WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.300 Well, in our sermon series right now, we're talking about prayer and how we should be 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:12.240 praying all kinds of prayers for all kinds of people. 00:00:13.300 --> 00:00:22.640 Last Sunday, we heard from the Apostle John about how we should be, we can have confidence 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:23.500 in prayer. 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:36.399 Or we were reminded that we can have confidence that we will receive what we ask for when 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:41.219 we ask according to God's will, according to what God desires. 00:00:41.379 --> 00:00:50.560 And I encouraged us last Sunday to be asking that question as we pray for people, for ourselves. 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:55.200 Lord, what is it that you want in this situation? 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:56.859 What do you desire? 00:00:56.980 --> 00:00:58.340 What do you will? 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:00.380 What is your will? 00:01:02.740 --> 00:01:06.680 That's a question that we often find ourselves asking. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:10.460 God, what is your will for my life? 00:01:10.459 --> 00:01:20.419 Especially when it comes time to make big decisions, whether that's career-related or family-related 00:01:20.419 --> 00:01:23.219 or related to the business, the family farm. 00:01:24.859 --> 00:01:26.319 God, what is your will? 00:01:27.039 --> 00:01:28.799 We know that God knows the future. 00:01:29.659 --> 00:01:35.239 We know that he knows which of the choices in front of us is best, that he desires what's 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:35.979 best for us. 00:01:35.980 --> 00:01:46.920 Wouldn't it be nice if God just simply told us what his will is, what he wants us to do? 00:01:48.780 --> 00:01:56.280 Well, there is a place in the scriptures where he does, very pointedly, very clearly. 00:01:56.939 --> 00:02:01.080 And we're going to be looking at that this morning in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:07.500 So if you have your Bible with you, please open it up to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 00:02:18.780 --> 00:02:20.759 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:23.860 We'll start in verse 1. 00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:29.699 Paul writes this to the Thessalonians. 00:02:29.699 --> 00:02:58.459 It is God's will that you should be sanctified, that you should avoid sexual immorality. 00:02:58.460 --> 00:03:05.080 That each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 00:03:05.580 --> 00:03:10.840 not in passionate lust like the pagans who do not know God. 00:03:11.640 --> 00:03:17.480 And that in this matter, no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:24.860 The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins as we told you and warned you before. 00:03:24.860 --> 00:03:30.720 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 00:03:32.320 --> 00:03:39.740 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being, but God, 00:03:40.380 --> 00:03:43.600 the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:49.139 So there it is stated for us so clearly. 00:03:50.139 --> 00:03:51.159 Verse 3. 00:03:52.379 --> 00:03:57.459 It is God's will that you should be sanctified. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:03:59.180 Are you disappointed? 00:03:59.180 --> 00:04:03.420 How are you hoping that that thought was going to go? 00:04:03.500 --> 00:04:05.180 It is God's will that... 00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:19.579 As important as career and family and whether to move and what to do with the family business are, 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:21.460 those things matter to God. 00:04:21.459 --> 00:04:32.739 But far more important than those things is our sanctification, says Paul. 00:04:33.359 --> 00:04:37.620 It is God's will that you should be sanctified. 00:04:37.799 --> 00:04:44.979 Sanctification is not a word that we use very much outside of the church, outside of the Bible even. 00:04:44.980 --> 00:04:53.740 Sanctification would be okay if our modern translations picked a different word that we use more frequently, 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:55.000 so that we understand that. 00:04:55.060 --> 00:04:56.520 What does sanctification mean? 00:05:00.740 --> 00:05:04.800 So, since it's used by all the translations, we better figure that out. 00:05:05.140 --> 00:05:06.259 We better understand it. 00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:13.539 The word sanctification comes from the Latin word sanctus, which means holy. 00:05:14.039 --> 00:05:18.599 And that's actually the word that Paul uses here in the original language. 00:05:18.779 --> 00:05:21.319 It's the word for holy or the word holiness. 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:26.699 In all the other places Paul uses, not all of them, but most of them, 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:30.759 it's simply translated as holy or holiness. 00:05:31.039 --> 00:05:35.079 But here, it's translated sanctify. 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:40.879 Because in English, we can't just turn the word holy into a verb. 00:05:41.099 --> 00:05:43.839 You know, if I'm going to talk about making something holy, 00:05:44.159 --> 00:05:46.919 I would never say, I holified that thing. 00:05:47.419 --> 00:05:50.579 But in the original language, the same word does double duty. 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:52.079 It works as a verb and a noun. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:55.039 And so, in English, we have another word. 00:05:55.099 --> 00:05:56.919 We say, I sanctified that. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:02.000 Another way that we could say it in English is maybe I consecrated that. 00:06:02.539 --> 00:06:03.579 I made it holy. 00:06:03.579 --> 00:06:08.879 But however we translate it or paraphrase it, the meaning is essentially the same. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:13.839 It is God's will that you should be sanctified, that you should be set apart, 00:06:14.839 --> 00:06:17.459 that you should be made holy. 00:06:17.459 --> 00:06:24.120 It's helpful to think of the word sanctuary. 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:26.680 It kind of has the same idea. 00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:32.719 Whether we're talking about our church sanctuary or a wildlife sanctuary, 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:39.639 a sanctuary is a place that is set apart for a special purpose or in a special way. 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:45.519 This room in our church building is set apart for a special purpose, 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:47.579 for us to gather and to worship God. 00:06:47.939 --> 00:06:53.819 A wildlife sanctuary is a place that is set apart so that in that area, 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:59.479 wildlife can flourish, not like in other areas where hunters and ATVs and everything 00:06:59.479 --> 00:07:01.219 can rip it to shreds. 00:07:01.220 --> 00:07:07.080 So we can kind of ask that question here. 00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:11.180 What does Paul really mean by sanctify? 00:07:11.520 --> 00:07:14.680 It is God's will that you should be sanctified. 00:07:15.380 --> 00:07:16.840 What's he talking about here? 00:07:17.140 --> 00:07:18.680 And we do have to be careful here. 00:07:18.880 --> 00:07:23.440 If we're not careful, we can kind of get ourselves tied up in theological knots 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:28.279 because this word holy or holiness, sanctified, sanctification, 00:07:28.279 --> 00:07:29.639 it's used in other places. 00:07:30.339 --> 00:07:36.620 In some of those places, it's used to refer to how we are in the process of being set apart by God. 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:42.540 In some places, it's used to describe how we are at the end of the process, 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:44.420 set apart by God. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:47.839 And in some places, it's used to refer to the whole thing without discrimination. 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:51.860 God has set us apart. 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:55.319 And so how do we wade through this? 00:07:55.420 --> 00:07:58.680 Well, there's one question that we can just really simply ask here. 00:07:59.900 --> 00:08:03.980 Paul has said it is God's will that you should be sanctified. 00:08:04.819 --> 00:08:09.420 In what way does God want us to be set apart, 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:14.379 to be different from others, from the rest? 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:20.699 There's more than one true possible answer here, 00:08:20.699 --> 00:08:25.680 but this morning we're only looking at Paul's answer in this specific case. 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:30.259 He actually tells us the kind of holiness that he's referring to. 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:32.460 He says this, 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:36.080 It is God's will that you should be sanctified, 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:40.400 that you should avoid sexual immorality, 00:08:40.400 --> 00:08:47.740 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:53.519 not in passionate lust like the pagans who do not know God. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:57.860 And so we can see from the way Paul is using it, 00:08:58.079 --> 00:08:59.500 what he is talking about. 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:01.519 What does it mean for us to be sanctified? 00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:07.279 Paul's saying it's God's will that you live differently 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:12.439 from the rest, from others who don't know God. 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:23.460 God desires for there to be a difference between his people and the rest who don't know him. 00:09:24.400 --> 00:09:29.200 He desires that there be a distinction in your life and how you live it 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:36.700 from the rest of our world who doesn't know him and doesn't believe in him. 00:09:36.700 --> 00:09:41.420 Well, what is that distinction supposed to be? 00:09:42.660 --> 00:09:46.140 Paul is writing very specifically to the Thessalonian church. 00:09:46.940 --> 00:09:50.640 He's thinking through what are they going through in that city 00:09:50.640 --> 00:09:53.660 from what he's heard about the news of them, 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:56.460 from what he knows about their church in that city. 00:09:57.660 --> 00:10:03.740 And so top of his mind in this situation is sexuality. 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:07.799 He's thinking about their sexual conduct. 00:10:08.680 --> 00:10:14.180 As a church, what should your sexual conduct look like 00:10:14.180 --> 00:10:20.919 as you're surrounded there in Thessalonica by people who don't know God? 00:10:22.899 --> 00:10:26.779 Paul says it is God's will that you should be sanctified, 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:32.060 that you should avoid or be far from sexual immorality. 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:38.159 The word that he uses to describe sexual immorality is porneia. 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:41.539 We get the word pornography from it. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:47.060 It's used to refer to all kinds of sexual immorality, adultery, 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:52.159 cheating on your spouse, fornication, 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:57.100 sex with someone that you're not married to. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:11:01.460 It's used to refer to homosexuality. 00:11:01.540 --> 00:11:05.080 It's used to refer to taking advantage of another person sexually. 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:09.899 It's actually just kind of a cover-all reference 00:11:09.899 --> 00:11:14.379 to any kind of sexual conduct or behavior 00:11:14.379 --> 00:11:18.399 that is outside of God's good design 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:21.779 and intention for human sexuality. 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:25.500 Right from the beginning of the Bible 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:27.679 all the way through to the end, 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:33.079 we see that God's design and intention for human sexuality 00:11:33.079 --> 00:11:35.899 is that it is something that is to be enjoyed 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:39.279 between a man and a woman 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:45.819 who are covenanted, committed to one another in marriage. 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:50.160 Everything outside of that is porneia, 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:53.140 is sexual immorality 00:11:53.140 --> 00:11:56.280 against his design, 00:11:56.640 --> 00:11:58.300 against his intention. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:05.860 Paul actually gives us a bit of a glimpse 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:09.960 into our world's attitude 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:11.660 when it comes to sexuality. 00:12:11.659 --> 00:12:15.740 In verses 4 and 5, 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:21.419 he describes how the Thessalonians should behave. 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:25.120 He says that you should learn to control your own body 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:27.360 in a way that is holy and honorable, 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:30.860 not in passionate lust like the pagans 00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:33.319 who do not know God. 00:12:35.199 --> 00:12:36.879 As a general principle, 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:39.899 those who do not know God 00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:43.000 have a different sexual ethic 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:44.399 than we do. 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:45.720 They are characterized 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:49.159 by a lack of self-control 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:52.659 and by passionate lust, 00:12:53.439 --> 00:12:54.100 says Paul. 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:59.320 Selfish sexual desire. 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:02.820 I have what I want. 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:05.940 I have my sexual needs. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:09.580 And I want you to meet my needs, 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:11.320 to bring pleasure to me. 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:14.059 That's the mindset generally, 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.679 Paul points to, 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:16.939 of people in our world. 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.600 You even see a hint of that 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:19.519 down in verse 6, 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.019 where he says, 00:13:20.419 --> 00:13:21.360 and that in this matter, 00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:22.240 sexuality, 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:23.720 no one should wrong 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.500 or take advantage 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:25.480 of a brother or sister. 00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:29.220 Here we are as the family of God, 00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:31.399 but don't even think about 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:32.600 using the closeness 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:34.799 that we enjoy with one another 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:36.639 as the family of God, 00:13:36.719 --> 00:13:37.259 the church, 00:13:38.199 --> 00:13:41.219 to cozy up to someone else's wife 00:13:41.219 --> 00:13:43.679 or someone else's husband. 00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:49.319 Our world's attitude 00:13:49.319 --> 00:13:53.659 is indulge 00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:55.519 sexually 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:57.659 as far as you can, 00:13:57.719 --> 00:13:59.079 as much as you can, 00:13:59.079 --> 00:14:01.759 without running into the big problems, 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:03.759 the big consequences. 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:05.939 But of course, 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:08.399 there's always consequences 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:10.539 when we live contrary 00:14:10.539 --> 00:14:12.639 and outside of God's design. 00:14:14.319 --> 00:14:15.779 We could talk about 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:17.399 the damage 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:19.600 that sexual immorality 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:20.439 does 00:14:20.439 --> 00:14:22.340 to a person's marriage. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.139 We could talk about 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:26.159 the feelings of guilt, 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:27.360 of having betrayed 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:28.539 a trust 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:30.120 between you 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:30.360 and 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:31.719 your spouse. 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.799 We could talk about 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:37.319 families 00:14:37.319 --> 00:14:38.779 that are ripped apart, 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:42.500 children that grow up 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:42.779 without 00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:44.199 a mother or father 00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:45.399 because their family 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:46.339 was destroyed 00:14:46.339 --> 00:14:49.519 as a trust 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:50.120 was broken. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.879 We could talk about 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.799 sexual addiction 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:56.099 and pornography 00:14:56.099 --> 00:14:57.000 use. 