WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.800 Philippians is a letter from Paul the Apostle to one of the churches in the city of Philippi, 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:10.240 which was called Little Rome. 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:18.339 And he begins this letter by addressing them and then letting them know his prayer for 00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:18.839 the church. 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:26.699 So today we'll read our sermon text, which is really verses 7 through 11, but I'd like 00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:27.960 to read the entire prayer. 00:00:28.900 --> 00:00:31.820 Philippians 1, verses 3 through 11. 00:00:34.100 --> 00:00:40.299 And I read this trusting that it is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient 00:00:40.299 --> 00:00:40.640 word. 00:00:40.740 --> 00:00:43.200 It's God's very own word for you, his people. 00:00:43.700 --> 00:00:47.519 When I'm done reading, I'll say this is the word of the Lord and you can respond, thanks 00:00:47.519 --> 00:00:48.140 be to God. 00:00:51.219 --> 00:00:53.120 Paul prays this way in verse 3. 00:00:53.119 --> 00:01:02.359 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine, making request 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:07.659 for you all with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. 00:01:07.659 --> 00:01:15.159 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:17.420 it until the day of Jesus Christ. 00:01:18.420 --> 00:01:25.340 Just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, in 00:01:25.340 --> 00:01:32.420 as much as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are 00:01:32.420 --> 00:01:34.840 partakers with me of grace. 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:42.760 For God is my witness how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:52.359 in this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:59.080 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere without offense till 00:01:59.080 --> 00:02:07.120 the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness that are by Jesus Christ, 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:10.080 blessed to the glory and praise of God. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:11.960 The word of the Lord. 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:13.840 Thanks be to God. 00:02:14.740 --> 00:02:15.659 You may be seated. 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:25.219 The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever. 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:33.040 Let's pray. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:51.819 Lord, it's truly a mystery. 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:56.240 How much you love us. 00:03:01.040 --> 00:03:06.140 If it weren't for your word telling us so plainly, so clearly, 00:03:06.139 --> 00:03:15.079 of the abounding love of Jesus for his church, we would have no way of even receiving this glorious truth. 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:21.279 We thank you, Lord, that you are so loving and in your love you have not been silent, 00:03:21.419 --> 00:03:29.159 but you have been clear and you have spoken a strong word of assurance and abounding affection 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:31.479 that Jesus puts in his people. 00:03:31.479 --> 00:03:40.459 And we pray today, Lord, that by the power of your Holy Spirit, ministering your word in the Bible to every true believer, 00:03:40.679 --> 00:03:46.839 Lord, that you will strengthen our faith, that you will help us to receive even more of your love today. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:54.379 Lord, for those here today who are still in darkness, who know nothing but emptiness on the inside, 00:03:54.379 --> 00:04:02.079 I pray, Lord, that your abounding love will break through and capture them, Lord. 00:04:02.460 --> 00:04:03.819 For your glory we ask. 00:04:04.340 --> 00:04:04.599 Amen. 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:04.680 Amen. 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:16.120 Well, last week, the word was Philippians 1.6. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:24.839 I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. 00:04:24.839 --> 00:04:32.339 And I stood up there and I told you that quote by Robert Murray Machine about assurance. 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:36.459 For every look you give to yourself, take ten looks at Christ. 00:04:38.339 --> 00:04:44.419 And I need to confess that as I was preparing for this sermon today, I was struggling to do that. 00:04:45.779 --> 00:04:50.219 Because I read this prayer of Paul and I just was so convicted. 00:04:50.359 --> 00:04:53.639 I don't have this kind of affection for the church. 00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:57.019 I don't have this longing in my heart. 00:04:59.099 --> 00:05:03.819 I don't have this abounding love. 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:07.039 And I feel like I'm just the opposite. 00:05:07.300 --> 00:05:12.959 So how am I going to not be a hypocrite and minister the truth of this prayer? 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:21.120 And very late last night, the Lord, again, washed over me with his grace. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:25.620 I'm taking ten looks at myself and my shortcomings. 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:35.600 And with his help, I just need to receive the abounding love of Jesus once again myself. 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:41.820 And that's been my prayer for you as well, that you can receive it today. 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:55.060 If you look at Philippians 1.8, Paul says this love that fills his heart, notice who is the source of it. 00:05:55.060 --> 00:05:59.759 In verse 8, it's the affection of Jesus Christ himself. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:05.040 Paul didn't muster up or generate more love for the church. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:10.199 It's the love that Jesus has had all along that he puts into Paul. 00:06:10.699 --> 00:06:13.300 It's the affection of Jesus Christ. 00:06:13.300 --> 00:06:24.939 And with that love in his heart, he prays, verse 9, this I pray that your love may abound still more and more. 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:30.920 You and I love because he first loved us and gave his son for us. 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:45.759 So, beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, I want to show you today six glorious truths about how the love of Jesus abounds for you. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:50.580 How the love of Jesus abounds for you. 00:06:50.579 --> 00:06:57.699 First, the love of Jesus strengthens your faith beyond sight. 00:06:58.699 --> 00:07:03.259 The love of Jesus is what strengthens our faith beyond our sight. 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:11.719 Christians are told to sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron. 00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:21.080 And I want to talk to you about the love of Jesus strengthening and sharpening your faith like iron. 00:07:22.280 --> 00:07:25.220 I know nothing about science, so I had to look this up. 00:07:25.280 --> 00:07:26.560 How is iron even made? 00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:30.400 I know that if you're driving toward Aspen, there's a place called Carbondale. 00:07:30.580 --> 00:07:32.280 And just after that is Redstone. 00:07:32.400 --> 00:07:35.160 And you can see old iron furnaces. 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:43.580 And what they do is they take the iron ore and they apply extreme heat to it, a heat furnace. 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:45.180 They just blast it with heat. 00:07:45.660 --> 00:07:47.380 And that puts all the particles in motion. 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:49.960 But then they have to hammer the iron. 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:53.440 And the hammering, it makes those particles separate. 00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:56.640 And it's removing the impurities that are mixed in. 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:00.240 So how do you make strong iron? 00:08:00.900 --> 00:08:03.080 It's heat and hammering. 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:08.319 And look at what Paul in his life is experiencing. 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:12.240 You could say he's experiencing extreme heat spiritually. 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:14.500 And extreme hammering. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:20.500 And as a result, it strengthens the faith and the love inside of him. 00:08:21.919 --> 00:08:23.579 Why do we say spiritual heat? 00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:27.839 Well, notice he talks about the chains he's wearing. 00:08:29.479 --> 00:08:31.319 He's a man under persecution. 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:35.080 He's been arrested for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:40.620 And in verse 7, he says, I have you in my heart. 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:44.980 And verse 8, he says, it's how greatly I long for you. 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:46.519 I long for you all. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.439 So here's a man in chains, in prison. 00:08:51.500 --> 00:08:53.700 Neglected, abandoned by the church in Rome. 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:57.580 Because people were preaching Christ for very selfish motives. 00:08:58.500 --> 00:08:59.280 Neglecting Paul. 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:02.620 And he feels the heat of persecution. 00:09:03.320 --> 00:09:05.379 A longing to be with the people of God. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:09.720 You've been through a time without a church. 00:09:10.060 --> 00:09:11.100 You've been through those seasons. 00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:13.740 And it's one of the worst things to go through. 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:18.000 Growing up, my parents were missionaries in a very remote part of the world, 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:19.240 in northern Brazil. 00:09:19.980 --> 00:09:23.519 We didn't really ever have a church from when I was 10 years old to 16. 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:27.159 And I just remember getting to Oklahoma where I met my wife. 00:09:27.340 --> 00:09:29.539 And I didn't really care what church it was. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:30.320 It's a church. 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:33.480 There are Christians here that believe in Jesus Christ. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:34.899 I'm with my family. 00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:36.460 And I remember that feeling of, 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:39.539 this is what I've been missing out on for all these years. 00:09:39.539 --> 00:09:43.839 And Paul longs for that because he's isolated. 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:46.199 It's the worst kind of imprisonment. 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:47.419 It's solitary confinement. 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:50.959 And he's in chains longing to be with the church. 00:09:51.059 --> 00:09:55.279 That's the heat that God is lovingly applying to Paul's life. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:57.480 What about the hammering? 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:00.360 Paul's getting hammered. 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:06.360 He's got the Praetorian Guard, the elite Roman guards all around him. 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:09.340 And even in this position of being a prisoner, 00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:11.840 he is having to defend the gospel. 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:13.480 He's getting accused. 00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:14.379 He's getting attacked. 00:10:14.940 --> 00:10:17.639 He's having his own faith questioned and challenged, 00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:20.580 not to mention the spiritual hammering he's receiving. 00:10:21.539 --> 00:10:22.720 Satan accusing him. 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:24.620 Satan provoking him. 00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:27.279 He's missing out on taking the Lord's Supper with God's people. 