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 The following sermon is made available by Lakeside Bible Church in Cornelius, North Carolina.

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 I want to invite you to take your Bibles and turn to Philippians chapter 1 with me.

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 Philippians chapter 1.

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 The opening verses of the book of Philippians provide for us a preview of what will be the major thematic elements of the entire letter.

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 The book is often characterized as the epistle of joy, and that certainly could be true.

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 There's 18 different times throughout Paul's letter to the Philippian church, he uses the word joy or rejoice, 18 different times.

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 There's no doubt that he meant for joy to be a common theme throughout the book.

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 In fact, he probably meant it not just to be a comfort to them, but as you study through the book of Philippians,

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 you'll see that the context of joy with which Paul speaks from is almost in a way of exhortation.

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 That it's not just that they can experience joy, but he exhorts them to do the things that are necessary in order to have the true joy of the Lord.

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 It certainly is a dominant theme throughout the book.

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 But I think if we were to reduce the book of Philippians to a simple discussion of Christian joy,

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 I think that that would be a mistake for us, actually.

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 I think what we'll discover as we study these first 11 verses of the book,

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 and as it sets the tone and lays the foundation for the rest of the letter for us,

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 I think we'll discover that while joy is prominent, there are actually a few other perhaps greater, even deeper themes that run throughout the book.

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 Namely, the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ,

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 the fact that God continues an ongoing process of work through the scriptures,

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 through his spirit in the lives of those that believe,

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 and then this gospel partnership that we're going to deal with today,

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 that God provides for us in the church,

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 and in fellowship, and in friendship, and in partnership with other believers.

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 I think what you'll find as you study the book,

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 and certainly as we discover this together on Sundays,

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 that more common than joy are these themes of gospel,

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 and what God does through the gospel,

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 and what he gives us in partnership in the gospel with other believers.

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 And then running alongside of that as we study the book is this dominant element of joy.

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 Well, these first 11 verses contain Paul's opening greeting

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 to what some people consider to be his favorite congregation in the New Testament.

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 As we read it in just a moment,

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 you'll discover, maybe even look for intentionally,

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 a particular warmth and affection

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 that Paul feels for the people to which he's writing.

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 He communicates an endearing love for them,

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 a thankfulness for their partnership in the gospel,

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 as he refers to it in verse number five.

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 And it becomes clear that this is a heartfelt expression of a pastor to his people.

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 And so in my own study this week,

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 as we prepared to look at it together today,

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 I can't help but understand Paul's heart in that.

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 That as he writes this prayer of thanksgiving,

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 and as he expresses this love and this joy that he has found actually in the Philippian church,

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 and as he makes this prayer for them,

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 this ongoing prayer that he prays on their behalf,

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 we see his pastoral heart,

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 and it actually shows as a conviction to me as your pastor,

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 as someone that wants to be thankful for you

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 in the way that Paul was thankful for his people,

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 that wants to love you in the way that Paul loved them,

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 that wants to pray for you in the same way that Paul prayed for the Philippian church.

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 Let's read it together, starting at verse number one.

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 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ,

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 to all the saints in Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi,

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 with the elders and deacons,

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 grace be unto you and peace from God our Father

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 and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

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 always in every prayer of mine for you all,

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 making requests with joy

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 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.

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 And I am confident of this very thing,

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 that he which hath begun a good work in you

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 will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

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 Even as it is meet or right is what that means.

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 It is right for me to think this of you all

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 because I have you in my heart.

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 Inasmuch as both in my bonds

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 and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel,

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 you are partakers of my grace.

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 For God is my witness, my record.

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 How greatly I long after you

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 in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

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 And this I pray,

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 that your love may abound yet more and more

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 in knowledge and in all judgment,

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 that you may approve things that are excellent,

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 that you may be sincere and without offense

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 till the day of Christ,

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 being filled with the fruits of righteousness,

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 which are by Jesus Christ,

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 unto the glory and praise of God.

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 The first thing that we notice,

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 if you're keeping notes as we go along

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 through our lesson today or our message today,

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 the first thing that you'd wanna write down

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 is Paul's joyful thanksgiving.

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 Paul's joyful thanksgiving.

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 We see this in verses three through six.

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 Let's read them together again.

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 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

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 always in every prayer of mine for you all,

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 making my request, making my prayer with joy.

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 And this is the root and the ground

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 of this prayer and this thanksgiving that he's making.

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 It's as a result of your fellowship

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 or partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

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 being confident of this very thing,

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 that he which hath begun a good work in you

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 will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

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 Reminiscing from his jail cell in Rome,

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 Paul writes this greeting to the Philippian believers

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 and he opens here with a specific prayer

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 of thanksgiving for them.

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 Verse number four gives us actually the first

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 of 18 mentions of joy that we'll find in the letter.

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 And the joy that Paul has experienced

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 in this particular prayer in verse number four

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 is a direct result of his remembrance of his people.

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 Have you ever loved someone so much

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 or cared for someone so much

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 that every time you thought of them,

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 what came to your heart was joy?

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 We don't actually often experience that

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 in the same way, right?

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 Did you pick up on the words that Paul used here?

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 Always, in every prayer, making my request with joy.

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 There's a uniqueness to Paul's greeting here.

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 As he offers this thanksgiving,

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 thinking of even the place that he writes this greeting from,

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 as you study the book of Acts

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 and you study the tradition of Christianity

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 and church history, you understand that

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 Paul is at closing in on the tail end

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 of a particular imprisonment in Rome.

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 He's appealed at this point his case to Caesar himself

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 and we'll discover that as we study the book of Philippians

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 just a little bit further,

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 how that even people within Caesar's household

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 have become believers as a result of Paul's witness

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 from his jail cell, from this imprisonment

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 that he had in Rome.

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 Church history tells us that after this particular imprisonment,

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 he actually is released from imprisonment

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 before he goes back a number of years later

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 and is actually beheaded for his faith.

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 But where he finds himself at this particular moment

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 writing to these Philippian believers

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 is under 24-hour surveillance.

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 He's chained to a Roman guard

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 and they would take turns, particular watches

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 where every day there would be different Roman soldiers

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 that would come in

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 and they would be physically chained to Paul.

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 It was humiliating for him, there's no doubt.

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 But even in the midst of that,

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 what he writes to these Philippian believers

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 is his thoughts of joy towards them.

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 And as you study the remainder of the letter,

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 you'll see that even despite his circumstances,

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 that's where this joy is rooted

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 that no matter what's going on in his life,

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 even in the midst of a prison cell,

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 when he's awaiting what could be his death

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 and would eventually be his death,

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 he writes with such joy and such warmth

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 and such affection.

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 Well, what is this joy really about?

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 What is this thanksgiving about for him in this passage?

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 Kent Hughes wrote this,

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 Paul rarely thanked God for things.

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 Paul thanked God for people

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 who despite whatever trouble they may have been to him,

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 remained a source of joy and thanksgiving.

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 That really stands in contrast to the way

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 that we look at thanksgiving, right?

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 Perhaps this week, even in the thanksgiving holiday,

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 you had a moment like our family does

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 where we'll at least take a few moments

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 or whether it's around the dinner table,

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 usually it's led by my dad

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 when we're with my parents on Thanksgiving.

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 And he just begins to talk about the ways

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 that God has been good to him.

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 And we go through a whole list of things

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 like you probably did this week too.

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 Hopefully you did this week.

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 And we talk about all the tangible things.

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 We talk about the successes that the Lord has brought.

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 We talk about the physical blessings

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 that the Lord has brought.

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 But my dad always gets to a point

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 where he begins to thank God more for the people

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 that God has brought into his life

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 than he actually does the things

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 that God has blessed in his life.

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 And that's really the idea

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 and the picture that we get of Paul.

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 Of course he was thankful for things.

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 Of course he was thankful for the benefits

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 and the blessings that God brought.

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 But most often he was thankful for the people

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 that God had put in his life.

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 And that's the reflection that he gives us

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 here just now in Philippians chapter one.

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 There's two particular notes of this Thanksgiving

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 that I think would be worth you making.

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 The first thing that we notice

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 is that he was thankful

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 for their partnership in the gospel.

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 He was thankful for their partnership in the gospel.

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 Look with me again at verse number five.

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 For your fellowship in the gospel

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 from the first day until now.

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 That word fellowship is koinonia in the Greek.

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 It's translated various ways

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 throughout the New Testament.

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 We'll look at a couple of them today.

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 But it really means partnership.

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 When he thought and he had this memory

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 of the church in Philippi,

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 what he thought first and foremost

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 was the way that they had partnered with him

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 underneath the banner of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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 Well, what was it that he thought about

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 as he went through?

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 There could have been a number of things

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 that he thought about,

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 but the Bible does actually give us a glimpse

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 into a number of things that it could have been.

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 Think back to Acts chapter 16.

