WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.140 Before this summer, there was about a four or five month period of time where I was just really broken down spiritually, beaten down spiritually. 00:00:10.140 --> 00:00:16.980 ! I was spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally broken and shattered. 00:00:16.980 --> 00:00:20.920 ! I haven't been in this position quite a long time. 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:22.800 Not to this extreme. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:32.480 And I've faced a lot of physical trials in my life and deep sorrows and bouts of depressions. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:37.920 I've seen like the ugliness of sin in this world. 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:41.460 The knowledge of what goes on in the world and how horrible it is. 00:00:41.760 --> 00:00:49.640 And I just felt, due to my own sinfulness and my lack of like zeal for God, I'm just no use to God anymore. 00:00:49.740 --> 00:00:51.740 I'm not. I want to. 00:00:51.740 --> 00:00:58.200 I wish I could be that man that would like be used of God in a mighty way to change the ugliness of this world. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:04.859 But I just feel so insufficient and broken and there's no way I could ever contribute to this. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:11.640 Like a story that I might revisit later on in the year is the story of Elijah. 00:01:11.780 --> 00:01:17.420 And it's probably the number one go-to story that I read over and over and over this summer. 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:23.460 The Lord did bless me with some time to spend about two months in Ireland. 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:30.840 And I really just used that time to draw near to Him and get away from what I usually throw my life into. 00:01:30.840 --> 00:01:39.439 But while I was there, I'm going to read you just one verse out of the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. 00:01:39.579 --> 00:01:40.380 You don't have to turn there. 00:01:40.579 --> 00:01:48.320 But Elijah was just very heartbroken and devastated over the circumstances in Israel and how people were rebelling against God. 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:50.400 And he longed for revival. 00:01:50.580 --> 00:01:51.700 He wasn't seeing revival. 00:01:51.700 --> 00:01:56.200 And it said that he eventually just fled into the wilderness. 00:01:56.620 --> 00:01:58.939 And he sat down under a tree. 00:01:59.960 --> 00:02:01.140 And I'll read you what it says. 00:02:01.219 --> 00:02:03.920 And he asked that he might die, saying, 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:04.740 It is enough. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:10.420 Now, O Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my father's. 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:14.599 And I really felt that way this summer. 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:16.680 Like, Lord, I can't take any more. 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:19.599 I want you to just end this for me. 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:21.479 I'm not going to end it for myself. 00:02:21.579 --> 00:02:23.299 But if you would, I really would be grateful. 00:02:24.419 --> 00:02:27.639 And I'm no better than any man that's gone before me. 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:28.680 I have the same problems. 00:02:28.780 --> 00:02:30.859 I can't change anything. 00:02:31.379 --> 00:02:36.939 And I was just thinking, I can't go on. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:37.959 I feel of no use. 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:39.419 And this will never end. 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:41.280 Will I even survive in this life? 00:02:41.419 --> 00:02:43.900 Like, I was just at that dead end. 00:02:43.900 --> 00:02:49.640 And as I waited upon the Lord and poured my heart out to Him daily, 00:02:49.819 --> 00:02:54.800 He met me in an awesome way and was, like, so faithful 00:02:54.800 --> 00:03:01.060 and really brought healing and refreshment to a lot of deep places in my soul. 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:06.379 And so if you've grown weary, kind of in the fight as a believer, 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:11.560 and you're really tired of the trials and pains and struggling with the same sins, 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:14.020 and you're, it's just all you can take, 00:03:14.099 --> 00:03:17.620 then I hope I have good news for you tonight. 00:03:17.980 --> 00:03:22.599 And without this news, I think I would just be ready to end it. 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:27.199 But, so, some of the things that I've learned this summer, 00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:30.479 some of the things I can hopefully share tonight, 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:35.019 but to put it, there's a, I read the Puritans. 00:03:35.099 --> 00:03:37.259 I like all the old dead guys because none of the good guys, 00:03:37.419 --> 00:03:39.120 the new guys are hardly worth reading anymore. 00:03:40.019 --> 00:03:43.439 So, but one Puritan named John Flavill, a pastor, 00:03:44.359 --> 00:03:47.319 he wrote this, and this is kind of like a, 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:49.079 it's just a little short phrase. 00:03:49.079 --> 00:03:51.319 I can almost memorize it, but he says, 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:55.500 As God did not at first choose you because you were high, 00:03:55.939 --> 00:03:58.840 he will not now forsake you because you were low. 00:04:00.079 --> 00:04:04.019 And that, bam, like that's exactly how I feel. 00:04:04.799 --> 00:04:09.060 God will not, as God did not first choose you because you were high, 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:12.099 he will not now forsake you because you were low. 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:15.680 And that's, that's the only hope I had. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:18.480 And this is what we're going to look at in our text tonight. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:24.600 So, if you're in Philippians, I'm going to just kind of walk through this a little bit. 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:25.680 I'm not in Philippians. 00:04:26.420 --> 00:04:27.379 I'm where I was. 00:04:29.900 --> 00:04:34.460 So, check out verse 3. 00:04:34.540 --> 00:04:35.500 This is going to be a little intro. 00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:38.600 This isn't going to be the main focus of the message. 00:04:39.420 --> 00:04:42.740 When you read a text like this, you can spend forever just on one phrase. 00:04:42.740 --> 00:04:43.639 So, I'm not going to try to do that. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:46.660 I'm going to try to focus mainly on verse 6. 00:04:46.840 --> 00:04:49.980 But, I kind of want to, I don't want to just breeze past the other stuff. 00:04:50.960 --> 00:04:54.480 But in the first phrase here, Paul calls God my God. 00:04:55.180 --> 00:04:57.920 And that is very important. 00:04:58.100 --> 00:05:02.400 His personal, intimate relationship with the living God. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:09.259 Martin Luther is, supposedly has taught, I think he wrote it in his commentary in Galatians. 00:05:09.359 --> 00:05:12.560 Christianity is a matter of personal pronouns. 00:05:13.599 --> 00:05:14.639 I thought that was really cool. 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:20.419 Meaning that, your only connection to Christianity is, you have to have in a personal way. 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:21.679 It can't be anybody else's. 00:05:21.739 --> 00:05:22.719 It's your God. 00:05:23.239 --> 00:05:24.620 Christ died for your sin. 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:27.000 He is your Savior. 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:30.839 His Father is your Father idea. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:34.839 And so, my God is like how he starts this out. 00:05:35.779 --> 00:05:39.420 And so, we're going to kind of move around the text a little bit. 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:44.279 But, just first of all, there's, this isn't the main focus. 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:51.180 Remember, there's three indications of what genuine Christian love could be described at in this text. 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:54.819 And Paul kind of pours that out for the Philippians. 00:05:54.819 --> 00:06:00.800 And the first one is, true, genuine Christian love means that you have other believers on your mind. 00:06:00.860 --> 00:06:03.899 The first one, he has them on his mind. 