WEBVTT

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 Believe it or not, we are just two messages away from the end of 1 Thessalonians.

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! We have this morning's message and then one more next week.

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!

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 It's amazing that we're now 10 messages into this and it's been a great time of being reminded

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 of the truths that we find here and encouraged through this process and I hope that you have

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 felt the same.

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 I wonder though if there may be some things, there are at least two more Sundays between

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 now and Christmas, our Christmas program in the beginning of December 16th and then we

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 have a Thanksgiving service on the 25th of November and I'm going to do something, do

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 some exploring here.

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 I have messages planned for those weeks but I wonder if maybe there are some things

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 that we touched on over the past 10 weeks and we'll touch on this morning and next week and

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 you would say, you know Pastor Andrew, there's just, I wonder, can you spend a little bit

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 more time on chapter such and such verse such and such and answer this question for me.

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 We've got two weeks that we can do that and send me a text, send me an email and I'll contemplate

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 whether or not we do that, okay?

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 I'm thinking particularly of the subject that we're going to be talking about this morning

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 and next week as we describe our future hope especially in relationship to the coming of

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 the Lord Jesus and there's a lot of awareness about this issue, a lot of curiosity about this

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 issue and maybe you'd have some questions that we can dig into a little bit more.

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 But before we jump into the message, I do want to just let you know that another individual

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 in our body, Monica Cannon, if you don't know who that is, use your directory app, you can

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 see her face and her family, her dad just died this morning so please keep her in your prayers.

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 Let me read our passage this morning and I want to open it up with a story.

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 So please turn with me if you would to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.

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 It's on page 987 if you're a guest with us and I'll begin in verse 13 and we'll be moving

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 through verse 18.

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 Here's what it says.

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 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not

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 grieve as others do who have no hope.

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 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring

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 with him those who have fallen asleep.

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 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until

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 the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

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 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with a voice of an archangel,

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 and with the sound of the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

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 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds

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 to meet the Lord in the air.

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 And so we will always be with the Lord.

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 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

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 What does a life that is dominated by that truth begin to look like?

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 If you live with the ever-present reality of the coming of Christ, what would be different

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 today, and what would be different this week, and this month?

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 Would there be any changes that you would make if you knew that tomorrow Christ would take

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 you to be with him in glory?

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 Would it perhaps change the way you spend the afternoon?

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 Would it perhaps change some of the conversations that you will have with your family?

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 Would it create a bit of impetus in your heart and life to want to pick up the phone and to

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 make a couple of calls to people that you love who you know do not know Jesus as their Savior?

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 Would there be some broken relationships that you would want to mend, or at least to begin

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 the process of reconciliation?

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 Would now, all of a sudden, those pressures that weigh down on your life that seemed so important

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 yesterday, would they begin to lose the burdening?

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 I love this story of a girl by the name of Brooke Brunkowski.

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 Francis Chan talks about her in his book, Crazy Love.

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 He says that Brooke Brunkowski was a 14-year-old girl who was absolutely in love with Jesus.

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 You ever know high schoolers and junior highers who have that kind of passion for the Lord?

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 That was Brooke.

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 She spent her babysitting money on Bibles.

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 She stockpiled them in her garage so that any opportunity that she had to give a Bible

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 away to an unsaved friend, it was right there at the ready so that she could hand it off.

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 There were pastors in the area who heard about her zeal for the Lord Jesus and did these little

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 Bible drives, and so boxes of Bibles were carted to her house and stockpiled away so that she

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 could, they could continue to fan the flames of her passion for the Lord Jesus.

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 Brooke wrote an essay when she was 12 years old.

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 Here's what it says.

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 12 years old.

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 I'll live my life to the fullest.

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 I'll be happy.

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 I'll brighten up.

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 I'll be more joyful than I've ever been.

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 I will be kind to others.

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 I will loosen up.

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 I will tell others about Christ.

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 I will go on adventures and change the world.

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 I'll be bold and not change who I really am.

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 I will have no troubles, but instead help others to see their troubles.

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 You see, I'll be one of those people who live to be a history maker at a young age.

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 Oh, I'll have moments, good and bad, but I'll wipe away the bad and only remember the good.

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 In fact, that's all I'll remember, just good moments, nothing in between, just living my

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 life to the fullest.

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 I'll be one of those people who go somewhere with a mission, an awesome plan, a world-changing

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 plan, and nothing will hold me back.

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 I'll set an example for others.

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 I will pray for direction.

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 I have my life before me.

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 I will give others the joy I have, and God will give me more joy.

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 I will do everything God tells me to do.

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 I will follow the footsteps of God.

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 I will do my best.

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 Twelve-year-old wrote that.

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 Well, during her freshman year of high school, she was traveling with some friends to a movie

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 theater, and you guessed it, an accident took place, and her life was snuffed out in a moment.

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 People from her public high school flocked to her funeral.

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 There were over 1,500 students and teachers and members from the community who came to her

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 funeral because of the profound commitment of joy and hope in God.

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 And when the gospel was shared and people were invited to come forward to give their lives

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 to Jesus, more than 200 students and teachers came to the front to receive Jesus Christ as

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 their Savior and also get a gift from Brooke, a Bible that she had been stockpiling away so

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 that she could help to encourage their faith in Christ.

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 Usher's gave those Bibles to each of those individuals.

