WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.700 Our sermon text this morning is 1 Corinthians chapter 4, verses 1 through 5. 00:00:13.140 --> 00:00:14.839 Let me invite you to turn there with me. 00:00:15.339 --> 00:00:20.280 That's page 953 in the Pew Bible, if you want to follow along there. 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:25.980 If you're here this morning and you're new to Christianity, if you're new to the Bible, 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:30.460 if you turn to page 953, you'll see that the big numbers there in the text are the chapters 00:00:30.460 --> 00:00:31.899 and the small numbers are the verses. 00:00:33.179 --> 00:00:37.579 We're going to pick up chapter 4, verses 1 through 5. 00:00:39.539 --> 00:00:40.760 Let me read this for us. 00:00:43.260 --> 00:00:44.079 Apostle Paul writes, 00:00:44.140 --> 00:00:50.780 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 00:00:52.380 --> 00:00:55.480 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 00:00:55.979 --> 00:01:02.659 But with me, it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. 00:01:03.579 --> 00:01:06.859 In fact, I do not even judge myself. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:13.159 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. 00:01:13.939 --> 00:01:16.199 It is the Lord who judges me. 00:01:17.759 --> 00:01:22.759 Therefore, do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:29.020 who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. 00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:35.180 Then, each one will receive his commendation from God. 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:37.580 Let's pray together. 00:01:37.579 --> 00:01:46.239 Lord Jesus, you told us when you were here on earth that you are the light of the world. 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:53.340 We pray now as we turn to your word that you would shine your light into our hearts 00:01:53.340 --> 00:01:56.039 so that darkness might be dispelled, 00:01:56.879 --> 00:01:59.239 so that life might grow up, 00:01:59.239 --> 00:02:03.359 and so that we would know the freedom of knowing you and loving you. 00:02:04.739 --> 00:02:06.599 Do this by your spirit, Lord, we pray. 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:07.899 Amen. 00:02:07.899 --> 00:02:08.000 Amen. 00:02:13.359 --> 00:02:15.400 Ed Welch, in his book, 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:18.799 When People Are Big and God Is Small, 00:02:19.799 --> 00:02:21.900 tells a story of when he was in high school. 00:02:21.900 --> 00:02:24.319 Maybe you can relate to it. 00:02:25.640 --> 00:02:28.020 He's at the end of the year award ceremony, 00:02:28.460 --> 00:02:30.000 sitting in the high school auditorium. 00:02:30.860 --> 00:02:32.280 The whole student body is there, 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:33.360 along with their parents, 00:02:33.460 --> 00:02:37.080 and the school is giving out all sorts of awards for achievement, 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:38.099 and attendance, 00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:39.180 and all that sort of thing. 00:02:40.180 --> 00:02:44.599 Then they come to the big award for his class, 00:02:44.640 --> 00:02:46.360 one of the highest honors for his grade. 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:49.620 Welch, sitting there in the seat, 00:02:49.620 --> 00:02:51.719 knew that he had a shot at winning, 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:52.740 this award, 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:54.460 and the presenter, 00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:56.039 the principal or someone like that, 00:02:56.500 --> 00:02:58.580 started describing the student 00:02:58.580 --> 00:03:00.379 who's receiving the award this year 00:03:00.379 --> 00:03:01.219 without mentioning their name, 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:03.060 and the description, it turned out, 00:03:03.140 --> 00:03:04.580 sounded a lot like him. 00:03:06.480 --> 00:03:07.920 But his heart started beating, 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:10.740 and inside he was thinking, 00:03:11.480 --> 00:03:13.659 oh, please, don't be me. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:14.920 Don't be me. 00:03:15.040 --> 00:03:15.759 Don't call my name. 00:03:15.819 --> 00:03:17.580 I don't want to have to get up in front of everyone. 00:03:18.659 --> 00:03:20.480 He's sitting there dreading the thought 00:03:20.480 --> 00:03:21.800 of hearing his name. 00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:24.080 And then, 00:03:24.580 --> 00:03:25.920 they announce the winner, 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:27.620 and it turns out, 00:03:28.580 --> 00:03:29.319 it's not him. 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:32.000 Some other kid in the class. 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:34.340 And immediately though, 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:36.200 rather than sighing in relief, 00:03:36.920 --> 00:03:39.659 he describes how he sat in that auditorium, 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:43.540 growing increasingly angry and upset. 00:03:43.539 --> 00:03:48.479 deflated and embarrassed that he didn't get the award. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:51.599 And in this book, 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:52.859 written obviously decades later, 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:54.879 he reflects a little bit on what was going on 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:55.879 in his heart back then. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:59.959 Why did he have such opposite reactions in that moment? 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:02.020 And insightfully, 00:04:02.020 --> 00:04:02.879 he says, 00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:04.219 it's because his heart, 00:04:04.540 --> 00:04:06.020 and because our hearts, 00:04:06.640 --> 00:04:09.340 are so often controlled, 00:04:09.640 --> 00:04:11.540 by the approval, 00:04:12.040 --> 00:04:12.860 of other people. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:15.560 What the Bible calls, 00:04:15.640 --> 00:04:16.319 in many places, 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:18.019 the fear of man. 00:04:18.019 --> 00:04:20.019 You see, 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:20.339 at first, 00:04:20.379 --> 00:04:21.459 he didn't want to win the award, 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:22.539 because he was afraid, 00:04:22.779 --> 00:04:23.500 that other people, 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:24.180 his classmates, 00:04:24.299 --> 00:04:25.819 would think he was some kind of nerd, 00:04:26.339 --> 00:04:28.019 for winning this academic award. 00:04:28.060 --> 00:04:29.379 Or they'd make fun of how he looked, 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:30.500 when he walked up on stage. 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:31.979 But then after he didn't win, 00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:33.519 he was still being controlled, 00:04:33.699 --> 00:04:34.459 by other people's approval, 00:04:34.539 --> 00:04:35.439 by what others thought. 00:04:37.019 --> 00:04:37.699 Other kids knew, 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:38.699 he was up for the award, 00:04:38.699 --> 00:04:39.519 and he lost. 00:04:40.479 --> 00:04:42.000 They must think he's a total loser. 00:04:44.039 --> 00:04:45.539 And now everyone was all excited, 00:04:45.539 --> 00:04:46.319 for the other kid. 00:04:47.259 --> 00:04:48.639 And he wanted that approval. 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:50.859 He wanted that accolade. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:53.240 He wanted that commendation. 00:04:56.819 --> 00:04:58.199 Now maybe you can't relate, 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:00.979 to that particular high school story. 00:05:01.859 --> 00:05:03.419 But my guess is that most of us, 00:05:03.479 --> 00:05:04.839 if not all of us, 00:05:04.919 --> 00:05:06.879 struggle with the same heart issue. 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:07.519 That is, 00:05:07.859 --> 00:05:09.199 being controlled, 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:10.899 being determined. 00:05:11.060 --> 00:05:11.539 Maybe even, 00:05:11.819 --> 00:05:12.139 at times, 00:05:12.219 --> 00:05:13.219 being enslaved, 00:05:13.219 --> 00:05:14.560 by the approval, 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:16.019 by the judgment, 00:05:16.359 --> 00:05:17.919 of other people. 00:05:21.019 --> 00:05:21.959 You come home, 00:05:22.159 --> 00:05:23.180 from the dinner party, 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:25.259 or some other social gathering, 00:05:25.919 --> 00:05:28.180 and you can't stop thinking, 00:05:28.180 --> 00:05:30.139 of whether you talked too much, 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:31.560 or said the wrong thing, 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:33.620 or maybe didn't wear the right clothes. 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:34.939 And it eats you up, 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:35.859 for the rest of the night. 00:05:37.259 --> 00:05:38.419 And you can't stop, 00:05:38.420 --> 00:05:39.600 obsessing over it. 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:42.980 Or maybe you're constantly, 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:45.360 looking over your shoulder at work. 00:05:46.660 --> 00:05:48.640 Anxious about what your coworkers think, 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:50.300 of the project you've been working on. 00:05:51.220 --> 00:05:52.340 Whether they think you've got, 00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:53.120 what it takes, 00:05:53.379 --> 00:05:54.160 to make it, 00:05:54.520 --> 00:05:55.420 in your office, 00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:56.180 or in your lab, 00:05:56.220 --> 00:05:56.939 or in your field. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:59.120 You wonder what they're going to say, 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:00.160 about you and your work, 00:06:00.220 --> 00:06:00.920 when you're not around. 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:05.580 Or maybe it's just that, 00:06:05.580 --> 00:06:06.300 nagging, 00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:08.319 pervasive sense, 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:10.860 that you're just not measuring up. 00:06:13.080 --> 00:06:14.740 You see the pictures online, 00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:16.580 of the birthday party, 00:06:16.860 --> 00:06:18.400 that your friend just threw, 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:19.520 for their three year old. 00:06:20.660 --> 00:06:21.920 And it makes you feel, 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:22.819 like a total, 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:24.460 mom failure. 00:06:24.459 --> 00:06:28.120 I mean, 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:29.899 your kid's birthday party, 00:06:29.939 --> 00:06:31.019 didn't have pony rides. 00:06:32.719 --> 00:06:34.060 Your kid's birthday party, 00:06:34.099 --> 00:06:35.319 didn't have small batch, 00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:37.399 handcrafted gourmet ice cream, 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:38.939 from a specialty shop, 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:39.519 in Brooklyn. 00:06:39.899 --> 00:06:41.079 Served in antique, 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:42.319 green glass bowls, 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:43.199 each one hung, 00:06:43.379 --> 00:06:44.879 with a little chalkboard, 00:06:44.939 --> 00:06:46.299 with each kid's name on it. 00:06:47.979 --> 00:06:48.599 I mean, 00:06:48.659 --> 00:06:49.319 your kids are probably, 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:50.419 going to grow up to hate you. 00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:57.759 But on a serious note, 00:06:58.259 --> 00:07:00.280 do you have that nagging sense, 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:01.540 that you're just not measuring up? 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:05.480 That if people really saw you, 00:07:05.819 --> 00:07:07.740 what they'd see, 00:07:07.840 --> 00:07:08.840 is that you're just a failure. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:11.939 That someone else, 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:13.060 would probably do a better job, 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:15.639 whatever it is your job might be. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:16.939 Spouse, 00:07:17.340 --> 00:07:17.660 parent, 00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:18.680 employee, 00:07:19.460 --> 00:07:19.960 church member. 00:07:20.420 --> 00:07:23.720 In all these instances, 00:07:23.860 --> 00:07:24.780 at the heart level, 00:07:24.860 --> 00:07:26.280 are we not being controlled, 00:07:27.220 --> 00:07:27.860 hemmed in, 00:07:28.259 --> 00:07:28.699 determined, 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:29.800 even devastated, 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:32.580 by others' approval? 00:07:34.520 --> 00:07:37.080 What other people are thinking of me? 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:37.920 Is that not something, 00:07:38.020 --> 00:07:38.900 we all struggle with? 00:07:39.100 --> 00:07:40.020 And if you're still thinking, 00:07:40.139 --> 00:07:41.460 that this isn't a problem for you, 00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:43.080 reflect for a moment, 00:07:43.080 --> 00:07:44.100 about how you're doing, 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:45.580 in say, 00:07:45.840 --> 00:07:46.540 evangelism. 00:07:47.960 --> 00:07:49.040 How many of us Christians, 00:07:49.200 --> 00:07:49.939 could honestly say, 00:07:49.939 --> 00:07:50.639 that we don't wrestle, 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:51.279 with what our friends, 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:52.480 or neighbors would think of us, 00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:54.139 if we talk to them about Christ? 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:56.019 Human approval, 00:07:56.019 --> 00:07:57.699 is something we all struggle with, 00:07:57.740 --> 00:07:58.800 we all wrestle, 00:07:58.879 --> 00:07:59.719 to some extent, 00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:00.879 with what people think of us, 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:01.899 with others' opinions, 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:03.480 with others' judgment of us, 00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:04.579 and we all wrestle, 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:05.240 with the fact, 00:08:05.379 --> 00:08:06.439 that human approval, 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:07.699 can control, 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:10.240 what we feel, 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:11.740 and think, 00:08:12.300 --> 00:08:13.240 and say, 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:14.479 and do. 00:08:16.339 --> 00:08:17.339 Whether it's sitting, 00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:18.539 in a high school auditorium, 00:08:18.659 --> 00:08:19.079 fuming, 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:19.980 with anger, 00:08:20.099 --> 00:08:20.659 and resentment, 00:08:21.659 --> 00:08:23.759 or never taking the opportunity, 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:24.680 to speak about Christ, 00:08:24.719 --> 00:08:25.259 with our friends, 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:26.039 human approval, 00:08:26.659 --> 00:08:27.620 controls us. 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:33.039 But in the face, 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:33.740 of this seemingly, 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:35.519 universal problem, 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:38.100 our text this morning, 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:39.159 shows us, 00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:41.539 that there's a way, 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:42.960 to be free. 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:45.820 Did you notice, 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:46.480 what Paul said, 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:47.139 in verse three, 00:08:47.799 --> 00:08:48.399 look there again, 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:50.259 but with me, 00:08:50.379 --> 00:08:50.840 Paul says, 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:53.879 it's a very small thing, 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:55.399 that I should be judged, 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:55.860 by you, 00:08:56.600 --> 00:08:57.779 or by any human court. 00:08:58.299 --> 00:08:58.740 In fact, 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:00.259 I do not even judge myself. 00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:03.319 If you've been with us, 00:09:03.319 --> 00:09:04.179 over the past few weeks, 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:05.379 you'll know that Paul wrote, 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:06.779 this letter to a church, 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:07.559 that was riddled, 00:09:07.819 --> 00:09:08.459 with divisions. 00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:09.720 It seems the Christians, 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:10.139 in Corinth, 00:09:10.199 --> 00:09:11.299 were splitting up, 00:09:11.459 --> 00:09:13.019 over which Christian teacher, 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:14.039 was their favorite. 00:09:14.379 --> 00:09:15.279 They were treating them, 00:09:15.319 --> 00:09:16.019 like celebrities, 00:09:16.199 --> 00:09:16.939 and pitting them, 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:17.939 against each other, 00:09:17.940 --> 00:09:19.480 based on their allegiance, 00:09:19.880 --> 00:09:20.400 to one leader, 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:20.880 over the other. 00:09:20.940 --> 00:09:21.520 I'm of Paul, 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:22.780 I'm of Apollos, 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:23.380 they were saying. 00:09:24.640 --> 00:09:25.580 And it seems that, 00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:27.880 that part of the standard, 00:09:28.140 --> 00:09:29.160 that they were using, 00:09:29.280 --> 00:09:29.940 to determine, 00:09:30.160 --> 00:09:31.260 which leader was best, 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:33.040 were the standards, 00:09:33.040 --> 00:09:34.020 of ancient rhetoric, 00:09:34.020 --> 00:09:34.760 and oratory. 00:09:35.660 --> 00:09:36.360 Because you see, 00:09:36.520 --> 00:09:37.040 flashy, 00:09:37.300 --> 00:09:38.620 verbal fireworks, 00:09:39.300 --> 00:09:40.320 drew a crowd. 00:09:40.440 --> 00:09:41.400 It drew a following, 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:43.340 in the world of Corinth. 00:09:44.260 --> 00:09:45.260 They became celebrities. 00:09:45.259 --> 00:09:48.120 And though the men, 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:49.340 and women Paul was writing to, 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:50.639 had come to trust in Jesus, 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:51.600 it seems they were still, 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:52.259 clinging, 00:09:52.659 --> 00:09:54.139 to those worldly standards, 00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:55.139 and values, 00:09:55.319 --> 00:09:56.340 of what made someone, 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:57.519 really great. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:58.480 Of what made someone, 00:09:58.720 --> 00:09:59.559 really worth, 00:09:59.720 --> 00:10:00.480 listening to. 00:10:01.319 --> 00:10:02.139 And it seems that, 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:03.340 many of the Corinthians, 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:05.220 had then judged, 00:10:05.799 --> 00:10:06.679 Paul's ministry, 00:10:06.939 --> 00:10:08.059 by these prevailing, 00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:09.159 rhetorical, 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:10.340 oratorical, 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:11.580 celebrity standards, 00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:12.139 of the day. 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:13.319 They judged him, 00:10:13.439 --> 00:10:14.220 by these standards, 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:16.240 and they found him, 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:17.159 wanting. 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:19.860 Paul, 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:21.939 didn't measure up. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:26.279 Now imagine for a moment, 00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:27.279 how you might respond, 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:29.019 if you were Paul. 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:30.620 At first, 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:31.600 perhaps a little angry, 00:10:31.699 --> 00:10:32.139 or hurt. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:32.799 I mean, 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:35.120 you were the first one, 00:10:35.159 --> 00:10:35.879 to tell these people, 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:36.799 about Jesus, 00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:37.620 in the first place. 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:38.319 Right? 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:41.200 But then maybe, 00:10:41.280 --> 00:10:42.280 you'd start to second guess, 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:42.879 whether you'd made, 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:43.920 some mistake, 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:44.960 in how you handled things, 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:46.100 and how you presented yourself, 00:10:46.180 --> 00:10:46.760 while you were there. 00:10:47.660 --> 00:10:49.160 Maybe you could make another visit, 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:50.080 to try to win, 00:10:50.160 --> 00:10:50.740 some of them over. 00:10:50.820 --> 00:10:51.920 Maybe you could try to show them, 00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:53.420 that you can be a little flashy too. 00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:56.280 Maybe you try to improve, 00:10:56.340 --> 00:10:57.160 their opinion of you. 00:10:57.960 --> 00:10:58.940 Try to win their favor. 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:03.560 But look at Paul's response, 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:04.180 in verse three. 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:06.160 It's a very small thing, 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:08.060 that I should be judged by you. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:09.480 Or by any human court. 00:11:09.760 --> 00:11:10.740 He's not crushed. 00:11:11.180 --> 00:11:12.500 He's not second guessing himself. 00:11:12.640 --> 00:11:13.320 He's not worried, 00:11:13.400 --> 00:11:14.720 that he's an apostolic failure. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:15.680 He's not anxious, 00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:17.600 that he didn't keep their approval. 00:11:17.900 --> 00:11:18.379 Their judgment, 00:11:18.520 --> 00:11:18.860 he says, 00:11:18.900 --> 00:11:21.080 is a very small thing, 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:21.800 to him. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:26.160 Now of course, 00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:27.440 you read verse three, 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:28.320 for the first time, 00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:29.520 and it sounds like, 00:11:29.560 --> 00:11:30.640 an incredibly proud thing, 00:11:30.640 --> 00:11:30.960 to say, 00:11:31.040 --> 00:11:31.400 doesn't it? 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:33.120 It sounds like he's saying, 00:11:33.800 --> 00:11:34.100 look, 00:11:34.340 --> 00:11:35.380 I don't care what you think. 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:39.920 It sounds like he's dismissing them, 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:40.100 right, 00:11:40.160 --> 00:11:40.920 with the most, 00:11:40.920 --> 00:11:41.960 sophomoric, 00:11:42.180 --> 00:11:43.000 of retorts, 00:11:43.180 --> 00:11:44.060 ever spoken. 00:11:44.420 --> 00:11:45.820 You can't judge me. 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:49.920 But in fact, 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:50.740 that's not the tone. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:52.940 And that's not, 00:11:53.040 --> 00:11:53.780 what Paul's saying here. 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.100 Keep reading. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:56.480 In fact, 00:11:56.520 --> 00:11:56.960 he says, 00:11:57.540 --> 00:11:59.280 I don't even judge myself. 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:01.140 And he goes on to say, 00:12:01.260 --> 00:12:02.280 I'm not aware of anything, 00:12:02.280 --> 00:12:03.040 against myself, 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.620 but I'm not thereby acquitted. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:07.919 Do you see what Paul's saying here? 00:12:08.699 --> 00:12:09.779 He's not doing, 00:12:09.959 --> 00:12:10.679 what you and I, 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:12.439 almost instinctively do. 00:12:13.319 --> 00:12:14.939 When we feel, 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:16.459 that our hearts are being controlled, 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:17.500 by what other people think, 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.159 or by their approval, 00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:19.500 how do we naturally, 00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:20.639 almost instinctively, 00:12:20.719 --> 00:12:21.500 try to get out of it? 00:12:22.959 --> 00:12:23.879 Well usually, 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:25.360 by saying, 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:26.759 that the only opinion, 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.599 that really matters, 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:28.899 isn't what you think of me, 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.480 but what I think of me. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:33.340 I'm the only one, 00:12:33.420 --> 00:12:34.600 who can really say, 00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:35.899 whether I'm measuring up. 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:38.800 So instead of others, 00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:39.920 sitting in the judge's seat, 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.879 we sit in judgment over ourselves. 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:46.860 But the problem is, 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:50.139 that move, 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:52.180 doesn't really work. 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:53.440 Does it? 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:57.740 I see this in my own life. 00:12:57.740 --> 00:13:00.560 When I say to myself, 00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:02.100 I'm so sick and tired, 00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:03.680 of living for others approval, 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.560 it's only what I think, 00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:06.379 that really matters. 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:08.639 One of two things, 00:13:08.680 --> 00:13:09.259 always happens. 00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:11.419 I either live up, 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.220 to my own standards, 00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:14.340 and then I become proud, 00:13:15.180 --> 00:13:16.539 and dismissive of others, 00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:17.080 and at times, 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.200 pretty unsympathetic, 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:19.060 to other shortcomings. 00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:19.759 After all, 00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:21.460 I'm living up to my standards. 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:24.139 Or, 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:25.740 I don't live up, 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:26.539 to my own standards, 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:29.599 and I'm just as crushed, 00:13:29.779 --> 00:13:30.519 and dejected, 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:31.259 as I was, 00:13:31.299 --> 00:13:31.879 when I lived, 00:13:31.939 --> 00:13:33.240 on the approval of others. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:35.099 You see, 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:36.299 to make that move, 00:13:36.339 --> 00:13:37.339 that we all make, 00:13:37.459 --> 00:13:37.860 to say, 00:13:37.959 --> 00:13:39.219 I'll be my own judge, 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:40.139 not you, 00:13:40.339 --> 00:13:41.459 doesn't get you, 00:13:41.459 --> 00:13:42.319 out of the cycle. 