so<\/p>\n
something<\/p>\n
so if anyone needs translation<\/p>\n
it's in the back<\/p>\n
so we'll take some time to get situated<\/p>\n
so just to be clear this is translation<\/p>\n
from English to Thai<\/p>\n
Japan<\/p>\n
so hands up if you can hear translation<\/p>\n
okay we good<\/p>\n
we good all right I hope everyone's<\/p>\n
weeks have been well<\/p>\n
it's hard to believe that we're in the<\/p>\n
last week of February<\/p>\n
the weeks<\/p>\n
just seem to be flying by<\/p>\n
and although the weeks are flying by<\/p>\n
we're still going to be parked in<\/p>\n
chapter six this week<\/p>\n
for our text<\/p>\n
and so last week<\/p>\n
preached on what First Corinthians<\/p>\n
teaches us about sexual ethics<\/p>\n
and this week we're going to be looking<\/p>\n
at some things that we all have faced<\/p>\n
are facing or if we aren't now we will<\/p>\n
be facing<\/p>\n
in the very near future<\/p>\n
we're going to be looking at conflict<\/p>\n
so hands up if you have never had<\/p>\n
conflict before hands up<\/p>\n
if you've never had conflict<\/p>\n
the one man in the entire world right<\/p>\n
there<\/p>\n
see conflict is a it's a part of life<\/p>\n
it's inevitable<\/p>\n
but the way we think about conflict<\/p>\n
and the way we navigate conflict it can<\/p>\n
make all the difference<\/p>\n
so conflicts between people can lead to<\/p>\n
Great arguments<\/p>\n
or deafening silences<\/p>\n
conflicts are the reason that we have<\/p>\n
wars<\/p>\n
they're also the reason that friends<\/p>\n
stop talking to each other<\/p>\n
conflict can tear countries apart it can<\/p>\n
tear families apart<\/p>\n
can tear friendships apart<\/p>\n
it can even tear individuals apart<\/p>\n
think about the effects that conflict<\/p>\n
has on a child<\/p>\n
having to witness their parents<\/p>\n
screaming at each other<\/p>\n
so what does First Corinthians have to<\/p>\n
teach us about conflict<\/p>\n
everything our text for today is First<\/p>\n
Corinthians chapter 6 verses 1 to 11.<\/p>\n
so I'll read the text to us in English<\/p>\n
and the tie is on the screen as well<\/p>\n
so chapter 6 verses 1 to 11. if any of<\/p>\n
you has a dispute with another do you<\/p>\n
dare take it before the ungodly for<\/p>\n
judgment instead of before the Lord's<\/p>\n
people<\/p>\n
or do you not know that the Lord's<\/p>\n
people will judge the world and if you<\/p>\n
are to judge the world are you not<\/p>\n
competent to judge trivial cases<\/p>\n
do you not know that we will judge<\/p>\n
Angels how much more the things of this<\/p>\n
life<\/p>\n
therefore if you have disputes about<\/p>\n
such matters do you ask for a ruling<\/p>\n
from those whose way of life is scoring<\/p>\n
in the church<\/p>\n
I say this to shame you<\/p>\n
is it possible that there is nobody<\/p>\n
among you wise enough to judge a dispute<\/p>\n
between believers<\/p>\n
but instead one brother takes another<\/p>\n
the court and this in front of<\/p>\n
unbelievers<\/p>\n
the very fact that you have lawsuits<\/p>\n
among you means you have been completely<\/p>\n
defeated already<\/p>\n
why not rather be wronged why not rather<\/p>\n
be cheated<\/p>\n
instead you yourselves cheat and do<\/p>\n
wrong and you do this to your brothers<\/p>\n
and sisters<\/p>\n
or do you not know that wrongdoers will<\/p>\n
not inherit the kingdom of God<\/p>\n
do not be deceived neither the sexually<\/p>\n
immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor<\/p>\n
men who have sex with men nor thieves<\/p>\n
Norther greedy nor drunkards nor<\/p>\n
slanderers nor swindlers will inherit<\/p>\n
the kingdom of God<\/p>\n
and this is what some of you were<\/p>\n
but you are washed you were Sanctified<\/p>\n
you were justified in the name of our<\/p>\n
Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of<\/p>\n
our God<\/p>\n
so this is the word of God<\/p>\n
so the two most fundamental things that<\/p>\n
keep people from fighting is common<\/p>\n
blood<\/p>\n
family and common Faith being in the<\/p>\n
same church<\/p>\n
but we see all the time that there is<\/p>\n
fighting in families and that there is<\/p>\n
fighting in faith<\/p>\n
our text for today is about a fight in<\/p>\n
the family of faith there are Christians<\/p>\n
taking each other to court<\/p>\n
and Paul himself can't believe it<\/p>\n
