WEBVTT 00:00:00.660 --> 00:00:06.080 Around the world and over the course of history, nations and cultures have recognized the passing 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:07.419 of the year at different times. 00:00:08.120 --> 00:00:12.259 Even today, China and Korea celebrate Lunar New Year, usually in February. 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:15.759 In northeast India, they celebrate the New Year in April. 00:00:16.500 --> 00:00:20.760 The Jewish and Ethiopian calendars place the New Year in the fall, usually September. 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:26.820 But nearly every culture at some time or another, in some way or another, marks the passing 00:00:26.820 --> 00:00:27.460 of a year. 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:29.839 And this shouldn't be a surprise. 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:35.219 In Genesis, the account of creation, it says, God appointed the lights in the sky to be 00:00:35.219 --> 00:00:38.939 for signs and for seasons and for days and for years. 00:00:39.700 --> 00:00:44.780 And so, I think it's appropriate, it's even part of God's design for us as God's creatures 00:00:44.780 --> 00:00:51.500 to recognize the end of a year, to reflect upon the past, to look ahead into the future, to 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:57.140 acknowledge God who is sovereign over the times and seasons and to rest in His unchanging 00:00:57.140 --> 00:00:57.640 character. 00:00:58.480 --> 00:01:03.620 So, as we prepare to enter into a new year, I want to look at Philippians 3, verses 12 00:01:03.620 --> 00:01:04.260 to 21. 00:01:05.060 --> 00:01:10.239 As we read Paul's words to the church in Philippi and the Holy Spirit's words to God's people 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:16.159 through the ages, I want us to consider how God is preparing us here in this church for 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:16.859 the year to come. 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:23.480 So, let's read together Philippians 3, beginning at verse 12. 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:27.079 Paul says this, 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:34.079 It's not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make 00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:38.019 it my own because Christ Jesus has made me His own. 00:01:39.500 --> 00:01:42.799 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:51.319 But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press 00:01:51.319 --> 00:01:58.739 on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:02.899 Let those of us who are mature think this way. 00:02:03.959 --> 00:02:07.459 And if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 00:02:08.819 --> 00:02:11.740 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 00:02:13.019 --> 00:02:18.259 Brothers, join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example 00:02:18.259 --> 00:02:24.919 you have in us, for many of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, 00:02:25.679 --> 00:02:27.899 walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:36.639 Their end is destruction, their God is their belly, and they glory in their shame with minds 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:38.239 set on earthly things. 00:02:38.979 --> 00:02:46.659 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who 00:02:46.659 --> 00:02:54.159 will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body by the power that enables Him even 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:57.579 to subject all things to Himself. 00:03:02.219 --> 00:03:07.060 So this summer, my seven-year-old son Nathan and I hiked to the top of Mount Mananok. 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:12.280 We did so along with a married couple and their two children who were five and three. 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:17.140 So we were a motley crew. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:21.680 Mount Mananok, if you've ever hiked it, it's one of the more accessible mountains in New 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:21.860 Haven. 00:03:21.979 --> 00:03:24.939 It's just about three hours from here, less than two hours from Boston. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:27.659 And so many people make the trek. 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:30.740 It's actually the third most climbed mountain in the world. 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:35.120 125,000 people per year make it to the top. 00:03:35.900 --> 00:03:37.719 And the top is completely bare. 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:38.920 It's just above the tree line. 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:42.739 So on a clear day, you can see into all six New England states. 00:03:43.359 --> 00:03:45.239 It's the only place where you can do that. 00:03:45.819 --> 00:03:49.179 You can even see the skyline of Boston, which is about 60 miles away. 00:03:50.279 --> 00:03:52.139 So it's a neat climb. 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:58.359 But the thing about Mananok is despite its popularity and its apparent accessibility, there 00:03:58.359 --> 00:04:01.359 is no easy trail to the top. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:07.179 Any trail that you take includes at least a couple of sections that are quite steep where 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:11.060 you're scrambling up the side of rocks that are slippery when wet. 00:04:11.659 --> 00:04:13.460 And the weather is not predictable either. 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:18.000 We hiked in the middle of July, and it was cloudy and foggy and 50 degrees. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.600 Now, when you're hiking up a mountain with a group of other people, there are at least 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:26.620 three dangers that can hinder your progress. 00:04:28.060 --> 00:04:29.600 First off, you can get distracted. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:38.220 You can waste energy on all kinds of irrelevant things, like answering text messages that periodically 00:04:38.220 --> 00:04:40.740 come through on your phone from the intermittent cell reception. 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:43.820 Or you can take a detour. 00:04:44.980 --> 00:04:46.439 Ah, this trail's too busy. 00:04:46.900 --> 00:04:48.680 Let's make our own path through the wilderness. 00:04:49.760 --> 00:04:51.820 Ah, this trail keeps on winding back and forth. 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:53.460 Let's just do a straight shot. 00:04:54.320 --> 00:04:57.580 But sometimes a detour leads to a dead end. 00:04:57.579 --> 00:05:01.599 Or third, you can get discouraged and despair. 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:06.839 At least three times on our summer hike, someone or other in our group said, 00:05:07.039 --> 00:05:08.560 this hike is way too long. 00:05:08.659 --> 00:05:10.819 We should just turn around and go down. 00:05:13.180 --> 00:05:17.879 Now, what we see in Paul's letters to the Philippians is that the Christian life is a 00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:19.939 lot like climbing a mountain with a group of friends. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:27.079 Paul compares the Christian life to an upward call into a difficult journey that leads to a 00:05:27.079 --> 00:05:29.419 prize of all surpassing value at the end. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:33.639 Verse 12 to 14, Paul reminds us of the goal. 00:05:34.019 --> 00:05:36.819 We've been called to pursue the mountain we're seeking to climb together. 00:05:37.079 --> 00:05:40.060 And then in the rest of the passage, he warns us against distractions. 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:42.399 Verse 15 to 17, against detours. 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:45.299 Verse 18 and 19, and against discouragement. 