00:13:43.199 --> 00:13:44.719 You're on the same roller coaster, 00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:45.439 as when you lived, 00:13:45.459 --> 00:13:46.299 on the approval of others. 00:13:46.339 --> 00:13:46.980 If you get it, 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:48.219 you feel great for a while, 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:49.379 but if you keep getting it, 00:13:49.439 --> 00:13:50.120 you feel proud, 00:13:50.199 --> 00:13:51.439 and above everybody else. 00:13:51.579 --> 00:13:52.639 But if you don't get it, 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:53.539 you crash, 00:13:53.599 --> 00:13:54.419 and feel awful. 00:13:54.659 --> 00:13:55.240 That's how it is, 00:13:55.339 --> 00:13:56.079 with others approval. 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:57.240 When others are your judge, 00:13:57.280 --> 00:13:57.980 but it's no different, 00:13:58.100 --> 00:13:59.759 when you live on the approval, 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:00.440 of yourself. 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:02.620 When you get it, 00:14:02.800 --> 00:14:03.620 you become proud. 00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:04.580 When you lose it, 00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:05.420 you despair. 00:14:07.920 --> 00:14:08.740 But Paul, 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:10.360 strikingly here, 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.460 on the one hand says, 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:13.639 your judgment, 00:14:13.800 --> 00:14:14.700 isn't ultimate for me. 00:14:14.900 --> 00:14:16.100 But then in the next breath, 00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:16.520 he says, 00:14:16.780 --> 00:14:17.840 my judgment, 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:18.920 isn't ultimate for me. 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:23.959 He's found something, 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:26.179 that has set him free, 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:28.319 from the tyranny, 00:14:28.479 --> 00:14:29.939 both of the judgment of others, 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:32.379 and of the judgment of self. 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.379 So what is it? 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:40.979 I think for most of us today, 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:43.779 his answer is pretty counterintuitive. 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:46.639 Look at the end of verse four. 00:14:47.199 --> 00:14:48.819 For I'm not aware of anything against myself, 00:14:48.819 --> 00:14:51.179 but I'm not thereby acquitted. 00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:52.779 And here it is. 00:14:53.459 --> 00:14:55.959 It's the Lord who judges me. 00:14:58.459 --> 00:14:59.699 Now what is Paul saying here? 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:01.339 What is this text showing us? 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:02.500 It's showing us this, 00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:06.000 that you'll only be truly free, 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.759 from the judgment of others, 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:10.139 and self. 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:13.000 When you know that you're accountable, 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:15.039 to a greater judge. 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:18.679 You'll only be truly free, 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:19.700 from the judgment of others, 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:20.120 and self, 00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:21.100 when you know, 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.379 that you're accountable, 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:24.519 to a greater judge. 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:28.820 Only when someone weightier, 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:30.080 comes into view, 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:32.419 will the other voices, 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:34.039 be displaced. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.779 A young cellist, 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:39.580 giving her first collegiate recital, 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:40.919 may be anxious to hear, 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.240 what her friends think, 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:44.639 or what her instructors think. 00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:45.980 She may even be, 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:47.840 her own toughest critic, 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.639 but if a truly great cellist, 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:51.799 walked into the room, 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:54.840 if Yo-Yo Ma came in, 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.340 sat in the front row, 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.580 listened intently, 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:58.740 to the whole performance, 00:15:59.059 --> 00:16:00.980 and approached her afterwards, 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:04.919 wouldn't every other judgment, 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.579 be, 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:08.740 but a very small thing, 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:09.779 in comparison. 00:16:11.599 --> 00:16:12.659 Of course. 00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:15.879 No one else, 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.879 would have, 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.659 that same authority, 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.839 or that same ability, 00:16:21.319 --> 00:16:22.419 to judge, 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:23.279 rightly, 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:24.639 and justly, 00:16:24.719 --> 00:16:25.199 and truly. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:29.400 And you see, 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:30.080 when it comes, 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:30.759 friends, 00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:32.460 to the world, 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.540 and when it comes, 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.720 to each of our lives, 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.259 as a whole, 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:38.560 there is one, 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:41.360 who has the greatest authority, 00:16:42.160 --> 00:16:44.460 and has the greatest ability, 00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:46.460 to truly judge. 00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:51.440 Paul says in verse one, 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.700 that the Corinthians, 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:53.960 should regard him, 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:54.980 and other Christian teachers, 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:55.500 and leaders, 00:16:55.680 --> 00:16:56.860 as servants of Christ, 00:16:57.560 --> 00:16:58.519 and stewards, 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:00.340 that is household managers, 00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.240 of the mysteries, 00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:02.440 that is the richness, 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.120 of the gospel, 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.759 the mysteries of God. 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:05.980 In other words, 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.279 he's saying, 00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.279 God is the one, 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.539 who gave Paul his ministry, 00:17:08.860 --> 00:17:09.819 therefore God alone, 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:10.740 has the ultimate authority, 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.759 to judge Paul's work, 00:17:11.840 --> 00:17:12.740 and not the Corinthians. 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:15.099 A household manager, 00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:16.000 a steward, 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:17.400 in the ancient world, 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.359 was accountable, 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.000 at the end of the day, 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.539 not to anyone, 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.420 in the household, 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:21.539 but to the owner, 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:22.559 of the household, 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:23.799 the one to whom, 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:25.500 everything belonged. 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:27.779 Only the owner, 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:28.660 had authority, 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:30.460 to judge the steward's work, 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.700 because it was all his, 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:32.740 and indeed he did, 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.420 have that authority. 