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 And in one day, Brooke Bronkowski was used as a resource and an instrument of God to lead

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 more people to Christ than many of us will lead to Christ in a lifetime at the age of 14.

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 You see, her short life, although snuffed out prematurely, as we would say, was lived with such intensity,

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 with such devotion to God that God used her life to absolutely transform her immediate surroundings.

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 And somewhat prophetically, God used her example at a young age to impact the world.

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 Not only in California, in Simi Valley, but now as her story is captured in this book, Crazy Love,

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 to perpetuate that example, that life that we get to speak about a bit this morning and use

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 as an example of what it looks like to be a person of hope.

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 A person who is dominated by the reality of the truth that we're going to look at this morning.

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 What might life look like?

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 What might God do for you, in you, and through you?

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 If every moment of life was captured, captured and saturated by hope.

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 Hope in Christ.

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 Hope in His coming.

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 The problem is that there are so many things that get in the way.

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 There are so many things that distract our supreme hope,

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 the hope that we should have in God,

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 and distract us from that hope,

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 and either dilute the hope in us,

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 or begin to carry our hopes over into things that really don't matter.

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 Those superficial hopes,

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 those secondary hopes,

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 however great they might be.

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 And they keep us from really making a difference in the world,

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 because we set our hopes on the things that don't matter,

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 the things that are fleshly,

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 the things that are here,

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 the things that are temporal,

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 instead of setting our hope,

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 and setting our eyes on the things of God,

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 the things of Christ.

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 So how do we reclaim hope?

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 How do we begin to nurture a passion for hope?

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 How do we fuel up ourselves with this hope that God desires for each of us to have,

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 that can carry us through the moments,

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 the difficulties of life,

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 that can help to catapult our spirituality.

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 For those of you who have felt stagnant in your spirituality,

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 maybe have felt unfruitful in your life,

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 what kind of difference am I really making?

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 Perhaps the key for you this morning is to recognize

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 not only the significance of hope,

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 but how to fuel hope in your lives.

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 So this morning I want to encourage us

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 as we look at the significance of hope

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 and begin to recognize how hope is reclaimed.

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 We begin this morning in verses 13 to 15,

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 and we see here that the fuel of hope is the knowledge of God.

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 The fuel of hope is the knowledge of God.

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 Notice he says in verse 13,

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 but we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers,

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 about those who are asleep,

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 that you may not grieve as others who have no hope.

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 The starting point for hope,

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 and really the starting point of the Christian life,

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 is true knowledge of God.

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 We're going to look at this a bit more in just a few moments here,

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 but I want you to understand that the kind of knowledge

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 that Paul is talking about

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 is not just the information dump that we're so familiar with.

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 It's not just an awareness of the facts.

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 It's not just an accumulation

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 or an articulation of doctrine and theology.

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 It doesn't matter whether or not you're a scholar.

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 It doesn't matter if you can prove every point.

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 What really matters is that you embrace the things you know,

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 and you have pulled them into your life,

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 and you have activated them as a means of behavior,

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 as a means of true faith.

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 Last week, we saw that Paul made a case

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 for the significance of knowledge.

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 He has done that throughout his letter,

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 but particularly last week,

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 in chapter 4, verses 4 and 5,

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 he says that each one of you know

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 how to control your body in holiness and honor,

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 not in the passion of lusts like the Gentiles

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 who do not know God.

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 That is the fundamental distinction,

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 the difference between truly knowing

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 and just having some intellectual assent to knowledge.

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 Because the root cause of deficiency in the Christian life

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 is a lack of knowledge,

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 not the lack of information,

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 not the lack of reading and having memorized the Bible,

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 not knowing the stories

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 and just having some sort of facts and figures,

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 but the kind of knowledge that moves us to action,

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 the kind of knowledge

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 that helps to guide our experience with him.

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 Notice that Paul says,

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 I don't want you to be uninformed about something in particular.

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 I don't want you to be uninformed about those who are asleep.

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 And what Paul is referring to here, of course,

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 is not just people who are taking a nap

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 or people who are down for the night.

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 He's talking about individuals

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 who in the vernacular of the day have died.

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 And he wants them not to be sad.

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 He wants them not to be discouraged.

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 There was a prevailing view,

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 a prevailing fear in that culture

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 that those who had died

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 had actually missed the resurrection.

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 That those who had died

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 had their life snuffed out

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 and now there wasn't an opportunity for them

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 to participate in the coming of Christ.

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 Speaking of the pagan world,

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 William Barclay points to a couple of individuals

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 who kind of share the running theme of the day.

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 One historian says,

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 once a man dies, there is no resurrection.

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 Another figure says,

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 there is hope for those who are alive,

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 but those who have died are without hope.

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 And that was the prevailing opinion of the day.

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 And Paul wants to correct that.

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 He wants the church to live in the reality of understanding.

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 And that understanding

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 is anchored in the knowledge

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 of Jesus' resurrection.

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 It's anchored in the knowledge

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 of Jesus' resurrection.

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 Let me read this for us again.

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 He says in verse 14,

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 For since we believe that Jesus died

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 and rose again,

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 even so through Jesus,

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 God will bring with him

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 those who have fallen asleep.

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 Come on, Thessalonica.

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 Don't you know the gospel?

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 Come on, Thessalonica.

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 Don't you recognize

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 that the Jesus that you have placed your trust in

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 is the God who died

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 but also rose again?