00:05:45.419 --> 00:05:46.579 Verses 20 to 21. 00:05:47.740 --> 00:05:49.399 So, that's what we're going to look at this morning. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:51.139 The Apostle Paul is like our team captain. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:53.819 He's leading the way, setting the pace, and keeping us focused. 00:05:53.819 --> 00:05:59.839 So, first look with me at verse 12 to 14, where Paul lays out the mountain that we're 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:01.199 seeking to climb. 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:05.899 And Paul begins verse 12 and verse 13. 00:06:06.019 --> 00:06:08.800 They're sort of parallel verses that basically repeat themselves. 00:06:09.399 --> 00:06:13.019 But he begins both verses by saying, I'm not there yet. 00:06:14.420 --> 00:06:17.779 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:21.879 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:26.839 But then Paul continues saying, I press on. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:29.319 That's actually the main verb in both sentences. 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:33.939 Verse 12 and verse 13 and 14, that's what he says. 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:35.040 It's the same verb. 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:36.060 I press on. 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:40.600 And you might say, well, okay, what exactly haven't you reached yet, but you're pressing 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:41.159 on to? 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:44.379 What is this and it that you keep saying? 00:06:44.379 --> 00:06:52.540 And Paul, if you look back in verses 8 to 11, Paul really brings that out a little bit. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:57.819 And Paul says his great desire, the end of verse 8 is that he might, or the beginning 00:06:57.819 --> 00:07:01.879 of verse 8, he says, the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:06.740 The end of verse 8, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him. 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:10.620 Verse 10, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection. 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:14.439 And may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:17.840 So, in summary, what's the mountain that Paul is climbing? 00:07:18.980 --> 00:07:25.439 It's knowing and belonging to Jesus and therefore becoming like Him as a result. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:36.860 That's what he's pressing on towards, is Christ-likeness as a result of being in Christ. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:46.000 Now, to some of us, the way Paul begins these verses might surprise us by saying, I'm not 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:50.899 there yet, because think about all that Paul has already achieved at this point in his life. 00:07:50.899 --> 00:07:57.500 Paul, you know, by the time Paul wrote the book of Philippians, he was an apostle who had traveled 00:07:57.500 --> 00:08:02.719 the world, preaching the gospel, and planting new churches. He was a prisoner for the sake of Christ 00:08:02.719 --> 00:08:08.060 Jesus. He had been persecuted, and he was persevering. He was already a prominent intellectual in the 00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:11.839 ancient world, right? Several of his writings would become part of the New Testament, which is 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:17.500 the all-time bestseller. And he had already had powerful spiritual experiences. He had prophesied, 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:21.180 he had performed miracles, he had spoken in tongues, he'd even had a vision of the third heaven, 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:25.019 and all by the power of the Spirit. And you might look at Paul and say, wow, 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:31.899 if I had experienced or achieved all those things, I would feel like I'm there. I mean, 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:39.500 what more can you do? How much further can you get? But Paul says, no, even though I've done all 00:08:39.500 --> 00:08:48.700 these things, I haven't yet reached my goal. I'm still pressing on. And I can press on with confidence, 00:08:49.700 --> 00:08:55.879 he says, not because of all these things I've already achieved or experienced. Really, he would 00:08:55.879 --> 00:09:02.799 say, those are God's gifts of grace to me. But he says, I press on by and in Christ Jesus. Verse 12 and 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:13.019 verse 14 end in the same way. They end with the word Christ Jesus. So, the ESV translates verse 12, 00:09:13.139 --> 00:09:19.879 because Christ Jesus had made me His own. You could also translate it, because I have been taken 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:27.859 hold of by Christ Jesus. That's literally the order of the words, by Christ Jesus. And then verse 14 00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:33.539 ends in Christ Jesus. So, it's by Christ Jesus and in Christ Jesus that he's pressing on toward this 00:09:33.539 --> 00:09:39.200 goal. He's saying, Jesus has called me. He's called me upward. He's raised me from death to life, 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:44.840 so I'm going to press on and onward and upward toward that great goal that He has for me of knowing 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:50.539 and belonging to Him and therefore becoming like Him. And of course, this is not just Paul's great 00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:56.960 ambition. It's God's great purpose for every believer in Jesus Christ. This is not just his own 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:05.120 journey. It is our journey. It is the pilgrim pathway that every true Christian is on. This is 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:10.660 the mountain that God has appointed for us to climb together as a family of believers in Jesus Christ. 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:17.280 So, having set that out, in the rest of the passage, Paul warns us against distractions, detours, 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:24.759 and discouragement. So, let's look at these sections one by one. Number one, verse 15 to 17, Paul says, 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:33.240 don't be distracted. Rather, stay focused. Now, in these verses, Paul speaks as a friend, 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:40.100 as a fellow traveler. He's not just a coach looking on from the sidelines. He's not just giving advice 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:45.700 from far away through a walkie-talkie system. He's like a team captain. He's walking with us. He's on 00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:51.460 the same journey with us, and he's setting the pace for us. So, verse 15 and 16, he says, 00:10:51.460 --> 00:10:56.600 let those of us who are mature think this way. And if in anything you think otherwise, 00:10:56.920 --> 00:11:02.060 God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 00:11:03.660 --> 00:11:09.620 Now, this is an interesting way that Paul speaks here because there are other places in his letters, 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:14.740 and even in verse 18 and 19, which we'll get to in a minute, but there are other places in Paul's 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:20.800 letters where Paul strongly rebukes people who think and act differently. That is, in ways that are not 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:26.819 in line with the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, Galatians 5, he says, for freedom Christ has set us free. 