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[0:00] skill skill We'll be right back.

[1:00] We'll be right back.

[1:30] We're excited about this next chapter, this new season. And for us, it really is more than a building. I hope that your excitement is more than just a new place, but new opportunities and expansion of ministry that we get to be a part of here at Faith Family.

[1:45] And so as we're kind of in this last weekend, in our current facility and in the process of launching this new chapter, I wanted to do a message.

[1:56] We're kind of finished with the series we did on our words. And next week, we'll be back in the book of Exodus. So if you have missed the book of Exodus, we are returning there, Lord willing, next week.

[2:09] What I wanted to do today is really just kind of a transition message that's two things, ultimately. It's a thank you and it's a challenge. It's a thank you and it's a challenge as we together are a body committed together to the ministry that God has called us to and excited about this new opportunity and new chapter that we're entering into.

[2:32] And so our passage this evening is going to be in Philippians chapter one and verse 12. And I'm going to ask you if you're able to stand to please do so as we honor the reading of God's word.

[2:44] The apostle Paul is in a Roman prison as he writes this letter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He says, I want you to know brothers that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

[3:04] And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, others from goodwill.

[3:21] The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

[3:34] What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed and in that I rejoice.

[3:47] Yes, I will rejoice. For I know that through your prayers and the help of the spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my deliverance.

[4:00] As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now and always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

[4:17] For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. What beautiful words from the Apostle Paul.

[4:29] Let's pray together this evening and ask God to come and talk to us. Lord, thank you for this time now that we have underneath your word, underneath the authority of your word.

[4:39] Lord, I pray that you would come and talk to this faith family tonight through these words. Lord, that you would speak to us about our commitment and devotion to the ministry you've called us to.

[4:53] And I pray this in Jesus' name and God's people said, amen. You can be seated. How many of you, show of hands, have ever had or currently have a dog?

[5:03] I just want to see who the Christians are. Okay, good, good, good, good to know. Now, if you have ever had a dog or you currently have a dog, you know that the bond between a human being and a dog can be unbreakable.

[5:17] It is really a unique and very special thing. And nothing illustrates that more than what happened just a few months ago in Istanbul, Turkey. According to Reuters, there was a Turkish woman who was experiencing a bit of a health crisis and she was unable to take care of herself.

[5:36] And so she had to call for an ambulance to come and take her to the hospital. And while the ambulance was on the way and she was suffering through this health crisis, her golden retriever remained right by her side.

[5:52] Not just while she was going through the health crisis, but as she was waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Then, when the ambulance arrived, you'll notice they take this woman and they put her in the ambulance and her dog tries to get in the ambulance as well.

[6:08] They have to pull him back because he wants to be right by his owner's side. And then they pull away and you see the dog's just kind of left there all alone.

[6:19] And God's people said, aw, exactly right. Now, you'd think that's the end of the story, but it's not the end of the story. In fact, just a few moments into the drive, the ambulance workers look out their side mirror and they see this.

[6:35] Sure enough, her golden retriever is running alongside that ambulance, following it all the way to the hospital. In fact, when they got to the hospital, the dog literally is waiting there by the ambulance the entire time for them to take its owner out of the ambulance.

[6:59] And when they do, he follows her all the way into the hospital. And listen, Faith family, that dog stays right there at the entrance to that hospital the entire time it took.

[7:15] For his owner to be released. Isn't that awesome? Don't tell me cats are better than dogs. That is not theologically or practically true.

[7:27] And all God's people said, amen. Ain't no cat ever done that. Now, listen, we're gripped by those kinds of stories.

[7:38] At least I am. I mean, to read about that and to watch that video, you see such a beautiful picture. It's a picture of loyalty and commitment. And it stirs within you your emotions because there's something in us that is inspired by that or is gripped by that or impacted in some way.

[7:59] We all are grateful for people or pets that are committed. Now, listen, listen, listen. I don't know that you've ever chased an ambulance before, but I know this.

[8:13] There are things in your life you are committed to. There are things in your life that you are loyal to. I want you to think about right now what they are. What is it in your life that you are completely committed to?

[8:28] Some of you, it's health. You're committed to your health, and so you eat right, and you exercise, and you make that a commitment, a priority. Some of you, it's sports.

[8:39] You change your entire schedule just to watch the game or to support your team. For others of you, it maybe would have been academics. And you studied when you were in school many, many hours because you were committed to getting good grades.