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:58.679 there are always consequences 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:00.120 when we live outside 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.200 of God's 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:02.559 intended design 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:03.539 for sexuality. 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:04.620 Sexuality, 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:06.320 sexual intimacy 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:07.639 was made 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:10.059 to be enjoyed 00:15:10.059 --> 00:15:10.840 between a man 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:11.340 and a woman 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:12.379 who are married 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.059 to one another. 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:15.100 And everything 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.100 outside of that 00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:17.500 God has said 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.259 is off limits. 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:23.940 That's the specific way 00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:25.060 that Paul 00:15:25.060 --> 00:15:27.360 encourages them 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:28.300 to be 00:15:28.300 --> 00:15:29.400 sanctified, 00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:30.440 to be set apart, 00:15:30.640 --> 00:15:31.260 to live 00:15:31.260 --> 00:15:32.300 differently 00:15:32.300 --> 00:15:34.140 than the people 00:15:34.140 --> 00:15:34.860 around them 00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:35.980 who don't know God. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.040 But what I want us 00:15:38.040 --> 00:15:38.500 to see here 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:39.020 this morning 00:15:39.020 --> 00:15:39.980 is that this is about 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:41.280 more than sexuality. 00:15:42.160 --> 00:15:42.820 That's Paul's 00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:43.800 specific point, 00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:44.780 his specific 00:15:44.780 --> 00:15:45.620 application. 00:15:46.640 --> 00:15:47.220 But actually, 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:48.060 God wants us 00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:48.580 to be 00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:49.320 different, 00:15:49.760 --> 00:15:50.160 to be 00:15:50.160 --> 00:15:51.100 set apart, 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:52.120 sanctified, 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:52.740 not just 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.240 when it comes 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.159 to our sexuality, 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:55.879 but when it comes 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:56.840 to every area 00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:57.539 of our life. 00:15:58.919 --> 00:15:59.840 He wants 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:01.899 to touch 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:02.560 and affect 00:16:02.560 --> 00:16:03.779 every area 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:04.480 of our life. 00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:05.820 Being a follower 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:06.399 of Jesus 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:07.320 should affect 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:08.840 every area 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:10.240 of our life, 00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:12.200 not just 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:13.740 this area. 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:20.139 Whether it's 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.980 eating, 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:22.980 or drinking, 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:24.399 or work, 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:27.200 how we talk 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:27.799 to one another, 00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:28.700 how we engage 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.580 in relationships, 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:31.940 God's desire 00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:32.639 is that we would 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.940 be set apart, 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.120 that we would 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.259 be distinct 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:38.419 in every way. 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:41.279 And the rest 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:42.340 of the New Testament 00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:43.700 letters are full 00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:44.320 and Jesus' 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:44.860 teaching, 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:46.700 full of how 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:47.960 that affects 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:48.820 other areas 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.320 of our life. 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:49.840 Paul's just 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:50.500 focusing on 00:16:50.500 --> 00:16:51.760 sexual immorality 00:16:51.760 --> 00:16:52.160 here. 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:53.480 But the principle 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:54.220 is much bigger 00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:54.700 than that. 00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:56.860 God wants 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.480 there to be 00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.180 a difference 00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:59.540 between how 00:16:59.540 --> 00:17:00.320 we live 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.640 and how 00:17:01.640 --> 00:17:02.379 other people 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.300 who don't 00:17:03.300 --> 00:17:03.920 know him 00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:04.840 live. 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:09.939 when we hear 00:17:09.939 --> 00:17:10.299 that, 00:17:10.699 --> 00:17:11.439 when we hear 00:17:11.439 --> 00:17:11.919 the word 00:17:11.919 --> 00:17:12.699 holiness, 00:17:13.699 --> 00:17:16.240 it can be 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:16.859 easy for a 00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:17.159 little bit 00:17:17.159 --> 00:17:17.740 of a grumbling 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.419 to rise in 00:17:18.419 --> 00:17:18.980 our hearts. 00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:21.339 Oh, 00:17:21.439 --> 00:17:22.220 Pastor Josh, 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:22.939 stop telling 00:17:22.939 --> 00:17:23.439 me about 00:17:23.439 --> 00:17:24.559 all the 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:25.000 things that 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:25.500 I can't 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:25.879 do. 00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:27.179 Why does 00:17:27.179 --> 00:17:27.959 religion have 00:17:27.959 --> 00:17:28.579 to be so 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.179 restrictive? 00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:33.600 My answer 00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:34.799 is that 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:35.259 it's not. 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:36.640 And as soon 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.140 as we start 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:37.980 thinking that 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:38.480 it is, 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:39.460 it's because 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.960 we're not 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.720 seeing clearly. 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:42.980 We're not 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:44.120 thinking straight. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:44.980 We've bought 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.100 into the lie 00:17:46.100 --> 00:17:47.740 that it really 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:48.680 is all about 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.220 me 00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.480 and what 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.279 I desire. 