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:05.959 And you see verse 3 there. 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:09.180 I thank my God in all remembrance of you. 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:15.319 So, you should be thinking about your fellow believers, pondering them, what they're going through. 00:06:16.019 --> 00:06:21.920 Pondering their welfare and seeking to love them so they're on his mind. 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:24.379 Secondly, he has them in his heart. 00:06:24.819 --> 00:06:26.099 Look at verse 7. 00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:33.199 It is right for me to feel this way about you because I hold you in my heart. 00:06:34.199 --> 00:06:35.120 Verse 8. 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:40.980 For God is my witness how I yearn for you with all the affection of Christ Jesus. 00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:48.220 So, Christ gives his people a deep, ardent love for one another. 00:06:48.780 --> 00:06:52.020 People that say, I can't stand Christians, I like Jesus. 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:57.860 They probably, if they really mean that wholeheartedly, they might not really know who the Savior is. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:01.639 Because hatred is evidence of blindness to the light. 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:07.639 And love is evidence that sight has been given to the blind. 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:13.599 And that the miracle of being born again has taken place in someone's heart. 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:16.139 And the outpour of that is love. 00:07:16.219 --> 00:07:19.879 And so, we seek to love one another because Christ's love does. 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:25.019 We could go on and on about the whole commandment Christ gives to love one another. 00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:27.299 So, he has them in his mind. 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:28.399 He has them in his heart. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:30.779 And thirdly, he has them in his prayers. 00:07:31.899 --> 00:07:32.939 Look at verse 4. 00:07:32.939 --> 00:08:02.920 Verse 9. 00:08:02.939 --> 00:08:09.980 And that love would come out of them in a godly way of living. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:13.199 And that all that would go back to the glory of God. 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:14.639 It would bear fruit of righteousness. 00:08:16.100 --> 00:08:20.240 This evidence of only the transforming grace in someone's life if that actually happens. 00:08:20.980 --> 00:08:22.139 So, he's rejoicing. 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:26.100 And that's three ways that we can love one another. 00:08:26.220 --> 00:08:28.800 To have each other on our minds and our hearts and our prayers. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:32.340 And those are really important. 00:08:32.340 --> 00:08:41.139 So, jumping into the main focus tonight will be in verse 6 mainly. 00:08:41.139 --> 00:08:51.139 And there's an awesome doctrine that we believe here, a Christ family, that has been believed throughout the centuries of the church. 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:58.139 And it's defended by so many awesome biblical texts in the Old and New Testament. 00:08:58.139 --> 00:09:01.939 But it's called perseverance of the saints. 00:09:01.939 --> 00:09:07.179 And it refers to that all those who have truly been born again. 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:15.939 All those who have truly been saved of God will, by God's power, persevere to the very end of their lives. 00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:17.359 Die and go to be with the Lord. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:23.060 And it's by God's power that they persevere, not by their own resolve or willpower. 00:09:23.320 --> 00:09:26.480 It's God's power that keeps them to the end. 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:31.519 And that only those who make it to the end are those who are truly saved. 00:09:32.580 --> 00:09:39.519 And so, we're going to look at three things out of this text that you can see. 00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:42.820 And we'll find them in the tenses of past, present, and future. 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:48.039 We're going to trace God's work through the past, present, and future. 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:52.959 So, number one is, God started a good work in them. 00:09:53.699 --> 00:09:56.319 So, God started a good work in them. 00:09:57.059 --> 00:10:04.419 And this will be like in the idea of like the past tense, where he had begun or began like in the past. 00:10:04.579 --> 00:10:07.259 So, look at verse 5 and 6. 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:09.379 Kind of move there. 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:14.039 Like, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day. 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:16.259 So, the idea of like from the very beginning. 00:10:16.259 --> 00:10:18.139 Then you jump to verse 6. 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:23.519 And I'm sure, I'm sure of this, that he who began a good work in you. 00:10:23.700 --> 00:10:26.480 So, this idea that God started something in them. 00:10:26.580 --> 00:10:27.019 God did. 00:10:27.159 --> 00:10:29.159 God started something in them. 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:31.700 So, you need to understand. 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:33.819 We could go on about this all night as well. 00:10:33.939 --> 00:10:39.879 But, according to scripture, before Christ, there was nothing in us that desired God whatsoever. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:42.919 We were slaves to sin. 00:10:43.220 --> 00:10:45.879 We were, we belonged to the devil. 00:10:46.740 --> 00:10:47.460 Not God. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:49.240 We sought to do his will. 00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:53.639 And we focused on the things of the world and the glory of man. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:58.059 And it wasn't that we just heard the gospel and we're just on our own. 00:10:58.139 --> 00:10:59.319 Well, that makes a lot of sense. 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:01.740 And we decided to reform our lives. 00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:02.879 It had nothing to do with that. 00:11:02.939 --> 00:11:05.779 We didn't just wise up and get this one day. 00:11:05.779 --> 00:11:11.079 It was God who took the initiative and God did a work in us when he did not have to. 00:11:11.959 --> 00:11:13.779 And he has the power to change our lives. 00:11:13.939 --> 00:11:18.759 Flip to, keep your hand in Philippians always, but flip to Ephesians 2. 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:24.139 We'll start in verse 1 of Ephesians 2. 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:25.139 Ephesians 2. 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:32.720 This will sum up what I just said. 00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:35.340 Ephesians 2 verse 1. 00:11:35.439 --> 00:11:38.620 Paul talking to the believers. 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:40.360 He's reflecting on their past life. 00:11:41.139 --> 00:11:41.519 He says, 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:50.039 So, this is past tense. 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:51.879 Following the course of this world. 00:11:52.659 --> 00:11:53.919 There's the idea of the world. 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:55.199 We were controlled by the world. 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:56.819 We followed the flow of the world. 00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:59.779 Following the prince of the power of the air. 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:06.199 So, that is another title for Satan, the adversary, Satan. 00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:08.579 We were controlled by him. 00:12:09.939 --> 00:12:13.899 The spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:15.299 Among who? 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:19.019 We all once lived in the passions of our flesh. 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:21.659 Carrying out the desires of the body and the mind. 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:23.480 And by nature were children of wrath. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:25.220 Like the rest of mankind. 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:27.659 So, that was our condition. 00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:30.319 And some of you still may be in that position tonight. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:35.319 And I beg you not to leave without speaking to someone. 00:12:35.839 --> 00:12:39.079 And letting them minister God's word to you before you go. 00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:40.000 You need Christ. 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:42.500 But for those of us who have encountered Christ. 00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:43.899 This was us at one time. 00:12:44.459 --> 00:12:46.159 You may think I've always been a pretty good person. 00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:46.839 But no. 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:49.439 Before Christ, this was you. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:50.299 Just as much as anybody. 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:53.860 And in verse 4, we start to see that initiative. 00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:54.899 I'm talking about God. 00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:56.699 God took the initiative. 00:12:57.659 --> 00:13:02.959 But God, being rich in mercy because of his great love for which he loved us. 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:05.699 Even when we were dead in our trespasses. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:08.279 Made us alive together with Christ. 00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:10.539 By grace you have been saved. 00:13:11.819 --> 00:13:16.439 Now, the closest I've been in the crossing ever into the next life was. 00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:19.319 I was on life support for two weeks. 00:13:19.579 --> 00:13:21.360 And you see a little hole right here. 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:23.159 I tell little kids I got shot there. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:24.960 And they just kind of stare at me in amazement. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.539 It's about right the size of a small caliber. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:38.240 So, but I can tell you that even on life support, there wasn't a moment I could have just gotten right up and just done my thing. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:42.379 I could not have just moved on from that condition I was in at all. 00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:45.419 I couldn't just will myself to do it. 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:49.559 And this is what the scripture says that you were spiritually before Christ. 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:51.840 You were dead in your trespasses. 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:54.679 And then it says you were raised with Christ. 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:57.539 So the power of God is what raised you from a spiritual death. 00:13:58.299 --> 00:14:00.299 And that is why you have to be born again. 00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:00.840 You see that? 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:02.039 Like you were dead spiritually. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:05.620 That's why you had to have a new life in Christ. 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:08.360 So there was nothing we could have done. 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:09.480 This was God's initiative. 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:11.320 God took the initiative in our past. 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:13.820 1 John 4.10 says, 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:15.179 And this is love. 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:24.940 Not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be a propitiation or an atonement or appeasement for our sins. 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:26.960 Then verse 19, 00:14:27.060 --> 00:14:29.440 We love because He first loved us. 00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:33.379 It's not that we just decide to love Yah one day and God return the favor. 00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:35.560 There's an order to this. 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:41.220 And so if you're not willing to believe the scripture, maybe you'll believe an old hymn that everybody sings. 00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:44.560 Probably the most well-known hymn to mankind. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:47.980 But Amazing Grace, this is what the song is about. 00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:49.560 He says, 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:52.899 It was grace that taught my heart to fear. 00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:55.019 And grace my fears relieved. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:00.399 How precious then that grace appeared the hour I first believed. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:03.039 It's the idea that God took the initiative. 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:08.219 So, that's the first one is that God started to get work in us in past tense. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:15.500 Number two, God is continuing a good work in them. 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:20.399 So, this will be in the present tense. 00:15:21.059 --> 00:15:22.480 Moving into this current moment. 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:25.080 Go back to Philippians again. 00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:27.879 We're going to look at this in the text. 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:29.820 And go to verse 5. 00:15:31.439 --> 00:15:32.059 It says, 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:37.340 Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, present time. 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:39.159 Go to verse 7. 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:44.860 It is right for me to feel this way about you because I hold you in my heart. 00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:48.139 For you are all partakers with me of grace. 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:53.579 Both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 00:15:53.580 --> 00:16:01.600 So, Paul is rejoicing because he sees present righteousness, present godliness in these people's lives. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:04.100 And it's reflected in their actions. 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:11.139 Like what they have done are evidences, are outpours of what God has done in them. 00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:15.080 So, we see like right there, this verse 5. 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:17.139 And you also kind of see it in verse 7. 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:23.699 But this word partnership, it's synonymous with almsgiving or financial support to someone. 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:27.299 And they were the only church to support Paul for a long time. 00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:30.960 And they actually just lacked the opportunity to give. 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:32.299 They were eager to give to Paul. 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:34.179 And they gave to his ministry. 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:36.100 And he was just excited about that. 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:41.399 And they also sent a guy named Epaphratitis that we'll read about in chapter 4. 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:46.960 They sent him to deliver the money and also to care for Paul's well-being. 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:48.879 So, I mean, they greatly cared about Paul. 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:55.440 And by Paul being under arrest and probably soon to be in prison maybe, 00:16:56.379 --> 00:17:01.019 to associate with him would have been shame in the ancient world. 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:07.839 And yet they stood firmly by him while he gave a defense for the gospel in the highest court in all the empire. 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:10.720 So, this was in the present tense. 00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:13.700 Paul saw God's work in them in the present. 