1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:02,620 Well, this morning, we come to the second 2 00:00:02,620 –> 00:00:06,580 in a short series that we’ve called, Team Players. 3 00:00:08,080 –> 00:00:12,360 The image was suggested by Dr. J.I. Packer 4 00:00:12,360 –> 00:00:14,480 who says that it is helpful for us 5 00:00:14,480 –> 00:00:19,480 to think about the trinity as being the divine team. 6 00:00:19,799 –> 00:00:21,840 And we introduced that image last week. 7 00:00:21,840 –> 00:00:24,799 I’ve found it to be very, very helpful. 8 00:00:24,799 –> 00:00:27,760 The Father, the Son and the Spirit 9 00:00:27,760 –> 00:00:30,480 relate together in perfect love 10 00:00:30,480 –> 00:00:33,520 and operate together in perfect unity. 11 00:00:33,520 –> 00:00:36,080 The divine team. 12 00:00:36,080 –> 00:00:40,259 Now, last week, we noticed a comment of A. W. Tozer 13 00:00:40,259 –> 00:00:43,400 where he says that all the acts of God 14 00:00:43,400 –> 00:00:47,880 are accomplished by the trinity, acting in unity. 15 00:00:47,880 –> 00:00:50,360 And we saw that this is true of the creation, 16 00:00:50,360 –> 00:00:52,320 of the incarnation, the atonement, 17 00:00:52,320 –> 00:00:56,080 even of your salvation and of the presence of God 18 00:00:56,080 –> 00:00:57,680 in your life. 19 00:00:57,680 –> 00:00:59,119 And the Bible, of course, makes it 20 00:00:59,119 –> 00:01:02,439 clear that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit 21 00:01:02,439 –> 00:01:08,239 have distinct roles, ministries, in relation to our salvation, 22 00:01:08,239 –> 00:01:11,980 but the team always operates together. 23 00:01:11,980 –> 00:01:17,120 The acts of God are accomplished by the trinity acting in unity. 24 00:01:17,120 –> 00:01:18,900 And we saw this taught specifically 25 00:01:18,900 –> 00:01:22,559 by our Lord Jesus Christ, in John chapter 5 and verse 19, 26 00:01:22,559 –> 00:01:24,839 where he says, the Son, the Son of God, 27 00:01:24,839 –> 00:01:27,300 can do nothing by Himself. 28 00:01:27,300 –> 00:01:29,820 He can do nothing by Himself. 29 00:01:29,820 –> 00:01:32,919 The Son of God, in other words, is a team player. 30 00:01:32,919 –> 00:01:35,599 He is not out on His own doing His own thing. 31 00:01:35,599 –> 00:01:39,400 He is operating in harmony with the Father and with the Spirit. 32 00:01:39,400 –> 00:01:42,519 That’s the only way in which He works. 33 00:01:42,519 –> 00:01:45,160 And then Jesus said, whatever the Father does, 34 00:01:45,160 –> 00:01:47,720 the Son also does. 35 00:01:47,720 –> 00:01:50,000 So, God, the Father is a team player. 36 00:01:50,040 –> 00:01:55,040 He never excludes the Son from anything that He does. 37 00:01:55,199 –> 00:01:58,320 So, the model that we see, 38 00:01:58,320 –> 00:02:00,080 and it’s a very important model, 39 00:02:00,080 –> 00:02:02,559 from the divine team 40 00:02:02,559 –> 00:02:07,080 is that the whole team is engaged in the whole task 41 00:02:07,080 –> 00:02:11,199 and that no team member is pursuing his or her task 42 00:02:11,199 –> 00:02:12,919 in isolation from the others. 43 00:02:12,919 –> 00:02:14,639 These are the principles we’re learning 44 00:02:14,639 –> 00:02:16,000 from the divine team. 45 00:02:16,000 –> 00:02:18,020 The whole team involved in the whole task 46 00:02:18,119 –> 00:02:21,500 and no team member pursuing his or her own task 47 00:02:21,500 –> 00:02:25,179 in isolation from the others. 48 00:02:25,179 –> 00:02:28,020 I’ve been reading a book recently 49 00:02:28,020 –> 00:02:30,660 that I think a number of us will have read, 50 00:02:30,660 –> 00:02:33,059 Patrick Lencioni, 51 00:02:33,059 –> 00:02:38,059 a book called Siloes, Politics, and Turf Wars. 52 00:02:38,059 –> 00:02:41,699 And it’s about how problems emerge in many businesses 53 00:02:41,699 –> 00:02:44,380 where different departments becomes siloed 54 00:02:44,380 –> 00:02:47,220 and separated from each other. 55 00:02:47,220 –> 00:02:50,619 And Lencioni looked for an effective model 56 00:02:50,619 –> 00:02:52,339 of where that was overcome. 57 00:02:52,339 –> 00:02:54,220 And you know where he found it? 58 00:02:54,220 –> 00:02:58,179 In the emergency ward of a hospital. 59 00:02:58,179 –> 00:02:59,539 And that’s his model, actually, 60 00:02:59,539 –> 00:03:02,059 as to how to overcome the siloing thing 61 00:03:02,059 –> 00:03:04,500 so that teams work together more effectively. 62 00:03:04,500 –> 00:03:08,419 I want to suggest that he could also have used 63 00:03:08,419 –> 00:03:10,639 as a model the trinity. 64 00:03:11,619 –> 00:03:12,979 Because if I can put it this way, 65 00:03:12,979 –> 00:03:16,820 there are no silos in the trinity. 66 00:03:18,020 –> 00:03:20,880 The whole team in the whole task. 67 00:03:20,880 –> 00:03:22,339 You find that right throughout the scriptures, 68 00:03:22,339 –> 00:03:24,460 this is what we learned last week. 69 00:03:24,460 –> 00:03:27,500 And no team member pursuing his or her own task 70 00:03:27,500 –> 00:03:30,860 in isolation from the others. 71 00:03:30,860 –> 00:03:32,800 Now having learned that foundational truth, 72 00:03:32,800 –> 00:03:34,259 I want to spend just a few moments 73 00:03:34,259 –> 00:03:37,660 before we press further with some application. 74 00:03:37,660 –> 00:03:40,539 And I wanna suggest two questions 75 00:03:40,539 –> 00:03:42,660 that I think are profitable for us 76 00:03:42,660 –> 00:03:47,080 in applying this model of effective teamwork 77 00:03:47,139 –> 00:03:49,899 in the church and indeed in the home. 78 00:03:49,899 –> 00:03:51,639 So here are the two questions. 79 00:03:51,639 –> 00:03:56,320 First, how can I be involved in what others are doing 80 00:03:56,320 –> 00:03:58,360 if the whole team is to be involved in the whole task. 81 00:03:58,360 –> 00:03:59,800 That’s a natural question. 82 00:03:59,800 –> 00:04:02,339 How can I be involved in what others are doing? 83 00:04:02,339 –> 00:04:06,320 And secondly, how can I open up what I am doing 84 00:04:06,320 –> 00:04:08,800 to the involvement of others? 85 00:04:08,800 –> 00:04:11,199 If the father does not exclude the son 86 00:04:11,199 –> 00:04:13,919 but opens his ministry and shares it with the son, 87 00:04:13,919 –> 00:04:18,600 then that question naturally suggests itself for us. 88 00:04:18,600 –> 00:04:19,480 Now let’s think about that 89 00:04:19,480 –> 00:04:21,980 in relation to the church and the family. 90 00:04:21,980 –> 00:04:22,959 First, the church. 91 00:04:23,799 –> 00:04:28,600 How can I get involved in what other team members are doing? 92 00:04:28,600 –> 00:04:29,720 Important question. 93 00:04:31,179 –> 00:04:33,880 And frankly, it would be easy for us in the congregation 94 00:04:33,880 –> 00:04:35,980 to say, well, that’s their problem. 