00:17:53.100 --> 00:17:53.700 Holiness 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:55.500 is not just 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.140 a list of 00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:56.799 do's and 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.160 don'ts. 00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:57.779 It's not just 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.539 a bunch of 00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.019 rules, 00:17:59.019 --> 00:17:59.319 rules to 00:17:59.319 --> 00:17:59.759 keep. 00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.460 It's so 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:01.900 much more 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:02.339 than that. 00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.319 Look at how 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.059 Paul uses 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.920 that word 00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:05.379 holiness 00:18:05.379 --> 00:18:07.079 just a couple 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:07.859 verses prior 00:18:07.859 --> 00:18:08.519 to this one. 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.299 Go back up 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:09.720 to chapter 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.200 3, 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.779 verse 13. 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:14.220 Here we 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:14.519 kind of 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.339 catch Paul 00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:16.139 in the middle 00:18:16.139 --> 00:18:16.859 of a prayer 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:18.480 for the 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.359 Thessalonians. 00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:20.539 In my 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:21.000 Bible it 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.579 starts as a 00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.099 new sentence 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:22.559 but it's 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:22.819 not. 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:23.379 It's actually 00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:24.220 a continuation. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.019 So that 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:27.039 he may 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.660 establish 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:28.779 your hearts 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:29.799 in 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.759 blamelessness 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.920 and holiness. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.240 That's what 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:34.859 Paul wants 00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:35.960 to see. 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:38.119 He wants 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:38.639 to see the 00:18:38.639 --> 00:18:39.279 Thessalonians 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:39.839 hearts 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:40.660 established 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:41.579 in holiness. 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.139 There it is 00:18:42.139 --> 00:18:42.420 again. 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.420 God desires 00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:44.879 a holy 00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:45.700 people. 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.079 A people 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:47.379 that are 00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:47.879 different. 00:18:48.379 --> 00:18:48.700 That are 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.359 set apart. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:51.579 And so 00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:52.279 what does 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:52.940 Paul ask 00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:53.960 God to do 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.700 so that 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.220 they will 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:55.640 be 00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:56.539 holy. 00:18:58.640 --> 00:18:59.500 Look in 00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.039 verse 12. 00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:01.960 He says, 00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:02.340 May the 00:19:02.340 --> 00:19:03.100 Lord make 00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:03.920 your love 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:05.440 increase 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:07.420 and overflow 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.220 for each 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:09.259 other and 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:09.799 for everyone 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:11.900 else so 00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:13.380 that he 00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:14.039 may establish 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:14.960 your heart 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.779 in holiness. 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:15.940 holiness. 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:19.119 The defining 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.379 feature of 00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:20.799 a holy 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.420 life is 00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:23.519 overflowing 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:25.960 love for 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:27.039 each other 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:27.680 and for 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.180 everyone. 00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:31.160 It's not 00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:31.839 just a list 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:32.420 of do's 00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.059 and don'ts, 00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.519 right and 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:34.819 wrong. 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.619 The defining 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.399 characteristic 00:19:37.399 --> 00:19:38.099 of a holy 00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:39.200 person is 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:39.859 someone who 00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:41.500 truly loves 00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:44.119 others 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:45.920 and everyone 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:47.619 who is 00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:48.559 overflowing 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:49.519 with love. 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.319 Now we 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:52.759 look back 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.339 at what 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:53.740 Paul has 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.240 said about 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.859 sexual 00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:55.400 immorality 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:55.660 and it 00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.039 all kind 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:56.400 of makes 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:56.819 sense. 00:19:58.640 --> 00:19:59.220 Sexual 00:19:59.220 --> 00:19:59.759 immorality 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.240 is not 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.980 about love. 00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:02.460 It's about 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.039 lust. 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:03.920 That's what 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.279 Paul has 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.519 said. 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.359 Passionate 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:06.099 lust. 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:06.900 He said, 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:07.660 don't take 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.619 advantage of 00:20:08.619 --> 00:20:09.339 a brother 00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:09.980 or sister. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:13.480 that selfish 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.460 sexual 00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.059 desire. 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:17.700 We were 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.299 not made 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.480 for 00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.039 relationships 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:20.539 that are 00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:20.960 characterized 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.819 by lust 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:23.559 and selfishness. 