:09
you
34:09
are
34:09
the
34:09
child
34:10
of
34:10
God
34:10
you
34:11
will
34:11
have
34:11
a
34:11
prayer
34:12
life
34:12
what
34:14
does
34:14
it
34:14
sound
34:14
like
34:15
how
34:16
do
34:16
you
34:16
see
34:16
God
34:17
is he
34:17
the
34:18
distant
34:18
God
34:19
that
34:20
you're
34:20
not
34:21
that
34:21
intimate
34:21
with
34:22
or
34:23
is he
34:23
the
34:24
God
34:24
who
34:24
is
34:24
close
34:25
to
34:25
you
34:25
the
34:25
God
34:26
who
34:26
is
34:26
dwelling
34:26
in
34:27
your
34:27
heart
34:27
by
34:28
his
34:28
Holy
34:28
Spirit
34:29
and
34:30
that
34:30
you
34:31
sense
34:31
the
34:31
closeness
34:32
and
34:33
you
34:33
know
34:33
the
34:33
intimacy
34:34
and
34:35
you
34:35
speak
34:35
to
34:36
him
34:36
as
34:37
your
34:37
father
34:38
the
34:40
correction
34:41
and
34:44
thirdly
34:44
there is
34:46
confirmation
34:48
how can
34:50
you be
34:51
sure
34:51
how can
34:53
I be
34:53
sure
34:53
tonight
34:54
that we
34:54
are the
34:55
children of
34:56
God
34:56
and we
34:57
have something
34:58
of the
34:58
confirmation
34:59
in
34:59
version
35:00
number
35:00
16
35:01
the
35:02
spirit
35:02
himself
35:03
the
35:04
spirit
35:04
that
35:04
produces
35:05
the
35:05
sense
35:06
of
35:06
sonship
35:06
the
35:07
spirit
35:07
himself
35:08
bears
35:09
witness
35:09
with
35:09
our
35:10
spirit
35:10
that
35:11
we
35:11
are
35:11
children
35:12
of
35:13
God
35:14
there
35:16
is
35:17
a
35:19
sense
35:19
of
35:20
a
35:20
legal
35:20
process
35:21
there
35:23
is
35:23
the
35:23
sense
35:23
of
35:24
two
35:25
witnesses
35:25
!
35:27
There
35:27
is
35:27
the
35:28
sense
35:28
of
35:28
two
35:28
witnesses
35:29
making
35:29
their
35:29
statement
35:30
about
35:32
the
35:34
same
35:37
event
35:37
in
35:38
order to
35:39
confirm
35:39
the
35:39
reality
35:40
of
35:40
that
35:40
event
35:41
and
35:43
here
35:43
we
35:44
see
35:44
that
35:44
that
35:45
statement
35:46
that
35:46
evidence
35:47
is
35:47
brought
35:48
about
35:48
with
35:50
our
35:50
spirit
35:51
that
35:51
we
35:51
are
35:51
the
35:51
children
35:52
of
35:52
God
35:52
there
35:55
is
35:55
a
35:56
communication
35:57
between
35:59
the
35:59
Holy
36:00
spirit
36:00
of
36:00
God
36:01
and
36:02
our
36:02
inner
36:02
beings
36:03
Paul
36:05
speaks
36:05
in
36:05
1 Corinthians
36:07
of
36:07
no one
36:08
knowing
36:08
the
36:09
thoughts
36:10
of a
36:10
person
36:10
but the
36:11
spirit
36:11
of that
36:12
person
36:12
no one
36:13
knows
36:13
tonight
36:14
what you
36:14
are
36:14
thinking
36:15
what's
36:15
going
36:16
on
36:16
internally
36:17
in
36:18
your
36:18
mind
36:19
as we
36:19
sit
36:20
together
36:20
as we
36:21
stand
36:22
to
36:22
worship
36:22
God
36:23
no one
36:24
knows
36:24
that
36:24
but
36:24
you
36:25
alone
36:25
but the
36:28
picture that
36:28
we have
36:29
here is
36:29
that
36:30
your
36:31
internal
36:31
being
36:32
your
36:32
intellect
36:33
your
36:33
thinking
36:34
your
36:34
spirit
36:35
that it
36:36
is the
36:36
place
36:36
for this
36:37
legal
36:38
setting
36:38
and for
36:39
these
36:39
evidences
36:40
and for
36:41
these
36:41
witnesses
36:42
to speak
36:43
out!
