WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.700
 But since we were torn away from you brothers for a short time, in person not in heart,

00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:13.720
 we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face.

00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:21.280
 Because we wanted to come to you, I Paul again and again, but Satan hindered us.

00:00:21.820 --> 00:00:28.280
 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord at his coming? Is it not you?

00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:32.439
 You are our glory and joy.

00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:38.660
 Making disciples is just part and parcel of the Christian life, isn't it?

00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:45.659
 Not only did Jesus explicitly command us to do it, that's the heart of the Great Commission, right?

00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:49.960
 There's really only one imperative in the Great Commission in Matthew 28,

00:00:50.140 --> 00:00:53.299
 and it's to go and make disciples of all nations.

00:00:54.060 --> 00:00:56.240
 But Jesus didn't only command it.

00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:03.960
 And wanting to help other people know and follow Jesus is part of the transformation

00:01:03.960 --> 00:01:07.719
 that God does in us when he saves us.

00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:09.820
 Think about your conversion.

00:01:11.140 --> 00:01:16.340
 Everything in your life up to that point was for you, ultimately, foundationally.

00:01:16.340 --> 00:01:18.780
 You pursued your desires.

00:01:19.060 --> 00:01:21.159
 You pursued your affections.

00:01:21.500 --> 00:01:23.240
 You pursued your sin.

00:01:23.600 --> 00:01:27.719
 Everything that you wanted out of life, you pursued it.

00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:32.519
 And then you were introduced to Christ, and you realized that all the things you were pursuing,

00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:37.680
 whether it be sin or philosophies, whatever it was, all of those things were wrong.

00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:40.739
 That they were not leading you to satisfaction in life.

00:01:40.819 --> 00:01:44.340
 They were leading you to death and eternal separation from God.

00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:48.180
 That it was actually going to be unsatisfying in your life.

00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:51.940
 And then you found Christ to be the satisfaction, right?

00:01:52.060 --> 00:01:53.020
 You make a switch.

00:01:53.160 --> 00:01:54.940
 Everything changes at that point, doesn't it?

00:01:55.160 --> 00:01:56.540
 All of your goals change.

00:01:56.660 --> 00:01:58.100
 Your affections change.

00:01:58.360 --> 00:02:00.140
 That's not because you change them.

00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:02.700
 It's because God does this work in you.

00:02:02.940 --> 00:02:04.020
 He transforms you.

00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:05.940
 He transforms everything.

00:02:06.300 --> 00:02:09.439
 Now you think, behold, all things are become new, Paul says.

00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:18.219
 A part of that transformation is this progressive change whereby we are turning away from worldly pursuits,

00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:24.359
 maybe good pursuits that just are not the best pursuits, and we begin to pursue other things.

00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:28.840
 One of the things we begin to pursue is the discipling of other people.

00:02:29.379 --> 00:02:31.360
 We want other people to know Jesus.

00:02:31.939 --> 00:02:36.259
 We want to help other people faithfully follow him.

00:02:36.259 --> 00:02:46.659
 And if you're a Christian, you will happily engage in discipling others when given opportunities to do it.

00:02:47.500 --> 00:02:59.139
 In fact, a genuine believer who is an unwilling participant in gospel work is an anomaly, if not even an impossibility.

00:02:59.139 --> 00:03:11.819
 Still, being willing to participate in gospel work is not exactly the same as having a heart to do it.

00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:13.919
 We understand that, right?

00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:17.639
 We acknowledge everybody has passions, right?

00:03:17.659 --> 00:03:22.519
 We all have things that we love, things that we give ourselves to, and that's different for all of us.

00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:28.400
 I may be a willing participant if Shane ever invites me to his house to watch Lord of the Rings.

00:03:29.420 --> 00:03:39.260
 I may be happy to sit with my friend and endure 18 hours worth of little men, hairy men that are doing some weird thing with a ring.

00:03:40.920 --> 00:03:42.780
 I may be a willing participant in that.

00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:45.439
 I may even experience some kind of joy in the process of it.

00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:48.879
 I'm not going to feel that in the same way that Shane does because he loves it, doesn't he?

00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:51.680
 It's a passion for him in some sense.

00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:54.719
 He's going to pursue that in a different kind of way.

00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:56.159
 We understand the difference, right?

00:03:56.299 --> 00:04:02.840
 There's a difference between being happy to be involved with something, but then actually having a passion for it, having a heart to do it.

00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:17.319
 And it's a casual approach to discipleship that really is driven largely by convenience and ease that plagues many Christians in our context, isn't it?

00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:21.959
 Again, it's not that we're unwilling to engage in gospel work.

00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:30.040
 Most of us really, honestly, we would be thrilled if somebody we know came to us today and asked us about our faith.

00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:35.459
 We would be so overjoyed if somebody came and sought counsel from us.

00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:42.860
 If we could just take our Bible and help them know how to be a better Christian or a more faithful, we would be so happy to do that.

00:04:42.860 --> 00:04:55.699
 However, a heart that is driven to that, a heart that's driven by that experience, eludes many of us, maybe all of us to some extent.

00:04:57.160 --> 00:05:05.680
 So that rather than having gospel ministry as a priority of our lives, it becomes almost an optional matter.

00:05:06.340 --> 00:05:10.080
 We squeeze it in when we can, and we're happy when it works.

00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:25.319
 Unfortunately, it's easy to get so busy giving our hearts to other endeavors that we even eventually begin to miss those clear opportunities that the Lord gives us, isn't it?

00:05:25.979 --> 00:05:28.219
 We give our hearts to so many things.

00:05:29.259 --> 00:05:31.360
 We give our time to so many things.

00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:40.960
 How much time, how much affection, how much heart are we giving to the work of the Lord?

00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:46.139
 Christ calls us to something different than that, something actually greater than this.

00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:52.259
 The Christians we read about in the New Testament, they immerse themselves in the life of the church.

00:05:52.400 --> 00:05:57.879
 They focus tremendous effort on making disciples in their communities around the world.

00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:09.839
 But those efforts were born from a heart-level desire to participate with God in His saving work.

00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:15.459
 And Paul is one of the clearest examples of this that we find anywhere in the Scriptures.

00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:24.860
 And through his letter to the Thessalonian church, we discover what it looks like when someone has a heart for ministry.

00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:28.400
 Not that they're just happy to be involved when it works out.

00:06:28.580 --> 00:06:34.860
 But what does it look like when somebody really is giving themselves to gospel work and gospel ministry?

00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:38.259
 I think our text helps us get a glimpse of that.

00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:41.360
 And I pray that the Lord will use it to shape our own hearts this morning.

00:06:41.740 --> 00:06:43.160
 Just three things here to point out.

00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:50.120
 A heart for ministry has an unrelenting desire to minister to people.

00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:54.720
 As an unrelenting desire to minister to people.

00:06:54.899 --> 00:07:06.180
 Again, not mere willingness, but a serious desire and affection that drives intentional effort and action.

00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:06.660
 Okay?

00:07:07.060 --> 00:07:07.860
 Verse 17.

00:07:08.699 --> 00:07:09.199
 Paul says,

00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:28.099
 You see the two portions here, the two categories.

00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:29.639
 There is desire.

00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:33.019
 There's affection on one hand in this verse.

00:07:33.019 --> 00:07:40.539
 And that affection is driving effort, action in the second half of the verse.

00:07:41.539 --> 00:07:51.560
 Now it's Luke that records for us in Acts chapter 17 the explanation of how Paul's time ended so abruptly and dramatically in Thessalonica.

00:07:52.719 --> 00:07:57.279
 He had enjoyed a relatively short season of fruitful ministry there.

00:07:57.359 --> 00:07:58.740
 The church is coming together.

00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:00.079
 A few people have been saved.

00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:02.039
 They're excited about serving the Lord.

00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:06.740
 And a group of jealous Jews were told incites a mob against Paul.

00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:08.480
 Violent mob.

00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:16.180
 And he and his team, which included Silas and Timothy, were forced to escape the city.

00:08:16.320 --> 00:08:18.360
 They had to leave quickly under cover of night.

00:08:18.840 --> 00:08:23.600
 And then what we find here in verse 17 is Paul is addressing them after that fact.

00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:32.300
 And what we find is that since their escape, Paul and Silas and Timothy worked relentlessly to do what?

00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:34.100
 To try to go back.

00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:36.320
 They've been forced out.

00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:41.019
 And now they're doing everything that they can to get back to Thessalonica.

00:08:41.560 --> 00:08:42.680
 But why?

00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:48.799
 Because their heart's desire was to be with them.

00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:57.739
 But Paul's heart's desire was not merely to be with them, but to be with them in a particular way.

00:08:57.740 --> 00:09:04.320
 His unrelenting desire was to continue ministering the gospel to them.

00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:06.440
 Discipling them in the faith.

00:09:06.800 --> 00:09:11.860
 These young believers who are being abused and persecuted by unbelievers.

00:09:13.020 --> 00:09:14.400
 He's concerned for them.

00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:15.160
 He's worried for them.

00:09:15.400 --> 00:09:18.400
 He wants to get to them so that he can serve the gospel.

00:09:18.660 --> 00:09:20.200
 So he can strengthen their faith.

00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:22.440
 So he can help establish and strengthen them.

00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:26.160
 As a fledgling congregation there in Thessalonica.

00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:32.299
 And this desire that he has in his heart, it's oozing out of the language that he uses here.

00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:38.000
 Let's look first at the affection with which he speaks.

00:09:39.199 --> 00:09:42.819
 He references his departure as being torn away.

00:09:43.439 --> 00:09:46.179
 Literally, orphaned is the word here.

00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:51.480
 Since we were orphaned from you, Paul says.

00:09:51.480 --> 00:10:00.960
 The extent to which we feel loss is directly linked to the measure of our affection for that thing or for that person.

00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:07.620
 If you lose a pen and it means nothing to you, you won't worry too much over it.

00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:13.220
 But when you have an heirloom handed down to you maybe from a family member or a loved one.

00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:15.399
 And it gets misplaced or it gets lost.

00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:17.320
 It matters, doesn't it?

00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:19.320
 It bothers us.

00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:23.280
 We feel loss for the thing because of our affection for the thing.

00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:33.220
 Paul's affection for the Thessalonians is so great that being forced to leave them felt like being, quote,

00:10:33.820 --> 00:10:37.060
 torn away from his own family, orphaned.

00:10:37.540 --> 00:10:39.320
 That's pretty tremendous love.

00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:43.100
 But their separation wasn't hopeless, was it?

00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:45.740
 He says that it was only for a short time.

00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:50.620
 Now at the time of this letter, we know Paul hasn't been back to Thessalonica.

00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:54.500
 He doesn't know if he's going to be back to Thessalonica.

00:10:54.580 --> 00:10:55.720
 He's at Corinth at the time.

00:10:56.440 --> 00:10:58.279
 Who knows if he'll actually be able to make it back.

00:10:58.419 --> 00:10:59.720
 So how can he actually say this?

00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:02.879
 How can he say that their separation is but for a short time?

00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:09.340
 Of course, maybe he's not talking about going back to Thessalonica at all.