00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:25.380 I'll scratch 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:25.900 your back 00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:26.579 if you scratch 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:26.900 mine. 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.240 We were 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.779 made for 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:28.619 relationships 00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:29.759 characterized 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.759 by love, 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:33.799 self-sacrifice, 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.200 service of 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:35.700 the other, 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:36.779 bringing joy 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.440 and pleasure 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.519 to the other, 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.759 not mainly 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.559 to ourselves. 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:45.180 God 00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:45.660 desires 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.599 that his 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.240 people 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:48.660 be different 00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:50.180 and the 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:50.700 defining 00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.299 feature 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:51.700 of that 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.220 difference 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.039 is 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.039 overflowing 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:54.779 with love. 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.500 That's 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:57.960 what holiness 00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.660 looks like 00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.220 and this 00:20:59.220 --> 00:20:59.519 is how 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.000 it plays 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.200 out 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:00.880 specifically 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:01.240 in 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.220 sexuality. 00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:04.940 It means 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:06.359 sexual 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:07.180 intimacy 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:08.440 happens 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:08.759 in the 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:09.200 context 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:09.440 of 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:09.900 marriage. 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:12.220 loyalty 00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:13.000 and 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:13.519 commitment 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.220 to one 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:14.560 another. 00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:15.960 I'm going 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.240 to be 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:16.480 there 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:16.980 for you 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.759 in 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.140 sickness 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:19.440 and in 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:19.780 health 00:21:19.780 --> 00:21:21.340 for richer 00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:22.040 or for poorer 00:21:22.040 --> 00:21:22.920 for better 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:23.759 or for worse. 00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:25.660 Passionate 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:26.019 lust 00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:27.900 doesn't give a 00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:28.300 rip about 00:21:28.300 --> 00:21:28.720 the other. 00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:29.840 It's all 00:21:29.840 --> 00:21:30.280 about what 00:21:30.280 --> 00:21:30.980 can I get 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.440 out of 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:31.780 this. 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:31.899 spouse. 00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:33.700 And if 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.039 you're not 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:34.319 going to 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:34.599 give it 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:34.940 to me 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:35.500 spouse 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:37.240 then I'm 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:37.399 going to 00:21:37.399 --> 00:21:37.799 go find 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:37.940 it 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.200 somewhere 00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:38.559 else. 00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.000 And if 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.279 I'm not 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:41.879 married I'm 00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:42.059 going to 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.639 go online. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.019 I'm going 00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:45.559 to find it 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.099 wherever I 00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:46.500 can get 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.099 it and 00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:47.500 I'll take 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:47.960 as much 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.259 of it 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:48.680 as I 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:49.240 can get 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.279 without 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.099 running 00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:51.720 into those 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.619 consequences 00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:53.059 that I 00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.420 mentioned 00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:53.980 earlier. 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:55.700 STIs, 00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:56.200 unwanted 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:56.879 pregnancies, 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.599 emotional 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.759 weight of 00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.139 guilt, 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.500 broken 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.080 family. 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:03.860 God's 00:22:03.860 --> 00:22:04.160 saying I 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:04.380 want to 00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:04.720 see a 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.180 difference 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:06.320 between 00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:07.420 you, 00:22:08.060 --> 00:22:08.220 my 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.680 people. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.400 That's 00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:09.680 what I 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.100 desire. 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:10.720 That you 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.240 should be 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:13.220 set apart, 00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:15.200 different 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:16.680 from those 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.140 who don't 00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:17.740 know me. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.820 Not just 00:22:19.820 --> 00:22:20.600 in sexuality 00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:22.080 but as a 00:22:22.080 --> 00:22:22.400 whole, 00:22:22.560 --> 00:22:23.380 in general. 00:22:25.820 --> 00:22:26.380 A people 00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.240 overflowing 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.000 with love. 