he's in shock<\/p>\n
there is something in our hearts so<\/p>\n
strong that inclines us to fighting that<\/p>\n
even these powerful bonds that should be<\/p>\n
pulling us together common Faith common<\/p>\n
blood even these powerful things can't<\/p>\n
stop it<\/p>\n
and so we can approach the text asking<\/p>\n
these questions<\/p>\n
one why is fighting so serious<\/p>\n
two what is the root of fighting<\/p>\n
three how can we be healed<\/p>\n
so three questions one why is it so<\/p>\n
serious what's its root how can we be<\/p>\n
healed<\/p>\n
so why does Paul take this so seriously<\/p>\n
In this passage we have Christians<\/p>\n
taking one another to court<\/p>\n
we see in verse 6 Paul says one brother<\/p>\n
takes another Accord and this in front<\/p>\n
of unbelievers<\/p>\n
and so this is the issue that Paul is<\/p>\n
addressing<\/p>\n
now why is this such a big deal<\/p>\n
today court cases are relatively common<\/p>\n
everyone has disputes so why is Paul up<\/p>\n
in arms about this<\/p>\n
Paul says in verse 1<\/p>\n
he says if any of you has a dispute with<\/p>\n
another do you dare to take it before<\/p>\n
the ungodly for judgment instead of<\/p>\n
before the Lord's people<\/p>\n
which shows us<\/p>\n
the fact that a brother is willing to<\/p>\n
take another brother to court is an<\/p>\n
outrageous Act<\/p>\n
and the implication here<\/p>\n
is that one who is willing to do this is<\/p>\n
someone who no longer cares about what<\/p>\n
anyone thinks or feels and no longer<\/p>\n
cares about the injuries that they may<\/p>\n
inflict on others<\/p>\n
not only so Paul says in verse 2 do you<\/p>\n
not know that the Lord's people will<\/p>\n
judge the world and if you are to judge<\/p>\n
the world are you not competent to judge<\/p>\n
trivial cases<\/p>\n
which shows us really that the things<\/p>\n
that these Christians are bringing each<\/p>\n
other to court over the reason that<\/p>\n
they're doing this they're not really<\/p>\n
big deals he calls them trivial cases<\/p>\n
they're no big deals at all<\/p>\n
so these aren't criminal cases like if<\/p>\n
someone has committed abuse to someone<\/p>\n
else or if someone has physically harmed<\/p>\n
someone<\/p>\n
and for Christians to handle cases of<\/p>\n
abuse embezzlement sexual misconduct<\/p>\n
for us to handle that strictly in the<\/p>\n
church that would be wrong and it would<\/p>\n
be functionally saying that we don't<\/p>\n
believe that God uses the authorities as<\/p>\n
agents for good and to seek Justice<\/p>\n
and these are the types of cases that<\/p>\n
Paul is not talking about<\/p>\n
he's actually talking about smaller<\/p>\n
cases such as someone not paying back a<\/p>\n
debt really it's small enough issues<\/p>\n
that Paul calls them trivial cases<\/p>\n
so the act of taking another Christian<\/p>\n
McCourt causes Paul to take this<\/p>\n
seriously is because one<\/p>\n
someone who does this no longer cares<\/p>\n
about the effects that their actions<\/p>\n
have on other people they don't care<\/p>\n
two they're willing to go to such an<\/p>\n
extent over a trivial issue<\/p>\n
some things that ultimately is not<\/p>\n
important<\/p>\n
think of the picture when family members<\/p>\n
take each other to court because there's<\/p>\n
a fight about how the family possessions<\/p>\n
and inheritance will be divided<\/p>\n
it's a shameful image isn't it<\/p>\n
we would expect the family to be able to<\/p>\n
handle a dispute like this without<\/p>\n
having to go to court<\/p>\n
but it happens all the time and it's<\/p>\n
shameful<\/p>\n
and if it's shameful when we see<\/p>\n
families taking each other to court<\/p>\n
how much more shameful is it when we see<\/p>\n
members of God's family doing this<\/p>\n
the Corinthians instead of resolving<\/p>\n
their trivial matters within the church<\/p>\n
they're going to public courts in order<\/p>\n
to find resolution<\/p>\n
in Paul's words verses four and five<\/p>\n
says if you have disputes about such<\/p>\n
matters do you ask for a ruling by those<\/p>\n
whose way of life is scoring outside the<\/p>\n
church<\/p>\n
is there nobody in the church wise<\/p>\n
enough to judge a dispute between<\/p>\n
believers<\/p>\n
the heart behind this is<\/p>\n
Paul cannot believe that Christians<\/p>\n