00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:15.899
 Maybe, as is a common theme through the letter, he's got his eyes on the coming of Christ.

00:11:18.180 --> 00:11:24.980
 Acknowledging that even if he doesn't make it back now, he's confident that they would at least be reunited at Christ's return.

00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:29.080
 All we were torn away, but it's only for a short time.

00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:34.940
 Ultimately, we'll be brought back together when our Lord returns.

00:11:34.940 --> 00:11:38.080
 The gospel assures us of this, doesn't it?

00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:43.800
 Even in the letter, even in his moments of personal correspondence, he's ministering the gospel.

00:11:43.900 --> 00:11:45.120
 That's where his heart was.

00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:54.540
 Reminding them that any sense of separation that we feel now, whether in life or in death, we understand as believers, that's but temporary.

00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:57.020
 It's but for a short time.

00:11:57.640 --> 00:11:59.900
 The gospel gives us hope of a certain future.

00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:04.659
 We will be reunited together when he returns.

00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:10.019
 Paul may have been torn away in person, but his heart was still with them.

00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:21.360
 And it's this affection that helps convey this unrelenting desire to get back there and minister further.

00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:30.539
 It's an affection that we must cultivate if we're ever to have a heart for gospel ministry that looks anything like Paul's heart.

00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.720
 But it's not just affection here, is it?

00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:34.860
 That affection is doing something.

00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:36.860
 It's leading to something in the text.

00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:38.519
 It's leading to action.

00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:39.480
 Action.

00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:45.740
 Paul's affection for the people drove him to intentional effort.

00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:58.620
 He says, since being torn away from them, he, quote, endeavored more eagerly and with great desire to see them face to face, to get back.

00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:04.299
 Paul and his team, they didn't wait for opportunities to present themselves.

00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:06.899
 No, they labored.

00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:13.899
 Relentlessly, even it seems, to find ways to minister to the people.

00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:17.019
 That's what a heart for gospel ministry does.

00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:27.939
 It has an unrelenting desire to minister the gospel to people, to disciple people, to share the gospel with people.

00:13:29.559 --> 00:13:32.419
 And what we find here in Paul's example, this is why it's so convicting.

00:13:32.419 --> 00:13:41.480
 What we find here in Paul's example is it's a far cry from the convenience-based form of ministry that pervades our hearts.

00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:52.879
 When's the last time you could say that you endeavored more eagerly and with great desire to minister the gospel to someone else?

00:13:54.080 --> 00:14:00.300
 That your priority at that moment was to do whatever you could to remove any obstacle possible that you could

00:14:00.300 --> 00:14:07.620
 in order that you could go and serve the gospel to that person, to comfort them in Christ, to share the truth with them?

00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:13.519
 Why so different for Paul than for us?

00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:24.419
 It's not a difference in calling or gifting, though Paul had a unique call and was certainly a gifted apostle.

00:14:25.060 --> 00:14:26.659
 But that's not the key difference here.

00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:35.179
 It's the spiritual cultivation of a heart that prioritizes gospel work.

00:14:35.319 --> 00:14:36.480
 I think that's the difference.

00:14:36.839 --> 00:14:39.339
 It's not that Paul's example is unattainable.

00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:43.059
 It's just that he cultivated a heart to do this thing.

00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:48.319
 Now, there's one more thing that's worth our note here in this verse.

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:53.659
 Paul's desire is further demonstrated in his effort to see them in a particular way.

00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:55.879
 Did you pick up on that in verse 17?

00:14:56.659 --> 00:15:04.779
 We endeavored more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face.

00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:13.219
 This is a portion of the text that is especially relevant today, isn't it?

00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:19.860
 I find it actually maybe the most convicting thing here.

00:15:22.460 --> 00:15:30.759
 Face to face, personal, embodied presence with these people

00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:37.879
 so that he might most effectively and fruitfully minister the gospel to you.

00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:45.299
 Communication technology can be wonderfully helpful to gospel ministry.

00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:46.000
 It really can.

00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:52.340
 It can also render it powerless and ineffective

00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:59.879
 when our use of it is really aimed at efficiency more than effective ministry.

00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:01.919
 Here's what I mean.

00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:08.939
 We're in an age where the prevailing thought,

00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:10.820
 and probably my prevailing thought is,

00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:14.980
 why schedule a meeting when an email will do?

00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:21.720
 Why go to coffee if we can just make a phone call?

00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:27.500
 Why make a phone call if a text message will suffice?

00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:34.720
 Why go through all the trouble to type out 10 words in a text message

00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:37.440
 when you can just give the thumbs up, right?

00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:39.720
 This is how we think, isn't it?

00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:40.899
 And it's not all bad.

00:16:41.180 --> 00:16:42.860
 Efficiency can be a good thing.

00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:49.240
 And I'm certainly not saying that use of communication technology

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:50.919
 is something we should avoid in gospel ministry.

00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:52.080
 That's not at all what I'm saying.

00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:56.500
 Clearly, Paul is using communication technology in this letter.

00:16:56.620 --> 00:17:00.680
 He's writing a letter because at this time, he can't be with them.

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:03.800
 And yet he uses what's available to him in the moment

00:17:03.800 --> 00:17:07.779
 to minister the gospel, to minister effectively as he can

00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:09.819
 to the people in Thessalonica.

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:13.559
 But he understood the different implicit, explicitly here in the verse.

00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:17.939
 He understands that there is a power in the written word,

00:17:18.179 --> 00:17:25.519
 but it pales in comparison to the power of personal embodied presence

00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:28.559
 to effectively minister to someone.

00:17:29.939 --> 00:17:31.859
 When it comes to gospel ministry,

00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:35.839
 we might do well to kind of reverse the typical thought.

00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:40.279
 Why send a text message when I can call them

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:42.839
 and I can hear their voice and they can hear mine?

00:17:44.179 --> 00:17:47.799
 Why call them when I can take the time

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:51.379
 to sit down and show my heart and bear my heart in a letter?

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:55.359
 Why sit down and bear my heart in a letter

00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:58.959
 when I could change my schedule to go to their home

00:17:58.959 --> 00:18:01.699
 or sit down at coffee or invite them into my home

00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:06.720
 in order that I might especially encourage them in the faith?

00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:08.299
 Do you see?

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.440
 There's something here for us.

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:14.480
 We'll miss it if we don't pay attention, but it's there.

00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:18.700
 Oh, I just wanted more than anything to see you face to face

00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:22.360
 because Paul knew the most effective ministry

00:18:22.360 --> 00:18:27.340
 happens when we are embodied in presence with someone else.

00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:31.980
 Now, can I just encourage you as a church to take this part seriously?

00:18:32.399 --> 00:18:36.099
 And let me just say, I understand my weakness here.

00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:39.079
 You know my weakness in this better than anyone.

00:18:41.199 --> 00:18:42.679
 What must we do?

00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:46.240
 What must we sacrifice intentionally

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:52.619
 in order that we might effectively minister to one another face to face?

00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:58.759
 Is what we would have to give up worth it?

00:18:59.699 --> 00:19:03.439
 And I think we'd have to say, almost exclusively,

00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:06.819
 yes, yes.

00:19:10.699 --> 00:19:15.359
 What stands between you and embodied ministry to others?

00:19:17.459 --> 00:19:20.259
 Most often it's just busyness, isn't it?

00:19:21.479 --> 00:19:22.039
 We're busy.

00:19:23.419 --> 00:19:24.599
 We're too busy.

00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:30.099
 What can we do this year to be less busy

00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:34.299
 so that we can be more intentional in our efforts to one another?

00:19:35.699 --> 00:19:40.259
 Having that unrelenting desire to minister to one another

00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:42.419
 the gospel of Jesus Christ.

00:19:43.739 --> 00:19:44.319
 Secondly,

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:48.139
 Heart for Gospel Ministry recognizes

00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:52.520
 recognizes and fights against Satan's hindrances.

00:19:52.520 --> 00:19:56.980
 It recognizes and fights against Satan's hindrances.

00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:58.160
 Look at verse 18.

00:19:59.120 --> 00:20:00.820
 Because we wanted to come to you.

00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:03.060
 And then Paul inserts this very personal note.

00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:03.759
 I, Paul,

00:20:04.060 --> 00:20:05.360
 again and again,

00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:06.920
 I wanted to come to you.

00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:10.120
 And the reason we haven't come to you is not because

00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:11.640
 we don't want to.

00:20:11.780 --> 00:20:12.220
 He says,

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:13.880
 Satan has hindered us.

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.640
 Satan's hindered us.

00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:19.200
 But implicit in his statement is,

00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.860
 though Satan has hindered us,

00:20:21.120 --> 00:20:22.340
 we keep trying

00:20:22.340 --> 00:20:24.140
 again and again.

00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:26.640
 We're trying to overcome the obstacles.

00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:28.420
 We're trying to get there.

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.580
 We want to serve you.

00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:31.040
 We want to be with you.

00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:34.099
 There's always obstacles to gospel ministry,

00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:34.599
 isn't there?

00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:37.420
 And the reason there's always obstacles to gospel ministry

00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:39.399
 is because we have a real,

00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:42.460
 real spiritual enemy

00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:44.579
 fighting against us

00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:46.740
 every day.

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:51.359
 Paul didn't explain exactly

00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:54.079
 how Satan continued to hinder him.

00:20:54.139 --> 00:20:56.220
 It's probably many different ways.

00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:58.639
 But that's not the point anyways.

00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:00.240
 The point in the statement

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:03.440
 is that he recognized Satan's opposition

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:05.440
 and he fought against it.

00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:07.360
 Again and again.

00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.280
 He didn't quit on it.

00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:09.820
 He wasn't unrelenting.

00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:10.960
 He was unrelenting.

00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.060
 He pursued it,

00:21:13.280 --> 00:21:15.300
 recognizing that the obstacles

00:21:15.300 --> 00:21:16.420
 that were in his way

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:18.060
 were not God's obstacles.

00:21:19.340 --> 00:21:20.940
 They were Satan's obstacles.

00:21:22.020 --> 00:21:24.160
 And he had the discernment to see that.

00:21:24.560 --> 00:21:25.680
 Now, I think these traits

00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:27.320
 are essential marks of those

00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:29.119
 with a heart for ministry.

00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:32.619
 They don't easily give in.

00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:35.039
 But as Peter said,

00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:35.799
 they're vigilant,

00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:37.700
 watchful,

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:41.559
 faithful to resist the devil in faith,

00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:44.019
 trusting that God's in control,

00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:46.240
 leaning on God's providence

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.079
 in those moments.

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:51.019
 Scriptures routinely call us

00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:52.919
 to be alert to Satan's devices

00:21:52.919 --> 00:21:54.839
 and fight against them

00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.740
 in the power of the Spirit.

00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:57.140
 But here's the rub.

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.700
 How can we know

00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:02.120
 when a particular obstacle

00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:03.539
 or hindrance in our life,

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:04.859
 a real thing,

00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.759
 a tangible thing,

00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.140
 a hindrance or an obstacle,

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.059
 how can we know

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.880
 when that is something

00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:09.880
 that has been brought to us

00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:10.359
 by God

00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.420
 because he doesn't want us

00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:12.519
 to pursue that any further

00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.700
 versus something

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.859
 that is actually an obstacle

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:16.319
 by the evil one

00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:18.259
 in order to fight against us?