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.460 And that 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.780 translating out 00:22:31.780 --> 00:22:32.580 into every 00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.320 area of 00:22:33.320 --> 00:22:33.860 our lives. 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.320 How we 00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:34.720 work, 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:35.600 how we 00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:35.980 play, 00:22:36.780 --> 00:22:37.140 how we 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:37.680 relate to 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:38.020 people, 00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:39.560 how we 00:22:39.560 --> 00:22:41.080 talk to 00:22:41.080 --> 00:22:41.440 people, 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:42.520 what we 00:22:42.520 --> 00:22:43.160 say about 00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:44.300 others when 00:22:44.300 --> 00:22:44.660 they're not 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:45.080 listening. 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.759 All of 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.140 this leads 00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:51.540 us to a 00:22:51.540 --> 00:22:51.860 question. 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.560 How do 00:22:52.560 --> 00:22:53.120 we achieve 00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:53.460 this? 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:54.840 How do 00:22:54.840 --> 00:22:55.540 we become 00:22:55.540 --> 00:22:56.480 sanctified? 00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:56.940 How do 00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:58.180 we be 00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:58.780 separated 00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.740 and set 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.399 apart and 00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:00.599 made 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:00.960 holy? 00:23:01.399 --> 00:23:01.980 Is that 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.579 something that 00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.180 we do? 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.460 Or is that 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:05.940 something that 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.559 God does? 00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.359 Well, 00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:11.940 first we have 00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:12.379 to admit 00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:15.220 there's no 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:16.420 way that 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.039 we can live 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.660 this kind 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.319 of holiness, 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.180 this kind 00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:20.019 of overflowing 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:20.599 with love 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.899 for everyone 00:23:21.899 --> 00:23:24.139 without God's 00:23:24.139 --> 00:23:24.379 help. 00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:24.420 love. 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.760 We need 00:23:25.760 --> 00:23:26.400 God's 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.100 power 00:23:27.100 --> 00:23:28.360 inside of 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:28.660 us, 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.560 working, 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.100 enabling us 00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:31.860 to live 00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:32.460 like this 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:34.140 because we're 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:34.700 hardwired, 00:23:34.800 --> 00:23:35.360 we're bent 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:36.780 towards selfishness 00:23:36.780 --> 00:23:37.920 and sin, 00:23:39.040 --> 00:23:39.760 towards just 00:23:39.760 --> 00:23:41.440 feeling like 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:41.920 we want 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.480 this and 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.380 then taking 00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:43.660 it. 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:46.160 We can't 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:46.660 do this on 00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:47.000 our own. 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.280 We need 00:23:48.280 --> 00:23:49.240 God to do 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:50.020 this in us 00:23:50.020 --> 00:23:51.080 and for us. 00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:52.500 He is the 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:52.919 one who 00:23:52.919 --> 00:23:53.619 sets us 00:23:53.619 --> 00:23:54.399 apart, 00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.399 who makes 00:23:55.399 --> 00:23:56.240 us holy. 00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.279 But notice 00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:58.599 that it 00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:59.220 doesn't say 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.419 it is God's 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:01.079 will that you 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:01.559 should be 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.279 sanctified, 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.339 so just 00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.519 sit there 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.939 and relax 00:24:05.939 --> 00:24:06.559 and wait 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:06.919 for Him 00:24:06.919 --> 00:24:07.679 to set you 00:24:07.679 --> 00:24:08.179 apart to 00:24:08.179 --> 00:24:08.559 do it. 00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:10.899 He doesn't 00:24:10.899 --> 00:24:11.460 say that. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.519 Immediately 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.399 following that, 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:14.879 He says 00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:15.899 it's God's 00:24:15.899 --> 00:24:16.460 will that you 00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:16.819 should be 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.960 sanctified and 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.819 so avoid 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:20.019 sexual immorality. 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:21.779 learn to 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.619 control your 00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:23.339 own body. 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.059 We have 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.639 responsibility 00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.460 in it too. 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:29.740 It's not 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.220 just something 00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:30.559 that we 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:30.960 just sit 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.559 back and 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.779 God does 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.460 it to us. 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.399 It's something 00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:34.919 that He 00:24:34.919 --> 00:24:35.779 works in 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.659 us and 00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:37.439 we 00:24:37.439 --> 00:24:39.019 participate 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:40.139 with Him 00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:40.859 and live 00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:41.379 it out 00:24:41.379 --> 00:24:42.379 with His 00:24:42.379 --> 00:24:42.919 enabling. 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:44.559 I like 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:44.839 the way 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.559 that He 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:45.879 says it 00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:46.119 to the 00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:46.579 church in 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.419 Philippi. 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:48.619 Work out 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.399 your salvation 00:24:49.399 --> 00:24:50.419 with fear 00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:51.180 and trembling 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:51.560 for it 00:24:51.560 --> 00:24:51.940 is God 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.519 who works 00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.340 in you 00:24:53.340 --> 00:24:54.400 to will 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:54.980 and to do 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.519 according to 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:55.880 His good 00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:56.220 pleasure. 