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 Acts chapter 16 tells us the story

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 of how Paul and Silas and Timothy and Luke

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 started the church in Philippi.

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 They had made this journey there

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 and on their first Sabbath day

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 as they made their way out to the riverbank,

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 they found a group of women that were praying there.

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 And as a result of the preaching of the gospel,

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 a successful businesswoman named Lydia was saved.

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 As you study Acts 16,

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 you'll see not only was Lydia saved,

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 but she was on fire for the Lord at this point.

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 Her house became the place

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 where the missionary team lived

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 and we believe that her house also became the location

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 for the meeting place of the church.

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 Perhaps when Paul's writing,

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 I thank my God on every remembrance of you,

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 maybe he's thinking about Lydia

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 and the times and the effort and the expense

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 that she put into this gospel ministry in Philippi.

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 Maybe he thought about that slave girl

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 that we studied in Acts 16.

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 She was demon possessed.

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 She was being abused by her masters.

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 God empowered Paul to cast out this demon

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 and presumably she became a believer in that moment.

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 And he was able to witness

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 not only this life change for her physically,

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 but he was able to witness

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 the radical change of her eternity

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 as she believed in the gospel in that moment.

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 Maybe it was her that he thought about.

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 Maybe it was the Philippian jailer

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 that we're all familiar with, right?

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 Because of his work in the gospel

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 and the conversion of that slave girl,

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 Paul and Silas, as you study the chapter,

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 were stripped naked in front of the whole city.

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 They were beaten nearly to death.

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 They were cast into the innermost part of the prison

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 and they were held fast in the stocks,

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 awaiting what probably they thought

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 would be their execution the next day.

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 And that night, instead of complaining,

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 they sang praises to the Lord.

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 You remember what happened?

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 God sends an earthquake.

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 And then this Philippian jailer comes in

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 and his question is,

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 what do I have to do to be saved?

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 What do I have to do to experience this joy

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 that you've experienced tonight in this prison?

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 Perhaps as he's writing verse three,

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 that I thank God upon every remembrance of you,

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 maybe it's Lydia, maybe it's the slave girl,

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 maybe it's the Philippian jailer,

00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:41.879
 maybe it was all of them.

00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:44.899
 Maybe he was thinking back to what he wrote

00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:46.639
 in 2 Corinthians chapter eight.

00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:47.879
 In fact, why don't you flip there for me,

00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:49.279
 just a few pages to the left.

00:13:49.959 --> 00:13:51.419
 2 Corinthians chapter eight,

00:13:52.079 --> 00:13:53.139
 the first five verses,

00:13:54.079 --> 00:13:56.399
 Paul writing to the church of Corinth

00:13:56.399 --> 00:14:00.239
 references this church of Philippi in Macedonia

00:14:00.239 --> 00:14:01.779
 and something that they had done for him.

00:14:02.739 --> 00:14:03.579
 Verse number one,

00:14:03.659 --> 00:14:04.459
 moreover brethren,

00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:07.659
 we do you to wit of the grace of God

00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:09.500
 bestowed on the churches of Macedonia.

00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:11.179
 That's the church at Philippi.

00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:14.320
 How that in a great trial of affliction,

00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:17.320
 the abundance of their joy

00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:19.279
 and their deep poverty

00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:21.960
 abounded unto the riches of their generosity.

00:14:22.820 --> 00:14:24.860
 For to their power, I bear record,

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.740
 yea, and beyond their power,

00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:28.000
 they were willing of themselves,

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:30.980
 praying us with much entreaty

00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:32.600
 that we would receive a gift

00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:34.419
 and take upon us,

00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:35.440
 here's that word again,

00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:39.260
 the fellowship of the ministering to the saints,

00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:41.740
 the partnership of the gospel.

00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:44.640
 And this they did not as we had hoped,

00:14:44.760 --> 00:14:46.600
 but first gave their own selves to the Lord

00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:48.740
 and unto us by the will of God.

00:14:49.760 --> 00:14:50.680
 They gave generously.

00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:53.940
 Some point in Paul's missionary journeys,

00:14:54.520 --> 00:14:56.360
 this church had developed a burden

00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:57.860
 for what he was doing for the gospel

00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:59.560
 and even out of their deep poverty,

00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:00.780
 sacrificially,

00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:02.559
 they gave of themselves

00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:04.500
 in order that the work of the gospel

00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:06.319
 could be supported all across the world.

00:15:06.459 --> 00:15:07.899
 We do that in our missions giving.

00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.600
 In the way that we give

00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.600
 for particular outreach efforts

00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:13.139
 here in our community in Cornelius,

00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:14.679
 as we look to missionaries

00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:15.819
 that maybe from time to time

00:15:15.819 --> 00:15:17.860
 would come in and present their works.

00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:19.480
 When we look to things like

00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:20.899
 Marty and Fay are involved with,

00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:22.579
 with getting Bibles all across the world.

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:24.000
 When we look to all of these things,

00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:25.539
 that's our partnership together.

00:15:26.419 --> 00:15:27.240
 This church,

00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:28.500
 when Paul thought about them,

00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:31.360
 maybe reflected on how even in their poverty,

00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:34.019
 when they had every reason in the world

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:36.460
 to say no to an extra offering,

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:37.899
 gave of themselves

00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:39.700
 in order that they could fellowship

00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:41.159
 with the ministering of the saints,

00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:43.419
 partner with Paul in the gospel.

00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.720
 And as he writes in verse three,

00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:47.019
 I thank God on every remembrance of you.

00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:48.919
 He's thinking back to the conversions

00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:51.139
 that he experienced in Acts chapter 16

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:53.820
 and then maybe to the particular sacrifice

00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:56.539
 and partnership in financial giving

00:15:56.539 --> 00:15:58.440
 in 2 Corinthians chapter eight.

00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:00.320
 And then back in Philippians,

00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:02.059
 if you just flip over to chapter four,

00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:04.200
 we see another glimpse of this

00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:06.460
 in verses 15 and 16.

00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:09.200
 On another occasion,

00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:11.340
 Paul is referencing here,

00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:13.059
 now you Philippians know also

00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:15.059
 that in the beginning of the gospel,

00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.740
 when I departed from Macedonia,

00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:19.279
 that is when he first left after Acts 16,

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:22.399
 no church communicated with me

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:24.320
 as concerning giving and receiving,

00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:25.279
 but you only.

00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:27.240
 For even in Thessalonica,

00:16:27.339 --> 00:16:29.319
 you sent once and again unto my necessity.

00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.819
 Again, verse 15,

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:31.839
 the word communicated,

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:33.039
 same word,

00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.299
 koinonia,

00:16:34.939 --> 00:16:35.819
 partnership.

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:39.159
 When Paul thought about this people,

00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:40.959
 what he thought about

00:16:40.959 --> 00:16:42.159
 was partnership.

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:45.339
 These people have been there for me.

00:16:45.959 --> 00:16:47.139
 They have helped me.

00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:48.679
 They have helped the gospel.

00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:50.839
 It's not just me that they care for.

00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:52.739
 It's the work of the gospel

00:16:52.739 --> 00:16:53.779
 that they care for.

00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:55.319
 And as he reflected on them,

00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.959
 this became an outpouring

00:16:56.959 --> 00:16:58.319
 of thanksgiving to God

00:16:58.319 --> 00:16:59.039
 on their behalf,

00:16:59.179 --> 00:17:00.899
 that as he remembered these people,

00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:02.399
 he thought to stop

00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.399
 and thank the Lord,

00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.679
 thank you for these people

00:17:04.679 --> 00:17:06.079
 that have partnered with me

00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.179
 in the gospel.

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.639
 And I read that

00:17:09.639 --> 00:17:10.859
 and I consider the testimony

00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:11.960
 of these Philippian people

00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:13.679
 and I ask myself the question,

00:17:13.919 --> 00:17:15.559
 if I was in the Philippian church

00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:16.319
 or if I was a part

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:17.179
 of one of these other churches

00:17:17.179 --> 00:17:18.179
 that Paul had started,

00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:19.740
 would he think on me

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:21.159
 with the same kind of thanksgiving?

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:25.779
 Would Paul be thankful for Jared

00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:26.960
 because of his partnership

00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:28.159
 in the gospel?

00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:31.179
 Maybe he'd be thankful for friendship

00:17:31.179 --> 00:17:32.599
 or maybe he would be thankful

00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:34.519
 for a number of things,

00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:36.099
 but would he be thankful

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:37.619
 that I partnered with him

00:17:37.619 --> 00:17:38.179
 in the gospel?

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.960
 That's a challenge to us.

00:17:41.399 --> 00:17:42.519
 How's your partnership

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.299
 in the gospel?

00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:46.460
 We commit our lives

00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.599
 to all kinds of partnerships

00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.339
 all the time.