95 00:04:35,980 –> 00:04:37,380 Let them get on with it. 96 00:04:38,320 –> 00:04:41,480 But if we are reflecting the image of God, 97 00:04:42,739 –> 00:04:43,619 we will be saying, 98 00:04:43,619 –> 00:04:46,079 no, ministry is trusted to us. 99 00:04:47,200 –> 00:04:48,859 So this is our problem, 100 00:04:49,839 –> 00:04:51,160 and what can I do to help? 101 00:04:51,160 –> 00:04:52,179 Will you pray? 102 00:04:55,079 –> 00:04:56,459 Are you able to help? 103 00:04:58,619 –> 00:05:01,239 Is there someone who the Lord would put on your mind 104 00:05:01,239 –> 00:05:04,100 who you know who the children’s ministry team 105 00:05:04,100 –> 00:05:04,940 may not have thought of, 106 00:05:04,940 –> 00:05:07,559 you could suggest, why don’t you approach this person? 107 00:05:09,119 –> 00:05:10,279 Ownership together, 108 00:05:10,959 –> 00:05:13,459 it’s the mark of an effective team. 109 00:05:15,640 –> 00:05:18,339 The place we have to begin is with 110 00:05:18,339 –> 00:05:21,100 recognizing that the privilege of ministry 111 00:05:21,100 –> 00:05:23,959 is the gift of God to the whole church, 112 00:05:23,959 –> 00:05:26,100 the whole team involved in the whole task. 113 00:05:27,239 –> 00:05:29,059 Then let’s ask this question, 114 00:05:29,059 –> 00:05:32,100 if we’re to reflect the image of God in teamwork together, 115 00:05:32,100 –> 00:05:35,980 how can I open what I am doing 116 00:05:35,980 –> 00:05:37,579 to the involvement of others? 117 00:05:38,660 –> 00:05:39,779 See, this is a familiar problem, 118 00:05:40,279 –> 00:05:41,320 isn’t it? 119 00:05:41,320 –> 00:05:43,320 When God gives you a ministry, 120 00:05:43,320 –> 00:05:47,320 it is so easy for us to begin thinking 121 00:05:47,320 –> 00:05:50,640 as if this was somehow exclusively ours. 122 00:05:50,640 –> 00:05:52,179 This is my area. 123 00:05:53,799 –> 00:05:56,160 But you know, if we are team, 124 00:05:56,160 –> 00:05:59,119 it must be open to others also. 125 00:05:59,119 –> 00:06:03,700 Whatever the father does, the son also does. 126 00:06:03,700 –> 00:06:05,940 The father does not exclude the son or the spirit, 127 00:06:05,959 –> 00:06:10,239 he involves the whole team in all that he is doing. 128 00:06:10,239 –> 00:06:12,579 Now, think briefly with me about how to apply this 129 00:06:12,579 –> 00:06:14,260 in relation to the family. 130 00:06:14,260 –> 00:06:17,440 The divine team is the model for a healthy family, 131 00:06:17,440 –> 00:06:19,040 so let’s think about these questions 132 00:06:19,040 –> 00:06:20,760 in relation to family life. 133 00:06:20,760 –> 00:06:22,380 How can I be involved 134 00:06:22,380 –> 00:06:24,440 in what other family members are doing? 135 00:06:24,440 –> 00:06:27,420 That’s a question I need to ask as a dad. 136 00:06:27,420 –> 00:06:31,799 In a healthy family, each member takes an active interest 137 00:06:31,799 –> 00:06:33,679 in what the others are doing. 138 00:06:33,679 –> 00:06:35,239 We’re not all doing the same things, 139 00:06:35,260 –> 00:06:37,920 but we have an active interest in what each other are doing. 140 00:06:37,920 –> 00:06:39,119 So the question becomes, 141 00:06:39,119 –> 00:06:42,739 how can you be engaged in the life of your wife, 142 00:06:42,739 –> 00:06:44,459 your husband, your son, your daughter, 143 00:06:44,459 –> 00:06:47,040 your parents, your brother, your sister? 144 00:06:47,980 –> 00:06:50,019 What is it that’s important to them? 145 00:06:51,279 –> 00:06:54,420 What are the pressure points of their lives now? 146 00:06:55,839 –> 00:06:57,079 How can you help? 147 00:06:59,359 –> 00:07:01,799 And how can I open what I am doing 148 00:07:01,799 –> 00:07:05,160 to the involvement of other members of my family 149 00:07:05,179 –> 00:07:06,959 for in a healthy family, 150 00:07:06,959 –> 00:07:09,820 each member opens their life to the others? 151 00:07:09,820 –> 00:07:12,799 So how can your kids become involved in what you are doing? 152 00:07:12,799 –> 00:07:14,799 What a wonderful model we had of this 153 00:07:14,799 –> 00:07:16,260 just in this last week 154 00:07:16,260 –> 00:07:19,000 in the team that went down to New Orleans from this church 155 00:07:19,000 –> 00:07:22,200 to help in the aftermath now a year on 156 00:07:22,200 –> 00:07:24,140 from the Katrina disaster. 157 00:07:24,140 –> 00:07:27,359 And we had a number of fathers and sons, 158 00:07:27,359 –> 00:07:28,980 mothers and daughters, 159 00:07:28,980 –> 00:07:33,619 folks together, engaging in service and ministry 160 00:07:33,679 –> 00:07:36,579 and strengthening the bond of family life. 161 00:07:36,579 –> 00:07:39,140 There are wonderful examples of this 162 00:07:39,140 –> 00:07:42,959 increasingly happening throughout the life of our church. 163 00:07:42,959 –> 00:07:45,899 So there’s almost no end of practical applications 164 00:07:45,899 –> 00:07:47,440 that we make from these things. 165 00:07:47,440 –> 00:07:49,739 Every act of God is accomplished 166 00:07:49,739 –> 00:07:51,980 by the Trinity acting in unity. 167 00:07:51,980 –> 00:07:53,380 Think about that. 168 00:07:53,380 –> 00:07:54,619 Every act of God. 169 00:07:56,079 –> 00:07:57,799 The son does nothing by himself, 170 00:07:57,799 –> 00:08:00,339 whatever the father does the son also does. 171 00:08:00,339 –> 00:08:02,160 The whole team engaged in the whole task 172 00:08:02,200 –> 00:08:07,160 by no one pursuing his own task apart from the others. 173 00:08:07,160 –> 00:08:08,359 That’s what we’ve learned. 174 00:08:11,000 –> 00:08:13,519 Now building on that foundation, 175 00:08:13,519 –> 00:08:16,700 I want us to see how the divine team 176 00:08:16,700 –> 00:08:20,260 operates in the gospel. 177 00:08:20,260 –> 00:08:22,420 The father, the son and the spirit 178 00:08:22,420 –> 00:08:26,920 moving together for your salvation. 179 00:08:28,359 –> 00:08:29,760 And I hope you have your Bible open 180 00:08:29,760 –> 00:08:31,440 at Galatians in chapter three. 181 00:08:31,519 –> 00:08:34,020 I want us to enjoy with open Bibles 182 00:08:34,020 –> 00:08:39,020 the sheer beauty of the movement of the divine team 183 00:08:40,039 –> 00:08:43,780 as we see it in this passage of Scripture. 184 00:08:46,119 –> 00:08:48,039 I want us to notice three things today. 185 00:08:49,679 –> 00:08:53,159 The first is that the purpose of the gospel 186 00:08:54,099 –> 00:08:56,619 is relationship with the Father. 187 00:08:56,619 –> 00:08:59,599 Galatians chapter three and verse 26. 188 00:08:59,599 –> 00:09:04,599 You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ. 189 00:09:08,900 –> 00:09:11,580 Now, this phrase, sons of God, is used here 190 00:09:11,580 –> 00:09:16,580 in a way that is racially inclusive and gender-neutral. 