00:17:14.639 --> 00:17:16.759 And so back to us, we'll draw it to us now. 00:17:16.879 --> 00:17:20.119 God is presently at work in us if we know Christ. 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:23.639 Many people believe that after you're saved, God just says, 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:25.539 Alright, I've done my part. 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.680 Now go out and be a Christian. 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:28.859 Like, do your best. 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:31.859 That's, you know, I'm in your corner kind of idea. 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:35.240 And it's not even really that. 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:41.139 It's not even an idea of like a tag team where, you know, like I'm in a wrestling ring. 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.479 It's me and Satan. 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.859 And every now and then I'm doing pretty good. 00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:44.859 And I take Satan down. 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:48.339 And when Satan takes me down, I tag Jesus. 00:17:48.459 --> 00:17:52.539 And Jesus comes in and puts Satan in the helicopter spin and puts him down. 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:55.119 Like, it's not that idea either. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:57.979 It's like this idea of Christ is in me. 00:17:58.500 --> 00:18:00.639 And Christ's power is in me. 00:18:00.899 --> 00:18:07.179 And the only way that to succeed will be for Christ to work and not me. 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:10.599 Look down into chapter 2 real fast. 00:18:10.699 --> 00:18:11.419 Philippians 2. 00:18:14.719 --> 00:18:16.379 Philippians 2 verse 12. 00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:20.040 We'll get to this eventually and talk about it more in the future. 00:18:21.360 --> 00:18:32.100 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence, but much more in my absence, 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:35.180 work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.360 And then listen to this. 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:46.019 Isn't that interesting? 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:52.059 So, it's decided that God is at work presently in us if you belong to Christ. 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:59.399 And we are responsible to work, to labor, to toil, to take action, to be obedient. 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:08.059 But as we do that, God fuels us with His power, with His energy, and with His grace to accomplish His good pleasure. 00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:10.960 So, these aren't opposing ideas. 00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:13.700 We can talk more about this. 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:19.759 If Paul writes to the church in Galatia and says to them, 00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:23.740 they had received the gospel well and many of them became believers. 00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:28.120 And he goes away and then all of a sudden he hears they're starting to add to the gospel. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:35.680 Like you have to have Jesus plus all the Old Testament or Jewish ritual laws that need to be circumcised. 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:36.640 You need, you need, you need. 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:39.400 Jesus plus, Jesus plus. 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:43.880 And Paul is like, basically, you idiots. 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:45.040 What are you thinking? 00:19:45.780 --> 00:19:46.680 And he writes to them, 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.800 Are you so foolish? 00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:53.940 Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:58.820 So, this idea that God did His part and then just sent you on. 00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:04.519 Like that work the Spirit started is the work that the Spirit continues in your life. 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:08.500 So, God is presently at work in us. 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:10.440 So, back to these things. 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:13.660 The first one, God started a good work in them. 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.000 Past tense. 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:18.180 Number two, God is continuing a good work in them. 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:18.920 Present tense. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.740 And then thirdly, 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:25.640 God will finish the work in them. 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.119 Future. 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:30.779 And, look at verse 6 in Philippians 1. 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:33.839 And this, I am sure of. 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:40.980 That He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus. 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:47.259 So, I've met many people over the years. 00:20:48.139 --> 00:20:49.680 I mean, I'm not going to exempt myself. 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:51.700 In the past, I used to struggle with this a lot. 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:57.080 And I still do, but I know how to answer that now with truth and not lies. 00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:59.960 You listen to God and not to your own feelings. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:08.319 In the future tense, there's a lot of people who, even some of you in this room that I know have had this conversation with, 00:21:09.100 --> 00:21:12.200 I'm afraid that I'm going to fall away. 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:16.920 I'm afraid that I'm going to fall away from God's hands. 00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:21.600 I'm afraid that I can lose my salvation. 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.259 Like, I don't know. 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.420 I'm not really convinced. 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:27.819 You know, like, show me something in the Word that says otherwise. 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:30.220 I hope that's not true, but I'm such a horrible Christian. 00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.819 I try so hard. 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:36.160 I'm grieved that I can't obey God the way that I want to. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:43.759 You sound like Paul in Romans 7, which is where he says the things that I hate, I do. 00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:46.440 The things I want to do, I cannot do. 00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:48.440 It's this idea. 00:21:49.300 --> 00:21:51.140 And you're like, please give me something. 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:57.640 So I hope that this stuff will minister to your heart as it has in mind. 00:21:57.700 --> 00:22:00.160 Because without this, I would despair. 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.640 I wouldn't even be up here tonight. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:05.440 And many of you wouldn't be sitting here tonight. 00:22:06.580 --> 00:22:12.120 We'd have to become Christians every day and repent again every day and be saved every day if this wasn't true. 00:22:13.580 --> 00:22:19.259 So let's look at that word right here where Paul says, where did we go? 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.759 Where's the word? 00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.100 Okay. 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:24.440 I am convinced of this. 00:22:24.540 --> 00:22:26.120 I am persuaded of this. 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:32.679 This is a cool, I mean, he's saying like, I am positive that God is going to carry on this work. 00:22:32.719 --> 00:22:34.159 I don't have any doubt in my mind. 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:38.079 I'm confident that he is going to continue this. 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:41.899 And so I'm going to give you a few things. 00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:46.179 God promises never to lose any who belong to Christ. 