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:50.319
 Good partnerships,

00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:52.259
 partnerships with our spouses,

00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:55.639
 partnerships with our coworkers,

00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:58.879
 partnerships that we jump into

00:17:58.879 --> 00:18:00.200
 with particular hobbies

00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:01.319
 and with particular things.

00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.960
 We fill our lives

00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.200
 with partnerships,

00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.000
 with endeavors,

00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:05.940
 with fellowships

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.799
 and various things.

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:09.059
 Where does your partnership

00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.039
 in the gospel

00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:11.879
 fit on your list of priorities?

00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:15.040
 I know that it's a priority

00:18:15.040 --> 00:18:15.580
 in some sense.

00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:16.200
 You're here today.

00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:18.100
 You're here for church

00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:19.380
 on the fourth week

00:18:19.380 --> 00:18:20.280
 of a baby church

00:18:20.280 --> 00:18:22.120
 in an elementary school gym.

00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:23.120
 There's a partnership

00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:23.780
 in the gospel

00:18:23.780 --> 00:18:24.840
 that you have here today,

00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:25.720
 even those of you

00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.420
 that are guests with us

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.380
 and friendships that we have.

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:29.180
 There's a partnership here,

00:18:29.300 --> 00:18:30.440
 but where does that partnership

00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.560
 in your mind

00:18:31.560 --> 00:18:33.500
 stack on your list of priorities?

00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:37.440
 Would you give sacrificially

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.240
 to a family member

00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:40.880
 when they had a need?

00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:42.279
 Most likely, yeah.

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:44.559
 Would you give sacrificially

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.019
 to the work of the gospel

00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:46.799
 when it has a need?

00:18:47.820 --> 00:18:48.620
 I hope so.

00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.320
 Would you drop everything

00:18:51.320 --> 00:18:51.980
 that you're doing

00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:53.080
 in order to help somebody

00:18:53.080 --> 00:18:53.640
 that you love

00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:54.160
 or a friend

00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:55.799
 that you've grown close to?

00:18:56.120 --> 00:18:57.220
 Probably, yeah.

00:18:58.120 --> 00:18:59.180
 Would you drop everything

00:18:59.180 --> 00:18:59.620
 you're doing

00:18:59.620 --> 00:19:00.880
 in order to meet a need

00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:01.880
 and share the gospel

00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:02.640
 with somebody,

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.960
 even though it's going

00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.440
 to take away

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:05.100
 from something else

00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:06.360
 that you're interested in?

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:07.379
 When Paul wrote

00:19:07.379 --> 00:19:07.839
 to these people

00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.799
 when he thought about them,

00:19:08.959 --> 00:19:10.019
 it was their partnership

00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:11.059
 in the gospel

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:12.639
 that resounded

00:19:12.639 --> 00:19:13.699
 in his heart and his mind

00:19:13.699 --> 00:19:14.399
 and it became

00:19:14.399 --> 00:19:15.359
 an outbursting

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:17.219
 of thanksgiving for them.

00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.679
 But it wasn't just

00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:19.459
 their partnership

00:19:19.459 --> 00:19:20.219
 in the gospel

00:19:20.219 --> 00:19:21.319
 that he was thankful for.

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.559
 Secondly,

00:19:23.179 --> 00:19:24.579
 he was thankful

00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:25.779
 because he acknowledged

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.979
 the true source

00:19:26.979 --> 00:19:28.099
 of their partnership.

00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.679
 He acknowledged

00:19:29.679 --> 00:19:30.500
 the true source

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.219
 of their partnership.

00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:32.539
 Look with me

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:34.000
 at verse six.

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:36.680
 being confident

00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:37.440
 of this very thing

00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.500
 or I am sure

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.759
 of this very thing,

00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:40.420
 Paul says,

00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.819
 that he,

00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:42.559
 being God,

00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:43.359
 that has begun

00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.539
 a good work in you

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.819
 will perform it

00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.799
 until the day

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.700
 of Jesus Christ.

00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:51.119
 That phrase,

00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:52.420
 will perform it,

00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:53.259
 it means will bring

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.960
 to completion,

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.240
 that he'll finish it.

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.660
 That the work

00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.779
 that God had started

00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:58.900
 in the hearts

00:19:58.900 --> 00:19:59.660
 and in the lives

00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.779
 of these Philippian believers,

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.899
 that he would never

00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:02.960
 stop that work

00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.259
 until that work was done.

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.519
 Paul was confident

00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:05.940
 of that.

00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.579
 So look at the verses again.

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.879
 He opens in verse three.

00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.279
 I thank my God.

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:10.859
 Did you notice

00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.359
 who he thanked?

00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:13.319
 It's significant here.

00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.160
 When he thought

00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:16.420
 about these Philippian believers,

00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:18.539
 the direction

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.480
 of his thanksgiving

00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.539
 wasn't to them.

00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:21.839
 Of course,

00:20:21.879 --> 00:20:22.940
 he was thankful for them.

00:20:23.139 --> 00:20:24.160
 Just like we're thankful

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:24.779
 for one another,

00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:25.220
 we're thankful

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.779
 for other people

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.119
 in our lives.

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.220
 But it wasn't just

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.759
 directed to them,

00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:29.359
 his thanksgiving.

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.699
 It was directed to God.

00:20:30.959 --> 00:20:31.539
 He understood

00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.259
 in that moment,

00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:33.419
 as I give thanks,

00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:34.579
 I'm thanking God

00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.419
 because I understand

00:20:35.419 --> 00:20:36.819
 the source of this partnership

00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:37.740
 is not rooted

00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:39.099
 in your love for me

00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:40.000
 and it's not rooted

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.039
 in my love for you.

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.500
 The source of this partnership

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.059
 is rooted

00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:43.679
 in the gospel

00:20:43.679 --> 00:20:44.559
 of Jesus Christ.

00:20:45.199 --> 00:20:46.219
 I thank God

00:20:46.219 --> 00:20:47.319
 because he has begun

00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.539
 this work in us

00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.379
 in salvation.

00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:50.699
 For those of us

00:20:50.699 --> 00:20:51.459
 that have believed,

00:20:51.639 --> 00:20:52.659
 God has begun

00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:54.000
 this work in your heart.

00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:54.819
 And then what

00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:56.479
 encouragement we get.

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:58.159
 As we read in verse six

00:20:58.159 --> 00:20:58.899
 and Paul says,

00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.800
 and I'm convinced

00:20:59.800 --> 00:21:00.519
 of this,

00:21:01.280 --> 00:21:02.180
 that the God

00:21:02.180 --> 00:21:02.940
 that has begun

00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.500
 this work

00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:04.320
 will finish

00:21:04.320 --> 00:21:05.440
 this work in you.

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.400
 And that again

00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:08.500
 became an outpouring

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.300
 of thanksgiving.

00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:10.000
 I'm thankful

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.920
 for your partnership

00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.060
 but even more

00:21:12.060 --> 00:21:12.840
 than the partnership,

00:21:13.040 --> 00:21:13.580
 I'm thankful

00:21:13.580 --> 00:21:14.380
 for the God

00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:15.920
 that has sourced it,

00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:16.759
 for the God

00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:18.060
 that has provided it.

00:21:18.800 --> 00:21:20.000
 We take great comfort

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:20.780
 in this verse.

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:23.040
 Do you ever have moments

00:21:23.040 --> 00:21:24.420
 of doubt

00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.160
 in your walk

00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:25.660
 with Christ?

00:21:26.800 --> 00:21:27.440
 Of course.

00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:28.740
 We all do,

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.200
 right?

00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.539
 Do you ever struggle

00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.299
 so much

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.720
 with sinfulness

00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:34.440
 and your own

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.900
 fleshly desires

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.680
 in your life

00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.779
 that you wonder,

00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.840
 have I ever really

00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:40.279
 got a hold of this?

00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:41.160
 Can God really

00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:42.100
 continue on

00:21:42.100 --> 00:21:42.779
 working in me

00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.299
 in this way?

00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:44.080
 I keep falling

00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:45.120
 over and over again.

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:46.200
 I'm not as committed

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:47.259
 as this person is

00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.200
 or I can't seem

00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:48.759
 to get victory

00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.539
 in this area

00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:51.039
 or whatever it is.

00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:52.740
 Can I encourage you

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.700
 with verse number six?

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:56.680
 that he that has begun

00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:57.620
 a good work in you,

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:59.539
 he will finish that work.

00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:02.019
 He will bring it

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.640
 to completion.

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.000
 Jesus said,

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.019
 all that come to me

00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.940
 I will in no wise

00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.539
 cast out.

00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.299
 There's going to be days

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:09.960
 that you don't feel

00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:11.059
 particularly saved.

00:22:12.340 --> 00:22:12.980
 Have days

00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:14.160
 like that.

00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:15.340
 Days

00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:16.480
 to be transparent

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.100
 with you

00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:18.640
 that I follow my face

00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.880
 and beg God

00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:21.539
 to change my heart,

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:23.240
 to change the way

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:24.000
 that I think.