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 Don't you appreciate the fact

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 that those who are in Christ

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 will also now experience

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 the benefits of that resurrection too?

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 That if you have rested your confidence

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 in the truth of the gospel,

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 that you're resting your confidence

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 in a resurrected Savior,

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 not a dead one.

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 And because he is alive,

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 then it has definite implications

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 for us as believers.

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 Because he is a resurrected Lord,

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 then we know that not only

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 is there a resurrection of Jesus,

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 but there's also a resurrection of us.

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 Know that the knowledge

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 of our resurrection as well.

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 That you have participated in Christ

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 and as those who have participated in him,

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 you will also experience

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 the joy of resurrection.

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 And that was just built in to the gospel.

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 It was one of those things

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 that they should have understood.

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 He says here in these verses,

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 in verse 14,

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 which rings a little hint of interest,

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 he says in verse 14,

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 God will bring with him

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 those who have fallen asleep.

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 But then if we drop down to verse 15,

00:18:51.979 --> 00:18:55.319
 we see that those who are alive,

00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:58.079
 who are left until the coming of the Lord,

00:18:58.159 --> 00:18:59.859
 will not precede those

00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:01.379
 who have fallen asleep.

00:19:02.399 --> 00:19:03.359
 Then in verse 16,

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:06.119
 for the Lord himself will descend from heaven

00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:07.879
 with a cry, with a command,

00:19:07.959 --> 00:19:09.219
 with the voice of an archangel,

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:11.219
 with the sound of the trumpet of God,

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:14.240
 and the dead in Christ will rise first.

00:19:15.419 --> 00:19:16.599
 Now time out here, Paul.

00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:17.199
 Hang on.

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:19.319
 What is going on here?

00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:21.899
 Does Christ bring with him

00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:22.659
 those who are dead?

00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:25.379
 Or does somehow they get resurrected?

00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:27.179
 I don't understand

00:19:27.179 --> 00:19:28.459
 what's taking place here.

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.859
 Are they there?

00:19:29.979 --> 00:19:30.599
 Are they here?

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:32.119
 And how do they meet?

00:19:32.219 --> 00:19:33.219
 What is taking place?

00:19:33.979 --> 00:19:34.759
 What is the truth?

00:19:36.459 --> 00:19:38.179
 Well, I want to point to a couple of verses.

00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:41.639
 The first is found in 2 Corinthians 5, 8, and 9.

00:19:42.199 --> 00:19:44.579
 It'll help us to understand

00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.740
 what Paul is referring to.

00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:47.259
 He says,

00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:49.500
 We are confident, yes,

00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:51.059
 well pleased, rather,

00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:53.120
 to be absent from the body

00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:54.599
 and to be present with the Lord.

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.859
 Therefore, we make it our aim,

00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:58.500
 whether present or absent,

00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:00.720
 to be well pleasing to him.

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:07.420
 Paul is alluding to the fact that those who have died in Christ,

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:11.860
 those who have believed in Christ and have trusted him as their Savior,

00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:16.559
 will also then be resurrected immediately.

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:20.059
 Their spirit will then go to be with God in heaven.

00:20:21.139 --> 00:20:23.419
 But here in Romans 6, verse 5,

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:25.839
 we also understand this reality.

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:29.659
 For if we have been united with him in death like his,

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:34.399
 we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.720
 What does that mean?

00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:37.799
 That means,

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:42.519
 if Christ's body was resurrected and not just his spirit,

00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:47.599
 that there will be a bodily resurrection of the saints as well.

00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:50.279
 So although they are in heaven,

00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:54.480
 their spirit is there with God at the moment of their death,

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:57.599
 now there is going to be a reunion that takes place.

00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:00.419
 A full resurrection, as it were.

00:21:01.379 --> 00:21:04.159
 Body and spirit joined together in the clouds

00:21:04.159 --> 00:21:06.319
 to meet the Lord in the air

00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:13.059
 and then be reunited with the other believers throughout history in that respect.

00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:19.079
 Understand the knowledge of Jesus' resurrection.

00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:21.559
 It is essential to the gospel.

00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:25.299
 And when you know what Jesus has accomplished for you,

00:21:25.899 --> 00:21:28.779
 you will begin to appreciate and understand

00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:35.059
 that you will participate with him in a resurrection just like Jesus'.

00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:42.019
 His bodily resurrection will be a resurrection we will also experience.

00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:48.919
 So how does faith in resurrection in your life give you hope?

00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:52.700
 I was thinking about this.

00:21:54.179 --> 00:21:59.139
 What is the difference between a knowledge of a truth

00:21:59.139 --> 00:22:02.139
 and the actual participation in that truth?

00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:05.400
 Any of you who have been to the Grand Canyon

00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:09.560
 might understand or know this next picture.

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:12.000
 There's a, it's kind of hard to see,

00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:16.180
 but there's this bridge, this glass bridge, okay?

00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:21.540
 And it's 4,000 feet above the ground.

00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:28.259
 And the only thing that's holding you up is this pane of glass, okay?

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:30.799
 Now, here are the statistics.

00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:35.759
 It's hanging 70 feet out from the end of the cliff,

00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:38.519
 4,000 feet to the ground.

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:44.160
 Apparently, apparently, now I just have a hard time with it,

00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:50.519
 apparently it can hold 70, count them, 70 747 airliner jets.