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:34.479 Don't submit again. Don't let yourself be bound by a yoke of slavery, right? Don't go back to your old 00:11:34.479 --> 00:11:43.059 ways of works righteousness and cling to the law. 1 Corinthians 6, Paul says, flee from sexual immorality. 00:11:43.179 --> 00:11:48.439 1 Corinthians 10, he says, flee from idolatry. Run away from these things. Don't compromise with them. 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:55.520 But here, he speaks differently. He says, if in some way you think differently than I do, 00:11:56.300 --> 00:12:02.420 God will make it clear. Just keep the main thing the main thing. Let's live up to what we've already 00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:08.480 attained. People debate what might have been the issue Paul was addressing. Perhaps there were 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:13.880 some people in the church in Philippi who maybe there was a difference in what degree of sanctification 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:19.500 was possible to achieve, and Paul's sort of saying, let's not get hung up on how we define that. Let's 00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:26.139 just focus on growing in Christlikeness. But whatever the issue might be, Paul's approach here is, 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:31.240 don't be distracted. Stay focused on the main thing. Keep the main thing the main thing. The rest of the 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:40.340 puzzle pieces will fall into place. Paul addresses an issue in a similar way in chapter 4, verses 2 and 3, 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:46.360 if you turn over the page. He addresses two women in the church who had had some kind of public 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:52.139 disagreement, it seems. And he writes this. He says, I entreat you, Odia, and I entreat Syntici to agree 00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:59.420 in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women who have labored side by side with 00:12:59.420 --> 00:13:06.780 me in the gospel together, whose names are in the book of life. Now, Paul's addressing an issue where two 00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:12.159 sisters in Christ don't agree, and they're part of the church, but he doesn't even say what they don't 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:20.019 agree about. He just says, I urge you to agree in the Lord and help these women out. They're both 00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:27.439 co-laborers in Christ. Both of their names are in the book of life. They're very clearly on the same team. 00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:32.139 They just need a little help to come to terms with one another and act like teammates and not 00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:36.840 competitors to recognize that what they share in common is far more important than whatever they 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:44.000 disagree about. And this is a relevant word of encouragement to us as a church. We might 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:50.980 summarize it as, some things are worth fighting over and some things aren't. Right? Think of it 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:57.559 practically. How many marital conflicts start with minor disagreements or external stressors that somehow 00:13:57.559 --> 00:14:04.259 turn into massive fights? Right? My wife and I would freely admit perhaps half of our quarrels fall in 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:11.459 this category. Things that if we thought about them with a clear head the next day, it wasn't worth 00:14:11.459 --> 00:14:18.599 arguing over. Right? And sometimes that can happen in the church, right? How many fractured Christian 00:14:18.599 --> 00:14:25.239 relationships have occurred because people have quarreled over minor differences? Secondary doctrines or 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:31.200 strategic emphasis that don't undermine the gospel of Christ. And over time we've failed to do what 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:37.919 Scripture clearly tells us to do. Things like be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to get angry. 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:44.419 Paul's saying, brothers and sisters, our goal is to know and become like Christ. And where the Bible's 00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:49.940 clear, we want to be clear because the Bible, the entire Bible, is God's Word to us and for us. But if we 00:14:49.940 --> 00:14:55.000 don't see eye to eye about everything, or if we seek to apply the same biblical principles 00:14:55.000 --> 00:15:01.679 in slightly different ways, God will sort that out over time. Let's just fix our eyes on Him. 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:11.059 So what are some potential distractions on our horizon as a church in 2018? Let me name a few. 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:17.679 Number one, the parking lot that most of us use on Sundays will soon become a construction site. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:24.519 Now that may be annoying and disruptive. But in the end, we'll have a new neighborhood of people in our 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:32.679 backyard. This could be a gospel opportunity. Second, as a church, we're considering a potential 00:15:32.679 --> 00:15:37.220 building project to knock down that garage and build something there, some more classroom space and 00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:41.620 multi-purpose space. Now the building committee is diligently working with local architects 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:49.980 to develop a design proposal, and then we're going to consider that. And we haven't made any 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:54.899 decisions yet, but the elders and the congregation are going to consider that in this new year. If we 00:15:54.899 --> 00:16:02.200 move forward, that will require time, energy, flexibility, and money. Now yes, a building is a potential 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:09.139 distraction, but in the long run we believe it could facilitate even greater gospel ministry opportunities. 00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:16.860 Third, even more, we're considering moving to two morning services. Not right away, 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:23.039 okay, but perhaps sometime in this year because our sanctuary is regularly full on Sunday mornings, 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:31.519 unlike today, right? Holidays are holidays, right? We're glad that you're here. 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:38.659 So that would be a shift for us, right? We wouldn't all be in the same place at the same time every week. 00:16:38.940 --> 00:16:43.340 We'd need many more ushers and greeters and many more children's ministry volunteers. We might be asking 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:49.019 some of you. We've already asked some of you to join those rotations so that they can have plenty 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:54.620 of backups. But we're considering that switch even though it brings along its share of potential 00:16:54.620 --> 00:17:01.019 distractions and sort of practical issues, but we're considering that to make space for more people 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:06.759 to come to know Christ and belong to Christ and become like Christ. And so whatever we do in all of 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:13.799 these areas, whether they all happen or they all get postponed or something else comes our way that 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:22.119 we can't foresee at all right now, let's not be distracted. Let's keep…let's deal with the minor 00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:28.299 issues, deal with the little logistical details and the issues where we might not always see eye to eye 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:32.859 on which is the right strategic call to make, but let's stay focused on our gospel mission. 