00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:30.600 He's missing out on someone else ministering the Word of God 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:34.680 to remind him and to help him rest in the truth of the gospel. 00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:37.219 He's under extreme hammering. 00:10:39.179 --> 00:10:42.779 I told you I want to encourage you that the love of Jesus 00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:45.419 strengthens your faith beyond your sight. 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:47.199 This was true for Paul. 00:10:48.539 --> 00:10:51.019 It's against all visible evidence. 00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:55.519 There's no earthly reason that Paul had to hope. 00:10:57.359 --> 00:10:58.459 And yet he says, 00:10:59.079 --> 00:11:04.019 I pray for you with confidence that God will finish what he started in his church. 00:11:04.019 --> 00:11:09.679 He says that this heat and hammering, so to speak, 00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:11.579 it produced two things. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:16.860 A confirmation in verse 7 and confidence in verse 6. 00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:20.340 So as he's being attacked and having to defend the gospel, 00:11:21.079 --> 00:11:25.279 God is giving him confirmations that this gospel prevails. 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:31.019 In verse 7, it reminds me of what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4.18. 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:35.159 We do not look at the things which are seen, 00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:37.439 but at the things which are not seen. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:40.279 For the things which are seen are temporary, 00:11:40.779 --> 00:11:43.439 but the things which are not seen are eternal. 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:49.899 And God is building this strong faith into him on the world that is unseen. 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:52.879 Jesus Christ on the throne, 00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:55.879 extending his kingdom over all the earth, 00:11:55.959 --> 00:11:56.840 through all the cities, 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.199 through all the peoples, nations, tribes, and tongues, 00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:01.539 from the islands to the coastlands, 00:12:01.959 --> 00:12:05.120 believing in the advance of Jesus and his gospel. 00:12:07.059 --> 00:12:07.899 And he wrote, 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:11.679 you are partakers with me of grace. 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:16.339 In his chains, longing to be with the church, 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:17.939 he's reminded, 00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:19.519 this is what we have in common. 00:12:19.939 --> 00:12:21.639 This is what I truly long for. 00:12:21.979 --> 00:12:23.359 It's not just the friendship. 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:26.399 It's not just the softball, 00:12:26.839 --> 00:12:28.859 or these other things that are wonderful blessings, 00:12:29.079 --> 00:12:30.959 or the hobbies, or the great food. 00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:31.899 It's not just that. 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:36.819 It's the partaking of Christ's grace together. 00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:40.080 Father, that's what I really long for and miss. 00:12:43.520 --> 00:12:45.040 James Montgomery Boyce, 00:12:45.800 --> 00:12:47.140 a wonderful pastor, 00:12:47.680 --> 00:12:50.900 he had shared this thing he got to witness at a conference 00:12:50.900 --> 00:12:52.960 for a lot of pastors from all over the world 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:55.220 that was held in Europe years ago, decades ago. 00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:57.520 And he just remembered, you know, 00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:59.379 as people are coming into this conference center, 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.340 there is this guy from Africa 00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:03.300 that looked very distinctive. 00:13:04.020 --> 00:13:06.140 He had the tattoos on his face, 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:08.259 and he had scars from being in wars. 00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:11.779 And he was a partaker of this grace 00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:13.240 that Paul's talking about, 00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:15.480 sitting there with all these other pastors 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:16.620 from all these other nations. 00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:18.860 Well, at one point in the conference, 00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:22.100 these two believers from Central America 00:13:22.100 --> 00:13:24.319 came up and told their testimony. 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:27.360 One of them shared how he was one 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:29.019 with a spear in his hand 00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:31.519 who had killed innocent people, 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:32.840 including missionaries, 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:34.580 who had come to bring them the gospel. 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:37.000 And God broke him down, 00:13:37.300 --> 00:13:38.379 tore his heart open, 00:13:38.900 --> 00:13:40.540 and flooded him with grace. 00:13:41.540 --> 00:13:44.040 And as these men from Central America 00:13:44.040 --> 00:13:45.220 are telling their story, 00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:46.900 when that session ended, 00:13:47.160 --> 00:13:48.860 everybody's going off for the next event. 00:13:49.420 --> 00:13:50.180 This man, 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:51.840 before it was even announced 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:52.660 that you are dismissed, 00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:53.460 from Africa, 00:13:53.540 --> 00:13:54.800 who had the scars on his face, 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:56.580 came running down the stairs, 00:13:57.020 --> 00:13:58.060 running down the aisle, 00:13:58.059 --> 00:14:00.599 and he wrapped his arms around 00:14:00.599 --> 00:14:02.179 this brother from Central America. 00:14:02.579 --> 00:14:04.339 And he said something to the effect 00:14:04.339 --> 00:14:05.879 that I am you. 00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:07.439 He means, 00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:09.619 I know this grace you're talking about. 00:14:10.439 --> 00:14:11.779 I'm an enemy of God. 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:15.519 I'm a partaker of grace with you. 00:14:15.979 --> 00:14:17.019 And he wouldn't let him go, 00:14:17.099 --> 00:14:18.959 and he hugged him for so long. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:22.519 That's what it means to be a partaker of grace. 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:24.699 You know, just like Paul, 00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:25.759 I'm the chief of sinners. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:28.360 And we have Christ, Jesus, 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:29.379 as our Savior. 00:14:29.939 --> 00:14:31.059 And He is the King. 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:33.360 We serve willingly in His army. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:34.460 And it's such a joy. 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:37.039 And that's why Paul writes, 00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:39.000 it's correct. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:42.779 It's in alignment with God's moral law. 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.279 It's righteous. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:45.699 Verse 6, 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:46.939 for me to be confident 00:14:46.939 --> 00:14:50.019 that God will complete His work. 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:56.159 Romans 5, 9-11 says, 00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:59.120 much more will we, 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:01.539 having now been justified by His blood, 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:04.699 we can know that we shall be saved 00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:06.579 from wrath through Him. 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:08.279 For if we were enemies, 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:10.579 we were reconciled to God 00:15:10.579 --> 00:15:11.980 through the death of His Son. 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:15.159 Much more than having been reconciled, 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:17.819 shall we be saved by His life. 00:15:18.819 --> 00:15:19.759 And not only that, 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:22.919 but we also rejoice in God 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:24.579 through our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:27.159 through whom we have now received 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:28.439 the reconciliation. 00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:33.139 The love of Jesus 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:35.419 strengthens your faith 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:37.159 beyond sight. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:40.600 Do you see, church, 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:42.620 how the love of Jesus 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:44.319 abounds for you too, 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:46.139 you who are a partaker 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:47.399 of His grace? 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:51.039 I don't know what you're going through, 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.600 what's in your sight right now. 00:15:53.459 --> 00:15:54.679 Maybe some of you feel like 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:55.919 God is putting you through 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:58.059 heat and hammering. 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.740 And I pray that you will not 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.799 bear that burden alone. 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.439 Paul's laying out his heart 00:16:03.439 --> 00:16:04.259 to the church here, 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:06.379 so they can also pray for him. 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.579 And that you will remember, 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:10.959 God is working in you 00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:13.439 an iron-strong faith, 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:15.360 because it's not rooted 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:17.820 in anything you bring to God. 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:20.560 It's rooted in the covenant faithfulness, 00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:22.080 the steadfast love 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:23.140 of the Lord 00:16:23.140 --> 00:16:24.420 for you, His people. 00:16:24.520 --> 00:16:25.780 His abounding love 00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:27.420 through Jesus Christ 00:16:27.420 --> 00:16:28.620 to His church. 00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:31.400 Well, the second truth 00:16:31.400 --> 00:16:32.220 in this passage 00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:34.180 is that though your outer man 00:16:34.180 --> 00:16:34.820 is crumbling, 00:16:35.780 --> 00:16:36.920 the love of Jesus 00:16:36.920 --> 00:16:38.880 sustains your inner man. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:41.759 Though the outer man 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.679 is crumbling, 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.860 the love of Jesus 00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:46.600 sustains your inner man. 00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:51.080 Now, this point, 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:52.320 it has to be inferred, 00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.600 but I want you to look 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.360 at verse 8. 