WEBVTT

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 Amen.

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 Well, thank you so much to everyone who's participated so far in our service.

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 I hope it's been encouraging to you.

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 It's been encouraging to me as I've sat there and listened to just tale after tale of God's faithfulness.

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 And just when you thought you'd seen everything from Fraser, a video link.

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 I mean, I'd love to tell you I had the Apostle Paul video link here, but I don't.

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 If you have Philippians chapter 1 open in front of you, it's going to be so helpful.

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 So, Philippians chapter 1 verses 12 to 26 that Margo so helpfully read for us is where we're going to be this morning.

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 But to get us thinking as we kick off, I thought we'd play a little game called Whose Motto Is It Anyway?

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 So I'm going to put some mottos on the screen and I want to see if anybody out there can guess whose mottos these are.

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 So here's the first one.

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 Live each day as if it were your last.

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 Any idea?

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 So it's Steve Jobs.

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 Next one.

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 Think big and get the job done.

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 Mr. Trump.

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 Above all, to thine own self be true.

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 Now, maybe some of the old English might give it away there.

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 Anybody?

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 It's Shakespeare.

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 I'm not as cultured as you are, so I'm sticking to the good ones.

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 No matter what happens in life, be good to people would be Taylor Swift.

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 And then lastly, the one that has been in my head for the last little while and I can't seem to get it out is this one.

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 No right, no wrong.

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 The rules for me.

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 I'm free.

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 Anybody?

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 Anybody?

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 So this is Elsa from Frozen.

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 I can't get it out of my head.

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 I wonder if you have a motto in life.

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 A way that you understand the world, a principle that you live by.

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 Because this morning, what we're going to see is we're going to see a man with a motto.

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 If your Bible's there, then look at verse 21 of, sorry, verse 21 of chapter 1.

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 Here is the Apostle Paul.

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 The man whose life has been flipped upside down and turned inside out by the risen Jesus Christ.

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 In verse 21, we see his motto in life.

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 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

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 This is the way he understands the world.

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 This is the principle that he lives by.

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 Now just before we dive into the passage this morning, I want you to think about that motto.

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 Maybe here this morning and you wouldn't call yourself a Christian.

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 Well, can I say how welcome you are?

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 I love that you're here.

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 I just challenge you this morning to think about your own life.

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 What motto do you try and live by?

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 As you hear the Apostle Paul this morning, I want you to ask yourself,

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 why does this man live and why does he think like this?

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 Maybe you're here this morning and you would call yourself a Christian.

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 Well, the challenge to you this morning is to assess your life according to this man's motto.

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 And so in the time that we have left this morning, I just want us to see how this motto has shaped Paul.

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 Because I think in these verses we see that it shaped him in four different ways.

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 Now remember Paul isn't sitting in his armchair with his pipe and slippers thinking philosophical thoughts.

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 As he pens his motto, we saw a few weeks ago, didn't we, that he's in prison.

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 And you'll notice it, if you've got the text there, that he uses the word chains.

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 Or if you've got an ESV, it's imprisonment.

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 He uses it three times in those preceding four verses.

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 And he wants the Philippians to know something.

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 That's how he opens it here, verse 12, to know something.

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 To know that despite his chains, not only has he not abandoned that motto,

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 but actually he's seeing the truth of it living right out, playing right out in front of him.

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 And here's the first way that this motto has shaped Paul, verses 12 to 14.

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 It's shaped his attitudes.

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 Notice the little phrase that he uses halfway through verse 16,

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 which I think is the key to understanding what is going on here.

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 What does he write?

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 I am put here.

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 I am put here.

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 Now remember when I was growing up, one of my favorite computer games to play was called Theme Hospital.

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 The game, you literally constructed your own hospital.

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 You hired your own staff.

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 And whenever you used to survey your hospital,

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 and whenever there was a sick patient at this side of your hospital,

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 sometimes it had a bloaty head, if you remember the game,

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 what you would do is you would survey the hospital,

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 and you would find a doctor,

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 and you would put the mouse on the doctor.

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 Remember those things called mouses?

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 And you would drag the doctor,

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 and you would put him next to the patient.

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 Because you wanted him to do a job.

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 Well, I'm reminded here, as I read these words of Paul,

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 I'm reminded of Theme Hospital.

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 Because Paul is saying that he's not just caught a bad break.

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 He's not suffering from a case of nice guys finish last.

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 This is God working out his divine purposes in Paul's life.

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 Paul has been put here in this prison by God.