36:46
And the
36:47
spirit
36:47
himself
36:48
bears
36:49
witness
36:49
that we
36:51
are
36:52
the
36:54
children
36:54
of God
36:55
at the
36:57
very
36:57
outset
36:58
we
36:58
spoke
36:58
about
36:59
the
36:59
way
36:59
in which
36:59
when
37:00
God
37:00
comes
37:01
home
37:01
to
37:01
us
37:02
and
37:03
we
37:03
welcome
37:03
God
37:03
into
37:04
our
37:04
lives
37:04
that
37:05
makes
37:06
us
37:06
the
37:06
children
37:07
of
37:07
God
37:07
and
37:09
Paul
37:09
is
37:10
reminding
37:10
us
37:10
here
37:10
that
37:11
as
37:11
we
37:11
go
37:12
on
37:12
our
37:12
journey
37:13
the
37:14
spirit
37:14
speaks
37:15
about
37:15
that
37:15
event
37:16
and
37:17
we
37:17
remember
37:17
that
37:18
event
37:18
and
37:19
these
37:19
two
37:19
witnesses
37:20
give
37:20
to us
37:20
confirmation
37:21
every
37:22
day
37:22
that
37:23
we
37:23
are
37:23
the
37:24
children
37:24
of
37:25
God
37:25
we
37:27
listen
37:27
to
37:27
the
37:28
evidence
37:28
we
37:31
may
37:31
doubt
37:31
the
37:31
evidence
37:32
that
37:32
we
37:32
raise
37:33
ourselves
37:34
but
37:35
what
37:36
Paul
37:36
is
37:36
seeing
37:36
here
37:37
is
37:37
that
37:37
the
37:38
key
37:38
witness
37:39
is
37:40
the
37:40
Holy
37:40
Spirit
37:41
himself
37:41
who
37:42
has
37:42
worked
37:43
to
37:43
make
37:43
us
37:43
the
37:44
children
37:44
of
37:45
God
37:45
he
37:46
bears
37:46
witness
37:47
with
37:48
our
37:48
spirit
37:48
that
37:49
we
37:49
are
37:49
the
37:50
children
37:51
of
37:52
God
37:52
and
37:55
that
37:55
suggests
37:56
to
37:56
us
37:57
strongly
37:58
that
38:00
we
38:01
need
38:01
to
38:01
have
38:01
space
38:02
for
38:02
God
38:03
in
38:03
our
38:03
lives
38:03
we
38:05
have
38:06
space
38:06
for
38:07
our
38:07
daily
38:07
work
38:08
and
38:08
responsibilities
38:08
we
38:09
have
38:10
space
38:10
for
38:10
our
38:10
daily
38:11
learning
38:11
we
38:12
have
38:12
space
38:12
for
38:12
recreation
38:13
we
38:13
have
38:13
space
38:14
for
38:14
our
38:14
interaction
38:15
with
38:15
others
38:16
we
38:16
make
38:17
space
38:17
for
38:17
all
38:17
of
38:18
these
38:18
things
38:18
justifiably
38:19
as part
38:20
of
38:21
living
38:21
in
38:21
our
38:21
world
38:22
but
38:23
we
38:24
must
38:24
have
38:24
space
38:26
for
38:27
God
38:27
because
38:28
unless
38:29
we do
38:30
have
38:30
that
38:30
space
38:31
for
38:31
God
38:31
the
38:33
noise
38:34
of
38:34
the
38:35
world
38:35
and
38:35
the
38:36
culture
38:36
in which
38:36
we
38:36
live
38:37
the
38:37
noise
38:38
that
38:38
is
38:38
around
38:39
us
38:39
will
38:40
dampen
38:41
will
38:41
drown
38:41
and
38:42
will
38:42
remove
38:42
the
38:43
sense
38:43
that
38:45
the
38:45
spirit
38:45
of
38:45
God
38:45
gives
38:46
to
38:46
us
38:46
to
38:48
give
38:49
us
38:50
the
