WEBVTT

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 the opportunity to open God's Word with you this morning. Before I do that, before I read God's

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 Word, I want to paint two pictures. I want to take you across the street to the lodge. February 2009,

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 it was the very first meeting of Providence Presbytery, and I was the very first transfer

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 exam. So I was coming already a pastor, coming from Norfolk, Virginia, and was examined by the

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 Presbyterian, was received to be the pastor of North Hills Presbyterian Church in Meridianville,

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 just north of Huntsville. Now let me take you to North Hills. You may not have been there, but if

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 you go north on the parkway, there's a fishing pond on the left, right past Bob Wade Lane, and there's

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 a church behind that. That's North Hills. And in February 2016, we had a Presbytery meeting there,

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 and at that meeting, Will Spink was approved by the Presbytery to be the new senior pastor here,

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 after y'all had voted overwhelmingly for him to be so. And let me tell you, after we did the business,

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 and we can be all about the business as Presbyterians, we stopped, and we had a lengthy

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 time of prayer. It was one of the sweetest moments in my seven years of being in Providence Presbytery,

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 rubbing shoulders and doing business and praying together for our Presbytery, as we rejoiced in the

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 way that God is leading this congregation at this time. So I'm thankful for Will. I'm thankful for his

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 friendship and his partnership. I'm thankful that he's preaching at North Hills this morning, so that I can

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 come and preach to you here. My passage this morning is 2 Corinthians 4, 6 through 12. And as I read it,

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 I want you to know that my connection with this passage is very personal. And you'll, I think, get a

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 sense of that personal connection as I preach through it. In 2013, at the age of 36, I was diagnosed with

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 colon cancer. And it ended up being stage 2, which I'm very thankful for. But in the midst of it, we were

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 very fearful of a stage 3 or 4 diagnosis. Had major surgery, went through chemotherapy and radiation,

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 and it was a most difficult and continues to be difficult season in our lives and for our family.

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 But God has been good in the midst of our suffering. And so hear God's Word this morning. And again, I thank you

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 for listening as I preach this morning.

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 For God, who said, let light shine out of darkness, has shown in our hearts to give light

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 light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in

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 jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted

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 in every way, but not crushed, perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted, but not forsaken,

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 struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of

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 Jesus may be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake,

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 so that the life of Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

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 So death is at work in us, but life in you. Would you join me in prayer?

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 Father, we praise you for your Word. We praise you for how it interprets the things that we experience

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 in this fallen and painful world. Father, we pray that by your Word and your Spirit, you would open

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 our hearts and minds to receive from you what you are giving to us this morning. It is a good and

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 precious gift, and we thank you for it. And I pray for myself, a simple man, a simple servant,

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 that where there is encouragement and edification, those would be your words and would remain with us.

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 Where there's confusion or uncertainty, Lord, I pray that those would be my words and they would

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 quickly pass. We pray all of this in Jesus' matchless name. Amen. Trauma happens. Other things happen,

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 but in a fallen world, trauma happens. Pain happens. Suffering happens. And then there's what I read a

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 couple years ago in a New York Times op-ed piece by David Brooks. Many of you may know his name. He wrote

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 in this op-ed piece called The Art of Presence, he wrote about the Woodowice family and what they have

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 faced. In 2008, the Anna Woodowice, who was 27 at the time, was working with a service organization in

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 Afghanistan. And on April 1st, she went horseback riding and was thrown and died from her injuries.

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 In 2013, her younger sister, Catherine, then 26, was biking to work from her home in Washington.

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 She was hit by a car. Her face was severely smashed up and she's endured and has continued to endure

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 a series of difficult operations. For a time, she breathed and ate through a tube, unable to speak.

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 And you can imagine that the recovery from such injuries would be painfully slow.

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 Catherine Woodowice wrote this. She wrote about this. She said,

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 there will be days when you feel like a quivering, cowardly shell of yourself. When despair yawns as a

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 terrible chasm. When fear paralyzes any chance for pleasure. This is just a fight that has to be won

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 over and over and over again. It is a fight that has to be won over and over and over again.

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 There will be a time, or there has already been a time in your life, in your family, personally or

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 otherwise, where you have to enter that sort of fight. The fight with trauma and pain and suffering and

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 all the rest. What is that fight from a Christian perspective? It is to fight for a greater reality,

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 an understanding that even in the midst of those experiences, as real and as harsh as they are,

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 that God is at work, that there is something greater going on. Is God at work in this fallen world? Yes.

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 Is He at work within your life, where you are? Yes, He is. And so my theme for this sermon is very simple.

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 Two points. We're just going to break it down in half. We're going to say, this moment is real.

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 But it is not the only reality. This moment is real. Whatever it is you're going through,

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 whatever you're experiencing, it is real. But it is not the only reality. So I'm going to take two

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 passes at this text. If you have the Bible open or you want to follow along as we look through,

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 we're going to pull on the thread of pain and suffering. Then we'll pull on the thread of God's

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 transcending work of grace. So this moment is real. In the midst of what we face in this fallen world,

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 we experience frailty, suffering, death. So I want to talk about our frailty, our suffering, our death.

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 This passage starts very positively. I know we're just jumping into sort of the middle of a chapter.

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 Paul has been talking about the ministry of proclamation. And in verse 6, he is focusing on

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 the work, that transcending work of God's grace. It starts very positively in verse 6.

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 For God who said, let light shy down of darkness, has shown in our hearts to give the light of the

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 knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Well, thank you, Paul. That makes that very

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 clear. It's a very Pauline-type statement. There's a lot there. But the very next place that he goes

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 is to talk about our frailty in verse 7. We have this treasure that God's given us, this grace,

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 this work of God, is where? Within us, jars of clay. We are very common, everyday, ordinary clay pots.