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 And so Paul says,

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 Dear Philippians,

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 know that me being in prison is not hindering the gospel.

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 Actually, God is using this to advance the spread of the gospel.

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 Now, how does that work?

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 Well, Paul tells us how.

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 In fact, he gives us two hows,

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 if you see them in the verses there.

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 Firstly, verse 13.

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 Because Paul has been put here,

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 the whole imperial guard have heard about Jesus.

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 Now, try and use your imaginations this morning.

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 Picture this scene.

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 Paul is under house arrest.

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 He's under the supervision of,

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 and he's most likely chained to,

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 a Roman soldier.

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 Now, does Paul strike you as the kind of guy,

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 as he was chained to this soldier,

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 who would be speaking to him about the weather?

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 Do you not think that Paul savored,

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 and he seized the opportunity to tell that guard about Jesus Christ?

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 And when that guard finished his shift,

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 which commentators will tell us,

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 it was about four hours long,

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 before it rotated round,

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 and another guard came along,

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 do you not think Paul seized and savored and rejoiced

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 in yet another opportunity to tell another guard about Jesus?

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 And on and on this went until the whole imperial guard has heard about the risen Jesus Christ.

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 Now, picture these soldiers.

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 They're on their lunch break,

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 and they're asking each other,

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 what do you make of this guy?

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 This little man with his big ideas?

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 I cannot fathom it.

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 He's in prison,

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 not because he's done anything wrong.

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 He's in prison because he believes in a man.

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 You see, here is Paul.

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 What is he doing?

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 He's not just grinning and bearing the circumstances that have come his way in life.

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 Here is Paul turning those circumstances around for the glory of God.

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 And to see how God is at work here,

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 to see how he's at work,

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 bigger picture,

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 these Roman soldiers are never going to come to an evangelistic event put on by Rome Evangelical Church.

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 Never going to darken the door of a church.

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 So they will not come to Paul.

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 What does God do?

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 Okay.

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 Paul,

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 I'll put you there with them.

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 What a wonderful truth to be reminded of this morning when it comes to God's sovereign logic in evangelism.

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 Just think about your own life for a minute.

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 Where does God put you?

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 Who in his divine sovereignty and in his divine purposes has he put in your life,

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 in your office,

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 in your class,

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 in your camp,

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 in your street,

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 in your team,

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 where has God placed you for his glory?

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 Second thing Paul wants the Philippians to know,

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 verse 14,

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 is that because of his example in prison,

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 the other brothers have become more bold to speak about Jesus Christ.

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 So presumably as they've watched Paul go for it,

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 they have dared to preach the gospel.

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 Great word there if you've got it there.

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 Dare.

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 My prayer this week for my own life was,

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 Lord,

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 would you help me to dare more?

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 So I want you to know,

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 Philippians,

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 I want you to know that me being here in chains is not game over.

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 It's game on.

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 Do you see how his motto has shaped his attitudes?

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 Secondly,

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 verses 15 to 18,

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 it shaped his ambition.

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 Paul's clearly heard that there are some people out there who are preaching the same message as him,

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 preaching Christ,

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 but they're doing so with skewed motives.

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 So certain individuals are seeking to take advantage of his current predicament in prison,

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 looking to make themselves known,

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 looking to make themselves look great,

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 and seizing the opportunity with Paul off the scene to make themselves look big,

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 rather than being occupied with making Christ look big.

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 And Paul says,

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 that attitude,

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 those motives,

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 that ambition,

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 is ugly.

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 I don't know if you saw it in the news this week,

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 I'd be very impressed if anyone did.

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 There's a football team down in London called Wickham Wanderers,

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 and they've just released their new goalkeeping talk for the season.

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 So distractingly ugly,

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 that it's meant to put opposition strikers off.

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 Paul is saying that there's people walking about,

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 and by the way they're behaving,

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 they may well be preaching Christ,

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 but as they do that,

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 it's almost like they're walking around clothed in that Wickham Wanderers goalie top.

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 You,

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 by the way you live,

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 Philippians,

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 you,

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 clothe yourself in the exact opposite.

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 By your speech,

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 by your conduct,

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 by your way of life,

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 don't put people off.

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 As you make Jesus known,

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 draw people to him by living in a way which makes him look beautifully attractive.

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 That's the mindset that you've got to adopt.

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 It's incredible,

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 actually,

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 the more you get to grips with what Paul is saying in this letter,

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 how often he comes back to this theme of mindset,

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 to think differently.