38:50
assurance
38:51
of
38:51
our
38:51
identity
38:52
as
38:53
the
38:54
children
38:54
of
38:54
God
38:55
and
38:56
perhaps
38:56
tonight
38:57
if
38:57
you
38:59
are
38:59
a
38:59
child
38:59
of
38:59
God
39:00
and
39:01
you
39:01
doubt
39:02
your
39:02
salvation
39:02
and
39:03
you
39:03
doubt
39:03
that
39:03
you
39:03
are
39:04
the
39:04
child
39:04
of
39:04
God
39:05
and
39:05
you
39:06
cannot
39:06
dare
39:07
say
39:07
to
39:07
anybody
39:07
that
39:08
you
39:08
are
39:08
because
39:08
you're
39:09
not
39:09
sure
39:09
perhaps
39:12
the
39:13
reason
39:13
for
39:13
that
39:14
is
39:14
that
39:15
you
39:16
have
39:16
too
39:16
much
39:16
clutter
39:17
in
39:17
your
39:17
life
39:18
that
39:19
you
39:19
have
39:19
no
39:20
real
39:20
space
39:20
for
39:21
God
39:21
and
39:22
that
39:22
you
39:22
have
39:22
not
39:22
created
39:23
that
39:23
and
39:23
therefore
39:24
you're
39:25
not
39:25
hearing
39:25
what
39:26
God
39:26
is
39:27
saying
39:27
to
39:29
you
39:29
there
39:31
has
39:31
to
39:32
be
39:32
that
39:32
sense
39:32
of
39:33
noise
39:35
cancellation
39:35
with
39:36
regard
39:36
to
39:36
the
39:36
things
39:37
in
39:37
the
39:37
world
39:38
we
39:39
live
39:40
in
39:40
a
39:41
society
39:41
where
39:42
there
39:42
are
39:42
so
39:42
many
39:42
demands
39:43
on
39:43
our
39:43
time
39:43
whether
39:44
we're
39:44
young
39:45
or
39:45
old
39:45
or whoever
39:46
we are
39:46
even
39:47
technology
39:48
itself
39:48
places
39:49
so much
39:49
demands
39:50
upon us
39:51
and we
39:52
are all
39:53
close
39:53
if not
39:54
already
39:55
there
39:55
close to
39:56
being
39:56
addicted
39:57
to our
39:58
devices
39:58
and to
39:59
all that
40:00
the whole
40:01
of the
40:01
world
40:01
can bring
40:02
into our
40:02
lives
40:03
sitting in
40:04
our
40:04
homes
40:04
lives
40:05
we are
40:06
making
40:06
space
40:07
for the
40:07
world
40:08
and
40:08
creating
40:09
more
40:09
and more
40:09
space
40:10
for our
40:10
world
40:11
and less
40:12
and less
40:13
space
40:13
for God
40:14
and when
40:16
I'm saying
40:16
that
40:16
I'm saying
40:17
it to
40:18
myself
40:18
first of
40:19
all
40:19
and I
40:20
think it
40:21
is reflective
40:21
of what
40:23
is happening
40:24
in the
40:24
world
40:24
in which
40:25
we live
40:26
and as
40:29
we close
40:30
tonight
40:31
perhaps
40:33
the
40:33
greatest
40:35
take away
40:35
from
40:37
our time
40:38
together
40:39
would be
40:39
that we
40:40
commit
40:41
ourselves
40:41
to make
40:43
more space
40:43
for God
40:44
in our
40:45
lives
40:45
to go
40:47
apart
40:47
and to
40:48
listen to
40:49
what God
40:49
is saying
40:49
not just
40:52
what he's
40:52
saying to
40:53
us
40:53
in the
40:54
worship
40:54
of his
40:55
name
40:55
and in
40:56
the
40:56
preaching