00:22:25.659 --> 00:22:26.460
 And I come back

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.420
 to verses like this

00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:28.259
 and I take comfort

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.920
 in the fact

00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:32.839
 that my Christian life,

00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.480
 the very fact

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.200
 that I'm a Christian

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.559
 has nothing to do

00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:36.940
 with me.

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.779
 It has everything

00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:39.319
 to do

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.740
 with God's power

00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:41.420
 in my life.

00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:43.319
 Paul recognized that

00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:44.240
 and it caused him

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.379
 to offer thanksgiving

00:22:45.379 --> 00:22:46.039
 to the Lord.

00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.259
 We can be thankful

00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:47.859
 for that.

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.659
 Thankful for one another

00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:50.659
 that as we see

00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:51.460
 each other's lives

00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.100
 that we're thankful

00:22:52.100 --> 00:22:53.079
 that God has promised

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:54.319
 he will continue this work.

00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:55.759
 Thankful that

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.819
 on our worst days

00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:57.440
 as believers

00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.500
 we can stop

00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.579
 and have joy

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:01.319
 not because our circumstances

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:01.900
 are great

00:23:01.900 --> 00:23:03.160
 or that we've gotten victory

00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:03.840
 over a particular

00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:04.660
 besetting sin

00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:05.600
 but we can stop

00:23:05.600 --> 00:23:06.620
 even in the midst of that

00:23:06.620 --> 00:23:07.640
 and we can have joy

00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:08.700
 because we understand

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:10.000
 that God will not

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.860
 let me go.

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.440
 That because

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.360
 he has done

00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:14.460
 this work of salvation

00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.720
 he will bring

00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.740
 this work of salvation

00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:17.519
 to completion

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.519
 at the day

00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.279
 of Jesus Christ.

00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.420
 When Jesus returns

00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:21.920
 or when we die

00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.660
 and go to heaven.

00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:24.860
 Well not only do we see

00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:26.840
 Paul's joyful thanksgiving

00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:27.420
 but secondly

00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.519
 we see Paul's

00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:29.620
 supernatural love.

00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:31.180
 We see his

00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:32.620
 supernatural love.

00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.380
 This is in verses

00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:35.000
 seven and eight.

00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:36.539
 They express

00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:37.920
 a very warm affection

00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:39.400
 for the people here.

00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.300
 Let's look at them together.

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.840
 It's right for me

00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:43.000
 to think this of you all

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:44.440
 because I have you

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.120
 in my heart

00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:46.979
 in as much

00:23:46.979 --> 00:23:48.079
 as both in my bonds

00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:49.399
 that is in the suffering

00:23:49.399 --> 00:23:50.519
 that he was experiencing

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.519
 and also

00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.579
 as they defended

00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:53.859
 and confirmed the gospel.

00:23:54.239 --> 00:23:55.139
 They were partakers.

00:23:55.479 --> 00:23:55.759
 Again

00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.500
 koinonia

00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.739
 same word

00:23:57.739 --> 00:23:59.319
 partners with him

00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:01.159
 in the gospel

00:24:01.159 --> 00:24:02.659
 in his grace.

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.459
 For God

00:24:04.459 --> 00:24:05.139
 is my witness

00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:05.739
 he says.

00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:06.939
 How greatly

00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:07.919
 I long for you

00:24:07.919 --> 00:24:09.199
 I yearn for you

00:24:09.199 --> 00:24:10.839
 in all the bowels

00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:12.039
 of Jesus Christ.

00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:12.500
 If you're using

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.099
 a King James

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:14.059
 that's a weird word.

00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:17.119
 In this particular context

00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.500
 it means

00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.659
 the seat of the emotions.

00:24:19.459 --> 00:24:20.319
 It's a reference

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.659
 to affection.

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:24.179
 Paul's saying here

00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:25.199
 I love you

00:24:25.199 --> 00:24:26.179
 and God is my witness

00:24:26.179 --> 00:24:27.339
 and I yearn after you

00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.359
 with the same affection

00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:29.399
 that Jesus Christ

00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:30.480
 yearns after you

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.299
 and loves you.

00:24:31.719 --> 00:24:33.099
 It's because of his love

00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:34.000
 that I love you

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.819
 and it's in that way

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.759
 that I desire

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:37.480
 to love you.

00:24:38.699 --> 00:24:39.480
 Jesus said

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.919
 that our love

00:24:39.919 --> 00:24:40.480
 for one another

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.199
 would be an evidence

00:24:41.199 --> 00:24:43.079
 of our genuine salvation.

00:24:43.939 --> 00:24:44.359
 Do you remember that

00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:45.139
 in John 13?

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:47.039
 By this shall all men

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.639
 know that you are

00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:48.299
 my disciples

00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:49.859
 if you have love

00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:51.119
 one to another.

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.699
 Paul in another letter

00:24:53.699 --> 00:24:55.000
 to the Corinthian church

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:56.819
 1 Corinthians chapter 13

00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:58.399
 expressed the nature

00:24:58.399 --> 00:24:59.219
 and the superiority

00:24:59.219 --> 00:25:00.379
 of Christian love.

00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.240
 Maybe some of you

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.240
 have this as a picture

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.719
 in your house somewhere.

00:25:04.879 --> 00:25:05.740
 Love is patient

00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.399
 and kind.

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.859
 It does not envy

00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:08.459
 or boast.

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.519
 It's not arrogant

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.179
 or rude.

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:11.539
 It does not insist

00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.459
 on its own way.

00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:14.259
 It's not irritable

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:15.199
 or resentful.

00:25:16.139 --> 00:25:16.980
 It doesn't rejoice

00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.779
 in wrongdoing

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.539
 but rejoices

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.639
 in the truth.

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.879
 Love bears all things.

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.159
 It believes all things.

00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:23.519
 It hopes all things.

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:25.179
 It endures all things.

00:25:25.639 --> 00:25:26.619
 The scriptures teach us

00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:27.539
 that love is the

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:29.199
 greatest of Christian virtues

00:25:29.199 --> 00:25:30.539
 and here Paul is expressing

00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.439
 that love that he had

00:25:31.439 --> 00:25:32.939
 for the Philippian believers.

00:25:34.219 --> 00:25:35.579
 And I think it's a particular

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.679
 example for us.

00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:39.539
 An example of three ways

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.659
 that we can actually

00:25:40.659 --> 00:25:42.519
 exhibit this same love

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.399
 for one another

00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:44.519
 at Lakeside Bible Church.

00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:45.519
 The first way is this.

00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:47.200
 His love was born

00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:48.579
 out of personal relationships.

00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:50.299
 His love was born

00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:52.019
 out of personal relationships.

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:52.980
 Look at verse 7.

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.159
 It's right for me

00:25:55.159 --> 00:25:56.339
 to think this of you all,

00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.659
 to have this feeling

00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:58.379
 for you all

00:25:58.379 --> 00:26:00.019
 because I have you

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:01.480
 in my heart.

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.539
 It's an interesting,

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:05.740
 affectionate phrase

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.659
 that he has here.

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:09.240
 He holds them dearly

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.300
 in his heart.

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.779
 But you cannot hold

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.920
 someone dear to your heart

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.640
 that you have not

00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.960
 taken the time to know

00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.320
 and understand

00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:18.180
 in time spent together.

00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:19.800
 A number of us

00:26:19.800 --> 00:26:21.180
 went to a wedding

00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:22.100
 of a mutual friend

00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:24.000
 last night in Locust.

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.960
 And it reminded me

00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:27.240
 of this kind of love.

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.740
 Caroline and David

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.100
 were married.

00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:30.820
 Many of you know them.

00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:32.820
 Caroline and David

00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:34.279
 were both teenagers

00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:35.480
 of mine in a youth group

00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:37.400
 at Laurel

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.519
 for years and years

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:38.819
 and years.

00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.480
 I've known Caroline

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.360
 since she was probably

00:26:40.360 --> 00:26:41.180
 10 years old,

00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.099
 9 or 10 years old.

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.440
 Last night she got married

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.299
 and that made me

00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.120
 feel a little bit old.

00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.599
 But I remember

00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.680
 watching their relationship.

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.200
 I remember when they

00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:50.059
 first started dating.

00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.539
 They started dating at church.

00:26:51.620 --> 00:26:52.200
 Maybe some of you

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.160
 started dating at church.

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.759
 That's where you met

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.299
 your spouse.

00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:56.000
 And I remember seeing them

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.839
 as they progressed

00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:57.839
 through this relationship

00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:58.980
 and as they developed

00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:00.140
 and this love

00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:00.420
 in their,

00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:01.220
 and for one another,

00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:01.900
 blossomed

00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:03.140
 in their relationship.

00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:04.579
 That only blossomed

00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:05.639
 because they were committed

00:27:05.639 --> 00:27:06.319
 to one another

00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.519
 in personal relationship,

00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:07.819
 right?