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 We'll see it so beautifully drawn out next week as we come to chapter 2.

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 Paul says to them,

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 your mindset is to be that of Christ,

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 of humility,

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 of love.

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 No room for envy,

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 no room for rivalry,

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 no room for quarreling.

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 Your life's marked by humility and love.

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 Your ambition in life as God's people is not to make yourself known,

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 like these people.

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 You live and I live to make Christ known.

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 That's what matters to Paul.

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 And I think it's a sobering reminder at this point,

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 isn't it,

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 that as Christians,

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 we can have all the right words

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 and serve in the church,

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 even,

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 in all the right ways,

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 but completely miss the point.

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 That we serve Christ with bitterness brewing in our hearts,

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 that we preach Jesus with resentment lurking.

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 So it's a reminder this morning to be checking our own hearts for our motives.

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 Don Carson,

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 he writes this,

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 really powerful words,

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 all of us would be wiser

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 if we would resolve

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 never to put people down

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 except on our prayer list.

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 Paul's motto,

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 which has shaped his ambition in life,

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 second half of verse 18,

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 to verse 21.

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 Thirdly,

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 it's shaped his approach in life.

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 Paul rejoices in what he knows.

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 Do you see that?

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 In what he knows.

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 What does he know?

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 Well,

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 we saw it last week with Tim,

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 if you remember,

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 that we saw what Paul was praying for these Philippians.

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 Well,

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 here he rejoices because he knows

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 that they are praying for him.

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 They are praying for him.

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 And you see the wonderful little truth for us here

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 that's embedded in these verses.

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 Here are this little house church in Philippi,

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 meeting in Lydia's house.

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 This little church,

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 what are they doing?

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 They are on their knees

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 before God,

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 pleading for their brother,

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 Paul.

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 You can picture it,

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 can't you?

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 What are they praying?

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 What are they asking?

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 Lord,

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 would you protect our brother?

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 Lord,

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 would you strengthen our brother?

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 Lord,

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 would you be so gracious to our brother?

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 Lord,

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 would you give Paul the,

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 by your spirit,

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 living in him,

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 would you give him the words to say

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 when he gets the chance to speak about you?

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 Father,

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 would you put good people around Paul

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 who can encourage him

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 as he continues on in the faith?

00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:09.560
 Here is this little church

00:14:09.560 --> 00:14:12.019
 wrestling in prayer

00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:14.360
 for their brother who's in chains.

00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:17.039
 And I must say,

00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:18.600
 I've been really struck

00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:20.480
 and encouraged this week

00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:23.879
 by the vulnerability

00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:25.580
 that Paul shows here in prayer.

00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:27.460
 Particularly,

00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:27.800
 I think,

00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:28.759
 when contrasted

00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:30.139
 with what he's just penned

00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:32.419
 about the worldly ambitions of others.

00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:33.860
 Now,

00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:34.620
 I don't know about you,

00:14:34.680 --> 00:14:35.940
 but I always find it

00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:37.740
 baffling,

00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:38.620
 is that the right word,

00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:39.960
 to read that Paul

00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:41.800
 asks others to pray for him.

00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:42.820
 Because in my mind,

00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:45.420
 if ever there was a guy

00:14:45.420 --> 00:14:46.960
 who I kind of think

00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.520
 would be okay

00:14:47.520 --> 00:14:48.280
 without prayer

00:14:48.280 --> 00:14:49.420
 for evangelism,

00:14:49.900 --> 00:14:50.960
 then it's Paul.

00:14:52.020 --> 00:14:52.540
 But no,

00:14:52.640 --> 00:14:53.220
 says Paul,

00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:54.379
 I need your prayers,

00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:55.560
 dear Philippians.

00:14:55.920 --> 00:14:57.040
 They strengthen me.

00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:59.420
 They are so precious to me

00:14:59.420 --> 00:15:00.720
 to know that you're praying for me.

00:15:01.140 --> 00:15:02.600
 Thank you so much for them

00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:04.160
 and please would you keep them coming.

00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:07.879
 Maybe something for all of us

00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:09.240
 to do off the back of this morning

00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.959
 is to ask somebody here,

00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:12.039
 before you go,

00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:13.259
 maybe just one person,

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:15.439
 how you can be praying for them this week.

00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:18.179
 And then flip it around.

00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:20.500
 Why don't you try and tell one person

00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:22.480
 how they can be praying for you

00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:23.779
 this week.