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:37.079 Like a steward, 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.480 Paul had his ministry, 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.220 from God, 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:40.240 and so God, 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.500 has the ultimate authority, 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.660 to judge his ministry, 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:44.400 but you know, 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.460 even though we're not, 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:47.240 apostles like Paul, 00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:50.279 the same is true, 00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:52.400 for each one of us. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:56.440 God is the creator, 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:57.640 of all things, 00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.339 the giver, 00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:00.079 and owner, 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.680 of everything that we see, 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:03.779 every leaf, 00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:05.200 that falls from every tree, 00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.839 and every brick, 00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:08.900 of every building we make, 00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:10.620 all things come from him, 00:18:11.159 --> 00:18:13.139 and all things belong to him. 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:16.259 And as human beings, 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:17.000 we're created, 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:18.179 in God's image, 00:18:18.219 --> 00:18:19.579 as his image bearers, 00:18:19.699 --> 00:18:21.139 with the awesome dignity, 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:22.000 to keep, 00:18:22.219 --> 00:18:22.879 and to tend, 00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:23.959 to steward, 00:18:24.179 --> 00:18:25.019 this world, 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.179 and our lives, 00:18:26.219 --> 00:18:27.599 according to God's purposes, 00:18:27.719 --> 00:18:28.699 and God's plans, 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.539 because everything, 00:18:29.719 --> 00:18:30.699 comes from him. 00:18:31.679 --> 00:18:33.459 Because God has created the world, 00:18:33.899 --> 00:18:35.019 and us within it. 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:37.240 And because of that, 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.639 he has the authority, 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:40.180 to judge. 00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:42.660 He is in the position, 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.139 he has the right, 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:46.000 to declare whether or not, 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:47.599 something is in line, 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.759 with the purpose, 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:50.019 for which it was made. 00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:55.740 So God has the authority, 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.779 to judge above all else, 00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:58.180 but God also has the ability, 00:18:58.180 --> 00:19:00.759 to judge above all else. 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:02.359 In verse five, 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.059 Paul says, 00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:05.279 God will bring to light, 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:07.539 the things now hidden in darkness, 00:19:08.379 --> 00:19:09.660 and will disclose, 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.039 the purposes of the heart. 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:13.379 Friends, 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.400 God can see, 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:16.220 what you and I cannot see. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:19.500 We are fallible judges, 00:19:19.879 --> 00:19:21.119 with limited knowledge, 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:22.539 and limited perspective, 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.859 but God is different. 00:19:23.859 --> 00:19:27.799 God knows every circumstance, 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:29.719 every motivation, 00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:31.559 every desire, 00:19:31.719 --> 00:19:33.219 behind every act, 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:34.500 you and I have, 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.740 or will ever make. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.559 Nothing escapes, 00:19:40.379 --> 00:19:41.919 his scrutiny. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.539 Down to the movement, 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.699 of every subatomic, 00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:47.500 particle, 00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.319 and down, 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.399 to the thought, 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.119 and intention, 00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:53.099 of every human heart. 00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:57.479 And of course, 00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.279 that makes God, 00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.779 the perfect judge, 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:00.219 doesn't it? 00:20:00.399 --> 00:20:02.240 The utterly just judge, 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:02.959 who can, 00:20:03.179 --> 00:20:04.119 and who will, 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:06.240 render the most perfect, 00:20:06.699 --> 00:20:07.500 complete, 00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:08.439 verdict. 00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:15.059 So how was Paul able to be free, 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:16.799 from the judgment of others, 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.959 and even the judgment, 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:19.299 that he gave of his own self? 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.959 Because he knew, 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:22.899 he was accountable, 00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:24.640 to a greater judge, 00:20:25.360 --> 00:20:26.000 the Lord. 00:20:27.100 --> 00:20:28.280 The one whose authority, 00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.259 and ability to judge, 00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:30.220 made every other judgment, 00:20:30.340 --> 00:20:31.840 a very small thing. 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:36.980 But that creates, 00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:37.640 a bit of a problem, 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.120 doesn't it? 00:20:40.800 --> 00:20:42.060 If all this is true of God, 00:20:42.860 --> 00:20:44.300 that we stand before him, 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:45.259 as the one, 00:20:45.320 --> 00:20:46.360 who has the complete authority, 00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:46.840 and the ability, 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.980 to judge us perfectly, 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.160 and justly, 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:51.440 how in the world, 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.440 is that good news? 00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.240 In fact, 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:57.060 how is that not, 00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:57.900 at the end of the day, 00:20:58.300 --> 00:20:58.600 really, 00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:58.960 really, 00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:58.980 really, 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:00.180 bad news? 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.080 Yes, 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:02.840 it liberates us, 00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:03.480 from a concern, 00:21:03.560 --> 00:21:04.380 of what others think, 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.980 but it seems to put us, 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.200 in an even worse position. 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.600 How does that not, 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.340 take us out, 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:11.220 of the proverbial, 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.240 frying pan, 00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:13.279 only, 00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:14.359 to face, 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.220 the fire? 00:21:18.919 --> 00:21:20.059 How could we stand, 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:21.179 before such a judge? 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.619 One from whom, 00:21:25.699 --> 00:21:26.799 we cannot conceal, 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:28.139 our flaws, 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.679 or our sins, 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.159 or our desires, 00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:32.439 like we can conceal them, 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.799 from every other, 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.879 human court. 