[8:55] Maybe for you, it's your job, and you work a lot of hours because you're committed to your vocation. It could be financially. You're the type of person that is very committed to a budget, and you do not let anything take you off track.

[9:09] Others of you, you're a committed parent. Like, you love your family. You take intentional time to be with your kids because that is an ultimate priority. Listen to me.

[9:20] I don't know what it is, but I know this. Every one of you is committed to something. There's something in your life you are committed to. Now, listen to me. If we accept that and recognize that as such a good thing in so many areas of our life, vocationally, relationally, financially, physically, here's my question for you.

[9:41] Are you listening? If it's true in those areas, how much more important it is when it comes to the ministry of God. Think about it.

[9:53] While all those areas I just mentioned, they're really important areas, those would be areas I would encourage you to be committed to. They're good things, but they're not the ultimate thing.

[10:04] And the reason why I say that is because all of those examples are temporary, but the ministry of God is eternal.

[10:16] And Jesus, of his followers, calls us to this calling, and he calls us to be committed. Look at what Jesus says here in Luke chapter 14 and verse 26.

[10:29] It says, And that's often confusing to think.

[11:21] Is Jesus actually asking us to hate our mother? I think, doesn't the Bible say, honor your father and mother? Here's what Jesus is saying. Your commitment to Christ, your commitment to following him, your commitment to the ministry he's called you to do should be the ultimate priority of your life to the point that you would be willing to forsake all others.

[11:43] That's how committed Jesus calls us to be. Look at what he says in Luke chapter 9 verse 23. Jesus said to all, You with me, faith family?

[12:10] Listen, when it comes to following Christ, when it comes to the ministry of the gospel, Jesus requires commitment. Jesus requires commitment.

[12:21] And all in on the altar, I am totally committed to what Christ has called me to do. And the apostle Paul, here in Philippians 1, the verses that we just read, really exemplifies this.

[12:38] He's a beautiful example of the kind of life that is committed to the ministry of God. And what my hope today is, and this really isn't intended to be a long sermon.

[12:48] I know you don't believe that by now, but I really, I'm not going to say a lot, but what I want to say is really important. And for me to say it as a pastor to faith family, as both a thank you, as well as a challenge as we enter into this new season.

[13:05] Paul's example here, I want it, is to motivate us to our commitment to ministry together. You with me? Notice first of all here in Paul's life, his commitment to ministry, even in the trials of life.

[13:20] Paul was committed to ministry even when life was not going very well. In fact, look at verse 12. The apostle Paul here says, I want you to know brothers.

[13:32] Now let's just stop there for just a moment. In order for you to kind of understand the context that's going on here, I want you to imagine, some of you can know what this is like because you've experienced it. I want you to imagine that you have a son or a daughter that is serving in the military overseas and you have not heard from them in many months.

[13:51] Or maybe, for example, you've got a son or a daughter that has gone off to college and you have not heard from them. They have not emailed you or messaged you in quite some time.

[14:02] Here's the question. How do you feel that moment you get that email, the moment you get that text message or that phone call? Paul, what is your emotional response? You're elated.

[14:13] You're relieved. Like, oh my goodness, I've been worried about you. I've been hoping to get an update from you. I've been concerned. Like, you know that feeling. That's exactly what's going on here.

[14:25] You see, these readers of this letter, the church at Philippi, loved the apostle Paul. They had an incredible relationship. Paul had actually founded this church 10 years before this letter on his second missionary journey.

[14:42] Some of you remember that in the book of Acts. I think several weeks ago, Pastor Juan even preached on the Macedonian call. You remember Lydia and the jailer and all that happens in the book of Acts?

[14:53] If you remember that, say yes. Because that's the story here where Paul establishes the church at Philippi and they have a beautiful relationship. In Acts chapter 16, Paul starts the church and then he leaves.

[15:07] He returns to this church in Acts chapter 20 and then he leaves again. And he's ultimately going to be on his way to Rome after being in prison in Jerusalem in Acts 21.

[15:19] And you remember that on the way to Rome, Paul details everything that he goes through. He goes through the storm. He's shipwrecked. You remember the story where he's bitten by a snake.

[15:29] So all these things have happened to Paul. And of course, back then, newsflash, I went to seminary for this. They didn't have text messaging. Okay, there wasn't any like, hey, church of Philippi, it's all good.

