WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.240 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:15.419 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:27.140 --> 00:00:30.200 A reading from Paul's letter to the Philippians. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:36.679 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus to all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, 00:00:37.340 --> 00:00:44.219 together with the overseers and deacons, grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:00:44.219 --> 00:00:51.079 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 00:00:51.879 --> 00:00:58.560 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace garden to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 00:00:58.759 --> 00:01:03.679 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord, 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:06.819 and dare all the more proclaim the gospel without fear. 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:12.460 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 00:01:12.459 --> 00:01:16.939 The latter is due so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 00:01:17.579 --> 00:01:24.539 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 00:01:25.259 --> 00:01:26.039 But what does it matter? 00:01:26.539 --> 00:01:33.079 The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached, and because of this I rejoice. 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:40.359 Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:43.719 what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:50.879 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage, 00:01:51.219 --> 00:01:56.879 so that now, as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:01.719 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:06.599 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. 00:02:07.179 --> 00:02:08.500 Yet what shall I choose? 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:10.099 I do not know. 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:12.079 I am torn between the two. 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:16.340 I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, 00:02:16.699 --> 00:02:20.379 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:24.460 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, 00:02:24.699 --> 00:02:29.079 and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:35.740 so that through my being with you, again, your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. 00:02:36.740 --> 00:02:41.120 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:46.019 Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, 00:02:46.020 --> 00:02:49.620 I will know that you stand firm in the one spirit, 00:02:50.140 --> 00:02:53.300 striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:56.120 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:56.379 --> 00:02:57.800 Thanks be to God. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:01.480 Thank you so much, Cordelia. 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:02.280 That was wonderful. 00:03:02.379 --> 00:03:03.920 And Juliana, thank you so much. 00:03:05.980 --> 00:03:06.960 Well, good morning. 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:09.920 We've been kind of over the past few weeks 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:16.339 just working our way up into this letter to the church in Philippi, 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:17.560 and it's a letter of friendship. 00:03:17.859 --> 00:03:20.359 It's a letter of deep love and affection. 00:03:21.459 --> 00:03:25.219 And I want us to be remembering who's writing this letter. 00:03:25.359 --> 00:03:27.919 We looked a few weeks ago in Acts chapter 9, 00:03:27.979 --> 00:03:34.339 and we saw how this man Saul of Tarsus was transformed into Paul the Apostle, 00:03:34.340 --> 00:03:39.379 this man who had been adamantly opposed to Jesus. 00:03:39.700 --> 00:03:42.500 He was persecuting the people of Jesus. 00:03:43.300 --> 00:03:48.480 He had his own encounter with the resurrected Lord, with Jesus himself. 00:03:49.219 --> 00:03:53.060 And that utterly changed and redirected his life. 00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:58.060 He began immediately to tell people that Jesus is the Son of God, 00:03:58.219 --> 00:04:01.060 Jesus is Israel's Messiah, and the world's true Lord. 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:06.140 That was around 33 A.D., just a couple of years after the crucifixion 00:04:06.140 --> 00:04:07.719 and resurrection of Jesus. 00:04:08.979 --> 00:04:12.020 And then I want us to remember, too, who's reading this letter. 00:04:12.099 --> 00:04:14.080 And we looked at this a few weeks ago as well. 00:04:14.180 --> 00:04:19.639 Acts chapter 16, God calls the Apostle Paul to go to northern Greece, 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:20.920 to the city in Philippi. 00:04:21.540 --> 00:04:25.240 And we saw there were three amazing stories of transformation there 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:29.519 where Lydia encountered gospel truth, and she was transformed. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:35.459 And that slave girl encountered gospel power, and she, too, was transformed. 00:04:35.799 --> 00:04:42.159 And then the jailer, he encountered gospel life through Paul and Silas, 00:04:42.199 --> 00:04:43.099 and he was transformed. 00:04:43.299 --> 00:04:47.899 And many of their friends and their family, they all together, they repented, 00:04:48.500 --> 00:04:50.719 they believed, they were baptized, 00:04:51.019 --> 00:04:54.959 they became the first converts and the first members of that church 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:58.019 that met in the house of Lydia there in Philippi. 00:04:58.019 --> 00:05:04.459 And that was around the year 46, 47, 48, I don't know, somewhere in there. 00:05:04.699 --> 00:05:06.159 49 A.D., yeah, that's right. 00:05:07.099 --> 00:05:10.039 So I just want to pause to think about this. 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:16.419 To marvel at the grace of God in the lives of these people. 00:05:16.579 --> 00:05:21.019 Without the grace of God, without the power of God for salvation 00:05:21.019 --> 00:05:27.000 and for transformation, the Apostle Paul would never be writing and sending this letter. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:33.680 There would be no members in this church plant in Philippi receiving and reading this letter. 00:05:34.479 --> 00:05:39.139 And none of us would be here today considering the contents of this letter. 00:05:39.139 --> 00:05:44.639 But because of the power of the gospel and because of the grace of the gospel 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:48.560 that came to each and every one of those people and each and every one of us 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:52.060 from the Father, through the Son, and by the Holy Spirit, 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:56.659 here they are as a result of God's grace living in peace. 00:05:57.819 --> 00:05:59.060 They're living in shalom. 00:05:59.860 --> 00:06:02.939 That's why Paul says grace and peace to you because God's grace 00:06:02.939 --> 00:06:07.899 has enabled them to live at peace with God and in peace with one another. 00:06:09.019 --> 00:06:14.399 And this grace and this peace creates an amazing bond of fellowship and friendship. 00:06:14.540 --> 00:06:18.000 In fact, I think we have a slide, if we can pull that slide up, 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:21.759 that just sort of illustrates a little bit of this three-way bond 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:26.379 where Paul is reminding them that, look, none of us is here apart from God's grace. 00:06:26.379 --> 00:06:32.579 And none of our relationships are merely horizontal and merely social. 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:36.699 All of our relationships have been elevated because of the gospel. 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:38.259 We're united with Jesus. 00:06:38.980 --> 00:06:41.420 We share friendship in Christ. 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:44.240 We're partners together now in the gospel. 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:49.199 There's something totally different about the relationships that we have with each other. 00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:53.000 And then Paul goes on and he writes this letter to them. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:57.639 And what does Paul want to say to his friends in this new church plant, 00:06:57.740 --> 00:07:00.379 to Lydia and the slave girl and the jailer, 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:05.839 and all the people that through them heard about the grace and peace of God and Jesus Christ? 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:11.139 What does he want to say to the elders and the deacons and the members of this fledgling church? 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:13.639 Well, he says to them, and we heard a little bit of this last week, 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:14.920 he says, 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:17.120 my dearly beloved friends in Christ, 00:07:18.340 --> 00:07:19.600 my partners in the gospel. 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:22.720 I thank God for you constantly. 00:07:23.340 --> 00:07:24.300 I pray for you. 00:07:24.379 --> 00:07:27.480 I love you with the affection of Jesus Christ himself. 00:07:27.980 --> 00:07:29.840 And you're my joy. 00:07:30.700 --> 00:07:31.680 You're my crown. 00:07:32.700 --> 00:07:35.700 And there's some things that God has put on my heart for you. 00:07:35.699 --> 00:07:39.800 And I want to think about three things today. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:41.699 I put it in the form of three questions, 00:07:42.719 --> 00:07:45.300 where Paul is basically asking this church in Philippi, 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:47.899 how do you respond to adversity? 00:07:49.699 --> 00:07:52.099 What are you living and dying for? 00:07:53.139 --> 00:07:57.139 And how do you get power to live a life worthy of the gospel? 00:07:58.259 --> 00:08:00.399 So how do you respond to adversity? 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:02.979 What are you living and dying for? 00:08:03.099 --> 00:08:07.199 And how do you get power to live a life worthy of the gospel? 00:08:08.159 --> 00:08:11.139 First of all, how do you respond to adversity? 00:08:11.359 --> 00:08:14.859 Paul has received a report of his friends, 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:16.479 these brothers and sisters in Christ, 00:08:16.599 --> 00:08:17.699 in the church in Philippi, 00:08:17.799 --> 00:08:20.899 and he hears that they're going through significant adversity, 00:08:21.799 --> 00:08:23.579 very difficult challenges. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:24.419 And Paul says, 00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:27.839 well, let me show you how I respond to adversity. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:30.819 Let me provide you an example and provide you a model 00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:34.000 for how I engage with my own challenges. 00:08:34.299 --> 00:08:35.579 And hopefully you remember back, 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:39.720 you remember how Paul and Silas 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:41.939 were thrown in that prison in Philippi? 00:08:42.919 --> 00:08:43.500 You remember that? 00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:44.559 Just nod your head. 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:46.939 And then you remember what they were doing 00:08:46.939 --> 00:08:48.759 when they were in that prison at midnight? 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:51.439 How they were praying to God 00:08:51.439 --> 00:08:53.539 and they were singing hymns to God? 00:08:53.539 --> 00:08:59.199 Well, Paul is actually in prison quite a lot. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:01.860 So he's not just in that prison in Philippi. 00:09:01.959 --> 00:09:02.799 There's another slide. 00:09:03.199 --> 00:09:05.899 We're not sure if he's in prison now in Ephesus 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:07.659 on his third missionary journey 00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:12.779 or maybe he's in Rome after his third missionary journey. 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:14.699 But he's sitting again in a prison cell 00:09:14.699 --> 00:09:16.500 and he's again praying to God 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:19.480 and he's again singing to God at midnight. 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:21.659 But now this time in his new prison cell, 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:24.060 he's writing this letter, 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:25.659 which is his happiest letter. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:29.360 In fact, the words rejoice and joy 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:33.480 occur about 13 times in this letter. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:36.500 And it's clear that he wants his friends in Christ, 00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:37.300 in Philippi, 00:09:37.680 --> 00:09:39.720 he wants them to share in his joy. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:42.519 He wants them to rejoice with him. 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:44.840 In fact, later on in Philippians 3.17, 00:09:45.060 --> 00:09:45.500 Paul says, 00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:47.539 follow my example, brothers and sisters. 00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:49.720 You have us as a model. 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:52.159 And he says in Philippians 4.9, 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:52.440 he says, 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:54.080 what you've learned and received from me, 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:56.659 what you've heard from me and seen in me, 00:09:56.700 --> 00:09:58.519 I want you to put that into practice. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:09:58.840 He's saying, 00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:01.159 look, I want to set you an example of joy. 00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:03.799 Joy in the midst of adversity. 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:06.659 And here's how you see it in verse 12. 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:07.120 He says, 00:10:07.419 --> 00:10:08.580 now I want you to know, 00:10:09.059 --> 00:10:09.759 brothers and sisters, 00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:11.399 that what has happened to me 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:14.139 has actually served to advance the gospel. 00:10:14.139 --> 00:10:17.279 It's actually served to advance the gospel. 00:10:18.319 --> 00:10:20.399 What is Paul's highest priority 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:21.740 and his greatest concern 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:23.659 in the midst of his adversity? 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:26.860 What is the source of his joy 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:29.860 in the midst of all of his many challenges? 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:31.939 It's the gospel. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:33.159 Right? 00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:34.399 He sees all of life 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:36.220 through the lens of the gospel. 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:37.740 He doesn't write to them and say, 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:38.799 I want you to know 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:40.500 that what has happened to me is awful. 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:43.539 And this prison that I'm in is terrible. 00:10:44.139 --> 00:10:45.779 And the treatment that I'm receiving 00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:48.179 from these Roman soldiers is miserable. 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.460 And I don't have enough food. 00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:50.720 I don't have enough clothing. 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:52.299 I don't have enough shelter 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:55.439 to adequately meet my needs. 00:10:56.340 --> 00:10:58.679 Paul's not focused on his comfort 00:10:58.679 --> 00:10:59.539 or his discomfort. 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:01.939 He's not focused on his happiness 00:11:01.939 --> 00:11:03.240 or his unhappiness. 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:05.159 He's not talking about whether or not 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:06.620 he's well-fed or hungry 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:08.539 or in plenty or in want 00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:09.699 or in constraints 00:11:09.699 --> 00:11:10.819 or in freedom. 00:11:11.599 --> 00:11:12.839 What matters to Paul 00:11:12.839 --> 00:11:14.639 is the gospel. 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:18.439 This message that God has come in the flesh 00:11:18.439 --> 00:11:20.699 to die on the cross 00:11:20.699 --> 00:11:22.000 to atone for our sins 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:23.539 and that he's been raised to life 00:11:23.539 --> 00:11:25.179 to destroy death. 00:11:25.319 --> 00:11:27.599 He cares about that message 00:11:27.599 --> 00:11:29.000 of God's good news 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:31.399 and whether or not that message 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:32.579 is advancing 00:11:32.580 --> 00:11:34.560 or retreating. 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:36.480 Is that message 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.440 progressing 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:38.500 or regressing? 00:11:38.660 --> 00:11:40.220 Is that message moving forward 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:42.560 or is it moving backward? 00:11:43.780 --> 00:11:44.320 Paul says, 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:45.540 the gospel is the thing 00:11:45.540 --> 00:11:46.620 that gives me joy 00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:48.379 in the midst of my adversity 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:50.080 and what I really care about 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.620 is to see the message 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:53.220 of Jesus advancing. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:55.980 Now what is Paul saying here 00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:58.300 about the sovereignty of God? 00:11:58.299 --> 00:12:01.159 Paul is a student of Scripture 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:02.819 and Paul I think 00:12:02.819 --> 00:12:03.859 would be reminding us 00:12:03.859 --> 00:12:05.699 to go back to Genesis, 00:12:05.859 --> 00:12:06.719 the first book of the Bible, 00:12:06.839 --> 00:12:08.399 back to Genesis chapter 50, 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:09.740 back to that story 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:11.179 of Jacob's son Joseph. 00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:13.019 Remember how he was thrown 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:13.559 into prison? 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:14.759 Remember how he experienced 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:16.219 incredible adversity 00:12:16.219 --> 00:12:17.379 and challenges? 00:12:17.579 --> 00:12:19.079 And what does Joseph say 00:12:19.079 --> 00:12:20.740 about his own adversity? 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:21.299 He says, 00:12:21.419 --> 00:12:23.899 you intended evil against me 00:12:23.899 --> 00:12:26.459 but God intended it for good 00:12:26.459 --> 00:12:27.039 to accomplish 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:28.159 what is now being done 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:30.120 the saving of many lives. 00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:32.339 It's an amazing statement 00:12:32.339 --> 00:12:33.539 where Joseph says 00:12:33.539 --> 00:12:35.299 that in God's sovereignty, 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:37.659 God's intentions transcend 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:38.719 and they overrule 00:12:38.719 --> 00:12:40.139 human intentions. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.100 And I'm sure that's 00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:43.179 what's on Paul's mind 00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:43.559 in the midst 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:44.539 of his own imprisonment. 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:46.600 And I'm sure Paul 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:47.779 is also thinking about 00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:48.959 Jesus himself. 00:12:49.059 --> 00:12:49.559 He's thinking about 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:50.620 the worst thing 00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:52.279 that ever happened 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.759 in human history, right? 