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.159 Okay. 00:22:47.159 --> 00:22:52.179 He promises that all those who belong to Christ will not perish. 00:22:52.180 --> 00:23:03.820 Not mainly, not really at all because we're awesome and we're worth it and we're just these most amazing people and God just can't be without us and he has to have us. 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.900 That's not it at all. 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:12.080 There is nothing in us that God decided like, that's a pretty cool guy. 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:14.060 I'm going to save him or that's a pretty cool lady. 00:23:14.120 --> 00:23:14.900 I'm going to save her. 00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.600 Nothing at all. 00:23:17.840 --> 00:23:19.299 But can I ask you a question? 00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:29.599 Will you allow someone you love dearly to suffer tremendous pain and death if you knew their death was going to be in vain, if you could have prevented it? 00:23:30.919 --> 00:23:32.099 I don't think you would. 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:35.339 And I can definitely promise you God doesn't think that way. 00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:38.919 Turn to John 10 and go to verse 27. 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:47.940 Just a few more places to turn tonight, but this is an important truth and I just want to show you this. 00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:52.480 It's not really about man's opinion, but about what God himself says. 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:56.220 John 10 verse 27. 00:23:56.220 --> 00:24:05.440 Jesus is on this discourse and he says, verse 27, 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:10.200 My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:18.900 I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:27.720 My father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of my father's hand. 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:30.640 I and the father are one. 00:24:32.300 --> 00:24:33.280 Awesome passage. 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:39.019 And so I'm going to give you a little illustration here. 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:47.980 If you had a choice today to go and spend a long amount of time at the vacation of your dreams, 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.940 wherever place you go to in your mind, 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:54.559 and you spent a great deal of money to get there, 00:24:54.559 --> 00:25:03.399 thousands and thousands of dollars to just get to this place where you wanted to chill and have a good time. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:06.980 And you get to the destination, 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:14.059 you get off the plane and going through the airport and security stops you, 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:14.980 immigration stops you. 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.799 This has happened to me before. 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:17.259 And they say, 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.839 well, 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.579 you can't come in our country yet. 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:24.399 You owe $10 to come into our country. 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:26.539 You have to pay us $10 or you're getting back on the plane. 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:33.139 And imagine if you had a friend with you that said, 00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:35.680 that is crazy and absurd. 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:38.379 There's no way we are paying $10. 00:25:39.379 --> 00:25:40.919 That is insane. 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:43.079 We're getting back on the plane and we're leaving. 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:46.759 You probably would knock them out, 00:25:46.899 --> 00:25:48.379 punch them or spit in their face. 00:25:48.439 --> 00:25:48.980 And you would say, 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:50.639 you stupid idiot. 00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:51.379 This is not, 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:52.859 this is ridiculous. 00:25:53.399 --> 00:25:55.460 We came all this way. 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.319 It's been all this money. 00:25:56.399 --> 00:26:00.559 You're not willing to throw Andrew Jackson out there and like come in the country. 00:26:00.679 --> 00:26:01.240 Like that's, 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:02.500 that's ridiculous. 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:06.539 So as stupid as that logic is, 00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:08.579 I have a greater question for you. 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:10.460 Let's move this up on the divine scale. 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:15.980 Do you really think that the heavenly father would watch his beloved son, 00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:17.340 immolated, 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:22.340 crucified on the cross and not see the work that he started through? 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:24.180 Not at all. 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.700 He's not saying to the, 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.039 to the, 00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:30.160 Christ isn't saying to his father, 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:31.600 I've done the work. 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:35.100 So I hope you make it worth it. 00:26:36.060 --> 00:26:37.779 And the father is not saying to the son, 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.019 like, 00:26:38.040 --> 00:26:38.980 I know you did that work, 00:26:39.060 --> 00:26:40.620 but I can't do anything about it. 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:43.500 Let's just cross our fingers and hope something works out. 00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:45.759 Let's hope that you didn't die in vain. 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.080 I mean, 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:46.320 sir, 00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:47.800 many of you have seen passion in the Christ. 00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:48.620 And it's like, 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:51.000 can you imagine that being for nothing, 00:26:51.080 --> 00:26:51.860 for no reason, 00:26:51.860 --> 00:26:54.360 like the son of God being tortured, 00:26:54.560 --> 00:26:54.920 broken, 00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:56.700 and crucified. 00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.240 But the father is not saying, 00:26:59.320 --> 00:27:00.180 I know you died for them, 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:00.720 but I can't, 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.720 I can't save them. 00:27:03.320 --> 00:27:03.720 Ridiculous. 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:06.600 God will see that work through. 00:27:07.560 --> 00:27:08.880 And that's our greatest comfort. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:12.000 Charles Spurgeon, 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:13.140 a great preacher in England, 00:27:13.320 --> 00:27:16.300 in the late 1800s, 00:27:16.300 --> 00:27:16.759 he said, 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:19.859 if our faith be of our own getting or making, 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:21.640 it will perish. 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.240 And the sooner it goes, 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:23.640 the better. 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:26.980 But if our faith is a matter of God's giving, 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:30.500 we know that he shall never take back what he gives. 00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.839 And that, 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:35.599 if he has commenced the work by his grace, 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:37.279 he will never leave it unfinished. 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.619 And that's true. 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:42.519 That I will finish the good work that he began. 