00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.860
 I find it so,

00:15:26.939 --> 00:15:27.500
 in my own life,

00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:28.579
 I find it so encouraging

00:15:28.579 --> 00:15:29.299
 to know

00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:31.779
 that people are praying for me.

00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:31.980
 You know,

00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.919
 when our little girl Grace

00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:33.600
 was in hospital,

00:15:33.839 --> 00:15:35.419
 the prayers of the people

00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:36.519
 in this church family,

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:38.500
 the texts that you sent us,

00:15:38.579 --> 00:15:39.819
 the emails that you sent us,

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.600
 the phone calls,

00:15:40.699 --> 00:15:42.399
 they were so precious to us.

00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.539
 We're working to make it a feature

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.839
 of our monthly prayer meetings

00:15:46.839 --> 00:15:47.659
 when we gather together

00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:48.220
 on a Wednesday

00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:49.799
 to pray for other churches

00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:50.500
 in the city.

00:15:51.339 --> 00:15:51.879
 On Wednesday night,

00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:52.299
 just gone,

00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:52.799
 we were praying

00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:53.959
 for the new church plant

00:15:53.959 --> 00:15:54.919
 out at Esk Valley.

00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:58.220
 And I just emailed my friend Tom,

00:15:58.319 --> 00:15:59.120
 the minister there,

00:15:59.179 --> 00:15:59.679
 during the weekend

00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:00.360
 and said,

00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.439
 how can we be praying for you?

00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:02.200
 And he just sent a list

00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:03.340
 of things to pray for.

00:16:03.420 --> 00:16:04.560
 But his first line was just,

00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:05.640
 thank you so much.

00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:09.500
 Those prayers mean so much to us.

00:16:11.040 --> 00:16:12.120
 As we've heard this morning,

00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:13.820
 we were celebrating 50 years

00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:14.900
 of God's faithfulness

00:16:14.900 --> 00:16:16.180
 to this church family.

00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:17.500
 That's quite incredible

00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.560
 when you think about it.

00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:19.580
 Not the weird great,

00:16:19.660 --> 00:16:20.320
 but he's great.

00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.720
 50 years.

00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:21.960
 Well,

00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:23.560
 let's strive as a church family

00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:24.840
 to ensure that prayer

00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:27.900
 remains very much part

00:16:27.900 --> 00:16:29.560
 of the fabric of this church.

00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:32.899
 and part of the very core DNA

00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:34.000
 of who we are.

00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:36.619
 And let's keep striving

00:16:36.619 --> 00:16:39.619
 to come to our great God

00:16:39.619 --> 00:16:40.219
 in prayer.

00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:41.079
 Charles Spurgeon,

00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:43.779
 prayer pulls the rope below

00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:45.859
 and the great bell rings

00:16:45.859 --> 00:16:47.579
 in the ears of God above.

00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:50.699
 But some scarcely stir the bell.

00:16:51.619 --> 00:16:53.000
 Others give but an occasional

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.000
 pluck at the rope.

00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.639
 But he who wins with heaven

00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:59.139
 is the man who grasps

00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:00.360
 that rope boldly

00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:02.179
 and pulls continually

00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:03.620
 with all his might.

00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:05.839
 Friends,

00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:06.960
 as we journey on

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.839
 whatever happens to us,

00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:10.900
 let's commit ourselves

00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:13.400
 to being a church family

00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.799
 who pulls that rope.

00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:17.539
 Our great God.

00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:17.839
 You see,

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:19.460
 Paul knows that he's not embarked

00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.839
 on a solo mission for Jesus.

00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:23.939
 He knows that mission for Christ

00:17:23.939 --> 00:17:26.679
 is a spirit-empowered team pursuit.

00:17:27.199 --> 00:17:28.559
 And what a joy for him

00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:30.119
 to know that these Philippians,

00:17:30.439 --> 00:17:32.599
 even though they are miles away from him,

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:35.079
 are spending themselves

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.359
 in praying for him,

00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:37.019
 asking,

00:17:37.699 --> 00:17:38.399
 you see it there,

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.639
 that he might be delivered.

00:17:41.179 --> 00:17:42.179
 Delivered from prison,

00:17:42.379 --> 00:17:43.539
 delivered at the end of his life.

00:17:43.639 --> 00:17:45.240
 Paul's probably got both in his mind.

00:17:45.879 --> 00:17:46.759
 And in that,

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.199
 he rejoices.

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.659
 And you see what he wants,

00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.480
 verse 20,

00:17:52.060 --> 00:17:55.259
 for Jesus to be exalted.