[15:41] I'm fine. They haven't heard anything for months. This is their beloved apostle. This is their beloved pastor. This is their beloved friend.

[15:52] And they've not heard anything about what's happened to him. And so when Paul writes, I want you to know, brothers, they are all leaning in, anticipating what Paul is going to say.

[16:06] And Paul says this next, verse 12 again. I want you to know, brothers, that all these things that have happened to me, these things that maybe you've heard about, these things that have been circulating around, they have all served to advance the gospel.

[16:28] Amen. What a testimony. Listen, of all the things the apostle Paul could have done here, which is precisely the thing I think I would have done here, is complain.

[16:42] Dear faith, I'm not sure many of you would be concerned. No, some of you would be concerned if I were stranded overseas somewhere and I wrote you a letter. Dear faith family, you're not going to believe the flight was delayed.

[16:54] The food here is awful. The cell phone coverage is terrible. Like, I would be so tempted to say, don't you realize what I'm going through? Don't you realize how difficult it is?

[17:06] But Paul doesn't mention how unfairly he's been treated. Paul doesn't mention the injustice he faced at his own, the hands of his own people. He doesn't mention the physical pain that he endured.

[17:19] He doesn't even mention the snake. I'd at least told you about that, right? There was a snake. I got bit by a snake and I'm still here. I'd have told you that detail.

[17:30] He doesn't mention that here at all. Here's my point. Somebody say, preach, preacher. Here it is. Here it is. Paul doesn't see himself as a victim of his trials. He sees the gospel as victorious in his trials.

[17:45] He doesn't see himself as a victim of his trial. Oh, me. And you're not going to believe what I went through. And it's been so hard. And this life as an apostle is so difficult.

[17:56] No, man, Paul encourages me here to say, like, listen, stop focusing on the circumstances of your life. And realize in every circumstance of your life, when you are committed to the ministry of God, the gospel prevails.

[18:13] And Paul here gives us a beautiful testimony of this. That ministry is greater than me. Ministry is greater.

[18:24] Listen, you don't need to know all the details of what I've been through. You don't need to know all the details of what I'm going through. Here's what you need to know. The gospel is advancing. Jesus is being exalted.

[18:36] People are coming to know Christ. And why do you need to know that? Because that's what matters. That's what I'm committed to. I'm not committed to a good life.

[18:49] I'm committed to the ministry of God. And Paul, in all of his trials and all of his sufferings, shows us a commitment to the ministry of God.

[19:02] Now, let me just stop for just a moment as a pastor. And now I'm not teaching the text. Let me just speak to us as a body. Listen, ministry is hard.

[19:13] I'm just going to wait until you erupt in amen. Amen. I'm not talking about being called to them. I'm talking about ministry.

[19:24] Doing ministry together is hard. And the easiest thing to do when trials come into your life is to quit. I thought about this as I was reflecting on this passage.

[19:36] I mean, over the past few years, just here at Faith Family. I mean, we have been, and by the way, I'm not trying to compare this to what the Apostle Paul went through. So don't think that I'm comparing these. But think about being in multiple locations.

[19:50] I mean, we've been in Burnsville. We've been in Apple Valley. We've been in Rosemount. We've been in Lakeville. We're like a Johnny Cash song. I've been everywhere, man. We've been to Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota.

[20:00] I mean, we've been like everywhere. And that has not been easy. We've had staff changes. We've had processes that have taken way longer than we thought they would. And some of you were getting impatient, thinking like, is anybody even doing anything?

[20:15] We've had people that have come and people that have gone. We've had to set up and take down at many of our locations. And there's been a lot of different trials.

[20:26] Fortunately, no snakes. There's been a lot of trials. There's been a lot of difficulties. And here's what I want to say thank you about. You have remained committed. I mean that.

[20:38] You have not let the difficulties of being in transition and being mobile. And my goodness, I remember one time in COVID meeting outside in a parking lot.

[20:50] Some of you remember those days. And in all the trials and all the ups and downs, you have not let those trials keep you from being committed to the ministry God has called us to do.

[21:06] And listen, that is a beautiful, I mean this, a beautiful testimony to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That you are not committed to you. I am not committed to me.

[21:17] We are committed to something bigger and greater than that. And it is a call. It is a call of God on our life to advance the gospel together.

[21:31] Paul says here how these trials that he went through advance the gospel, advance the ministry. Look at verse 13. He says, Think about that.