00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:19.120
 How can we know?

00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:21.620
 After all,

00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:22.660
 in Acts 16,

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.019
 Luke tells us

00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:25.460
 that there were multiple occasions

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.480
 where Paul was trying

00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.759
 to go to certain places

00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.339
 to minister,

00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:30.039
 but it was the Holy Spirit

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.779
 that hindered him.

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.119
 And when the Holy Spirit

00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.680
 hindered him,

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.819
 he submitted to that.

00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:34.819
 He didn't fight against it.

00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:35.879
 He submitted to it

00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:37.180
 and he went a different direction

00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:38.039
 under the leadership

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.559
 of the Spirit.

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.599
 But how can he know

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:40.259
 the difference?

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.119
 How can we?

00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:46.119
 At least part of the answer

00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:47.619
 has to come down

00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:48.619
 to our personal walk

00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:49.059
 with God,

00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:49.559
 doesn't it?

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:52.539
 If you're a Christian,

00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:56.119
 God's Spirit dwells in you.

00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:57.519
 That's a promise

00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:58.539
 that we have from God

00:22:58.539 --> 00:23:00.399
 that when he saves us,

00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.639
 he indwells us.

00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:03.519
 It's a new covenant promise.

00:23:03.919 --> 00:23:04.799
 It was prophesied

00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.559
 in the Old Testament

00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.899
 that it would happen.

00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:08.159
 At the day of Pentecost,

00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:09.039
 it was demonstrated

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.220
 that it had happened.

00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.519
 And now it's a promise

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.319
 we cling to

00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:14.099
 that when God saves us,

00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:15.679
 he lives within us.

00:23:15.919 --> 00:23:16.559
 And what is it

00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.220
 that the Spirit

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:18.700
 within us does?

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:20.539
 Well, the Scriptures

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.819
 tell us that he guides us

00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.740
 into all truth.

00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:25.180
 He teaches us his word.

00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:26.500
 He reminds us

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.059
 of the things

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:28.460
 that Christ taught.

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.759
 He guides us.

00:23:31.340 --> 00:23:32.600
 He directs us.

00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:33.799
 He gives us

00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:35.680
 the discernment we need

00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:38.620
 to understand the day.

00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:41.440
 As we give ourselves

00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.680
 to meditating

00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.559
 on the Scripture,

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.640
 to communing

00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.700
 with God in prayer,

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.700
 to gathering

00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.720
 for corporate worship,

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.799
 all of these things

00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:49.460
 are ways

00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.360
 that the Holy Spirit

00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:51.980
 directs and informs

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.680
 our hearts

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.880
 in godly wisdom.

00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:56.180
 There is just

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.720
 some Christian discernment

00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:59.539
 that cannot be explained

00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.759
 by any other thing

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:02.600
 than the indwelling presence

00:24:02.600 --> 00:24:03.259
 of the Spirit

00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:04.299
 at work

00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:05.000
 through his word

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.720
 and through his people

00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.200
 in us.

00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:08.779
 therefore,

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.480
 we walk

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:11.019
 by the Spirit

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.019
 in faith,

00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:12.480
 don't we?

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.400
 We submit

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.279
 to his direction

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.980
 and then we persevere

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:18.240
 when he exposes

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.900
 the work

00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:19.799
 of the devil

00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.460
 in our lives.

00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:21.120
 You say,

00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:21.660
 that doesn't really

00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.440
 answer my question.

00:24:24.840 --> 00:24:25.480
 I don't know

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:26.279
 what else to say.

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.880
 We must lean

00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.299
 on the Lord

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:29.740
 in this.

00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:30.620
 I think there's

00:24:30.620 --> 00:24:31.120
 something else

00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:31.600
 here for us

00:24:31.600 --> 00:24:33.319
 to wrestle with

00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:34.100
 for just a moment

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:34.799
 as it relates

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.579
 to Paul saying

00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.459
 that Satan

00:24:36.459 --> 00:24:37.159
 has hindered him.

00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:38.579
 Paul's doing

00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.359
 a good work,

00:24:39.419 --> 00:24:39.719
 isn't he?

00:24:41.419 --> 00:24:42.319
 We understand

00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:42.959
 why Satan

00:24:42.959 --> 00:24:43.359
 would want

00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:43.959
 to hinder him.

00:24:44.719 --> 00:24:45.879
 We also understand

00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:47.839
 that God's sovereignty

00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:48.639
 rules over

00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:49.599
 the power of Satan.

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.919
 There is a sense

00:24:51.919 --> 00:24:52.439
 in which

00:24:52.439 --> 00:24:53.539
 the problem of evil

00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.379
 that so many people

00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:55.099
 wrestle with

00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:56.119
 is something

00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:57.039
 that we continue

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.759
 to wrestle with

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.279
 as believers,

00:24:58.439 --> 00:24:58.740
 isn't it?

00:24:58.980 --> 00:24:59.579
 We might come

00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.119
 to a passage

00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:00.619
 like this

00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:01.139
 and we see,

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.099
 look at the effectiveness

00:25:02.659 --> 00:25:03.579
 of Paul's ministry

00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:04.419
 in Thessalonica.

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.460
 Why would God

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.579
 ever allow

00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:09.759
 this kind

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.319
 of hindrance

00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:10.799
 to stand

00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:11.339
 in his way

00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:12.279
 from something

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.259
 so good?

00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.919
 Maybe we can

00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.699
 wrestle with this

00:25:16.699 --> 00:25:17.659
 for just a moment.

00:25:19.379 --> 00:25:20.419
 God is sovereign

00:25:20.419 --> 00:25:21.339
 over all things.

00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.299
 We believe that.

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:24.879
 Even what's possible

00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:26.559
 for Satan to do.

00:25:27.199 --> 00:25:27.879
 And I do believe

00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:28.699
 that we can trust

00:25:28.699 --> 00:25:29.220
 the Lord

00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:31.079
 even when the forces

00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:31.579
 of hell

00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.159
 are at war

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:32.919
 against us.

00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:33.539
 Who else

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.300
 will we trust?

00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:37.400
 Now evidence

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.039
 of this truth

00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:38.580
 is found

00:25:38.580 --> 00:25:39.039
 all throughout

00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:39.560
 the scripture

00:25:39.560 --> 00:25:42.779
 that what Satan

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.840
 means for evil

00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:46.259
 God often uses

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.480
 for good.

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.860
 We see that phrase

00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:50.560
 especially

00:25:50.560 --> 00:25:51.580
 in the story

00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.060
 of Joseph,

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.600
 don't we?

00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.259
 We get to the end

00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.920
 of the account.

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.539
 He's finally reunited

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.279
 with his brothers.

00:25:57.840 --> 00:25:58.360
 They think

00:25:58.360 --> 00:25:59.440
 he's going to kill them

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.460
 because he's

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.380
 one of the most

00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:01.960
 powerful people

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.640
 in the world now

00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.400
 and they keep

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.140
 apologizing.

00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.240
 And do you remember

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:05.779
 what he said?

00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:06.519
 He said,

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:06.880
 listen,

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:08.819
 you meant it

00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.279
 for evil.

00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:10.980
 God meant it

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.380
 for good

00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:13.180
 to save

00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.799
 much people.

00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.860
 There's no way

00:26:15.860 --> 00:26:16.840
 that as he's

00:26:16.840 --> 00:26:17.340
 in the pit

00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:17.840
 in the wilderness

00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:19.900
 or as he's

00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:20.559
 in the prison

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.720
 after being lied

00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:22.700
 about by Potiphar's

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.160
 wife,

00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:25.220
 there's no way

00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:25.819
 that Joseph

00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.380
 can see

00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:27.180
 what God's doing.

00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:29.279
 but he trusts

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.740
 that God's

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.460
 doing something.

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.259
 He knows

00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:32.779
 that evil

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.460
 is present

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.420
 and God

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.279
 is allowing it

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.180
 but he trusts

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:36.500
 the Lord

00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:36.860
 in it.

00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.000
 Now is there

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:40.120
 any better place

00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:40.519
 or more

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.539
 clear place

00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:41.799
 for us

00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.240
 to see

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:42.720
 this truth

00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.380
 so evident

00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:44.660
 than at the cross?

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.140
 Jesus himself

00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:49.340
 on the night

00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:49.960
 of his arrest

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:51.080
 at the last supper

00:26:51.080 --> 00:26:52.640
 he says

00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:53.400
 the son of man

00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:53.980
 goes as it

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.660
 has been determined

00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.380
 for him to go.

00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:55.820
 In other words

00:26:55.820 --> 00:26:56.580
 all of this

00:26:56.580 --> 00:26:57.080
 is happening

00:26:57.080 --> 00:26:57.700
 according to

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:57.980
 the will

00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.540
 of the father

00:26:58.540 --> 00:26:59.100
 that was

00:26:59.100 --> 00:26:59.820
 predetermined

00:26:59.820 --> 00:27:00.600
 before the world

00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:01.040
 began.

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.680
 But then he

00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.660
 pronounces a judgment

00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:04.140
 on Judas

00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:04.500
 he says

00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.600
 but woe to him

00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:06.520
 who betrays

00:27:06.520 --> 00:27:07.280
 the son of man.

00:27:08.040 --> 00:27:08.540
 Now how could

00:27:08.540 --> 00:27:09.440
 it be both ways?

00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:11.640
 Judas

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:13.580
 the Roman soldiers

00:27:13.580 --> 00:27:15.500
 the Jews

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.440
 who turned him over

00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.120
 all the people

00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:17.420
 involved

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.120
 it was their

00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:19.340
 real sin

00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:20.400
 out of their

00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:21.320
 desire of

00:27:21.320 --> 00:27:22.220
 indwelling sin

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.280
 that carried out

00:27:23.280 --> 00:27:23.860
 those acts

00:27:23.860 --> 00:27:24.620
 and yet

00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:25.979
 God was sovereign

00:27:25.979 --> 00:27:27.019
 over every

00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.919
 evil act

00:27:27.919 --> 00:27:28.239
 that they

00:27:28.239 --> 00:27:28.619
 committed

00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:30.319
 and it was

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.139
 for man's

00:27:31.139 --> 00:27:32.179
 ultimate

00:27:32.179 --> 00:27:33.739
 greatest good

00:27:33.739 --> 00:27:35.699
 because

00:27:35.699 --> 00:27:37.179
 God allowed

00:27:37.179 --> 00:27:38.039
 that evil

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.679
 tragedy

00:27:38.679 --> 00:27:39.559
 to take place

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.299
 to his only

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:40.739
 son

00:27:40.739 --> 00:27:42.379
 we have

00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:43.500
 eternal salvation

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:45.099
 we have

00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:45.699
 life

00:27:45.699 --> 00:27:47.059
 we have

00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:47.679
 forgiveness

00:27:47.679 --> 00:27:49.219
 and this is

00:27:49.219 --> 00:27:49.659
 something the

00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.539
 apostles picked up

00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:50.699
 on

00:27:50.699 --> 00:27:51.379
 if you read

00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:52.059
 through the sermons

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.500
 in the book

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:52.879
 of Acts

00:27:52.879 --> 00:27:53.539
 they mention it

00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.119
 over and over

00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:55.479
 Peter in particular

00:27:55.479 --> 00:27:56.239
 that God

00:27:56.239 --> 00:27:57.099
 determined this

00:27:57.099 --> 00:27:57.739
 God determined

00:27:57.739 --> 00:27:57.959
 this

00:27:57.959 --> 00:27:58.679
 but you

00:27:58.679 --> 00:27:59.279
 killed him

00:27:59.279 --> 00:27:59.679
 he said

00:27:59.679 --> 00:28:00.279
 as he preaches

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:00.979
 to the Jews

00:28:00.979 --> 00:28:01.719
 what does he

00:28:01.719 --> 00:28:02.099
 mean?