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.559 When human beings 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:56.059 crucified the son of God. 00:12:56.059 --> 00:12:57.639 God and how God 00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:58.439 and his sovereignty 00:12:58.439 --> 00:13:00.439 turned that worst thing 00:13:00.439 --> 00:13:02.259 into the best thing. 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:04.339 That God took an act 00:13:04.339 --> 00:13:05.719 of human rebellion 00:13:05.719 --> 00:13:06.519 and he turned it 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:08.059 into an act of divine grace. 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:10.159 And God took death 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:10.699 and he turned it 00:13:10.699 --> 00:13:12.079 into life. 00:13:12.839 --> 00:13:14.039 You meant it for evil 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:14.719 against me 00:13:14.719 --> 00:13:15.519 but God meant it 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.619 for good. 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:17.559 And the Apostle Paul, 00:13:17.719 --> 00:13:19.079 I think here in his prison cell, 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:20.699 is applying the story 00:13:20.699 --> 00:13:21.239 of Joseph 00:13:21.239 --> 00:13:22.779 and the story of Jesus 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:25.120 and the whole story 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.659 of the Bible 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:27.539 to his own life. 00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:29.279 Right? 00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:29.639 He says, 00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:30.620 I want you to know 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:31.459 what's happened to me 00:13:31.459 --> 00:13:32.220 has actually served 00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:33.679 to advance the gospel. 00:13:35.439 --> 00:13:36.199 See, here's Paul 00:13:36.199 --> 00:13:37.459 as the main architect 00:13:37.459 --> 00:13:39.419 of the greatest movement, 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:40.199 the greatest faith, 00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:41.039 the greatest religion 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:41.959 in the history of the world. 00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:45.100 His intellectual gifts, 00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:46.139 his leadership gifts 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:48.000 are such that he could go 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:50.220 into any major metropolitan, 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:51.740 sophisticated city 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:54.139 in the Greco-Roman world 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:55.120 and he could publicly 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.379 debate people 00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:58.159 and after a while 00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:58.639 there would be 00:13:58.639 --> 00:13:59.820 so many converts 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:01.200 in his wake 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:03.019 that he could leave 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.799 a new church there 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:04.299 and he did that 00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:06.180 all over the Mediterranean world. 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:08.399 But here is Paul now 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:09.220 and he's facing 00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:10.680 a terrible trial 00:14:10.680 --> 00:14:12.220 in the midst of, 00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:13.919 right in the very middle 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:14.560 of his career. 00:14:14.680 --> 00:14:15.980 He's only had a few years 00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:17.519 to plant churches 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:19.539 and now here he is, 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:20.200 he's chained 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:21.580 to Roman soldiers 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.820 night and day, 00:14:24.020 --> 00:14:25.140 right, he can't sleep 00:14:25.140 --> 00:14:26.220 or go to the bathroom 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:26.879 in privacy. 00:14:27.900 --> 00:14:29.040 He's in a demeaning, 00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:30.160 demoralizing, 00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:31.920 dehumanizing situation. 00:14:32.060 --> 00:14:33.620 For a traveling apostle 00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:34.940 to be put in prisons 00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:36.460 like a concert pianist 00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:37.580 having his hands 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:38.759 tied behind his back, 00:14:38.800 --> 00:14:39.080 right, 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:41.060 and he's not only 00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:41.800 in prison, 00:14:41.920 --> 00:14:42.620 he's facing 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:44.040 possible execution, 00:14:44.180 --> 00:14:44.720 he's in danger 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:45.340 of his life 00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:46.800 being snuffed out 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:48.339 within days 00:14:48.339 --> 00:14:49.159 or within weeks. 00:14:50.199 --> 00:14:51.419 It's the greatest defeat 00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:53.099 he's ever experienced 00:14:53.099 --> 00:14:54.479 and conventional wisdom 00:14:54.479 --> 00:14:56.419 would tell Paul 00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:57.359 and would tell us 00:14:57.359 --> 00:14:58.620 that if you take 00:14:58.620 --> 00:15:00.219 the greatest spokesman 00:15:00.219 --> 00:15:00.879 for the gospel, 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:02.979 the greatest church planter 00:15:02.979 --> 00:15:03.620 who ever lived 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:04.240 and you take him 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:05.000 out of the game, 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:06.479 he would be 00:15:06.479 --> 00:15:07.759 massively discouraged 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:09.740 and the Christian movement 00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:10.299 would come 00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:11.979 to a screeching halt. 00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:14.939 But I think Paul would say, 00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:16.520 yeah, but you're forgetting 00:15:16.520 --> 00:15:18.480 about our sovereign God. 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:20.240 Right? 00:15:20.300 --> 00:15:21.060 Remember the God 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:21.680 who turned 00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:24.100 Joseph's terrible situation 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:25.060 into salvation 00:15:25.060 --> 00:15:26.800 for Israel 00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:28.320 and food for the whole world. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.000 Remember the God 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:32.020 who turned 00:15:32.020 --> 00:15:33.320 Jesus' crucifixion 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:34.120 into salvation 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:36.340 and took the dead corpse 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:36.840 of Jesus 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:40.160 and turned it 00:15:40.160 --> 00:15:41.200 into a resurrected body 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:43.200 and hoped for the whole world. 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:47.120 That same God, 00:15:47.260 --> 00:15:47.820 Paul says, 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.920 that same God 00:15:49.920 --> 00:15:50.700 can take everything 00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:51.880 that looks wrong 00:15:51.880 --> 00:15:52.580 in my life, 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:53.880 prison, 00:15:54.900 --> 00:15:55.440 chains, 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:57.120 everything that looks 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.320 like a major difficulty 00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:59.660 and a major defeat 00:15:59.660 --> 00:16:03.020 and he can turn it 00:16:03.020 --> 00:16:05.360 into an opportunity 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:06.120 for the gospel. 00:16:08.160 --> 00:16:09.920 Do you all believe that? 00:16:10.880 --> 00:16:11.660 That he can take 00:16:11.660 --> 00:16:13.880 horrible, horrible things 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:16.039 and he can turn them 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:17.039 into good 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:17.960 so that the gospel 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:20.399 is actually advancing. 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.899 And what he says 00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:23.559 in verse 13, 00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:23.899 he says, 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:24.519 as a result, 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.480 it has become clear 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:27.019 throughout the whole palace guard 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.960 and to everyone else 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:28.879 that I am in chains 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.019 for Christ. 00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:32.419 And because of my chains, 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:34.419 now most of the brothers 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.679 and sisters in this city 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:36.700 have become confident 00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:37.360 in the Lord 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:39.580 and they dare all the more 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.779 to proclaim the gospel 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:42.320 without fear. 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.980 You see, 00:16:44.060 --> 00:16:45.020 Paul never planned 00:16:45.020 --> 00:16:46.820 a mission to the palace guard. 