00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:58.220 It's both. 00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:58.640 It's not 00:24:58.640 --> 00:24:59.960 just God. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.720 It's not 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.440 just me. 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.100 And it's 00:25:02.100 --> 00:25:02.960 not 50-50. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:03.800 Not God 00:25:03.800 --> 00:25:04.220 does His 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.600 half and 00:25:04.600 --> 00:25:04.900 we do 00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:05.440 our half. 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:07.060 God gets 00:25:07.060 --> 00:25:07.400 the credit 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:07.840 for all 00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:08.180 of it 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:08.860 and our 00:25:08.860 --> 00:25:09.600 part we 00:25:09.600 --> 00:25:10.000 can only 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.460 do with 00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:10.940 His help. 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:11.759 But it's 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.120 both. 00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:13.500 Us being 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.320 set apart 00:25:14.320 --> 00:25:15.340 is both 00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:15.840 God's 00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:16.140 work 00:25:16.140 --> 00:25:17.480 and ours. 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:19.319 we actually 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:19.839 have to 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.480 make those 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:20.920 choices 00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:22.480 to live 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:22.960 a holy 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.400 life. 00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.380 To say 00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:25.160 no to 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:25.740 temptation. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:32.700 We're 00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.319 talking about 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:33.720 prayer. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.039 So what 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.319 does all 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:35.640 this have 00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:35.900 to do 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.039 with 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:36.360 prayer? 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.319 We're 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.779 to pray 00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.279 according 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:40.940 to God's 00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:41.240 will. 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.339 prayer. 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:43.420 And here 00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:43.680 in this 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.299 passage we 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:46.660 see at 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:47.180 least one 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.160 thing that 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:49.120 God desires 00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:49.579 for us, 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:49.960 that He 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:50.740 wills for 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.079 us. 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:54.519 If you're 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:54.880 honest, 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.120 what is it 00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:56.599 that you 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.880 want for 00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:58.359 your life? 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.039 As you 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.339 think of 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:02.859 your life, 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:03.599 the days 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:03.880 ahead, 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.319 the years 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:04.599 ahead, 00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.079 what is it 00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:05.460 that you 00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:06.420 want for 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:06.920 your life? 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:10.720 how does 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.259 that compare 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:11.860 to what 00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:12.320 God has 00:26:12.320 --> 00:26:12.920 said here 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.860 that He 00:26:13.860 --> 00:26:14.940 wants and 00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.259 that He 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:16.720 wills for 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.259 your life? 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.700 God desires 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.360 that we 00:26:21.360 --> 00:26:22.080 live 00:26:22.080 --> 00:26:22.800 differently, 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.900 that we 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.420 live lives 00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:26.840 of overflowing 00:26:26.840 --> 00:26:28.120 love towards 00:26:28.120 --> 00:26:28.720 one another, 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:31.100 that there's 00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:31.759 a distinction 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.900 between us 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:34.100 and those 00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:34.560 who don't 00:26:34.560 --> 00:26:35.080 know Him. 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:38.560 is that 00:26:38.560 --> 00:26:39.039 what you 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:39.640 have been 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.360 asking God 00:26:40.360 --> 00:26:40.820 to do 00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:42.380 as you 00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:42.660 pray? 00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:46.400 Is that 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:46.759 what you've 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.320 been asking 00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:48.600 God to 00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:49.039 do for 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.680 other people 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.160 as you 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:50.580 think of 00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.240 them and 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.920 the situations 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.220 they're going 00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.500 through? 00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.460 God cares 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.960 about what 00:26:58.960 --> 00:26:59.200 I'm going 00:26:59.200 --> 00:26:59.580 to call 00:26:59.580 --> 00:27:00.900 the smaller 00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:01.420 things, 00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:03.120 which career 00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:04.220 I have, 00:27:04.300 --> 00:27:04.740 what job 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.279 I'm doing, 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.279 what to do 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:06.619 with the 00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:07.460 family farm, 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:10.200 family 00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:10.920 relationships 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.680 and decisions. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.279 God cares 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:13.819 about those 00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:14.200 things. 