would appeal for judgment outside the<\/p>\n
church when someone wrongs us rather<\/p>\n
than to pursue reconciliation directly<\/p>\n
so at this point someone might ask<\/p>\n
well why is that doesn't it seem<\/p>\n
reasonable for us to appeal to a third<\/p>\n
party when we can't solve a disagreement<\/p>\n
and the answer to that question is we<\/p>\n
got to know something about the courts<\/p>\n
and corins the way they worked so the<\/p>\n
way that the courts in Corinth worked<\/p>\n
was if you had more money the courts<\/p>\n
were more likely to rule in your favor<\/p>\n
and so over the past few weeks we've<\/p>\n
talked a lot about<\/p>\n
how Corinth was a city<\/p>\n
of people obsessed with status and honor<\/p>\n
and how much money you made and how<\/p>\n
powerful you were and who you knew<\/p>\n
and it's no different in the legal<\/p>\n
system these courts were well known for<\/p>\n
corruption<\/p>\n
so if you had more power you would be<\/p>\n
favored to win regardless if what you<\/p>\n
did was wrong or right<\/p>\n
it doesn't really matter<\/p>\n
so some years ago<\/p>\n
there were two Christian organizations<\/p>\n
that were involved with bringing Bibles<\/p>\n
into Russia during the Cold War<\/p>\n
they sued each other<\/p>\n
we're going back a little bit if you<\/p>\n
want to adjust this you would not go to<\/p>\n
the courts and corns all right main take<\/p>\n
home if you want to Justice don't go to<\/p>\n
Corinth why because the courts and<\/p>\n
currents don't rule with Justice they<\/p>\n
give<\/p>\n
you're more likely to win if you have<\/p>\n
power so don't don't go there<\/p>\n
the courts and coins were used to prove<\/p>\n
actually who had a higher status who had<\/p>\n
more honor who was more powerful<\/p>\n
so if you're rich and Powerful you could<\/p>\n
get away with anything<\/p>\n
if you were poor and you had nothing<\/p>\n
even the legal system would be against<\/p>\n
you see<\/p>\n
doesn't that sound familiar<\/p>\n
in taking their brothers and sisters to<\/p>\n
court what the Christians and corinths<\/p>\n
were doing was basically saying I don't<\/p>\n
care about who is right who's wrong I<\/p>\n
don't care about how my actions will<\/p>\n
hurt or injure other people<\/p>\n
I'm going to use the power I have to<\/p>\n
make sure I get my way<\/p>\n
all I care about is getting my rights<\/p>\n
and I'm gonna make sure that I get them<\/p>\n
and so they're actually exploiting their<\/p>\n
power taking their brothers and sisters<\/p>\n
to court in order to maintain their<\/p>\n
status amongst the public<\/p>\n
and so we may think okay this is really<\/p>\n
interesting it's really bad but I don't<\/p>\n
see how this applies to me I haven't<\/p>\n
sued anybody I haven't taken anyone to<\/p>\n
court I don't plan on taking anyone to<\/p>\n
court so it doesn't apply to me okay<\/p>\n
have you ever felt snubbed have you ever<\/p>\n
been mistreated<\/p>\n
have you ever thought I'm not getting<\/p>\n
the respect I deserve how dare he or she<\/p>\n
say that to me<\/p>\n
have you ever been treated unfairly and<\/p>\n
wanted to get back at them<\/p>\n
what we see going on in Corinth<\/p>\n
continues to happen today<\/p>\n
and Paul's response is this is really<\/p>\n
he says in verse 7 the fact that you<\/p>\n
have lawsuits among you means you have<\/p>\n
been completely defeated already<\/p>\n
why does he say that why is this<\/p>\n
indicative of defeat<\/p>\n
well by appealing to the courts we've<\/p>\n
seen that getting Justice is not the<\/p>\n
main concern rather the main concern is<\/p>\n
exploiting Brothers and Sisters in<\/p>\n
Christ by abusing their power<\/p>\n
so they don't care about Justice in fact<\/p>\n
verse 8 tells us they go to the extent<\/p>\n
of cheating and doing wrong<\/p>\n
so in having to choose between Justice<\/p>\n
or advantage and profit they are<\/p>\n
choosing profit ten times out of 10. so<\/p>\n
they've been one thing they've been<\/p>\n
defeated by is their own selfishness<\/p>\n
their own selfishness has led them to<\/p>\n
exploit their brothers and sisters in<\/p>\n
Christ<\/p>\n
now some years ago there were two<\/p>\n
Christian organizations that were<\/p>\n
involved with bringing Bibles into<\/p>\n
Russia during the Cold War<\/p>\n