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:47.800 He never planned 00:16:47.800 --> 00:16:48.379 to have a mission 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:49.120 to this force 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.460 of elite soldiers. 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.120 But now, 00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:53.820 he has a captive audience 00:16:53.820 --> 00:16:54.480 all day, 00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:55.160 every day 00:16:55.160 --> 00:16:56.940 for the gospel. 00:16:58.860 --> 00:17:00.220 He's sharing the gospel 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:01.100 with army rangers 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:01.960 and navy seals 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:02.440 all day, 00:17:02.520 --> 00:17:02.980 every day. 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:04.380 Six times a day. 00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.160 They come in 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:06.380 on four hour rotations, 00:17:06.580 --> 00:17:07.620 one chained on his right 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:08.740 and one chained 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.840 on his left. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:11.019 And one by one, 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:12.199 they're getting converted 00:17:12.199 --> 00:17:13.379 and transformed 00:17:13.379 --> 00:17:14.779 by the gospel. 00:17:15.919 --> 00:17:16.939 And then when the Christians 00:17:16.939 --> 00:17:17.759 in this city 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:19.759 hear that these hardened 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:21.019 Roman soldiers 00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:22.319 are having their hearts 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:23.099 softened 00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:24.599 to Jesus, 00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:26.359 the Christians 00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:27.079 in that city, 00:17:27.199 --> 00:17:29.000 they start to grow 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.000 in their own confidence 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:30.619 in the Lord, 00:17:30.699 --> 00:17:31.740 that the Lord is here, 00:17:31.959 --> 00:17:32.859 the Lord is present, 00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:34.519 the Lord is powerfully 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.119 at work. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:36.759 And they start 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.179 to overcome 00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:38.900 their own fears 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:39.400 and they begin 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:41.019 to find fresh courage 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:42.360 to invite their friends 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:42.880 and neighbors 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.640 and coworkers 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:45.440 to listen to them 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.279 around their tables 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.420 and to ask them, 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:48.820 what do you believe? 00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:49.400 You know? 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:50.720 What do you think 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:52.600 about life and death 00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.320 and what's the meaning 00:17:53.320 --> 00:17:53.840 of everything? 00:17:54.580 --> 00:17:55.120 And they begin 00:17:55.120 --> 00:17:55.940 to share with them 00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:57.000 the good news 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:58.320 about Jesus. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.600 What's amazing 00:18:00.600 --> 00:18:01.220 is if you turn 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:02.279 to the end of this letter 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.580 in Philippians chapter 4 00:18:03.580 --> 00:18:04.380 verse 22, 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:06.100 Paul says that 00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:07.040 all of God's people 00:18:07.040 --> 00:18:08.240 here send you greetings 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.280 especially those 00:18:09.280 --> 00:18:09.980 who belong 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:11.640 to Caesar's household. 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:13.780 Do you know 00:18:13.780 --> 00:18:14.420 what that means? 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:16.560 That means 00:18:16.560 --> 00:18:17.700 that the good news 00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.880 of the Lord Jesus 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:20.720 because of Paul's chains 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.480 and because of his 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:22.140 imprisonment, 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:22.860 the good news 00:18:22.860 --> 00:18:23.660 of the Lord Jesus 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:25.100 is advancing 00:18:25.100 --> 00:18:25.900 all the way 00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:27.040 into Lord Caesar's 00:18:27.040 --> 00:18:27.600 household, 00:18:28.600 --> 00:18:29.720 into the very 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.740 upper echelons 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:32.060 of the Roman Empire. 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:35.259 that the message 00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:36.039 of God's kingdom 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:37.279 is advancing 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:38.659 into the heart 00:18:38.659 --> 00:18:39.779 of Rome's kingdom. 00:18:40.879 --> 00:18:41.980 And people are hearing 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.679 this message 00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:44.319 that Jesus is actually 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:45.179 the new emperor 00:18:45.179 --> 00:18:47.480 and he's taken 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.599 the throne of this world 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:49.980 to be the king. 00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:50.859 He's the one 00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:52.000 who's going to bring 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.359 grace to this world 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.119 and peace 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:54.819 to this world. 00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:55.679 He's the one 00:18:55.679 --> 00:18:57.639 to whom every knee 00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:58.679 is going to bow 00:18:58.679 --> 00:18:59.299 and every tongue 00:18:59.299 --> 00:18:59.980 is going to confess 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:01.319 that he in fact 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:03.099 is the Lord. 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.200 None of this 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.220 was part of the plan. 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.079 No one 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:09.420 formed a committee 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:11.220 for how to reach 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.140 these elite soldiers. 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:13.120 No one created 00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:13.799 a playbook 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:15.000 for how to reach 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.259 the upper echelons 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.440 of the empire. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.579 But this was God's 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:22.240 sovereign plan. 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:26.220 That both inside 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:26.700 the prison 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.400 and outside 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.279 in the city, 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:30.160 the gospel 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.759 would be advancing 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.579 and Paul says 00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:33.759 this is the reason 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.759 I have joy. 00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:35.879 This is the reason 00:19:35.879 --> 00:19:36.940 you too 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.960 should be rejoicing. 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:41.279 So friends, 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.740 my question for you 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.000 is, 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.700 is this how you 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.660 interpret your life 00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:46.539 and your circumstances? 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.279 Is this how you 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:49.200 interpret your adversities 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:50.319 and your challenges? 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.759 Paul's setting for us 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.639 a Christian example 00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:54.599 for how to do that. 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.299 Do you have 00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:57.220 a strong belief 00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:58.419 and a robust confidence 00:19:58.419 --> 00:19:59.019 in the way 00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.899 that God works out 00:19:59.899 --> 00:20:00.579 His purposes 00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:02.839 through your hardships? 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.180 Do you believe 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:06.180 that God can use 00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:07.359 the worst things 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:08.299 that happen to you? 