00:17:55.540 --> 00:17:56.380
 Now, what does that mean?

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.640
 Well, it means that Paul

00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:00.460
 is devoting himself

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:02.200
 to being a walking

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.460
 and talking telescope.

00:18:04.820 --> 00:18:06.259
 His life is about

00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:08.360
 making Christ look bigger.

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:12.920
 And how will Christ be exalted

00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.900
 in Paul?

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.100
 Do you see what he says?

00:18:16.540 --> 00:18:18.580
 In my body.

00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:22.240
 Paul's logic there

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.820
 must be reflecting on the Jesus

00:18:23.820 --> 00:18:25.400
 who has literally given his body

00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.040
 for Paul.

00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:28.360
 The Jesus who died

00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:30.080
 to save this wretch of a sinner

00:18:30.080 --> 00:18:31.440
 who previously cursed

00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.420
 his very name

00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:35.100
 and lived to destroy his people.

00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:38.340
 Paul now turns and says,

00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.120
 that Christ,

00:18:39.300 --> 00:18:40.000
 that Christ,

00:18:40.540 --> 00:18:41.600
 I'm giving myself

00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:43.420
 the totality of myself

00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:45.400
 for his cause.

00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:49.080
 There's a famous story told

00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:50.700
 of a pig and a chicken

00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.640
 standing in a field

00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.960
 and a bus passes them.

00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:55.380
 And on the side of the bus

00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:55.980
 is the picture,

00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.560
 just picture of eggs and bacon.

00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.860
 The slogan underneath reads,

00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.960
 eggs and bacon,

00:19:01.060 --> 00:19:02.100
 the great British breakfast.

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:04.660
 And the chicken turns to the pig

00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:05.019
 and says,

00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:05.600
 look pig,

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.259
 we're going to be famous.

00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:10.040
 And the pig turns back

00:19:10.040 --> 00:19:10.800
 to the chicken and says,

00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:11.220
 true,

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:13.059
 but for you to be famous

00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:14.039
 you only need to make

00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:14.980
 a small contribution.

00:19:15.140 --> 00:19:15.559
 For me,

00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:17.720
 well I need to give my whole life.

00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:20.279
 Here is Paul.

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.660
 Giving his whole life for Christ.

00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:27.079
 The lyrics that

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.559
 Isaac Watts penned

00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.480
 all those years ago,

00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:30.460
 love so amazing,

00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:31.339
 so divine,

00:19:32.100 --> 00:19:33.180
 demands my soul,

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:34.759
 my life,

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:35.819
 my all.

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.579
 Paul's motto has shaped

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.299
 his approach.

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.440
 And fourthly and lastly

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:43.240
 at verses 22 to 26,

00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:44.899
 he's shaped his aim.

00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:49.119
 As he contemplates life,

00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:49.839
 he's torn

00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:52.240
 to die and,

00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:53.859
 do you see how he's torn here?

00:19:53.919 --> 00:19:54.879
 To die and to go

00:19:54.879 --> 00:19:55.819
 and be with the Lord.

00:19:55.879 --> 00:19:56.879
 How does he describe it?

00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:58.019
 End of verse 23.

00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:00.039
 Far better.

00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.619
 He wants to,

00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:03.759
 he longs to be

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.559
 with his Savior.

00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.519
 But he also wants to see

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.240
 these Philippians

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.639
 progress in the faith,

00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:10.580
 be filled with that

00:20:10.580 --> 00:20:11.740
 inexpressible joy

00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.360
 that comes through

00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:13.420
 knowing Jesus Christ.

00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:16.860
 See how it's win-win for him?

00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.920
 He can't lose here.

00:20:18.560 --> 00:20:19.280
 For him,

00:20:19.340 --> 00:20:20.660
 it's not about choosing life

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.640
 or choosing death.

00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:24.220
 Life is about choosing Christ.

00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.320
 Now again,

00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:28.060
 call me weird,

00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:28.660
 but I was

00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:31.180
 trying to get inside the passage

00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:32.360
 when I preach.

00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.320
 Trying to picture myself

00:20:33.320 --> 00:20:34.320
 as one of Paul's guards

00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:34.820
 this week.

00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:38.379
 It seems to me

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:39.200
 that Paul must have been

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.059
 one of the most

00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:41.079
 irritating men

00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:42.559
 that they could ever

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.619
 have looked after

00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:44.279
 in their whole time

00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.779
 as a guard.