and so they sued each other in public<\/p>\n
court for the whole world to see two<\/p>\n
Christian organizations<\/p>\n
ultimately it doesn't make a difference<\/p>\n
which organization won right because<\/p>\n
before the eyes of the world<\/p>\n
there are already people who have been<\/p>\n
turned off by the fact that Christians<\/p>\n
are fighting each other in court<\/p>\n
what this does is essentially saying to<\/p>\n
everybody who's watching you Christians<\/p>\n
are no better than we are you don't have<\/p>\n
anything different than we have you need<\/p>\n
us and you need our wisdom you need a<\/p>\n
judge to come make you and force you to<\/p>\n
do the right thing<\/p>\n
what have you got to offer us what<\/p>\n
difference does your gospel make you<\/p>\n
don't have anything I need or want<\/p>\n
so they've been defeated not only by<\/p>\n
selfishness but because them taking<\/p>\n
their small issues to court<\/p>\n
it's a reflection that tells the world<\/p>\n
that there is nothing different about<\/p>\n
being a Christian<\/p>\n
and ultimately<\/p>\n
what that means is they've been defeated<\/p>\n
because they've forgotten who they are<\/p>\n
so in verses one and two Paul talks<\/p>\n
about them being the Lord's people in<\/p>\n
the Greek this word is often translated<\/p>\n
as holy or Saints and it carries the<\/p>\n
meaning lightness of nature with the<\/p>\n
Lord and different from the world<\/p>\n
so Paul when he calls him the Lord's<\/p>\n
people when he calls them saints he's<\/p>\n
reminding them who they really are<\/p>\n
he's reminding them that they are<\/p>\n
fundamentally different from the inside<\/p>\n
out<\/p>\n
and he's also reminding them of their<\/p>\n
inheritance<\/p>\n
because he says do you not know that the<\/p>\n
Lord's people will judge the world<\/p>\n
and if you are to judge the world are<\/p>\n
you not competent to judge trivial cases<\/p>\n
so we don't know what judging the world<\/p>\n
means there's tons of different<\/p>\n
interpretations but what we do know what<\/p>\n
we can say is that it'll be glorious and<\/p>\n
so Paul is saying that if you are in<\/p>\n
Christ if you are a Christian then how<\/p>\n
you handle conflict should be wiser and<\/p>\n
more gracious than how the world handles<\/p>\n
conflict<\/p>\n
but because they've forgotten this by<\/p>\n
forgetting who God has made them to be<\/p>\n
instead of having wisdom to resolve<\/p>\n
small matters they have no desire to<\/p>\n
grow in wisdom<\/p>\n
they're so concerned with how the World<\/p>\n
Views them that they've forgotten their<\/p>\n
true statuses since<\/p>\n
so they're consumed by selfishness and<\/p>\n
self-centeredness<\/p>\n
and see that's why Paul says<\/p>\n
and this is where we get to the root of<\/p>\n
fighting<\/p>\n
the Corinthians as we've said they're<\/p>\n
fighting taking each other to court<\/p>\n
because they've forgotten their real<\/p>\n
status<\/p>\n
and so they are now looking for status<\/p>\n
and this leads to them cheating and<\/p>\n
doing wrong to their brothers and<\/p>\n
sisters<\/p>\n
and the Bible says that this is the case<\/p>\n
for all human beings and that this is<\/p>\n
the reason for fighting<\/p>\n
we feel like we don't have status<\/p>\n
we feel like we don't have respect we<\/p>\n
don't have honor and so we have to go<\/p>\n
get it we're not sure of our<\/p>\n
significance our value we're not sure of<\/p>\n
our own worth and so we have to go get<\/p>\n
it we have to go take it<\/p>\n
and if this is true then it explains a<\/p>\n
lot of things<\/p>\n
for example it explains our culture of<\/p>\n
success<\/p>\n
if we look around our at our current<\/p>\n
culture in Bangkok what we'll see is<\/p>\n
that we believe that success and money<\/p>\n
will make us secure important and happy<\/p>\n
but then when we look at the high<\/p>\n
numbers of people who have used all of<\/p>\n
their means to achieve money and power<\/p>\n
we see that many of them are<\/p>\n
self-destructing<\/p>\n
there was a counselor who was<\/p>\n
interviewed she said success is the new<\/p>\n
drug it's the new alcohol<\/p>\n
she says think about a drug addict the<\/p>\n
first time a drug addict has that first<\/p>\n
high the first time they're trapped<\/p>\n
they're done because from then on you're<\/p>\n