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:09.700 Imprisonment, 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.119 unemployment, 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.599 sickness, 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:14.099 injury, 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.440 cancer, 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.579 challenges with your kids, 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.599 the loss of a loved one? 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:21.000 For Paul, 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.759 most likely, 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.859 and we do know 00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:24.639 that he ends up 00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:26.139 experiencing martyrdom 00:20:26.139 --> 00:20:27.979 in just a few years? 00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.279 Do you believe 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:30.740 that any of these 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.439 can be God's 00:20:31.439 --> 00:20:32.299 sovereign means 00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:33.899 for advancing 00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:35.059 the good news 00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:36.299 of Jesus Christ? 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:40.000 How is God 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.619 arranging 00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:41.819 and orchestrating 00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:44.139 your current circumstances 00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:46.679 so that the gospel 00:20:46.679 --> 00:20:47.679 might be advanced? 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:49.840 how is God 00:20:49.840 --> 00:20:50.799 using adversity 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.759 to grow you 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.620 and your confidence 00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:53.880 in the Lord 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.360 and give you 00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:55.200 a more fearless 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:56.299 courage 00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:58.039 that you might 00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:58.860 take that message 00:20:58.860 --> 00:20:59.799 of Jesus forward 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.539 among those 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.660 who do not yet 00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:03.580 currently believe it? 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:04.880 Paul says 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:05.660 that's the thing 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:07.620 that any healthy church, 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.720 any living church 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.900 ought to be concerned 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.240 about 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.420 in the midst 00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:13.019 of their adversities. 00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.060 Okay, 00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:15.640 so that's question 00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:16.019 number one. 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.859 How do you respond 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:18.200 to adversity? 00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:18.779 Are you with me? 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.879 Second question is 00:21:20.879 --> 00:21:22.019 what are you living 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.900 and dying for? 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.819 He wants this church 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:26.400 in Philippi 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:26.940 to think about 00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:27.379 the question 00:21:27.379 --> 00:21:28.139 what are you living 00:21:28.139 --> 00:21:29.819 for and dying for? 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:31.920 Paul's heart 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:32.299 for them 00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:32.819 is that they would 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.619 learn the secret 00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:34.480 of the Christian life, 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:34.960 the secret 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.920 of Christian ministry, 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.839 and that they would 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:39.019 come to imitate 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:42.740 his overriding ambition, 00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.440 that they would come 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.079 to follow 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:45.460 the example 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:46.279 of what makes 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.099 him tick, 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:47.839 the model 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:49.139 of what motivates 00:21:49.139 --> 00:21:49.539 him. 00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:51.679 And Paul's arguing 00:21:51.679 --> 00:21:52.879 that everybody's 00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:53.779 living for something. 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.759 And so he wants 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.379 them to think about 00:21:56.379 --> 00:21:57.559 what are you living 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.899 for and what 00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.339 are you dying 00:21:59.339 --> 00:21:59.679 for? 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:01.419 If you had to 00:22:01.419 --> 00:22:02.119 fill in the blank 00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:04.579 of this sentence, 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.240 to me, 00:22:05.419 --> 00:22:06.460 to live 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.939 is blank, 00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:08.000 blank, 00:22:08.580 --> 00:22:10.080 and for me 00:22:10.080 --> 00:22:10.759 to die 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:12.980 is blank. 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.680 How do you 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.100 fill in those 00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:15.640 blanks? 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:17.840 Now, 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.100 Paul says, 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:19.539 for me, 00:22:19.600 --> 00:22:20.140 in verse 21, 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:20.460 he says, 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.160 for me to live 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:22.480 is Christ, 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:24.279 and to die 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.240 is gain 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:25.920 because I get 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.860 Christ. 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:28.680 Now, 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.539 after Paul 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:30.039 was beaten 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:31.039 in Philippi, 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.519 after he was 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.120 thrown in prison, 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:33.640 after he was 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:34.299 asked to leave 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:34.880 that city, 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:35.820 do you know 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.439 what Paul did? 00:22:37.659 --> 00:22:38.319 Did he just 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:38.720 give up? 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.119 No, 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.059 Paul went on 00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:41.500 to the next 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:41.740 city, 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.099 and then he 00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:42.419 went on 00:22:42.419 --> 00:22:42.859 to the next 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.039 city, 00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:43.579 which was 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.359 Athens, 00:22:44.679 --> 00:22:45.079 and he went 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:45.879 to the birthplace 00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:47.039 of Greek 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.559 philosophy, 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.299 the birthplace 00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:48.779 of Greek 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.559 art and 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:49.879 literature 00:22:49.879 --> 00:22:50.539 and science 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.159 and democracy, 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:52.559 and we're 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.000 told that he 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.439 began to 00:22:53.439 --> 00:22:54.000 debate there 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.000 the Epicurean 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.059 and Stoic 00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.720 philosophers 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.759 about their 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.299 many gods 00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:58.539 and their 00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.039 many different 00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.460 approaches 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.119 to life 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:01.119 and death. 