00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:50.920
 70?

00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.680
 70?

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:56.000
 It should be able to hold me up, right?

00:22:58.099 --> 00:23:00.980
 But I don't know about you.

00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:03.680
 I don't think I'm going on that bridge, okay?

00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:04.980
 I'm sorry.

00:23:05.139 --> 00:23:08.079
 I'm just going to let every one of you experience that, okay?

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:11.259
 Now, maybe you have seen this YouTube video, okay?

00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:16.660
 This is a glass bridge over, I think it's 3,000 feet over something.

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:19.980
 And here's this guy walking on this glass bridge,

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.060
 and you may not be able to tell,

00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:24.380
 but it's actually cracking underneath him, okay?

00:23:24.800 --> 00:23:27.680
 So these panes of glass are cracking underneath him,

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:29.820
 and he is jumping up to the rail

00:23:29.820 --> 00:23:34.340
 so that he can save himself from this fall.

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:38.660
 Now, I don't know enough about this particular picture,

00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:42.320
 but apparently they've actually built into this glass

00:23:42.320 --> 00:23:44.180
 a fake fracture.

00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:50.060
 And that's why the camera is at just the right angle,

00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:53.060
 so it can get the response of the individuals

00:23:53.060 --> 00:23:56.100
 who are seeing this glass begin to crack underneath them.

00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:58.500
 It's like this perfect shot,

00:23:58.840 --> 00:24:00.680
 and this is not by accident.

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:04.740
 It's something that I think has been fabricated.

00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.480
 Thanks a lot.

00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:08.180
 I'm not...

00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:11.019
 Give me back my admission fee.

00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.799
 I'm sorry.

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:14.480
 I'm going to have to pay for hospital bills now.

00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:23.279
 But this is what Peter says for us to do.

00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:27.299
 He says in 1 Peter 1, verse 13,

00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:31.539
 Therefore, prepare your minds for action,

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.839
 and being sober-minded,

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:36.440
 this part is what I really want to draw your attention to,

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:40.919
 set your hope fully on the grace

00:24:40.919 --> 00:24:42.639
 that will be brought to you

00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:45.299
 at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:52.500
 Set your hope fully on the grace

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:53.720
 that will be brought to you

00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:55.879
 at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:58.820
 You begin to do this

00:24:58.820 --> 00:25:01.440
 moment by moment,

00:25:01.840 --> 00:25:03.480
 decision by decision,

00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:05.440
 step by step,

00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:07.660
 priority by priority,

00:25:08.800 --> 00:25:12.100
 conversation by conversation

00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:14.900
 begins to be guided by the full weight

00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:16.160
 and resting

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:19.100
 on the hope of His return.

00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:23.020
 It will change everything about your life.

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:26.779
 Absolutely everything about how you live.

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:29.639
 Tomorrow will be a different day

00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:32.879
 if we begin to recognize the significance

00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:34.879
 not only of the truth,

00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:39.099
 but we begin to put this truth to work in our lives.

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:42.180
 Resting fully on that hope,

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.599
 the hope of Christ,

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:47.619
 not the hope of our savings account,

00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:50.500
 not the hope of our position or title,

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.819
 not the hope of our relationships,

00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:55.859
 not the hope of our good appearances,

00:25:56.339 --> 00:25:58.959
 but the hope on Christ alone.

00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:03.259
 That will change everything about how we live.

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:08.440
 So the fuel of hope is the knowledge of God,

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:10.000
 but we find here in the next few verses,

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:13.700
 the fuel of hope is the promise of God.

00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:16.240
 It is the promise of God.

00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.779
 Look with me in verses 16 and 17.

00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:22.440
 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven

00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.859
 with a cry of command,

00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:25.839
 with the voice of an archangel,

00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:28.859
 and the dead in Christ will rise first.

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.599
 Then we who are alive,

00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.920
 who are left,

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:35.059
 will be caught up together with them in the clouds

00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:36.899
 to meet the Lord in the air,

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:40.839
 and so we will always be with the Lord.

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:44.079
 Promise number one

00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:47.059
 is the promise of the future return of Christ.

00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:50.980
 promise of the future return of Christ.

00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:55.399
 Remember that time Jesus had resurrected,

00:26:55.879 --> 00:26:59.240
 and Jesus was now spending time with His disciples.

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:04.480
 They're having some fellowship with one another,

00:27:04.639 --> 00:27:06.819
 and they have made their way to Galilee,

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:09.480
 and He saw them there around the Sea of Galilee,

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:11.500
 but now they've made their way back to Jerusalem,

00:27:12.139 --> 00:27:16.759
 and Jesus is talking about this future day.

00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:18.899
 when He's going to be coming again.

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:20.720
 And He tells them in Acts chapter 1,

00:27:20.879 --> 00:27:22.399
 verses 9 and 11,

00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:23.079
 He says,

00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:25.480
 And when He said these things,

00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:27.199
 they were looking on,

00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:29.659
 and Jesus was lifted up,

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:32.480
 and a cloud took Him out of their sight.

00:27:33.419 --> 00:27:34.960
 While they were gazing into heaven,

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:35.559
 as He went,

00:27:35.659 --> 00:27:38.319
 behold, two men stood by them in white robes,

00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.939
 and they said,

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.899
 Men of Galilee,

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:43.599
 why do you stand looking into heaven?