191 00:09:16,780 –> 00:09:18,159 Let me explain what I mean. 192 00:09:19,119 –> 00:09:24,119 Normally the word son is used 193 00:09:24,140 –> 00:09:27,960 to describe a person belonging to a particular bloodline, 194 00:09:27,960 –> 00:09:30,059 and therefore, by definition, it is racial. 195 00:09:31,200 –> 00:09:33,799 And, of course, the word son usually refers 196 00:09:33,799 –> 00:09:35,400 to someone who is male, 197 00:09:35,400 –> 00:09:38,820 and therefore, by definition, is gender-specific. 198 00:09:39,900 –> 00:09:41,640 But the point that Paul is making here, 199 00:09:41,640 –> 00:09:44,359 if you look in verse 28, 200 00:09:44,359 –> 00:09:47,359 is that there is neither Jew nor Greek, 201 00:09:47,359 –> 00:09:49,239 so racial boundaries are overcome, 202 00:09:49,239 –> 00:09:51,200 and there is neither male or female, 203 00:09:51,200 –> 00:09:53,760 so gender boundaries are overcome in Christ. 204 00:09:53,760 –> 00:09:57,840 So we are not sons, according to race, 205 00:09:58,239 –> 00:10:01,200 nor are we sons, according to gender. 206 00:10:02,440 –> 00:10:03,719 Now, this is very important, 207 00:10:03,719 –> 00:10:05,599 and I think you’ll see it immediately 208 00:10:05,599 –> 00:10:06,840 when you grasp this point, 209 00:10:06,840 –> 00:10:09,200 that in the ancient world, 210 00:10:09,200 –> 00:10:12,400 sons had rights and privileges 211 00:10:12,400 –> 00:10:14,159 that were not afforded to daughters. 212 00:10:14,159 –> 00:10:15,640 That’s just how it was in the ancient world, 213 00:10:15,640 –> 00:10:18,119 and you know that it is still very widely true 214 00:10:18,119 –> 00:10:20,159 in many parts of the world today 215 00:10:20,159 –> 00:10:21,159 that sons are treated 216 00:10:21,159 –> 00:10:23,400 in an altogether different way from daughters, 217 00:10:23,400 –> 00:10:25,960 there is immense discrimination of gender, 218 00:10:25,960 –> 00:10:28,200 and that privileges are given to the male 219 00:10:28,200 –> 00:10:30,159 that are not given to the female. 220 00:10:30,159 –> 00:10:32,119 This has been widely true throughout history 221 00:10:32,119 –> 00:10:35,280 and still is widely true throughout the world. 222 00:10:36,400 –> 00:10:38,400 So if Paul had said 223 00:10:39,320 –> 00:10:43,640 you are all sons and daughters of God, 224 00:10:43,640 –> 00:10:46,520 he would have introduced a distinction 225 00:10:46,520 –> 00:10:49,219 at precisely the point where he’s telling us 226 00:10:49,219 –> 00:10:50,880 that the distinction has been abolished 227 00:10:50,880 –> 00:10:52,719 and that we don’t have two different levels 228 00:10:52,719 –> 00:10:53,640 of access to God, 229 00:10:53,640 –> 00:10:55,479 but the same level of access to God. 230 00:10:55,479 –> 00:10:57,080 That is why he includes all of us 231 00:10:57,080 –> 00:11:00,239 under this one description of being sons of God. 232 00:11:00,239 –> 00:11:01,539 It’s a wonderful truth. 233 00:11:02,919 –> 00:11:06,280 In Christ, women have the same standing before God as men. 234 00:11:07,159 –> 00:11:10,559 In Christ, Gentiles have the same access to God as Jews. 235 00:11:10,559 –> 00:11:13,200 This was radical stuff in the early church, 236 00:11:13,200 –> 00:11:15,359 especially for those with a Jewish background 237 00:11:15,359 –> 00:11:18,520 who had been used to worshiping in the temple. 238 00:11:18,520 –> 00:11:20,460 “‘Cause remember that in the temple, 239 00:11:20,460 –> 00:11:23,479 there was a special court for the Gentiles. 240 00:11:23,479 –> 00:11:25,119 You could go there if you were a Gentile, 241 00:11:25,119 –> 00:11:28,119 you couldn’t go further unless you were a Jew. 242 00:11:28,119 –> 00:11:31,539 Then there was a special court called the Court of Women. 243 00:11:31,539 –> 00:11:33,280 You could go there if you were a woman, 244 00:11:33,280 –> 00:11:36,640 but you couldn’t go further unless you were a man.’” 245 00:11:36,640 –> 00:11:38,640 Now you see the point that Paul is making here. 246 00:11:38,640 –> 00:11:40,179 He’s saying these distinctions 247 00:11:40,179 –> 00:11:42,539 are all blown away by the gospel. 248 00:11:43,760 –> 00:11:44,719 And that is why he says, 249 00:11:44,719 –> 00:11:47,719 you are all, Jew, Gentile, male, female. 250 00:11:47,719 –> 00:11:50,239 We’re all brought to the glorious standing 251 00:11:50,239 –> 00:11:53,200 of the highest privilege of sons of God, 252 00:11:53,200 –> 00:11:55,359 and we share that together. 253 00:11:56,640 –> 00:11:58,479 Now being sons of God 254 00:11:58,479 –> 00:12:01,919 is the greatest blessing of the gospel. 255 00:12:01,919 –> 00:12:06,840 I want to suggest to you that it is greater than forgiveness 256 00:12:06,840 –> 00:12:11,140 and it is greater even than entering heaven itself 257 00:12:11,140 –> 00:12:14,099 to be sons of God. 258 00:12:15,200 –> 00:12:17,140 Why is it greater than forgiveness? 259 00:12:19,020 –> 00:12:21,239 Well, suppose I’ve offended my wife. 260 00:12:22,239 –> 00:12:26,039 Suppose I was clearly in the wrong 261 00:12:27,320 –> 00:12:28,919 and I’m in the doghouse 262 00:12:29,960 –> 00:12:31,340 and so I should be 263 00:12:33,119 –> 00:12:37,880 and there’s an icy kind of a feeling of distance between us. 264 00:12:39,559 –> 00:12:42,359 I want to be forgiven. 265 00:12:44,280 –> 00:12:45,140 But why? 266 00:12:47,479 –> 00:12:49,580 So that I could have a clear conscience? 267 00:12:50,580 –> 00:12:52,619 Yes. But it’s more than that. 268 00:12:54,580 –> 00:12:57,719 So that she won’t be angry with me anymore? 269 00:12:57,719 –> 00:13:00,919 Yes, but it’s more than that. 270 00:13:03,479 –> 00:13:08,299 Why do I want to be forgiven in that circumstance? 271 00:13:09,700 –> 00:13:11,280 Because I love her 272 00:13:12,340 –> 00:13:15,700 and I can’t stand there being something between us 273 00:13:15,700 –> 00:13:19,799 and I want to get back close to her again. 274 00:13:24,239 –> 00:13:27,679 Now, that’s always how it is where love is strong. 275 00:13:27,679 –> 00:13:29,479 Think of that in relation to God. 276 00:13:29,479 –> 00:13:32,820 Forgiveness is a priceless gift. 277 00:13:32,820 –> 00:13:36,799 But its value is that it leads to something more. 278 00:13:36,799 –> 00:13:39,859 It brings us into the privileged relationship 279 00:13:39,859 –> 00:13:41,799 of being sons of God. 280 00:13:42,940 –> 00:13:45,520 It’s why this is the highest blessing of the gospel. 281 00:13:46,700 –> 00:13:48,940 And I suggest to you that it is even bigger 282 00:13:48,940 –> 00:13:50,700 than entering heaven itself. 283 00:13:51,760 –> 00:13:52,599 Here’s why. 284 00:13:54,659 –> 00:13:59,200 Karnan and I enjoy going back to Britain in the summer, 285 00:13:59,200 –> 00:14:01,059 have a marvelous time. 286 00:14:01,059 –> 00:14:04,260 Her folks live less than a mile 287 00:14:04,260 –> 00:14:07,520 from the south coast and the sea. 288 00:14:07,520 –> 00:14:11,380 And it’s fantastic to paddle in the water, I’ll tell you. 289 00:14:11,380 –> 00:14:13,900 And my folks live right among the mountains 290 00:14:13,940 –> 00:14:15,419 in the north of Scotland. 