going to need more and more of the drug<\/p>\n
to achieve the same high<\/p>\n
and as time goes on you have to use more<\/p>\n
and more of the substance but you get<\/p>\n
less and less pleasure from it until<\/p>\n
finally you get to a place where you're<\/p>\n
driven to destructive levels of use<\/p>\n
all the while experiencing nothing<\/p>\n
inside<\/p>\n
and she says this counselor she says<\/p>\n
this is how success works when we first<\/p>\n
we get that first paycheck it's a high<\/p>\n
we want to get even more success But as<\/p>\n
time goes on it takes more and more<\/p>\n
success to get that high until we can't<\/p>\n
get it anymore and then we're just<\/p>\n
working ourselves to death<\/p>\n
and in the process we're hurting other<\/p>\n
people we're taking advantage of others<\/p>\n
we're using our power to get what we<\/p>\n
want ultimately feeling empty<\/p>\n
so being concerned with status<\/p>\n
explains success but it also explains<\/p>\n
crime and all sorts of conflict<\/p>\n
ultimately it's not about politics at<\/p>\n
the end of it or sorry ultimately<\/p>\n
it's not about politics it's not about<\/p>\n
who is right who is wrong it's about<\/p>\n
respect<\/p>\n
it's about respect that's why the<\/p>\n
Corinthians don't care about Justice<\/p>\n
they care about their own status because<\/p>\n
it's about respect<\/p>\n
and the taking advantage of people the<\/p>\n
violence it's a response to them not<\/p>\n
getting the respect that they feel that<\/p>\n
they deserve<\/p>\n
the Bible says deep down that we are<\/p>\n
empty there is a vacuum<\/p>\n
and emptiness in our hearts and this is<\/p>\n
what causes us to be concerned with our<\/p>\n
status this is what causes us to be<\/p>\n
self-centered<\/p>\n
and this is the root of fighting<\/p>\n
self-centeredness destroys relationships<\/p>\n
it's the reason we have wars<\/p>\n
it's the reason we have family breakdown<\/p>\n
and class struggle<\/p>\n
why are relationships constantly<\/p>\n
exploding<\/p>\n
it's the darkness of self-centeredness<\/p>\n
there's nothing that makes us more<\/p>\n
miserable than self-absorption<\/p>\n
asking questions like how am I feeling<\/p>\n
how am I doing am I being treated justly<\/p>\n
am I being treated with the respect that<\/p>\n
I deserve how are people looking at me<\/p>\n
am I succeeding am I proving myself<\/p>\n
self-centeredness causes us to do<\/p>\n
terrible things and it causes us to take<\/p>\n
advantage of people and exploit people<\/p>\n
just like the Corinthians<\/p>\n
and the reason that this is done is<\/p>\n
because trying to fill the vacuum inside<\/p>\n
of us we're unsure of our status just<\/p>\n
like the Corinthians and so we heard<\/p>\n
other people and we hurt ourselves<\/p>\n
and the Bible says the reason for this<\/p>\n
Emptiness is because we were created by<\/p>\n
God and for God<\/p>\n
but we've turned away from God and<\/p>\n
because we've turned away from God there<\/p>\n
is an infinite size vacuum inside of us<\/p>\n
that was meant to be filled with the<\/p>\n
delight and the love of God<\/p>\n
so if we turn away from God and he's not<\/p>\n
the center of our life and the source of<\/p>\n
all our joy and if we turn away we have<\/p>\n
an infinite sized vacuum in us and we'll<\/p>\n
do everything we can to fill it just<\/p>\n
like the Corinthians deep down deep down<\/p>\n
we won't care about how our actions<\/p>\n
impact others<\/p>\n
or how we injure other people<\/p>\n
we'll just want to fill it fill that<\/p>\n
vacuum but it'll never be full and so<\/p>\n
will always be self-centered we'll<\/p>\n
always be fighting<\/p>\n
we're concerned with our rights see Paul<\/p>\n
says why not rather be cheated why not<\/p>\n
rather be wronged let's ask ourselves<\/p>\n
why not rather be wronged<\/p>\n
why not rather be cheated<\/p>\n
how does that sound to us<\/p>\n
it's a completely different set of<\/p>\n
priorities and way of looking at the<\/p>\n
world<\/p>\n
why is it that Paul can say this<\/p>\n
what will cure us<\/p>\n
of our self-centeredness<\/p>\n
so the reason Paul can say this is<\/p>\n
because he sees he believes that being<\/p>\n
cheated and being wronged<\/p>\n
is not the worst case scenario it's not<\/p>\n
the worst thing that can happen<\/p>\n