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 And maybe some of us are a little broken, or will become broken, or have been broken.

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 We understand frailty within our own bodies. As we get older, we might say in the South,

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 I'm about to give out. We don't have a lot left. So in 2013, I'm going through chemotherapy,

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 therapy, and I decide that it's a good idea to play tag on a scooter with my son. I'm getting

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 worn out and tired, but we're riding these little Razor scooters. And I'm not very coordinated to

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 begin with, but that's okay. And I'm going to tag my son just one last time. And as I'm going down,

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 I make it down the driveway just fine. Hit the pavement, reach out, and then all of a sudden,

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 I'm on my backside. And I'm thinking, my backside should be hurting, but it's my knee that's hurting.

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 So in the midst of the health issues that I was already enduring, going through the,

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 recovering from surgery, going through the chemotherapy, I partially tore the MCL in my knee.

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 And now they're saying, well, you can't have surgery right now, though that might be needed,

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 because of your depressed immune system. You need to do physical therapy. So now I'm doing physical

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 therapy in the midst of chemotherapy. Let me tell you, I felt like a broken jar of clay. I understood

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 my frailty in a very real way. I imagine that you understand that, or you will come to understand that.

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 Even those athletes that seem to transcend

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 sport. I think of Kobe Bryant, one of the best

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 basketball players in the National Basketball Association, NBA, has ever had.

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 He's not quite the same anymore, and it's probably a good thing he's retiring.

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 Even those who transcend physically,

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 they themselves, you yourselves, are a jar of clay.

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 There's our frailty. There's also our suffering.

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 And look at the radical honesty within this

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 passage.

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 It's rare

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 that we often speak so forthrightly

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 about what we're going through. People ask us how we're doing.

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 We give the fine.

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 I found as I was going through treatment that I didn't know how to answer that question anymore.

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 How are you doing?

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 Do you have time?

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 Because I'm not feeling so good.

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 And so,

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 Paul speaks. He begins to say,

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 okay, so we have this treasure,

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 but it's in a jar of clay.

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 And also, verse 8 and 9,

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 we are afflicted

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 in every way.

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 Ever felt that way?

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 That's what life in a fallen world can

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 look like. Afflicted in every way.

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 Or perplexed,

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 he says.

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 Have you ever asked out loud

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 or in your prayers

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 or in your heart,

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 God, I don't know

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 what you're doing.

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 I don't understand.

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 Perplexed.

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 Persecuted.

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 We may not feel that as much here

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 in our American context,

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 but we certainly,

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 as we think about brothers and sisters around the world,

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 they understand this

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 when Paul says persecuted.

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 And we may come to a point

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 where we understand it more intimately.

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 And then finally,

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 he says,

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 struck down there

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 in verse 9

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 at the end of it.

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 Have you ever felt like

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 you're just crawling

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 through the day

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 trying to fight

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 for the next moment?

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 Oh, this moment is real.

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 The affliction,

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 the perplexion,

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 the persecution,

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 the being struck down,

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 all of that is real,

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 and we must acknowledge it

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 if we are to understand

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 the greater work

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 that God is doing.

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 We must be honest

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 and say,

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 I am suffering.

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 suffering.

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 And then,

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 Paul talks about death.

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 You see,

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 it's not getting any better.

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 We go from frailty

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 to suffering to death.

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 Verses 10, 11, and 12,

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 Paul makes remarks about death.

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 Verse 10,

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 he says,

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 we are always

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 carrying around in our body

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 the death of Jesus.

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 Here,

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 the death of Jesus

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 could be translated

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 as the dying of Jesus.

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 That is meaning

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 that it is encompassing

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 all of Christ's

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 passion,

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 the mocking,

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 the betrayal,

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 the spitting,

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 the lashes,

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 the cross,

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 all of it.

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 The dying of Jesus.

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 That's what we carry

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 with us as believers,

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 this work of Christ.

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 And then verse 11,

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 the beginning of it,

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 he says,

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 for we who are alive

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 are always being given over

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 to death

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 for Jesus' sake.

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 Did anybody tell you

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 that part

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 when they shared

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 the gospel with you?

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 Did they say,

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 this is going to be

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 a part of the Christian life?

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 A lot of times we just say,

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 hey,

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 everything's going to be better.

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 It's not always better,

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 is it?

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 Because we still live

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 in this fallen world.

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 And so,

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 death is at work

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 within us,

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 this verb

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 here,

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 being given over.

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 It's the same verb

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 that's used in Romans 8,

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 32,

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 where we read

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 of God,

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 he who did not spare

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 his own son,

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 but gave him up

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 for us all.

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 The difference

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 is that in Romans,

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 it's active,

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 and here in Corinthians,

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 it's a passive verb.

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 What does that mean?

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 Well,

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 that means that you don't

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 sign up for this.

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 Nobody's going to go out

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 into the lobby

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 or onto the website

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 here at Southwood

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 and sign up for the class

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 of suffering

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 and dying to self.

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 We don't want that.

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 Our sin doesn't want that.

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 Our human nature

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 doesn't want that.

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 We don't want to go

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 through that,

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 so God takes us

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 through it.

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 And so,

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 that's why I say

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 that cancer

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 is a sanctifying grace.

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 I didn't ask for it.

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 I didn't want it.

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 I certainly was shocked

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 that I would be diagnosed

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 at that age of 36

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 with it,

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 but it's a sanctifying grace

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 because my inclination,

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 my desire

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 as just a person

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 walking through life,

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 even a believer,

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 is I want the Staples

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 easy button.

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 You know what I'm talking about?

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 You just push the button

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 and the little guy says,

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 hey, that was easy.

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 I want life to be like that.

00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:12.159
 I want,

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 when things get hard,

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 to be able to just,

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 boop.