00:16:55.700 --> 00:16:56.299 In verse 8, 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:56.799 Paul says, 00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:57.899 God is my witness 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:58.820 how greatly 00:16:58.820 --> 00:17:00.820 I long for you all 00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:02.200 with the affection 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:03.779 of Jesus Christ. 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:06.299 In verse 7, 00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:06.720 he says, 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.900 I have you in my heart. 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:09.660 The Greek word here 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:10.240 for heart, 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:11.759 it really refers 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.759 to the seat 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.620 of reflection 00:17:13.620 --> 00:17:14.319 and thought. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.240 So God has put the church 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.440 in my reflection. 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:19.360 And when he says next 00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:20.160 in verse 8, 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:21.940 that I long for you 00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:23.400 with all the affection 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:24.480 of Jesus Christ, 00:17:24.860 --> 00:17:25.539 the word here 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.660 is the inner words 00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:27.299 of Jesus. 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.700 The inner parts, 00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:30.259 the seat of emotions 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:32.039 are stirred up in Paul. 00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:34.720 So he's very in tune 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.680 with his inner man, 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:36.700 his heart, 00:17:36.840 --> 00:17:37.519 his affections, 00:17:37.600 --> 00:17:38.380 his inner being. 00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:40.460 It's being sustained 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.900 by the abounding love 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:42.539 of Jesus. 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.440 And we do know 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.660 from the book of Acts 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.640 and especially 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.560 2 Corinthians, 00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:49.060 what was going on 00:17:49.060 --> 00:17:50.180 in Paul's outer man 00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:50.960 because this is 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.759 a prison epistle. 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.820 Paul by this time 00:17:53.820 --> 00:17:55.620 would be a very old man, 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:56.480 most likely in his, 00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:58.019 well, I won't even say it 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:58.940 because I just said very old 00:17:58.940 --> 00:17:59.640 so I don't want to make 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:00.380 anyone feel bad, 00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:02.580 but probably early 60s, 00:18:02.600 --> 00:18:03.880 which today it's a little 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:04.880 different than back then. 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:06.080 But you know, 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:07.020 the life expectancy 00:18:07.020 --> 00:18:08.080 in the first century 00:18:08.080 --> 00:18:09.300 Roman society 00:18:09.300 --> 00:18:10.660 was age 25. 00:18:12.020 --> 00:18:14.020 If anyone's around 25 here, 00:18:14.080 --> 00:18:15.260 you'd be middle-aged in Rome. 00:18:15.860 --> 00:18:16.420 And so for Paul 00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:17.940 to be in his early 60s, 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.240 he was called, 00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:20.800 in Philippians 1, 9, 00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:21.860 he actually called himself 00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:22.220 aged. 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:24.100 We know that he wrote 00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:25.180 the letter to the Galatians 00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:26.180 with large letters 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:28.100 so that it could be proof 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:29.160 it was his own handwriting 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:30.800 because he had failing eyesight. 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.940 And that was an early book. 00:18:32.379 --> 00:18:33.619 How bad are his eyes now? 00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:35.419 In 2 Corinthians, 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.319 we read that Paul 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:37.599 was beaten with rods 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.399 three times. 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:42.220 Some of us have gotten injured 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.759 brushing your teeth 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.480 or something like that 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:44.980 you throw out 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.779 a part of your back. 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:48.440 Imagine the ligaments 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.240 and the muscles 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.539 without physical therapy, 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.759 without medicine 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.639 that we have today. 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.480 A beating like that 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.960 three times with rods 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:56.759 on the body 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.639 of an old minister. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.819 On top of that, 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:00.980 his skin and muscles 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.639 and tendons 00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:02.359 were lashed 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:03.700 five times. 00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:06.099 He wrote of having 00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:07.339 an ongoing thorn 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:08.139 in the flesh. 00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:10.659 Most likely, 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:12.379 according to his letter 00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:13.819 to the Corinthians, 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:14.539 the second one, 00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:15.879 he said that he fought 00:19:15.879 --> 00:19:16.960 with wild beasts. 00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:20.000 Maybe like you'd picture 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.720 a gladiator, 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:22.220 but here it's an old minister 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:24.000 with bad eyesight 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.579 being thrown 00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:25.439 to the wild beasts 00:19:25.439 --> 00:19:26.819 and God sparing his life. 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.759 He summarized it as, 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:31.119 I daily face death. 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.720 That's what's going on 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.980 with Paul and the outer man. 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:37.059 But to the Philippians, 00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:37.920 they don't need him 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:38.500 to rehearse 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.500 any of those credentials. 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.140 They know, 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.019 they respect him, 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:42.680 they love him. 00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.579 He simply says, 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.559 in two words, 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:46.759 my chains. 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.359 That's how I'm doing physically. 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:52.440 And still, 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.299 in verse 8, 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.599 because of the affection 00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.919 of Jesus Christ 00:19:55.919 --> 00:19:56.740 for me 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.919 and in me, 00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:59.139 in my inner man, 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:01.179 I long for you, 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:01.539 church, 00:20:01.659 --> 00:20:02.259 in my heart. 00:20:03.139 --> 00:20:03.919 It's the affection 00:20:03.919 --> 00:20:05.079 of Jesus Christ 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:07.599 who loved us 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.719 and washed us 00:20:08.719 --> 00:20:09.740 from our sins 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.659 in his own blood. 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.459 Revelation 1.5. 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.779 Paul's confidence 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:16.939 is in the inner man 00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:17.599 sustained 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:18.959 by the affection 00:20:18.959 --> 00:20:20.099 of Jesus Christ, 00:20:20.199 --> 00:20:21.819 according to Romans 8.38. 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:23.179 He says, 00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:24.019 I'm persuaded 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:25.000 that neither 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.279 death nor life, 00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:27.000 nor angels, 00:20:27.159 --> 00:20:28.099 nor principalities, 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:28.839 nor powers, 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.019 nor things present, 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:30.980 nor things to come, 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:31.819 nor height, 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:32.500 nor depth, 00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:33.659 nor any other 00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:34.439 created thing 00:20:34.439 --> 00:20:35.619 shall be able 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.619 to separate us 00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:37.960 from the love of God 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:39.839 which is in Christ Jesus 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:40.879 our Lord. 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:43.179 That's what sustains us 00:20:43.179 --> 00:20:44.119 in the inner being. 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.799 And his message 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:47.659 to all the churches 00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.939 and to you and me today, 00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:50.919 2 Corinthians 4.16, 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:51.440 therefore, 00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.800 we who are partakers 00:20:53.800 --> 00:20:54.360 of grace, 00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:56.420 we do not lose heart. 