losing our rights not having access to<\/p>\n
our rights or even being disrespected<\/p>\n
and treated very poorly is not the worst<\/p>\n
thing that can happen<\/p>\n
can you imagine being cheated<\/p>\n
being disrespected your brother or<\/p>\n
sister in Christ taken advantage of you<\/p>\n
or are you losing a large amount of<\/p>\n
money unfairly<\/p>\n
imagine that and instead of trying to<\/p>\n
get back trying to make sure that you<\/p>\n
get that we get what is rightfully ours<\/p>\n
we're okay with being cheated and<\/p>\n
wronged<\/p>\n
that goes against what most of us think<\/p>\n
doesn't it we think I'm not a pushover<\/p>\n
I'll show you how dare you do this to me<\/p>\n
we're concerned with trying to get back<\/p>\n
or if at the very least proving that<\/p>\n
we're not weak<\/p>\n
but what Paul is saying<\/p>\n
is we should be willing to suffer loss<\/p>\n
rather than the worst case scenario<\/p>\n
which is disunity and disgrace to the<\/p>\n
gospel<\/p>\n
Paul is saying that we should absorb the<\/p>\n
cost absorb the cost of being wronged<\/p>\n
we should be able to forgive<\/p>\n
and the reason is because the things of<\/p>\n
this world are only temporary while our<\/p>\n
relationship and reconciliation with<\/p>\n
other believers is eternal<\/p>\n
Paul's operating from a completely<\/p>\n
different set of beliefs and priorities<\/p>\n
than everybody<\/p>\n
surely this would have shocked the<\/p>\n
Corinthians and if you go up to any<\/p>\n
normal person it will shock them too you<\/p>\n
want me to willingly be wronged you want<\/p>\n
me to willingly be cheated I could never<\/p>\n
do that<\/p>\n
but imagine imagine a scenario in which<\/p>\n
a significant financial loss<\/p>\n
thousands tens of thousands hundreds of<\/p>\n
thousands even millions of Bud imagine a<\/p>\n
loss like this takes place and instead<\/p>\n
of trying to outdo each other in court<\/p>\n
two Christians try to outdo one another<\/p>\n
in sacrificial love and honor<\/p>\n
what kind of message does that say to<\/p>\n
everyone watching<\/p>\n
it says our hope is not in the things of<\/p>\n
this world our hope is not in our status<\/p>\n
we're no longer concerned with our<\/p>\n
self-centeredness instead we sacrifice<\/p>\n
to love our Brothers and Sisters in<\/p>\n
imagine being wronged I'm sure all of us<\/p>\n
in this room have been wrong before<\/p>\n
and instead of gossiping about the<\/p>\n
person instead of stonewalling them and<\/p>\n
never talking to them again instead of<\/p>\n
cutting them out of our Lives completely<\/p>\n
we turn around and we say I know what<\/p>\n
you did is wrong you've hurt me but I<\/p>\n
forgive you<\/p>\n
imagine being able to absorb the cost<\/p>\n
it's immensely difficult<\/p>\n
this does not this is not easy I'm sure<\/p>\n
it doesn't sound easy I'm sure this is<\/p>\n
making everyone feel guilty<\/p>\n
um including myself it's difficult isn't<\/p>\n
it it's not easy it's costly<\/p>\n
if<\/p>\n
you're forgiving somebody it's<\/p>\n
emotionally very expensive it takes<\/p>\n
blood it takes sweat it takes tears<\/p>\n
because in all cases<\/p>\n
either the offender is going to suffer<\/p>\n
or you are or I am<\/p>\n
there is no way to deal with the debt<\/p>\n
without suffering either you make the<\/p>\n
offender suffer or you suffer for it<\/p>\n
yourself<\/p>\n
how do we forgive<\/p>\n
the Bible says as long as we have this<\/p>\n
emptiness in our hearts<\/p>\n
we're never going to be able to do this<\/p>\n
and Paul tells us in verse 11<\/p>\n
that The Cure<\/p>\n
is something has to happen outside of us<\/p>\n
something outside of us needs to happen<\/p>\n
verses 10 and 11 Paul says some of you<\/p>\n
used to be sexually immoral some of you<\/p>\n
used to be Thieves<\/p>\n
some of you used to be greedy some of<\/p>\n
you used to take advantage of people but<\/p>\n
you were washed<\/p>\n
you were Sanctified you were justified<\/p>\n
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and<\/p>\n
by the spirit of our God<\/p>\n
this is what Paul gives the Corinthians<\/p>\n
and this is what Paul gives us<\/p>\n
as the way for us to be healed<\/p>\n
this is the only thing that will truly<\/p>\n
bring us together<\/p>\n
this is the thing that to the extent<\/p>\n