00:27:44.399 --> 00:27:45.299
 This Jesus,

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:47.519
 who was taking up from you into heaven,

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:50.799
 will come in the same way

00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:53.720
 in which you saw Him go into heaven?

00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:57.159
 Any mystery, then,

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:59.680
 why Jesus would come in the clouds?

00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:04.159
 Any mystery why that would be the rallying point,

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:07.720
 the place of reunion with His people?

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:10.700
 No, not when you begin to understand

00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:13.639
 that God will fulfill His promises

00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:16.759
 in just the way He planned them.

00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:19.900
 But notice a couple of things here.

00:28:20.320 --> 00:28:22.220
 First, I want you to notice

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:25.560
 that it is the Lord Himself who will come.

00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:30.340
 He will not send a representative.

00:28:32.040 --> 00:28:34.060
 He will not allow someone else

00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:35.960
 to enjoy the culmination

00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:37.800
 of the victory march

00:28:37.800 --> 00:28:39.400
 that He intends to have.

00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:42.680
 And His coming will not be subtle.

00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:44.820
 It will not be silent.

00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:47.120
 But it will be visible,

00:28:47.780 --> 00:28:48.300
 obvious,

00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:49.640
 and unavoidable.

00:28:50.860 --> 00:28:51.420
 Paul says,

00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:52.920
 Don't worry, Thessalonica.

00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:54.800
 Don't worry.

00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:57.060
 You can't miss it.

00:28:57.900 --> 00:28:59.280
 It will be so obvious,

00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:01.480
 you will not be able to miss.

00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:04.980
 So why descend from heaven?

00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:07.819
 Why not just snap your finger

00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:10.360
 and poof everybody up into heaven

00:29:10.360 --> 00:29:11.980
 around the throne?

00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:12.980
 Well,

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:16.140
 because God has intended for this

00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:17.200
 to be visible.

00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:20.299
 And why come with a shout?

00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.480
 Well, because He wants it

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.539
 not only to be visible,

00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:25.200
 He wants it to be audible.

00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:27.960
 And why a trumpet?

00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:31.579
 So the purpose of the event is clear.

00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:34.799
 It's definitive declaration

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:38.380
 to signal God's crowning achievement

00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:39.319
 of redemption,

00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.880
 of purchasing for Himself

00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:44.039
 and reclaiming for Himself

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:45.240
 those who are saved.

00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:48.000
 Now, thousands of years later,

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:51.819
 through the patient endurance of God,

00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:55.220
 He finally comes to claim His prize.

00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:59.059
 will only the Christians hear?

00:30:00.100 --> 00:30:01.160
 I don't believe so.

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.400
 I think the world will hear

00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:06.100
 and see this event unfold.

00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:08.200
 I think all we have to do

00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:10.559
 is look at the baptism

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.880
 and we understand

00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.740
 that those who were there

00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.380
 at the baptism

00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:15.740
 heard the Father from heaven say,

00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:17.640
 This is my beloved Son

00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.940
 in whom I'm well pleased.

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:21.620
 and the disciples

00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:24.180
 at the transfiguration

00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:26.600
 when the resounding voice

00:30:26.600 --> 00:30:27.740
 of the Father spoke,

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:29.340
 This is my beloved Son

00:30:29.340 --> 00:30:31.539
 whom I'm well pleased to hear Him,

00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:33.180
 they heard the voice,

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.420
 they fell on their faces,

00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:35.759
 and they were blown away.

00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.759
 And at the very end

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.120
 of Jesus' public ministry,

00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:41.759
 we find in John chapter 12,

00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:44.640
 Jesus is speaking about

00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:46.840
 His desire to glorify the Father

00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:49.179
 in John 12, 28 and 29.

00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:49.519
 He says,

00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:51.959
 Father, glorify Your name.

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:55.039
 Then a voice came from heaven,

00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:57.859
 I have glorified it,

00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:00.159
 and I will glorify it again.

00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.980
 And the crowd that stood there

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:04.019
 and heard it said

00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:05.220
 that it thundered.

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.000
 Others said,

00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:09.819
 An angel has spoken to Him.

00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:12.579
 It is my conviction

00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:14.419
 that the world will see,

00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:16.240
 the world will hear,

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:18.319
 it will be unmistakable,

00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:21.819
 this day of triumph for God,

00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:23.079
 that everyone will be able

00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:24.319
 to observe in some.

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.519
 Those who are in faith

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:27.099
 will be able to participate.

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:30.039
 And then the dead in Christ

00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:31.799
 will rise first.

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.960
 Nothing can be said definitively

00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:37.500
 in terms of the timing of this

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:39.059
 and how long will it take

00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:40.700
 for them to go,

00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:42.259
 and then we're going to be caught up

00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.519
 together with them.

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:45.180
 But it doesn't really matter

00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:47.799
 because the text is establishing

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.740
 the priority.

00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:52.000
 What is the priority?

00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:54.859
 The priority for God

00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:57.379
 is the resurrection of those

00:31:57.379 --> 00:31:58.900
 who are dead first.

00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:01.240
 And I believe it's because

00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:03.779
 they demonstrate the full,

00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:06.160
 the full effects

00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:08.480
 of what He has come to do

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:10.720
 in terms of resurrecting

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:13.819
 the Spirit and the body

00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:14.799
 together.