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.359
 yes there's evil

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.399
 yes that's a

00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:04.919
 result of our

00:28:04.919 --> 00:28:05.500
 own sin

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.599
 yes there's an

00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:07.099
 enemy that's

00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:07.799
 fighting against

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.019
 us

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:09.179
 yes God is

00:28:09.179 --> 00:28:09.839
 sovereign over

00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:10.019
 it

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.139
 yes we can

00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:12.239
 trust that

00:28:12.239 --> 00:28:12.939
 he's working

00:28:12.939 --> 00:28:13.959
 the good for

00:28:13.959 --> 00:28:14.439
 his people

00:28:14.439 --> 00:28:15.079
 in all of

00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.859
 those things

00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:17.139
 and I think

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.699
 it's with this

00:28:17.699 --> 00:28:18.299
 view in mind

00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:18.879
 that we come

00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:19.859
 to verse 18

00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:21.099
 when Paul

00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:21.819
 says Satan

00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:22.519
 keeps hindering

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:22.939
 us

00:28:22.939 --> 00:28:23.859
 but we keep

00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:24.339
 fighting

00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:25.979
 he's fighting

00:28:25.979 --> 00:28:26.539
 because he's

00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.240
 fighting against

00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:27.659
 an enemy

00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:28.019
 he's not

00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:28.740
 fighting against

00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.359
 God in that

00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:29.719
 sense

00:28:29.719 --> 00:28:31.919
 and yet he

00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:32.379
 trusts the

00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:32.779
 Lord with it

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.179
 doesn't he

00:28:33.179 --> 00:28:34.740
 he trusts the

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.000
 Lord

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:37.159
 so while trusting

00:28:37.159 --> 00:28:37.859
 God's sovereignty

00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:39.079
 he fights against

00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:39.859
 Satan's hindrances

00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:40.899
 and so should

00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.119
 we

00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:41.859
 so what does

00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:42.359
 a heart for

00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:42.979
 gospel ministry

00:28:42.979 --> 00:28:43.219
 do?

00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:44.719
 well it's

00:28:44.719 --> 00:28:45.639
 unrelenting in

00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:46.319
 its desire to

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:46.799
 minister to

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.119
 people

00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:48.459
 it works hard

00:28:48.459 --> 00:28:48.659
 at it

00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:48.880
 it's an

00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:49.259
 intentional

00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:49.880
 purpose of

00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.220
 life

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:51.519
 and when

00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.279
 obstacles get

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:52.900
 in the way

00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:54.480
 it cultivates

00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.080
 through its

00:28:55.080 --> 00:28:55.920
 own personal

00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.300
 worship

00:28:56.300 --> 00:28:58.400
 a discernment

00:28:58.400 --> 00:28:58.980
 to know

00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.519
 is this

00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.060
 something that

00:29:00.060 --> 00:29:00.700
 God is

00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.519
 telling me to

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.460
 change course

00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.660
 in or is

00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.000
 this something

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.519
 I need to

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.120
 continue to

00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:05.720
 pursue because

00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.160
 the enemy

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:06.779
 is at work

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:08.560
 does that

00:29:08.560 --> 00:29:09.460
 fights against

00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:09.920
 it

00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:10.640
 thirdly

00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:12.800
 a heart for

00:29:12.800 --> 00:29:13.540
 gospel ministry

00:29:13.540 --> 00:29:14.640
 is motivated

00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:16.660
 by the joy

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:18.860
 of presenting

00:29:18.860 --> 00:29:19.620
 others to

00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:19.940
 Jesus

00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:20.840
 at his

00:29:20.840 --> 00:29:21.200
 return

00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:23.420
 verse 19

00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:25.320
 Paul says

00:29:25.320 --> 00:29:26.360
 what is our

00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:26.800
 hope

00:29:26.800 --> 00:29:28.220
 or joy

00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.519
 or crown

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.120
 of boasting

00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:30.700
 before our

00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:31.220
 Lord Jesus

00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.600
 at his

00:29:31.600 --> 00:29:31.880
 coming

00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:33.540
 is it

00:29:33.540 --> 00:29:34.000
 not you

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.620
 he says

00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:37.500
 you are

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.500
 our glory

00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:40.240
 and joy

00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:44.060
 this is the

00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:44.880
 purpose statement

00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:46.040
 for Paul's

00:29:46.040 --> 00:29:46.480
 longing

00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.140
 for his

00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:47.560
 desire

00:29:47.560 --> 00:29:49.100
 it's the

00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:49.700
 explanation

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:51.380
 it reveals

00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:52.160
 the motivation

00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.840
 to return

00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:53.800
 to Thessalonica

00:29:53.800 --> 00:29:55.680
 his hope

00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:57.820
 to present

00:29:57.820 --> 00:29:58.640
 these Christians

00:29:58.640 --> 00:29:59.400
 and others

00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.980
 to Jesus

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.400
 when he

00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:01.740
 comes

00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:03.060
 and returns

00:30:03.060 --> 00:30:05.360
 his joy

00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:07.020
 was for God

00:30:07.020 --> 00:30:07.820
 to use him

00:30:07.820 --> 00:30:09.240
 to make more

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:09.980
 disciples for

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.380
 Christ

00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:12.320
 his reward

00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:15.099
 to be a

00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:15.539
 witness

00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:16.899
 of those

00:30:16.899 --> 00:30:17.359
 to whom

00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.740
 he ministered

00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.200
 the gospel

00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:20.159
 to see them

00:30:20.159 --> 00:30:21.519
 escape God's

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:21.799
 judgment

00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:23.720
 that's what's

00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.539
 motivating him

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:24.779
 here

00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:25.500
 at least in the

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:25.859
 text

00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.139
 right

00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:27.319
 he's got

00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:27.980
 this desire

00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:29.720
 he's fighting

00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:30.279
 hard against

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:30.819
 the enemy

00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:32.819
 what's motivating