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:17.079 But even 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.700 more than 00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.119 that, 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:20.160 He desires 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:21.379 that you 00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:22.099 live 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:22.720 differently, 00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.460 that you 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.279 be holy 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:28.000 compared to 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.579 those who 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.420 don't know 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:29.799 God. 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:31.940 Are you 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.559 asking God 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.339 to do that 00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:34.559 for yourself? 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:35.720 are you 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.279 desiring 00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.319 that for 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:37.799 yourself? 00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:38.960 Are you 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.480 asking God 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:39.819 to do 00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.220 that for 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.579 others? 00:27:42.139 --> 00:27:42.700 It's great 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.259 to pray that 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.759 somebody who 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.500 lost their 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.159 job gets 00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:46.720 a job, 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.339 but are you 00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:50.059 praying that 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.980 God would 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:52.639 use that 00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:54.419 situation to 00:27:54.419 --> 00:27:54.819 set them 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.700 apart for 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.399 His purpose, 00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:58.399 for what He 00:27:58.399 --> 00:27:59.200 wants to do 00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.919 in their life? 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:01.700 God is in 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.180 the business 00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:02.940 of taking 00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:03.660 for Himself 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:05.080 a people, 00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:08.740 setting them 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:10.220 apart for a 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.980 special purpose 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.720 in a special 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.060 way. 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.180 Let's not 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.759 forget to 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:16.940 make that 00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:18.420 part of what 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:19.060 we ask God 00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:20.160 to do as we 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:20.840 pray all kinds 00:28:20.840 --> 00:28:22.100 of prayers for 00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:22.779 all kinds of 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.080 people. 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.500 Let's pray. 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:31.000 Father in 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.359 Heaven, we 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:31.779 thank You 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.180 for Your 00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:32.500 Word. 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:34.960 It doesn't 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.539 always say 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.000 what we 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.059 expect or 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.640 want it to 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:37.900 say, 00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:41.099 but we 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:41.680 trust that 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.579 You have 00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:42.980 told us 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.700 exactly what 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:44.359 we need 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.579 to hear. 00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.480 Lord, 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:49.440 even as we've 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:49.859 thought about 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:50.319 this this 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:50.759 morning a 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.140 little bit, 00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:52.839 together we 00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:53.759 invite You 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:56.099 to be doing 00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:56.779 that work 00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.460 in us, 00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.440 setting us 00:28:58.440 --> 00:28:58.759 apart. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.879 We don't 00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:01.559 want to be 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.940 the same as 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:03.579 everybody in 00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:04.180 this community 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.980 who doesn't 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.579 know You. 00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:07.720 We want to 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:09.200 be seen as 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.660 different because 00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:12.180 of Your work 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:12.920 in us. 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:13.980 And so we 00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.660 ask that You 00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.119 would come, 00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.000 that You 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.519 would change 00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:17.059 our hearts, 00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:17.900 that You 00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:19.019 would fill us 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.619 with a love 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.799 for people, 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:21.940 that You 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.319 would give us 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.039 the courage to 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.559 say no, 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.879 to things 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.160 that are 00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.500 wrong. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.299 We desire 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:29.859 to please 00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:31.039 You more 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:31.680 than ourselves. 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.039 You are our 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:33.599 God, You 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.000 are our 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.160 Savior, and 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:35.779 so come and 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.359 work in us 00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:37.000 as a church. 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.460 Enable us 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:39.099 and empower 00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:40.879 us to live 00:29:40.879 --> 00:29:41.759 the different 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.740 life that You 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.319 have called us 00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:43.519 to. 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.180 We ask this 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:45.720 in Christ's 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:45.900 name, 00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:46.819 Amen.