00:23:01.439 --> 00:23:01.720 And you 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.159 can imagine 00:23:02.159 --> 00:23:03.339 him engaging 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:03.679 with the 00:23:03.679 --> 00:23:04.919 different life 00:23:04.919 --> 00:23:05.619 systems and 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.339 thought systems 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.099 there in 00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:07.399 Athens, 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:07.839 and like 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:08.279 Socrates, 00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.000 like Plato, 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.679 like Aristotle, 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.339 Paul comes 00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:10.859 in and he 00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.959 asks questions 00:23:11.959 --> 00:23:12.399 and he says, 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:12.559 well, 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.139 what's your 00:23:13.139 --> 00:23:13.779 definition of 00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:14.099 life? 00:23:15.439 --> 00:23:16.079 What's the 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.519 thing that 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.199 makes life 00:23:17.199 --> 00:23:18.199 life for 00:23:18.199 --> 00:23:18.479 you? 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:21.000 What's your 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.879 bottom line? 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.379 What's your 00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:24.639 most important 00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:25.799 thing that if 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:26.419 you say, 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:27.259 if I have 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:27.819 this, 00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.299 then I'm 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:29.919 really living, 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.299 then I'm 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:31.579 truly alive. 00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:31.939 No matter 00:23:31.939 --> 00:23:32.619 what you take 00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:33.059 away from 00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:33.239 me, 00:23:33.459 --> 00:23:34.099 I'm really 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.959 alive. 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:36.659 And Paul 00:23:36.659 --> 00:23:37.099 begins to 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.679 engage in 00:23:37.679 --> 00:23:38.159 the different 00:23:38.159 --> 00:23:38.979 alternative 00:23:38.979 --> 00:23:40.599 philosophies of 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.279 life and death 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.819 there in Athens. 00:23:41.979 --> 00:23:42.959 And I think he 00:23:42.959 --> 00:23:43.599 probably said 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.119 something like 00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:44.319 this, 00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:44.879 for you 00:23:44.879 --> 00:23:46.119 Epicureans, 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:46.899 to live is 00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:47.339 pleasure. 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:48.479 Right? 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.019 To live is 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.759 to have fun. 00:23:50.719 --> 00:23:50.959 Yeah, 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.339 I've got a 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.119 good job and 00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:53.000 I work hard and 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.500 I make a lot 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:53.839 of money, 00:23:53.939 --> 00:23:54.500 but really I'm 00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:54.959 living for 00:23:54.959 --> 00:23:55.519 recreation. 00:23:55.979 --> 00:23:56.500 I'm living to 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.059 play hard on 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.639 the weekends. 00:23:58.339 --> 00:23:58.919 I'm living to 00:23:58.919 --> 00:23:59.479 pursue my 00:23:59.479 --> 00:24:00.299 hobbies and 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.019 experiences, 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.279 to get good 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:03.399 food and to 00:24:03.399 --> 00:24:04.239 do more travel. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.539 for me to 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.120 live is to 00:24:06.120 --> 00:24:07.120 be happy. 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:09.440 And he 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:09.640 says, 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.000 for you 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.599 Stoics, 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.599 for you to 00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:13.500 live is to 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.140 be strong. 00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:15.920 For you to 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.380 live is to 00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:17.480 be in control. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.460 It's to be a 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.079 good and an 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:19.859 upright moral 00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:20.440 person. 00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:21.799 To have 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.599 courage and to 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.339 have grit and 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:25.000 resilience in the 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:25.680 face of all the 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.720 hard facts of life, 00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.620 to just brace your 00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.640 shoulders and have a 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:30.259 stiff upper lip and 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:30.940 to have an iron 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.480 will and to 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.539 refuse to be 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.180 defeated. 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:35.559 These are the 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.559 dominant definitions 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:38.660 here in Athens of 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.599 what it means to be 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.900 truly alive. 00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:43.360 And I think you 00:24:43.360 --> 00:24:43.940 can probably look 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:45.980 around and see in 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:46.579 the Bay Area these 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.360 definitions, these 00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:48.079 ancient definitions 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:49.059 are still very much 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.640 the things that 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.299 people are living 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:51.700 their lives by here 00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:52.660 in the Bay Area. 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.700 Or other people may 00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.220 say, you know, 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:57.380 for me to live is my 00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:58.360 work and my career. 00:24:58.359 --> 00:25:01.099 For me to live is 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:03.379 romance and sex. 00:25:04.399 --> 00:25:05.979 For me to live is my 00:25:05.979 --> 00:25:07.159 family and my 00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:08.259 precious children. 00:25:08.419 --> 00:25:09.299 For me to live is my 00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:10.500 money and my stock 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.519 portfolio and my 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.359 401k. 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.679 For me to live is to 00:25:14.679 --> 00:25:15.939 be kind and to try to 00:25:15.939 --> 00:25:16.699 leave the world a 00:25:16.699 --> 00:25:17.240 better place. 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:18.859 For me to live is to 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:19.799 invest myself in 00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:21.699 politics and power. 00:25:23.439 --> 00:25:24.419 But what does Paul, 00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.559 the greatest theologian, 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.219 say? 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:28.019 He says, you know, 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:29.319 why do I exist? 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:32.200 Why am I on planet 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:32.500 earth? 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:33.319 What is the meaning 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:34.039 and the purpose of 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.620 my life? 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:36.240 What gets me up in 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:36.500 the morning? 00:25:36.600 --> 00:25:38.360 He says, for me to 00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:39.339 live is Christ. 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:42.579 And for me to die is 00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.600 gain because I get 00:25:43.600 --> 00:25:45.039 Christ. 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:47.319 And everything else 00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:47.940 is secondary. 00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:49.339 Everything else is 00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:50.940 subsidiary to that. 