00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.539
 all of this

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:35.279
 he just wants

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:35.740
 to minister

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:36.019
 to more

00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.399
 he wants to

00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:36.879
 present more

00:30:36.879 --> 00:30:37.299
 people to

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:37.619
 Christ

00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:40.219
 and we need

00:30:40.219 --> 00:30:40.679
 to be careful

00:30:40.679 --> 00:30:41.059
 not to

00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:41.399
 misunderstand

00:30:41.399 --> 00:30:42.000
 what he

00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:42.539
 means here

00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.919
 how can

00:30:43.919 --> 00:30:44.259
 this be

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:44.500
 true

00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:44.779
 and then

00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.279
 Paul also

00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:45.579
 say in

00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.219
 another place

00:30:46.219 --> 00:30:47.159
 that he

00:30:47.159 --> 00:30:47.899
 was determined

00:30:47.899 --> 00:30:48.359
 to boast

00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:48.839
 in nothing

00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.179
 but the

00:30:49.179 --> 00:30:49.539
 cross of

00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:49.879
 Christ

00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:51.059
 is there

00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.559
 contradiction

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.239
 or do

00:30:52.239 --> 00:30:52.659
 those things

00:30:52.659 --> 00:30:52.939
 somehow

00:30:52.939 --> 00:30:53.879
 fit together

00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:54.639
 of course

00:30:54.639 --> 00:30:54.959
 they fit

00:30:54.959 --> 00:30:55.399
 together

00:30:55.399 --> 00:30:57.199
 this isn't

00:30:57.199 --> 00:30:57.439
 about

00:30:57.439 --> 00:30:58.119
 recognition

00:30:58.119 --> 00:31:00.399
 Paul knew

00:31:00.399 --> 00:31:01.099
 only God

00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:01.619
 can be

00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.000
 credited

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:03.279
 and glorified

00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:03.979
 for anyone's

00:31:03.979 --> 00:31:04.479
 salvation

00:31:04.479 --> 00:31:05.619
 and anyone's

00:31:05.619 --> 00:31:06.399
 sanctification

00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:09.120
 his glorying

00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:09.560
 in the

00:31:09.560 --> 00:31:10.280
 Thessalonican

00:31:10.280 --> 00:31:11.120
 Christians

00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:12.860
 recognizes

00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:14.000
 the partnership

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.860
 that God

00:31:15.860 --> 00:31:17.120
 affords us

00:31:17.120 --> 00:31:18.120
 in his

00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:18.920
 saving purposes

00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:20.200
 look just a

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:20.519
 couple of

00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.100
 verses later

00:31:21.100 --> 00:31:21.720
 in chapter 3

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.200
 we'll get there

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:22.600
 next week

00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:23.360
 notice what he

00:31:23.360 --> 00:31:23.940
 calls Timothy

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.780
 in chapter 3

00:31:24.780 --> 00:31:25.400
 in verse 2

00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.340
 we sent

00:31:26.340 --> 00:31:27.000
 Timothy our

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.420
 brother

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:29.300
 and God's

00:31:29.300 --> 00:31:29.940
 co-worker

00:31:29.940 --> 00:31:31.560
 in the gospel

00:31:31.560 --> 00:31:33.980
 not my

00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:34.560
 co-worker

00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:36.899
 God's

00:31:36.899 --> 00:31:37.500
 co-worker

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:39.960
 Paul wasn't

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.480
 looking to

00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.159
 revel in his

00:31:41.159 --> 00:31:41.779
 own achievement

00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:43.000
 he's looking to

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.980
 revel in God's

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.359
 achievement

00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:45.339
 through him

00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:47.460
 his ultimate

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.259
 desire is not

00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:48.960
 his own glory

00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:50.399
 it's God's

00:31:50.399 --> 00:31:50.759
 glory

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:52.259
 and he knows

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:52.859
 that God is

00:31:52.859 --> 00:31:53.579
 glorified

00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:55.159
 by every soul

00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:55.960
 that turns from

00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:56.440
 sin

00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:57.779
 to Christ

00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:59.319
 and he

00:31:59.319 --> 00:31:59.819
 recognized

00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:01.319
 this wonderful

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:02.259
 opportunity

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.059
 afforded to

00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:03.500
 him

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.839
 by God

00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:06.039
 to participate

00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.859
 in that

00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:07.299
 work

00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:09.819
 to be a

00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.799
 co-laborer

00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.500
 with God

00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.599
 in the salvation

00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:13.440
 of souls

00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:15.299
 and that

00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:16.019
 motivated him

00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:16.799
 it drove him

00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:18.200
 my joy

00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:19.740
 is to see

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.839
 God glorified

00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:22.000
 by your

00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:22.779
 salvation

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:24.440
 and he's

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:24.960
 allowed me

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.359
 to have a

00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:26.139
 part in that

00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:28.240
 so why do I

00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:28.519
 want to get

00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.319
 back to you

00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:31.039
 because you're

00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.639
 my glory

00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.220
 and joy

00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.860
 because my

00:32:33.860 --> 00:32:34.680
 glory and joy

00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:36.020
 is the glory

00:32:36.020 --> 00:32:36.560
 of God

00:32:36.560 --> 00:32:38.160
 and the joy

00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:38.720
 of God

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:41.020
 his desire

00:32:41.020 --> 00:32:41.520
 to minister

00:32:41.520 --> 00:32:42.160
 again in

00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.860
 Thessalonica

00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:44.259
 it's motivated

00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:45.680
 by a zealousness

00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:47.360
 for God's glory

00:32:47.360 --> 00:32:48.020
 and a love

00:32:48.020 --> 00:32:49.080
 for those

00:32:49.080 --> 00:32:49.759
 whom he served

00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:51.880
 the one

00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:52.420
 with a true

00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:52.860
 heart for

00:32:52.860 --> 00:32:53.320
 ministry

00:32:53.320 --> 00:32:55.020
 their hope

00:32:55.020 --> 00:32:55.600
 and joy

00:32:55.600 --> 00:32:56.360
 and glory

00:32:56.360 --> 00:32:57.860
 is to see

00:32:57.860 --> 00:32:58.640
 others faithfully

00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.480
 follow Christ

00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:03.019
 and what

00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.839
 drives your

00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:05.839
 gospel ministry

00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.420
 to others

00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:08.519
 what motivates

00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:08.900
 it

00:33:08.900 --> 00:33:12.319
 we might

00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:12.759
 have to be

00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.160
 honest and

00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:13.539
 say well

00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:14.559
 to be honest

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:14.980
 I'm motivated

00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.559
 by guilt

00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:17.440
 I know that

00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:18.059
 if I don't

00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:18.660
 engage

00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:20.059
 it would be

00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.500
 wrong

00:33:20.500 --> 00:33:21.740
 and it is

00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:22.400
 the avoidance

00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:23.019
 of guilt

00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:24.059
 that actually

00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.519
 drives me

00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:24.940
 to do the

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.279
 thing

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.860
 I think

00:33:26.860 --> 00:33:27.400
 that's reasonable

00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:28.200
 to some extent

00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:29.580
 but it can't

00:33:29.580 --> 00:33:30.000
 be all

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.580
 of course

00:33:31.580 --> 00:33:32.360
 we want to

00:33:32.360 --> 00:33:32.860
 obey the

00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:33.160
 Lord

00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:34.559
 we don't

00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:35.059
 want to

00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:35.360
 live in

00:33:35.360 --> 00:33:35.940
 disobedience

00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.180
 we don't

00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.500
 want to

00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.720
 live under

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.360
 his guilt

00:33:38.360 --> 00:33:39.259
 for sure

00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:41.480
 but that

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:41.860
 can't be

00:33:41.860 --> 00:33:42.200
 our main

00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:42.840
 motivation

00:33:42.840 --> 00:33:44.660
 perhaps

00:33:44.660 --> 00:33:45.039
 sometimes

00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.600
 our gospel

00:33:45.600 --> 00:33:46.420
 work is

00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:46.880
 out of a

00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:47.240
 sense of

00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:47.980
 obligation

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:49.880
 oh

00:33:49.880 --> 00:33:50.500
 pastor's

00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.180
 asking again

00:33:51.180 --> 00:33:51.500
 that we

00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:51.840
 do the

00:33:51.840 --> 00:33:52.180
 thing

00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:53.660
 I guess

00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.000
 I should

00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:54.500
 sign up

00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:54.779
 for the

00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:55.220
 group

00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:56.420
 or I'm

00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:56.660
 going to

00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:57.360
 be scowled

00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:57.719
 at

00:33:57.719 --> 00:33:59.500
 obligated

00:33:59.500 --> 00:33:59.819
 to do

00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.119
 stuff

00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:01.179
 I gotta

00:34:01.179 --> 00:34:01.659
 go do

00:34:01.659 --> 00:34:01.979
 the

00:34:01.979 --> 00:34:02.819
 evangelistic

00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:02.979
 thing

00:34:02.979 --> 00:34:03.439
 I gotta

00:34:03.439 --> 00:34:04.119
 I need

00:34:04.119 --> 00:34:04.439
 to say

00:34:04.439 --> 00:34:04.639
 this

00:34:04.639 --> 00:34:04.939
 we feel

00:34:04.939 --> 00:34:05.759
 an obligation

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.119
 to it

00:34:06.119 --> 00:34:06.559
 maybe that's

00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.059
 related to

00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.299
 guilt

00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:09.199
 I think

00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:09.639
 the thing

00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:10.380
 that drives

00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:10.940
 those with

00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:11.619
 a really

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:12.159
 a sincere

00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:12.679
 heart for

00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.400
 discipling

00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:14.299
 I think

00:34:14.299 --> 00:34:14.719
 it's driven

00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:15.420
 by joy

00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:17.239
 it's just

00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:18.000
 joy in

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.599
 knowing that

00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.239
 you get to

00:34:19.239 --> 00:34:19.579
 be a part

00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:19.920
 of God's

00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:20.279
 work

00:34:20.279 --> 00:34:22.400
 there's

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:22.880
 really nothing

00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.639
 quite like

00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:25.119
 seeing

00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:25.779
 someone

00:34:25.779 --> 00:34:27.119
 grow in

00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:27.759
 their faith

00:34:27.759 --> 00:34:28.960
 because God

00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:29.639
 uses you

00:34:29.639 --> 00:34:30.139
 to minister

00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:30.539
 to them

00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:30.739
 in a

00:34:30.739 --> 00:34:31.059
 particular

00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:31.500
 way

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:33.079
 there's

00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:33.359
 joy

00:34:33.359 --> 00:34:34.400
 what motivates

00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:34.859
 the work

00:34:34.859 --> 00:34:35.099
 that you

00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:35.379
 do in

00:34:35.379 --> 00:34:35.839
 our church

00:34:35.839 --> 00:34:36.699
 through our

00:34:36.699 --> 00:34:36.920
 church

00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:37.219
 and to

00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:37.420
 our

00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:37.779
 church

00:34:37.779 --> 00:34:41.319
 what I've

00:34:41.319 --> 00:34:41.659
 tried to

00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:42.079
 do is

00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:42.559
 lay out

00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.099
 for you

00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:44.559
 from this

00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:45.019
 text

00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:46.299
 through Paul's

00:34:46.299 --> 00:34:46.719
 example

00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:47.960
 what it

00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:48.440
 looks like

00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:48.739
 to have

00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:49.000
 a heart

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.659
 for ministry

00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:51.339
 it isn't

00:34:51.339 --> 00:34:51.920
 casual

00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:53.639
 it doesn't

00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:54.079
 work

00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:56.379
 it's an

00:34:56.379 --> 00:34:56.899
 unrelenting

00:34:56.899 --> 00:34:57.859
 desire to

00:34:57.859 --> 00:34:58.379
 build others

00:34:58.379 --> 00:34:58.759
 up in

00:34:58.759 --> 00:34:59.259
 Christ

00:34:59.259 --> 00:35:00.559
 it fights

00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:01.119
 against the

00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:01.480
 enemy

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:03.239
 its efforts

00:35:03.239 --> 00:35:03.679
 are driven

00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.359
 by joy

00:35:04.359 --> 00:35:05.039
 we just

00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.319
 want to

00:35:05.319 --> 00:35:05.879
 see people

00:35:05.879 --> 00:35:06.779
 come to

00:35:06.779 --> 00:35:07.219
 Christ

00:35:07.219 --> 00:35:08.899
 and glorify

00:35:08.899 --> 00:35:09.399
 the Lord

00:35:09.399 --> 00:35:11.319
 it's as

00:35:11.319 --> 00:35:11.759
 passionate