291 00:14:15,419 –> 00:14:17,359 Beautiful to walk over the hills. 292 00:14:18,700 –> 00:14:22,239 And folks say to us, you know, you must have a great time 293 00:14:22,239 –> 00:14:25,020 by the sea and in the mountains, and that’s true. 294 00:14:26,500 –> 00:14:28,960 But that’s not why we go there. 295 00:14:28,960 –> 00:14:31,739 Why do we look forward to going to Britain each summer? 296 00:14:33,320 –> 00:14:34,679 Because the family’s there. 297 00:14:36,799 –> 00:14:37,619 The family. 298 00:14:38,559 –> 00:14:43,880 Now heaven will be full of joys and delights 299 00:14:43,880 –> 00:14:46,960 far greater than seasides and mountains, 300 00:14:47,900 –> 00:14:49,419 full of pleasures. 301 00:14:52,799 –> 00:14:54,599 But the true Christian knows that 302 00:14:54,599 –> 00:14:57,000 the reason that we set our minds on things above 303 00:14:58,320 –> 00:15:01,840 is that God is there, and we will be with him 304 00:15:01,840 –> 00:15:06,840 and we will enjoy him as sons enjoy the Father. 305 00:15:08,559 –> 00:15:10,640 So the purpose of the gospel then is 306 00:15:10,640 –> 00:15:14,159 relationship with the Father in time and for eternity. 307 00:15:14,159 –> 00:15:16,799 And notice how the team brings this about. 308 00:15:16,799 –> 00:15:18,520 Chapter three and verse 26, 309 00:15:18,520 –> 00:15:20,919 you are all sons of God, how? 310 00:15:20,919 –> 00:15:23,200 Through faith in Christ Jesus. 311 00:15:23,200 –> 00:15:25,000 It comes about through the Son, 312 00:15:25,000 –> 00:15:27,080 and then look at chapter four and verse six, 313 00:15:27,080 –> 00:15:29,659 it happens by the work of the Spirit. 314 00:15:29,659 –> 00:15:32,419 Because you are sons, chapter four and verse six, 315 00:15:32,419 –> 00:15:36,280 God sent the Spirit of his Son, that’s the Holy Spirit, 316 00:15:36,280 –> 00:15:38,859 described as the Spirit of Jesus here. 317 00:15:38,859 –> 00:15:41,419 He sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, 318 00:15:41,419 –> 00:15:45,960 and the Spirit calls out, Abba, Father. 319 00:15:45,960 –> 00:15:50,260 The beautiful verse, just speaking of the three persons 320 00:15:50,260 –> 00:15:52,940 of the Trinity operating together as one. 321 00:15:52,940 –> 00:15:54,460 Because you are sons of the Father, 322 00:15:54,460 –> 00:15:57,820 the Father sends the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, 323 00:15:57,820 –> 00:16:02,820 who then calls out, relating you back to the Father Himself. 324 00:16:04,320 –> 00:16:06,059 I once heard, and I’ve never forgotten it, 325 00:16:06,059 –> 00:16:08,599 because I thought it was such an unusual way of putting it, 326 00:16:08,599 –> 00:16:11,299 an evangelist, great communicator, 327 00:16:11,299 –> 00:16:14,400 and he was talking on the Trinity, and he said, 328 00:16:14,400 –> 00:16:18,840 The persons of the Trinity are so bound up with each other, 329 00:16:18,840 –> 00:16:22,460 you can’t get a cigarette paper between them. 330 00:16:23,539 –> 00:16:25,159 And that was 20 years ago I heard that, 331 00:16:25,159 –> 00:16:27,280 and I remembered it all that time. 332 00:16:27,280 –> 00:16:29,940 He might have said, a sheet of Bible paper, 333 00:16:29,940 –> 00:16:33,020 mind you, but I would never have remembered that. 334 00:16:33,020 –> 00:16:35,760 You can’t get a cigarette paper between them. 335 00:16:36,940 –> 00:16:39,900 You never separate the divine team. 336 00:16:39,900 –> 00:16:41,739 Thank God for it. 337 00:16:41,739 –> 00:16:46,179 Sons of the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ, 338 00:16:46,179 –> 00:16:48,380 and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, 339 00:16:48,380 –> 00:16:52,099 you can never, never, never separate 340 00:16:52,099 –> 00:16:53,520 the work of the divine team. 341 00:16:55,500 –> 00:16:56,320 Now here’s the second thing. 342 00:16:56,320 –> 00:16:58,340 If the purpose of the gospel is that we’re brought 343 00:16:58,340 –> 00:17:01,719 into this sonship relationship with the Father, 344 00:17:01,719 –> 00:17:04,380 secondly, the power of the gospel as we find it here 345 00:17:04,619 –> 00:17:08,219 is that we are given freedom through the Son. 346 00:17:08,219 –> 00:17:10,939 Look at chapter four, verses four and five. 347 00:17:10,939 –> 00:17:13,260 When the time had fully come, 348 00:17:13,260 –> 00:17:16,599 God, and whenever there’s a reference in the New Testament 349 00:17:16,599 –> 00:17:20,579 to God alongside Son and Spirit specified, 350 00:17:20,579 –> 00:17:23,920 it is a reference to God the Father in particular. 351 00:17:25,020 –> 00:17:27,520 God sent his Son, born of a woman, 352 00:17:27,520 –> 00:17:30,739 born under the law to redeem those under the law, 353 00:17:30,780 –> 00:17:33,939 that we might receive the full rights of sons. 354 00:17:34,939 –> 00:17:37,500 Let’s look at what he’s saying here. 355 00:17:37,500 –> 00:17:42,319 Christ came to redeem those under law. 356 00:17:44,140 –> 00:17:46,060 Under law. 357 00:17:46,060 –> 00:17:49,660 Now, the law places certain demands on us, 358 00:17:50,760 –> 00:17:55,040 and Paul knew about that as well as anyone ever could 359 00:17:55,040 –> 00:17:58,979 because for many years he had lived as a Pharisee. 360 00:17:58,979 –> 00:18:02,920 So he knew all about life under the law. 361 00:18:04,180 –> 00:18:06,339 The Pharisees, think about this, 362 00:18:06,339 –> 00:18:08,939 because there are some parallels today, 363 00:18:08,939 –> 00:18:12,880 the Pharisees were legalistic in their theology 364 00:18:14,219 –> 00:18:17,900 and perfectionists in their morality, 365 00:18:20,079 –> 00:18:21,699 and that’s a tough boat to row. 366 00:18:23,260 –> 00:18:27,140 What it meant is that they poured all their energies 367 00:18:27,180 –> 00:18:30,719 into getting it right all the time. 368 00:18:32,660 –> 00:18:35,699 And they were deeply convinced that the approval of God 369 00:18:35,699 –> 00:18:37,479 depended on them getting it right. 370 00:18:39,459 –> 00:18:40,619 Now that’s slavery, 371 00:18:42,140 –> 00:18:44,300 and here’s what it looks like for us today. 372 00:18:45,699 –> 00:18:49,140 Every day, you’re trying to be the perfect mother. 373 00:18:51,319 –> 00:18:54,339 Every day, you’re trying to be the perfect teacher 374 00:18:55,339 –> 00:18:58,599 or the perfect pastor or the perfect student 375 00:18:59,699 –> 00:19:01,199 or whatever it is that you do. 376 00:19:02,920 –> 00:19:05,000 And you feel somewhere deep within you 377 00:19:05,000 –> 00:19:07,780 that God’s approval and his smile upon your life, 378 00:19:07,780 –> 00:19:09,699 and even there for your own smile, 379 00:19:09,699 –> 00:19:12,079 depends on you getting it right all the time. 380 00:19:13,619 –> 00:19:16,420 And if you don’t, you can’t live with yourself 381 00:19:16,420 –> 00:19:17,699 and you’re quite sure that God 382 00:19:17,699 –> 00:19:19,500 isn’t much interested in you either. 