00:27:07.919 --> 00:27:08.659
 That's where it started.

00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:10.439
 The love began

00:27:10.439 --> 00:27:11.639
 to blossom in the early days

00:27:11.639 --> 00:27:12.379
 because at some point

00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.460
 they spent time together.

00:27:13.879 --> 00:27:15.799
 And it began to grow

00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.519
 and continue

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.519
 in love for one another

00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:18.199
 because they spent

00:27:18.199 --> 00:27:19.159
 more time together.

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:20.039
 And then it blossomed

00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:21.279
 into what has been

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.220
 now a covenant

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:24.359
 of lifelong marriage

00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:24.859
 with one another

00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:26.319
 because they grew

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:28.059
 in this fellowship together.

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:30.000
 How can we have

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.619
 this same love

00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.319
 for one another

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.500
 that Paul had

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.579
 for the Philippian church?

00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.440
 It starts

00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.799
 with personal relationships.

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:38.660
 Your life

00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:40.200
 in and through

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.740
 Lakeside Bible Church

00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:43.759
 cannot be reduced

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.079
 to a 90 minute service

00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:45.839
 on Sunday morning.

00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.559
 It won't work.

00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.819
 You'll be able

00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.579
 to come and worship.

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.140
 You'll be able

00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:52.099
 to hear the truth

00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:52.720
 of the Bible

00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:54.220
 but you will never

00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:55.539
 bear this kind of love

00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.559
 for the other people here

00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:58.019
 until you determine

00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:58.960
 to commit

00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.440
 to building

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.420
 personal relationships.

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.480
 And there's simple things

00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.220
 we can do with that.

00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:03.579
 Come a little early

00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:04.519
 to service on Sunday

00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:06.360
 and just talk to people.

00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:08.259
 Stay a little later

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.960
 after the service.

00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:09.779
 We intentionally

00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.599
 on Sundays

00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:11.599
 we intentionally

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.480
 don't start to tear

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.079
 all of this stuff

00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:13.480
 back down

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.460
 until 20 or 30 minutes

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.680
 after the service concludes

00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.539
 because I want us

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.519
 to spend time together.

00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:20.000
 Come to the prayer fellowships

00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.740
 on Wednesday nights

00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:22.559
 at mine and Julie's house.

00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:23.480
 When we have

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:25.279
 moments of fellowship together

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.360
 ask somebody

00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:27.579
 to lunch today.

00:28:28.360 --> 00:28:28.900
 Ask somebody

00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:29.519
 that maybe you haven't

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.240
 got to know yet

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.819
 at our church

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.439
 if they want to go

00:28:31.439 --> 00:28:32.319
 have lunch today

00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:32.980
 or if they want to have

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:34.379
 dinner tonight.

00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.679
 Get to know people

00:28:36.679 --> 00:28:37.259
 in the church.

00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.460
 Develop this love

00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.059
 for one another.

00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.939
 Spend time together.

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.579
 Not only was this love

00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:42.899
 born out of personal relationships

00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:44.000
 it was born out of that

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:46.159
 same gospel partnership.

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:48.419
 Look at verse 7

00:28:48.419 --> 00:28:49.059
 once again.

00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.779
 Paul says

00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:53.579
 in as much as both

00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.720
 in my bonds

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:57.559
 and in the defense

00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.139
 and confirmation

00:28:58.139 --> 00:28:59.019
 of the gospel

00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:00.720
 y'all are partakers

00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.639
 of my grace.

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.200
 Their faithfulness

00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.220
 to boldly proclaim

00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.379
 and defend the gospel

00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:08.220
 along with their willingness

00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:09.759
 to partner with him

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.379
 in suffering

00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:11.879
 was foundational

00:29:11.879 --> 00:29:12.619
 to the love

00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.200
 that he felt.

00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:14.839
 Kent Hughes

00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:15.599
 again writing about

00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:16.460
 this particular verse

00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:17.139
 said that this is

00:29:17.139 --> 00:29:17.700
 the fellowship

00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:19.099
 of compatriots

00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:19.940
 bound together

00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:21.359
 in a great cause.

00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.279
 Paul says

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:22.879
 I love you

00:29:22.879 --> 00:29:23.839
 because you have

00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:25.160
 fought the fight

00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.579
 with me.

00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:26.920
 You have served

00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:27.859
 alongside of me.

00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:28.779
 I don't love you

00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.819
 because you're just like me.

00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:31.339
 They were vastly different.

00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:32.579
 It was because

00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.359
 they were united

00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:34.519
 under a common cause.

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.039
 Many of us

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.679
 don't experience

00:29:36.679 --> 00:29:37.719
 this kind of love

00:29:37.719 --> 00:29:38.759
 this supernatural

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.919
 godly love

00:29:39.919 --> 00:29:40.399
 for one another

00:29:40.399 --> 00:29:41.139
 because we never

00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:42.159
 engage in the fight.

00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:44.919
 I want to encourage you

00:29:44.919 --> 00:29:45.459
 this week

00:29:45.459 --> 00:29:46.959
 engage in the fight.

00:29:47.659 --> 00:29:48.819
 We have a mission

00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.779
 as a church

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.399
 as believers.

00:29:50.719 --> 00:29:51.379
 Our mission

00:29:51.379 --> 00:29:52.379
 is to take the gospel

00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:53.199
 that has transformed

00:29:53.199 --> 00:29:53.839
 our lives

00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.699
 and to tell it

00:29:54.699 --> 00:29:55.279
 to as many people

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.839
 as we can.

00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.940
 The people you work with

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:59.700
 the family you know

00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:01.139
 your community

00:30:01.139 --> 00:30:02.639
 your neighbors

00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:04.960
 engage in this fight

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.279
 and then when we

00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:06.960
 come together

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:08.240
 talk to one another

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.019
 about the fight

00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:11.039
 pray with one another

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:12.539
 and let's watch

00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.299
 the bond that

00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:14.319
 God gives us

00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.460
 in love for one another

00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.000
 through it.

00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:17.000
 Thirdly

00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:18.160
 his love was born

00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:18.779
 out of love

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.799
 for Christ.

00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:21.279
 Was born out of love

00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:21.759
 for Christ.

00:30:21.879 --> 00:30:22.399
 Look at verse 8

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.740
 for God is my witness

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.940
 how greatly I long

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.480
 after you

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.780
 in the infections

00:30:26.780 --> 00:30:28.620
 of Jesus Christ.

00:30:30.120 --> 00:30:31.140
 It's possible

00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:32.040
 to experience

00:30:32.040 --> 00:30:33.280
 a form of love

00:30:33.280 --> 00:30:35.540
 without Christ

00:30:35.540 --> 00:30:37.340
 just by building

00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:38.540
 personal relationships.

00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:40.480
 Perhaps before

00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:41.240
 your own salvation

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:41.800
 there were plenty

00:30:41.800 --> 00:30:42.600
 of people in your life

00:30:42.600 --> 00:30:43.280
 that you loved.

00:30:44.580 --> 00:30:45.560
 It's possible

00:30:45.560 --> 00:30:47.280
 to have a form

00:30:47.280 --> 00:30:47.960
 of love

00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:49.240
 in particular

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:49.920
 partnerships

00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.660
 that aren't

00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:51.720
 Christian related.

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:53.180
 we've experienced

00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:53.800
 that as well.

00:30:55.060 --> 00:30:56.280
 It's impossible

00:30:56.280 --> 00:30:57.780
 to experience

00:30:57.780 --> 00:30:58.460
 the fullness

00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.259
 of love

00:30:59.259 --> 00:31:00.880
 without knowing

00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:01.400
 the love

00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:02.380
 of Christ.

00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.680
 The love

00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:05.460
 as Philippians

00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:06.040
 chapter 2

00:31:06.040 --> 00:31:06.840
 tells us

00:31:06.840 --> 00:31:08.620
 of a mighty God

00:31:08.620 --> 00:31:09.800
 a sovereign God

00:31:09.800 --> 00:31:10.740
 the creator

00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.680
 of all that is

00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.660
 coming

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.800
 and humbling

00:31:13.800 --> 00:31:14.400
 himself

00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:16.000
 and becoming

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.080
 in the form

00:31:17.080 --> 00:31:17.660
 of a servant

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:19.100
 and was made

00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:19.720
 in the likeness

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.160
 of men.

00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:22.040
 Why did he do that?

00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:23.720
 out of love

00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:26.120
 John 3

00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:26.560
 16

00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:27.259
 we know well

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:28.200
 for God

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:29.360
 so loved

00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:30.340
 the world

00:31:30.340 --> 00:31:31.620
 that he gave

00:31:31.620 --> 00:31:32.440
 his only son.