00:35:11.759 --> 00:35:12.460
 for God's

00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:13.119
 work now

00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:13.659
 as it was

00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.299
 for sin

00:35:14.299 --> 00:35:15.039
 prior to

00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:15.759
 knowing

00:35:15.759 --> 00:35:16.299
 Christ

00:35:16.299 --> 00:35:18.500
 and it's

00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:18.940
 not a

00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:19.440
 reality

00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:19.920
 reserved

00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:21.300
 for those

00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:21.880
 who like

00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:22.220
 Paul

00:35:22.220 --> 00:35:22.760
 have unique

00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:23.159
 ministry

00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:23.740
 callings

00:35:23.740 --> 00:35:24.820
 I think

00:35:24.820 --> 00:35:25.159
 this is

00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:25.420
 something

00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:25.659
 God

00:35:25.659 --> 00:35:26.079
 delights

00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:26.500
 for all

00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:26.860
 of us

00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:27.860
 to possess

00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:30.440
 but the

00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:30.960
 fact is

00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:31.360
 that

00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:33.240
 many of

00:35:33.240 --> 00:35:33.480
 us

00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:33.840
 if not

00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:34.260
 all of

00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:34.599
 us

00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:35.280
 are going

00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:35.579
 to fall

00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:35.860
 short

00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:36.220
 of this

00:35:36.220 --> 00:35:36.559
 I think

00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.039
 we probably

00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:37.539
 all say

00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:37.800
 yeah

00:35:37.800 --> 00:35:38.320
 probably

00:35:38.320 --> 00:35:38.760
 all of

00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:39.059
 us

00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:41.539
 I don't

00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:41.840
 mean to

00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:42.079
 lay a

00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.340
 burden

00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:42.639
 on you

00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:43.059
 with that

00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:44.519
 I think

00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:45.280
 we understand

00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:46.559
 the progressive

00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.340
 sanctifying

00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:47.800
 work of

00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:48.099
 God

00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:49.819
 so let

00:35:49.819 --> 00:35:50.259
 me close

00:35:50.259 --> 00:35:50.699
 by giving

00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:51.059
 a few

00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:51.639
 suggestions

00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:53.179
 how might

00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:54.460
 we cultivate

00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:55.059
 this heart

00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:55.559
 for gospel

00:35:55.559 --> 00:35:56.019
 ministry

00:35:56.019 --> 00:35:57.559
 number one

00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:58.980
 pray

00:35:58.980 --> 00:36:01.259
 pray

00:36:01.259 --> 00:36:04.480
 I really

00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:05.000
 do believe

00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:05.559
 this is a

00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:06.440
 divine work

00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:08.319
 I think

00:36:08.319 --> 00:36:08.759
 that work

00:36:08.759 --> 00:36:09.659
 is initiated

00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:11.599
 at conversion

00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:13.500
 God

00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:13.960
 changes

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.139
 our

00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:14.659
 affections

00:36:14.659 --> 00:36:14.940
 doesn't

00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:15.099
 he

00:36:15.099 --> 00:36:16.079
 but we

00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:16.259
 don't

00:36:16.259 --> 00:36:16.579
 go

00:36:16.579 --> 00:36:17.400
 from

00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:19.139
 being

00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:19.579
 lost

00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:19.819
 in

00:36:19.819 --> 00:36:20.179
 sin

00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:21.179
 to

00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:21.440
 being

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:21.659
 an

00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.960
 immensely

00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:23.500
 mature

00:36:23.500 --> 00:36:24.039
 Christian

00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:24.659
 in a

00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:24.940
 moment

00:36:24.940 --> 00:36:25.360
 do we

00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:26.860
 there's

00:36:26.860 --> 00:36:27.519
 a progressive

00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:28.099
 work

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:29.339
 of sanctifying

00:36:29.339 --> 00:36:30.199
 that God

00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:30.519
 does

00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:30.860
 in us

00:36:30.860 --> 00:36:31.400
 it's

00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:32.179
 initiated

00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:32.579
 at our

00:36:32.579 --> 00:36:33.079
 conversion

00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:34.519
 and it's

00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:35.179
 progressively

00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:35.719
 grown

00:36:35.719 --> 00:36:37.000
 as we

00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:38.119
 walk in

00:36:38.119 --> 00:36:38.539
 the spirit

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:38.940
 and in

00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.400
 the word

00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:41.659
 it's a

00:36:41.659 --> 00:36:42.000
 work that

00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:42.440
 God does

00:36:42.440 --> 00:36:42.659
 in us

00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:43.199
 so I

00:36:43.199 --> 00:36:43.480
 think we

00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:43.739
 should

00:36:43.739 --> 00:36:44.679
 ask him

00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:45.639
 to do

00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:45.900
 it

00:36:45.900 --> 00:36:47.460
 ask him

00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:47.739
 to do

00:36:47.739 --> 00:36:47.980
 it

00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:49.219
 make it

00:36:49.219 --> 00:36:49.480
 a part

00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:49.679
 of your

00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:50.019
 prayer

00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:50.820
 Lord

00:36:50.820 --> 00:36:51.460
 my heart

00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:51.980
 is weak

00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:53.840
 give me

00:36:53.840 --> 00:36:54.219
 a heart

00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:54.860
 for ministry

00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:56.480
 give me

00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:56.800
 a heart

00:36:56.800 --> 00:36:57.559
 for worship

00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:59.139
 give me

00:36:59.139 --> 00:36:59.500
 a heart

00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.099
 for you

00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:01.340
 for Christ

00:37:01.340 --> 00:37:02.700
 I

00:37:02.700 --> 00:37:02.960
 think

00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:03.200
 that's

00:37:03.200 --> 00:37:03.360
 a

00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:03.640
 prayer

00:37:03.640 --> 00:37:03.940
 that

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.220
 God

00:37:04.220 --> 00:37:04.740
 delights

00:37:04.740 --> 00:37:04.940
 to

00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:05.320
 answer

00:37:05.320 --> 00:37:06.880
 I

00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:07.059
 think

00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:07.180
 we

00:37:07.180 --> 00:37:07.360
 just

00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:07.500
 need

00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:07.579
 to

00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:07.700
 be

00:37:07.700 --> 00:37:07.920
 willing

00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:08.100
 to

00:37:08.100 --> 00:37:08.360
 pray

00:37:08.360 --> 00:37:08.640
 it

00:37:08.640 --> 00:37:10.500
 number

00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:10.860
 two

00:37:10.860 --> 00:37:12.760
 repent

00:37:12.760 --> 00:37:14.440
 repent

00:37:14.440 --> 00:37:16.480
 developing

00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:16.880
 a heart

00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:17.400
 for gospel

00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:17.800
 ministry

00:37:17.800 --> 00:37:18.820
 requires

00:37:18.820 --> 00:37:19.900
 at some

00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:20.200
 level

00:37:20.200 --> 00:37:20.539
 it's

00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:20.640
 going

00:37:20.640 --> 00:37:20.740
 to

00:37:20.740 --> 00:37:21.140
 require

00:37:21.140 --> 00:37:21.820
 sacrifice

00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:22.079
 isn't

00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:22.300
 it

00:37:22.300 --> 00:37:23.280
 it's

00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:23.420
 going

00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:23.559
 to

00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:24.000
 require

00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:24.260
 the

00:37:24.260 --> 00:37:24.900
 abandonment

00:37:24.900 --> 00:37:25.380
 of lesser

00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:25.880
 things

00:37:25.880 --> 00:37:26.880
 that stand

00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:27.220
 in its

00:37:27.220 --> 00:37:27.600
 way

00:37:27.600 --> 00:37:29.280
 so what

00:37:29.280 --> 00:37:29.640
 good is

00:37:29.640 --> 00:37:29.960
 it for

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:30.300
 us to

00:37:30.300 --> 00:37:30.519
 do

00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:31.000
 the first

00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:31.240
 thing

00:37:31.239 --> 00:37:31.519
 to

00:37:31.519 --> 00:37:31.979
 pray

00:37:31.979 --> 00:37:33.379
 that

00:37:33.379 --> 00:37:33.659
 God

00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:33.839
 would

00:37:33.839 --> 00:37:34.119
 grant

00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:34.299
 us

00:37:34.299 --> 00:37:34.500
 this

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:34.799
 heart

00:37:34.799 --> 00:37:35.179
 if

00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:35.379
 we

00:37:35.379 --> 00:37:35.859
 refuse

00:37:35.859 --> 00:37:36.079
 to

00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:36.379
 repent

00:37:36.379 --> 00:37:36.559
 of

00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:36.679
 the

00:37:36.679 --> 00:37:37.039
 idols

00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:37.299
 that

00:37:37.299 --> 00:37:37.519
 grip

00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:37.719
 us

00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:38.159
 instead

00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:40.759
 number

00:37:40.759 --> 00:37:41.099
 three

00:37:41.099 --> 00:37:42.699
 study

00:37:42.699 --> 00:37:42.899
 the

00:37:42.899 --> 00:37:43.279
 gospel

00:37:43.279 --> 00:37:44.959
 preach

00:37:44.959 --> 00:37:45.139
 the

00:37:45.139 --> 00:37:45.439
 gospel

00:37:45.439 --> 00:37:45.639
 to

00:37:45.639 --> 00:37:46.019
 yourself

00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:46.279
 every

00:37:46.279 --> 00:37:46.579
 day

00:37:46.579 --> 00:37:49.319
 the

00:37:49.319 --> 00:37:49.539
 most

00:37:49.539 --> 00:37:50.000
 effective

00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:50.339
 tool

00:37:50.339 --> 00:37:50.539
 that

00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:50.779
 God

00:37:50.779 --> 00:37:51.159
 uses

00:37:51.159 --> 00:37:51.359
 to

00:37:51.359 --> 00:37:51.539
 do

00:37:51.539 --> 00:37:51.699
 his

00:37:51.699 --> 00:37:51.979
 work

00:37:51.979 --> 00:37:52.139
 in

00:37:52.139 --> 00:37:52.319
 us

00:37:52.319 --> 00:37:52.599
 is

00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:52.799
 the

00:37:52.799 --> 00:37:53.139
 gospel

00:37:53.139 --> 00:37:53.819
 itself

00:37:53.819 --> 00:37:55.399
 the

00:37:55.399 --> 00:37:55.679
 gospel

00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:55.799
 is

00:37:55.799 --> 00:37:55.939
 not

00:37:55.939 --> 00:37:56.119
 just

00:37:56.119 --> 00:37:56.259
 for

00:37:56.259 --> 00:37:56.399
 our

00:37:56.399 --> 00:37:56.819
 conversion

00:37:56.819 --> 00:37:57.059
 it's

00:37:57.059 --> 00:37:57.179
 for

00:37:57.179 --> 00:37:57.399
 all

00:37:57.399 --> 00:37:57.519
 of

00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:57.879
 life

00:37:57.879 --> 00:37:58.159
 isn't

00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:58.419
 it

00:37:58.419 --> 00:37:59.699
 and

00:37:59.699 --> 00:37:59.859
 the

00:37:59.859 --> 00:38:00.159
 more

00:38:00.159 --> 00:38:00.419
 we

00:38:00.419 --> 00:38:00.899
 glory

00:38:00.900 --> 00:38:01.160
 in

00:38:01.160 --> 00:38:01.320
 the

00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:01.539
 good

00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:01.800
 news

00:38:01.800 --> 00:38:01.980
 of

00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:02.300
 Jesus

00:38:02.300 --> 00:38:02.619
 the

00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:02.980
 more

00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:03.220
 we

00:38:03.220 --> 00:38:03.420
 will

00:38:03.420 --> 00:38:03.700
 have

00:38:03.700 --> 00:38:03.940
 this

00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:04.519
 desire

00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:05.039
 to

00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:05.320
 share

00:38:05.320 --> 00:38:05.440
 it

00:38:05.440 --> 00:38:05.579
 with

00:38:05.579 --> 00:38:05.840
 others

00:38:05.840 --> 00:38:06.240
 again

00:38:06.240 --> 00:38:06.980
 that's

00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:07.360
 a work

00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:07.599
 of the

00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:07.880
 spirit

00:38:07.880 --> 00:38:08.139
 in

00:38:08.139 --> 00:38:08.460
 us

00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:09.539
 as we

00:38:09.539 --> 00:38:09.900
 stare

00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:10.160
 at the

00:38:10.160 --> 00:38:10.480
 cross

00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:10.780
 and we

00:38:10.780 --> 00:38:11.039
 begin

00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.260
 to

00:38:11.260 --> 00:38:11.539
 plumb

00:38:11.539 --> 00:38:11.720
 the

00:38:11.720 --> 00:38:12.320
 depths

00:38:12.320 --> 00:38:12.579
 of

00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:13.019
 God's

00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:13.619
 love

00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:13.619


00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:14.299
 in

00:38:14.299 --> 00:38:14.420
 the

00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:14.739
 death

00:38:14.739 --> 00:38:14.900
 and

00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:14.619
 love

00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:14.299
 in

00:38:14.299 --> 00:38:14.420
 the

00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:14.739
 death

00:38:14.739 --> 00:38:14.880
 and

00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:15.359
 resurrection

00:38:15.359 --> 00:38:15.619
 of

00:38:15.619 --> 00:38:15.859
 Jesus

00:38:15.859 --> 00:38:16.380
 Christ

00:38:16.380 --> 00:38:16.619
 and

00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:16.819
 the

00:38:16.819 --> 00:38:17.319
 freeness

00:38:17.319 --> 00:38:17.480
 of

00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:17.980
 salvation

00:38:17.980 --> 00:38:18.199
 that

00:38:18.199 --> 00:38:18.299
 he

00:38:18.299 --> 00:38:18.579
 offers

00:38:18.579 --> 00:38:18.779
 to

00:38:18.779 --> 00:38:19.119
 us

00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:19.759
 to

00:38:19.759 --> 00:38:20.039
 anyone

00:38:20.039 --> 00:38:20.219
 who

00:38:20.219 --> 00:38:20.359
 will

00:38:20.359 --> 00:38:20.539
 come

00:38:20.539 --> 00:38:20.699
 to

00:38:20.699 --> 00:38:20.920
 him

00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:21.920
 how

00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:22.079
 will

00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:22.179
 it

00:38:22.179 --> 00:38:22.400
 not

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:22.859
 motivate

00:38:22.859 --> 00:38:23.279
 us

00:38:23.279 --> 00:38:23.960
 to

00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.199
 want

00:38:24.199 --> 00:38:24.380
 to

00:38:24.380 --> 00:38:24.980
 engage

00:38:24.980 --> 00:38:25.139
 in

00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:25.339
 that

00:38:25.339 --> 00:38:25.819
 work

00:38:25.819 --> 00:38:27.359
 oh

00:38:27.359 --> 00:38:27.819
 stare

00:38:27.819 --> 00:38:27.960
 at

00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:28.079
 the

00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:28.460
 cross

00:38:28.460 --> 00:38:30.279
 four

00:38:30.279 --> 00:38:31.880
 think

00:38:31.880 --> 00:38:32.099
 about

00:38:32.099 --> 00:38:32.699
 eternity

00:38:32.699 --> 00:38:34.679
 one of

00:38:34.679 --> 00:38:34.799
 the

00:38:34.799 --> 00:38:35.079
 things

00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:35.400
 that

00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:35.759
 has

00:38:35.759 --> 00:38:35.880
 been

00:38:35.880 --> 00:38:36.039
 so

00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:36.400
 apparent

00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:36.599
 to

00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:36.739
 me

00:38:36.739 --> 00:38:37.119
 lately

00:38:37.119 --> 00:38:37.199
!