383 00:19:21,000 –> 00:19:22,699 Now that is what it’s like living under the law. 384 00:19:22,739 –> 00:19:24,660 That’s what it looks like, that’s what it means, 385 00:19:24,660 –> 00:19:28,300 and put simply, it is slavery. 386 00:19:28,300 –> 00:19:31,140 I mean, even if you got it right one day, 387 00:19:31,140 –> 00:19:32,300 enjoy your few-hour sleep 388 00:19:32,300 –> 00:19:34,099 because you’ve got to do it all over again tomorrow 389 00:19:34,099 –> 00:19:35,000 and the next day 390 00:19:35,000 –> 00:19:35,839 and the next day 391 00:19:35,839 –> 00:19:36,859 and the next day. 392 00:19:36,859 –> 00:19:37,699 Slavery. 393 00:19:39,739 –> 00:19:43,180 Now, Paul says that Christ came to redeem those 394 00:19:43,180 –> 00:19:44,619 under the law 395 00:19:44,619 –> 00:19:46,859 that we might receive the full right of sons. 396 00:19:46,859 –> 00:19:49,219 Notice again, that Christ’s not acting independently, 397 00:19:49,219 –> 00:19:51,000 he is sent by the Father 398 00:19:51,040 –> 00:19:55,260 and sent into the world to redeem us under the law. 399 00:19:55,260 –> 00:19:58,199 He lived the perfect life under the law. 400 00:19:58,199 –> 00:19:59,040 He did, in other words, 401 00:19:59,040 –> 00:20:01,859 something that no one else ever could do 402 00:20:01,859 –> 00:20:03,680 that we can never attain, 403 00:20:03,680 –> 00:20:05,579 which is why it’s slavery for us. 404 00:20:05,579 –> 00:20:08,180 He got it right all the time. 405 00:20:09,839 –> 00:20:11,359 He lived a perfect life. 406 00:20:12,520 –> 00:20:14,680 And then he took on himself 407 00:20:14,680 –> 00:20:16,640 the penalty of the law 408 00:20:16,640 –> 00:20:18,280 for us who did not fulfill it 409 00:20:18,280 –> 00:20:20,439 when he died on the cross. 410 00:20:20,439 –> 00:20:21,760 This is the heart of the gospel, 411 00:20:21,760 –> 00:20:22,760 of course, isn’t it? 412 00:20:24,180 –> 00:20:27,079 He paid the penalty he did not owe 413 00:20:27,079 –> 00:20:28,719 because he had fulfilled the law. 414 00:20:29,780 –> 00:20:31,900 So he is able to release us 415 00:20:31,900 –> 00:20:34,140 from the penalty that we do all 416 00:20:34,140 –> 00:20:35,939 because we’ve not fulfilled the law. 417 00:20:37,459 –> 00:20:41,560 He paid what was not required on his account 418 00:20:41,560 –> 00:20:43,040 so that in the mercy of God 419 00:20:43,040 –> 00:20:44,859 it could be freely credited 420 00:20:44,859 –> 00:20:46,920 into our account. 421 00:20:48,280 –> 00:20:50,060 And that is how you are released 422 00:20:50,880 –> 00:20:53,500 or redeemed from slavery to the law, 423 00:20:53,500 –> 00:20:56,079 a life that is driven by the felt need 424 00:20:56,079 –> 00:20:57,939 to get everything right all the time 425 00:20:57,939 –> 00:20:59,979 in order to win the approval of God. 426 00:21:00,880 –> 00:21:01,660 And when you grasp that this 427 00:21:01,660 –> 00:21:04,319 is what Jesus Christ has come to do for you 428 00:21:04,319 –> 00:21:06,599 and this is what he has done, 429 00:21:06,599 –> 00:21:07,439 there will be a whole new joy 430 00:21:07,439 –> 00:21:09,500 and freedom in your life. 431 00:21:09,500 –> 00:21:10,699 There are so many people 432 00:21:10,699 –> 00:21:14,760 who only experience religion as slavery. 433 00:21:17,300 –> 00:21:18,699 And even when we come to worship, 434 00:21:18,739 –> 00:21:21,260 we have the sense that God is the one 435 00:21:21,260 –> 00:21:24,699 who is always about laying it on us. 436 00:21:25,979 –> 00:21:28,680 And we find it very, very difficult to get beyond that. 437 00:21:31,099 –> 00:21:33,660 And Christ has not come to lay the law on us, 438 00:21:33,660 –> 00:21:36,680 he’s come to release us from the slavery 439 00:21:36,680 –> 00:21:38,400 of this impossible life, 440 00:21:39,479 –> 00:21:41,180 a feeling that we only know God’s smile 441 00:21:41,180 –> 00:21:42,900 if we get it right all of the time. 442 00:21:43,839 –> 00:21:45,900 I want to read you a story. 443 00:21:45,900 –> 00:21:48,040 CH Spurgeon told the great story 444 00:21:49,760 –> 00:21:53,119 about a woman who had fallen on hard times 445 00:21:53,119 –> 00:21:57,760 and was badly behind in paying the rent for her home. 446 00:21:59,260 –> 00:22:01,520 And at the church that this lady belonged to 447 00:22:01,520 –> 00:22:03,479 had a benevolent fund, 448 00:22:04,599 –> 00:22:07,219 and when the pastor heard about this lady’s need 449 00:22:07,219 –> 00:22:09,459 that she was going to be evicted from her house, 450 00:22:10,040 –> 00:22:13,219 he decided that the church should give her the money 451 00:22:13,219 –> 00:22:15,880 to pay off her debt for the rent. 452 00:22:17,280 –> 00:22:19,560 So he came around to her house 453 00:22:19,560 –> 00:22:22,619 at a time when he knew that she was always at home 454 00:22:22,619 –> 00:22:25,719 and he had the gift with him ready to pass it over. 455 00:22:27,060 –> 00:22:31,099 He knocked on the door, no answer. 456 00:22:31,099 –> 00:22:32,060 That’s strange. 457 00:22:32,060 –> 00:22:35,160 So he knocked louder, no answer. 458 00:22:36,079 –> 00:22:38,239 He stayed. 459 00:22:38,239 –> 00:22:40,339 He knocked again, no answer. 460 00:22:41,660 –> 00:22:43,800 So he went back to the church 461 00:22:43,800 –> 00:22:46,300 and he put the money back in the benevolent fund. 462 00:22:47,540 –> 00:22:49,400 Well, the following Sunday 463 00:22:49,400 –> 00:22:51,560 he saw the lady sitting there in the church 464 00:22:51,560 –> 00:22:53,739 and so afterwards he went up to speak to her 465 00:22:53,739 –> 00:22:56,140 and he said, look, I came around to your house 466 00:22:56,140 –> 00:23:01,140 with a gift from the church to pay off your rent. 467 00:23:01,300 –> 00:23:05,319 I knocked and I felt like you were there 468 00:23:05,319 –> 00:23:07,199 but you didn’t answer. 469 00:23:07,199 –> 00:23:11,260 Oh, she said, I heard the knocking 470 00:23:12,839 –> 00:23:17,839 but I thought it was the man coming to collect the rent. 471 00:23:20,219 –> 00:23:22,060 So I didn’t open the door. 472 00:23:27,979 –> 00:23:29,699 Now, when God comes near, 473 00:23:29,719 –> 00:23:32,619 there is something within us that always fears the worst. 