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.799 Paul would say this 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:54.480 is the only definition 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:54.940 of life. 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:56.059 The one bottom line 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.059 that most important 00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:58.659 thing that will stand 00:25:58.659 --> 00:25:59.639 up to all the 00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.839 tragedies of life that 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.639 every single one of 00:26:01.639 --> 00:26:02.500 us are going to face. 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:04.519 Even our own death. 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:06.519 That when you lose 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:07.700 all of your loves and 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.480 when you lose your 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.659 very life, you 00:26:09.659 --> 00:26:10.659 yourself, if you have 00:26:10.659 --> 00:26:11.599 this definition of 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.599 life, you yourself 00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:14.059 will not collapse. 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:17.519 Do you realize how 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.839 radical this is, what 00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:19.399 Paul is saying? 00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.619 He said, look at it 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.379 again, verse 21. 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.740 For me to live is 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:24.339 Christ and to die is 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:24.639 gain. 00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:26.659 And if I am to go on 00:26:26.659 --> 00:26:27.500 living in this body, 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:28.819 this will mean fruitful 00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:29.639 labor for me. 00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:31.079 Yet what shall I 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.459 choose? 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.139 I do not know. 00:26:32.199 --> 00:26:33.279 I'm torn between the 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:33.480 two. 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:35.679 I desire to depart and 00:26:35.679 --> 00:26:36.819 be with Christ, which is 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.659 better by far. 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.019 But it is more 00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:40.319 necessary for you that I 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.119 remain in the body. 00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:43.519 Convinced of this, I know 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.659 that I will remain and I 00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:45.799 will continue with all of 00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:47.119 you for your progress and 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:48.819 joy in the faith so that 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:50.279 through my being with you, 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.740 again, your boasting in 00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:53.559 Jesus Christ will abound 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.819 on account of me. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.960 Paul's awaiting the 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.539 verdict from the 00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:01.720 imperial tribunal. 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.660 He's awaiting this 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:04.480 decision whether or not 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.799 he's going to live or 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.559 whether or not he's going 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.200 to be beheaded. 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.799 And Paul says, you know 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.019 what? 00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:12.480 I'm good either way. 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:14.559 Why? 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:17.519 Because if God's plan for 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:20.119 me is to live, then I get 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:22.859 to be a laborer in God's 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.299 vineyard. 00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:25.720 And I get to go out and 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:28.119 sow seeds of the message 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:29.539 of Jesus and I get to reap 00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:32.599 a harvest of gospel fruit 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.839 and I get to make disciples 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.799 and I get to help those 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:36.399 disciples make progress and 00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:37.359 joy in their faith. 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.480 And I get to help people 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:41.119 more and more come to learn 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:42.279 what it means to boast and 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.679 nothing else but Jesus 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.180 Christ. 00:27:45.840 --> 00:27:47.460 But if God's plan for me is 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:49.400 to be executed and to lose 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:51.860 my head, well to die is 00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:54.140 gain because I've trusted 00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:55.940 in Christ and the passion 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:57.259 and the goal of my life 00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.580 since the day that Christ 00:27:58.580 --> 00:28:00.440 Jesus apprehended me and 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:02.299 took hold of me is to see 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:04.420 Christ, not by faith but 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:05.140 by sight. 00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:07.980 To die means to depart and 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:09.759 to be immediately, directly 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.680 and consciously with Jesus, 00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:13.660 to be finally and fully 00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:15.380 in his presence. 00:28:16.820 --> 00:28:19.440 And this is the secret of 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.120 Paul's life. 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:21.700 It's the secret of the 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.400 Christian life. 00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:24.340 And here's the logic. 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:27.220 Paul says because of the 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:28.480 empty tomb, because of the 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.700 resurrection of Jesus on 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:31.320 Easter Sunday in the past, 00:28:32.320 --> 00:28:34.040 and because of that coming 00:28:34.040 --> 00:28:37.300 resurrection of all who died 00:28:37.300 --> 00:28:39.620 trusting in Jesus that's 00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:40.420 coming in the future, 00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:47.860 death is no longer a loss, 00:28:48.580 --> 00:28:49.140 it's gain. 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:51.500 Death leads to victory. 00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:52.580 Death leads to triumph. 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.880 Death leads to being with 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:56.259 Christ as you await your 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.420 resurrection body that will 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:59.880 enable you to live in the new 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:01.539 world that God is going to put 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:03.960 right and remake completely. 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:07.200 And so Paul says because of that 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:09.740 past resurrection of Jesus and 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:11.079 that future resurrection of the 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:12.440 dead, he says I have confidence, 00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:14.880 I have assurance that no matter 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:16.319 what happens to me in the 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:19.460 tribunal of Lord Caesar, I know 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:21.140 where I stand in the tribunal of 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:22.019 Lord Christ. 00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:23.680 Right? 00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:25.579 No matter what happens to me in the 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:29.360 courts of Rome, I know where I 00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:30.759 stand in the court of God. 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:32.879 God, I'm going to be delivered, 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:34.859 I'm going to be justified by 00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.440 grace. 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:38.819 And therefore, I can say for me to 00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:41.640 live as Christ and to die is 00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:43.480 absolute gain. 00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:48.460 Friends, can you imagine what kind 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:50.240 of revival, what kind of spiritual 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:52.579 awakening would happen here in the 00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:54.039 Bay Area if ordinary everyday 00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:56.220 Christians just embrace this one 00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:58.279 focus and the singular passion? 