[22:12] I am not chained to a guard. This guard is chained to me. And guess what he has to listen to every four hours until they rotate another one? Jesus. I am sure they are like, oh no, I have to be with that Paul again.

[22:23] Right? He does not shut up about Christ. He is like, no, this is my ministry. I mean this went from a ministry on the ground to a ministry in prison. Don't, don't, like this is the perspective.

[22:34] Listen, faith family. It is not where am I or where, it is not focused on a specific location. It is wherever I am, I am doing ministry.

[22:47] And if I am in a prison with a guard, then this will advance the gospel so that the whole imperial guard will hear the good news of Jesus.

[22:57] Listen, I know this is, and I know this certainly from people in the room that are going through and have been going through some very difficult trials. And let me just remind you that if Christians never got cancer, who would bear witness to Jesus as they're fighting cancer?

[23:16] If Christians never lost loved ones, who would bear witness to the hope of Jesus at a funeral? And I could go on and on with many examples. Here's the point.

[23:27] Trials will give you an opportunity for ministry. Comfort never will. But it requires a commitment to the ministry of God.

[23:41] And we begin to see everything we do and everywhere we are as advancing the gospel. Notice verse 14. Not only are unbelievers hearing the gospel through these trials, but he says, Most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are what?

[24:01] They're much more bold to speak the word without fear. Paul says, not only are unbelievers hearing the gospel, but believers are being encouraged in the gospel.

[24:12] Because of his suffering, other Christians were motivated to persevere. In other words, it goes like this. If Paul doesn't quit, I'm not going to quit. If the apostle Paul can endure by the strength of God, I'm going to endure by the strength of God.

[24:28] Notice it on the screen. When you don't quit, it encourages others not to quit. Haven't you been around other Christians where their story of endurance motivated you to endure?

[24:42] See, in other words, listen. Paul did not let the trials of life deter him from the ministry that he was committed to. But in those trials, unbelievers heard the gospel and believers were encouraged in the gospel to continue to persevere to the end.

[25:01] I know some of you have been watching. They're over now. But the Olympics, the Summer Olympics that have been taking place in Paris, it reminded me of this story. This is back in the 1976 Summer Olympics where a gentleman from Japan was competing in the gymnastics.

[25:19] And as he was competing, he broke his knee. He broke his knee, but he didn't stop. He refused to let his broken knee keep him from competing. And he competed in what was his strongest event, which was the rings.

[25:33] He astounded everyone by squarely dismounting a triple somersault twist. I don't even know what all that means, but it sounds impressive.

[25:44] A triple somersault twist. And he landed perfectly on a broken knee. And afterwards, when interviewed, this is what he said.

[25:54] He said, quote, There's something bigger than the trials of life.

[26:14] It's the ministry of God. And Faith Family, not only thank you for being committed to what God has called us to do, even in the trials, but this is an opportunity to never let trials keep us away from doing what God has called us to do.

[26:32] Notice secondly here, and I'll move quickly, is committed to ministry even in relational conflict. Committed to ministry even in relational conflict. Prison was not the only challenge that Paul faced.

[26:46] Look at what he describes in verse 15. He says, listen, some preach Christ from envy and rivalry, others from goodwill. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

[26:58] The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. So Paul is describing a situation where he's got enemies, and there's been some relational difficulty here.

[27:15] Now, I'm not sure if you know this. I'm glad you're sitting down. There are people in life who will try to bring you down. There are people in life who don't like you. I know, I'm sorry to be the one to bear the news.

[27:27] But there are people that will stir up conflict with you, or you don't get along, and there's relational strife. And Paul dealt with that. In fact, this group that he mentions, what we know they're not, we know they're not false teachers.

[27:41] Because Paul will not hold back his words at all when it comes to somebody that is preaching a false gospel. In fact, Paul uses language like this. Let them be accursed.

[27:52] If anybody comes to you, this is the book of Galatians chapter 1. If anybody comes to you with a gospel different than the true gospel, let them be accursed. He has no patience whatsoever with anybody that is bringing a false gospel.

[28:08] But these critics, these enemies are not bringing a false gospel. They're not false teachers. Their content, listen, is Christ.

[28:19] They just don't like Paul. So how does Paul respond to this? Of people that are stirring up issues. In fact, he even says they have false motives.

[28:32] They are doing this out of rivalry, thinking to inflict me in my imprisonment. These are people that are mocking me. These are people that want to see me fail.