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:46.379 And us till the day of Christ Jesus, 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:49.599 and so that is God's promise, 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:51.619 never to lose any that belong to Christ. 00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:54.200 It's not just a hypothetical. 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:57.619 The gospel will be hypothetical good news 00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.440 if it was like, 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.579 Jesus died, 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.039 but, 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:01.779 you know, 00:28:01.879 --> 00:28:02.379 it's not. 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.200 It's good news. 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:04.579 And so, 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:09.039 God's own desire and ability to save his people 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:10.579 is unmatched. 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:14.900 Some of us start things and can't finish them. 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:16.000 That's because we get lazy, 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.019 or we get hurt, 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:18.880 or we lack the resources. 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:21.259 But God, 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.500 in his work, 00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:24.539 has the strongest desire 00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:26.779 and all the power to carry out what he started. 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:28.440 And, 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:33.980 if anyone is committed to accomplishing the saving purposes 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.799 in our salvation, 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.400 it's God. 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:36.960 And, 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.380 God himself. 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:41.240 God is not like men. 00:28:41.580 --> 00:28:43.380 Men conduct experiments 00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:44.700 and sometimes don't finish. 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:49.080 God never leaves anything half done, 00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:49.400 ever. 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:51.880 Our salvation will be accomplished. 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.960 Turn to 1 Peter, 00:28:54.760 --> 00:28:55.760 chapter 1. 00:28:58.760 --> 00:29:00.420 There's two more places to turn. 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.380 One more after this one. 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:04.660 1 Peter 3, 00:29:05.560 --> 00:29:06.140 or excuse me, 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.020 1 Peter, 00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:07.680 chapter 1, 00:29:07.760 --> 00:29:08.280 verse 3. 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:12.120 So, 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:12.500 we got 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.940 the disciple, 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:14.700 the fisherman, 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.060 Peter, 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.760 writing here 00:29:16.760 --> 00:29:19.740 in verse 3 of chapter 1. 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.460 He said, 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:23.380 Blessed be the God and Father 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:25.819 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:28.400 According to his great mercy, 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:30.200 he has caused us, 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.940 so you see that he has caused us, 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.660 God's initiation, 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:36.420 to be born again 00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:38.340 to a living hope, 00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:39.519 not wishful thinking, 00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:40.980 a living hope 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:45.059 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:47.700 to an inheritance that is 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:49.539 imperishable, 00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:52.019 undefiled, 00:29:52.879 --> 00:29:53.779 and unfading, 00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:54.899 kept. 00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:56.599 Look at those words. 00:29:57.659 --> 00:29:58.259 Imperishable, 00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:58.859 undefiled, 00:29:59.079 --> 00:29:59.559 unfading, 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.039 kept, 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:02.099 in heaven for you. 00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:04.039 And here's the awesome phrase. 00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:05.399 Who by God's power 00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:06.980 are being guarded 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:08.460 through faith 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.279 for a salvation 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:10.519 ready to be revealed 00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:11.480 in the last time. 00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:13.519 Awesome. 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.279 That Greek word, 00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:15.599 guarded, 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:17.480 is only a military term 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.519 in Greek, 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.019 and it means 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:20.500 to garrison 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.480 or to watch over, 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:23.220 to always have 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:24.720 a guard over, 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:26.400 a continued process 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:28.579 of protection. 00:30:29.879 --> 00:30:30.180 And 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:32.299 no one could do that 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.220 more than God Almighty. 00:30:33.639 --> 00:30:33.779 You know, 00:30:34.139 --> 00:30:35.579 so let's just say that 00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:36.599 I was 00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:38.740 a mob boss 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.180 or whatever, 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:40.740 just some gang leader, 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:42.019 and I told you, 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.220 hey, 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:42.700 there's 00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:44.639 a guy in this building 00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:46.119 that I want you to take out 00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:47.019 if you're an assassin. 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.680 I'm telling you this. 00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:49.420 Go and take this guy out. 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.400 But I need to warn you, 00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:52.460 the guy that's guarding 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:53.059 this building, 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.700 he is 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:55.079 omnipotent. 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:56.539 He has all power. 00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:58.059 He's omniscient, 00:30:58.139 --> 00:30:58.799 meaning that he knows 00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.440 all things, 00:30:59.539 --> 00:30:59.819 past, 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.200 present, 00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:01.519 and future, 00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.480 and he's omnipresent. 