00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:18.359
 His victory over

00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:20.359
 all of the effects

00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:21.879
 of sin on a life.

00:32:22.859 --> 00:32:23.920
 The emphasis is placed

00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:24.779
 on the power

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.819
 of the resurrection.

00:32:26.879 --> 00:32:27.680
 They are the ones

00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:28.259
 who represent

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.879
 the full effects

00:32:29.879 --> 00:32:30.859
 of the gospel

00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:32.139
 taking place

00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:33.440
 through their life.

00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:37.000
 Why a bodily resurrection?

00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.220
 Why is this so important?

00:32:39.540 --> 00:32:41.160
 Because the full redemption

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:43.160
 of the entire person

00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:43.960
 is taking place.

00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:46.200
 God is a champion

00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:48.480
 over the full effects

00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.300
 of sin.

00:32:51.040 --> 00:32:52.720
 Not just the spiritual

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.960
 parts of life,

00:32:54.060 --> 00:32:55.420
 but also the physical

00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:56.240
 parts of life.

00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:58.000
 He's victorious

00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:59.580
 over every consequence.

00:33:00.060 --> 00:33:01.259
 He erases it once

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:01.960
 and for all.

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.299
 No more death,

00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:04.680
 no more decay,

00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:06.299
 no more groaning,

00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:07.519
 no more struggle,

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:09.599
 no more imperfection.

00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.279
 In Christ,

00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:13.480
 it has all been reconciled.

00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:15.440
 It's all been changed.

00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:18.460
 Yes, there is a promise

00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.160
 of His return,

00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.220
 but there is also

00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:22.039
 a promise of reunion.

00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.720
 Reunion with Christ,

00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.759
 and that's what we see next.

00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:27.259
 Notice the destination.

00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:30.220
 Notice what it says.

00:33:30.900 --> 00:33:31.539
 Verse 17.

00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.700
 We who are alive,

00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:34.319
 who are left,

00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:35.579
 will be caught up together

00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:37.480
 with them in the clouds.

00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:39.259
 What is the purpose?

00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:42.740
 To meet the Lord

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.940
 in the air.

00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:46.359
 And so we will always

00:33:46.359 --> 00:33:48.519
 be with the Lord.

00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.519
 The destination

00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:52.720
 is not just the clouds.

00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:53.900
 The destination

00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:55.299
 isn't just reunion

00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:56.480
 with other saints.

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.440
 The destination

00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:58.559
 is reunion

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.579
 with Him.

00:34:01.659 --> 00:34:02.879
 As spectacular

00:34:02.879 --> 00:34:04.279
 as this event

00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:05.259
 may seem,

00:34:05.919 --> 00:34:06.759
 however dramatic,

00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:08.179
 however mysterious,

00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:10.599
 and however the implications

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:12.139
 run wild

00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:13.079
 in our imagination

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:14.579
 of what it would be like

00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:15.199
 here on earth

00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:16.679
 when bodies

00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:17.380
 and people

00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:18.239
 are transported

00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:19.440
 immediately out of

00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:20.440
 whatever situation

00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:20.900
 they're in.

00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:22.660
 book series

00:34:22.660 --> 00:34:23.420
 have been written

00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:24.200
 about this.

00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.639
 Planes crashing,

00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:27.300
 cars going off the edge,

00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:28.019
 and clothes

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.860
 just lying there

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.579
 unoccupied.

00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:31.220
 All of these

00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:32.360
 spectacular things,

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:34.360
 but the wonder

00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:36.079
 of this event

00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:37.420
 is not what happens

00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:37.780
 here.

00:34:38.240 --> 00:34:39.039
 The wonder

00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:39.639
 of the event

00:34:39.639 --> 00:34:40.480
 is what happens

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.119
 there.

00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.660
 Reunion

00:34:42.660 --> 00:34:43.820
 with Him,

00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:45.880
 the One

00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:48.079
 who has done

00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.400
 it all.

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:50.500
 The reunion

00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.099
 will be like

00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:52.099
 no other reunion.

00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.940
 The homecoming

00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.480
 will be like

00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:55.240
 no other

00:34:55.240 --> 00:34:56.099
 homecoming.

00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:58.660
 And don't imagine

00:34:58.660 --> 00:35:00.059
 that this reunion

00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.880
 is one-sided.

00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:05.059
 But on God's end,

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:07.400
 this is the culmination

00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:08.700
 of centuries

00:35:08.700 --> 00:35:10.099
 of sovereign

00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:10.820
 fulfillment

00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:12.639
 which have finally

00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:14.280
 come to fruition.

00:35:15.160 --> 00:35:16.280
 God will finally

00:35:16.280 --> 00:35:17.619
 receive His children

00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:18.139
 home.

00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:19.900
 And for a God

00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:20.760
 who celebrates

00:35:20.760 --> 00:35:21.579
 over one

00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:23.500
 person who has

00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:24.519
 come and

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.300
 repented of their

00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:25.480
 sin,

00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:26.300
 imagine now

00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:28.019
 millions upon

00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:28.980
 millions now

00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:30.300
 captured back

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:30.980
 to reunion

00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:31.460
 with Him.

00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:33.639
 This will be

00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:34.420
 a glorious day

00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:34.920
 for us,

00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.740
 but it will also

00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:36.639
 be a glorious

00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:38.059
 day for Him.