00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:58.880 Even though our outward man 00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.519 is perishing, 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:01.039 yet the inward man 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:02.039 is being renewed 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:03.120 day by day 00:21:03.120 --> 00:21:05.840 for our light affliction, 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:07.180 which is but for a moment, 00:21:07.560 --> 00:21:08.560 is working for us 00:21:08.560 --> 00:21:09.940 a more exceeding 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:11.860 and eternal weight 00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:12.820 of glory. 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.580 Though your outer man 00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.360 is crumbling, 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:19.200 the love of Jesus 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:21.279 sustains the inner being 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.860 of every true believer. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.000 Some of you 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:25.620 are living with 00:21:25.620 --> 00:21:26.360 chronic pain 00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:28.279 and all the problems 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:28.819 that raises. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.440 When you don't get 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.039 enough sleep, 00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:30.940 it affects everything 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.480 in your life, 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.000 doesn't it? 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.920 The inner man 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:36.860 will be sustained 00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:38.220 by Jesus Christ. 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.420 and one day 00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:40.019 you'll receive 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.240 a glorified body 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:42.299 just as Jesus 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:43.900 in his glorified body 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:45.279 will never perish. 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.400 You'll receive 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:47.339 this same body 00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.700 that's crumbling 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:49.680 all around you. 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.660 It will be resurrected 00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:52.620 and made perfect 00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:54.339 and you'll get a walk 00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:55.319 with Jesus Christ 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:56.539 and follow the Lamb 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.819 wherever he leads you 00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:58.279 one day. 00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.700 So trust him. 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.660 By faith, 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:02.319 he will sustain 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:03.259 your soul, 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.339 your inner being 00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:05.160 until that day. 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:06.860 Oh, how the love 00:22:06.860 --> 00:22:07.500 of Jesus, 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:09.000 it abounds for you 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.320 and me 00:22:09.320 --> 00:22:10.140 just as it did 00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:10.600 for Paul. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.460 The third truth 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.500 I see in this passage 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:14.960 is that 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:16.340 the love of Jesus, 00:22:16.560 --> 00:22:17.980 it flows 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.019 through you, 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.019 through Paul, 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.200 through a Christian 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:23.220 to his church. 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.920 The love of Jesus 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:27.440 doesn't come to a life 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.920 and stay like a pond 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.759 that gets stale 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.759 and stagnant. 00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:33.100 The love of Jesus, 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.539 it's living waters 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.779 that flow through 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.719 a believer 00:22:36.719 --> 00:22:38.419 like Paul 00:22:38.419 --> 00:22:38.899 and like you 00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:39.359 and like me. 00:22:39.459 --> 00:22:40.500 It flows through you 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.740 to his church 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:43.199 and to everyone 00:22:43.199 --> 00:22:44.039 who believe. 00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:46.779 Notice in verse 9 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.240 he says, 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.279 this I pray 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.259 that your love, 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:50.879 the affection 00:22:50.879 --> 00:22:52.219 of Jesus in you 00:22:52.219 --> 00:22:53.779 may abound 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.959 still more and more. 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.619 Do you remember 00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.459 how John the Baptist 00:22:59.459 --> 00:23:01.039 spoke of Jesus Christ? 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:02.159 He said, 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.779 He, Jesus Christ, 00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:05.019 must increase. 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.460 How does that happen? 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:08.559 As I decrease. 00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:11.519 What Paul is saying is 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:13.700 the love of Jesus 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:15.399 increasing in you 00:23:15.399 --> 00:23:16.440 abounds more 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:17.059 and more and more. 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.819 It goes from good 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:19.599 to better 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.359 to great. 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.119 Excellent. 00:23:22.399 --> 00:23:23.579 The love of Jesus 00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.859 is not decreasing. 00:23:26.399 --> 00:23:28.579 It's not a diminishing returns. 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:31.220 It's a never ending supply 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.359 of the affection, 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.379 the love of Jesus 00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:34.000 poured through 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:34.599 his believers. 00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:35.960 And it increases 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.799 still more 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.980 and still more 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.119 and still more 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:39.980 every day 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.819 by his grace. 00:23:44.939 --> 00:23:45.799 I've had to think 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.240 a lot about 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.079 this relationship 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.159 of how 00:23:48.159 --> 00:23:49.919 the love of Jesus 00:23:49.919 --> 00:23:51.799 flows through us 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:53.639 in such a way 00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:54.259 that God gets 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.899 all the glory 00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:56.000 and we don't touch 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.639 any of the glory. 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.880 but yet it's 00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:58.660 through his people. 00:24:00.060 --> 00:24:00.780 I don't know 00:24:00.780 --> 00:24:01.280 that I'll get it 00:24:01.280 --> 00:24:02.020 quite right today 00:24:02.020 --> 00:24:03.060 but what was helpful 00:24:03.060 --> 00:24:03.900 as an illustration 00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:04.580 to me 00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:05.660 came from one 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:06.580 of the commentaries. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.580 All good works 00:24:09.580 --> 00:24:10.840 depend on God 00:24:10.840 --> 00:24:11.940 filling you 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.800 with his love. 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:16.000 So the love of God 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.400 is like the pressure 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:19.580 behind anything loving 00:24:19.580 --> 00:24:20.200 that you will do. 00:24:21.800 --> 00:24:23.100 And the love of God 00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:25.180 flowing through 00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:25.860 a life 00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:27.140 that is increasingly 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:28.060 free 00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:29.519 of two things 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:31.180 evidences itself 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:32.019 for God's glory 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:33.220 as fruit, 00:24:33.560 --> 00:24:34.560 the fruits of righteousness. 00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:37.160 So the illustration 00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:39.279 it's from the field 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.000 of electricity. 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:42.360 Something I also 00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.279 don't know anything about. 00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:45.420 But he says that 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:47.820 when you're running 00:24:47.820 --> 00:24:48.740 an electrical current 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.940 through a wire 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:50.779 or through a system 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:52.080 you can have two things. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:54.480 You can have resistors 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.720 and condensers. 00:24:57.199 --> 00:24:57.720 Resistors 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:59.019 impede the flow. 00:24:59.359 --> 00:24:59.919 They're blocks 00:24:59.919 --> 00:25:01.019 that are blocking 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.240 the flow of electricity. 00:25:03.419 --> 00:25:04.299 And then condensers 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:05.919 are holding on 00:25:05.919 --> 00:25:07.480 to the flow of electricity 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.439 for their own use. 