40:56
of the
40:56
gospel
40:57
on the
40:57
Lord's
40:57
day
40:58
but to
40:59
ensure
41:00
that we
41:01
have that
41:01
space
41:01
every day
41:03
at some
41:04
point in
41:04
the day
41:04
that we
41:05
are disciplined
41:06
to make
41:07
space
41:08
for God
41:08
and the
41:10
promise is
41:10
from all
41:11
that God
41:11
says in
41:12
the Bible
41:12
that if
41:13
we give
41:13
space to
41:14
God
41:14
in that
41:15
way
41:15
that we
41:17
will
41:17
hear more
41:19
from
41:19
him
41:19
learn more
41:21
about him
41:22
learn more
41:23
about ourselves
41:24
and understand
41:26
our identity
41:27
as the
41:28
children of
41:28
God
41:29
more and
41:30
more
41:30
that was
41:32
the problem
41:33
in the
41:35
church in
41:35
Rome
41:36
they were
41:37
confused
41:38
are we
41:38
confused
41:39
about what
41:39
it means
41:40
to be the
41:40
sons of
41:41
God
41:41
do we
41:43
understand
41:44
what makes
41:45
us the
41:46
children of
41:46
God
41:46
and do we
41:48
understand
41:49
that only
41:49
by the
41:50
spirit of
41:51
God
41:51
coming to
41:52
our hearts
41:53
welcomed by
41:55
us
41:55
that that
41:56
is the
41:56
only thing
41:57
that makes
41:58
us the
41:58
children of
41:59
God
41:59
and do we
42:00
long tonight
42:01
to be sure
42:02
well God
42:04
wants us all
42:04
to be sure
42:05
to be sure
42:06
of our
42:06
salvation
42:07
to be sure
42:08
that we
42:08
are God's
42:09
children
42:09
he wants
42:11
us to
42:11
understand
42:12
that if
42:14
we think
42:14
we are
42:15
Christians
42:15
and we
42:15
are not
42:16
he wants
42:17
us to
42:17
know the
42:18
truth
42:18
and he
42:20
also wants
42:20
tonight if
42:21
we are
42:22
Christians
42:22
and we
42:23
don't fully
42:24
appreciate
42:25
that that
42:26
he will
42:26
also come
42:27
and make
42:28
that clear
42:29
to us
42:29
may God
42:30
help us
42:31
to trust
42:32
to hear
42:32
to understand
42:33
and to
42:34
know who
42:35
we are
42:36
as the
42:37
children of
42:37
God
42:38
may God
42:38
bless his
42:38
word
42:38
let us
42:39
pray
42:39
most
42:41
gracious
42:41
God
42:42
we
42:42
rejoice
42:43
in you
42:43
as our
42:44
father
42:44
who is
42:45
in heaven
42:45
we bless
42:46
you for
42:47
your care
42:48
of us
42:49
your interest
42:50
in us
42:50
we give
42:51
thanks to
42:51
you for
42:52
that
42:52
close
42:53
and special
42:53
relationship
42:54
that you
42:56
give to us
42:56
as your
42:57
children here
42:57
in this
42:58
world
42:58
help us
42:59
to understand
43:00
that relationship
43:01
better
43:02
help us
43:03
to live
43:04
as your
43:04
children
43:05
help us
43:06
to have
43:06
joy in
43:07
you
43:07
and help
43:08
us to
43:08
know the
43:09
assurance
43:09
of your
43:10
love
43:10
and give
43:11
us to