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:41.159 J.C. Ryle put it this way. He said, let Christ and His person be the son of our system. Let the main 00:17:41.159 --> 00:17:48.259 desire of our souls be to live the life of faith in Him and daily know Him better. And in all the 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:54.279 things we do, let's make that our great ambition and goal. So that's the first point. Let's not be 00:17:54.279 --> 00:18:00.979 distracted. Let's rather stay focused. But then in verse 18 and 19, Paul gives a more pointed warning. 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:08.640 Verses 15 to 17 are a friendly encouragement. Verses 17 to 19 are more of a sober warning. 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:15.759 It says, brothers and sisters, join in imitating me and keep your eyes, again, keep focused on those 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:22.640 who walk according to the example you have in us. For many of whom I've often told you and now tell you 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:31.480 even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:39.560 belly. And they glory in their shame with their mindset on earthly things. You see, knowing Christ 00:18:39.560 --> 00:18:45.540 means not just enjoying the power of His resurrection, but also sharing in His sufferings. 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:54.420 As verse 10 said, and Jesus Himself said, if anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and 00:18:54.420 --> 00:19:00.879 take up his cross and follow Me. In other words, becoming like Christ means dying to our selfish 00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:09.240 impulses, to our ungodly habits, to our self-centered ways of thinking. Look up at verses 5 and 6 in this 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:18.000 chapter. Paul lists not just his past sins, but he lists some of his inherited privileges. 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:23.920 Circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:29.000 Hebrews. He comes from this sort of privileged pedigree. And then he lists some of his earned 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:34.180 qualifications as to the law, a Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness 00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:40.880 under the law, blameless. And then in Paul says, verse 7, Paul says, but whatever gain I had, 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:47.759 all my inherited privileges, all my earned qualifications, I count it loss for the sake 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:54.279 of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ 00:19:54.279 --> 00:20:00.740 Jesus my Lord. For His sake, I have suffered the loss of all things, and I count them as rubbish 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:07.500 in order that I may gain Christ. What's Paul saying here? Paul's saying, I'm willing to let 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:16.160 everything else go for Jesus' sake. Not just the bad things, the obvious sins, but even my inherited 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:22.519 privileges, even my earned qualifications, I'm holding on to them loosely, and I'm willing to 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:34.019 surrender them for the sake of Christ. And I value them far less than I value Christ. And even comparing 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:43.139 them to Christ, he says they're rubbish and garbage. Now, what's the problem with the people in verses 00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:49.900 18 and 19? The problem with the people Paul refers to here is that they're not willing to walk in that 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:56.100 way of the cross. They're not willing to deny themselves in order to follow Christ. 00:20:57.620 --> 00:21:02.040 They weren't necessarily persecuting Christians. Some of these might have even have claimed to be 00:21:02.040 --> 00:21:07.040 Christians, but they were not willing to take up their cross and follow Christ. Paul says their God 00:21:07.040 --> 00:21:11.880 is their belly. In other words, they ordered their life around their bodily appetites, whether it's for 00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:19.860 food or sex or comfort. They glory in their shame. They not only persist in attitudes and actions, 00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:25.200 they dishonor God. They glory in these very things. And Paul says their minds are set on earthly things. 00:21:25.800 --> 00:21:32.780 They've taken a detour off the difficult path of the cross toward a seemingly easier way, 00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:42.040 but that detour, Paul says, will only lead to a dead end. Because these people are unwilling to die to 00:21:42.040 --> 00:21:48.160 themselves and to their sin, they will never truly live. They will never experience the resurrecting 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:54.880 and transforming power of Christ. They will never enter into God's new world. Paul says their end 00:21:54.880 --> 00:22:03.340 is destruction. And Paul weeps as he gives this warning. Paul doesn't speak with gleeful pride, 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:11.160 but with tears about the coming judgment of God and the eternal destruction of those who have forsaken 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:15.740 the path of Christ. Paul warns against this. Paul warns against this because it's very real, 00:22:16.060 --> 00:22:21.640 but he warns against it with tears. And he says to the Philippians, and God says to us, 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:29.860 beware of being drawn into these self-centered, earthly-minded patterns. Don't follow people like 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:39.080 these. Don't turn aside to a detour that seems easier but is clearly off the path of the cross of Christ. 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:45.159 Now, what might we as a church need to heed from Paul's warning in these verses? 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:54.240 Number one, two things. Number one, we need to be a church that consistently walks in the way of 00:22:54.240 --> 00:23:01.199 the cross and calls one another into it, into the way of the cross. Somewhere in the history of 00:23:01.199 --> 00:23:06.659 American Christianity, we have got the idea that we can pursue Christ wholeheartedly, 00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:13.620 and it shouldn't really cost us anything in this life. Or that living in America should make it 00:23:13.620 --> 00:23:20.580 easy for us to be a follower of Christ. That Christians should have the best of both worlds. 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:30.400 Jesus never said that. If you read the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ calls 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:34.820 all of His disciples into a difficult and countercultural way of life. 00:23:36.800 --> 00:23:41.820 Extending forgiveness instead of holding on to bitterness toward those who have hurt us. 00:23:42.800 --> 00:23:47.519 Telling the truth even when it hurts rather than being evasive and slippery. 