00:35:39.139 --> 00:35:39.940
 Don't overlook

00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:40.639
 the joy

00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:41.500
 of our Savior.

00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:43.200
 Imagine the

00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:43.599
 celebration

00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:44.519
 that will come.

00:35:44.900 --> 00:35:45.900
 There's no wonder

00:35:45.900 --> 00:35:47.700
 why this is done

00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:48.960
 in such spectacular

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:49.619
 display.

00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:52.559
 This is His

00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:53.559
 crowning achievement.

00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:55.539
 The purpose of

00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:56.359
 redemption that has

00:35:56.359 --> 00:35:57.219
 been planned since

00:35:57.219 --> 00:35:58.079
 the beginning of time

00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:59.719
 and now culminates

00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:01.439
 in Christ capturing

00:36:01.439 --> 00:36:01.980
 us up

00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:03.599
 and us being able

00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:04.279
 to enjoy

00:36:04.279 --> 00:36:05.339
 salvation,

00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:07.219
 the final effects

00:36:07.219 --> 00:36:07.819
 of salvation

00:36:07.819 --> 00:36:08.219
 with Him.

00:36:08.219 --> 00:36:10.000
 finally,

00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:12.239
 the fuel of hope

00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:13.359
 is delight

00:36:13.359 --> 00:36:14.319
 in God.

00:36:15.099 --> 00:36:16.500
 The fuel of hope

00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:18.099
 is delight

00:36:18.099 --> 00:36:19.099
 in God.

00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:19.619
 We get that

00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:21.039
 from verse 18.

00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:23.139
 Notice with me here,

00:36:23.219 --> 00:36:23.879
 here's what it says,

00:36:24.219 --> 00:36:24.639
 therefore,

00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:27.500
 encourage one another

00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:29.199
 with these words.

00:36:31.219 --> 00:36:33.119
 Encourage one another

00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:34.599
 with these words.

00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:36.920
 Now, let that sink

00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:37.780
 in just a little bit.

00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:41.719
 Remember what the

00:36:41.719 --> 00:36:43.059
 situation was

00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:43.739
 in Thessalonica.

00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:45.940
 Remember what this

00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:46.659
 church is going

00:36:46.659 --> 00:36:46.920
 through.

00:36:48.219 --> 00:36:49.599
 Remember that it

00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:50.280
 is dominated

00:36:50.280 --> 00:36:51.639
 by persecution.

00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:53.960
 Remember that this

00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:55.280
 church is experiencing

00:36:55.280 --> 00:36:55.920
 the effects

00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:57.060
 of suffering

00:36:57.060 --> 00:36:59.460
 and certainly

00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:00.240
 experiencing

00:37:00.240 --> 00:37:01.400
 the devastation

00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:02.560
 of all that

00:37:02.560 --> 00:37:03.220
 that affords.

00:37:04.160 --> 00:37:05.100
 Children and

00:37:05.100 --> 00:37:06.240
 families that are

00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:06.940
 being threatened,

00:37:07.680 --> 00:37:08.620
 perhaps imprisoned,

00:37:08.780 --> 00:37:09.400
 fathers who are

00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:10.440
 being carted off,

00:37:11.240 --> 00:37:13.320
 the income

00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:14.800
 and the ability

00:37:14.800 --> 00:37:16.340
 for a dad

00:37:16.340 --> 00:37:17.019
 to minister

00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:17.860
 to his family

00:37:17.860 --> 00:37:18.700
 and now his kids

00:37:18.700 --> 00:37:20.240
 are left on the street

00:37:20.240 --> 00:37:20.840
 destitute,

00:37:21.800 --> 00:37:22.600
 trying to beg

00:37:22.600 --> 00:37:23.620
 for their existence.

00:37:25.280 --> 00:37:27.320
 So what is the hope

00:37:27.320 --> 00:37:28.380
 that Paul gives to them?

00:37:29.780 --> 00:37:30.840
 Comfort each other

00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:31.660
 with these words?

00:37:32.640 --> 00:37:33.680
 It is not

00:37:33.680 --> 00:37:34.560
 that God

00:37:34.560 --> 00:37:35.519
 is going to fix

00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:36.240
 their immediate

00:37:36.240 --> 00:37:36.920
 situation.

00:37:37.880 --> 00:37:38.840
 It is not

00:37:38.840 --> 00:37:39.340
 that God

00:37:39.340 --> 00:37:40.400
 is going to take away

00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:41.300
 their suffering.

00:37:42.140 --> 00:37:43.340
 It is not

00:37:43.340 --> 00:37:43.960
 that God

00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:44.540
 is going to make

00:37:44.540 --> 00:37:45.620
 everything better

00:37:45.620 --> 00:37:47.540
 and it's not

00:37:47.540 --> 00:37:48.420
 that God

00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:49.400
 is going to give

00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:49.840
 them

00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:51.300
 this abundance

00:37:51.300 --> 00:37:51.680
 existence

00:37:51.680 --> 00:37:53.340
 of things

00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:55.360
 and safety

00:37:55.360 --> 00:37:55.840
 from their

00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:56.280
 environment.

00:37:57.740 --> 00:37:58.340
 No.

00:37:59.660 --> 00:38:00.780
 They will still

00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:01.519
 move through

00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:02.220
 the suffering.

00:38:03.019 --> 00:38:03.760
 They will still

00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:05.320
 experience the anxiety

00:38:05.320 --> 00:38:06.060
 and the difficulty.