474 00:23:35,239 –> 00:23:38,640 We think that he must have come to demand something of us. 475 00:23:38,640 –> 00:23:40,900 We find it so, so, so hard to believe 476 00:23:40,900 –> 00:23:43,319 that he’s actually come to give something to us. 477 00:23:45,900 –> 00:23:48,359 Listen, Christ did not come into the world 478 00:23:48,359 –> 00:23:51,459 nor go to the cross to lay the law on you. 479 00:23:52,920 –> 00:23:55,099 Christ came into the world and went to the cross 480 00:23:55,099 –> 00:23:58,479 to redeem you from the life of slavery 481 00:23:58,479 –> 00:24:01,319 that we would all be living if we were left under the law 482 00:24:01,319 –> 00:24:04,819 that we might receive the full rights of sons. 483 00:24:06,920 –> 00:24:10,959 The purpose of the gospel, relationship with the father, 484 00:24:13,040 –> 00:24:16,099 the power of the gospel bringing you into freedom, 485 00:24:16,099 –> 00:24:16,939 how? 486 00:24:16,939 –> 00:24:19,959 Through his son, Jesus Christ. 487 00:24:22,680 –> 00:24:26,520 Here’s the third thing, the privilege of the gospel, 488 00:24:27,239 –> 00:24:31,560 maturity by the Holy Spirit. 489 00:24:31,560 –> 00:24:33,520 Look at chapter four in verse six. 490 00:24:34,359 –> 00:24:37,280 Because you are sons, God sent the spirit of his Son 491 00:24:37,280 –> 00:24:40,719 into our hearts, and the spirit calls out, 492 00:24:40,719 –> 00:24:42,959 ABBA, FATHER! 493 00:24:45,079 –> 00:24:48,839 Now, you know that the Bible speaks 494 00:24:48,839 –> 00:24:51,160 about becoming children of God 495 00:24:51,160 –> 00:24:52,719 to those who receive Christ, 496 00:24:52,719 –> 00:24:55,239 he gave the right to become children of God 497 00:24:55,300 –> 00:24:57,000 and so forth. 498 00:24:57,000 –> 00:25:01,859 But the Bible also speaks about being sons of God. 499 00:25:01,859 –> 00:25:06,219 And these are clearly two different pictures, 500 00:25:06,219 –> 00:25:08,800 and it is important for us to observe the distinction 501 00:25:08,800 –> 00:25:11,520 because they’re teaching us different things. 502 00:25:11,520 –> 00:25:12,920 The picture of children, of course, 503 00:25:12,920 –> 00:25:15,079 reminds us of our dependence, 504 00:25:15,079 –> 00:25:17,959 we must come to the Lord Jesus Christ as a little child. 505 00:25:18,800 –> 00:25:23,479 But the picture of sons reminds us of our privilege, 506 00:25:23,479 –> 00:25:28,060 of our responsibility and of the call to maturity. 507 00:25:29,280 –> 00:25:31,880 Now the contrast that Paul is making here 508 00:25:31,880 –> 00:25:36,619 is simply the contrast between children and sons, 509 00:25:36,619 –> 00:25:38,000 and he is making the point 510 00:25:38,000 –> 00:25:40,380 that there is all the difference in the world 511 00:25:40,380 –> 00:25:43,239 in terms of their experience. 512 00:25:43,239 –> 00:25:45,839 Look at chapter four, verses one to three. 513 00:25:45,839 –> 00:25:50,839 What I’m saying is that as long as the heir is a child, 514 00:25:51,819 –> 00:25:55,119 he is no different from a slave 515 00:25:55,119 –> 00:25:57,219 although he owns the whole estate. 516 00:25:58,739 –> 00:26:01,300 So here is this little child, 517 00:26:01,300 –> 00:26:06,300 and he is the offspring of some great land owner 518 00:26:07,280 –> 00:26:09,180 who has all the riches you can imagine 519 00:26:09,180 –> 00:26:11,079 but he’s just a little child. 520 00:26:11,079 –> 00:26:15,459 So he’s not able to enter into the enjoyment 521 00:26:15,459 –> 00:26:16,420 of what is actually his. 522 00:26:16,420 –> 00:26:17,819 In fact he frankly doesn’t even know 523 00:26:17,819 –> 00:26:19,739 what is already his. 524 00:26:19,780 –> 00:26:23,260 He actually is in the same position as a slave. 525 00:26:24,400 –> 00:26:26,000 He has all the rights of a son 526 00:26:26,000 –> 00:26:27,800 but he’s just too immature to enjoy them. 527 00:26:27,800 –> 00:26:29,640 So he’s out there in the kindergarten 528 00:26:29,640 –> 00:26:34,300 and he is, Paul says subject to guardians and trustees. 529 00:26:34,300 –> 00:26:36,500 He’s got a nanny looking after him 530 00:26:36,500 –> 00:26:37,760 who tells him what to do. 531 00:26:38,880 –> 00:26:40,300 Lays down the law. 532 00:26:42,160 –> 00:26:45,219 Until the time set by his father. 533 00:26:47,099 –> 00:26:49,260 So also, Paul says making the application 534 00:26:49,300 –> 00:26:51,859 when we were children, he’s talking to believers, 535 00:26:51,859 –> 00:26:53,020 we were in slavery. 536 00:26:53,020 –> 00:26:54,439 We were in the kindergarten. 537 00:26:54,439 –> 00:26:58,060 We were in the position of having the law laid down. 538 00:26:58,060 –> 00:27:01,459 Slavery to the basic principles of the world. 539 00:27:01,459 –> 00:27:03,380 Now you see he’s contrasting the position 540 00:27:03,380 –> 00:27:05,300 of a young child and a mature son 541 00:27:05,300 –> 00:27:08,140 because he now tells us that Christ has come 542 00:27:08,140 –> 00:27:10,579 to bring us out of this childhood 543 00:27:10,579 –> 00:27:13,699 in which we are under the law in the kindergarten 544 00:27:13,699 –> 00:27:15,540 with the rules being laid down 545 00:27:15,540 –> 00:27:17,959 into the fullrights of sons 546 00:27:17,959 –> 00:27:20,520 who are mature and responsible. 547 00:27:21,880 –> 00:27:23,319 The picture is so clear, isn’t it? 548 00:27:23,319 –> 00:27:27,420 The young child, and he needs to be fed 549 00:27:28,319 –> 00:27:31,140 and he needs his diaper changed 550 00:27:31,140 –> 00:27:33,380 and he doesn’t even know what belongs to him. 551 00:27:34,719 –> 00:27:39,719 But the mature son, boy, he’s able to act. 552 00:27:39,719 –> 00:27:42,119 He can serve in the family, 553 00:27:43,060 –> 00:27:45,599 and the ministry of the Holy Spirit 554 00:27:45,599 –> 00:27:48,959 is to bring you from childhood to maturity 555 00:27:48,959 –> 00:27:52,660 so that you can contribute to God’s family business. 556 00:27:53,560 –> 00:27:55,640 It is a wonderful picture. 557 00:27:59,579 –> 00:28:04,579 Now, I don’t wanna get too emotional here this morning. 558 00:28:06,479 –> 00:28:09,439 But today, today is the day 559 00:28:10,439 –> 00:28:15,439 when Karin and I officially become empty nesters. 560 00:28:19,479 –> 00:28:24,479 Our youngest son, David, leaves for college today. 561 00:28:25,520 –> 00:28:27,079 Now, we’ll see him on Friday 562 00:28:27,079 –> 00:28:29,319 because we’re going down then. 563 00:28:30,619 –> 00:28:34,400 But nonetheless, he heads off with a friend today 564 00:28:34,400 –> 00:28:37,859 for his sports camp at Taylor University. 565 00:28:38,699 –> 00:28:42,140 Now, I look back to when our two boys 566 00:28:42,140 –> 00:28:45,739 were small, playing on the floor, 567 00:28:45,739 –> 00:28:47,660 endless games that we invented 568 00:28:47,660 –> 00:28:49,380 on our hands and knees together. 