00:31:33.320 --> 00:31:34.300
 When you come

00:31:34.300 --> 00:31:34.800
 to grips

00:31:34.800 --> 00:31:35.980
 with the true love

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:36.700
 that's demonstrated

00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.500
 in the gospel

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:39.840
 and you understand

00:31:39.840 --> 00:31:40.759
 and experience

00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:41.580
 that love

00:31:41.580 --> 00:31:43.220
 it will transform

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.060
 the way you love

00:31:44.060 --> 00:31:44.480
 others.

00:31:46.060 --> 00:31:47.320
 Sure the partnership

00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:48.900
 will grow your love.

00:31:49.540 --> 00:31:50.480
 Just spending time

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.099
 together will grow

00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:51.559
 your love.

00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:52.819
 But when we come

00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:53.500
 together underneath

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:53.960
 the banner

00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.579
 of Christ

00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:55.799
 there is no kind

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.160
 of love

00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:56.900
 that any person

00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:57.759
 can experience

00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.579
 that is like

00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.319
 that love

00:31:59.319 --> 00:32:00.740
 the fullness

00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.259
 of it.

00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:02.700
 Thirdly and finally

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.500
 we see Paul's

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.279
 pastoral prayer.

00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:05.599
 We see his

00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:06.480
 joyful thanksgiving

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:08.000
 we see

00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:09.799
 his supernatural

00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.640
 love

00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:12.200
 and then we see

00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:13.279
 his pastoral prayer.

00:32:14.099 --> 00:32:15.120
 I'll leave it to you

00:32:15.120 --> 00:32:15.740
 to dig deeper

00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:16.480
 into each and every

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:16.980
 one of these

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:18.319
 dynamics as we go in

00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.319
 but I will say this

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:21.319
 Paul's prayer here

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:22.619
 in verses 9 through 11

00:32:22.619 --> 00:32:24.200
 stand in contrast

00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:25.399
 to many of our prayers.

00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:28.220
 Paul didn't pray here

00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:29.279
 for ease

00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.460
 in his suffering

00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:32.299
 and he didn't really

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:33.039
 pray for ease

00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.899
 in their suffering.

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:35.659
 Surely that was a care

00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.659
 and a concern of his.

00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:38.919
 But his prayer

00:32:38.919 --> 00:32:40.299
 was focused in

00:32:40.299 --> 00:32:41.460
 on the spiritual

00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.460
 needs of the people.

00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.240
 Let me just mention

00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:44.700
 to him quickly

00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.539
 what he prays for.

00:32:45.659 --> 00:32:46.139
 The first thing

00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:46.800
 that he prays for

00:32:46.800 --> 00:32:47.920
 is that their love

00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:48.580
 would continue.

00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:50.160
 Look at verse number 9.

00:32:50.820 --> 00:32:51.520
 This I pray

00:32:51.520 --> 00:32:52.240
 that your love

00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.060
 may abound

00:32:53.060 --> 00:32:54.420
 yet more and more

00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:55.440
 in knowledge

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.300
 and in all judgment.

00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:57.600
 So Paul prays

00:32:57.600 --> 00:32:58.580
 it's a very pastoral prayer.

00:32:58.880 --> 00:32:59.600
 I pray God

00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:00.460
 that I'm thankful

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:00.900
 for them

00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:01.740
 they bring me joy

00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.560
 but I pray that you

00:33:02.560 --> 00:33:03.180
 would help their love

00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:03.780
 to continue.

00:33:04.520 --> 00:33:04.880
 Secondly

00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:06.360
 his prayer was

00:33:06.360 --> 00:33:07.480
 that they would examine

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:08.340
 what is best.

00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:09.920
 Look at verse 10

00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:11.720
 that you may approve

00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:12.220
 the things

00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:14.020
 that are excellent.

00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:16.240
 This is the difference

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.720
 between good and best

00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:19.680
 and Paul prayed

00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:21.700
 that on this progression

00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:23.740
 that as they grew

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.339
 in their knowledge

00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.960
 of the scriptures

00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:25.639
 and their love

00:33:25.639 --> 00:33:26.220
 for one another

00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.400
 that they would learn

00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:27.879
 to choose

00:33:27.879 --> 00:33:29.079
 not just good things

00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:30.519
 but the best things.

00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:32.299
 They would have discernment.

00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:34.240
 They would make wise choices

00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:35.299
 in their walk with Christ.

00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:37.279
 When John Wesley

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.139
 went away to Oxford

00:33:38.139 --> 00:33:39.240
 John MacArthur writes

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:40.900
 his mother Susanna

00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:42.000
 wisely wrote this

00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:42.720
 in one of her letters

00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:43.139
 to him.

00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:44.320
 She said

00:33:44.320 --> 00:33:45.300
 whatever weakens

00:33:45.300 --> 00:33:46.000
 your reason

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:48.160
 impairs the tenderness

00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:49.220
 of your conscience

00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:51.540
 obscures your sense

00:33:51.540 --> 00:33:52.120
 of God

00:33:52.120 --> 00:33:53.480
 or takes off

00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:54.140
 the delight

00:33:54.140 --> 00:33:55.320
 for spiritual things

00:33:55.320 --> 00:33:56.920
 whatever increases

00:33:56.920 --> 00:33:57.700
 the authority

00:33:57.700 --> 00:33:58.440
 of your body

00:33:58.440 --> 00:33:59.500
 over your mind

00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:00.820
 that thing is sin.

00:34:01.540 --> 00:34:02.220
 I think that's

00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:02.960
 what Paul is alluding

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.460
 to here.

00:34:04.300 --> 00:34:05.380
 He prays

00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:06.920
 whatever is in your life

00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:08.360
 even if it's a good thing

00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:09.280
 it's not necessarily

00:34:09.280 --> 00:34:10.059
 a bad thing

00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:11.160
 whatever in your life

00:34:11.160 --> 00:34:12.420
 pulls you away

00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.460
 from walking

00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.639
 closer with Christ

00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.340
 and moving

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.180
 towards Christ

00:34:16.180 --> 00:34:16.900
 that thing

00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:17.440
 for you

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.980
 has now become sin

00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:20.500
 and his prayer

00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:20.920
 for them

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:21.700
 is that their love

00:34:21.700 --> 00:34:22.280
 would abound

00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.659
 but that as their love

00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:24.720
 abounds in knowledge

00:34:24.720 --> 00:34:25.599
 and in discernment

00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.380
 that they would learn

00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:26.860
 to choose

00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:28.200
 not just helpful

00:34:28.200 --> 00:34:28.880
 things in life

00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:29.559
 but they would choose

00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.639
 the best things

00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:31.079
 in lives

00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:31.960
 the things that would

00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.800
 push them further

00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:33.539
 towards God

00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:34.840
 in a walk with him.

00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:36.180
 The third element

00:34:36.180 --> 00:34:36.760
 of his prayer

00:34:36.760 --> 00:34:38.019
 was that they would

00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:39.579
 experience purity

00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:40.759
 and blamelessness

00:34:40.759 --> 00:34:42.059
 ahead of Christ's return.

00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:43.159
 Look again at verse 10

00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:44.799
 that you may be sincere

00:34:44.799 --> 00:34:45.579
 that's purity

00:34:45.579 --> 00:34:47.039
 and without offense

00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:48.639
 that's blamelessness

00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:49.940
 till the day of Christ.

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.799
 He reminds them

00:34:51.799 --> 00:34:52.539
 of the reality

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.440
 that Christ is

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:54.500
 coming back

00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:56.699
 and that when he returns

00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:57.460
 or when this life

00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:57.980
 is over

00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:59.299
 we will stand

00:34:59.299 --> 00:34:59.980
 before him

00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:01.119
 as judge

00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:02.480
 and we will give

00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.579
 account for our lives

00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:05.019
 and so we praise

00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:06.119
 that the spirit

00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:06.799
 would continue

00:35:06.799 --> 00:35:07.679
 to work in them

00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:08.919
 to make them holy

00:35:08.919 --> 00:35:09.519
 and pure

00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:10.239
 and blameless

00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:10.859
 so that they could

00:35:10.859 --> 00:35:12.119
 stand before Christ

00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:13.379
 with joy.

00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:15.219
 Fourthly

00:35:15.219 --> 00:35:16.379
 he prays

00:35:16.379 --> 00:35:16.879
 that they would

00:35:16.879 --> 00:35:17.699
 bear the fruit

00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:18.799
 of the righteousness

00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:19.440
 of Christ.

00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:20.319
 Look at verse 11

00:35:20.319 --> 00:35:21.659
 being filled

00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:22.219
 with the fruits

00:35:22.219 --> 00:35:22.819
 of righteousness

00:35:22.819 --> 00:35:24.119
 which are by

00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:24.899
 Jesus Christ.