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:12.359 So if the pressure 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:13.220 or the currency 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:14.779 flowing through this channel 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:16.179 is the love of God, 00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:19.859 as God sanctifies me, 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:21.379 he's removing things 00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:21.959 in my life 00:25:21.959 --> 00:25:23.019 that are resistors 00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:24.039 to his love 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.919 flowing through me 00:25:24.919 --> 00:25:25.659 to his church. 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.179 And he's also 00:25:27.179 --> 00:25:28.019 convicting me 00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:28.679 and causing me 00:25:28.679 --> 00:25:29.479 to repent 00:25:29.479 --> 00:25:30.919 and give up 00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:31.740 other things 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.839 that might be condensers 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:33.759 where I'm holding on 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.399 and some of the love 00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:35.079 he's shown me 00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:35.939 that's intended 00:25:35.939 --> 00:25:37.179 for his church 00:25:37.179 --> 00:25:38.379 but I was holding on 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:39.539 to it for my own purposes. 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.199 He says, 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:42.759 I pray 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:44.219 that your love 00:25:44.219 --> 00:25:45.240 may abound 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.319 still more 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:46.779 and more 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.240 and more 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.679 and more 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:49.000 so the Spirit's 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.400 making you 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:49.799 a better 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.740 and better channel 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.880 of his love 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:53.080 flowing through you 00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:53.980 for his church. 00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:55.960 He says that 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:57.259 this is a type of love 00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.440 that flows through you 00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.720 that abounds 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.640 more and more 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.860 in knowledge 00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:03.299 and all discernment. 00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:03.900 Verse 10, 00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:05.279 that you may approve 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:05.820 the things 00:26:05.820 --> 00:26:06.640 that are excellent. 00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:09.799 So it's a love 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:12.420 that is a discerning love. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:13.539 It's a love 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.580 that is informed 00:26:14.580 --> 00:26:15.880 and given 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:16.900 by the Holy Spirit 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:18.340 to help you understand 00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:20.200 how God designed 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:21.540 for love to operate. 00:26:22.780 --> 00:26:23.600 The word discern 00:26:23.600 --> 00:26:25.780 is used also 00:26:25.780 --> 00:26:27.220 for testing money 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:27.960 or a currency 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:29.220 to see if it's counterfeit. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.340 It was used 00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:31.060 in the ancient world 00:26:31.060 --> 00:26:31.720 to describe 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:33.100 political testing 00:26:33.100 --> 00:26:34.440 to see if a candidate 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.360 is credible 00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:36.440 and commendable 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:38.160 for a political office. 00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:41.080 So this love of Christ 00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:42.480 is a divine love 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.380 governed by 00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:44.420 biblical principles 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:46.380 based on the knowledge 00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.340 of God's word. 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:50.100 It's a love 00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:50.920 that is according 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.820 to knowledge. 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.779 It's a knowledge 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.800 that describes 00:26:55.800 --> 00:26:56.840 a spiritual, 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.100 relational knowing 00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:58.700 of God. 00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:00.539 Knowing truth. 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:02.039 Knowing sound doctrine. 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.060 And you only can do that 00:27:04.060 --> 00:27:04.660 through the study 00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.400 of God's word 00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:06.140 with his people 00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:06.680 by the help 00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.580 of the Holy Spirit. 00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:09.460 It reminds me 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.019 of what he wrote 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:11.039 in Romans 12, 00:27:11.139 --> 00:27:11.700 verse 2. 00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:12.980 The purpose 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:14.579 of God's ministry 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.220 of the word 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:16.000 and growing us 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.619 in knowledge 00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:18.000 is that we will 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.980 be transformed 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:20.740 by the renewing 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.480 of our minds 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.799 so that we can 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:24.139 test and approve 00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:25.379 what is God's will. 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.160 His good, 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.019 pleasing, 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:28.099 and perfect will. 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.920 So the love of Jesus, 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:32.379 it flows 00:27:32.379 --> 00:27:34.119 through true believers 00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:35.900 to his church. 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.859 And it does so 00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:38.539 as we grow 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.379 in our knowledge 00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:39.920 of God 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:41.200 through his word 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:42.379 by the help 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:42.980 of the Spirit. 00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:44.619 You see how loving 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.940 Jesus is 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:47.359 that he transforms 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:47.899 you and me. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.659 He makes his love 00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.339 to abound. 00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:52.399 He removes resistors 00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:53.960 and condensers 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:55.159 so that we can be 00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:56.220 an even more 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.599 suitable vessel 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.720 of his love 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:00.119 as it flows. 00:28:01.879 --> 00:28:02.980 The fourth truth 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.539 I see here 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.200 in verse 10 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:04.940 is that the love 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.440 of Jesus 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.379 in you 00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:08.440 proclaims 00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:09.660 he is your king. 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:11.640 The love of Jesus 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.279 in you 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:13.019 proclaims 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:14.059 he is your king. 00:28:15.580 --> 00:28:16.100 In verse 10 00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:16.460 he says, 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.299 I pray that you 00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:18.299 may be sincere 00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:20.259 and without offense 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:22.279 till the day 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.460 of Jesus Christ. 00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.279 And all of this 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.920 in verse 11 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:27.519 is for the glory 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.340 and the praise 00:28:28.340 --> 00:28:28.820 of God. 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.059 So, 00:28:31.320 --> 00:28:33.279 as God purifies 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.000 his church, 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.460 as the church 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.579 is sincere 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:38.059 without offense, 00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:39.980 God is praised 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:41.299 and glorified. 00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:43.140 Right now 00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:43.559 the kingdom 00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.120 of God 00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:45.779 is ministered 00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.500 over his people 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.100 spiritually 00:28:47.100 --> 00:28:48.039 by faith, 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:48.980 not by sight. 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:50.720 And so it's 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.539 through the lives 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.640 and through the love 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.299 of Christ 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.360 in his church 00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:55.620 that he shows 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:57.160 here's my kingdom. 00:28:57.600 --> 00:28:58.460 Here's a place 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.120 where I rule. 