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 And maybe I wish God

00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.679
 was a little bit like that

00:17:18.679 --> 00:17:19.019
 sometimes.

00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:19.720
 Let's be honest.

00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:21.639
 Sometimes we want to just

00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:22.299
 be able to kind of

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.000
 say a prayer

00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:25.559
 and have God

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.559
 make everything easy

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.139
 for us.

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:29.619
 God doesn't work that way.

00:17:29.699 --> 00:17:30.359
 He's not a genie

00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:30.879
 in a bottle.

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.599
 He's not our servant.

00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.799
 He's the Lord of lords

00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:35.859
 and kings and kings,

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.220
 and He's doing something

00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:37.859
 in our lives,

00:17:37.899 --> 00:17:38.879
 even if we're not

00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.920
 comfortable with it,

00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:41.580
 and we didn't sign up

00:17:41.580 --> 00:17:42.860
 for it because it is

00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:45.860
 hard to die to self.

00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:47.920
 Are you with me?

00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:50.400
 It is hard to die to self.

00:17:51.040 --> 00:17:52.520
 So God takes us there,

00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:54.160
 even if we hadn't

00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:54.920
 signed up for it.

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.360
 Finally, verse 12 says,

00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:58.500
 death is at work in us.

00:17:58.540 --> 00:17:59.780
 So three times,

00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.440
 verse 10, 11, 12,

00:18:01.760 --> 00:18:02.420
 Paul talks about

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.280
 our dying,

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.380
 our death,

00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:06.500
 our being given over

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.140
 to that.

00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.579
 I read a book

00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:11.579
 during treatment,

00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:12.319
 I don't know why,

00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:13.180
 I ended up in tears

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:14.059
 several times.

00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:14.420
 It's called

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.140
 The Little Way

00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:16.279
 of Ruthie Lemming.

00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:17.220
 I recommend it.

00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:19.039
 It's written by Rob Dreher,

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:19.740
 who I believe

00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:20.539
 writes for

00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:21.579
 the American Conservative.

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.039
 But this book's

00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:24.000
 about his sister.

00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:26.779
 And they grew up

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.980
 in St. Francisville,

00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:28.480
 Louisiana.

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.960
 It's a little tiny town

00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:30.759
 in Louisiana.

00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.380
 It's a poor community,

00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:34.460
 but Ruthie Lemming

00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:36.180
 loved her community.

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.340
 She loved the people.

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.519
 She was a teacher.

00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:41.140
 And she was well regarded.

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.519
 She was a Christian.

00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:44.799
 And in her mid-30s,

00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:45.799
 she was diagnosed

00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:47.880
 with single cell lung cancer,

00:18:48.340 --> 00:18:48.920
 stage four.

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:52.240
 One percent who received

00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:53.100
 that diagnosis

00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:55.660
 live past five years.

00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:58.740
 Ruthie Lemming was not

00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.779
 in that one percent.

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:01.960
 And so as I'm reading

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.980
 about her life,

00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:03.759
 her story,

00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.220
 and all,

00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:05.259
 I'm hearing

00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:06.720
 these same themes

00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.559
 again and again.

00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.220
 Frailty,

00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.180
 suffering,

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:12.940
 death.

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:13.940
 Ultimately,

00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:15.079
 certainly,

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:15.799
 literally,

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.819
 she does end up,

00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:18.619
 and she did,

00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:19.319
 die.

00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.680
 The moments

00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.640
 that she faced,

00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:22.960
 the moments I faced,

00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:24.460
 the moments you face,

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.500
 the moments

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.799
 that we face

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.779
 of frailty,

00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:30.599
 of suffering,

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.279
 of dying to self,

00:19:32.659 --> 00:19:34.799
 they are very real.

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.339
 No sugarcoating,

00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:38.200
 no ignoring them,

00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.220
 no pretending

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:40.339
 that it doesn't exist

00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:41.779
 will make them go away.

00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:41.839
 right?

00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:44.160
 You have to

00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:46.359
 live there

00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:46.899
 whether you

00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:48.039
 want to or not.

00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:48.899
 And there are no

00:19:48.899 --> 00:19:49.799
 easy answers

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.399
 in the midst

00:19:50.399 --> 00:19:51.460
 of such a situation.

00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:53.319
 And we who are not

00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:54.259
 suffering at a particular

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:54.920
 time should be

00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:55.660
 very careful

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:58.000
 to not simply

00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.059
 give easy,

00:19:59.240 --> 00:19:59.920
 trite answers.

00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:02.039
 I hope that's not

00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:02.940
 what you hear me doing

00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.859
 this morning either

00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:04.579
 as I preach.

00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:06.440
 We have to acknowledge

00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:08.420
 the hard parts

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.420
 of living

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:10.680
 in this world.

00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:12.160
 the consequences

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:13.060
 of our sin,

00:20:13.620 --> 00:20:14.220
 the consequences

00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:16.340
 of the fallenness

00:20:16.340 --> 00:20:17.080
 of this world.

00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:18.100
 We live with

00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:19.120
 these realities.

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.360
 And we must

00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:22.340
 acknowledge them

00:20:22.340 --> 00:20:23.460
 to being real

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:25.700
 if we are also

00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:26.400
 going to be able

00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:26.900
 to see

00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:28.299
 what God is doing.

00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.180
 And here's the fight.

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.279
 And here's my main point.

00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.539
 If this moment

00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.060
 is real,

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.580
 you have to fight

00:20:34.580 --> 00:20:36.380
 to see,

00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:37.680
 to understand

00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:39.759
 the greater reality

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.140
 of God's work

00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:42.400
 in our lives.

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:42.920
 So,

00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.859
 point one was

00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:46.079
 this moment is real.

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.339
 Frailty,

00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:48.180
 death,

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:48.960
 suffering,

00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.680
 that's all real.