00:29:58.279 --> 00:30:02.339 It's very easy to say it with our 00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:04.319 lips, but it's actually in our 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:06.920 priorities very difficult to live 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:09.460 it out because we can say for me 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:11.619 to live as Christ plus work plus 00:30:11.619 --> 00:30:13.139 leisure plus wealth accumulation 00:30:13.139 --> 00:30:14.220 plus relationships. 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:17.779 And how easy it is for that plus 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:19.339 factor, for that secondary thing to 00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:21.180 become our primary passion. 00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:24.319 But notice what Paul does here with 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:25.700 his personal preferences. 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:28.240 He says, you know, I'm going to take 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:30.799 my personal preference, which is to 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:33.460 depart and to be with Christ, which 00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:36.160 is way better for me individually, and 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:37.480 I'm going to submit my personal 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:39.019 preference and desire to something 00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:42.160 greater than myself, which is the 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:43.620 corporate and collective needs of 00:30:43.620 --> 00:30:45.680 Christ's church and Christ's mission. 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:49.100 And what if more Christians in the 00:30:49.100 --> 00:30:52.559 Bay Area were to reorder our 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:54.340 preferences, reorder our desires, 00:30:54.339 --> 00:30:58.359 reorder our loves in such a way that 00:30:58.359 --> 00:31:01.000 we're not living for self-gratification, 00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:03.959 but we're living for the fruitful labor 00:31:03.959 --> 00:31:08.299 of advancing and progressing in the 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:08.659 gospel. 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:12.500 Paul is in fact showing us and 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:16.459 embodying to us a life that's not 00:31:16.459 --> 00:31:18.679 looking to our own interests, but 00:31:18.679 --> 00:31:20.699 looking out to the interests of 00:31:20.699 --> 00:31:20.879 others. 00:31:20.939 --> 00:31:21.980 He's giving us a model. 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:24.700 He's giving us an example of valuing 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:27.220 others above our own personal 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.559 preferences. 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:32.339 Against his own personal desires, he 00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:33.799 puts the needs of the gospel and the 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:36.019 needs of other people first. 00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:41.000 To depart and to be with Christ, that's 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:42.900 emphatically better, Paul says. 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:45.599 That is by far the best. 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:47.819 There is no question about that for me, 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:50.079 Paul says, but it's more necessary for 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:53.779 you that I remain and that I live. 00:31:53.859 --> 00:31:55.279 And it's more necessary for your 00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:58.480 progress and your joy in the faith so 00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:01.000 that your boasting in Jesus will abound 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.279 more and more. 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:03.399 And that's why I want to live. 00:32:04.639 --> 00:32:07.519 To live is to go on laboring for Christ 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.599 and the praise of Christ. 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:11.619 And to die is to go on living that much 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:13.399 more in union with the resurrected 00:32:13.399 --> 00:32:14.439 Christ. 00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:14.559 Christ. 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:18.480 And because Christ is a singular focus 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:20.340 and the singular passion of my life, 00:32:21.340 --> 00:32:24.940 whether I'm released or whether I'm 00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:29.500 executed, whether I live or whether I die, 00:32:30.360 --> 00:32:32.240 Paul says, I win. 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:37.340 I win because I get more of Christ. 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:37.419 Christ. 00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:45.079 What would happen to your marriage if you 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:45.779 live like that? 00:32:47.159 --> 00:32:49.240 Or what would happen to your children and 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:49.699 your family? 00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:52.240 What would happen to our church? 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:53.379 What would happen to your workplace? 00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:56.919 What would happen to our communities if all 00:32:56.919 --> 00:32:59.240 of us filled in the blank and we said, for me, 00:32:59.319 --> 00:33:03.039 to live is Christ and to die is gain because 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:04.819 it's more of Christ? 00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:07.259 Christ, that's my definition. 00:33:08.399 --> 00:33:09.720 That's my bottom line. 00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:11.879 That's what I'm living for. 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.899 That's what I'm dying for. 00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:17.879 All right. 00:33:19.460 --> 00:33:20.500 I'm out of time. 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:24.339 But hopefully you now know, how do I respond 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.980 to adversity? 00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:29.000 By seeing all of my life through the lens 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:31.759 of the gospel and drawing all my joy from 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.700 the gospel itself. 00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:36.120 What am I living for and what am I dying 00:33:36.120 --> 00:33:36.319 for? 00:33:36.360 --> 00:33:38.660 I'm dying for nothing other than Christ. 00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:40.340 And I'm living for nothing other than 00:33:40.340 --> 00:33:40.740 Christ. 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:44.019 And finally, how do you get the power to 00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.600 live this way? 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:47.980 Well, Paul says it very simply in verse 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.380 19. 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:52.340 He says, I know that through your prayers 00:33:52.340 --> 00:33:54.240 and through God's provision of the spirit 00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:57.019 of Christ, what has happened to me will 00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:58.240 turn out for my deliverance. 00:33:58.240 --> 00:34:02.279 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no 00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:04.359 way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage 00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:07.579 so that now, as always, Christ will be exalted in my 00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:10.159 body whether by life or by death. 00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:14.780 Paul says, the thing that I need you to pray for me 00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:20.340 and the thing that I'm praying for you is that we would 00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:22.099 all, no matter what our circumstances, 00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:26.179 no matter what we're going through, we would exalt 00:34:26.179 --> 00:34:31.460 Christ, we would glorify Christ, we would magnify Christ. 00:34:32.319 --> 00:34:35.319 And the only way we're going to have the power to do that 00:34:35.319 --> 00:34:40.900 is if God, our Heavenly Father, fills us with the spirit of 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:45.259 His Son, Jesus, so that we live with that same power of 00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:48.699 Jesus and that same courage of Jesus and that same life of 00:34:48.699 --> 00:34:48.980 Jesus. 00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:53.619 And so, friends, I want us to think about what do we pray 00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:54.740 for each other? 00:34:55.780 --> 00:34:57.340 What should I be praying for you? 00:34:58.240 --> 00:34:59.780 What should you be praying for me? 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:01.340 What should we be praying for each other? 00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:06.800 Oh, Father, fill us with the spirit of Your Son, Jesus, 00:35:07.639 --> 00:35:10.760 that we might live for Jesus and die for Jesus, 00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:15.199 that no matter what we're doing, we might seek to exalt Christ 00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:19.279 and glorify Christ and magnify Christ. 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:24.279 Without Your Spirit, we cannot do that. 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:27.899 But with Your Spirit, we can do all things. 00:35:28.919 --> 00:35:30.899 In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.980 Amen. 00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:32.099 Amen.