00:38:06.760 --> 00:38:07.500
 But there is

00:38:07.500 --> 00:38:08.539
 a future hope

00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:09.980
 that Christ

00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:10.539
 is coming

00:38:10.539 --> 00:38:11.920
 and will capture

00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:12.360
 them out

00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:12.880
 of this world.

00:38:15.140 --> 00:38:15.960
 Would that be

00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:16.500
 hope for you?

00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:20.880
 That can't

00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:22.159
 be hope

00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:23.059
 today

00:38:23.059 --> 00:38:26.059
 if you're putting

00:38:26.059 --> 00:38:26.480
 your hope

00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:27.059
 in anything

00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:27.940
 but Christ

00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:29.019
 right now.

00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:31.480
 If Christ

00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.059
 is not

00:38:32.059 --> 00:38:32.739
 your delight

00:38:32.739 --> 00:38:33.639
 if he is not

00:38:33.639 --> 00:38:34.400
 your source

00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.380
 of joy

00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:36.239
 then that

00:38:36.239 --> 00:38:37.320
 would not be hope.

00:38:37.800 --> 00:38:38.599
 That would just

00:38:38.599 --> 00:38:39.400
 be agony.

00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:40.699
 You mean

00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:41.820
 I have to wait

00:38:41.820 --> 00:38:42.619
 till Christ

00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:43.019
 comes

00:38:43.019 --> 00:38:43.860
 before all

00:38:43.860 --> 00:38:44.159
 of this

00:38:44.159 --> 00:38:44.719
 is fixed?

00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:48.919
 the only

00:38:48.919 --> 00:38:49.239
 way

00:38:49.239 --> 00:38:49.719
 for that

00:38:49.719 --> 00:38:50.339
 to be hope

00:38:50.339 --> 00:38:51.579
 is if

00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:52.000
 Christ

00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:52.859
 is your joy.

00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:54.799
 Paul puts

00:38:54.799 --> 00:38:55.259
 it well

00:38:55.259 --> 00:38:56.399
 this way

00:38:56.399 --> 00:38:57.379
 in Philippians

00:38:57.379 --> 00:38:57.839
 chapter 2

00:38:57.839 --> 00:38:58.399
 when he says

00:38:58.399 --> 00:38:59.299
 for me

00:38:59.299 --> 00:39:00.639
 to live

00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:01.639
 is Christ

00:39:01.639 --> 00:39:03.219
 and to die

00:39:03.219 --> 00:39:04.359
 is gain.

00:39:08.119 --> 00:39:09.239
 Is living

00:39:09.239 --> 00:39:10.459
 for you

00:39:10.459 --> 00:39:12.359
 captured

00:39:12.359 --> 00:39:13.279
 by Christ

00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:15.180
 this abiding

00:39:15.180 --> 00:39:15.900
 relationship

00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:16.280
 that we've

00:39:16.280 --> 00:39:16.760
 been talking

00:39:16.760 --> 00:39:17.320
 about all

00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:17.580
 year?

00:39:19.160 --> 00:39:19.940
 Is there

00:39:19.940 --> 00:39:21.140
 this settling

00:39:21.140 --> 00:39:21.800
 of your

00:39:21.800 --> 00:39:22.320
 heart

00:39:22.320 --> 00:39:23.600
 and a full

00:39:23.600 --> 00:39:24.420
 weight of

00:39:24.420 --> 00:39:25.060
 assurance

00:39:25.060 --> 00:39:25.860
 and resting

00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:27.300
 on the hope

00:39:27.300 --> 00:39:28.100
 of his

00:39:28.100 --> 00:39:28.840
 future coming?

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:31.420
 Kind of like

00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:31.780
 Brooke

00:39:31.780 --> 00:39:32.680
 Bronkowski

00:39:32.680 --> 00:39:34.560
 who oriented

00:39:34.560 --> 00:39:35.420
 the trajectory

00:39:35.420 --> 00:39:36.300
 of her life

00:39:36.300 --> 00:39:37.080
 it was

00:39:37.080 --> 00:39:37.720
 dominated

00:39:37.720 --> 00:39:38.300
 by that

00:39:38.300 --> 00:39:38.760
 kind of

00:39:38.760 --> 00:39:39.019
 hope

00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:39.719
 and it

00:39:39.719 --> 00:39:40.940
 saturated

00:39:40.940 --> 00:39:42.239
 every decision

00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:43.480
 at least

00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:43.780
 that we

00:39:43.780 --> 00:39:44.440
 know of

00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:45.000
 the decisions

00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:45.400
 that she

00:39:45.400 --> 00:39:45.820
 made

00:39:45.820 --> 00:39:47.659
 and God

00:39:47.659 --> 00:39:48.420
 used

00:39:48.420 --> 00:39:49.699
 her hope

00:39:49.699 --> 00:39:51.099
 to change

00:39:51.099 --> 00:39:51.920
 her world.

00:39:52.739 --> 00:39:53.000
 May that

00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:53.340
 be true

00:39:53.340 --> 00:39:53.719
 of us.

00:39:54.139 --> 00:39:54.519
 Let's pray.

00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:56.920
 Thank you.

00:39:56.920 --> 00:39:56.920


00:39:56.920 --> 00:39:56.920


00:39:56.920 --> 00:39:56.920


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