00:31:02.619 --> 00:31:03.200 He's even right here 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:03.680 with us now. 00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:05.059 Good luck. 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:06.680 He would 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.480 not 00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:08.839 survive. 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.559 And so, 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.440 we are being guarded, 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:14.039 our souls are being guarded 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:15.120 by God's power, 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:16.840 not our own ability, 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:18.019 not our own skill 00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.740 or knowledge, 00:31:18.840 --> 00:31:19.840 not how much theology 00:31:19.840 --> 00:31:21.240 you can spit out. 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.400 I'm a big fan of theology. 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.559 I'll talk about it all day, 00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:25.480 but theology in itself 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.559 does nothing for you. 00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:29.900 I'll read you a verse 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:31.500 out of 1 Thessalonians 5, 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:33.000 verse 23. 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:33.920 You can write it down. 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:36.400 Now may the God 00:31:36.400 --> 00:31:37.360 of peace himself 00:31:37.360 --> 00:31:38.460 sanctify you 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.620 completely, 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:41.519 and may your whole 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.620 spirit and soul 00:31:42.620 --> 00:31:43.759 and body 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.920 be kept blameless 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:46.060 at the coming 00:31:46.060 --> 00:31:47.360 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.720 Listen to this. 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.480 He who calls you 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.140 is faithful. 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:53.100 He will surely do it. 00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:54.120 That's like what it says. 00:31:55.080 --> 00:31:55.640 Awesome. 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:57.259 1 Thessalonians 5, 00:31:57.320 --> 00:31:58.360 23-24. 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.539 So, 00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:01.560 God's faithfulness 00:32:01.560 --> 00:32:02.100 doesn't depend on 00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:02.860 our faithfulness. 00:32:02.859 --> 00:32:04.679 God's faithfulness 00:32:04.679 --> 00:32:06.779 is what will preserve us 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:08.039 the day of Christ Jesus 00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:10.299 or the end of all things, 00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:11.099 if you want to call it that, 00:32:11.159 --> 00:32:11.919 the return of Christ 00:32:11.919 --> 00:32:13.539 or the final day. 00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.079 So, 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.740 God's faithfulness 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.399 just means that 00:32:17.399 --> 00:32:18.099 He always 00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:19.740 will be who He is. 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.519 He doesn't change 00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.519 and He always will do 00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:22.139 what He said. 00:32:22.959 --> 00:32:23.699 And it's not dependent 00:32:23.699 --> 00:32:25.639 on any outside force, 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.639 spiritual or 00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:27.759 physical. 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:30.579 And to sum this up, 00:32:30.659 --> 00:32:31.099 I have a 00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:33.819 really awesome quote 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:36.000 by a commentator, 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:36.659 F.B. Meyer. 00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:37.119 He says, 00:32:37.939 --> 00:32:40.519 We go into the artist's studio 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:42.179 and we find there 00:32:42.179 --> 00:32:43.359 unfinished pictures, 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:45.959 covered large canvases, 00:32:46.659 --> 00:32:48.279 suggesting great designs, 00:32:48.919 --> 00:32:50.459 but which have been left, 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:52.519 either because the genius 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.959 was not competent 00:32:53.959 --> 00:32:55.159 to complete the work 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:57.060 or because of paralysis 00:32:57.060 --> 00:32:59.019 laid low the hand 00:32:59.019 --> 00:33:00.240 and He just couldn't 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:00.800 do it anymore. 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:02.440 But as we go into 00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:03.540 God's great workshop, 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:05.040 we find that He bears, 00:33:06.279 --> 00:33:07.180 does not bear 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:08.360 the mark of haste 00:33:08.360 --> 00:33:09.400 or insufficiency 00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.740 of power 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.759 to finish the work. 00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:13.500 And we are sure 00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.180 that the work 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:15.160 which His grace 00:33:15.160 --> 00:33:15.720 has begun, 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.580 the arm of His strength 00:33:17.580 --> 00:33:18.660 will complete it. 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.360 Really cool. 00:33:20.560 --> 00:33:21.680 God will always finish 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.980 what He started. 00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:24.339 So, 00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:25.500 true, 00:33:25.660 --> 00:33:26.420 genuine believers 00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:27.160 who have experienced 00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:28.160 God's saving power, 00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:30.120 we can rest in this. 00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:30.700 Some of you, 00:33:31.360 --> 00:33:31.920 like I said, 00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:32.599 may not be there. 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:33.720 Other of you may be deceived 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.519 thinking that 00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:36.000 you belong to God 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.920 and you don't. 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.480 But your life 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:39.220 will reflect that 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:40.480 if that's true or not. 00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:42.559 Not perfectly. 00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:43.039 That's what we've been 00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:43.960 talking about tonight. 00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:46.559 But if He has saved you, 00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:46.940 indeed, 00:33:47.120 --> 00:33:48.319 He will not let you go. 00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:51.039 And He will carry you 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.920 through to the end. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.920 You will persevere 00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:54.600 and be saved. 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:56.180 And the last place 00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:56.960 we're going to look tonight, 00:33:57.100 --> 00:33:59.039 Psalm 138. 