00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:38.579
 is

00:38:38.579 --> 00:38:38.799
 how

00:38:38.799 --> 00:38:39.339
 often

00:38:39.339 --> 00:38:40.779
 the

00:38:40.779 --> 00:38:41.419
 apostles

00:38:41.419 --> 00:38:41.719
 in

00:38:41.719 --> 00:38:42.239
 particular

00:38:42.239 --> 00:38:42.619
 in

00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:42.719
 the

00:38:42.719 --> 00:38:42.879
 New

00:38:42.879 --> 00:38:43.339
 Testament

00:38:43.339 --> 00:38:44.539
 had

00:38:44.539 --> 00:38:44.739
 their

00:38:44.739 --> 00:38:45.279
 minds

00:38:45.279 --> 00:38:46.019
 fixed

00:38:46.019 --> 00:38:47.059
 on

00:38:47.059 --> 00:38:47.239
 the

00:38:47.239 --> 00:38:47.679
 future

00:38:47.679 --> 00:38:49.419
 they

00:38:49.419 --> 00:38:49.559
 were

00:38:49.559 --> 00:38:49.819
 active

00:38:49.819 --> 00:38:49.980
 in

00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:50.079
 the

00:38:50.079 --> 00:38:50.439
 present

00:38:50.439 --> 00:38:51.799
 they

00:38:51.799 --> 00:38:51.980
 weren't

00:38:51.980 --> 00:38:52.179
 living

00:38:52.179 --> 00:38:52.319
 in

00:38:52.319 --> 00:38:52.439
 a

00:38:52.439 --> 00:38:52.659
 dream

00:38:52.659 --> 00:38:53.039
 world

00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:54.079
 but

00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:54.199
 they

00:38:54.199 --> 00:38:54.299
 were

00:38:54.299 --> 00:38:54.539
 always

00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:54.839
 looking

00:38:54.839 --> 00:38:55.299
 ahead

00:38:55.299 --> 00:38:56.059
 they

00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:56.199
 had

00:38:56.199 --> 00:38:56.500
 heaven

00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:56.699
 on

00:38:56.699 --> 00:38:56.839
 their

00:38:56.839 --> 00:38:57.419
 minds

00:38:57.419 --> 00:38:59.000
 they

00:38:59.000 --> 00:38:59.099
 had

00:38:59.099 --> 00:38:59.199
 the

00:38:59.199 --> 00:38:59.539
 return

00:38:59.539 --> 00:38:59.739
 of

00:38:59.739 --> 00:39:00.199
 Christ

00:39:00.199 --> 00:39:01.079
 on

00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:01.219
 their

00:39:01.219 --> 00:39:01.759
 hearts

00:39:01.759 --> 00:39:03.839
 imagining

00:39:03.839 --> 00:39:04.139
 no

00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:04.500
 doubt

00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:05.179
 what

00:39:05.179 --> 00:39:05.279
 it

00:39:05.279 --> 00:39:05.399
 will

00:39:05.399 --> 00:39:05.679
 be

00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:06.119
 like

00:39:06.119 --> 00:39:06.119


00:39:06.119 --> 00:39:06.599
 to

00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:07.019
 worship

00:39:07.019 --> 00:39:07.639
 with

00:39:07.639 --> 00:39:08.219
 myriads

00:39:08.219 --> 00:39:08.400
 and

00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:08.860
 myriads

00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:09.039
 of

00:39:09.039 --> 00:39:09.340
 people

00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:09.519
 who

00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:09.619
 have

00:39:09.619 --> 00:39:09.800
 been

00:39:09.800 --> 00:39:10.159
 saved

00:39:10.159 --> 00:39:10.340
 by

00:39:10.340 --> 00:39:10.480
 the

00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:10.659
 lamb

00:39:10.659 --> 00:39:10.920
 that's

00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:11.039
 what

00:39:11.039 --> 00:39:11.500
 revelation

00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:11.860
 tells

00:39:11.860 --> 00:39:12.019
 us

00:39:12.019 --> 00:39:12.179
 will

00:39:12.179 --> 00:39:12.480
 happen

00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:12.960
 a

00:39:12.960 --> 00:39:13.300
 myriad

00:39:13.300 --> 00:39:13.460
 of

00:39:13.460 --> 00:39:13.619
 myriads

00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.800
 uncalculable

00:39:14.800 --> 00:39:15.159
 numbers

00:39:15.159 --> 00:39:15.340
 of

00:39:15.340 --> 00:39:15.599
 people

00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:16.119
 what

00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:16.320
 will

00:39:16.320 --> 00:39:16.420
 it

00:39:16.420 --> 00:39:16.539
 be

00:39:16.539 --> 00:39:16.960
 like

00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:17.440
 to

00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:17.860
 worship

00:39:17.860 --> 00:39:18.139
 the

00:39:18.139 --> 00:39:18.340
 Lord

00:39:18.340 --> 00:39:18.519
 in

00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:18.900
 eternity

00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:19.259
 with

00:39:19.259 --> 00:39:19.519
 them

00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:20.739
 and

00:39:20.739 --> 00:39:20.840
 when

00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:21.019
 our

00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:21.340
 minds

00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:21.519
 are

00:39:21.519 --> 00:39:21.759
 set

00:39:21.759 --> 00:39:21.920
 on

00:39:21.920 --> 00:39:22.159
 heaven

00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:22.300
 and

00:39:22.300 --> 00:39:22.420
 the

00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:22.759
 glory

00:39:22.759 --> 00:39:22.980
 of

00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:23.079
 it

00:39:23.079 --> 00:39:23.179
 and

00:39:23.179 --> 00:39:23.300
 the

00:39:23.300 --> 00:39:23.500
 glory

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:23.619
 of

00:39:23.619 --> 00:39:23.739
 the

00:39:23.739 --> 00:39:24.159
 gospel

00:39:24.159 --> 00:39:25.820
 will

00:39:25.820 --> 00:39:25.960
 that

00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:26.199
 not

00:39:26.199 --> 00:39:26.559
 then

00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:27.360
 cause

00:39:27.360 --> 00:39:27.539
 us

00:39:27.539 --> 00:39:27.679
 to

00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:27.900
 look

00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:28.159
 at

00:39:28.159 --> 00:39:29.460
 our

00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:29.780
 husband

00:39:29.780 --> 00:39:29.960
 and

00:39:29.960 --> 00:39:30.119
 our

00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:30.579
 wife

00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:30.720
 and

00:39:30.720 --> 00:39:31.179
 our

00:39:31.179 --> 00:39:31.760
 children

00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:32.000
 and

00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:32.179
 our

00:39:32.179 --> 00:39:32.679
 friends

00:39:32.679 --> 00:39:32.800
 and

00:39:32.800 --> 00:39:32.980
 our

00:39:32.980 --> 00:39:33.380
 neighbors

00:39:33.380 --> 00:39:33.679
 and

00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:34.159
 think

00:39:34.159 --> 00:39:35.159
 I

00:39:35.159 --> 00:39:35.440
 want

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:35.619
 them

00:39:35.619 --> 00:39:35.800
 to

00:39:35.800 --> 00:39:36.000
 be

00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:36.220
 there

00:39:36.220 --> 00:39:36.400
 with

00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:36.699
 me

00:39:36.699 --> 00:39:38.320
 I

00:39:38.320 --> 00:39:38.460
 want

00:39:38.460 --> 00:39:38.559
 to

00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:38.740
 help

00:39:38.740 --> 00:39:38.940
 them

00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:39.260
 get

00:39:39.260 --> 00:39:39.699
 there

00:39:39.699 --> 00:39:41.380
 to

00:39:41.380 --> 00:39:41.740
 minister

00:39:41.740 --> 00:39:42.039
 this

00:39:42.039 --> 00:39:42.420
 wonderful

00:39:42.420 --> 00:39:42.780
 gospel

00:39:42.780 --> 00:39:43.019
 to

00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:43.300
 them

00:39:43.300 --> 00:39:44.699
 final

00:39:44.699 --> 00:39:45.039
 thing

00:39:45.039 --> 00:39:45.480
 fifth

00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:46.500
 how do

00:39:46.500 --> 00:39:46.639
 we

00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.099
 cultivate

00:39:47.099 --> 00:39:47.380
 this

00:39:47.380 --> 00:39:47.659
 heart

00:39:47.659 --> 00:39:49.039
 you

00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:49.240
 just

00:39:49.240 --> 00:39:49.500
 do

00:39:49.500 --> 00:39:49.840
 it

00:39:49.840 --> 00:39:50.920
 right

00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:51.199
 you

00:39:51.199 --> 00:39:51.380
 just

00:39:51.380 --> 00:39:51.579
 do

00:39:51.579 --> 00:39:51.840
 it

00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:54.460
 there

00:39:54.460 --> 00:39:54.679
 really

00:39:54.679 --> 00:39:54.880
 is

00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:55.099
 nothing

00:39:55.099 --> 00:39:55.420
 quite

00:39:55.420 --> 00:39:55.780
 like

00:39:55.780 --> 00:39:56.380
 leading

00:39:56.380 --> 00:39:56.699
 someone

00:39:56.699 --> 00:39:56.900
 to

00:39:56.900 --> 00:39:57.420
 Christ

00:39:57.420 --> 00:39:59.260
 I

00:39:59.260 --> 00:39:59.340
 don't

00:39:59.340 --> 00:39:59.420