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.180
 Second point,

00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:53.119
 the second part of this

00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:53.319
 is,

00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.900
 but this is not

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:56.480
 the only reality.

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:59.079
 For every real moment,

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.680
 there is something

00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:02.299
 that God is doing

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.460
 in our lives.

00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:04.759
 And this is actually

00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.460
 the main thrust

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.960
 of what Paul is doing

00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:08.940
 in these verses.

00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:12.059
 There's our frailty,

00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:14.340
 but God's power.

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:16.279
 There's our suffering,

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:18.240
 but God's but.

00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:20.140
 There's our death,

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.900
 but God's life.

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.059
 So,

00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:25.299
 let's consider now

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.880
 our frailty

00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:28.240
 in light of

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.539
 God's power.

00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.100
 So,

00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:30.640
 we go back

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.500
 to verse 6.

00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:31.900
 Remember,

00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.480
 I said we're going

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.380
 two times

00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:34.079
 through this passage.

00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:34.299
 So,

00:21:34.340 --> 00:21:35.259
 here's the second pass.

00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.819
 Go back to verse 6.

00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:38.079
 This is

00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:39.460
 the greatest reality.

00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:40.360
 If you are a believer

00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:41.340
 in Jesus Christ,

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:43.360
 there is no greater reality

00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:45.019
 than what God has done

00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.920
 in giving you

00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:47.059
 your salvation.

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.720
 There is no greater reality

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.319
 than that,

00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:50.920
 and we have to keep

00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.920
 coming back to that

00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:53.819
 again and again,

00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:54.740
 thanking God

00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.620
 and reflecting

00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.420
 on the grace

00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:57.259
 that we receive.

00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.880
 We don't deserve

00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:00.539
 God's mercy.

00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:02.200
 We don't deserve

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:03.079
 God

00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:04.660
 doing this work

00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.920
 of recreation.

00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:08.140
 in our lives.

00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:09.700
 From fallen creatures,

00:22:09.820 --> 00:22:10.560
 God takes us

00:22:10.560 --> 00:22:11.840
 to a new creature.

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.800
 So,

00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:14.519
 He says,

00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.380
 for God who said,

00:22:15.580 --> 00:22:16.180
 let light shine

00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.860
 out of darkness,

00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:18.259
 that's picturing

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:20.220
 God's initial creation.

00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:23.380
 Here,

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.560
 has shown

00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:25.740
 in our hearts

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:27.620
 to give the light

00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:28.420
 of the knowledge

00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:29.019
 of the glory

00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:29.660
 of God

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.600
 in the face

00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:31.700
 of Jesus Christ.

00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.640
 that is,

00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.519
 God is giving us

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.799
 this great work

00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.539
 of salvation

00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.840
 in our hearts,

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.180
 our lives.

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:38.799
 He takes us

00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:39.980
 from the darkness

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.960
 of our sin

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:43.360
 to the light

00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:44.580
 of His grace.

00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:46.140
 And so then,

00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:46.620
 when He comes

00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:47.279
 into verse 7,

00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.380
 He indeed says,

00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:49.640
 we have this treasure

00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:51.259
 in jars of clay

00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:52.420
 to show

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:54.559
 that the surpassing

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.400
 power

00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:56.980
 belongs

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:58.080
 to God

00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:59.480
 and not to us.

00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:03.700
 who does the power

00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:04.299
 belong to?

00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:06.059
 God.

00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:06.519
 That's right.

00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.620
 It belongs to God

00:23:07.620 --> 00:23:08.620
 and not to us.

00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:10.200
 And we need to remember

00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:11.480
 that again and again

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.799
 because the reality is,

00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:13.839
 whether you're a mom

00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.860
 or whether you're in business,

00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:15.839
 whether you're retired,

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.980
 whether you're in school,

00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.640
 we want to be

00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:19.700
 kind of lords

00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:21.000
 of our own domains.

00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:23.079
 We want to be in charge.

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.960
 We want to be in control.

00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:24.680
 We want to have

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.740
 the world at our hand.

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.079
 And God's saying,

00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:28.240
 no,

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:29.299
 that power

00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.599
 belongs to me

00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:31.379
 and this is how

00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:32.379
 I demonstrate it.

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.559
 I give it to you

00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.680
 in frail vessels

00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:37.139
 so that you look to me

00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:37.940
 when you're broken,

00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:39.099
 when you understand

00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:39.940
 your brokenness,

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:41.299
 when you see your suffering,

00:23:41.399 --> 00:23:42.419
 you look to me.

00:23:43.399 --> 00:23:44.500
 Jeremy put it so well

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.399
 when we came to that time

00:23:45.399 --> 00:23:46.019
 of confession

00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:47.819
 of how we run

00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:49.799
 to insufficient

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:51.259
 structures.

00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:55.680
 Paul is directing us back

00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:57.480
 to that great refuge

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.319
 of God

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.099
 and that is

00:23:59.099 --> 00:24:00.240
 His power

00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.680
 and the work

00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:03.059
 that He is doing

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.860
 in our lives.

00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:04.299
 So,

00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.140
 great weakness

00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:07.019
 but great treasure.

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.779
 And it's not about you.

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.900
 It's not about you.

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.620
 It's not about me.

00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.180
 It's about God.

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.559
 So, that's our frailty

00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.319
 but God's power.

00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:17.960
 Now, consider

00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:19.099
 our suffering

00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:20.819
 but God's butt.

00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.180
 Now, I'm not trying

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:22.980
 to be crass here

00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:23.720
 or cavalier,

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:25.160
 but I've always thought

00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:27.380
 of these buts here

00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:28.519
 in verses 8 and 9

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:30.799
 as holy buts.

00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:32.720
 If it helps you remember it,

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.000
 great.

00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:34.559
 Alright?

00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.539
 So, listen again.