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:40.680 If God were to take, 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.400 a perfect account, 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.920 of our lives, 00:21:42.020 --> 00:21:42.220 yes, 00:21:42.260 --> 00:21:42.980 it would silence, 00:21:43.060 --> 00:21:43.760 every other, 00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:44.820 merely human judgment, 00:21:45.560 --> 00:21:46.680 but what would it, 00:21:46.800 --> 00:21:47.500 replace it with? 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.300 Something surely, 00:21:50.300 --> 00:21:51.980 more unbearable, 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:53.960 if God is as perfect, 00:21:54.320 --> 00:21:54.920 and just, 00:21:55.280 --> 00:21:56.140 and exposing, 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:58.100 as he must be, 00:21:58.660 --> 00:22:00.300 if he is the awesome creator, 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.220 and sustainer, 00:22:01.260 --> 00:22:01.960 of all things. 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:09.520 But it's here, 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:13.320 and maybe for the first time, 00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:14.380 perhaps only here, 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:17.140 that we start to see, 00:22:17.760 --> 00:22:18.760 how Christianity, 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.820 is such radically, 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:22.540 good news. 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.060 You see, 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.140 Paul is confident, 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.880 in verse five, 00:22:28.560 --> 00:22:29.960 that he will receive, 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:32.060 not condemnation, 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.980 but commendation. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:37.380 That the verdict of God, 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.700 the perfectly just, 00:22:38.800 --> 00:22:39.620 and holy judge, 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.500 over his life, 00:22:40.560 --> 00:22:41.320 will be one, 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.480 of approval. 00:22:43.760 --> 00:22:45.000 That on the great day, 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:45.520 of judgment, 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:47.020 when God puts an end, 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.140 to all evil, 00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.480 and all injustice, 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.380 in this world, 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:51.620 gone horribly wrong, 00:22:52.300 --> 00:22:53.000 when the world, 00:22:53.080 --> 00:22:54.620 stands before the bar, 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.420 of its creator, 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.540 and the gavel, 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.460 will fall, 00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.980 Paul knows, 00:22:59.060 --> 00:23:00.160 that he'll be pronounced, 00:23:00.840 --> 00:23:01.200 innocent. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:01.500 Innocent. 00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:06.040 How? 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:09.080 Will it be, 00:23:09.080 --> 00:23:09.900 because Paul lived, 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.720 such a good life? 00:23:12.260 --> 00:23:12.960 Will it be, 00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:13.540 because Paul, 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.920 well he tried his best? 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:16.860 No. 00:23:18.040 --> 00:23:19.080 He says to himself, 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:19.960 look again at verse four, 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:20.680 I'm not aware, 00:23:20.760 --> 00:23:21.640 of anything against myself, 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.980 but I'm not thereby acquitted. 00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:25.060 It's not Paul's record, 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.240 and not his performance, 00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:27.900 and not because we tried, 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:28.480 our best, 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:30.000 that God will accept us. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:32.200 None of that, 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.500 could ever be good enough. 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:34.920 No, 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.960 something else, 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:37.039 must be the ground, 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:38.140 of his acquittal. 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:38.980 He knows, 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.759 that we have to be approved, 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.619 not on the basis, 00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:43.039 of our own record, 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:44.140 but on the record, 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.099 of another. 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:50.000 And friends, 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.039 this is exactly, 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.839 what the gospel, 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.180 what Christianity, 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:55.819 is all about. 00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:58.799 that when we, 00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:59.639 had done, 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.599 nothing, 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:01.799 to deserve, 00:24:01.939 --> 00:24:03.200 God's commendation, 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.279 and done everything, 00:24:05.439 --> 00:24:05.819 to deserve, 00:24:05.919 --> 00:24:07.159 God's condemnation, 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:10.460 in love, 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.960 God sent his son. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.059 Jesus Christ, 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:16.000 lived his whole, 00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:17.559 life on earth, 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.039 under the favor, 00:24:19.179 --> 00:24:20.700 of the father's commendation. 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:24.379 At Jesus's baptism, 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:24.879 do you remember, 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:26.340 the father's voice said, 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.600 this is my son, 00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.460 in whom I am, 00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:30.200 well pleased. 00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:32.240 And his life, 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.360 lived that out. 00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:36.760 But in the end, 00:24:36.820 --> 00:24:38.340 Jesus gave that up, 00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:39.740 on the cross, 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.640 and hanging there, 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:43.280 he suffered the condemnation, 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:44.440 that our sins deserve. 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:45.920 My God, 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:46.360 my God, 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:48.020 why have you forsaken me? 00:24:48.060 --> 00:24:48.460 He cried. 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.700 Condemnation. 00:24:50.260 --> 00:24:51.320 He bore the sentence, 00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:52.480 for our sin, 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:54.200 so that our verdict, 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:55.420 could be reversed. 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:58.440 And now, 00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.480 when anyone places, 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.180 their trust, 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:01.340 in the risen Lord, 00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:01.900 Jesus, 00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:03.000 immediately, 00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.640 their guilty sentence, 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.500 is erased. 00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:09.180 Because he bore that sentence. 00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:10.980 And they're credited, 00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:12.279 with Jesus's perfect, 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.200 record, 00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:14.160 and they receive, 00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:15.539 the father's full, 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.580 commendation. 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.600 This is my son, 00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:19.100 this is my daughter, 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:21.039 in whom I'm well pleased. 00:25:25.179 --> 00:25:26.079 And now we see, 00:25:26.159 --> 00:25:26.939 the whole way to the bottom, 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.699 don't we? 00:25:27.919 --> 00:25:28.559 Now we see, 00:25:28.719 --> 00:25:29.759 why Paul wasn't shaken, 00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:30.579 or controlled, 00:25:30.679 --> 00:25:31.259 by the judgment, 00:25:31.379 --> 00:25:31.899 or opinions, 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:32.879 others had of him. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.319 Or that he even had of himself. 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.699 He had the approval, 00:25:35.919 --> 00:25:37.500 of the greatest judge. 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.419 He had the verdict, 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:40.179 of the highest court. 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.539 He had the approval, 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:42.659 of the eternal, 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:44.019 Lord Jesus, 00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:45.119 who loved him, 00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:47.159 and gave himself for him. 00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:50.620 And friend, 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:51.880 that's the only thing, 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.540 that will free you. 00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:56.940 It's the only thing, 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.620 that will free you. 00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.779 Only when you see, 00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:00.880 that there's a greater judge, 00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:02.740 with whom we have to do. 00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:05.360 And only when you see, 00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:07.240 that Jesus is the only ground, 00:26:07.300 --> 00:26:07.940 of your approval. 00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:10.840 Then you'll be free. 00:26:12.040 --> 00:26:13.220 Free from the tyranny, 00:26:13.320 --> 00:26:14.140 of self approval, 00:26:14.320 --> 00:26:15.300 and free from the tyranny, 00:26:15.380 --> 00:26:16.160 of others approval. 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:21.200 And when you get that, 00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:23.480 when you really get that, 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:26.019 it'll change you. 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.480 Perhaps the first thing, 00:26:29.540 --> 00:26:30.140 you'll find, 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:33.740 is suddenly being faithful, 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:36.259 becomes sweeter, 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.960 and more desirable to you, 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.940 than being liked. 00:26:41.840 --> 00:26:42.300 In verse two, 00:26:42.360 --> 00:26:43.660 Paul says that what really counts, 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.380 for a steward, 00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:46.220 is that they're found faithful. 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:48.579 That they do, 00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.720 what the owner of the household, 00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:51.000 has instructed them to do, 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.620 and has entrusted them to do. 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.519 And when you see, 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:54.779 friends, 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.539 that the owner, 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.700 of all things, 00:26:57.380 --> 00:26:58.120 has given up, 00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:59.779 his greatest treasure for you, 00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:01.579 and he's opened the storehouses, 00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:02.839 of his eternal grace, 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.759 and mercy, 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.940 and given you a seat, 00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.920 at his table, 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:07.440 as a family member, 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.539 you will find, 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.759 that you want, 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.980 to be faithful, 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.960 to him. 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:13.519 And you'll want to obey him. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.720 And you'll want to do so, 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.079 even though it might mean, 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.920 losing some of the approval, 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.620 of your peers. 00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:24.319 What would that loss, 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:25.140 be in comparison, 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.900 to what you already have in him? 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.880 It'll make you want to be faithful. 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:31.700 Another way, 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:32.480 in which this will change you, 00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:32.960 is that you actually, 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.720 become a person, 00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:35.620 who's more open, 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.620 to correction, 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.360 and rebuke. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:39.219 That might seem, 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:39.899 a bit counterintuitive, 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.459 at first. 00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:42.099 How could, 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.639 knowing I'm sort of, 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:45.659 not ultimately susceptible, 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.619 to the judgment of others, 00:27:46.659 --> 00:27:47.479 make me more open, 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.139 to their correction? 00:27:49.399 --> 00:27:50.359 But think of it this way. 00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:51.439 Friend, 00:27:51.459 --> 00:27:52.219 if you live, 00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:53.619 on the approval of others, 00:27:54.479 --> 00:27:55.019 then don't you see, 00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:56.519 that any corrective word, 00:27:56.619 --> 00:27:57.619 or any rebuke, 00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.479 is going to totally, 00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:00.679 crush you. 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.059 You won't really, 00:28:03.179 --> 00:28:04.059 be able to receive, 00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:04.959 the correction well, 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:06.359 because any rebuke, 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.119 will feel like, 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:07.779 you've had the wind, 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.679 knocked out of your sails. 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.539 They're taking from you, 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.559 the one thing, 00:28:10.719 --> 00:28:11.739 that you absolutely, 00:28:11.739 --> 00:28:12.739 have to have. 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.919 And so you'll get defensive, 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:18.439 and not really listen. 00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:21.299 Or you'll fall into self-loathing, 00:28:21.719 --> 00:28:22.879 and beat yourself up, 00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:23.579 and be paralyzed, 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:25.079 to make any kind of change. 00:28:26.479 --> 00:28:27.379 But if you know, 00:28:27.459 --> 00:28:28.739 the approval of God in Christ, 00:28:28.919 --> 00:28:30.799 if you're secure in that, 00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:32.379 if you know that the Lord, 00:28:32.459 --> 00:28:33.419 is your ultimate judge, 00:28:33.459 --> 00:28:35.159 and he's accepted you in Christ, 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:38.019 then correction, 00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:40.240 and rebuke, 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.880 and criticism, 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:45.120 won't and can't destroy, 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:45.900 your sense of worth, 00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:46.420 and well-being. 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:49.019 You'll actually be glad, 00:28:49.100 --> 00:28:50.960 and open to receiving correction, 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:52.019 because you'll want to get, 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:53.640 as much help as you can, 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:54.740 to become more, 00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:56.340 and more like Jesus, 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.279 like the one, 00:28:57.340 --> 00:28:58.500 that God wants you to be like. 00:28:58.500 --> 00:29:01.220 Of course, 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.720 rebukes are still going to sting, 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.240 right? 