00:20:45.439 --> 00:20:46.419
 Imagine the conversation,

00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:46.779
 Paul,

00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:47.759
 would you stop talking

00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.399
 about Jesus?

00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:50.639
 And he looks at them

00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:50.859
 and says,

00:20:50.919 --> 00:20:51.099
 no,

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:51.819
 because for me

00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.579
 to live is Christ.

00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.240
 Okay,

00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.000
 if you don't stop

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.839
 talking about Jesus,

00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:56.579
 we'll kill you.

00:20:56.639 --> 00:20:56.759
 Well,

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.279
 that's great.

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.659
 Because for me

00:20:58.659 --> 00:20:59.419
 to die is gain.

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.259
 What do you do

00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:01.919
 with this guy?

00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:04.039
 How irritating

00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:05.000
 and yet,

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.300
 do you see the point?

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.580
 How attractive is this?

00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:12.840
 I asked you at the start

00:21:12.840 --> 00:21:13.539
 to think about

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.440
 your own life motto

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:16.720
 and think about

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.860
 Paul's motto for life.

00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:19.060
 Here is a man in chains,

00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:20.420
 but think about it.

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:21.620
 Here is a man in chains

00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:23.279
 and yet,

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:26.160
 here is the most free man

00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.440
 I think I've ever come across.

00:21:29.320 --> 00:21:30.259
 This isn't always

00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.500
 look on the bright side of life.

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.799
 This is not hakuna matata.

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.700
 Here is a man

00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.660
 fully convinced

00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:36.079
 that Jesus Christ

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:37.700
 is more precious

00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:39.559
 and more trustworthy

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.819
 than anything else

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.440
 in his life.

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.440
 And as I've reflected on it

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.380
 in my own life this week

00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:47.299
 and as I've pondered

00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:47.900
 his motto,

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.259
 I've found myself

00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:51.180
 and I hope you found yourself

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:51.960
 this morning as well

00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:53.380
 coming up well short of that.

00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.819
 How often do we

00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.700
 just get caught up

00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.599
 in longing for

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.559
 and living for

00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.619
 the temporary things

00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:00.299
 of this world?

00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.079
 How often do we

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.639
 as the psalmist

00:22:02.639 --> 00:22:03.599
 would say in Psalm 1,

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.240
 how often do we

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.319
 just chase chaff?

00:22:06.919 --> 00:22:08.359
 Living for that dream home,

00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.220
 living for the kids

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.220
 to get into that school,

00:22:10.419 --> 00:22:11.500
 living for the new car,

00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:12.619
 living for that holiday,

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:14.139
 living for that iPhone 7.

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:14.859
 Guess what happens

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.859
 after the iPhone 7?

00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:16.659
 There's an iPhone 8.

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.460
 Living for that

00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.339
 retirement package,

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.379
 living for that holiday

00:22:20.379 --> 00:22:21.480
 in the south of Spain.

00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.440
 Do you see how

00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:23.579
 Paul's motto this morning

00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:25.759
 calls us back

00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:28.099
 to living lives

00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:29.140
 that matter

00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.420
 for the glory

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.900
 of Jesus Christ.

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:32.640
 What is life

00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.599
 all about for Paul?

00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.440
 It's about living

00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.460
 for Christ,

00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:36.279
 to know him,

00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:39.720
 to know forgiveness,

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:42.319
 to know sins

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.200
 paid for

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.879
 and sins

00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:44.900
 cancelled,

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:46.559
 to know life

00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.420
 through this man

00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:48.180
 and living

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.359
 to make him

00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:50.119
 known.

00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:52.339
 So here is Paul

00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:52.899
 this morning

00:22:52.899 --> 00:22:53.939
 saying to us

00:22:53.939 --> 00:22:55.039
 very clearly

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.939
 through Philippians

00:22:55.939 --> 00:22:57.159
 that there is no better

00:22:57.159 --> 00:22:58.279
 and no freer way

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:58.859
 to live

00:22:58.859 --> 00:22:59.939
 than to adopt

00:22:59.939 --> 00:23:01.500
 this as your motto.

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.219
 And of course

00:23:04.219 --> 00:23:04.919
 there's no secret

00:23:04.919 --> 00:23:05.500
 to this.

00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:08.159
 If I want to see

00:23:08.159 --> 00:23:08.639
 the world

00:23:08.639 --> 00:23:09.500
 like Paul sees

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:09.979
 the world,

00:23:10.459 --> 00:23:12.879
 then I need to see

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:14.239
 Jesus Christ

00:23:14.239 --> 00:23:16.119
 like he sees

00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:16.879
 Jesus Christ.