00:23:49.100 --> 00:23:55.759 Sexual purity in body and mind. Faithful, self-sacrificial love in marriage and God-centered 00:23:55.759 --> 00:24:01.700 celibacy and singleness. Detachment from worldly possessions and generosity with them. 00:24:03.660 --> 00:24:09.900 Brothers and sisters, we need to remind each other that the Christian way is hard and countercultural 00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:15.000 in all of these ways and more. G.K. Chesterton said, 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:20.559 the Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:28.799 Paul says, beware of the allure of the seemingly easier path that leads only to spiritual destruction 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:41.879 in the end. So second, so first, we need to walk in the way of the cross consistently in all of the 00:24:41.879 --> 00:24:48.759 ways that Jesus calls us to. But second, positively, consider what Paul says in verse 17. He says, 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:54.000 brothers and sisters, join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:57.900 example you have in us. You see, the way we learn to walk in the way of the cross 00:24:57.900 --> 00:25:06.200 is by following others who are cutting that same path. The only reason that we made it to the top of 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:14.720 Mount Mananok is because thousands of people had gone before us and cut that path and made the trail 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:21.980 signs and kept the trail signs and kept the way clear. If no one had made a path, we wouldn't have got 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:32.220 anywhere. And as Christians, the way we learn to walk in the way of the cross is by following others 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:42.460 who have gone along that same path, following our King. You see, the Christian way of life is not just 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:48.680 taught in principle. It's also caught by example. What does that look like? Well, you learn what it 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:54.799 means to forgive when you see someone else who has been wronged pursue reconciliation with truth 00:25:54.799 --> 00:26:02.759 and humility and sincerity. You learn how to show hospitality when someone else opens their home to 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:10.960 you in a gracious and unpretentious way. You learn how to pray in part by praying with others, 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:17.559 by hearing others pray, and by voicing your prayers with another Christian who can say amen 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:26.420 and who can join with you in that prayer. You grow into a more godly husband, wife, or parent when you 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:35.100 see up close other husbands who love their wives, other wives who respect their husbands, 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:42.619 other parents who build intentionally into their children. We don't learn these things just alone. 00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:50.039 We need to be in each other's lives. And this is important in our increasingly fragmented world. 00:26:52.039 --> 00:27:00.139 You know, more and more adults, especially men, I would say, have no real friends who can speak into 00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:06.600 their lives. Now, women are more likely to have friends, but do your friends actually challenge 00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:14.680 you or do they only affirm and sympathize with you? And then some of us spend so much time on social media 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:22.700 that we effectively distance ourselves from flesh and blood people who really know us and can speak 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:28.220 into our lives in those deeper ways that we desperately need and sometimes don't want. 00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:37.759 But we desperately need that. Let me challenge you as you head into this new year. Find two or three 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:43.779 other Christians whose examples you're actively seeking to learn from in some way or other. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:51.019 Find two or three other Christians that you can model yourself after in some respect. It doesn't mean 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:56.460 you need to mimic them in every respect. It doesn't mean that you'll find one mentor who can speak 00:27:56.460 --> 00:28:01.119 comprehensively into every single area of your life. Only Jesus really fits that bill. 00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:09.420 Sometimes we have such exalted ideas of the friend or mentor that we long for, 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:15.319 and nobody ever lives up to them because really we're looking for Jesus. And in that way, we need to lean on 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:21.500 Him, but we need to lean on brothers and sisters in Christ whose examples we can respect as godly and 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:28.019 emulate and model ourselves after in some way. Just like you follow somebody else on a treacherous path 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:34.980 through the wilderness that you haven't journeyed before. And that's why God gives us each other 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:40.039 and calls us to meet together every week and calls us to be part of each other's lives. 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:46.240 Maybe that's through a small group. Maybe that's through some other way. But to be part of each other's lives, 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.980 praying with one another, 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:50.579 being in each other's homes, 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.740 spending time with each other, 00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:54.480 talking about 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:59.619 what we're learning and issues and questions and prayer requests and all kinds of things. 00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:08.019 So find some Christians whose examples you can seek to follow and then make it your aim to set an example for others. 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:09.980 To be able to say with Paul, 00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:13.000 follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:15.059 Paul said that. Can you say that? 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:18.519 Paul didn't just say that because he was an apostle. 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:23.660 The reality is somebody's probably looking to your example that you don't even realize. 00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:27.000 You're setting an example one way or the other already. 00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.420 So Paul says, 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:33.839 is that an example for Christ? 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:33.919 Christ. 00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:38.500 So we've seen Paul's encouragement not to be distracted. 00:29:38.699 --> 00:29:41.359 We've seen his warning not to take a detour, 00:29:41.439 --> 00:29:43.139 but rather stay on the path of the cross. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.000 And finally, 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:45.379 Paul concludes with a word of hope. 00:29:45.919 --> 00:29:47.299 Verse 20 and 21, 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.179 don't despair, 00:29:48.659 --> 00:29:49.879 rather persevere. 00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:54.039 Our citizenship is in heaven, 00:29:54.599 --> 00:29:55.059 Paul says, 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:56.240 and from it, 00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:57.339 we await a Savior, 00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:58.579 the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:29:58.579 --> 00:30:01.039 who will transform our lowly body 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:03.279 to be like His glorious body 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:05.199 by the power that enables Him 00:30:05.199 --> 00:30:07.539 even to subject all things to Himself. 