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.720 No one walks around saying, 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.299 please, 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.160 rebuke me. 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.039 But, 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.960 when they come, 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.619 and we all need them, 00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.960 you'll be able to receive them, 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.500 for your good. 00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:20.019 You know, 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.839 one of the primary ways, 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:21.500 you can tell, 00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.420 that the gospel, 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.859 hasn't really gone deep, 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.880 into someone's heart, 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:26.940 is if they aren't open, 00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:28.320 to loving correction, 00:29:28.320 --> 00:29:29.100 from a brother, 00:29:29.260 --> 00:29:30.140 or sister in Christ. 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.980 Let me mention one last way, 00:29:34.060 --> 00:29:35.640 this truth will change us. 00:29:36.300 --> 00:29:36.960 When you know, 00:29:37.020 --> 00:29:37.620 that your approval, 00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:39.400 comes from outside of yourself, 00:29:40.280 --> 00:29:41.680 that it comes from Christ, 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.920 and it's not your own doing, 00:29:43.800 --> 00:29:45.860 it's going to create in you, 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.780 a kind of character, 00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:49.520 that is gentle, 00:29:49.780 --> 00:29:50.660 and strong, 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.860 at the same time. 00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:55.579 Because on the one hand, 00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:57.359 what you have, 00:29:57.399 --> 00:29:58.119 is something you, 00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:58.859 don't deserve. 00:29:59.879 --> 00:30:00.759 And that will make you, 00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:01.899 a very gentle person, 00:30:01.979 --> 00:30:02.279 you see. 00:30:03.659 --> 00:30:04.799 You won't be proud, 00:30:04.879 --> 00:30:05.639 or judgmental. 00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:06.559 You'll be humble, 00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.959 and you'll be understanding. 00:30:08.159 --> 00:30:08.539 After all, 00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:09.519 it's not your performance, 00:30:09.719 --> 00:30:10.240 that saves you, 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:11.199 it's Christ's. 00:30:14.139 --> 00:30:15.279 But at the same time, 00:30:15.339 --> 00:30:16.359 because your approval in him, 00:30:16.379 --> 00:30:17.559 is utterly secure, 00:30:17.939 --> 00:30:19.099 it's going to make you, 00:30:19.139 --> 00:30:20.399 a strong person. 00:30:21.160 --> 00:30:22.460 You're not going to fear, 00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:22.980 ultimately, 00:30:23.080 --> 00:30:23.980 what other people think. 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:24.940 You're not going to fear, 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:26.160 correction or rebuke. 00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:27.440 You'll be able to hold, 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.820 your convictions with confidence. 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:30.300 You'll be able to be bold, 00:30:30.320 --> 00:30:31.259 when you need to be. 00:30:35.040 --> 00:30:36.100 And the beauty of it all, 00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:36.720 is that you'll be able, 00:30:36.800 --> 00:30:37.860 to be both at once. 00:30:39.040 --> 00:30:40.259 There'll be strength, 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:41.540 in your gentleness, 00:30:41.840 --> 00:30:43.960 and there will be gentleness, 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.080 in your strength. 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.000 And friends, 00:30:47.060 --> 00:30:47.800 I don't know about you, 00:30:47.900 --> 00:30:48.759 but I think the world, 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:50.060 needs a lot more people. 00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:51.620 Who are like that. 00:30:56.300 --> 00:30:56.880 And so, 00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:57.720 instead of worrying, 00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.880 what people think of you, 00:31:00.300 --> 00:31:01.540 after the social gathering, 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.460 instead of being controlled, 00:31:04.580 --> 00:31:05.040 by the opinions, 00:31:05.040 --> 00:31:06.080 of your colleagues at work, 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:07.880 instead of beating yourself up, 00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:08.740 over whether or not, 00:31:08.820 --> 00:31:09.720 you're an all-star parent, 00:31:09.800 --> 00:31:10.759 instead of all that, 00:31:10.820 --> 00:31:11.519 do you see, 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:13.120 what you have, 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.900 or what you can have, 00:31:15.360 --> 00:31:16.519 in Christ? 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:19.859 that you can live, 00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:21.079 in the freedom of knowing, 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:21.940 that the one, 00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:23.660 true judge, 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:25.180 has justified you. 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:28.099 And that the verdict, 00:31:28.379 --> 00:31:29.420 has been spoken, 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.680 in your favor, 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:32.440 and that it cannot be revoked, 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:34.259 and that no other judgment, 00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:35.259 can shake you. 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:38.980 Friends, 00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.920 do you have that? 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.319 If you're in Christ, 00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:42.879 you do. 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:46.079 And if you're not, 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:47.420 you can come and receive it. 00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:49.960 Let's pray. 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:57.880 Lord Jesus, 00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.579 we ask, 00:31:59.140 --> 00:32:01.579 that you, 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:02.539 by your Holy Spirit, 00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:03.799 would take this truth, 00:32:04.600 --> 00:32:06.799 that our approval comes, 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.799 not of our own performance, 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:09.460 or our own merits, 00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:11.720 but comes because of what you've done for us. 00:32:12.380 --> 00:32:12.579 Lord, 00:32:12.600 --> 00:32:14.420 would you take that beautiful truth, 00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.240 by your Spirit, 00:32:15.360 --> 00:32:16.920 and bury it deep in our hearts. 00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.880 And would you free us, 00:32:19.620 --> 00:32:19.840 Lord, 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.939 from the way, 00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:21.759 in which we crave, 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.459 and are controlled, 00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:23.740 by the approval of others. 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:27.279 And Lord Jesus, 00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:28.299 would you make us more, 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:28.659 and more, 00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.519 people like yourself. 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:31.899 Jesus, 00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:32.779 you were bold, 00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:34.179 and you were gentle, 00:32:34.419 --> 00:32:35.459 you were strong, 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:37.179 and you were caring. 00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:38.639 Oh Lord, 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:40.179 make us your church, 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.679 more, 00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:41.899 and more like that. 00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:45.720 Lord, 00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:46.599 not ultimately, 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.500 for our sake, 00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:49.819 but for your sake, 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:52.759 so that the world, 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:53.579 might see and know, 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:54.559 how beautiful you are, 00:32:54.659 --> 00:32:54.799 God. 00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:57.200 We pray this, 00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:58.700 in your name Jesus. 00:32:59.379 --> 00:32:59.639 Amen. 00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:29.620 Thank you.