 know

00:39:59.420 --> 00:39:59.539
 how

00:39:59.539 --> 00:39:59.720
 many

00:39:59.720 --> 00:39:59.840
 of

00:39:59.840 --> 00:39:59.940
 you

00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:00.079
 have

00:40:00.079 --> 00:40:00.280
 had

00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:00.559
 that

00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:01.200
 personal

00:40:01.200 --> 00:40:01.639
 experience

00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:01.800
 where

00:40:01.800 --> 00:40:01.920
 the

00:40:01.920 --> 00:40:02.059
 Lord

00:40:02.059 --> 00:40:02.280
 has

00:40:02.280 --> 00:40:03.200
 graciously

00:40:03.200 --> 00:40:03.539
 allowed

00:40:03.539 --> 00:40:03.680
 you

00:40:03.680 --> 00:40:03.820
 to

00:40:03.820 --> 00:40:03.960
 sit

00:40:03.960 --> 00:40:04.139
 down

00:40:04.139 --> 00:40:04.280
 with

00:40:04.280 --> 00:40:04.480
 someone

00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:04.659
 and

00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:05.099
 see

00:40:05.099 --> 00:40:05.420
 that

00:40:05.420 --> 00:40:06.599
 moment

00:40:06.599 --> 00:40:07.059
 of

00:40:07.059 --> 00:40:08.240
 rebirth

00:40:08.240 --> 00:40:10.139
 when

00:40:10.139 --> 00:40:10.280
 their

00:40:10.280 --> 00:40:10.519
 eyes

00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:10.680
 are

00:40:10.680 --> 00:40:11.119
 opened

00:40:11.119 --> 00:40:12.680
 and

00:40:12.680 --> 00:40:12.820
 their

00:40:12.820 --> 00:40:13.079
 heart

00:40:13.079 --> 00:40:13.240
 is

00:40:13.240 --> 00:40:13.860
 transformed

00:40:13.860 --> 00:40:14.079
 and

00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:14.260
 they

00:40:14.260 --> 00:40:15.019
 believe

00:40:15.019 --> 00:40:15.220
 the

00:40:15.220 --> 00:40:15.519
 gospel

00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:15.700
 and

00:40:15.700 --> 00:40:15.820
 they

00:40:15.820 --> 00:40:16.099
 trust

00:40:16.099 --> 00:40:16.300
 in

00:40:16.300 --> 00:40:16.700
 Christ

00:40:16.700 --> 00:40:17.559
 there

00:40:17.559 --> 00:40:17.639
 is

00:40:17.639 --> 00:40:17.840
 nothing

00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:18.139
 really

00:40:18.139 --> 00:40:18.460
 like

00:40:18.460 --> 00:40:18.820
 that

00:40:18.820 --> 00:40:22.300
 the

00:40:22.300 --> 00:40:22.559
 same

00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:22.900
 goes

00:40:22.900 --> 00:40:23.079
 for

00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:23.240
 when

00:40:23.240 --> 00:40:23.320
 you

00:40:23.320 --> 00:40:23.400
 are

00:40:23.400 --> 00:40:23.420
!

00:40:23.420 --> 00:40:23.619
 sitting

00:40:23.619 --> 00:40:23.840
 down

00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:24.000
 with

00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:24.260
!

00:40:24.260 --> 00:40:24.760
 Christian

00:40:24.760 --> 00:40:27.159
 and

00:40:27.159 --> 00:40:27.259
 you

00:40:27.259 --> 00:40:27.399
 know

00:40:27.399 --> 00:40:27.539
 they

00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:27.579
 have

00:40:27.579 --> 00:40:27.940
 things

00:40:27.940 --> 00:40:28.139
 going

00:40:28.139 --> 00:40:28.259
 on

00:40:28.259 --> 00:40:28.339
 in

00:40:28.339 --> 00:40:28.440
 their

00:40:28.440 --> 00:40:28.659
 life

00:40:28.659 --> 00:40:28.759
 or

00:40:28.759 --> 00:40:28.940
 maybe

00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:29.079
 there

00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:29.179
 is

00:40:29.179 --> 00:40:29.420
 sin

00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:29.579
 that

00:40:29.579 --> 00:40:29.699
 you

00:40:29.699 --> 00:40:29.859
 need

00:40:29.859 --> 00:40:29.980
 to

00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:30.299
 confront

00:40:30.299 --> 00:40:30.440
 and

00:40:30.440 --> 00:40:30.759
 whatever

00:40:30.759 --> 00:40:31.019
 it

00:40:31.019 --> 00:40:31.159
 may

00:40:31.159 --> 00:40:31.399
 be

00:40:31.399 --> 00:40:31.679
 you

00:40:31.679 --> 00:40:31.759
 are

00:40:31.759 --> 00:40:31.960
 sitting

00:40:31.960 --> 00:40:32.159
 down

00:40:32.159 --> 00:40:32.279
 with

00:40:32.279 --> 00:40:32.379
 them

00:40:32.379 --> 00:40:32.460
 and

00:40:32.460 --> 00:40:32.579
 the

00:40:32.579 --> 00:40:32.719
 Lord

00:40:32.719 --> 00:40:32.839
 is

00:40:32.839 --> 00:40:33.059
 using

00:40:33.059 --> 00:40:33.519
 you

00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:34.019
 to

00:40:34.019 --> 00:40:34.500
 transform

00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:34.920
 them

00:40:34.920 --> 00:40:35.940
 to

00:40:35.940 --> 00:40:36.099
 do

00:40:36.099 --> 00:40:36.239
 his

00:40:36.239 --> 00:40:36.519
 work

00:40:36.519 --> 00:40:36.679
 in

00:40:36.679 --> 00:40:37.000
 them

00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:37.359
 and

00:40:37.359 --> 00:40:37.480
 you

00:40:37.480 --> 00:40:37.859
 see

00:40:37.859 --> 00:40:38.179
 it

00:40:38.179 --> 00:40:38.579
 and

00:40:38.579 --> 00:40:38.719
 you

00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:39.079
 sense

00:40:39.079 --> 00:40:39.199
 it

00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:39.299
 and

00:40:39.299 --> 00:40:39.500
 they

00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:39.799
 sense

00:40:39.799 --> 00:40:39.920
 it

00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:39.980
 and

00:40:39.980 --> 00:40:40.059
 you

00:40:40.059 --> 00:40:40.399
 understand

00:40:40.399 --> 00:40:40.539
 it

00:40:40.539 --> 00:40:40.779
 there

00:40:40.779 --> 00:40:40.839
 is

00:40:40.839 --> 00:40:41.159
 nothing

00:40:41.159 --> 00:40:41.500
 quite

00:40:41.500 --> 00:40:41.899
 like

00:40:41.899 --> 00:40:42.339
 that

00:40:42.339 --> 00:40:42.379
!

00:40:42.500 --> 00:40:45.099
 the

00:40:45.099 --> 00:40:45.399
 more

00:40:45.399 --> 00:40:45.639
 you

00:40:45.639 --> 00:40:46.259
 intentionally

00:40:46.259 --> 00:40:47.179
 engage

00:40:57.159 --> 00:40:57.379
 you'll

00:40:57.379 --> 00:40:57.659
 see

00:40:57.659 --> 00:40:57.859
 the

00:40:57.859 --> 00:40:58.339
 fruitfulness

00:40:58.339 --> 00:40:58.659
 of

00:40:58.659 --> 00:40:58.960
 God's

00:40:58.960 --> 00:40:59.199
 work

00:40:59.199 --> 00:40:59.460
 through

00:40:59.460 --> 00:40:59.779
 you

00:40:59.779 --> 00:41:00.679
 and

00:41:00.679 --> 00:41:00.879
 you'll

00:41:00.879 --> 00:41:01.199
 crave

00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:01.359
 it

00:41:01.359 --> 00:41:01.579
 more

00:41:01.579 --> 00:41:01.739
 and

00:41:01.739 --> 00:41:01.980
 more

00:41:01.980 --> 00:41:02.779
 to

00:41:02.779 --> 00:41:03.179
 pray

00:41:03.179 --> 00:41:04.899
 remove

00:41:04.899 --> 00:41:05.079
 the

00:41:05.079 --> 00:41:05.659
 distractions

00:41:05.659 --> 00:41:05.960
 the

00:41:05.960 --> 00:41:06.319
 busyness

00:41:06.319 --> 00:41:06.599
 whatever

00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:07.299
 whatever's

00:41:07.299 --> 00:41:07.559
 standing

00:41:07.559 --> 00:41:07.819
 in the

00:41:07.819 --> 00:41:08.219
 way

00:41:08.219 --> 00:41:10.139
 oh

00:41:10.139 --> 00:41:10.420
 stare

00:41:10.420 --> 00:41:10.539
 at

00:41:10.539 --> 00:41:10.679
 the

00:41:10.679 --> 00:41:11.119
 cross

00:41:11.119 --> 00:41:12.759
 think

00:41:12.759 --> 00:41:13.000
 about

00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:13.319
 heaven

00:41:13.319 --> 00:41:15.239
 and

00:41:15.239 --> 00:41:15.420
 then

00:41:15.420 --> 00:41:15.659
 just

00:41:15.659 --> 00:41:15.859
 do

00:41:15.859 --> 00:41:16.059
 it

00:41:16.059 --> 00:41:17.279
 make

00:41:17.279 --> 00:41:17.460
 the

00:41:17.460 --> 00:41:17.779
 call

00:41:17.779 --> 00:41:18.659
 schedule

00:41:18.659 --> 00:41:18.879
 the

00:41:18.879 --> 00:41:19.319
 appointment

00:41:19.319 --> 00:41:20.199
 send

00:41:20.199 --> 00:41:20.359
 the

00:41:20.359 --> 00:41:20.659
 text

00:41:20.659 --> 00:41:20.819
 if

00:41:20.819 --> 00:41:21.039
 that's

00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:21.159
 the

00:41:21.159 --> 00:41:21.319
 best

00:41:21.319 --> 00:41:21.460
 way

00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:21.579
 to

00:41:21.579 --> 00:41:21.719
 get

00:41:21.719 --> 00:41:21.899
 at

00:41:21.899 --> 00:41:22.119
 it

00:41:22.119 --> 00:41:23.179
 do

00:41:23.179 --> 00:41:23.359
 what

00:41:23.359 --> 00:41:23.480
 you

00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:23.819
 must

00:41:23.819 --> 00:41:25.379
 so

00:41:25.379 --> 00:41:25.519
 that

00:41:25.519 --> 00:41:25.639
 you

00:41:25.639 --> 00:41:25.879
 might

00:41:25.879 --> 00:41:26.399
 joy

00:41:26.400 --> 00:41:27.639
 in the

00:41:27.639 --> 00:41:28.099
 presentation

00:41:28.099 --> 00:41:28.700
 of other

00:41:28.700 --> 00:41:29.039
 people

00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:29.360
 before

00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:29.740
 Christ

00:41:29.740 --> 00:41:29.920
 when

00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:30.019
 he

00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:30.320
 comes