00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:09.339 Now, 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.899 Paul uses the language of citizenship. 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:13.019 And for the people in Philippi, 00:30:13.159 --> 00:30:15.059 that would have struck a deep chord. 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:17.859 Because if you were a citizen in Philippi, 00:30:17.939 --> 00:30:19.139 you had special privileges. 00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.279 You had all the privileges 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:22.500 that Roman citizens had, 00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:24.439 citizens of the capital city of Rome. 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:24.920 So you could, 00:30:25.360 --> 00:30:26.840 that means you had tax privileges, 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.620 you were exempt from certain taxes, 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.820 you had property privilege, 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:30.840 you had special rights, 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.440 you had legal privileges, 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:34.100 you could appeal directly to Caesar 00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:36.039 for legal or military aid. 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:39.380 So if a band of marauders attacked Philippi, 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:40.720 they could send word to the emperor 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:42.600 and he would send his troops and protect them. 00:30:44.580 --> 00:30:46.860 So as citizens of Rome and Philippi, 00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:50.900 they had many privileges 00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:52.560 and they had the responsibility 00:30:52.560 --> 00:30:56.120 of extending Roman rule 00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:56.920 and Roman language, 00:30:57.040 --> 00:30:57.640 Roman culture, 00:30:57.800 --> 00:30:59.680 and Roman ideals to their region. 00:31:00.580 --> 00:31:02.680 Now what Paul says to the Christians in Philippi, 00:31:03.820 --> 00:31:04.240 he says, 00:31:04.360 --> 00:31:05.800 you may have a great responsibility 00:31:05.800 --> 00:31:06.600 and privilege 00:31:06.600 --> 00:31:08.620 in your earthly citizenship, 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.900 but far more important 00:31:10.900 --> 00:31:12.259 and far more enduring 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:14.060 is your heavenly citizenship. 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:16.680 You are citizens 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:18.180 of the eternal kingdom 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:19.220 of Jesus Christ 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:21.600 who reigns as Savior and Lord 00:31:21.600 --> 00:31:23.920 and whose kingdom will never end. 00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:28.500 While we still live on earth, 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.400 we have a responsibility 00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:32.120 to extend the joy and peace 00:31:32.120 --> 00:31:33.160 and beauty of heaven 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:35.100 into this dark 00:31:35.100 --> 00:31:36.059 and chaotic 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:37.299 and confused world. 00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:39.900 But as citizens of heaven, 00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:41.039 we also have a great privilege 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.920 that we can call upon our Savior, 00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:44.480 the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:47.660 and he will send help to us. 00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:49.720 He hears us, 00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:52.660 that we can call upon him confidently 00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:54.820 as citizens in his kingdom, 00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:57.080 that we belong to him, 00:31:57.120 --> 00:31:58.900 that he's placed a stamp of approval 00:31:58.900 --> 00:32:00.019 on us in Christ 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:01.720 by simply trusting in Christ. 00:32:03.360 --> 00:32:04.880 We can appeal to him for help 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:05.900 at any time in prayer. 00:32:07.820 --> 00:32:09.240 And one day in the future, 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:10.779 King Jesus will come 00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:12.800 and he will transform our lowly body 00:32:12.800 --> 00:32:14.340 to be like his glorious body. 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:16.060 He will rescue us 00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.859 from all our enemies, 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:18.259 and we will see him face to face 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:19.519 and reign with him on the earth. 00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:21.659 Brothers and sisters, 00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:23.000 this is a wonderful truth 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:25.139 that we can hold onto 00:32:25.139 --> 00:32:27.399 in uncertain times. 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:30.179 You know, 2017 has been 00:32:30.179 --> 00:32:31.679 a tumultuous year 00:32:31.679 --> 00:32:33.240 on the national 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.619 and international scene. 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:37.220 Many things seem uncertain, 00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:38.279 troubled, troubling, 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.279 easily shaken. 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:41.680 But Paul's saying, 00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:44.579 Christians have a rock-solid hope 00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:46.160 that is not subject 00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:47.500 to the shifting winds 00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:49.519 of politics and economics 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:51.519 and all the other things 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.599 that happen in this world. 00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:55.759 And we can speak this hope 00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.460 to one another. 00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:58.220 Children, 00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:01.079 no matter how young you are, 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:03.579 if you trust in Jesus Christ 00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:05.099 as your Savior and Lord, 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:07.619 you can know that he is with you 00:33:07.619 --> 00:33:09.000 every moment of the day. 00:33:10.199 --> 00:33:11.299 You can know 00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:13.859 his love and his presence 00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:15.319 and that he will never leave you. 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:18.139 From the youngest age 00:33:18.139 --> 00:33:20.099 until you, 00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.739 to the oldest, 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.619 senior citizens, 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.859 and everyone in between. 