00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:36.640
 Verses 8 and 9.

00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:40.160
 We are afflicted

00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:41.360
 in every way

00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:43.700
 but not crushed,

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.920
 perplexed,

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.700
 but not driven

00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.500
 to despair,

00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.059
 persecuted,

00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:53.399
 but not forsaken,

00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:56.159
 struck down,

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:59.000
 but not destroyed.

00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.940
 Do you see it?

00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:03.599
 God is telling you

00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.599
 in His Word now

00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:05.480
 that these things

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.000
 are real

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.639
 but He is doing

00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:09.519
 something greater

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:11.619
 in your life.

00:25:11.919 --> 00:25:12.460
 Alone,

00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.599
 apart from Christ,

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.720
 then indeed

00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.779
 you could say

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:19.419
 crushed,

00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:21.279
 and driven

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.179
 to despair

00:25:22.179 --> 00:25:23.579
 and forsaken

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:25.339
 and destroyed.

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:27.079
 But in Christ,

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.619
 you have the power

00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:29.799
 of God's work

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.779
 and you have

00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.619
 His butt.

00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:33.720
 Again, Jeremy

00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:35.139
 referenced it earlier.

00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:36.440
 You see this

00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:37.179
 throughout Scripture,

00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:39.899
 God doing amazing things

00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:40.440
 in the midst

00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.399
 of great trials.

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:43.059
 So, Genesis 50, 20.

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.759
 As for you,

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.879
 you meant it for evil

00:25:46.879 --> 00:25:49.200
 but God meant it

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:49.940
 for good

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:51.059
 to bring about

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:51.980
 that many people

00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:53.080
 should be kept alive

00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:54.340
 as they are today.

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.960
 Or you hear this

00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:57.500
 but or but not

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:59.259
 over and over again

00:25:59.259 --> 00:25:59.940
 in Scripture,

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:03.259
 Psalm 73, 26.

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.720
 My flesh

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:07.080
 and my heart

00:26:07.080 --> 00:26:08.299
 may fail

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:10.519
 but God

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.600
 is the strength

00:26:11.600 --> 00:26:12.500
 of my heart

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.759
 and my portion

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.380
 forever.

00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.980
 Ephesians 2,

00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:18.039
 you hear it there,

00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:21.220
 a great section,

00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.420
 verses 2 through 10,

00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.359
 especially speaking

00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.019
 of that work

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:25.099
 of mercy and grace

00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:26.720
 in granting us salvation.

00:26:27.659 --> 00:26:28.319
 You were dead

00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.519
 in your trespasses

00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.420
 and sins,

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.319
 verse 1.

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.740
 But then you jump

00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.539
 down to verse 5

00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:34.099
 and what do you hear?

00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:35.399
 But God,

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.779
 who is rich

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.859
 in mercy

00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:40.159
 because of the great love

00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:41.339
 with which He loved us

00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.879
 even when we were dead

00:26:42.879 --> 00:26:44.099
 in our trespasses,

00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:46.179
 made us alive

00:26:46.179 --> 00:26:48.259
 together with Christ.

00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:49.619
 By grace,

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:51.119
 you have been saved.

00:26:52.459 --> 00:26:53.399
 This is true.

00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:55.179
 You are a sinner

00:26:55.179 --> 00:26:56.379
 and you are dead

00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.000
 in that sin,

00:26:57.419 --> 00:27:00.579
 but God does this work

00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:02.199
 of mercy and grace.

00:27:04.199 --> 00:27:05.839
 So we hear these

00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:07.500
 but nots here

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:09.219
 as Paul is acknowledging

00:27:09.219 --> 00:27:11.519
 very difficult circumstances.

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:13.960
 Here's the problem

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:15.440
 as I see it,

00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:17.480
 as I've experienced it.

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:20.379
 We live

00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:22.119
 in the commas.

00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:24.319
 We live

00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.519
 in the in-between,

00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:27.799
 between the pain

00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:29.680
 and the grace.

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.319
 It's what

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.759
 theologians

00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.599
 sometimes refer to

00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.279
 as the already

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.019
 but not yet.

00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.740
 We're already saved

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.920
 but we're not yet

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.799
 fully there.

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:41.220
 We're still living

00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.180
 in this fallen world.

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:42.799
 We still live

00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:44.039
 with the difficulty.

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.200
 Life is lived

00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.599
 in the commas.

00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.899
 But that is where

00:27:48.899 --> 00:27:49.480
 you fight

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:50.519
 for the reality

00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:52.399
 of these but nots.

00:27:54.159 --> 00:27:55.099
 So as you go

00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:55.759
 through trial,

00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:57.240
 whatever it may be,

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:57.839
 as you go

00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.619
 through suffering,

00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:00.099
 you're looking

00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:00.759
 not just

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:02.619
 for that reality

00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:04.619
 because you know it,

00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:05.919
 but you're also

00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:06.960
 fighting for this

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.799
 greater reality

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.899
 of what God is doing.

00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.220
 Finally,

00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:11.359
 there's our death

00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:12.399
 but God's life.

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:12.980
 And I just want

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.720
 to point you

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.799
 in verses 10,

00:28:14.879 --> 00:28:15.539
 11, and 12,

00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.700
 every point where

00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.859
 Paul speaks

00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:18.940
 of our death

00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:20.500
 and our dying

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.279
 to self

00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:22.159
 and our being

00:28:22.159 --> 00:28:23.099
 connected with

00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:24.960
 the cross of Christ

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:26.700
 and all that

00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:27.960
 he does in that.

00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:30.339
 He says there's

00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:31.460
 purpose here

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.899
 in all of this.

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.399
 So always carrying

00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:35.039
 in the body

00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:36.240
 the death of Jesus.

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:36.680
 Why?

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.379
 Here's the purpose.