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.840 And when Jesus Christ 00:29:00.840 --> 00:29:01.579 comes on that 00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.180 great day, 00:29:03.080 --> 00:29:03.539 his church 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.360 bears witness 00:29:04.360 --> 00:29:05.400 in word 00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.299 and in our lives 00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.660 his transforming us 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.720 that he is 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.940 the king of kings. 00:29:11.060 --> 00:29:11.759 He says, 00:29:11.840 --> 00:29:12.420 I pray that you 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:13.420 may be sincere. 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.740 The word sincere, 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:18.700 it means that 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:20.360 it's not 00:29:20.360 --> 00:29:22.480 been patched together 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.560 by your own efforts. 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:24.960 Sincere, 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:26.039 even in the English, 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.039 the root here 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:29.000 is without wax. 00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.060 Sin means without 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:32.419 and then sire 00:29:32.419 --> 00:29:33.159 is wax. 00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.220 And so 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:35.659 if you go to 00:29:35.659 --> 00:29:36.159 a museum 00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:36.819 you can see 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:38.879 these pieces of pottery 00:29:38.879 --> 00:29:39.819 from all over the world 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:40.299 in all different 00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.019 time periods. 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.399 The ones that last 00:29:42.399 --> 00:29:42.859 were cheaper 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.839 because they're very thick. 00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:45.359 The most expensive 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:46.139 pottery 00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:47.339 is very thin pottery 00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:48.759 and it's very rare 00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:49.519 to find a piece 00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:50.440 that didn't just crumble 00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:51.679 over the decades 00:29:51.679 --> 00:29:52.399 and centuries. 00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:54.019 And the thinner 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:55.339 a piece of pottery was 00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:56.159 the more likely 00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:57.099 it would be to break. 00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.879 So when a very expensive 00:29:58.879 --> 00:29:59.919 thin piece of pottery 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.560 was made 00:30:00.560 --> 00:30:01.240 and it would 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.080 accidentally break 00:30:02.080 --> 00:30:02.640 or crack 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:04.019 they would 00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:05.640 take it and fill wax in 00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.500 to make it as smooth 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.039 as they could 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.080 and then paint over it 00:30:08.080 --> 00:30:09.340 and still try to sell it 00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:10.140 at full price. 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.980 So to be sincere 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:13.500 is to be 00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:14.620 hiding something 00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:15.880 that when it gets 00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:16.420 exposed 00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.080 in the heat 00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:18.840 the wax would melt away 00:30:18.840 --> 00:30:19.400 and you can see 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:19.960 what it was 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.940 or they would hold it up 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.400 to the light 00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:21.920 and you can see 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.480 the light coming 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.279 through the wax. 00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:24.539 And he's saying 00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.060 that I pray 00:30:25.060 --> 00:30:26.300 that you may be sincere 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:28.440 that when your life 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.079 gets held up 00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:30.220 to the light of Christ 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:32.299 yes you're a broken vessel 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:34.399 but it won't be an offense 00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:35.599 to the name of Jesus. 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.099 It'll be a testament 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:37.879 that God took 00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:39.059 those parts of you 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:39.700 that are cracks 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:40.240 and broken 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:42.440 and he filled them solid. 00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:44.480 There's nothing man's 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.740 trying to put in there 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.539 and cover up. 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:48.639 This is a true work of God. 00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.440 You're bearing witness 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:50.839 he is your king. 00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:53.559 It reminds me of Jude 1.21 00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:55.659 where he prays 00:30:55.659 --> 00:30:56.899 that they will keep themselves 00:30:56.899 --> 00:30:58.099 in the love of God 00:30:58.099 --> 00:31:00.279 looking for the mercy 00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.879 of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:04.179 unto eternal life. 00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:08.639 So your love of Jesus in you 00:31:08.639 --> 00:31:11.980 proclaims that he is your king. 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:15.319 Here's where I want to try 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:17.099 to be extra careful. 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:23.379 Jesus was the king 00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:24.740 of the criminal 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.620 on the cross. 00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:29.340 He met the one condition 00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:31.600 to have eternal life 00:31:31.600 --> 00:31:33.560 which was to believe. 00:31:35.800 --> 00:31:36.420 Do you see 00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:37.460 your good works 00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:39.800 they add nothing 00:31:39.800 --> 00:31:40.880 to your standing 00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:41.620 with God. 00:31:43.820 --> 00:31:45.300 I love how our confession 00:31:45.300 --> 00:31:47.880 makes really careful statements 00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:49.920 that clarify errors 00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:50.380 we could go 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:51.440 in numerous directions. 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:53.779 listen to these words 00:31:53.779 --> 00:31:55.120 about the good works 00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:55.840 that God does 00:31:55.840 --> 00:31:56.420 in the life 00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:57.320 of his people 00:31:57.320 --> 00:31:59.019 making us sincere 00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:00.039 without offense. 00:32:00.840 --> 00:32:01.559 These good works 00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:02.440 done in obedience 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.519 to God's commandments 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:04.820 are the fruits 00:32:04.820 --> 00:32:05.860 and evidences 00:32:05.860 --> 00:32:06.880 of a true 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:08.840 and lively faith 00:32:08.840 --> 00:32:09.940 and by them 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:10.980 believers manifest 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:12.299 their thankfulness 00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:13.660 strengthen their assurance 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.660 edify their brethren 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:17.120 adorn the profession 00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:17.779 of the gospel 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:19.460 stop the mouths 00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:20.539 of adversaries 00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:22.539 and glorify God 00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:24.180 whose workmanship 00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:24.799 they are 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:25.639 created 00:32:25.639 --> 00:32:27.220 in Christ Jesus 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:28.180 thereunto 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:30.339 that having their fruit 00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:31.399 unto holiness 00:32:31.399 --> 00:32:32.779 they may have 00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:33.740 the end 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:35.019 eternal life. 00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:37.420 this is a summary 00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:38.960 of what scripture 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:39.420 teaches 00:32:39.420 --> 00:32:39.920 for example 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:41.079 Ephesians 2.10 00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:42.119 for we are 00:32:42.119 --> 00:32:43.720 his workmanship 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.980 he is the one 00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:46.039 beginning the work 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:47.119 and completing the work 00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:47.740 in his people 00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.960 we are created 00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:50.240 in Christ Jesus 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.900 for good works 00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:53.400 which God has prepared 00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:54.319 beforehand 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:55.940 that we should walk 00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:56.519 in them 00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:58.799 we don't go out 00:32:58.799 --> 00:32:59.559 trying to find 00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.379 good works 00:33:00.379 --> 00:33:00.700 to do 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.379 to make ourselves 00:33:01.379 --> 00:33:02.099 more good 00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:04.259 you are in Christ 00:33:04.259 --> 00:33:05.459 you are a new creation 00:33:05.459 --> 00:33:07.439 he already has prepared 00:33:07.439 --> 00:33:08.039 those things 00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:08.619 you will do 00:33:08.619 --> 00:33:10.240 so then when you 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.059 