that we grasp this it will put an end to<\/p>\n
our self-centeredness and our fighting<\/p>\n
and it really will to the extent that we<\/p>\n
grasp this and let this go into our<\/p>\n
hearts it puts an end to<\/p>\n
self-centeredness why he says you are<\/p>\n
washed you are Sanctified and you are<\/p>\n
Justified Paul is saying something has<\/p>\n
happened to you from the outside<\/p>\n
the question is what what has happened<\/p>\n
in John 13<\/p>\n
on Jesus's last day it says Jesus knew<\/p>\n
that the hour had come for him to leave<\/p>\n
this world and go to the father<\/p>\n
having loved his own who were in the<\/p>\n
world he loved them to the end<\/p>\n
in the Greek he loved them to the end it<\/p>\n
says<\/p>\n
he loved them to the full extent of his<\/p>\n
love when it says to the end it means he<\/p>\n
loved<\/p>\n
he loved them to the whole extent that<\/p>\n
love could be loved<\/p>\n
to the full measure of love and later in<\/p>\n
the chapter we see Jesus pouring water<\/p>\n
into a basin and washing the disciples<\/p>\n
feet one by one including Judas by the<\/p>\n
way<\/p>\n
in this act of foot washing Jesus<\/p>\n
communicates to us something profound<\/p>\n
about the nature of his love<\/p>\n
he washes the disciples<\/p>\n
he makes them clean<\/p>\n
it's an act of self-giving love and when<\/p>\n
we look to Jesus we find a beautiful<\/p>\n
freedom to serve others coming from the<\/p>\n
security of Jesus's identity<\/p>\n
and the same heart that led Jesus to<\/p>\n
wash the disciples feet is the same<\/p>\n
heart that would lead him to the cross<\/p>\n
Jesus was able to serve in this way he<\/p>\n
was able to give of himself to others<\/p>\n
because he had a security in his<\/p>\n
identity<\/p>\n
he knew God The Father's Love intimately<\/p>\n
he wasn't empty he wasn't concerned<\/p>\n
about his status he was full<\/p>\n
but then on the cross Jesus cries out my<\/p>\n
God my God why have you forsaken me<\/p>\n
what happened<\/p>\n
on the cross Jesus was not only<\/p>\n
experiencing Agony and physical pain and<\/p>\n
torture<\/p>\n
but he experienced a deep dark emptiness<\/p>\n
he experienced the Deep nothingness that<\/p>\n
we all experience and that we all<\/p>\n
deserve<\/p>\n
why because on the cross the father<\/p>\n
turned his face away on the cross Jesus<\/p>\n
was forsaken<\/p>\n
but why why did he do it Paul here tells<\/p>\n
the Corinthians why not rather be<\/p>\n
wronged why not rather be cheated<\/p>\n
Jesus was wronged Jesus was cheated by<\/p>\n
whom<\/p>\n
by the Jews yes but also by you and by<\/p>\n
me why because on the cross Jesus<\/p>\n
experienced the nothing that we all<\/p>\n
deserve and he experienced what we<\/p>\n
deserve because we've turned away from<\/p>\n
God<\/p>\n
but still doesn't answer the question of<\/p>\n
why why did he do it why<\/p>\n
would he Delight not just rather why<\/p>\n
would he Delight in being wronged<\/p>\n
Hebrews 12 tells us that Jesus for the<\/p>\n
joy set before him endured the cross<\/p>\n
scorning its shame and sat down at the<\/p>\n
right hand of God<\/p>\n
Not only would Jesus rather<\/p>\n
have been cheated but because of the joy<\/p>\n
set before him because of the joy he<\/p>\n
chose to be wrong he chose to be treated<\/p>\n
he chose to go to the cross and so the<\/p>\n
question is what is the joy set before<\/p>\n
Jesus<\/p>\n
let's ask what was it that Jesus did not<\/p>\n
have before the cross<\/p>\n
it could not have been the father right<\/p>\n
he had the father<\/p>\n
it could not have been Heaven he had<\/p>\n
heaven<\/p>\n
it couldn't have been command of the<\/p>\n
entire universe<\/p>\n
he had that<\/p>\n
what did he not have before the cross<\/p>\n
that he had after the cross<\/p>\n
the answer is there's only one thing<\/p>\n
you<\/p>\n
and me<\/p>\n
we are Jesus's joy and when we see Jesus<\/p>\n
willing to be wronged willing to be<\/p>\n
cheated willing to die because you are<\/p>\n
his Delight we will be able to suffer<\/p>\n
and forgive because Jesus becomes our<\/p>\n
Beauty and our Delight see this is what<\/p>\n
it means to be washed on the cross Jesus<\/p>\n
experienced nothingness so that we could<\/p>\n
experience fullness<\/p>\n
do you want Jesus in your life<\/p>\n
tell him when we believe in Jesus and<\/p>\n