00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:38.460
 So that life

00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:41.540
 may be also,

00:28:41.540 --> 00:28:42.520
 the life of Jesus

00:28:42.520 --> 00:28:44.120
 may also be manifested

00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:45.180
 in our bodies.

00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:46.500
 Verse 11,

00:28:47.280 --> 00:28:48.720
 we who live

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.360
 are always being

00:28:49.360 --> 00:28:50.600
 given over to death

00:28:50.600 --> 00:28:51.700
 for Jesus' sake

00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:53.900
 so that the life

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.660
 of Jesus

00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:57.380
 also may be manifested

00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:58.620
 in our mortal flesh.

00:28:59.040 --> 00:29:00.320
 So death is at work

00:29:00.320 --> 00:29:01.460
 in us

00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.440
 but life in you.

00:29:02.520 --> 00:29:03.460
 Verse 12.

00:29:04.280 --> 00:29:04.440
 See,

00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:05.480
 God has purposes

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.680
 that he's working out

00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.480
 in the midst

00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.240
 of what he's doing

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.160
 and what does that do?

00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:10.039
 When you fight

00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:11.059
 for that greater reality

00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.880
 and you're living

00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:12.480
 that life

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.500
 that God has given

00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:14.180
 to you,

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.440
 it makes you

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.180
 attractive

00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:17.559
 to the world

00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.480
 around you.

00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:21.220
 When you can suffer

00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:23.059
 in light

00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:23.819
 of what God

00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:24.339
 is doing,

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:24.980
 when you can

00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.559
 acknowledge

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.440
 that work

00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:26.980
 that God

00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.640
 is doing,

00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:28.400
 it makes you

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.019
 attractive

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.980
 to the world

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.599
 around you

00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.579
 because it makes

00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.319
 people say,

00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:33.480
 what treasure

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.779
 do you possess

00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:36.819
 that I can't buy

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:39.379
 and I can't earn?

00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:40.919
 What treasure

00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:42.139
 do you have

00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:43.039
 that allows you

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.639
 to suffer

00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:44.759
 with this greater

00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.459
 perspective

00:29:45.459 --> 00:29:46.779
 of looking

00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.539
 for what God

00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.079
 is doing?

00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:48.740
 It makes us

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.480
 attractive.

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:51.779
 Ruthie Lemming

00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.599
 was very much

00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.480
 that way.

00:29:54.139 --> 00:29:55.279
 She had a friend

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.559
 and his name

00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.699
 was Big Show.

00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:58.879
 I don't know

00:29:58.880 --> 00:29:59.220
 if that was

00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:00.000
 his given name

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.660
 but that's

00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:01.020
 what people

00:30:01.020 --> 00:30:01.500
 called him,

00:30:01.580 --> 00:30:02.160
 Big Show.

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.780
 And he was

00:30:03.780 --> 00:30:05.000
 mad at God

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:06.040
 for what was

00:30:06.040 --> 00:30:06.560
 going on.

00:30:06.620 --> 00:30:07.440
 He was furious

00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.380
 that God

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:08.940
 was allowing

00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.740
 Ruthie Lemming

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.380
 to suffer.

00:30:11.780 --> 00:30:12.200
 And Ruthie

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:12.920
 said to him,

00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.600
 you can't be.

00:30:15.340 --> 00:30:16.320
 I'm not giving

00:30:16.320 --> 00:30:16.940
 up hope.

00:30:17.180 --> 00:30:18.640
 He has a plan

00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.720
 for me.

00:30:23.800 --> 00:30:25.140
 In the post office

00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:25.860
 a few days

00:30:25.860 --> 00:30:26.840
 after she had

00:30:26.840 --> 00:30:27.280
 died,

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.340
 a woman

00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:29.079
 was wondering

00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:30.019
 why there

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.539
 were so many

00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:31.359
 cars around

00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:31.859
 because it was

00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.879
 actually her

00:30:32.879 --> 00:30:33.339
 funeral.

00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:35.019
 And she says,

00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:35.639
 sure are a lot

00:30:35.639 --> 00:30:36.439
 of cars around

00:30:36.439 --> 00:30:36.899
 today.

00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.559
 What's going on?

00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:40.000
 Post office

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.799
 worker tells her

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.319
 that Ruthie

00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:41.779
 Lemming has

00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.259
 died and she

00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:42.480
 says,

00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:42.679
 oh,

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.099
 that woman

00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:43.459
 died?

00:30:44.199 --> 00:30:44.919
 I just saw

00:30:44.919 --> 00:30:45.619
 her in here

00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:46.179
 last week

00:30:46.179 --> 00:30:46.579
 and I said,

00:30:46.659 --> 00:30:46.879
 baby,

00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.759
 you don't look

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:49.199
 like you feel

00:30:49.199 --> 00:30:49.839
 too good.

00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.419
 And Ruthie

00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:52.399
 said in reply,

00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.359
 no ma'am,

00:30:53.399 --> 00:30:54.159
 I don't.

00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:55.859
 But I'm going

00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:57.299
 to real soon.

00:30:58.339 --> 00:31:00.220
 That is what

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.039
 fighting for a

00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:02.079
 greater reality

00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:02.980
 looks like

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:05.619
 in the midst

00:31:05.619 --> 00:31:06.299
 of what you're

00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:06.899
 going through.

00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:08.519
 I want to tell you

00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.220
 four things real

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:10.359
 quick as I'm

00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:10.879
 wrapping up

00:31:10.879 --> 00:31:12.019
 of what it

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:12.599
 looks like for

00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.399
 us together

00:31:13.399 --> 00:31:14.579
 to fight for

00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.079
 a greater

00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:15.539
 reality.

00:31:15.699 --> 00:31:15.859
 One,

00:31:15.919 --> 00:31:16.240
 you've got to

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:16.500
 go to

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:16.799
 scripture.