00:35:25.659 --> 00:35:26.639
 He tells us

00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:27.419
 in the book

00:35:27.419 --> 00:35:28.059
 of Galatians

00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:28.859
 what those fruits

00:35:28.859 --> 00:35:29.619
 begin with

00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:30.739
 love

00:35:30.739 --> 00:35:31.960
 joy

00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:33.460
 peace

00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:35.319
 long-suffering

00:35:35.319 --> 00:35:36.339
 patience

00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:38.579
 gentleness

00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:40.900
 goodness

00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:42.380
 gentleness

00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:42.800
 goodness

00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.680
 faith

00:35:43.680 --> 00:35:45.100
 or faithfulness

00:35:45.100 --> 00:35:46.900
 meekness

00:35:46.900 --> 00:35:48.860
 temperance

00:35:48.860 --> 00:35:51.059
 are these things

00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:52.320
 evidenced in your life

00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:53.820
 these fruits

00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:54.400
 of the spirit

00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:55.579
 these things

00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:56.740
 that God provides

00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:57.680
 as we

00:35:57.680 --> 00:35:59.140
 abound in love

00:35:59.140 --> 00:35:59.820
 and knowledge

00:35:59.820 --> 00:36:00.660
 and discernment

00:36:00.660 --> 00:36:02.920
 as we choose

00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:04.300
 what is best

00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:05.019
 and not just

00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:05.880
 what is good

00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:08.059
 as we seek

00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.780
 to live a pure

00:36:08.780 --> 00:36:09.260
 life

00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:10.720
 that all results

00:36:10.720 --> 00:36:11.920
 in the bearing

00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:13.059
 of Christian fruit

00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:14.119
 of the fruit

00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:14.680
 of righteousness

00:36:14.680 --> 00:36:15.880
 that God provides

00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:16.660
 to our lives.

00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:17.840
 Paul prayed

00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:19.059
 that these believers

00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:19.960
 would experience that

00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:21.059
 and it all culminates

00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:21.740
 in this last thing

00:36:21.740 --> 00:36:22.119
 and we're done.

00:36:23.240 --> 00:36:23.800
 It was a prayer

00:36:23.800 --> 00:36:24.340
 for the glory

00:36:24.340 --> 00:36:24.820
 of God.

00:36:25.820 --> 00:36:26.300
 It was a prayer

00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:26.860
 for the glory

00:36:26.860 --> 00:36:27.320
 of God.

00:36:28.140 --> 00:36:28.960
 Look at verse 11

00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:31.019
 being filled

00:36:31.019 --> 00:36:31.579
 with the fruits

00:36:31.579 --> 00:36:32.140
 of righteousness

00:36:32.140 --> 00:36:32.920
 which are by

00:36:32.920 --> 00:36:33.700
 Jesus Christ

00:36:33.699 --> 00:36:34.500
 unto what?

00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:35.679
 The glory

00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:37.099
 and praise

00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:38.199
 of God.

00:36:38.839 --> 00:36:40.179
 We make God

00:36:40.179 --> 00:36:41.419
 a man-centered God

00:36:41.419 --> 00:36:42.079
 don't we?

00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:43.879
 God certainly loves us.

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:45.039
 We just talked about that

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.839
 John 3 16

00:36:45.839 --> 00:36:46.419
 he certainly has

00:36:46.419 --> 00:36:47.679
 a tremendous amount

00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:48.739
 of love for us

00:36:48.739 --> 00:36:50.179
 but greater even

00:36:50.179 --> 00:36:51.000
 than God's love

00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:51.699
 for us

00:36:51.699 --> 00:36:53.059
 is God's concern

00:36:53.059 --> 00:36:54.039
 for his own glory.

00:36:55.259 --> 00:36:56.539
 He's more concerned

00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:57.679
 that your life

00:36:57.679 --> 00:36:58.899
 glorify him

00:36:58.899 --> 00:37:00.480
 than he is concerned

00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:01.139
 that your life

00:37:01.139 --> 00:37:01.659
 be filled

00:37:01.659 --> 00:37:02.539
 with whatever measure

00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.119
 of happiness

00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:03.739
 you would like

00:37:03.739 --> 00:37:04.259
 it to be filled

00:37:04.259 --> 00:37:04.480
 with.

00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.799
 It's why God

00:37:06.799 --> 00:37:08.219
 allows good people

00:37:08.219 --> 00:37:08.719
 believers

00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:09.679
 to go through

00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:10.980
 difficult circumstances.

00:37:11.980 --> 00:37:12.839
 It's all for the

00:37:12.839 --> 00:37:13.399
 purpose

00:37:13.399 --> 00:37:14.739
 of his glory.

00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:17.219
 Paul's writing

00:37:17.219 --> 00:37:17.699
 to a group

00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:18.219
 of believers

00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:19.000
 in Philippi

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:20.179
 that are sharing

00:37:20.179 --> 00:37:20.920
 in his suffering.

00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:22.500
 In fact

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:22.879
 when he gets

00:37:22.879 --> 00:37:23.239
 to the end

00:37:23.239 --> 00:37:23.879
 of chapter 1

00:37:23.879 --> 00:37:24.339
 we'll discover

00:37:24.339 --> 00:37:24.779
 it in a couple

00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:25.239
 of weeks

00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:26.719
 he commends

00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:27.799
 them to look

00:37:27.799 --> 00:37:28.500
 at their suffering

00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:29.199
 as a grace

00:37:29.199 --> 00:37:29.819
 from God

00:37:29.820 --> 00:37:31.460
 because this

00:37:31.460 --> 00:37:31.960
 grace

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.580
 and suffering

00:37:32.580 --> 00:37:33.120
 is actually

00:37:33.120 --> 00:37:33.780
 for the purpose

00:37:33.780 --> 00:37:35.039
 of God's glory.

00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:37.039
 God's glory

00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:37.519
 is a difficult

00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:38.840
 thing to define.

00:37:39.740 --> 00:37:40.559
 I think the best

00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:40.940
 description

00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:41.500
 that I've heard

00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:41.840
 of him

00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:42.840
 is that it's

00:37:42.840 --> 00:37:43.519
 God's holiness

00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:44.519
 his perfection

00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:46.460
 everything in his

00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:47.059
 majesty

00:37:47.059 --> 00:37:47.900
 and his greatness

00:37:47.900 --> 00:37:49.059
 demonstrated

00:37:49.059 --> 00:37:50.059
 in us

00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:50.700
 and in the way

00:37:50.700 --> 00:37:51.220
 that we live

00:37:51.220 --> 00:37:51.780
 and in the things

00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:52.300
 that we do.

00:37:52.780 --> 00:37:53.780
 It's a manifestation

00:37:53.780 --> 00:37:55.400
 of his holiness

00:37:55.400 --> 00:37:57.220
 so that when Paul

00:37:57.220 --> 00:37:58.000
 prays for this

00:37:58.000 --> 00:37:58.420
 people

00:37:58.420 --> 00:37:59.019
 and he prays

00:37:59.019 --> 00:37:59.699
 for the fruit

00:37:59.699 --> 00:38:00.480
 of Christ's

00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:00.800
 righteousness

00:38:00.800 --> 00:38:01.820
 and their knowledge

00:38:01.820 --> 00:38:02.000
 to grow

00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:02.519
 all of these things

00:38:02.519 --> 00:38:03.320
 what he's actually

00:38:03.320 --> 00:38:04.019
 praying for

00:38:04.019 --> 00:38:04.900
 is that God

00:38:04.900 --> 00:38:05.440
 would receive

00:38:05.440 --> 00:38:06.400
 glory in them.

00:38:07.800 --> 00:38:08.519
 Can I tell you

00:38:08.519 --> 00:38:09.039
 that I pray

00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:09.500
 this prayer

00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:10.059
 for you

00:38:10.059 --> 00:38:11.480
 and I hope

00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:11.860
 you pray it

00:38:11.860 --> 00:38:12.300
 for me

00:38:12.300 --> 00:38:13.699
 and I hope

00:38:13.699 --> 00:38:14.099
 you pray it

00:38:14.099 --> 00:38:14.739
 for one another.

00:38:16.539 --> 00:38:16.739
 Miss Faith

00:38:16.739 --> 00:38:17.280
 we prayed this

00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:17.619
 morning that

00:38:17.619 --> 00:38:19.119
 you'd feel better

00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:19.440
 we know your

00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:20.159
 back's been down.