[28:44] These are people that want to add salt to the wound. And Paul's response to all of those critics and all of that relational conflict is this, verse 18.

[28:55] What then? Only that in every way, whether it is in pretense or it's in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

[29:09] Yes, I will rejoice. That's amazing. It's totally amazing. Paul's response in the midst of all this relational conflict is not, why me?

[29:24] His response is, so what? Who cares if they don't like me as long as Christ is proclaimed? Who cares if their motive as it relates to me is rivalry and to afflict me?

[29:42] I don't care because the ministry of God is bigger than me. And what I'm ultimately committed to is not everybody like the Apostle Paul.

[29:55] What I'm ultimately committed to is everybody must know Jesus. And so I don't really care that they're trying to bring me down. Because it isn't about me.

[30:06] It is about the advancement of the gospel. Once again, Paul is committed to gospel advancement more than he is personal advancement.

[30:17] And when we are fully committed to Christ, gospel ministry becomes more important than ourselves. Amen? Now listen, if your life is absent of relational conflict, if you don't have a lot of relational conflict in your life, I'm going to cure it.

[30:36] Ready? Get involved in ministry. Get involved in church. You laugh, but you know I ain't kidding. If your life is absent from relational conflict, all you need is to get more involved in church.

[30:50] And I assure you, you will have way more than you want. I'm being a little bit sarcastic, but I'm also being true. And I realize this should not be the case, but it is. Listen, we are still dealing with people who don't have it all together.

[31:04] And there will be relational conflict and quarrels that happen when we're doing ministry, and nothing will cause you to lose your focus on the mission more than quarreling and fighting.

[31:16] James says this in James 4 verse 1. He says, What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you that is believers? Is it not that your passions are at war within you?

[31:26] You desire and you don't get what you want. You have a desire for something and you don't get, you don't have it, so you murder. And James here isn't actually talking about real actual murder.

[31:39] He's talking about murdering your brother or sister in your heart. You covet and you can't obtain. And so what do you do as a result? You fight and quarrel. In fact, in chapter 4 of the book of Philippians, Paul will actually have to address two individuals to, quote, agree in the Lord because the division they're causing in the church.

[32:01] Paul wants them to do what he's trying to give an example of, which is put those relational things aside and focus on what matters most, and that's the gospel.

[32:15] And there is not a more important message for churches to hear over and over and over again. Because we have not come together because we personally get along.

[32:26] We've come together because Christ has brought us together and called us to something greater. Paul's commitment here is totally to the ministry of God, even in the midst of relational conflict.

[32:42] Here's the final point and then we're done, and that's commitment to ministry in future uncertainty. Look at verse 19, verse 19. Paul then goes on to say, I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus, this, that is his imprisonment, will turn out for my deliverance.

[33:01] As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not at all be put to shame, but with full courage now as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

[33:16] Here's the point. On top of Paul's in prison, on top of he's got enemies and there's a lot of relational conflict, here's what Paul doesn't know if he's at the end.

[33:30] He doesn't know if he's going to live or die. And listen, it may not be life or death for you, but you have been in situations, maybe you are in a situation, and you don't have any idea what the future is going to hold.

[33:42] We've been there as a faith family, haven't we? We had no idea when we would ever get a building. We're waiting on the Lord's timing for an associate pastor. There's been lots of unknowns in this journey called faith family church.

[33:57] Amen? A lot of unknowns. We don't know how all this is going to turn out. We don't know when this is going to turn out. Paul doesn't know if he's going to be released from prison, but here's what...

[34:09] Say preach, preacher. Here's what Paul does know. Verse 21. To live is Christ.

[34:22] And to die is gain. What Paul is saying here is, I don't know what the future holds, but here's what I know. No matter what, Christ is in control of my life.

[34:38] If I die, I get Jesus. If I live tomorrow, I'm serving Jesus. It's Jesus either way.

[34:50] Because Paul recognized something I've also said many times before here is that Christ was not a part of his life. Christ was not a part of his life.

[35:02] Christ was his life. Christ was his life. Notice how Paul describes it here in Colossians 3, 4. When Christ, who is your life, appears, look at Galatians 2, 20.

[35:17] I've been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who live. It's Christ who lives in me. Paul's life was totally committed to Christ, and it changed everything.