00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:18.179
 You've got to

00:31:18.179 --> 00:31:18.939
 allow scripture

00:31:18.939 --> 00:31:19.740
 to interpret

00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.319
 what you're

00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:20.939
 going through

00:31:20.939 --> 00:31:22.159
 to help you

00:31:22.159 --> 00:31:23.399
 understand the

00:31:23.399 --> 00:31:24.079
 but-nots.

00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:25.799
 By the way,

00:31:25.919 --> 00:31:26.339
 this is not

00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:27.119
 pop psychology

00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:27.659
 and this is

00:31:27.659 --> 00:31:28.220
 nothing that

00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:28.799
 a pastor

00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.559
 wouldn't tell

00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:30.240
 you or hasn't

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.720
 told you

00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:31.599
 a hundred times

00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:31.919
 but I'm going

00:31:31.919 --> 00:31:32.199
 to tell you

00:31:32.199 --> 00:31:32.779
 again.

00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.259
 Go to

00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:33.519
 scripture,

00:31:33.679 --> 00:31:34.099
 number one.

00:31:34.399 --> 00:31:34.779
 Number two,

00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:35.139
 pray.

00:31:36.679 --> 00:31:37.059
 Pray your

00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:37.480
 heart out.

00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.000
 Pray your

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.639
 eyeballs out.

00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:39.159
 Pray your

00:31:39.159 --> 00:31:39.619
 tears out.

00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:40.000
 Pray.

00:31:40.919 --> 00:31:41.659
 And pray again.

00:31:42.919 --> 00:31:43.539
 Number three,

00:31:43.899 --> 00:31:44.259
 sing.

00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:46.099
 Love the songs

00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:46.759
 that we sang

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.599
 this morning

00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:48.779
 because they

00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:49.619
 take us through

00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:50.599
 those experiences

00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.460
 of difficulty

00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:52.259
 but also

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:52.819
 pointing us

00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:53.100
 to that

00:31:53.100 --> 00:31:53.819
 greater reality

00:31:53.819 --> 00:31:54.519
 so you sing.

00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:55.340
 And then finally

00:31:55.340 --> 00:31:55.720
 four,

00:31:55.860 --> 00:31:56.680
 do life in

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.279
 community.

00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:58.640
 Don't suffer

00:31:58.640 --> 00:31:59.180
 alone.

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:00.740
 One of the

00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.420
 great blessings

00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:02.220
 of going through

00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:03.160
 cancer treatments

00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.440
 was to know

00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:05.340
 that I wasn't

00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:06.120
 suffering alone

00:32:06.120 --> 00:32:06.860
 even though I

00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:07.720
 felt horribly

00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.420
 alone a lot

00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:08.920
 of times.

00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:11.819
 To know that

00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:12.680
 the elders

00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.880
 at Southwood

00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:14.759
 Presbyterian Church

00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.319
 were praying

00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:15.720
 for me.

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:17.559
 To have

00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.440
 Vineet Mahesh,

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.019
 one of the elders

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.240
 here,

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:20.500
 call me regularly

00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:21.900
 to find out

00:32:21.900 --> 00:32:22.599
 how I'm doing.

00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:23.599
 For other

00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.019
 churches,

00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:24.640
 other people

00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:25.099
 in the community,

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.779
 other believers,

00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:26.539
 my own church

00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:27.420
 to surround us,

00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.059
 my family,

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:30.140
 don't suffer

00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:30.779
 alone.

00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:32.119
 Do life

00:32:32.119 --> 00:32:32.900
 in community

00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:33.740
 and be there

00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.519
 for people

00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.079
 when they are

00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:35.500
 suffering.

00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:40.759
 That's what

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.359
 it looks like

00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:42.019
 for us

00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:43.240
 to fight

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:43.680
 for this

00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.740
 greater reality.

00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.539
 Last thing

00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.099
 I'll tell you,

00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:49.160
 a friend of mine,

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.819
 my best friend

00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.500
 growing up,

00:32:50.899 --> 00:32:51.679
 was hit

00:32:51.679 --> 00:32:53.259
 in a head-on

00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:53.799
 collision.

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.139
 He was driving

00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:56.139
 to a race

00:32:56.139 --> 00:32:56.899
 with his family

00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:58.179
 to run

00:32:58.179 --> 00:32:59.460
 a 5K

00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:00.200
 of some sorts

00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:00.839
 in the Atlanta

00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:01.639
 area where we

00:33:01.639 --> 00:33:02.279
 had grown up

00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:03.519
 and a car

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.319
 crosses over

00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:04.899
 the line,

00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:05.799
 hits this

00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:06.859
 minivan head-on,

00:33:06.939 --> 00:33:07.439
 they flip

00:33:07.439 --> 00:33:08.679
 and Glenn

00:33:08.679 --> 00:33:09.960
 suffers traumatic

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:11.099
 brain injury

00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:12.299
 as does his wife.

00:33:12.439 --> 00:33:12.779
 Thankfully,

00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:14.059
 his children

00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:14.919
 were okay

00:33:14.919 --> 00:33:16.019
 in their seats.

00:33:16.159 --> 00:33:16.679
 They were able

00:33:16.679 --> 00:33:17.359
 to be safe.

00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:18.539
 It's amazing.

00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:19.220
 Two kids.

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.399
 But Glenn

00:33:20.399 --> 00:33:20.980
 and Sandra

00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:22.440
 were not unscathed.

00:33:23.139 --> 00:33:23.680
 Sandra had to

00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:24.039
 go through

00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:25.799
 much time

00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:26.720
 of physical therapy,

00:33:26.879 --> 00:33:27.740
 relearning to walk.

00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:28.579
 Glenn,

00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:29.599
 my best friend,

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.639
 when we were kids,

00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:32.599
 died.