say and say Lord would you become<\/p>\n
everything to me when we do this<\/p>\n
the Deep vacuum inside our hearts is<\/p>\n
filled with the love and Delight of God<\/p>\n
we're washed we're washed white as snow<\/p>\n
we're Justified we're sanctified<\/p>\n
because of Jesus we have the same status<\/p>\n
and security with the father we no<\/p>\n
longer have to be concerned with our<\/p>\n
status our status is the same of Jesus<\/p>\n
this is what it means to be a Christian<\/p>\n
a Christian is not primarily someone who<\/p>\n
is living a certain way coming to church<\/p>\n
serving being in Ministry a Christian<\/p>\n
primarily is someone who is loved by God<\/p>\n
God has washed you and you are now a<\/p>\n
saint<\/p>\n
and it's God's love that causes<\/p>\n
character transformation in our lives<\/p>\n
when we look at Jesus we find a<\/p>\n
beautiful freedom to serve others<\/p>\n
because our longing for status our<\/p>\n
self-centeredness our longing for<\/p>\n
meaning and significance is met in Jesus<\/p>\n
imagine imagine this imagine you're a<\/p>\n
billionaire<\/p>\n
would be nice wouldn't it imagine you're<\/p>\n
a billionaire and you have three 100<\/p>\n
baht notes in your wallet<\/p>\n
you call a grab<\/p>\n
maybe you're coming to church maybe<\/p>\n
you're going home you call a grab<\/p>\n
and then at the end of your ride you<\/p>\n
give the grab driver a 100 baht<\/p>\n
since it cost 80 Baht you wanted to be<\/p>\n
generous give a hundred Baht but then<\/p>\n
later in the day<\/p>\n
you realize in your wallet that you only<\/p>\n
have one banknote you start off with<\/p>\n
three but now you have one<\/p>\n
so you think oh I must have dropped the<\/p>\n
other banknote or I must have given two<\/p>\n
by mistake to the grab driver<\/p>\n
does this bother you<\/p>\n
are you gonna call the police because of<\/p>\n
a missing banknote<\/p>\n
of course not you're a billionaire<\/p>\n
what is 300 baht to you you're too rich<\/p>\n
to be concerned about this kind of loss<\/p>\n
this week someone criticized you<\/p>\n
something you bought turned out to be<\/p>\n
less valuable than you thought<\/p>\n
something you wanted didn't go the way<\/p>\n
that you wanted<\/p>\n
someone disrespected you treated you<\/p>\n
unfairly these are all real losses<\/p>\n
but what will you do if you're a<\/p>\n
Christian will you be discontent will we<\/p>\n
shake our fist at God will we be unable<\/p>\n
to sleep<\/p>\n
if we do<\/p>\n
it may be because we don't realize how<\/p>\n
truly Rich we are<\/p>\n
if we're that upset about our status<\/p>\n
with other people if we're constantly<\/p>\n
lashing out at people for hurting our<\/p>\n
feelings<\/p>\n
is fundamentally because we've lost<\/p>\n
touch with our identity<\/p>\n
as Christians We Are Spiritual<\/p>\n
billionaires we are rich in Christ we<\/p>\n
have the Delight of God the father in<\/p>\n
our hearts our status is secure we are<\/p>\n
God's treasure<\/p>\n
and this is what ultimately gives us the<\/p>\n
resources to forgive<\/p>\n
to absorb the cost to navigate conflict<\/p>\n
well because ultimately because of Jesus<\/p>\n
we're full we're God's treasure<\/p>\n
let's pray<\/p>\n
Lord Jesus we thank you for these truths<\/p>\n
Lord we pray that<\/p>\n
you would help us through your Holy<\/p>\n
Spirit to live with the security and the<\/p>\n
Assurance of our true status<\/p>\n
Lord if we are if we are being wrong if<\/p>\n
we're in situations where our patience<\/p>\n
is being tested<\/p>\n
Lord if we've been wronged and we're<\/p>\n
struggling to forgive we pray Lord<\/p>\n
through the power of your holy spirit<\/p>\n
that you would remind us of how rich we<\/p>\n
are in you would this give us the power<\/p>\n
to live or to live how you would have a<\/p>\n
slit pray this in Jesus name amen<\/p>\n
thank you<\/p>","english_search_text":"","":"","original_publish_date":"20230306","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IEf7V_q3jc4","video_id":"IEf7V_q3jc4","video_duration":"34:13","channel_name":"Grace City Bangkok"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=715"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":716,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715\/revisions\/716"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}