569 00:28:51,339 –> 00:28:54,640 All that was involved in that stage of life, 570 00:28:54,640 –> 00:28:59,400 and it was a lot of fun and it was a lot of work. 571 00:29:00,959 –> 00:29:02,640 As some of us know right now. 572 00:29:05,640 –> 00:29:07,599 These last years, I have to tell you, 573 00:29:08,040 –> 00:29:10,060 one of the joys of life has been to see 574 00:29:11,439 –> 00:29:15,520 how our sons have used their strength 575 00:29:15,520 –> 00:29:17,540 to contribute to the life of the family, 576 00:29:19,619 –> 00:29:21,420 and I don’t know if there’s anything 577 00:29:21,420 –> 00:29:23,479 in this fear that has brought greater joy 578 00:29:23,479 –> 00:29:26,319 to my heart than to hear one or other 579 00:29:26,319 –> 00:29:30,079 of my sons saying, Dad, I can do that for you, 580 00:29:30,079 –> 00:29:32,439 and take responsibility for a whole project, 581 00:29:32,439 –> 00:29:35,439 brings joy to a mother and a father’s heart. 582 00:29:36,359 –> 00:29:37,640 Now you see the picture? 583 00:29:37,640 –> 00:29:40,079 God’s purpose for you is not that you remain 584 00:29:40,079 –> 00:29:42,540 as a little child in the kindergarten, 585 00:29:42,540 –> 00:29:44,760 but that by the ministry of the Holy Spirit 586 00:29:44,760 –> 00:29:46,280 you are brought into the full rights, 587 00:29:46,280 –> 00:29:48,479 the full responsibilities, the full privilege, 588 00:29:48,479 –> 00:29:50,640 and the full function of mature sons 589 00:29:50,640 –> 00:29:54,760 who can take responsibility in the father’s business. 590 00:29:57,119 –> 00:30:02,119 God sends the spirit of his Son, the Spirit of his Son. 591 00:30:02,839 –> 00:30:04,540 What kind of Son was Jesus? 592 00:30:05,739 –> 00:30:08,640 Well, he was the Son who could be fully trusted 593 00:30:08,640 –> 00:30:10,900 with the father’s business in the world, 594 00:30:10,900 –> 00:30:13,880 and the spirit of the Son is given to you 595 00:30:13,880 –> 00:30:16,079 so that you and I will be brought to a position 596 00:30:16,079 –> 00:30:18,540 where we can do the father’s business in this world 597 00:30:18,540 –> 00:30:20,479 and not just be children forever. 598 00:30:23,560 –> 00:30:25,859 That’s why you see at the end of the Gospel of John 599 00:30:25,859 –> 00:30:28,239 we’re told that Jesus breathed on them. 600 00:30:28,239 –> 00:30:31,579 He breathed on the disciples and He said, 601 00:30:31,619 –> 00:30:34,339 receive the Holy Spirit. 602 00:30:34,339 –> 00:30:36,380 And what was the next thing He said? 603 00:30:36,380 –> 00:30:39,439 As the father has sent me so I am sending you. 604 00:30:40,859 –> 00:30:43,900 You need to receive the Spirit 605 00:30:43,900 –> 00:30:46,560 so that you can be sent out to do the work of the father 606 00:30:46,560 –> 00:30:48,760 in the same way as the father sent me out 607 00:30:48,760 –> 00:30:51,699 filled with the same spirit to do my work here. 608 00:30:53,459 –> 00:30:55,280 I’m giving my spirit to you 609 00:30:55,280 –> 00:30:57,420 so that you will not be childish, 610 00:30:58,939 –> 00:31:01,300 so that you will be able as the church of God 611 00:31:01,359 –> 00:31:06,359 to go and to act and to make decisions 612 00:31:06,540 –> 00:31:09,300 and to take initiatives and to reach the world 613 00:31:09,300 –> 00:31:11,400 and to make disciples of all nations 614 00:31:11,400 –> 00:31:13,400 knowing that as you baptize them 615 00:31:13,400 –> 00:31:15,280 in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 616 00:31:15,280 –> 00:31:17,280 and teach them to obey all that I’ve commanded you 617 00:31:17,280 –> 00:31:19,699 I will be with you always, 618 00:31:19,699 –> 00:31:22,020 move forward with the gospel 619 00:31:22,020 –> 00:31:25,979 as mature sons would move forward with the family business, 620 00:31:25,979 –> 00:31:27,979 taking initiative in their time, 621 00:31:28,020 –> 00:31:30,640 showing enterprise, doing something 622 00:31:30,640 –> 00:31:32,459 to advance the Father’s work 623 00:31:32,459 –> 00:31:35,859 with the spirit of the Father at work within. 624 00:31:35,859 –> 00:31:38,560 I will be with you to the end of the age. 625 00:31:40,719 –> 00:31:44,280 And you see the divine team operating together. 626 00:31:45,319 –> 00:31:47,260 The purpose of the gospel to bring us 627 00:31:47,260 –> 00:31:49,760 into this marvelous relationship with the Father 628 00:31:49,760 –> 00:31:51,560 in which we are sons. 629 00:31:51,560 –> 00:31:54,000 The power of the gospel freeing us 630 00:31:54,000 –> 00:31:56,199 from this life of slavery 631 00:31:56,199 –> 00:31:59,459 we would be locked into otherwise, 632 00:31:59,459 –> 00:32:01,280 trying to get it right all the time. 633 00:32:01,280 –> 00:32:03,119 And the privilege of this gospel 634 00:32:03,119 –> 00:32:06,839 to be brought to maturity by the spirit 635 00:32:06,839 –> 00:32:11,839 so that we don’t continue to be dependent children 636 00:32:12,439 –> 00:32:14,599 but come to the place where we are able 637 00:32:14,599 –> 00:32:16,920 to act individually and together 638 00:32:18,040 –> 00:32:19,560 for the advance of the work 639 00:32:19,560 –> 00:32:23,520 that the Father has trusted into our hands. 640 00:32:26,880 –> 00:32:30,760 Now what do you know about this amazing work 641 00:32:30,760 –> 00:32:33,479 of the divine team in your life? 642 00:32:33,479 –> 00:32:34,520 That’s the question. 643 00:32:36,880 –> 00:32:41,880 Sonship, freedom, maturity. 644 00:32:47,359 –> 00:32:49,000 What do you know of these things? 645 00:32:49,819 –> 00:32:50,939 Answers. 646 00:32:52,579 –> 00:32:53,560 Think about this, 647 00:32:54,819 –> 00:32:57,420 if you lose sight of the father, 648 00:32:58,959 –> 00:33:01,459 you will become a self-centered Christian. 649 00:33:05,000 –> 00:33:07,099 If you lose sight of the son, 650 00:33:08,280 –> 00:33:11,339 you will become an enslaved Christian. 651 00:33:14,640 –> 00:33:17,060 And if you lose sight of the Spirit, 652 00:33:18,060 –> 00:33:21,500 you will become an irresponsible Christian. 653 00:33:24,540 –> 00:33:26,319 And these three things, by the way, 654 00:33:26,319 –> 00:33:29,859 always go together and are the marks 655 00:33:29,859 –> 00:33:31,920 of the absence of the divine team. 656 00:33:34,219 –> 00:33:38,780 Self-centeredness, being enslaved, 657 00:33:41,339 –> 00:33:42,839 and becoming irresponsible. 658 00:33:43,520 –> 00:33:45,839 That’s what happened to Adam. 659 00:33:49,180 –> 00:33:51,439 God gave him this marvelous commission 660 00:33:51,439 –> 00:33:55,359 like a trusted son, with responsibility 661 00:33:55,359 –> 00:33:59,280 in the father’s business, go fill the earth, subdue it. 662 00:34:01,540 –> 00:34:03,939 He’s given this mandate in the creation, 663 00:34:03,939 –> 00:34:06,560 by God, and what does he do? 664 00:34:07,599 –> 00:34:09,479 He decides he wants to be his own God, 665 00:34:09,479 –> 00:34:11,340 he wants to run the world his way. 666 00:34:12,060 –> 00:34:15,040 And he becomes self-centered and instead 667 00:34:15,040 –> 00:34:19,620 of walking with God, becomes his own God. 668 00:34:19,620 –> 00:34:21,139 And what’s the result of that? 669 00:34:22,419 –> 00:34:25,939 No sooner has he sinned, but he finds himself enslaved. 