00:33:26.639 --> 00:33:28.679 If you're starting to think about 00:33:28.679 --> 00:33:32.939 that you may not have 00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:33.680 that much longer 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:34.360 on this earth, 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:37.779 this hope remains. 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:40.720 You can stake your claim on it. 00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:43.580 At whatever age and stage you are, 00:33:44.120 --> 00:33:44.759 whether you're in the, 00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:45.460 excuse me, 00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:46.240 whether you're in the prime 00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:46.900 of your life 00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:49.519 or whether you're beset 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:51.360 by illness and difficulty, 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:53.460 this hope is what you can 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.900 plant your flag in. 00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:58.720 That you are citizens of heaven. 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:01.240 You belong to your Savior 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:04.059 and that he hears your cries. 00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:06.779 And this is our hope. 00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:07.440 This is the hope 00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:09.039 that will stand the test of time. 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:11.099 If you're discouraged, 00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:12.019 if you're despairing, 00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:12.780 if you're ready to just 00:34:12.780 --> 00:34:14.300 give up and turn around 00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:15.059 and go back, 00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:17.940 remember that the best 00:34:17.940 --> 00:34:18.980 is always yet to come. 00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:21.440 Following Jesus is hard. 00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:23.199 There's no smooth and easy trail 00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:24.260 up to heaven. 00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:26.300 There are always plenty 00:34:26.300 --> 00:34:28.099 of distractions along the way 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:29.539 that can suck away 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:30.639 our time and energy 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:31.639 and focus. 00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.839 And we can get turned around. 00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:36.079 There are detours 00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:37.679 that seem easier, 00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:39.539 that seem more alluring, 00:34:39.819 --> 00:34:40.539 but in the end 00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:41.940 only lead to dead ends. 00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:45.339 The only way onward 00:34:45.339 --> 00:34:45.639 and upward 00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:46.719 is to take up our cross. 00:34:46.799 --> 00:34:47.699 Sometimes it feels like 00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:48.699 clambering up 00:34:48.699 --> 00:34:51.000 slippery rock 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.099 or wading through 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:53.299 a muddy swamp. 00:34:53.300 --> 00:34:57.320 Maybe you want to give up, 00:34:57.680 --> 00:34:58.160 but Paul says 00:34:58.160 --> 00:34:59.160 you're citizens of heaven 00:34:59.160 --> 00:35:00.580 and one day Jesus will come. 00:35:01.560 --> 00:35:02.620 And you have a promise 00:35:02.620 --> 00:35:03.700 from your faithful Savior 00:35:03.700 --> 00:35:04.620 that he will take 00:35:04.620 --> 00:35:05.360 your aching 00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:06.660 and weary 00:35:06.660 --> 00:35:07.620 and weak 00:35:07.620 --> 00:35:08.820 and sinful body 00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.800 and make it glorious 00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:11.000 and strong 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:11.920 and solid 00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.940 and everlasting. 00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.940 And that promise won't change 00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:16.680 no matter how bad you feel, 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:18.000 no matter how bleak 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:18.840 the trail seems, 00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:20.460 no matter how alone you feel. 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:21.900 He will come 00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.700 and rescue you. 00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:24.400 And you will one day 00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:25.140 reach the summit 00:35:25.140 --> 00:35:27.720 where you will see him 00:35:27.720 --> 00:35:28.480 face to face. 00:35:29.140 --> 00:35:30.620 The one who has blazed 00:35:30.620 --> 00:35:32.039 the trail in the first place 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:33.200 through his own death 00:35:33.200 --> 00:35:33.880 and resurrection, 00:35:34.440 --> 00:35:35.519 that he made a trail 00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:36.640 where there was no trail 00:35:36.640 --> 00:35:38.420 and that he sent 00:35:38.420 --> 00:35:39.180 his Holy Spirit 00:35:39.180 --> 00:35:40.480 to accompany you 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:41.640 and strengthen you 00:35:41.640 --> 00:35:42.700 and equip you 00:35:42.700 --> 00:35:44.420 every step of the way. 00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:47.180 He has taken hold of you 00:35:47.180 --> 00:35:49.000 so that you might 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:50.060 take hold of him 00:35:50.060 --> 00:35:51.720 and know and enjoy him 00:35:51.720 --> 00:35:53.180 and become like him 00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:53.579 forever. 00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:57.819 That's the Christian hope. 00:35:59.919 --> 00:36:01.119 If you're not a Christian, 00:36:01.859 --> 00:36:03.019 that's the hope 00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:04.219 that's on offer to you 00:36:04.219 --> 00:36:06.079 through Jesus Christ 00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:07.199 who died for your sins 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:07.960 and rose again 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:08.579 from the dead. 00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:10.980 If you put your trust 00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:11.819 and faith in him, 00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:14.059 you can know this hope too 00:36:14.059 --> 00:36:14.799 and you can begin 00:36:14.799 --> 00:36:15.460 that journey 00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:18.980 of walking with him 00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:21.760 and becoming like him 00:36:21.760 --> 00:36:23.099 by his grace. 00:36:26.039 --> 00:36:27.519 Martin Luther put it this way. 00:36:28.619 --> 00:36:29.000 He said, 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.440 this life, 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:29.780 this life, therefore, 00:36:29.860 --> 00:36:30.619 is not righteousness 00:36:30.619 --> 00:36:31.980 but growth and righteousness, 00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:34.019 not health but healing, 00:36:34.340 --> 00:36:35.599 not being but becoming, 00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:36.940 not rest but exercise. 00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:38.039 We are not yet 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:39.219 what we shall be, 00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:41.559 but we are going toward it. 00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:43.659 The process is not yet finished, 00:36:43.719 --> 00:36:44.880 but it is going on. 00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:45.940 This is not the end, 00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:47.139 but it is the road. 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:49.619 All does not yet gleam in glory, 00:36:49.739 --> 00:36:51.379 but all is being purified. 00:36:51.879 --> 00:36:52.659 Brothers and sisters, 00:36:52.819 --> 00:36:54.000 may we as a church 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:55.699 shine brightly 00:36:55.699 --> 00:36:57.239 with this glorious 00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:59.699 and undiluted hope. 00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:02.579 Let me conclude 00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:04.599 with the words of Augustine 00:37:04.599 --> 00:37:05.539 from his book, 00:37:05.619 --> 00:37:06.400 The City of God, 00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:08.739 talking about the hope 00:37:08.739 --> 00:37:10.000 of eternity that we have. 00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:12.420 He wrote, 00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.259 how great shall be 00:37:13.259 --> 00:37:14.019 that happiness 00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:16.139 which shall be tainted 00:37:16.139 --> 00:37:17.019 with no evil, 00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:19.480 which shall lack no good, 00:37:20.299 --> 00:37:21.679 which shall afford leisure 00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:22.940 for the praises of God 00:37:22.940 --> 00:37:24.539 who shall be all in all. 00:37:25.859 --> 00:37:27.719 True honor shall be there 00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:30.559 in the everlasting city of God, 00:37:31.099 --> 00:37:32.639 for none but the worthy 00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.379 shall be there. 00:37:34.819 --> 00:37:36.159 True peace shall be there 00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:37.299 where no one 00:37:37.299 --> 00:37:38.339 shall suffer opposition 00:37:38.339 --> 00:37:39.440 either from himself 00:37:39.440 --> 00:37:40.379 or any other. 00:37:41.539 --> 00:37:42.440 God himself, 00:37:42.579 --> 00:37:43.759 who is the author of virtue, 00:37:43.879 --> 00:37:45.539 shall there be its reward, 00:37:46.099 --> 00:37:46.799 satisfaction, 00:37:47.139 --> 00:37:48.699 life and health 00:37:48.699 --> 00:37:49.659 and nourishment 00:37:49.659 --> 00:37:50.480 and plenty 00:37:50.480 --> 00:37:51.400 and glory 00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:52.299 and honor 00:37:52.299 --> 00:37:53.159 and peace 00:37:53.159 --> 00:37:54.679 and all good things. 00:37:54.799 --> 00:37:55.819 He shall be the end 00:37:55.819 --> 00:37:56.759 of our desires, 00:37:57.299 --> 00:37:58.259 who shall be seen 00:37:58.259 --> 00:37:59.139 without end, 00:37:59.299 --> 00:38:00.920 loved without satiation, 00:38:01.359 --> 00:38:02.879 praised without weariness. 00:38:03.980 --> 00:38:05.219 There shall be accomplished 00:38:05.219 --> 00:38:06.279 the words of the psalm, 00:38:06.339 --> 00:38:07.519 be still and know 00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:09.119 that I am God. 00:38:09.819 --> 00:38:10.679 For there shall be 00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:11.480 the great Sabbath, 00:38:11.619 --> 00:38:12.539 the great day of rest 00:38:12.539 --> 00:38:13.619 which has no end. 00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:15.039 For we shall ourselves 00:38:15.039 --> 00:38:16.359 be the seventh day 00:38:16.359 --> 00:38:17.699 when we shall be filled 00:38:17.699 --> 00:38:18.420 and replenished 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:19.420 with God's blessing 00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:20.859 and sanctification. 00:38:21.699 --> 00:38:23.659 There we shall rest 00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:24.699 and see, 00:38:25.420 --> 00:38:26.839 see and love, 00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:28.819 love and praise. 00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:30.920 This is what shall be 00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:31.839 in the end 00:38:31.839 --> 00:38:33.559 without end. 00:38:34.279 --> 00:38:36.159 That is the Christian hope 00:38:36.159 --> 00:38:37.799 that overcomes 00:38:37.799 --> 00:38:38.460 discouragement 00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:39.239 and despair. 00:38:39.239 --> 00:38:40.739 And it's the strongest 00:38:40.739 --> 00:38:42.079 reason of all 00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:43.839 why we can press on 00:38:43.839 --> 00:38:44.939 in this new year 00:38:44.939 --> 00:38:47.159 toward knowing Christ 00:38:47.159 --> 00:38:47.699 more deeply 00:38:47.699 --> 00:38:48.779 and becoming like him 00:38:48.779 --> 00:38:49.399 more completely. 00:38:51.739 --> 00:38:52.439 Let's pray. 00:38:58.779 --> 00:38:59.879 Our God and Father, 00:38:59.959 --> 00:39:00.639 we thank you 00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:02.859 for this upward call 00:39:02.859 --> 00:39:04.539 that we have 00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:05.379 in Jesus Christ, 00:39:05.559 --> 00:39:07.000 that you have called us 00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:08.019 into this journey 00:39:08.019 --> 00:39:08.900 together. 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:10.920 With you, 00:39:11.099 --> 00:39:11.619 our Savior, 00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:13.320 with one another 00:39:13.320 --> 00:39:14.440 as brothers and sisters, 00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:15.219 we pray 00:39:15.219 --> 00:39:16.460 that we would 00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:17.980 press on 00:39:17.980 --> 00:39:19.539 toward the goal 00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:22.119 of knowing Christ, 00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:25.059 of becoming like Christ. 00:39:25.639 --> 00:39:26.900 We pray that you would 00:39:26.900 --> 00:39:28.820 strengthen us 00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:30.259 to resist distractions, 00:39:31.259 --> 00:39:32.780 but keep our focus 00:39:32.780 --> 00:39:33.320 on you 00:39:33.320 --> 00:39:35.900 to resist detours 00:39:35.900 --> 00:39:37.860 that only lead 00:39:37.860 --> 00:39:38.619 to dead ends. 00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:39.700 Lord, 00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:40.660 give us strength 00:39:40.660 --> 00:39:41.420 to walk in the way 00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:42.039 of the cross 00:39:42.039 --> 00:39:44.639 and defend us 00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:45.860 from discouragement 00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.480 and despair. 00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:47.079 Lord, 00:39:47.160 --> 00:39:47.800 give us 00:39:47.800 --> 00:39:50.079 this everlasting hope, 00:39:50.740 --> 00:39:51.880 this secure hope 00:39:51.880 --> 00:39:54.019 that is from you. 00:39:57.860 --> 00:39:58.639 We pray 00:39:58.639 --> 00:39:59.579 all these things 00:39:59.579 --> 00:40:00.240 in Jesus' name. 00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:01.119 Amen. 00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:01.240 Amen. 00:40:01.240 --> 00:40:01.300 Amen.