00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:21.619
 We prayed

00:38:21.619 --> 00:38:22.840
 for several of us

00:38:22.840 --> 00:38:23.579
 in our prayer

00:38:23.579 --> 00:38:23.940
 fellowship

00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:24.559
 just a couple

00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:25.219
 of Wednesdays ago

00:38:25.219 --> 00:38:25.980
 we all took

00:38:25.980 --> 00:38:27.079
 down requests

00:38:27.079 --> 00:38:27.599
 and we prayed

00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:28.199
 for one another's

00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:28.699
 physical needs

00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:29.139
 but can I tell you

00:38:29.139 --> 00:38:29.779
 I pray for those

00:38:29.779 --> 00:38:30.279
 things I care

00:38:30.279 --> 00:38:30.639
 about those

00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:31.019
 things but

00:38:31.019 --> 00:38:31.939
 more than any

00:38:31.939 --> 00:38:32.379
 of those things

00:38:32.379 --> 00:38:32.819
 what I pray

00:38:32.819 --> 00:38:33.259
 for you

00:38:33.259 --> 00:38:33.960
 is that you

00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:34.379
 will love

00:38:34.379 --> 00:38:34.839
 the Lord

00:38:34.839 --> 00:38:36.539
 that you

00:38:36.539 --> 00:38:36.960
 will love

00:38:36.960 --> 00:38:37.480
 his word

00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:39.399
 that his word

00:38:39.399 --> 00:38:39.899
 would do its

00:38:39.899 --> 00:38:40.460
 work in your

00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:40.819
 heart

00:38:40.819 --> 00:38:42.399
 in a tremendous

00:38:42.399 --> 00:38:43.379
 way so much

00:38:43.379 --> 00:38:43.939
 so that you

00:38:43.939 --> 00:38:44.639
 would bear the

00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:45.659
 fruit of Christ's

00:38:45.659 --> 00:38:46.259
 righteousness in

00:38:46.259 --> 00:38:47.179
 your life so that

00:38:47.179 --> 00:38:47.719
 you and I

00:38:47.719 --> 00:38:48.879
 together can bring

00:38:48.879 --> 00:38:49.699
 glory to God

00:38:49.699 --> 00:38:50.619
 because more than

00:38:50.619 --> 00:38:51.439
 anything else in

00:38:51.439 --> 00:38:51.839
 our lives

00:38:51.839 --> 00:38:52.980
 God is concerned

00:38:52.980 --> 00:38:53.919
 ultimately for his

00:38:53.919 --> 00:38:54.460
 own glory.

00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:55.960
 He's not a man

00:38:55.960 --> 00:38:56.460
 centered God

00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.240
 he's a God

00:38:57.240 --> 00:38:57.960
 centered God

00:38:57.960 --> 00:39:00.380
 and why

00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:00.980
 shouldn't he be?

00:39:02.300 --> 00:39:03.280
 He is the one

00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:03.940
 true God

00:39:03.940 --> 00:39:05.579
 he deserves

00:39:05.579 --> 00:39:06.240
 every bit of

00:39:06.240 --> 00:39:06.800
 our attention

00:39:06.800 --> 00:39:08.260
 every bit of

00:39:08.260 --> 00:39:08.980
 our affection

00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:11.220
 and so as we

00:39:11.220 --> 00:39:12.340
 begin this study

00:39:12.340 --> 00:39:12.900
 in the book of

00:39:12.900 --> 00:39:13.500
 Philippians and

00:39:13.500 --> 00:39:14.320
 we see this

00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:15.320
 preview really in

00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:15.960
 Paul's greeting

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:16.519
 in these first

00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:17.220
 11 verses

00:39:17.220 --> 00:39:17.800
 we come to

00:39:17.800 --> 00:39:18.420
 understand that

00:39:18.420 --> 00:39:18.840
 the ultimate

00:39:18.840 --> 00:39:20.300
 purpose of

00:39:20.300 --> 00:39:20.940
 Paul's writing

00:39:20.940 --> 00:39:21.220
 and his

00:39:21.220 --> 00:39:21.920
 exhortation

00:39:21.920 --> 00:39:23.139
 is not just

00:39:23.139 --> 00:39:23.460
 that they

00:39:23.460 --> 00:39:24.119
 would experience

00:39:24.119 --> 00:39:24.559
 joy

00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:26.119
 but that the

00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:26.639
 root of that

00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:27.380
 joy would

00:39:27.380 --> 00:39:27.860
 bring glory

00:39:27.860 --> 00:39:28.340
 to God

00:39:28.340 --> 00:39:29.880
 specifically

00:39:29.880 --> 00:39:31.340
 their partnership

00:39:31.340 --> 00:39:33.579
 and I'm

00:39:33.579 --> 00:39:34.099
 thankful to you

00:39:34.099 --> 00:39:34.380
 for your

00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:34.900
 partnership

00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:36.599
 many of you

00:39:36.599 --> 00:39:36.920
 that I've

00:39:36.920 --> 00:39:37.800
 sacrificed so

00:39:37.800 --> 00:39:39.240
 much in

00:39:39.240 --> 00:39:39.940
 order to be a

00:39:39.940 --> 00:39:40.579
 part of this

00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.619
 church plant

00:39:41.619 --> 00:39:43.960
 I love you

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:44.720
 not just because

00:39:44.720 --> 00:39:45.019
 you're my

00:39:45.019 --> 00:39:45.579
 friend I love

00:39:45.579 --> 00:39:46.180
 you because you

00:39:46.180 --> 00:39:46.659
 are partnering

00:39:46.659 --> 00:39:47.200
 with me in

00:39:47.200 --> 00:39:47.559
 this

00:39:47.559 --> 00:39:48.700
 we're partnering

00:39:48.700 --> 00:39:49.340
 together in

00:39:49.340 --> 00:39:49.780
 this it's not

00:39:49.780 --> 00:39:50.320
 about me

00:39:50.320 --> 00:39:52.180
 and my

00:39:52.180 --> 00:39:52.720
 hope is that

00:39:52.720 --> 00:39:53.240
 we'll pray for

00:39:53.240 --> 00:39:53.700
 one another

00:39:53.700 --> 00:39:54.840
 that we'll

00:39:54.840 --> 00:39:55.620
 glorify the

00:39:55.620 --> 00:39:56.920
 Lord and

00:39:56.920 --> 00:39:57.519
 we'll glorify

00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:57.880
 him in the

00:39:57.880 --> 00:39:58.420
 way that he

00:39:58.420 --> 00:39:59.019
 sees fit to

00:39:59.019 --> 00:39:59.640
 be glorified

00:39:59.640 --> 00:40:00.100
 whether that

00:40:00.100 --> 00:40:00.880
 be through

00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:01.360
 life or

00:40:01.360 --> 00:40:01.780
 through death

00:40:01.780 --> 00:40:02.280
 as Paul will

00:40:02.280 --> 00:40:02.660
 say next

00:40:02.660 --> 00:40:03.140
 week as we

00:40:03.140 --> 00:40:04.820
 study that

00:40:04.820 --> 00:40:05.880
 his ultimate

00:40:05.880 --> 00:40:06.480
 purpose of

00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:07.080
 glory would be

00:40:07.080 --> 00:40:07.600
 fulfilled in

00:40:07.600 --> 00:40:07.860
 us

00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:08.580
 thank you for

00:40:08.580 --> 00:40:09.019
 listening to

00:40:09.019 --> 00:40:09.480
 this sermon

00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:10.059
 made available

00:40:10.059 --> 00:40:10.820
 by Lakeside

00:40:10.820 --> 00:40:11.480
 Bible Church

00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:12.600
 feel free to

00:40:12.600 --> 00:40:12.900
 share it

00:40:12.900 --> 00:40:13.360
 wherever you'd

00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:14.440
 like please

00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:15.059
 do not charge

00:40:15.059 --> 00:40:15.640
 for it or

00:40:15.640 --> 00:40:16.340
 alter it in

00:40:16.340 --> 00:40:17.120
 any way without

00:40:17.120 --> 00:40:17.980
 express written

00:40:17.980 --> 00:40:18.740
 consent from

00:40:18.740 --> 00:40:19.519
 Lakeside Bible

00:40:19.519 --> 00:40:19.880
 Church

00:40:19.880 --> 00:40:21.059
 don't forget

00:40:21.059 --> 00:40:21.579
 to visit us

00:40:21.579 --> 00:40:22.240
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00:40:22.240 --> 00:40:23.539
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00:40:23.539 --> 00:40:24.720
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00:40:24.720 --> 00:40:25.400
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00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:26.720
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00:40:26.720 --> 00:40:27.660
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00:40:27.660 --> 00:40:28.180
 NC

00:40:28.180 --> 00:40:29.640
 if you live in

00:40:29.640 --> 00:40:30.260
 the Charlotte or

00:40:30.260 --> 00:40:30.920
 Lake Norman area

00:40:30.920 --> 00:40:31.720
 we'd love for you

00:40:31.720 --> 00:40:32.360
 to attend one of

00:40:32.360 --> 00:40:33.280
 our worship services

00:40:33.280 --> 00:40:34.300
 we meet every

00:40:34.300 --> 00:40:35.119
 Sunday morning at

00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:36.240
 10 a.m. in the

00:40:36.240 --> 00:40:37.160
 gym at Cornelius

00:40:37.160 --> 00:40:38.059
 Elementary School

00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:39.099
 we'd love to

00:40:39.099 --> 00:40:39.500
 meet you