670 00:34:25,939 –> 00:34:27,979 He finds that sin has a grip in his life 671 00:34:27,979 –> 00:34:30,159 and it’s more powerful than he is. 672 00:34:31,939 –> 00:34:34,199 And so he becomes irresponsible, 673 00:34:34,199 –> 00:34:36,719 and his children become even more irresponsible. 674 00:34:36,719 –> 00:34:40,520 He could not fulfill the mandate that God had given to him 675 00:34:40,520 –> 00:34:42,739 and that is the story of this world. 676 00:34:42,739 –> 00:34:46,919 The human race not able to fulfill the mandate of God. 677 00:34:46,919 –> 00:34:49,580 We’re just not in a position to do it. 678 00:34:53,219 –> 00:34:54,780 And you know, if that can happen to the human race, 679 00:34:54,780 –> 00:34:56,419 it can happen to a church too. 680 00:34:59,179 –> 00:35:01,020 A church that becomes self-centered 681 00:35:01,020 –> 00:35:03,179 will quickly become enslaved 682 00:35:06,020 –> 00:35:08,500 and it will lose the capacity to fulfill the work 683 00:35:08,500 –> 00:35:10,300 that God has given the church to do. 684 00:35:11,199 –> 00:35:12,040 That’s just how it is. 685 00:35:12,040 –> 00:35:15,360 These things go together and we’ve all seen it happen. 686 00:35:17,280 –> 00:35:18,500 And it’s the threefold mark 687 00:35:18,500 –> 00:35:20,219 of the absence of the Divine team. 688 00:35:23,600 –> 00:35:26,520 So I want to suggest to you that above everything else, 689 00:35:26,520 –> 00:35:31,520 we desperately need always the ministry of the Divine team. 690 00:35:32,360 –> 00:35:33,800 Don’t you agree with that? 691 00:35:33,800 –> 00:35:34,679 It’s what we need. 692 00:35:36,399 –> 00:35:39,439 We are in constant need of that ministry 693 00:35:39,540 –> 00:35:42,280 that brings us into relationship with the Father, 694 00:35:42,280 –> 00:35:44,459 sustains us in the freedom of the Son, 695 00:35:44,459 –> 00:35:45,959 and is always bringing us 696 00:35:45,959 –> 00:35:49,320 out of childishness into maturity by the Spirit 697 00:35:49,320 –> 00:35:51,780 so that we can be useful in the family business. 698 00:35:54,100 –> 00:35:57,159 And by the way, these three things also go together as well. 699 00:35:58,399 –> 00:36:01,120 They are the marks of the presence of the Divine team. 700 00:36:02,679 –> 00:36:04,620 Sonship, relationship with God, 701 00:36:06,120 –> 00:36:08,020 and where there is that true sonship 702 00:36:08,179 –> 00:36:10,479 that comes through our Lord Jesus Christ, 703 00:36:10,479 –> 00:36:12,439 you will find freedom. 704 00:36:14,419 –> 00:36:15,719 And where you find these things, 705 00:36:15,719 –> 00:36:18,520 you will find more and more maturity. 706 00:36:18,520 –> 00:36:20,179 And thank God for it. 707 00:36:20,179 –> 00:36:22,659 You see, you can’t prize the Divine team apart. 708 00:36:22,659 –> 00:36:24,719 You can’t get a cigarette paper between them. 709 00:36:24,719 –> 00:36:27,820 These things go together always. 710 00:36:31,000 –> 00:36:33,340 So I want you to picture, in this last moment, 711 00:36:33,340 –> 00:36:37,580 the Divine team knocking on your door. 712 00:36:38,580 –> 00:36:41,260 The Father, the Son and the Spirit, one God. 713 00:36:41,260 –> 00:36:45,360 The Divine team is knocking on your door. 714 00:36:47,540 –> 00:36:50,159 And the Father says I want you to know me 715 00:36:50,159 –> 00:36:52,080 and I want you to walk with me. 716 00:36:54,500 –> 00:36:55,899 And the Son says 717 00:36:55,899 –> 00:36:58,340 you are living under a great burden right now 718 00:36:58,340 –> 00:37:01,479 and I want to set you free. 719 00:37:04,639 –> 00:37:05,840 And the Spirit says, 720 00:37:05,840 –> 00:37:08,159 now look, you’ve been behaving like a child 721 00:37:09,159 –> 00:37:10,840 and I want to make you a son 722 00:37:10,840 –> 00:37:14,000 who can be useful in the Father’s business. 723 00:37:19,260 –> 00:37:23,699 The Divine team is knocking on your door. 724 00:37:27,139 –> 00:37:30,679 And the woman in Spurgeon’s story wouldn’t come to the door 725 00:37:30,679 –> 00:37:34,040 because she thought it was the man calling for the rent. 726 00:37:36,840 –> 00:37:41,840 And she missed a glorious gift 727 00:37:43,879 –> 00:37:45,360 that she could have received. 728 00:37:48,540 –> 00:37:52,340 Now the Divine team is knocking on your door, 729 00:37:52,340 –> 00:37:54,159 knocking on our door. 730 00:37:58,120 –> 00:37:59,260 What are you gonna do? 731 00:38:02,080 –> 00:38:03,600 Let’s pray together, shall we? 732 00:38:05,919 –> 00:38:06,780 Amen. 733 00:38:10,159 –> 00:38:11,959 Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, 734 00:38:11,959 –> 00:38:13,639 we bow before you in worship. 735 00:38:16,439 –> 00:38:21,000 We see how bankrupt, lost, hopeless, and helpless 736 00:38:21,000 –> 00:38:22,540 we are without you. 737 00:38:24,800 –> 00:38:27,459 And how all our good is in you. 738 00:38:29,860 –> 00:38:31,979 And therefore, with full hearts, 739 00:38:31,979 –> 00:38:33,979 we thank you for the gospel. 740 00:38:36,840 –> 00:38:41,840 We thank you for the privilege of being sons of God. 741 00:38:44,260 –> 00:38:46,820 Whatever our background, whatever our gender, 742 00:38:49,219 –> 00:38:51,320 in Christ, by the Spirit, 743 00:38:51,320 –> 00:38:54,419 brought into living relationship with you, 744 00:38:57,860 –> 00:38:59,620 the blessing of being free, 745 00:39:00,199 –> 00:39:02,300 the blessing of the army, 746 00:39:04,719 –> 00:39:08,719 the growth by the Spirit to maturity to be useful 747 00:39:09,760 –> 00:39:13,199 and to advance the Father’s work in this world. 748 00:39:17,120 –> 00:39:21,020 We say, dear Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we need you. 749 00:39:23,500 –> 00:39:24,540 We love you. 750 00:39:27,560 –> 00:39:28,719 We welcome you. 751 00:39:30,620 –> 00:39:35,620 And using that picture as best we can express 752 00:39:35,620 –> 00:39:37,840 our thoughts in pictures, 753 00:39:37,840 –> 00:39:42,840 we would come to open the door individually and together. 754 00:39:46,040 –> 00:39:50,000 Divine team, Father, Son, and Spirit do your work 755 00:39:50,000 –> 00:39:55,000 increasingly fully at your pleasure completely in us 756 00:39:55,939 –> 00:39:57,520 and among us we pray 757 00:39:58,459 –> 00:40:00,860 and may it be for your glory 758 00:40:02,100 –> 00:40:03,379 and for your honor 759 00:40:05,239 –> 00:40:08,719 for our blessing and for the advance of your kingdom. 760 00:40:10,320 –> 00:40:14,919 For these things we ask with gratitude for our privilege 761 00:40:16,919 –> 00:40:21,040 through Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen.