WEBVTT

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

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 Olympians 2 and verse 12.

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 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only,

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 but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

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 for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure,

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 do all things without murmurings and disputings,

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 that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,

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 in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,

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 among whom ye shine as lights in the world,

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 holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,

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 that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain,

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 yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith,

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 I joy and rejoice with you all.

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 For the same cause also do ye joy and rejoice with me.

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 The content of these verses that we just read really seems to be a summary

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 of this first section of Paul's letter to the Philippian church.

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 But of course, these verses aren't meant to be just a summary.

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 They're not meant to just be a summarization of previously stated truth.

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 They still have a very specific purpose for us.

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 They have a specific purpose for our understanding of the Christian life

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 now that we are moving away from this doctrinal digression that Paul has made

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 in verses 5 through 11.

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 In the last couple of weeks, we've studied about the person of Jesus Christ

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 as Paul explains it here, and we finish up with the lordship of Christ.

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 Now Paul gets to verses 12 through 18,

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 and he's turning our attention now away from the doctrinal and back to the practical.

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 So now that he has presented who Jesus Christ is,

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 what he has done for us in salvation,

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 he has in verses 9 through 11 presented him as the Lord that we must bow before.

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 Now he turns our attention back to obeying that Lord.

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 Because he is our Lord, this is what it means to follow him.

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 And so these verses primarily focus in on this process of sanctification

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 in the life of a believer.

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 Sanctification is just a theological term that we use.

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 It refers to the process in which God fashions our hearts,

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 and he fashions our wills, and he makes us more like Christ.

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 And Paul's drawing the attention of the Philippian believers to this fact.

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 And he's basically saying, once again,

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 you need to be concerned with sanctification.

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 You need to be concerned with personal obedience to the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

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 that he's just described in verses 9 through 11.

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 The first thing that you can write down in verse number 12 and 13

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 is that we see the demand for obedience or the demand for sanctification.

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 Look with me again at verses 12 and 13.

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 Paul says,

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 There is a corrective nature in Paul's words here.

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 But it's a correction that's communicated with a very loving tone,

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 especially when we see that he uses this word, beloved.

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 Alistair Begg, when preaching on this,

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 Alistair Begg is one of my favorite preachers in the whole world.

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 In fact, he probably is my favorite preacher that I have.

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 He said this when preaching on this passage.

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 He said,

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 If we are issuing a challenge or offering a rebuke,

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 we should have earned the right to do so.

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 Those whom we speak to with forcefulness and with direction

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 will be better able to receive such correction and direction

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 if we can honestly refer to them as beloved or as dear friends.

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 But what is this loving correction that he's actually making?

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 He's lovingly instructing these Christians

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 to concern themselves with the process of sanctification

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 by working out their own salvation.

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 Now, again, this isn't to be confused with

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 a method of obtaining salvation through good works.

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 The scripture is clear that salvation only comes through faith

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 by the grace of God,

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 that there's nothing we can do to earn it,

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 that there's no amount of goodness

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 that you could possibly build up

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 that would make you good enough for God.

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 We're all sinful.

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 We're all unrighteous.

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 So our salvation comes by God's grace

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 as we trust in Christ through faith.

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 What Paul's referring to here

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 is this process of conformity to Christ.

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 What he's saying is essentially that

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 there is this work of God in our hearts

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 that needs to be worked out to the outside.

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 That in salvation,

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 at the moment that we come to Christ in faith,

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 we get this indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit

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 where God begins to transform our hearts on the inside.

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 He doesn't start with the external transformation.

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 He starts with the internal transformation.

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 Salvation is a matter of the heart.

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 It's a matter of the will.

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 It's a matter of the mind.

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 And God begins to do this work

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 when we come to Christ in faith.

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 And then from there,

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 Paul's saying,

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 you need to let this transformation

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 that God is doing on the inside,

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 you need to let it work out to the outside.

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 You let it work its way out

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 in demonstration of obedience

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 and demonstration of following the Lord

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 and following his commands in obedience to him.

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 Again, Alistair Begg is helpful here

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 when he says we don't work up our salvation

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 and we don't work for our salvation.

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 We work out our salvation.

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 From the inside out

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 is what really Paul is referencing here.

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 It's not an optional element of the Christian life.

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 This is not something that we are told

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 we have the choice between.

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 Rather, Paul demands it.

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 And he commands it in this correction

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 to the Philippian church

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 and then to us as well.

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 There's two elements to this sanctifying work

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 that I think is helpful for us to understand here.

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 One is man's responsibility to obey.

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 And the other is God's inner working

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 to bring about that obedience.

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 Let's look at man's responsibility first.

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 Look at verse 12 one more time.

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 Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,

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 not in my presence only,

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 but now much more in my absence,

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 work out your own salvation

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 with fear and trembling.

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 The instruction for working out the salvation

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 clearly indicates

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 that there is a responsibility

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 in the part of the individual

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 in which they will be held accountable.

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 In this command,

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 we are held responsible to God

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 for the way that we live our lives.

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 We're held accountable to God

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 for the thoughts that we have.

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 We're held accountable to God

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 for the deeds that we act upon.

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 And there's two elements

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 to this responsibility here in verse 12.

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 The first is the timing of our obedience.

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 The timing of our obedience.

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 When are we supposed to obey?

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 And the answer is very easily

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 always, always obey.

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 Look at what he says.

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 Verse 12.

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 As you have always obeyed,

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 not in my presence only,

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 but now much more in my absence.

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 One of the most common excuses

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 for unbelievers in rejecting Christianity

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 is the church's record

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 of producing rampant hypocrisy.

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 Perhaps you've invited somebody

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 to come to church

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 or maybe you've shared your witness

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 of Jesus Christ

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 with somebody that you work with

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 and maybe a response

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 that you've heard

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 or that they have indicated

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 is I don't like to go to church.

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 There's just too many hypocrites.

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 Too many hypocrites

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 that are putting on a show

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 and they're just pretending

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 to really love the Lord.

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 They're just pretending,

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 but really,

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 I know what their life is like.

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 And of course,

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 it's not necessarily

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 an invalid excuse.

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 Of course,

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 in response to that,

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 we urge our friends

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 and our family

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 to look to the one

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 that we follow

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 rather than his followers.

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 We look to Christ first

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 who perfectly exemplified

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 this morality

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 that they refer to.

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 But nonetheless,

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 there is great damage

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 that's done

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 to the preaching

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 of the gospel

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 when those preaching it

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 don't always act like Christians.

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 We all remember times

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 when we were in school,

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 especially middle school

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 and high school,

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 because this is when

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 you really started

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 to figure it out.

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 When the teacher

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 had to go to the office

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 for a few minutes.

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 Do you remember that?

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 One of the schools

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 that I grew up in,

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 I went to a couple

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 of different schools,

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 but one of the schools

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 that I grew up in

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 in my younger years,

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 some of my classes

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 were in a building

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 that was several yards

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 like on the other side

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 of campus

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 from where the office was.

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 And if my teacher

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 came in one particular day

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 and was unprepared

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 in some way

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 and had to go make copies

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 or something like that,

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 she would have to go

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 all the way

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 to the other side of campus

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 to the office

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 which gave us

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 about 20 minutes

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 to do whatever

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 we wanted to do.

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 You know what I'm talking about?

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 The teacher leaves the room,

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 heads to the office,

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 goes off to do whatever it is.

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 Maybe she gets a phone call

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 or whatever.

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 And while the teacher

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 is in the room,

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 there's great obedience

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 and there's order

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 and there's structure

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 to what's going on.

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 But as soon as the teacher

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 leaves the room,

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 all chaos ensues, right?

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 And this is exactly

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 how Christians

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 treat their walk with Christ.

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 whenever the spiritual

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 authorities in their life

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 are around,

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 whether that be a parent

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 or whether it just be

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 a spiritual mentor

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 in your life

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 or whether it be a pastor

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 or whatever it is,

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 whenever they're around,

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 whenever they're investing

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 in our lives,

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 whenever we know

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 that they're going to see

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 what we're doing,

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 we do whatever we need to do

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 and we do it the best way

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 that we can.

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 But as soon as we get

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 to a point where

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 the accountability is gone,

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 how many of us tend

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 to now let go

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 of that element

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 of obedience

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 to the Lord?

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 And our obedience

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 becomes less about

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 pleasing the Lord

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 and it becomes more

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 about pleasing

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 whoever our authority is

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 in the area

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 at that particular

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 moment in time.

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 The problem with this

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 is this level of hypocrisy

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 is not only sinful,

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 this level of hypocrisy

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 does great damage

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 to our efforts

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 in the gospel.

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 How many children

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 have grown up

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 and abandoned the church

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 because they saw

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 this hypocrisy

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 exemplified in their parents?

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 where mom and dad

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 were one way

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 when they were at church

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 and they're a completely

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 different way

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 when they're at home.

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 How many church members

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 have been hurt

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 and maybe left a church

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 because this was exemplified

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 in their church body,

00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:09.879
 their church membership?

00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:12.779
 Where they were hurt

00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:13.199
 in one way

00:12:13.199 --> 00:12:14.799
 or they saw this hypocrisy

00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:15.779
 and maybe a blind eye

00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:16.339
 was turned

00:12:16.339 --> 00:12:17.819
 toward the hypocrisy.

00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:19.439
 They were hurt by it

00:12:19.439 --> 00:12:20.539
 and it did damage

00:12:20.539 --> 00:12:21.240
 to the church.

00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:23.860
 How many communities

00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:24.679
 have we heard about?

00:12:25.579 --> 00:12:27.559
 That the damage

00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:28.639
 to the gospel witness

00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:30.120
 that a church may have had

00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:31.939
 was prevalent

00:12:31.939 --> 00:12:33.799
 because of a revelation

00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:34.439
 of sin

00:12:34.439 --> 00:12:35.559
 in the pastor's life

00:12:35.559 --> 00:12:37.379
 and hypocrisy there.

00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.539
 Paul sets up

00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:40.019
 right here

00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:40.539
 at the beginning

00:12:40.539 --> 00:12:41.079
 of this passage,

00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:41.360
 he says,

00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:42.039
 not only are you

00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:43.179
 to concern yourself

00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:43.839
 with obedience

00:12:43.839 --> 00:12:44.979
 but you're to concern yourself

00:12:44.979 --> 00:12:46.199
 with it all the time.

00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:48.419
 When are we to obey the Lord?

00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:49.839
 When are we to exemplify

00:12:49.839 --> 00:12:51.519
 this sanctifying process?

00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:53.500
 We're to do it all the time

00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.500
 in all places

00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:56.419
 with all people.

00:12:58.539 --> 00:13:00.319
 There's also a tone here

00:13:00.319 --> 00:13:01.960
 for our obedience.

00:13:02.439 --> 00:13:04.419
 In addition to the timing,

00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:05.980
 there's a manner

00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:07.120
 in which he says

00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:07.939
 that we're to obey.

00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:09.960
 He says we're to work out

00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:10.860
 this salvation

00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:14.179
 with fear and trembling.

00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:17.659
 Now, living obediently

00:13:17.659 --> 00:13:18.479
 in fear of God

00:13:18.479 --> 00:13:20.519
 is not having

00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:21.799
 a constant anxiety

00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:23.579
 about God pouring out

00:13:23.579 --> 00:13:24.259
 sudden judgment.

00:13:25.479 --> 00:13:26.459
 Think of the person

00:13:26.459 --> 00:13:27.579
 that is afraid

00:13:27.579 --> 00:13:28.839
 to do a particular thing

00:13:28.839 --> 00:13:29.579
 because they're worried

00:13:29.579 --> 00:13:30.799
 about the lightning bolt

00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:31.819
 that may come

00:13:31.819 --> 00:13:32.559
 and strike them dead

00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:33.399
 in that moment, right?

00:13:33.699 --> 00:13:34.359
 There's people

00:13:34.359 --> 00:13:36.500
 that view God that way.

00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:38.279
 And that's not the picture

00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:38.919
 that we have of God

00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:39.439
 in the scriptures.

00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:40.839
 God's not sitting

00:13:40.839 --> 00:13:41.899
 on the edge of his throne

00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:43.139
 watching every step

00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:43.620
 that you make,

00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.779
 making sure that

00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:46.279
 the moment that you mess up,

00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:48.179
 man, he can nail you

00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:48.539
 with something.

00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:50.740
 God is a God of love

00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:51.960
 and mercy and grace

00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:53.019
 and joy.

00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:54.019
 That's not the picture,

00:13:54.319 --> 00:13:55.340
 the right picture of God.

00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:58.360
 But there is a tone

00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.240
 for our obedience

00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.100
 that we should have.

00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:01.220
 It's not fearful

00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:02.340
 of what he might do.

00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:04.379
 It's reverential fear

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:06.000
 for who he is.

00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:08.000
 So obedience has more

00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:09.740
 to do with who God is

00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:12.080
 than what he might do.

00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:14.360
 MacArthur is helpful here.

00:14:14.439 --> 00:14:14.699
 He says,

00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:15.500
 this is not a fear

00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:16.580
 of being doomed

00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:17.559
 to eternal torment.

00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:19.819
 It's not a helpless dread

00:14:19.819 --> 00:14:20.379
 of judgment

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.679
 that leads to despair.

00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:24.100
 It's rather a reverential fear,

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.039
 a holy concern

00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:26.759
 to give God

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:28.019
 the honor he deserves

00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:29.899
 and avoid the chastening

00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:31.759
 of his displeasure.

00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:34.620
 There's a difference

00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:36.379
 between fearing

00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.779
 a punitive judge

00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:39.340
 and fearing

00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:40.360
 a loving father.

00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:43.200
 If we were to

00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:44.279
 break the law today

00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.019
 and be taken

00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.980
 before a judge,

00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:48.080
 we might would plead

00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:49.139
 for mercy or grace,

00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:49.840
 but we're probably

00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.840
 going to face

00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:51.840
 that judge with fear

00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:52.480
 because they have

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.139
 all the authority

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.320
 and there's no relationship

00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:54.980
 there for which

00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:57.820
 they can dole out

00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:58.659
 that punishment.

00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:01.860
 But for a loving father,

00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:03.720
 the fear is present,

00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:05.539
 but it's completely different.

00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:08.259
 I would much rather

00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:09.379
 go before my father

00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:10.240
 than an authority

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.259
 that I don't know

00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.919
 because I know

00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:13.299
 what I'm getting

00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:14.079
 from my father

00:15:14.079 --> 00:15:15.319
 is love.

00:15:16.319 --> 00:15:17.319
 I know there's probably

00:15:17.319 --> 00:15:18.079
 going to be correction,

00:15:18.699 --> 00:15:19.399
 but it's going to be

00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:20.459
 correction with a purpose

00:15:20.459 --> 00:15:22.319
 and it's going to be

00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:23.079
 a correction

00:15:23.079 --> 00:15:24.259
 that's with the intent

00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:25.059
 of building up,

00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:25.839
 not tearing down

00:15:25.839 --> 00:15:26.899
 or just punitive action

00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:27.480
 in that way.

00:15:28.719 --> 00:15:30.199
 That's how we obey the Lord.

00:15:30.599 --> 00:15:31.339
 This fear

00:15:31.339 --> 00:15:32.419
 that we have of God,

00:15:32.579 --> 00:15:34.079
 it's not we're worried

00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:35.159
 about him as our judge.

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:36.799
 He's forgiven our sin.

00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:38.939
 That penalty of sin

00:15:38.939 --> 00:15:39.519
 as a believer,

00:15:39.699 --> 00:15:40.419
 that's already been

00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:41.519
 abolished for you.

00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:43.120
 Christ took that for you.

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:44.439
 He took the whole payment

00:15:44.439 --> 00:15:45.319
 for that for you

00:15:45.319 --> 00:15:46.139
 as far as your eternity

00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:46.639
 is concerned.

00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:47.600
 You don't have to worry

00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:48.299
 about that.

00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:50.439
 We fear God now

00:15:50.439 --> 00:15:50.980
 as believers

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:52.179
 as a loving father.

00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:54.459
 We don't want to face

00:15:54.459 --> 00:15:56.139
 the chastisement

00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:57.219
 of his displeasure.

00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.120
 We want to obey him.

00:15:59.699 --> 00:16:00.579
 We want to follow him

00:16:00.579 --> 00:16:01.939
 because of his love for us.

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:02.879
 We want to follow him

00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:04.360
 because of his concern

00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.519
 for us.

00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:07.080
 So there's man's responsibility

00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:08.100
 in this demand.

00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:09.480
 And then quickly,

00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:10.639
 there's God's work

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.899
 in this demand.

00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:13.080
 God's work in it.

00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:14.039
 Look at verse 13.

00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:16.360
 Paul says

00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.620
 that it's our responsibility

00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:18.899
 to concern ourselves

00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:19.899
 with this in verse 12.

00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:21.240
 But then in verse 13,

00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:21.879
 he says,

00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.940
 for it is God

00:16:22.940 --> 00:16:24.759
 which works in you

00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:27.060
 both to will

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.500
 and to do

00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:30.379
 of his good pleasure.

00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:32.300
 What's God's role

00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:33.059
 in all this?

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.979
 The truth is,

00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:35.679
 he's the one

00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:37.000
 that initiates it all.

00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:39.879
 He is working

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:41.079
 in you,

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.159
 Paul says.

00:16:42.579 --> 00:16:43.620
 And he's working

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.079
 in there,

00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:44.659
 in you,

00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.319
 to affect

00:16:45.319 --> 00:16:46.519
 your will

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:48.339
 and to affect

00:16:48.339 --> 00:16:49.519
 your actions

00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.319
 in order that

00:16:50.319 --> 00:16:51.139
 they may

00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:52.079
 please

00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:53.079
 him.

00:16:53.719 --> 00:16:54.839
 It's not his will

00:16:54.839 --> 00:16:55.479
 that he's affecting.

00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.979
 It's not his actions

00:16:56.979 --> 00:16:57.559
 that he's affecting.

00:16:57.740 --> 00:16:58.839
 He's working in you

00:16:58.839 --> 00:17:00.199
 to affect your will

00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:00.840
 and to affect

00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:01.540
 your actions.

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.480
 There's a wonderful

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.280
 truth in this.

00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:05.420
 That for those

00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.460
 that come to Christ

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.120
 in faith,

00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.319
 we are guaranteed

00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.340
 the promise

00:17:09.340 --> 00:17:10.700
 of God's work

00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.420
 in us from there.

00:17:11.580 --> 00:17:12.279
 He doesn't leave us

00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.039
 on our own.

00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.180
 How awesome is that?

00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:16.860
 We have this struggle

00:17:16.860 --> 00:17:17.920
 with sin in our lives.

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.700
 We have this struggle

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:20.259
 with sin in our flesh

00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:21.000
 and God says,

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.160
 unless you come to me

00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:22.620
 in faith,

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:24.019
 the result of that sin

00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:24.580
 is going to be

00:17:24.580 --> 00:17:25.519
 eternal death

00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.420
 in a place called hell.

00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:27.640
 And then he saves us

00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.600
 and instead of leaving us

00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:29.079
 to ourselves

00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:29.859
 to figure it out,

00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.359
 he says,

00:17:30.439 --> 00:17:31.339
 now I'm going to help you

00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.319
 and I'm going to help you

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.659
 by giving you my Holy Spirit

00:17:33.659 --> 00:17:34.939
 that's going to indwell you

00:17:34.939 --> 00:17:35.919
 and he's going to fashion

00:17:35.919 --> 00:17:36.439
 your will

00:17:36.439 --> 00:17:37.519
 and he's going to fashion

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.519
 your actions

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.799
 in order that your life

00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:40.819
 will please me

00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:43.119
 and accomplish my purposes.

00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:45.019
 What an awesome promise

00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:45.740
 from God.

00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:48.579
 Just like it's impossible

00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:49.740
 for us to be saved

00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.919
 apart from God's work,

00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:52.299
 it is impossible

00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:54.159
 for us to obey him

00:17:54.159 --> 00:17:55.779
 apart from his work.

00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:58.859
 He does this work in us.

00:17:58.940 --> 00:18:00.139
 It's a progressive work

00:18:00.139 --> 00:18:01.519
 and it's an awesome work

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:04.259
 and it's a guaranteed work

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.399
 in this passage.

00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:08.420
 That those who know Christ,

00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:11.899
 God will work in you

00:18:11.899 --> 00:18:13.879
 to make this obedience

00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:16.000
 and sanctification happen.

00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:18.000
 It would be impossible

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.160
 for an unbeliever

00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:22.639
 to continue in a feigned obedience

00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:25.200
 for an extended amount of time.

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:26.860
 The reason is

00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:28.460
 because we desperately need

00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:29.520
 God's work in our lives

00:18:29.520 --> 00:18:30.180
 to obey him.

00:18:32.020 --> 00:18:33.360
 At the same time,

00:18:34.040 --> 00:18:35.280
 it would be impossible

00:18:35.280 --> 00:18:36.580
 for a true believer

00:18:36.580 --> 00:18:38.520
 not to demonstrate

00:18:38.520 --> 00:18:39.580
 fruits of righteousness

00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:40.320
 and repentance

00:18:40.320 --> 00:18:42.540
 because we are guaranteed

00:18:42.540 --> 00:18:44.360
 that God works

00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:45.080
 in the will

00:18:45.080 --> 00:18:46.460
 and actions of a believer

00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:48.360
 to bring about his glory

00:18:48.360 --> 00:18:49.480
 and his pleasure.

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:53.099
 It's not that those works save us.

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:55.460
 It's that this working of God

00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.460
 is an evidence

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:58.740
 that we have been saved,

00:18:59.400 --> 00:19:01.360
 that we have come to faith.

00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.860
 And someone who's just

00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:05.000
 putting on a show,

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.099
 they've got nothing

00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:09.019
 but mere outward conformity.

00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:11.259
 They've not truly believed,

00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:12.559
 their heart has not truly

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.460
 been engaged

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:15.279
 in a walk with Christ.

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.279
 eventually,

00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:18.299
 that outward conformity

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:20.099
 will be torn away

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:22.379
 and the hypocrisy

00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:23.139
 will be revealed.

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.879
 But for that person

00:19:25.879 --> 00:19:27.220
 that has truly come to Christ,

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:27.960
 can I tell you,

00:19:28.139 --> 00:19:28.879
 you may not look

00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:29.579
 completely different

00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.240
 on day one.

00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.859
 But day by day

00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.680
 by day,

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:34.960
 God's going to fashion

00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:35.420
 your will

00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:36.720
 and you can't help it

00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.660
 because that's what

00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:38.799
 God does for us.

00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:40.579
 That's what's so awesome

00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:41.720
 is our sin

00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:42.960
 separates us from him

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:44.160
 and then when he saves us,

00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.880
 he keeps drawing us in

00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:47.259
 and drawing us closer

00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:48.700
 and fashioning us better

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.500
 and better

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.279
 and better

00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:50.940
 and better

00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:52.019
 until one day

00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:53.080
 we get to heaven

00:19:53.080 --> 00:19:54.400
 and he raptures us home

00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.000
 or we lose

00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:56.340
 or we die in this life

00:19:56.340 --> 00:19:57.440
 and we go to heaven

00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:59.380
 and then he glorifies us completely

00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:00.900
 and he brings this great work

00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.720
 to completion

00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:03.560
 where we are now sinless,

00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.779
 we are now perfect

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:06.380
 and we can now worship him

00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:07.140
 in new bodies

00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:08.019
 and with a new nature,

00:20:08.100 --> 00:20:08.820
 with a new spirit.

00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:11.279
 How awesome is that?

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:14.220
 Posers will eventually

00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:15.279
 be exposed

00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:16.519
 but those who have

00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:18.279
 truly been saved,

00:20:18.899 --> 00:20:20.180
 those who are true believers,

00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:21.740
 they can't hide the fact

00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:23.139
 that they have been saved

00:20:23.139 --> 00:20:24.519
 because God will prove it

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.920
 as he works that salvation

00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:27.339
 into outward action

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:29.059
 and into external obedience

00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:30.319
 on their part.

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:32.139
 The distinctive qualities

00:20:32.139 --> 00:20:32.920
 of sanctification

00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:34.079
 is the second thing.

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:36.720
 We see it in verses 14 to 16.

00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:39.460
 The demand is seen

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.339
 in 12 and 13

00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:41.339
 but what does this

00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:42.720
 sanctification look like?

00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:45.200
 In a practical sense,

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.420
 what does it mean

00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.539
 we're supposed to do?

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:50.860
 And how are our lives

00:20:50.860 --> 00:20:51.740
 supposed to look?

00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:53.900
 Let's look at verse 14.

00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:56.200
 Do all things, Paul says,

00:20:56.620 --> 00:20:57.900
 without murmurings

00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:58.940
 and disputings

00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:00.900
 that you may be blameless

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.519
 and harmless,

00:21:02.360 --> 00:21:03.160
 the sons of God

00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:04.019
 without rebuke,

00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.539
 in the midst of a crooked

00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.599
 and perverse nation

00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:08.139
 among whom you shine

00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:09.059
 as lights in the world

00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:10.399
 holding forth

00:21:10.399 --> 00:21:11.980
 the word of life.

00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:15.879
 Paul doesn't provide here

00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.839
 an exhaustive list

00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:17.920
 of do's and don'ts.

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:20.039
 What he gives to us instead

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:21.019
 is a progression,

00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:22.599
 a general progression

00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:24.279
 of what happens

00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:26.279
 in this sanctifying process.

00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.879
 There's three stages to it.

00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.859
 It starts with our attitude

00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:30.639
 toward obedience.

00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.700
 It is continued

00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:33.940
 with the evidence

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:35.240
 of a blameless life

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.720
 and it results

00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:38.259
 in a faithful witness.

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.140
 Let's look at each

00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:40.319
 of those three things quickly.

00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.180
 Number one,

00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.920
 write down a proper attitude.

00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.660
 A proper attitude.

00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:46.759
 We see this in verse 14.

00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:48.160
 Do all things

00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.220
 without murmuring

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:51.339
 and disputing.

00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.299
 Paul says here,

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.620
 a distinctive mark

00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:56.240
 of this sanctifying process

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:58.200
 begins with

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.519
 having a proper attitude.

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.279
 Murmuring refers

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:04.399
 refers to an emotional rejection

00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:06.180
 and is related

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:06.879
 to complaining.

00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:08.720
 Disputing here

00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.000
 refers to questioning

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.920
 and it's related

00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:13.180
 to criticisms.

00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:16.240
 It's argumentative

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:17.440
 in nature.

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.200
 Both of them

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:21.559
 come from a general spirit

00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:23.240
 of rebellion.

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.639
 And these kind of attitudes,

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.480
 as you know,

00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:28.139
 are infectious.

00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:30.320
 They spread

00:22:30.320 --> 00:22:32.140
 and they expand

00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:33.980
 and they intensify.

00:22:35.020 --> 00:22:36.420
 As we read earlier,

00:22:36.580 --> 00:22:37.320
 the Israelites

00:22:37.320 --> 00:22:38.580
 were notorious

00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:40.300
 about this.

00:22:41.300 --> 00:22:42.840
 Constantly complaining

00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:44.580
 about their condition,

00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:46.660
 constantly murmuring

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.940
 about what God

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.560
 was doing.

00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:50.960
 And if they had just

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.860
 obeyed

00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:53.040
 and submitted

00:22:53.040 --> 00:22:54.420
 and endured,

00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:56.380
 think of how much

00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:57.259
 sooner they would

00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:57.720
 have been able

00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:59.019
 to reap the blessings

00:22:59.019 --> 00:23:00.860
 that God had promised.

00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:03.039
 But because of this attitude,

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:04.539
 it led to sinful behavior,

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:06.220
 which actually led

00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:06.820
 to many of them

00:23:06.820 --> 00:23:07.539
 not experiencing

00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.539
 the promise at all.

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.240
 But what is Paul

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:11.259
 actually referring to

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:11.840
 when he mentions

00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:12.560
 this murmuring

00:23:12.560 --> 00:23:13.759
 and disputing?

00:23:14.320 --> 00:23:15.160
 It could be

00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:16.340
 that he is talking

00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:18.660
 about a specific form

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:20.500
 of murmuring

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.539
 among the people

00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.360
 at Philippi.

00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:23.839
 Now,

00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.839
 he's already talked

00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:25.779
 about extensively

00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.359
 the fact that

00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:27.599
 this is a great church.

00:23:28.219 --> 00:23:28.799
 As we study

00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:29.399
 the Philippians,

00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:30.659
 there's not a lot

00:23:30.659 --> 00:23:31.299
 there that we can

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:31.839
 pick apart

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.439
 like we can

00:23:32.439 --> 00:23:33.339
 the Corinthian church

00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.299
 or the Galatian church.

00:23:34.659 --> 00:23:35.439
 There's not a lot

00:23:35.439 --> 00:23:36.619
 of issues in this church.

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.259
 It's a good church.

00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:40.199
 If there's a weakness

00:23:40.199 --> 00:23:41.159
 we can point out,

00:23:41.219 --> 00:23:41.740
 it's the fact

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.799
 that Paul alludes

00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.659
 several times

00:23:43.659 --> 00:23:44.299
 in this letter

00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.719
 to the potential

00:23:45.719 --> 00:23:46.619
 for disunity.

00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.439
 That they're not

00:23:48.439 --> 00:23:49.159
 living humbly

00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:49.019
!

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:48.979
 They're not living

00:23:48.979 --> 00:23:49.159
 humbly

00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:49.759
 with one another,

00:23:49.879 --> 00:23:50.299
 but rather

00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.319
 in their pride

00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.339
 and in their selfishness,

00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:53.240
 there's discord

00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:54.319
 and he even corrects

00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.399
 a specific group

00:23:55.399 --> 00:23:55.899
 of ladies

00:23:55.899 --> 00:23:57.019
 in chapter 4.

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:57.899
 He deals with this

00:23:57.899 --> 00:23:58.919
 quite often.

00:23:59.000 --> 00:23:59.699
 So it could be

00:23:59.699 --> 00:24:00.879
 that Paul's point here

00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:02.079
 is that the believers

00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:03.479
 were missing out

00:24:03.479 --> 00:24:04.359
 on demonstrating

00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:05.699
 a blameless life

00:24:05.699 --> 00:24:06.899
 in verse 15

00:24:06.899 --> 00:24:08.319
 specifically because

00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:09.459
 of this one sin

00:24:09.459 --> 00:24:11.119
 and this one weakness.

00:24:12.639 --> 00:24:13.119
 There certainly

00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:13.759
 is no doubt

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.799
 that murmuring

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.479
 and disputing

00:24:15.479 --> 00:24:15.939
 in the church

00:24:15.939 --> 00:24:16.659
 is a problem,

00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:18.359
 but there's always

00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.279
 a heart level

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.099
 sinfulness

00:24:20.099 --> 00:24:21.639
 in the attitude

00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:22.839
 of a Christian

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:24.119
 that is constantly

00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:24.740
 complaining

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.599
 and criticizing

00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:27.000
 the church's people

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.740
 and processes.

00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.619
 And we can't read

00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.160
 this verse

00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:30.960
 without examining

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.839
 our own spirit.

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.180
 What is our spirit

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:34.779
 towards others

00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:35.480
 in the church?

00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:37.759
 What is our spirit

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.960
 towards the church

00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:39.660
 as a body,

00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.319
 towards leadership?

00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:44.059
 And is my actions

00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.939
 and my attitude

00:24:44.939 --> 00:24:47.279
 showing a blameless quality

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:48.839
 or is it actually

00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:50.240
 hindering the unity

00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:50.960
 of the church?

00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:51.779
 That could be

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.439
 what Paul's dealing

00:24:52.439 --> 00:24:52.859
 with here

00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:54.200
 and it's worth our note.

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.759
 It could be

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:57.299
 that he's talking

00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:58.519
 about a murmuring

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:58.539
!

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.599
 and a disputing

00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:01.279
 with God.

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.700
 Now it would make sense

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.720
 after he's just talked

00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.700
 about in verses 9

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.179
 through 11

00:25:06.179 --> 00:25:06.960
 he's talked about

00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.899
 Jesus Christ

00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:08.579
 as our Lord

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.819
 that we will bow

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.399
 before him,

00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:11.279
 we will confess him,

00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:11.740
 as Lord

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:13.079
 and then commands us

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:13.740
 in verse 12

00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.679
 that we are to

00:25:14.679 --> 00:25:15.939
 obey him as Lord.

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:18.119
 It makes sense then

00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:19.359
 that he might interject

00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:19.960
 the statement

00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:20.799
 that indicates

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.399
 that we might resist

00:25:22.399 --> 00:25:23.519
 this submission.

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.200
 After all,

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.220
 our nature is

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.419
 rebellious.

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.480
 Our nature is

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.819
 tending toward

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.659
 sinfulness.

00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:33.799
 It's like when you're a kid

00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.279
 and you were given

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.519
 a chore to do at home.

00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.119
 Perhaps your chore

00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:38.259
 was to take the trash

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:38.859
 to the curb

00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.819
 every Wednesday

00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.899
 when the trash

00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.320
 was supposed

00:25:41.320 --> 00:25:42.000
 to be picked up.

00:25:42.300 --> 00:25:42.920
 You knew that was

00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.720
 your job to do.

00:25:44.120 --> 00:25:44.640
 You know it was

00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:45.420
 your responsibility

00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:46.640
 but you hated

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.259
 to do it.

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:48.660
 For whatever reason

00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:49.300
 that was the thing

00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:49.780
 that you hated

00:25:49.780 --> 00:25:50.519
 to do the most.

00:25:51.360 --> 00:25:51.960
 And every Wednesday

00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:52.759
 morning when mom

00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.340
 comes around

00:25:53.340 --> 00:25:53.700
 and says,

00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:53.960
 Jared,

00:25:54.040 --> 00:25:54.500
 it's time to go

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.540
 take the trash out.

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:57.620
 You might have obeyed

00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:59.140
 but the spirit

00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.140
 with which you obeyed

00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:02.100
 was less than helpful

00:26:02.100 --> 00:26:03.519
 or encouraging.

00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:05.840
 Maybe you argued

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.639
 and complained

00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:07.480
 against your mom.

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.839
 Maybe you fussed

00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:10.519
 and represented

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.119
 a spirit

00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:12.559
 that was irritated

00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:13.119
 that you had

00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.980
 to do this chore

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:14.839
 over and over

00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.099
 and over.

00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:16.000
 You obeyed

00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.639
 but the spirit

00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:17.579
 with which you obeyed

00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:18.220
 wasn't with fear

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.699
 and trembling.

00:26:19.959 --> 00:26:21.159
 Maybe that's the idea

00:26:21.159 --> 00:26:22.759
 that Paul's putting out here.

00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:23.059
 Yes,

00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:24.439
 obey the Lord.

00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.799
 Obey His word.

00:26:26.139 --> 00:26:27.619
 Stay faithful to Him

00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:28.259
 but do it

00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.240
 with a right spirit.

00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:30.359
 Don't dispute

00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:30.939
 against Him.

00:26:31.179 --> 00:26:32.079
 Don't murmur

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.819
 against Him.

00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:34.700
 If you murmur

00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.139
 against Him,

00:26:35.179 --> 00:26:36.220
 if you resist this,

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.759
 you certainly

00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:38.000
 won't live this

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:38.919
 blameless life

00:26:38.919 --> 00:26:40.079
 in this progression.

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.759
 I really think

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:43.099
 that both circumstances

00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:43.779
 apply.

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:44.500
 They're even

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:46.159
 intertwined together here.

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.579
 If a Christian

00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:49.379
 is at peace

00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:50.039
 with God

00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:51.639
 and faithfully

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.980
 submitting to God's will,

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:55.159
 that's going to be seen

00:26:55.159 --> 00:26:55.559
 in the way

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.319
 that they interact

00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:56.960
 with others.

00:26:58.899 --> 00:27:00.059
 A professing Christian

00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:01.339
 that is constantly

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:02.579
 at war with others

00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:04.279
 and argumentative

00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:05.019
 in their spirit

00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:07.399
 always has a deeper issue

00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.919
 in their relationship

00:27:08.919 --> 00:27:09.579
 with God.

00:27:10.679 --> 00:27:11.460
 So I really think

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.659
 it could apply both ways

00:27:12.659 --> 00:27:13.500
 and both ways

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.399
 are worth our attention.

00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:15.759
 So the first thing

00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.679
 we see is this

00:27:16.679 --> 00:27:17.720
 proper attitude.

00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:19.019
 The second thing then

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:21.419
 is a blameless record.

00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.980
 A blameless record.

00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:23.759
 Verse 15.

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.599
 Look with me.

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.339
 That you may be

00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:27.039
 blameless

00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:28.159
 and harmless.

00:27:29.159 --> 00:27:30.359
 The sons of God

00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:31.359
 without rebuke

00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:32.579
 in the midst

00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.119
 of a crooked

00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.459
 and perverse

00:27:34.459 --> 00:27:35.679
 nation.

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:38.579
 The main idea here

00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:40.159
 is that Christians

00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:41.000
 would live a life

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.859
 that is above

00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:43.219
 reproach.

00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:45.099
 There's a few terms

00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:45.839
 that Paul mentions.

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.359
 One is

00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:47.399
 blameless,

00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.039
 without blame.

00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:49.500
 One is

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.199
 innocent

00:27:50.199 --> 00:27:51.000
 or harmless.

00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:52.979
 The other is

00:27:52.979 --> 00:27:54.099
 without blemish

00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:54.740
 or without

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.699
 rebuke.

00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:58.259
 It all points

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:58.900
 to a life

00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.680
 that is

00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:01.340
 above reproach.

00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.319
 It doesn't

00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:03.960
 insinuate

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.860
 perfection.

00:28:05.860 --> 00:28:06.680
 It certainly

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.880
 isn't an example

00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:09.000
 of a prideful

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:09.460
 piety.

00:28:10.340 --> 00:28:11.400
 But it is

00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.019
 the general

00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.799
 character of a

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.180
 person

00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:14.180
 that is so

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.779
 righteous

00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:16.779
 that it's

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.420
 difficult to

00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.160
 accuse them.

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:20.140
 That's the

00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:20.860
 mindset that

00:28:20.860 --> 00:28:21.319
 Paul's getting

00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.000
 across here.

00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:23.039
 He's not giving

00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:23.779
 us specific

00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:25.120
 sins to avoid.

00:28:25.719 --> 00:28:26.219
 He's saying

00:28:26.219 --> 00:28:27.019
 that our life

00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:27.359
 and this

00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:27.879
 progression

00:28:27.879 --> 00:28:28.979
 should begin

00:28:28.979 --> 00:28:29.500
 with a right

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.219
 spirit towards

00:28:30.219 --> 00:28:30.859
 God and others

00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:31.479
 and then that

00:28:31.479 --> 00:28:32.159
 will be evidenced

00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:32.919
 in a blameless

00:28:32.919 --> 00:28:33.459
 life.

00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:34.879
 A life that

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.319
 is above

00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:36.159
 reproach.

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.739
 A life that's

00:28:37.739 --> 00:28:38.659
 not easily

00:28:38.659 --> 00:28:40.019
 accused.

00:28:41.959 --> 00:28:42.619
 The progression

00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:44.039
 is indicated

00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:44.579
 here in the

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.419
 word that.

00:28:45.719 --> 00:28:46.139
 Do you notice

00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:46.639
 that in verse

00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.119
 15?

00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.079
 Do all things

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.719
 without murmuring

00:28:48.719 --> 00:28:49.619
 and disputing

00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:51.179
 that you may

00:28:51.179 --> 00:28:51.979
 be blameless.

00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.519
 As if the

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.019
 blameless

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.839
 quality is a

00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.699
 direct result

00:28:55.699 --> 00:28:56.519
 of the

00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.319
 proper attitude

00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:57.779
 that he

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.359
 mentions in

00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:59.980
 verse 14.

00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:03.439
 The college

00:29:03.439 --> 00:29:03.779
 that I

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.039
 attended,

00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:04.399
 I went to

00:29:04.399 --> 00:29:04.799
 a small

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.139
 school,

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:05.779
 really small

00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:06.299
 school actually

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:06.980
 in Raleigh,

00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:07.759
 just outside of

00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.179
 Raleigh in a

00:29:08.179 --> 00:29:08.519
 town called

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:08.980
 Wendell.

00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:09.679
 It was a

00:29:09.679 --> 00:29:09.980
 very,

00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:10.619
 very small

00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.519
 school and

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:11.819
 it was a

00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.099
 very,

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.139
 very conservative

00:29:13.139 --> 00:29:13.740
 school and

00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.299
 it had lots

00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:14.899
 of roles and

00:29:14.899 --> 00:29:15.359
 those roles

00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:16.099
 went in a

00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:16.419
 lot of

00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:16.619
 different

00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.079
 directions.

00:29:18.699 --> 00:29:19.579
 Jared hasn't

00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:20.639
 always been

00:29:20.639 --> 00:29:21.459
 great about

00:29:21.459 --> 00:29:21.939
 keeping his

00:29:21.939 --> 00:29:22.659
 mouth shut when

00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:23.019
 he was in

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:23.679
 disagreement with

00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.000
 something.

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:24.700
 In fact,

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.200
 my mom used

00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:25.640
 to always say

00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.000
 I wasn't a

00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.720
 bad kid.

00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:27.740
 It was always

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.460
 my mouth that

00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:28.900
 got me in

00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:29.160
 trouble.

00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:29.799
 In fact,

00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:30.299
 she would say

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:30.940
 that my mouth

00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.640
 is in drive but

00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.440
 my brain is in

00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:32.759
 neutral.

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.420
 That's what mom

00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:33.960
 would always say

00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:35.080
 was my problem

00:29:35.080 --> 00:29:35.539
 growing up.

00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:36.860
 There was this

00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:37.779
 one rule at

00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.440
 our college that

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.080
 I absolutely

00:29:39.080 --> 00:29:39.560
 hated.

00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:40.560
 And you're

00:29:40.560 --> 00:29:40.840
 going to think

00:29:40.840 --> 00:29:41.400
 this is silly

00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:42.560
 that I put so

00:29:42.560 --> 00:29:43.320
 much effort into

00:29:43.320 --> 00:29:43.779
 hating this

00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.740
 rule because it's

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.200
 not really that

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.600
 big a deal.

00:29:45.820 --> 00:29:46.440
 But it was a

00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:47.100
 lost and found

00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:47.380
 rule.

00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:48.560
 We had a

00:29:48.560 --> 00:29:50.120
 small campus and

00:29:50.120 --> 00:29:51.779
 the custodians

00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.639
 were students and

00:29:52.639 --> 00:29:53.160
 the custodians

00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:54.259
 just got tired of

00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:55.099
 having to pick up

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.720
 people's stuff that

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.200
 they would leave

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:57.500
 laying around campus.

00:29:57.639 --> 00:29:58.160
 And of course,

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.779
 I understand their

00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.420
 frustration with

00:29:59.420 --> 00:29:59.619
 that.

00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:01.059
 The problem in the

00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:01.759
 rule was whenever

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.639
 you left something

00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:03.559
 on campus, they

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:04.379
 would take it to

00:30:04.379 --> 00:30:05.279
 the school bookstore,

00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:06.660
 which was also run

00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.299
 by students.

00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.460
 And in order to

00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.480
 get your stuff back,

00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.079
 you didn't have to

00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:11.139
 just go and claim it

00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:11.839
 and describe your

00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.079
 item.

00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:13.019
 You had to pay them

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:14.059
 a dollar per item

00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.740
 to get your stuff

00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.079
 back.

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.440
 Anybody go to a

00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:17.200
 school like that or

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:17.619
 you've been in a

00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:18.399
 situation like that?

00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:19.200
 Isn't that ridiculous?

00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:19.720
 I'm getting

00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:20.480
 irritated about it

00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.019
 now already,

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.580
 just talking about

00:30:21.580 --> 00:30:21.759
 it.

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:25.160
 And so anytime I

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:26.360
 left something or

00:30:26.360 --> 00:30:27.120
 if there was

00:30:27.120 --> 00:30:28.100
 something going on,

00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.400
 I did everything I

00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:30.840
 could to try to

00:30:30.840 --> 00:30:31.960
 get it back before

00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.660
 it made it to the

00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.420
 lost and found so I

00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:33.920
 wouldn't have to

00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.740
 take my precious

00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:36.259
 college money and

00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.200
 buy my own stuff

00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:37.480
 again.

00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:39.240
 And there was this

00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:39.920
 one weekend, we

00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:40.580
 had this basketball

00:30:40.580 --> 00:30:41.559
 tournament at our

00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:41.860
 campus.

00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:42.519
 I was helping with

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:42.880
 the tournament.

00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.600
 I was on staff at

00:30:43.600 --> 00:30:44.019
 the school at the

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:46.000
 time and I was

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.319
 doing something

00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:46.660
 with the basketball

00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:46.819
 tournament.

00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:47.620
 I had a jacket.

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.440
 It was in January

00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:48.900
 or February.

00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:49.940
 Around this time.

00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:50.700
 High school

00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:51.340
 basketball tournament.

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.420
 I had taken my

00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.200
 jacket off and put it

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.819
 on the back of my

00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:56.000
 chair and then being

00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.640
 on staff for the

00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:56.980
 school, I was

00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.980
 traveling all weekend

00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:58.720
 promoting the

00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:00.279
 college and I was

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:00.860
 running late so I

00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:01.519
 had to go jump on a

00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:01.700
 bus.

00:31:01.940 --> 00:31:02.440
 When I went and

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.220
 jumped on the bus to

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.039
 go represent the

00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:04.759
 college, I left my

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.380
 jacket in the

00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:05.940
 gymnasium.

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.980
 And as soon as we

00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:08.700
 got on the road, I

00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.539
 realized what I did.

00:31:10.120 --> 00:31:10.860
 And I started calling

00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:11.960
 my friends, please go

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.519
 get my jacket.

00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:14.539
 I don't want to pay a

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.559
 dollar to buy my

00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.420
 own jacket back.

00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.600
 Except none of my

00:31:17.600 --> 00:31:18.160
 friends were good

00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.779
 enough friends to go

00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:19.680
 get my jacket for me.

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.259
 It stayed there.

00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.139
 And somebody put it in

00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:22.879
 the lost and found.

00:31:23.899 --> 00:31:26.099
 Well, I had let plenty

00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:27.660
 of people know in this

00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:28.720
 small campus of only

00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:30.559
 about 150 students how

00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:31.559
 much I hated that role.

00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.480
 And I let them know

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.819
 that a lot.

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.359
 And I wasn't very

00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:35.839
 quiet about it.

00:31:35.899 --> 00:31:36.639
 I had a very poor

00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:37.559
 attitude about this

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:39.440
 role on campus.

00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:41.019
 And so when I got back,

00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:42.240
 I was frustrated.

00:31:42.379 --> 00:31:43.119
 I was complaining about

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.240
 it.

00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:43.899
 But I went to the

00:31:43.899 --> 00:31:44.160
 bookstore.

00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:45.119
 I remember it just like

00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:45.759
 it was yesterday.

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.480
 I went to the

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:46.779
 bookstore.

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:48.299
 I had a fistful of

00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:49.619
 change is what I gave

00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:49.940
 the guy.

00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:51.339
 And another student was

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.000
 working the desk.

00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.680
 His name was Steve

00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.079
 Schreiner.

00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:53.960
 And I put the change on

00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.279
 the desk.

00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:54.879
 I said, that's my

00:31:54.879 --> 00:31:55.099
 jacket.

00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:55.700
 I need to buy my

00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:56.160
 jacket back.

00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:56.599
 And he took my

00:31:56.599 --> 00:31:56.799
 change.

00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.759
 And I took my jacket

00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.859
 and it was all over.

00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:00.799
 The next day I was

00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.619
 wearing my jacket on

00:32:01.619 --> 00:32:02.500
 campus because it was

00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:02.799
 cold.

00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.819
 And another one of the

00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.500
 students that had

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.539
 actually picked it up

00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:07.579
 knew that it had been

00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.519
 in the lost and found,

00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:10.039
 saw me wearing my

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:12.259
 jacket and just assumed

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:14.099
 that I had stolen it

00:32:14.099 --> 00:32:15.160
 out of the lost and

00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:15.480
 found.

00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:17.319
 She didn't ask me

00:32:17.319 --> 00:32:17.779
 about it.

00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:19.019
 She just assumed

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.960
 because I had run my

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:21.019
 mouth so much.

00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:22.059
 This is so stupid,

00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:22.339
 isn't it?

00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:23.799
 I had run my mouth so

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:25.660
 much about this lost

00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:27.480
 and found rule that she

00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.740
 just assumed that I had

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.720
 gone into the school's

00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:31.440
 bookstore and stolen my

00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:32.279
 own jacket, if that's

00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:33.200
 even possible to do.

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:35.980
 Next thing I know, I've

00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:37.279
 got a note in my box at

00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:38.140
 school that I got to go

00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:39.000
 before the administration

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.720
 of the school.

00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:41.579
 I didn't even know what

00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:42.139
 it was about.

00:32:43.379 --> 00:32:44.939
 I literally sit in an

00:32:44.939 --> 00:32:46.139
 administrator's office of

00:32:46.139 --> 00:32:46.639
 our school.

00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:48.599
 I have no idea what it's

00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:48.939
 about.

00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:50.399
 And she looks at me and

00:32:50.399 --> 00:32:52.039
 she says, is that your

00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:52.379
 jacket?

00:32:53.379 --> 00:32:54.939
 I said, yes, Miss

00:32:54.939 --> 00:32:55.980
 Morris, that's my jacket.

00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:57.359
 Where did you get it?

00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.539
 The lost and found?

00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:01.019
 When did you get it?

00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.079
 Yesterday?

00:33:02.439 --> 00:33:03.240
 How did you get it?

00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:04.759
 Gave my money to Steve

00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:04.960
 Schreiner.

00:33:05.159 --> 00:33:06.339
 And then she proceeds on.

00:33:06.379 --> 00:33:07.119
 She didn't believe me.

00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:09.539
 She proceeded to accuse

00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:10.799
 me of stealing that

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.159
 jacket.

00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:13.460
 Steve Schreiner, who was

00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.379
 working the desk, told her

00:33:14.379 --> 00:33:15.279
 that I didn't actually pay

00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:15.679
 for it.

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:18.559
 He at least said that he

00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.939
 couldn't remember whether

00:33:19.939 --> 00:33:21.879
 or not I had paid for it.

00:33:21.919 --> 00:33:23.099
 And they just assumed that

00:33:23.099 --> 00:33:24.399
 meant guilt.

00:33:24.939 --> 00:33:25.879
 And there was this whole

00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:26.919
 just ordeal about it.

00:33:26.939 --> 00:33:27.619
 And eventually everything

00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:29.339
 was okay, but there was

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:30.279
 this whole ordeal about it.

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.639
 Here's the problem.

00:33:32.879 --> 00:33:34.039
 The problem wasn't so much

00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:34.679
 with the rule.

00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:36.759
 And there were certainly

00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:37.759
 some issues with the way

00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.899
 that they tried to get me

00:33:38.899 --> 00:33:39.319
 in trouble.

00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:41.379
 The problem was Jared

00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:42.259
 wasn't a very blameless

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:42.720
 person.

00:33:44.159 --> 00:33:45.500
 Why wouldn't they expect me

00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:46.519
 to have stolen my jacket

00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:47.159
 in that moment?

00:33:47.639 --> 00:33:48.500
 After all, I had spent

00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:50.339
 several months whining and

00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:51.240
 complaining and running

00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:52.159
 in my mouth about how I'm

00:33:52.159 --> 00:33:53.179
 never paying money to get

00:33:53.179 --> 00:33:54.000
 my stuff back.

00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:57.659
 And even though I was

00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:59.039
 willing to obey the rule

00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:00.919
 in that moment, my attitude

00:34:00.919 --> 00:34:03.939
 insinuated that I was

00:34:03.939 --> 00:34:04.299
 guilty.

00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:06.819
 And even though I hadn't

00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:07.799
 actually done anything

00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:09.279
 wrong, I didn't live a life

00:34:09.279 --> 00:34:10.340
 that was above reproach.

00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:11.440
 That's a really silly

00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:13.139
 illustration that applies

00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:15.400
 greatly to Christians.

00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:17.619
 Because when we go through

00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:19.239
 this process of murmuring

00:34:19.239 --> 00:34:20.659
 and disputing and arguing

00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:22.539
 with God and with his word

00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:24.960
 and with spiritual leaders

00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:26.440
 in our life that help us

00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:27.360
 in this Christian life when

00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:28.300
 it comes to spiritual

00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:30.699
 obedience and obeying Christ,

00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.139
 when our attitude is

00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:33.380
 constantly murmuring and

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:34.920
 disputing and frustrated

00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:36.079
 and irritated and

00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:38.160
 questioning and disrespectful

00:34:38.160 --> 00:34:39.800
 to the Lord or to anyone

00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:41.539
 else, why wouldn't anybody

00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:43.280
 suspect that we were just

00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:45.160
 as hypocritical as anybody

00:34:45.160 --> 00:34:45.539
 else?

00:34:46.820 --> 00:34:48.039
 And therefore, our life

00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:49.700
 isn't above reproach.

00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:53.880
 In this progression, a holy

00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:55.420
 attitude leads to a

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.920
 blameless life, but the

00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:58.240
 opposite works as well.

00:34:59.260 --> 00:35:01.240
 An unholy attitude often

00:35:01.240 --> 00:35:03.019
 leads to sinful life.

00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:06.099
 It may not just be that

00:35:06.099 --> 00:35:08.640
 you're below accusation,

00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:10.180
 but eventually you may

00:35:10.180 --> 00:35:11.519
 actually fall into that

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.680
 very sin.

00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:15.300
 And it starts with that

00:35:15.300 --> 00:35:16.019
 proper attitude.

00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.240
 And then the third thing,

00:35:17.300 --> 00:35:18.039
 what it results in,

00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:19.860
 is a faithful witness.

00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:21.740
 Look at the end of verse 15.

00:35:24.160 --> 00:35:25.200
 That you are children of God

00:35:25.200 --> 00:35:26.220
 without blemish in the midst

00:35:26.220 --> 00:35:27.300
 of a crooked and perverse

00:35:27.300 --> 00:35:30.300
 generation among whom you

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:32.280
 shine as lights in the world,

00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:34.560
 holding forth the word of

00:35:34.560 --> 00:35:34.880
 life.

00:35:35.620 --> 00:35:36.620
 All right, remember, this is a

00:35:36.620 --> 00:35:37.380
 progression he's talking

00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:37.500
 about.

00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:38.360
 He's not giving us specific

00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:38.880
 things here.

00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:40.580
 He's talking about this

00:35:40.580 --> 00:35:42.080
 progression in generic terms.

00:35:42.620 --> 00:35:43.800
 The first stage of it is a

00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:45.380
 proper attitude, fear and

00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:47.600
 trembling towards God, having

00:35:47.600 --> 00:35:49.060
 the right spirit towards God,

00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:50.560
 having the right spirit about

00:35:50.560 --> 00:35:52.320
 obedience towards God and

00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:52.980
 towards his word.

00:35:53.100 --> 00:35:54.240
 And what that does is it

00:35:54.240 --> 00:35:55.800
 flows into a life that is

00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:56.920
 blameless and that is

00:35:56.920 --> 00:35:58.320
 innocent and it is above

00:35:58.320 --> 00:36:00.360
 reproach, hard to be

00:36:00.360 --> 00:36:00.960
 accused.

00:36:02.180 --> 00:36:03.119
 Somebody brings up an

00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:04.059
 accusation, most people

00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:04.740
 aren't going to believe it

00:36:04.740 --> 00:36:05.180
 right away.

00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:05.800
 It doesn't mean you're

00:36:05.800 --> 00:36:06.059
 perfect.

00:36:06.240 --> 00:36:07.280
 It just means that your life

00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:08.400
 exemplifies righteousness.

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:10.039
 Nine times out of ten,

00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.480
 you're going to do the

00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:10.960
 right thing.

00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:12.000
 Because you love the Lord,

00:36:12.039 --> 00:36:12.680
 you're going to be obedient.

00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:13.180
 All right, that

00:36:13.180 --> 00:36:14.039
 characterizes your life.

00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:15.340
 What then does that do?

00:36:16.420 --> 00:36:19.240
 It causes your life to shine

00:36:19.240 --> 00:36:21.800
 as a light in the midst of a

00:36:21.800 --> 00:36:23.980
 dark, sinful, crooked,

00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:26.440
 perverse world and culture.

00:36:27.740 --> 00:36:29.079
 And then he says the way

00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:30.300
 that it shines is because

00:36:30.300 --> 00:36:32.320
 you're holding forth this

00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:33.119
 word of life.

00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:37.400
 Believers hold fast to the

00:36:37.400 --> 00:36:39.420
 word in that they stand

00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:42.320
 firm on sound truth and they

00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:44.180
 obey the Lord and they follow

00:36:44.180 --> 00:36:44.400
 him.

00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:46.400
 And in holding fast to God's

00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:48.400
 word in obedience, they end

00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:50.340
 up as their life is displayed

00:36:50.340 --> 00:36:52.820
 holding forth that same word

00:36:52.820 --> 00:36:54.880
 that gives life to all who

00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:55.400
 will believe.

00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:58.920
 So then we see that God's

00:36:58.920 --> 00:37:00.900
 desire for our obedience isn't

00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:02.340
 just for obedience sake.

00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:05.300
 There's a purpose and an

00:37:05.300 --> 00:37:07.180
 intention in this sanctifying

00:37:07.180 --> 00:37:07.960
 process.

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:10.680
 Ultimately, that he would

00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:13.159
 receive glory and that our

00:37:13.159 --> 00:37:14.940
 lives would be used for his

00:37:14.940 --> 00:37:17.039
 gospel purposes.

00:37:18.200 --> 00:37:20.039
 So Paul says work out your

00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:23.119
 salvation, a proper attitude,

00:37:23.119 --> 00:37:25.739
 gratitude, a blameless life so

00:37:25.739 --> 00:37:27.339
 that you can shine as a light

00:37:27.339 --> 00:37:28.839
 in this dark world, holding

00:37:28.839 --> 00:37:30.500
 forth the word that can give

00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:31.199
 life.

00:37:31.859 --> 00:37:33.819
 Your behavior matters in that.

00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:36.799
 And then finally, quickly, we see

00:37:36.799 --> 00:37:38.699
 the demand, we see the

00:37:38.699 --> 00:37:41.779
 distinctive qualities of it, and

00:37:41.779 --> 00:37:42.960
 then we see the delight.

00:37:43.920 --> 00:37:46.679
 Verse 16, Paul says that I may

00:37:46.679 --> 00:37:48.119
 rejoice in the day of Christ,

00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:50.219
 that I have not run in vain,

00:37:50.779 --> 00:37:51.940
 neither labored in vain.

00:37:52.940 --> 00:37:54.599
 And if I be offered upon the

00:37:54.599 --> 00:37:55.920
 sacrifice and service of your

00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:58.480
 faith, I joy and rejoice with

00:37:58.480 --> 00:37:58.900
 you all.

00:37:59.699 --> 00:38:01.759
 For the same cause also do ye joy

00:38:01.759 --> 00:38:03.699
 and rejoice with me.

00:38:04.839 --> 00:38:06.339
 And here, once again, this theme

00:38:06.339 --> 00:38:08.960
 of joy is interjected in this

00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:09.279
 letter.

00:38:10.759 --> 00:38:12.739
 Except here, the joy comes from

00:38:12.739 --> 00:38:13.400
 our obedience.

00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:15.019
 obedience, and it comes to three

00:38:15.019 --> 00:38:15.360
 people.

00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:18.039
 First, it comes to spiritual

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.480
 leaders.

00:38:19.460 --> 00:38:20.840
 See what Paul said in verse 16?

00:38:21.460 --> 00:38:22.880
 Do all of this so that I can

00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:24.900
 rejoice and be glad when I stand

00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:25.599
 before Christ.

00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:30.079
 It's kind of like a mother who

00:38:30.079 --> 00:38:32.200
 works and works and works at

00:38:32.200 --> 00:38:33.539
 trying to teach their kids to

00:38:33.539 --> 00:38:34.920
 obey, and then finally they see

00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:36.400
 them obey when they don't know

00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:38.180
 that mom is looking, and the

00:38:38.180 --> 00:38:40.000
 pride and the encouragement that

00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:41.039
 wells up in that moment.

00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:42.599
 This is Paul as a loving

00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:44.059
 spiritual father looking at this

00:38:44.059 --> 00:38:45.440
 church and saying, it makes me

00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:46.079
 so glad.

00:38:46.199 --> 00:38:48.259
 I rejoice when I see that your

00:38:48.259 --> 00:38:50.599
 life is in obedience to God and

00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.059
 his word.

00:38:52.119 --> 00:38:53.920
 This is the case for all spiritual

00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:54.299
 leaders.

00:38:56.039 --> 00:38:58.480
 Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 17.

00:38:58.900 --> 00:39:00.119
 Obey them that have the rule over

00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:02.759
 you as those that will give an

00:39:02.759 --> 00:39:04.400
 account to the Lord, that they

00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:06.159
 watch for your souls, that they

00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:08.219
 may do it with joy and not with

00:39:08.219 --> 00:39:08.460
 grief.

00:39:08.679 --> 00:39:09.960
 There, it's given as a

00:39:09.960 --> 00:39:10.659
 motivation.

00:39:10.659 --> 00:39:13.359
 This joy for spiritual leaders.

00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:15.980
 It's also a delight for persecuted

00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:16.559
 saints.

00:39:17.139 --> 00:39:18.099
 Verse 17.

00:39:19.779 --> 00:39:21.139
 Paul says, and if I be offered

00:39:21.139 --> 00:39:22.779
 upon the sacrifice and service of

00:39:22.779 --> 00:39:25.000
 your faith, I joy and rejoice with

00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:25.159
 you.

00:39:26.339 --> 00:39:28.319
 The if statement there is similar to

00:39:28.319 --> 00:39:29.639
 the if statements at the beginning

00:39:29.639 --> 00:39:30.460
 of chapter 2.

00:39:30.899 --> 00:39:34.179
 It's referencing not a question as

00:39:34.179 --> 00:39:35.119
 to if something would happen.

00:39:35.420 --> 00:39:36.859
 It's a reference to something that

00:39:36.859 --> 00:39:37.679
 is already certain.

00:39:37.679 --> 00:39:39.500
 He's referencing his own

00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:40.139
 imprisonment.

00:39:40.899 --> 00:39:42.899
 Why is Paul in prison for preaching

00:39:42.899 --> 00:39:43.419
 the gospel?

00:39:44.019 --> 00:39:45.599
 Who was affected by that preaching

00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:46.139
 of the gospel?

00:39:46.699 --> 00:39:47.480
 The Philippians were.

00:39:48.980 --> 00:39:52.980
 And he says, even if my life has

00:39:52.980 --> 00:39:56.159
 to be hindered in comfort and in

00:39:56.159 --> 00:39:58.000
 wealth, if I have to be in prison

00:39:58.000 --> 00:39:59.819
 for four years for preaching the

00:39:59.819 --> 00:40:01.919
 gospel, but that gospel saves your

00:40:01.919 --> 00:40:03.819
 soul and it's exemplified in this

00:40:03.819 --> 00:40:06.000
 obedient living, he said, I'll rejoice

00:40:06.000 --> 00:40:06.920
 in my imprisonment.

00:40:08.360 --> 00:40:09.920
 Persecuted saints rejoice in this.

00:40:10.360 --> 00:40:12.019
 And then finally, the believer

00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:13.500
 themselves rejoices in this.

00:40:14.699 --> 00:40:15.380
 Verse 18.

00:40:15.920 --> 00:40:18.480
 For the same cause, Paul says, for

00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:21.260
 the same reason, you should rejoice.

00:40:23.340 --> 00:40:26.360
 There is great joy that comes with

00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:26.739
 obedience.

00:40:27.599 --> 00:40:29.340
 It's not that we're proud of

00:40:29.340 --> 00:40:29.840
 ourselves.

00:40:29.840 --> 00:40:32.980
 It's not that we pat ourselves on the

00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:33.480
 back.

00:40:34.559 --> 00:40:37.820
 It goes back to this process of the

00:40:37.820 --> 00:40:41.360
 evidence that God is at work in us.

00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:45.480
 Paul wasn't rejoicing in the

00:40:45.480 --> 00:40:48.160
 righteous actions themselves so much

00:40:48.160 --> 00:40:50.340
 as he was rejoicing in what those

00:40:50.340 --> 00:40:52.360
 actions gave evidence to.

00:40:53.300 --> 00:40:55.160
 And that was their genuine conversion.

00:40:55.159 --> 00:40:59.460
 It wasn't that he wanted them to

00:40:59.460 --> 00:41:01.000
 conform to a set of rules.

00:41:01.899 --> 00:41:04.679
 So many people make that mistaken

00:41:04.679 --> 00:41:06.440
 judgment about the Christian life.

00:41:06.659 --> 00:41:08.279
 It's not about a set of rules.

00:41:09.279 --> 00:41:11.799
 It's about who is affecting that

00:41:11.799 --> 00:41:12.440
 change.

00:41:13.319 --> 00:41:14.719
 And for them to follow the Lord in

00:41:14.719 --> 00:41:16.420
 obedience meant that the Lord was at

00:41:16.420 --> 00:41:17.379
 work in their lives.

00:41:17.940 --> 00:41:19.639
 And he rejoiced in the fact that God

00:41:19.639 --> 00:41:20.279
 was working.

00:41:20.280 --> 00:41:23.840
 And when you find yourself falling in

00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:25.820
 obedience in a way that you hadn't

00:41:25.820 --> 00:41:28.480
 done previously, rejoice in that, not

00:41:28.480 --> 00:41:30.560
 because you did something good, because

00:41:30.560 --> 00:41:31.720
 it really wasn't you that did it.

00:41:33.240 --> 00:41:36.080
 It was God fashioning your heart and

00:41:36.080 --> 00:41:38.620
 working in your will and working in

00:41:38.620 --> 00:41:40.880
 your actions in order to accomplish his

00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:41.220
 purposes.

00:41:41.480 --> 00:41:43.400
 And in that moment, we rejoice at the

00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:44.560
 fact that God would help us.

00:41:46.220 --> 00:41:48.760
 Rejoice in the fact that God is

00:41:48.760 --> 00:41:52.680
 helping you and he's helping me.

00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:55.520
 How awesome is that?

00:41:56.600 --> 00:41:58.000
 What a God is that?

00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:01.680
 That not only is he the Lord and

00:42:01.680 --> 00:42:04.360
 judge, but for those that belong to

00:42:04.360 --> 00:42:06.060
 him, he's the helper.

00:42:07.320 --> 00:42:08.800
 And he's the encourager.

00:42:09.800 --> 00:42:11.780
 And that certainly is worth rejoicing

00:42:11.780 --> 00:42:12.020
 in.

00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:14.520
 Thank you for listening to this sermon

00:42:14.520 --> 00:42:16.160
 made available by Lakeside Bible

00:42:16.160 --> 00:42:16.540
 Church.

00:42:16.960 --> 00:42:18.400
 Feel free to share it wherever you'd

00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:18.639
 like.

00:42:19.160 --> 00:42:21.059
 Please do not charge for it or alter

00:42:21.059 --> 00:42:23.039
 it in any way without express written

00:42:23.039 --> 00:42:24.920
 consent from Lakeside Bible Church.

00:42:25.519 --> 00:42:27.280
 Don't forget to visit us online at

00:42:27.280 --> 00:42:29.780
 lakesidebible.church or find us on

00:42:29.780 --> 00:42:31.780
 Facebook and Instagram by searching for

00:42:31.780 --> 00:42:33.240
 Lakeside Bible NC.

00:42:33.960 --> 00:42:35.460
 If you live in the Charlotte or Lake

00:42:35.460 --> 00:42:36.900
 Norman area, we'd love for you to

00:42:36.900 --> 00:42:38.340
 attend one of our worship services.

00:42:38.760 --> 00:42:40.740
 We meet every Sunday morning at 10 a.m.

00:42:40.740 --> 00:42:42.680
 in the gym at Cornelius Elementary

00:42:42.680 --> 00:42:43.099
 School.

00:42:43.500 --> 00:42:44.519
 We'd love to meet you.

00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:44.519


00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:44.519


00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:44.519


00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:44.519


00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:46.519
 Thank you.

00:42:46.519 --> 00:42:46.519


00:42:46.519 --> 00:42:46.519


00:42:46.519 --> 00:42:48.380
 Thank you.

00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:48.920
 Thank you.

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 Thank you.