00:23:16.979 --> 00:23:17.559
 The secret

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:19.859
 every day

00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:21.479
 is to turn

00:23:21.479 --> 00:23:22.000
 my eyes

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.699
 upon Jesus

00:23:22.699 --> 00:23:25.240
 and to look

00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.039
 full in his

00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:27.500
 wonderful face

00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.279
 and the things

00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:28.719
 of earth

00:23:28.719 --> 00:23:29.159
 will grow

00:23:29.159 --> 00:23:30.259
 strangely dim

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:31.699
 in light

00:23:31.699 --> 00:23:32.699
 of his

00:23:32.699 --> 00:23:33.379
 glory

00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:34.559
 and grace.

00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:37.959
 As we close

00:23:37.959 --> 00:23:38.399
 I was reminded

00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:39.399
 of the great story

00:23:39.399 --> 00:23:40.279
 of Jim Elliot

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:41.719
 the American

00:23:41.719 --> 00:23:42.099
 missionary

00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:43.139
 who in 1956

00:23:43.139 --> 00:23:44.399
 takes the gospel

00:23:44.399 --> 00:23:45.099
 to an unreached

00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:45.939
 tribe in Ecuador

00:23:45.939 --> 00:23:48.099
 and he and his

00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:48.719
 four traveling

00:23:48.719 --> 00:23:49.379
 companions

00:23:49.380 --> 00:23:50.480
 tragically martyred

00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.200
 by the people

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.700
 there and Jim

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.540
 famously penned

00:23:53.540 --> 00:23:54.020
 in his journal

00:23:54.020 --> 00:23:55.060
 his life motto

00:23:55.060 --> 00:23:57.200
 that he is no fool

00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:58.220
 who gives what he

00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:59.040
 cannot keep

00:23:59.040 --> 00:24:00.960
 to gain that

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.820
 which he cannot

00:24:01.820 --> 00:24:02.340
 lose.

00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:03.620
 Great motto.

00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:05.460
 Great motto.

00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:06.980
 A famous motto.

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.980
 You google Jim Elliot

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.660
 you will get

00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.920
 literally thousands

00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:11.480
 probably even

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.320
 hundreds of thousands

00:24:12.320 --> 00:24:12.900
 of hits.

00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:13.520
 He was even on

00:24:13.520 --> 00:24:14.420
 the BBC News

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:14.940
 recently

00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:17.019
 as he commemorated

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.559
 his death

00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.360
 but if you google

00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:19.000
 his brother

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.880
 Bert Elliot

00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:21.940
 you get

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.840
 70 hits.

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.559
 Bert was asked

00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:26.640
 how he dealt

00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.299
 with living

00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:27.920
 in the shadow

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.840
 his famous brother

00:24:28.840 --> 00:24:30.000
 the Christian

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.480
 himself

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.080
 and he said

00:24:31.080 --> 00:24:31.400
 this

00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:31.920
 and we'll close

00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.340
 with this

00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:33.180
 some wonderful

00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:34.880
 wonderful words

00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:36.059
 he says

00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:36.659
 in the kingdom

00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:37.119
 of God

00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.539
 there is

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.619
 a great need

00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:39.500
 for streaking

00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.099
 meteors

00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:40.740
 that's his brother

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.039
 Jim

00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.440
 streaking meteors

00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:43.879
 but the reality

00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:45.079
 is most of us

00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:45.819
 won't be that

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.679
 we will instead

00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:48.919
 be faint stars

00:24:48.919 --> 00:24:50.700
 husbands and fathers

00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.779
 wives and mothers

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.220
 we will be

00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:52.980
 accountants

00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.679
 and teachers

00:24:53.679 --> 00:24:54.599
 businessmen

00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.179
 and students

00:24:55.179 --> 00:24:55.740
 we will go through

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.200
 life

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.419
 day after day

00:24:57.419 --> 00:24:58.099
 doing very much

00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:58.679
 the same thing

00:24:58.679 --> 00:24:59.519
 as we did yesterday

00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.819
 but the important

00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.500
 thing for us

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.000
 to remember

00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.740
 is that we

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.819
 are needed

00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:05.980
 there is a

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.700
 great need

00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:07.439
 for people

00:25:07.439 --> 00:25:08.460
 willing to chase

00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:09.439
 the little donkeys

00:25:09.439 --> 00:25:10.019
 of life

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.399
 not because

00:25:11.399 --> 00:25:12.119
 it's exciting

00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:13.480
 because they

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.159
 believe in

00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:14.819
 the constant

00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.539
 presence

00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.299
 and purposes

00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:16.960
 of God

00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:19.059
 there is a

00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:19.639
 great need

00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:20.139
 for people

00:25:20.139 --> 00:25:20.759
 willing to

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.500
 stand in the

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.079
 midst of the

00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.359
 boring

00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:23.220
 convinced

00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:24.500
 that there is

00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.279
 no such thing

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.019
 as ordinary

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:27.759
 when you follow

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:29.319
 an extraordinary

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.299
 God

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:32.619
 now I love

00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.259
 that quote

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.839
 because that is

00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.500
 the story for

00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.119
 most of us

00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:36.839
 here this morning

00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:37.200
 isn't it

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:37.579
 most of us

00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:37.940
 are not going

00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.519
 to be streaking

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.139
 meteors

00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:40.460
 none of us

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:40.680
 are going to

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:40.980
 have our

00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:41.659
 names in

00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:42.059
 lights

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.519
 none of us

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:42.740
 are going to

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.460
 have thousands

00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:44.019
 hundreds of

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.500
 thousands of

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:44.920
 hits on

00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:45.240
 Google

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.120
 we are

00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.660
 these everyday

00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:47.160
 people that

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:47.620
 he's talking

00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:47.960
 about

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:49.839
 but everyday

00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:50.480
 people whom

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.140
 God has

00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:52.299
 called to

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:53.059
 make this

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.900
 motto our

00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.299
 own

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:56.019
 and to bring

00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.920
 this motto

00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.420
 that we've seen

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.059
 in Philippians

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:58.620
 with us

00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.140
 into the

00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.680
 everyday

00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.319
 not because

00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:00.740
 we are

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:01.180
 great

00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.680
 but because

00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.200
 Christ

00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.319
 is great

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:06.880
 as for me

00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.519
 says Paul

00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.120
 I have made

00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:08.519
 it my

00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.299
 life's

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.740
 refrain

00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:11.200
 that to

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:11.500
 live

00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:11.859
 is

00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:12.380
 Christ

00:26:12.380 --> 00:26:13.400
 and to

00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:13.759
 die

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.460
 is

00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:14.720
 gain

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.799
 let's

00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:15.960
 pray

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.359
 together

00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:29.779
 so

00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.019
 father

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.559
 thank you

00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.099
 for this

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.500
 morning

00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:33.719
 and thank

00:26:33.719 --> 00:26:34.059
 you just

00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.379
 for the

00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:34.859
 wonderful

00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.379
 reminder

00:26:35.379 --> 00:26:35.919
 that this

00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:36.319
 is not

00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:36.859
 about us

00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.059
 it's

00:26:37.059 --> 00:26:37.339
 about

00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:37.719
 you

00:26:37.719 --> 00:26:38.819
 your

00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:39.699
 faithfulness

00:26:39.699 --> 00:26:39.919
 your

00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:40.500
 grace

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:40.759
 your

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.459
 steadfast

00:26:41.459 --> 00:26:41.759
 love

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:41.939
 that

00:26:41.939 --> 00:26:42.479
 endures

00:26:42.479 --> 00:26:42.919
 forever

00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:44.860
 so

00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:45.080
 lord

00:26:45.080 --> 00:26:45.640
 by your

00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:46.240
 grace

00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.940
 and by

00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.200
 your

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:48.560
 spirit

00:26:48.560 --> 00:26:48.960
 living

00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:49.360
 in us

00:26:49.360 --> 00:26:49.640
 would you

00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:50.080
 help us

00:26:50.080 --> 00:26:50.600
 this week

00:26:50.600 --> 00:26:51.200
 in our

00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:51.660
 lives

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.980
 to know

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:53.640
 the joy

00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.600
 of Paul's

00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:54.960
 motto

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.340
 that we've

00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:55.940
 seen here

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:57.259
 and may

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:57.519
 it be

00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:57.880
 our

00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.380
 mindset

00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:59.700
 that to

00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.060
 live

00:27:00.060 --> 00:27:01.019
 is Christ

00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:02.200
 and to

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.620
 die

00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:03.500
 is gain

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.920
 and it's

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.340
 in Jesus

00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:06.019
 wonderful

00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.560
 and precious

00:27:06.560 --> 00:27:06.980
 name that

00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.300
 we pray

00:27:07.300 --> 00:27:07.860
 these things

00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:08.700
 amen