[35:30] In the midst of personal trials, in the midst of relational conflict, and in the midst of life and death and an unknown future, Paul can remain faithful in all of those contexts because of his commitment to the ministry of God.

[35:50] We often let future uncertainty paralyze us to do what needs to be done. Some of us will say, well, I'll commit when I'm better off financially.

[36:00] I'll commit when life kind of gets a little better. I'll help as soon as fill in the blank. But here's what Paul shows us from this text. He never let future uncertainty prevent present ministry.

[36:13] I'll get there someday. I'll do it some other time when life gets... No, Paul realized I am called today to do the ministry of God. So as I close this message, Faith Family, will you hear the heart of your pastor?

[36:26] Will you lean in and hear me? Here is my challenge to us today. First is this thank you. Sincerely thank you for your commitment here at Faith Family.

[36:38] Your commitment to God that gets expressed here at Faith Family Church through trials and challenges, through disagreements and personal conflicts, through lots of uncertainty over the last several years, you have remained committed to the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[36:58] And for that, I am truly grateful. Truly grateful. I mean that. Thank you. It would have been easy to quit for so many different reasons, but we have been called to something higher.

[37:13] And the second thing I want to say to you is this, is that now is also a time to remain committed. We've got a lot of work to do. We've got some future opportunities that are awesome.

[37:27] God has taken, listen, this is not about a building. It is not about a facility. It's about moving into a new chapter, a new day that's gonna bring with it new opportunities to advance the gospel.

[37:41] And that means you must look at Paul's example and say, I'm in. I'm committed. Let's do this. Let's go. How can I help?

[37:52] How can I commit financially? How can I commit to attendance and being here? How can I commit to serving and volunteering? Like, I want my life, in light of Paul's example, to be one that no matter what, is committed to advancing the gospel.

[38:07] So listen tonight. Thank you for your commitment, but also challenging you to an even greater commitment as we enter into this new season.

[38:19] And by the way, as I land the plane here, where did Paul get his strength to even be committed to the ministry in this way?

[38:30] Where did this kind of commitment come from? It didn't originate from the apostle Paul. He got it from Christ himself, the one who was ultimately committed to the ministry of God.

[38:42] Amen? Look at what Jesus said in John chapter four. Jesus said to them, my food, that is the very thing I eat, is to do the will of the Father who sent me and to accomplish his work.

[38:59] My food every day is to do the ministry the Father has given me to do. Look at John chapter six. Jesus said, I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him, that is the Father who sent me.

[39:18] And then you all know in the Garden of Gethsemane, what did Jesus pray? He said this, nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.

[39:31] Through personal suffering, through relational conflict, and even physical death, Jesus was committed to one ultimate thing, what the Father had sent him to do.

[39:48] So what are you committed to? What are you loyal to? What are you all in when it comes to your life?

[40:02] We are entering into a season in this church where now more than ever it is time to be committed to the ministry Christ has given us. And I know we will face trials, and I know that we'll have to deal with people that we don't always get along with, and I know that we don't know what the future holds, but here's what I do know.

[40:27] There is one who is faithfully committed to you. In fact, he is so committed to you, he sought you and bought you with his redeeming blood.

[40:42] And because of that, faith family, Jesus not only deserves our praise, he deserves our life.

[40:53] And all God's people said, amen, amen. Let's pray. Lord, thank you so much for the example of the Apostle Paul, a life that was committed to the gospel ministry, who had every reason in the book to quit, to give up, to say it's too hard, there's too many critics, too many unknowns.

[41:20] But through it all, really the only thing he cared about is that Jesus would be known. And I sincerely pray that this truth, this passage, would just set before us a life vision that no matter what comes, our ultimate commitment is to the ministry that Christ has called us to.

[41:46] Because our ultimate commitment is to Jesus more than father or mother or wife or children or husbands or brothers or sisters or church members or pastor or friends at school.

[42:00] Our ultimate commitment is to follow Christ. And so I pray in this time, Lord, as you are moving us into a new season, a new chapter of exciting ministry opportunities, that we would catch this vision of commitment to the ministry you've called us to.

[42:21] Now, help us, Lord, now as we take this moment to be reminded of your commitment to us, that you so loved us, you gave your son.

[42:36] That's commitment. That's loyalty. That's faithfulness that can only be found in you.

[42:47] May we reflect on that now as we consider the cross through communion. In Jesus' name, amen. skill skill skill skill skill skill skill skill skill skill Thank you.