when you realize 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:11.980 look God used me 00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:12.579 as a channel 00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:13.339 of his love 00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:14.839 you give him 00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:15.500 all the glory 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.559 God already knew 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:17.439 this was going 00:33:17.439 --> 00:33:17.899 to be a way 00:33:17.899 --> 00:33:18.619 he would use me 00:33:18.619 --> 00:33:19.459 praise the Lord 00:33:19.459 --> 00:33:20.639 he gets all the glory 00:33:20.639 --> 00:33:21.379 I get none 00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:22.679 as it should be 00:33:22.679 --> 00:33:24.319 Hebrews 6.11 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:25.599 we desire 00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:26.419 each one of you 00:33:26.419 --> 00:33:26.939 to show 00:33:26.939 --> 00:33:28.199 the same earnestness 00:33:28.199 --> 00:33:29.319 to have the full 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:30.439 assurance of hope 00:33:30.439 --> 00:33:31.619 until the end 00:33:31.619 --> 00:33:32.479 so that you 00:33:32.479 --> 00:33:33.199 may not be 00:33:33.199 --> 00:33:33.719 sluggish 00:33:33.719 --> 00:33:34.679 but imitators 00:33:34.679 --> 00:33:35.639 of those 00:33:35.639 --> 00:33:36.779 who through faith 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.659 and patience 00:33:37.659 --> 00:33:39.679 inherit the promises 00:33:39.679 --> 00:33:41.339 well where does 00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:42.199 the patience 00:33:42.199 --> 00:33:43.239 and where does 00:33:43.239 --> 00:33:43.819 the faith 00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:44.819 and the strength 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.519 and the energy 00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:46.500 to endure 00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:47.859 where does that 00:33:47.859 --> 00:33:48.699 even come from 00:33:48.699 --> 00:33:50.079 that comes from 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:51.139 the Lord Jesus Christ 00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:51.619 it's his 00:33:51.619 --> 00:33:52.939 abounding love 00:33:52.939 --> 00:33:53.799 that he puts 00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:54.579 in his people 00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:57.139 so the love 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:58.099 of Jesus in you 00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:59.299 it proclaims 00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.899 he is working 00:34:00.899 --> 00:34:02.159 in my life 00:34:02.159 --> 00:34:03.559 oh how the love 00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:04.099 of Jesus 00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:05.139 abounds for you 00:34:05.139 --> 00:34:05.460 and me 00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:07.879 the fifth truth 00:34:07.879 --> 00:34:08.420 here is that 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:09.079 the abounding 00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:10.279 love of Jesus 00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:11.880 it does fill 00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:12.420 his people 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.519 with the fruits 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.219 of righteousness 00:34:14.219 --> 00:34:15.880 look at verse 11 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:18.019 being filled 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:18.860 with the fruits 00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:19.759 of righteousness 00:34:19.759 --> 00:34:20.380 which are 00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:21.659 by Jesus Christ 00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:22.659 to the glory 00:34:22.659 --> 00:34:23.460 and praise 00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:24.460 of God 00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:26.400 notice he says 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.159 in verse 11 00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:28.119 you Christian 00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.239 are being filled 00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:29.659 with 00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:31.500 it's happening 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:31.940 to you 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.699 in the passive 00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:33.440 tense 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:35.339 in the fruits 00:34:35.339 --> 00:34:36.139 of righteousness 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:36.980 it's not something 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:37.599 you make up 00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:38.299 or I make up 00:34:38.299 --> 00:34:39.480 it's what God 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.299 has already shown 00:34:40.299 --> 00:34:41.099 in the Bible 00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:42.079 to be pleasing 00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:42.579 to him 00:34:42.579 --> 00:34:44.679 our confession 00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:45.299 says again 00:34:45.299 --> 00:34:46.219 in another paragraph 00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:47.299 our ability 00:34:47.299 --> 00:34:48.339 to do good works 00:34:48.339 --> 00:34:49.619 is not at all 00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:50.739 of ourselves 00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:51.920 but wholly 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:52.599 from the spirit 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:53.139 of Christ 00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:54.299 who enables you 00:34:54.299 --> 00:34:55.579 to do good work 00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:57.119 besides the graces 00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:57.759 you have already 00:34:57.759 --> 00:34:58.299 received 00:34:58.299 --> 00:34:59.239 there is also 00:34:59.239 --> 00:34:59.960 necessary 00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:01.039 an actual 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.759 influence 00:35:01.759 --> 00:35:02.679 of the same 00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:03.259 Holy Spirit 00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:04.259 to work in you 00:35:04.259 --> 00:35:05.279 to make you 00:35:05.279 --> 00:35:05.799 to will 00:35:05.799 --> 00:35:06.699 and to do 00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:07.980 of his good pleasure 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:09.259 yet you are not 00:35:09.259 --> 00:35:10.340 bound to perform 00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:10.880 any duty 00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:11.920 unless upon 00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.599 a special 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:13.380 motion 00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:14.199 of the spirit 00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:16.279 he will stir you up 00:35:16.279 --> 00:35:16.940 he will 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:17.920 he will cause you 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:19.139 to be overflowing 00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:20.079 with the love of Christ 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:20.579 to do 00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:21.340 that thing 00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:22.059 he is calling you 00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:22.480 to do 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.739 he will sustain 00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:24.420 you in obedience 00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:26.260 not under the principle 00:35:26.260 --> 00:35:26.860 of works 00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:27.639 adding anything 00:35:27.639 --> 00:35:28.539 to your salvation 00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:30.099 but all Christians 00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:31.159 ought to be diligent 00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:32.740 in the stirring up 00:35:32.740 --> 00:35:34.220 of the grace of God 00:35:34.220 --> 00:35:35.780 that is in you 00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:38.579 you bring yourself 00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:39.800 to be with God's people 00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:40.900 you sit under the ministry 00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:41.579 of his word 00:35:41.579 --> 00:35:42.880 you come by faith 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:43.860 week after week 00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:44.960 to take the Lord's supper 00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:46.260 and you trust 00:35:46.260 --> 00:35:47.599 he will stir up 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:48.559 this love 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.460 inside of you 00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.780 it begins with him 00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:51.920 and he will use 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.960 the means he's ordained 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:54.159 to sustain it 00:35:54.159 --> 00:35:55.139 in his people 00:35:55.139 --> 00:35:56.079 as well 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:58.639 2 Corinthians 3 5 00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:59.440 in ourselves 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:00.740 we are not able 00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.360 to claim 00:36:01.360 --> 00:36:02.860 anything for ourselves 00:36:02.860 --> 00:36:04.260 the power to do 00:36:04.260 --> 00:36:04.960 what we do 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:06.099 comes from God 00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:08.199 the best summary 00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:08.679 of all 00:36:08.679 --> 00:36:09.940 it's really 00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:10.760 it's really 00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:11.440 the kernel 00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:12.220 that everything else 00:36:12.220 --> 00:36:12.960 is opening up 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:13.760 and fleshing out 00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:14.480 it's from the words 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:15.579 of Jesus himself 00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:17.119 John 15 5 00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:19.139 whoever abides in me 00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:20.400 and I in him 00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:21.579 he it is 00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:23.299 that bears much fruit 00:36:23.299 --> 00:36:24.599 apart from me 00:36:24.599 --> 00:36:25.420 you can do 00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:26.339 nothing 00:36:26.339 --> 00:36:28.659 not even a little 00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:31.219 but as the abounding 00:36:31.219 --> 00:36:32.099 love of Jesus 00:36:32.099 --> 00:36:33.739 dwells in you 00:36:33.739 --> 00:36:34.719 and teaches you 00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:35.759 to abide in him 00:36:35.759 --> 00:36:37.039 he does 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:38.859 bring into your life 00:36:38.859 --> 00:36:39.519 fruits 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:40.619 of righteousness 00:36:40.619 --> 00:36:43.420 well the sixth 00:36:43.420 --> 00:36:44.500 and final truth here 00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.859 is back to verse 9 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:48.860 and it's that 00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.940 the love of Jesus 00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:52.380 it abounds 00:36:52.380 --> 00:36:53.440 still more 00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:54.360 and more 00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:55.059 