00:33:59.120 --> 00:33:59.500 Turn there. 00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:00.400 Everybody like this? 00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:02.000 Just a few verses 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:03.460 out of Psalm 138. 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:03.460 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:03.460 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:03.460 00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:15.480 Psalm 138. 00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.460 Go to verse 6. 00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:22.280 Remember that quote 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.220 that I started with 00:34:23.220 --> 00:34:27.240 by John Flavio 00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:27.900 where he said, 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:29.220 As God did not 00:34:29.220 --> 00:34:29.920 first choose you 00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:30.760 because you were high, 00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:32.139 He will not now forsake you 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:33.039 because you were low. 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:36.659 Look at verse 6. 00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:39.440 For though the Lord is high, 00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:41.059 He regards the lowly. 00:34:41.779 --> 00:34:42.839 But the haughty, 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:44.460 He knows from afar. 00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:46.420 And though I walk 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.480 in the midst of trouble, 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.980 you preserve my life. 00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:52.000 You stretch out your hand 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.940 against the wrath 00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:53.719 of my enemies. 00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:55.639 And your right hand 00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:56.539 delivers me. 00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:59.460 The Lord will fulfill 00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:00.619 His purpose for me. 00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:02.639 Your steadfast love, 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:02.960 Lord, 00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:03.779 endures forever. 00:35:04.379 --> 00:35:05.899 Do not forsake the work. 00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:07.599 Of your hands. 00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:11.579 Praise God for this. 00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:13.739 This is an awesome, 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.779 glorious truth. 00:35:15.779 --> 00:35:17.119 And He gives all the glory for it. 00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:18.599 We don't get any glory 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:19.199 and that's cool. 00:35:19.379 --> 00:35:21.039 That's what a believer wants. 00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:22.259 They don't want any glory anyway. 00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:23.659 They want it to all 00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:24.460 go back to God 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:25.359 because all things are 00:35:25.359 --> 00:35:26.719 from Him, 00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.399 through Him, 00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:28.119 and to Him. 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:30.079 To Him be glory 00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:30.859 forever and ever. 00:35:31.359 --> 00:35:32.659 So we're going to respond 00:35:32.659 --> 00:35:33.679 with a time of singing 00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:35.119 on the West. 00:35:35.279 --> 00:35:36.460 I don't want to West go. 00:35:36.659 --> 00:35:37.559 In the back. 00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:40.440 And if you're struggling 00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:41.139 with some of this, 00:35:41.239 --> 00:35:41.879 please come and 00:35:41.879 --> 00:35:43.059 talk to us. 00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:43.980 Chris is in the back. 00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:45.639 Nathan, 00:35:45.879 --> 00:35:46.279 myself, 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:46.759 Wes, 00:35:47.839 --> 00:35:49.359 love to talk to you. 00:35:50.299 --> 00:35:51.339 So let me just pray. 00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:55.500 Lord, 00:35:55.659 --> 00:35:57.619 the burden of sin 00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:58.119 and 00:35:58.119 --> 00:36:00.159 the ugliness of sin 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:00.779 and the pain 00:36:00.779 --> 00:36:01.559 that this world 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:03.500 inflicts on Your people 00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:05.000 is real 00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:05.019 is real 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:05.780 and it hurts. 00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:07.800 And 00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:09.460 You never promised 00:36:09.460 --> 00:36:10.260 a life of ease. 00:36:10.340 --> 00:36:11.000 You said that 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:12.539 in this world 00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:13.659 you will have trouble 00:36:13.659 --> 00:36:14.599 or tribulation 00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.980 or trial. 00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:18.179 But take heart 00:36:18.179 --> 00:36:19.079 because I have overcome 00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:19.500 the world. 00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:20.619 And if we belong to You, 00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:21.320 we also 00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:22.980 will overcome. 00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:25.519 And so, 00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:25.880 Lord, 00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:26.800 I pray that You 00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:27.659 would encourage us 00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:28.079 with that. 00:36:28.199 --> 00:36:29.240 The day we remind us 00:36:29.240 --> 00:36:30.820 of Holy Spirit, 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:32.460 quicken that truth to us 00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:34.559 that You started the work. 00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:36.559 You're continuing it now 00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:37.840 and You will complete it. 00:36:37.840 --> 00:36:40.059 and let us find 00:36:40.059 --> 00:36:40.920 great joy 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:42.420 and great peace 00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:42.920 with that. 00:36:44.160 --> 00:36:45.059 And may we strive 00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:45.760 with all that we are 00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:46.539 to live for You 00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:46.980 and 00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:48.860 to die for You 00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.160 and 00:36:49.160 --> 00:36:50.660 to make the most 00:36:50.660 --> 00:36:51.300 of our time, 00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:51.539 Lord, 00:36:51.640 --> 00:36:53.340 for Your glory. 00:36:53.740 --> 00:36:54.760 And as we do that, 00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:55.900 fill us with Your energy, 00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:56.660 fill us with 00:36:56.660 --> 00:36:57.820 Your strength 00:36:57.820 --> 00:36:58.840 to live that life 00:36:58.840 --> 00:37:00.740 so that You may receive 00:37:00.740 --> 00:37:01.579 the praise, Lord, 00:37:02.120 --> 00:37:02.960 in all things. 00:37:04.100 --> 00:37:05.200 To You be all the glory, 00:37:05.340 --> 00:37:05.539 Lord, 00:37:05.620 --> 00:37:06.300 in Christ's name. 00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:06.640 Amen. 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:08.840 Amen.