00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:35.159
 He was declared

00:33:35.159 --> 00:33:36.039
 brain dead

00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:36.980
 and he passed.

00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:38.339
 We went to the funeral

00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:39.960
 and at the end

00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.839
 of the funeral,

00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:43.399
 a song is being sung.

00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:45.100
 higher than the mountains

00:33:45.100 --> 00:33:45.840
 that I face,

00:33:46.120 --> 00:33:47.220
 stronger than the power

00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:48.120
 of the grave,

00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:50.300
 constant through the trial

00:33:50.300 --> 00:33:51.100
 and the change,

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:52.860
 one thing remains.

00:33:54.080 --> 00:33:55.920
 Your love never fails,

00:33:56.800 --> 00:33:57.740
 never gives up,

00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:59.140
 never runs out on me.

00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:00.500
 On and on

00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:01.680
 and on it goes.

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:04.380
 Your love never fails.

00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:04.759
 And so,

00:34:04.840 --> 00:34:05.680
 here was Sandra

00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:07.460
 walking up the aisle,

00:34:07.580 --> 00:34:08.660
 going out of the church

00:34:08.660 --> 00:34:09.820
 with her walker.

00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:13.000
 And she stopped

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.600
 as the song

00:34:13.600 --> 00:34:14.380
 was being sung

00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:16.019
 and she was in tears

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:16.640
 there,

00:34:17.140 --> 00:34:18.420
 praying and singing

00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:19.340
 and shouting

00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:20.480
 to God.

00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:22.960
 Fighting for the

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:24.039
 greater reality

00:34:24.039 --> 00:34:26.760
 at her husband's funeral.

00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:30.780
 Brothers and sisters

00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:31.460
 and friends

00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:32.539
 that are here today,

00:34:33.580 --> 00:34:34.700
 I submit to you

00:34:34.700 --> 00:34:35.200
 that that's what

00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:35.960
 it looks like.

00:34:36.580 --> 00:34:38.180
 Even in the hardest times,

00:34:38.720 --> 00:34:39.539
 to acknowledge

00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:41.159
 God's love

00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:41.980
 never fails.

00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:43.139
 It is the greater

00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:45.019
 reality in your life.

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.460
 And my prayer

00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.279
 for this congregation

00:34:47.279 --> 00:34:49.380
 is that wherever you are,

00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:50.599
 individually and corporately,

00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:52.659
 you will fight for that.

00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:54.059
 Let's pray.

00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:57.259
 Father, thank you

00:34:57.259 --> 00:34:58.440
 for your great love

00:34:58.440 --> 00:34:59.019
 for us.

00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:01.059
 Thank you that

00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:01.920
 it never fails.

00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.259
 No matter what

00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:03.900
 we're going through,

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.400
 no matter what

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.320
 you're taking us through,

00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:06.079
 no matter how much

00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:06.699
 we suffer

00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:08.279
 and experience

00:35:08.280 --> 00:35:09.680
 frailty in this life,

00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:10.700
 Lord, we praise you

00:35:10.700 --> 00:35:11.320
 and thank you

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:12.160
 that you are at work

00:35:12.160 --> 00:35:13.000
 in doing something

00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:13.560
 much greater.

00:35:14.340 --> 00:35:15.160
 Help us to fight

00:35:15.160 --> 00:35:16.400
 for that and to see that.

00:35:16.640 --> 00:35:17.540
 Help this congregation,

00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:18.400
 these people,

00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:19.400
 to fight for that.

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:21.540
 Father, we praise you

00:35:21.540 --> 00:35:22.200
 and thank you

00:35:22.200 --> 00:35:22.840
 for your work

00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:23.620
 and we pray

00:35:23.620 --> 00:35:25.060
 in Jesus' name.

00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:25.840
 Amen.

00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.740
 Will you stand?

00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:29.420
 I'm not sure

00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:30.280
 what your practice is,

00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:31.320
 but I want to give you

00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:32.580
 the benediction,

00:35:34.160 --> 00:35:35.220
 God's blessing

00:35:35.220 --> 00:35:35.940
 upon you

00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:36.720
 as you go.

00:35:38.080 --> 00:35:39.519
 The Lord bless you

00:35:39.519 --> 00:35:40.700
 and keep you.

00:35:41.220 --> 00:35:42.620
 The Lord make His face

00:35:42.620 --> 00:35:43.600
 to shine upon you

00:35:43.600 --> 00:35:44.980
 and be gracious to you.

00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:46.840
 The Lord lift up

00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:48.120
 His countenance upon you

00:35:48.120 --> 00:35:49.780
 and give you peace.

00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:51.420
 And God's people say,

00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:52.660
 Amen.

00:35:52.660 --> 00:35:52.840
 Amen.

00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:54.100
 Thank you.

00:35:54.100 --> 00:35:54.240
 Amen.

00:35:54.240 --> 00:35:54.660
 Amen.

00:35:54.660 --> 00:35:54.680
 Amen.

00:35:54.680 --> 00:35:55.160
 Amen.

00:35:55.160 --> 00:35:55.240
 Amen.

00:35:55.240 --> 00:35:55.260
 Amen.

00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:56.240
 Amen.

00:35:56.240 --> 00:35:56.320
 Amen.

00:35:56.320 --> 00:35:56.340
 Amen.

00:36:01.320 --> 00:36:10.380
 Amen.

00:36:11.100 --> 00:36:12.980
 Amen.

00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:13.019
 Amen.

00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:13.420
 Amen.

00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:14.420
 Amen.

00:36:14.660 --> 00:36:15.019
 Amen.

00:36:15.580 --> 00:36:16.019
 Amen.

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.180
 Amen.

00:36:16.200 --> 00:36:16.640
 Amen.