43:11
rejoice in
43:13
you day
43:13
by day
43:14
as we
43:14
live our
43:14
lives
43:15
wherever
43:15
we go
43:16
so that
43:17
we may
43:17
have
43:17
strong
43:18
faith
43:18
and
43:19
deepening
43:20
love
43:20
and
43:21
daily
43:22
desire
43:22
to
43:23
do
43:23
things
43:24
that
43:24
are
43:24
pleasing
43:24
to
43:25
you
43:25
that
43:25
we
43:25
may
43:26
shine
43:26
forth
43:26
as
43:27
lights
43:27
for you
43:27
in our
43:28
world
43:28
we do
43:29
pray
43:29
hear us
43:29
and accept
43:30
us
43:30
for
43:31
Jesus
43:31
sake
43:31
Amen
43:32
so the
43:37
closing
43:37
psalm is
43:38
psalm number
43:39
103
43:40
and sing
43:45
psalms on
43:45
page
43:46
135
43:46
and we're
43:49
singing at
43:50
verse number
43:50
8
43:51
and I think
43:53
on your
43:54
bulletin it
43:54
says 8
43:55
to 18
43:55
but if we
43:56
can sing
43:57
from 8
43:58
to 14
43:59
and not
43:59
8
44:00
to 18
44:00
psalm 103
44:02
on page
44:02
135
44:03
at verse
44:04
number
44:04
8
44:04
the lord
44:06
is merciful
44:07
and kind
44:08
to anger
44:09
slow and
44:09
full of
44:10
grace
44:10
he will
44:11
not
44:11
constantly
44:11
reprove
44:12
or in
44:13
his anger
44:13
hide
44:14
his face
44:15
from verse
44:16
8 to
44:16
verse 14
44:16
to god's
44:17
praise
44:17
the lord
44:22
is
44:22
merciful
44:23
and kind
44:26
to
44:26
anger
44:27
slow
44:28
and full
44:30
of grace
44:31
he will
44:33
not
44:33
constantly
44:35
reprove
44:37
or in
44:38
his anger
44:40
hide
44:41
his face
44:43
he does
44:44
not
44:45
punish
44:46
our
44:47
mistakes
44:48
or give
44:50
our sins
44:51
their
44:52
just
44:53
reward
44:54
how
44:55
great
44:56
his love
44:57
has
44:59
been
45:00
as
45:01
as
45:01
far
45:01
as
45:02
as
45:03
far
45:03
as
45:04
as
45:05
far
45:06
as
45:14
as
45:14
he
45:15
is
45:16
from
45:16
the
45:17
west
45:18
so
45:19
far
45:19
his love
45:21
has
45:21
borne
45:22
away
45:24
our
45:24
many
45:25
sins
45:26
and
45:27
trespasses
45:29
and
45:30
and all
45:31
the guilt
45:32
that
45:32
on
45:33
us
45:34
lay
45:35
just
45:36
as
45:37
a
45:37
father
45:38
loves
45:40
his
45:40
child
45:41
so
45:42
God
45:43
loves
45:43
those
45:44
who
45:45
hear
45:46
his
45:46
name
45:47
for
45:48
he
45:48
remembers
45:50
we
45:51
are
45:52
dust
45:52
and
45:54
well
45:54
he
45:55
knows
45:55
our
45:56
people
45:57
frame
45:58
and
45:59
well
46:00
he
46:00
knows
46:01
our
46:01
people
46:02
frame
46:05
if you
46:06
allow me
46:06
to go to
46:06
the main
46:07
door after
46:07
the benediction
46:08
the grace
46:10
of the
46:10
Lord Jesus
46:11
Christ
46:11
the love
46:12
of God
46:12
the Father
46:13
the fellowship
46:14
of the Holy
46:14
Spirit
46:14
be with you
46:15
all now
46:16
and forever
46:16
more
46:17
Amen
46:18
Amen
46:18
Thank you.