in you 00:36:55.059 --> 00:36:56.980 verse 9 says 00:36:56.980 --> 00:36:57.640 this I pray 00:36:57.640 --> 00:36:58.579 that your love 00:36:58.579 --> 00:37:00.180 the same love 00:37:00.180 --> 00:37:00.780 Paul has 00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.360 the affection 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:02.640 of Jesus Christ 00:37:02.640 --> 00:37:03.920 may abound 00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:05.079 still more 00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:06.019 and more 00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:09.340 Paul has used 00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:09.900 that phrase 00:37:09.900 --> 00:37:10.620 in other places 00:37:10.620 --> 00:37:11.140 one is 00:37:11.140 --> 00:37:12.440 Romans 5 20 00:37:12.440 --> 00:37:14.280 God gave his law 00:37:14.280 --> 00:37:15.780 that your sins 00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:16.900 might abound 00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:17.740 in other words 00:37:17.740 --> 00:37:19.120 it needs to be 00:37:19.120 --> 00:37:20.340 abundantly clear 00:37:20.340 --> 00:37:21.820 that you fall short 00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:22.720 of God's glory 00:37:22.720 --> 00:37:24.940 your sins need to be 00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:26.000 heavy upon you 00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:27.019 to drive you 00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:28.200 to the Savior 00:37:28.200 --> 00:37:28.780 in repentance 00:37:28.780 --> 00:37:30.019 and faith 00:37:30.019 --> 00:37:31.480 again and again 00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:32.060 and again 00:37:32.060 --> 00:37:33.680 his law 00:37:33.680 --> 00:37:35.040 exposes your need 00:37:35.040 --> 00:37:35.740 of the Savior 00:37:35.740 --> 00:37:37.560 but Paul wrote 00:37:37.560 --> 00:37:38.940 in Romans 5 20 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:40.300 where sin 00:37:40.300 --> 00:37:41.160 abounded 00:37:41.160 --> 00:37:42.980 grace abounded 00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:43.920 much more 00:37:43.920 --> 00:37:47.360 the love 00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:47.920 of Jesus 00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:49.019 abounds 00:37:49.019 --> 00:37:50.099 more and more 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:51.740 in you 00:37:51.740 --> 00:37:56.519 I read of 00:37:56.519 --> 00:37:57.840 Lawrence of Arabia 00:37:57.840 --> 00:38:00.780 and this story 00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:02.000 illustrates so perfectly 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:03.659 the abounding love 00:38:03.659 --> 00:38:04.199 of Jesus 00:38:04.199 --> 00:38:05.000 for his people 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:08.079 these folks 00:38:08.079 --> 00:38:08.599 he had met 00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:09.400 in Arabia 00:38:09.400 --> 00:38:10.159 in the Middle East 00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:11.199 they had the opportunity 00:38:11.199 --> 00:38:12.000 to travel back 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:12.359 with him 00:38:12.359 --> 00:38:12.719 and they went 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.359 to Paris 00:38:13.359 --> 00:38:14.759 and in Paris 00:38:14.759 --> 00:38:15.559 he tried to take them 00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:16.259 to see all these 00:38:16.259 --> 00:38:17.059 tourist sites 00:38:17.059 --> 00:38:17.339 you know 00:38:17.339 --> 00:38:18.239 the great feats 00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:19.019 of architecture 00:38:19.019 --> 00:38:19.699 and culture 00:38:19.699 --> 00:38:21.839 but the thing 00:38:21.839 --> 00:38:22.219 that they were 00:38:22.219 --> 00:38:23.259 most impressed by 00:38:23.259 --> 00:38:24.539 was in the hotel room 00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:25.719 how you can 00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:27.179 turn on a faucet 00:38:27.179 --> 00:38:28.319 and water 00:38:28.319 --> 00:38:29.139 just continues 00:38:29.139 --> 00:38:29.839 to flow 00:38:29.839 --> 00:38:30.419 endlessly 00:38:30.419 --> 00:38:32.039 and the shower 00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:32.919 the sink 00:38:32.919 --> 00:38:34.399 the water 00:38:34.399 --> 00:38:35.539 just with a faucet 00:38:35.539 --> 00:38:37.079 never stops flowing 00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:39.219 and so when it was 00:38:39.219 --> 00:38:39.860 time for these 00:38:39.860 --> 00:38:41.199 visitors from Arabia 00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:41.920 to travel back 00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:42.599 to their country 00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:44.400 he was waiting 00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:44.759 for them 00:38:44.759 --> 00:38:45.059 and he couldn't 00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:45.480 find them 00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:45.860 so he went up 00:38:45.860 --> 00:38:46.639 to check in their room 00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:46.980 and they were 00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:47.819 trying to unscrew 00:38:47.819 --> 00:38:48.539 the faucet 00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:49.199 out of the wall 00:38:49.199 --> 00:38:50.960 they wanted to take 00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:52.079 this magic faucet 00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:52.759 back with them 00:38:52.759 --> 00:38:53.279 to Arabia 00:38:53.279 --> 00:38:53.699 they say 00:38:53.699 --> 00:38:54.619 we live in the desert 00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:55.980 and what we lack 00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:56.579 is water 00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:57.819 and finally 00:38:57.819 --> 00:38:58.819 we found an invention 00:38:58.819 --> 00:38:59.539 from this little 00:38:59.539 --> 00:38:59.960 invention 00:38:59.960 --> 00:39:00.900 flows water 00:39:00.900 --> 00:39:02.039 without end 00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:07.219 if we think about that 00:39:07.219 --> 00:39:08.420 that's often how we 00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:09.159 try to live 00:39:09.159 --> 00:39:09.980 the Christian life 00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:10.420 isn't it 00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:11.279 I'm just going to 00:39:11.279 --> 00:39:12.079 carry the faucet 00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:12.820 around with me 00:39:12.820 --> 00:39:14.860 and the supply 00:39:14.860 --> 00:39:15.960 of water 00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:17.259 that will come 00:39:17.259 --> 00:39:18.079 endlessly out of 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:18.800 this faucet 00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:20.219 in this illustration 00:39:20.219 --> 00:39:21.420 it begins with 00:39:21.420 --> 00:39:22.019 the rainfall 00:39:22.019 --> 00:39:23.119 and the snow 00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:24.679 on the Alps 00:39:24.679 --> 00:39:25.920 the glorious 00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:26.880 green mountains 00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:28.519 and from there 00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:29.480 it fills the rivers 00:39:29.480 --> 00:39:30.300 and it flows 00:39:30.300 --> 00:39:31.019 to the ocean 00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:33.179 and that cycle 00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:34.039 will never end 00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:34.900 the rain 00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.599 and the snow 00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:36.579 covering these mountains 00:39:36.579 --> 00:39:37.139 flowing 00:39:37.139 --> 00:39:38.059 keeping these rivers 00:39:38.059 --> 00:39:38.500 full 00:39:38.500 --> 00:39:40.300 it will always supply 00:39:40.300 --> 00:39:41.960 so that every faucet 00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:43.079 that is tied 00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:43.860 into this entire 00:39:43.860 --> 00:39:45.440 system of water 00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:46.539 without end 00:39:46.539 --> 00:39:48.039 it will never run dry 00:39:48.039 --> 00:39:51.300 the love of Jesus 00:39:51.300 --> 00:39:52.280 abounds 00:39:52.280 --> 00:39:53.360 still more 00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:54.039 and more 00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:54.679 in you 00:39:54.679 --> 00:39:56.440 it will never 00:39:56.440 --> 00:39:57.079 run out 00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:58.159 the supply 00:39:58.159 --> 00:39:58.679 is endless 00:39:58.679 --> 00:39:59.539 why do you think 00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:00.840 God made the rain cycle 00:40:00.840 --> 00:40:02.640 why do you think 00:40:02.640 --> 00:40:03.400 he made our bodies 00:40:03.400 --> 00:40:04.420 to need water 00:40:04.420 --> 00:40:05.980 many times a day 00:40:05.980 --> 00:40:08.059 it's to teach us 00:40:08.059 --> 00:40:09.740 he is the living water 00:40:09.740 --> 00:40:11.240 and he abounds 00:40:11.240 --> 00:40:11.840 to you 00:40:11.840 --> 00:40:13.120 and to me 00:40:13.120 --> 00:40:13.940 still more 00:40:13.940 --> 00:40:15.519 and more tomorrow 00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:16.160 than today 00:40:16.160 --> 00:40:17.340 and even more 00:40:17.340 --> 00:40:18.079 the next day 00:40:18.079 --> 00:40:18.820 than today 00:40:18.820 --> 00:40:19.680 if that's possible 00:40:19.680 --> 00:40:21.180 and for all eternity 00:40:21.180 --> 00:40:22.039 his love 00:40:22.039 --> 00:40:22.860 abounds 00:40:22.860 --> 00:40:23.680 because God 00:40:23.680 --> 00:40:25.160 is love 00:40:25.160 --> 00:40:27.380 you see church 00:40:27.380 --> 00:40:27.980 how the love 00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:28.519 of Jesus 00:40:28.519 --> 00:40:30.079 it abounds 00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:31.199 for you and me 00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:33.119 let's rest 00:40:33.119 --> 00:40:33.840 in this truth 00:40:33.840 --> 00:40:35.300 let's soak him up 00:40:35.300 --> 00:40:36.460 and praise him 00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:36.960 for his 00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:38.079 all sufficient 00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:39.480 love for his people 00:40:39.480 --> 00:40:40.320 again today 00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:42.559 oh Lord 00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:43.360 we praise you 00:40:43.360 --> 00:40:47.400 we are such 00:40:47.400 --> 00:40:48.320 broken vessels 00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:48.740 Lord 00:40:48.740 --> 00:40:51.460 but inside 00:40:51.460 --> 00:40:52.179 these vessels 00:40:52.179 --> 00:40:52.780 you put 00:40:52.780 --> 00:40:54.460 the most glorious 00:40:54.460 --> 00:40:55.080 treasure 00:40:55.080 --> 00:40:56.860 you've allowed us 00:40:56.860 --> 00:40:58.000 to have fellowship 00:40:58.000 --> 00:40:58.720 and communion 00:40:58.720 --> 00:40:59.640 and be partakers 00:40:59.640 --> 00:41:00.400 of grace 00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:01.840 and to abide 00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:03.460 with Jesus Christ 00:41:03.460 --> 00:41:05.040 and God 00:41:05.040 --> 00:41:06.060 the holy God 00:41:06.060 --> 00:41:06.660 our creator 00:41:06.660 --> 00:41:08.960 Lord 00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:09.440 may your 00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:10.360 love 00:41:10.360 --> 00:41:11.960 produce in us 00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:13.280 the fruits of righteousness 00:41:13.280 --> 00:41:15.120 so that you will be glorified 00:41:15.120 --> 00:41:16.700 and that 00:41:16.700 --> 00:41:17.820 as a congregation 00:41:17.820 --> 00:41:19.060 you will find us 00:41:19.060 --> 00:41:20.040 to be sincere 00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:22.460 without offense 00:41:22.460 --> 00:41:23.259 to your name 00:41:23.259 --> 00:41:26.119 until the day of Christ 00:41:26.119 --> 00:41:27.079 for each one of us 00:41:27.079 --> 00:41:28.119 please preserve us 00:41:28.119 --> 00:41:28.420 Lord 00:41:28.420 --> 00:41:29.139 in holiness 00:41:29.139 --> 00:41:30.300 for your sake 00:41:30.300 --> 00:41:30.820 we ask 00:41:30.820 --> 00:41:31.500 amen