and 95.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young.
A place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house, they are ever praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs.
The autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God and Zion.
Hear my prayer, O Lord God Almighty.
Listen to me, O God of Jacob.
Look upon our shield, O God.
Look with favour on your anointed one.
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield.
The Lord bestows favour and honour.
No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Amen.
I think the last time I spoke I ended up adjusting the stand three times,
so you'll forgive me if I just make sure it's all okay this time.
well thank you Alex for leading this morning
and thank you David as well for reading
from that psalm for us
well we're reaching the home stretch
aren't we in our series on Philippians
we've been going through it over the summer
and we're now well into chapter 3
so as we're getting to the end
so is Paul
Paul is getting to the end of his letter
to the church in Philippi
and this morning
he wants to share with us
how we should continue
to press on towards Jesus
that's what he wants to share
how do we continue
Paul is in a Roman jail
facing death
and he wants to make sure
that all of us
all of us with heart
and body
and soul
are facing and pulling
in the right direction
on the road ahead of us
so let's look at chapter 3
and we're going to read from verse 12
to the end of the section
so it's page 1180
Philippians chapter 3
Paul writing
not that I have already obtained all this
or have already been made perfect
but I press on to take hold of that
for which Christ Jesus took hold of me
brothers
I do not consider myself yet
to have taken hold of it
but one thing I do
forgetting what is behind
and straining towards what is ahead
I press on towards the goal
to win the prize
for which God
has called me heavenwards
in Christ Jesus
all of us who are mature
should take such a view of things
and if on some point
you think differently
that too God will make clear to you
only let us live up
to what we have already attained
join with others
in following my example brothers
and take note of those
who live according to the pattern
we gave you
for as I have often told you before
and I will say again with tears
many live as enemies
of the cross of Christ
their destiny is destruction
their God is their stomach
and their glory is in their shame
their mind is on earthly things
but our citizenship is in heaven
and we eagerly await
the Savior from there
the Lord Jesus Christ
who by the power that enables him
to bring everything under his control
will transform our lowly bodies
so that they will be like
his glorious body
therefore my brothers
you whom I love and long for
my joy and crown
that is how you should stand firm
in the Lord
dear friends
and as we come to the second half
of chapter 3 this morning
I want to begin by giving us
the big picture
what is it that God
through the writings of Paul
wants us to really grip onto
and hold onto this morning
and in a way we can look at this
whole section here
in chapter 3
as falling between
two bookends on a shelf
you can picture your bookshelves
and you have those nice little bookends
little ornate ones
and all the books in the middle
and it's almost as if this section
has those two kinds of bookends
the first one is in verse 1
isn't it
the first part of verse 1
that simple phrase
finally my brothers
rejoice in the Lord
and that's the starting point
that's the first bookend
and Paul says
rejoice in the Lord
find your contentment
and your peace in him
and that's what Ken was explaining
to us last week
if you were here
you know
joy isn't just about happiness
it may be happiness
but it's really about having that peace
and certainty
and contentment in life
and then if we go right to the end
and actually into chapter 4
verse 1
and just the last phrase then
there it says
that is how you should stand firm
in the Lord
dear friends
that is how you should stand firm
in the Lord dear friends
and that's like our second bookend
in a sense
this first bookend
and second bookend
and if these are the bookends
of chapter 3
then we can say
that this chapter
is really about
how you
and how I
are meant to rejoice
and stand firm
in the Lord
that's the big idea
that's running
through this section
well we want to look
more closely this morning
from verses 12
to the end of the chapter
and within that
I think there is a very helpful
centre point
now I know this is all
kind of beginning
end centre point
but I just
if we can hang
what's been said this morning
on these things
I think it will help us
and that centre point
between the bookends
is what I want to focus on
it will help us
to understand
what it is
to rejoice in the Lord
and it's going to help us
to understand
what it means
to stand firm
in the Lord
it's in the form of a contrast
between two ways of living
and two different destinies
and it comes right
at the end of verse 19
their mind
is on earthly things
but our citizenship
is in heaven
their mind is on earthly things
but our citizenship
is in heaven
dear friends
we are going to see
this morning
what it is like
to live
out
a heavenly citizenship
to be citizens of heaven
rejoicing
and standing firm
in the Lord
which is going to mean
pressing on
towards Jesus
our prize
and our goal
and that's the summary
done
simple isn't it
we can all head home
now
short sermon
everyone's very happy
well
I think even if we've only lived
a very very short time
on this earth
we know that life
this may be a shock
for some
life is not always easy
no shocked faces
whether we're people of faith
or whether we're people of unbelief
life is not always easy
it's not always as simple
as a phrase written down
on a screen
you know
sometimes this
phrase of
you know
earthly and heavenly
living
is plucked out
isn't it
I think it's
probably from this section
and it's used to say this
Christians are so
heavenly minded
that they are of no
earthly good
Christians
you know
you can be so heavenly minded
that you're of no
earthly good
have you heard that
phrase before
have you used that
phrase before
has that phrase
been applied to you
maybe
well
yes
it's something we've heard
it's something we're familiar
when I think it comes
from this passage
the idea is that
that Christians
well
some of them anyway
or maybe even most
they're kind of naive
aren't they
they only think about heaven
they're only thinking about
their own spiritual life
and spiritual journey
and they kind of ignore
what's happening
around them
you know
Christians are
the kind of people
that are too busy
going to the weekend
spiritual retreat
instead of helping out
with that family emergency
too heavenly minded
no earthly good
but that's not actually
what the text says
that's not what the Bible says
it's not what the scriptures say
the heavenly minded
and practically useless
versus the earthly minded
those that care for those around them
and getting things done
that's not what it says
and see
it's always a mistake
to take little phrases
and lift them out of the passage
and make them into
a little saying
and say
well that's what the Bible teaches
or that's what it says
we need to stop that
and we need to take the text
and take the passage
and put it back into the Bible
and see what it says
in context
and what it says
as God intended it to be
and what Paul intended it to be
firstly and most importantly
we want to see verse 18
for as I have told you before
and I will say again
even with tears
many live
as enemies
of the cross
of Christ
this is what it means
to be earthly minded
in this context
to be an enemy
of the cross of Christ
is to live
in opposition
to Jesus
it is to be opposed
to humility
it is to be opposed
to having a love
for people
how do I know that?
well
if we go back
to chapter 2
if you just turn back
the page
a very familiar passage
one we've looked at
already this summer
and those verses
from verses 5
to 11
very well known
it tells us
of the cross of Christ
and what the cross
of Christ
means
here is the God
of the universe
the creator
of all things
and he is humbled
and he is brought low
and he is put to death
on a cross
to rescue
the people
of the earth
the cross
of Christ
this is the cross
of Christ
it is a cross
of love
it is a cross
of humility
it is a cross
of sacrifice
so what does it mean
then to be an enemy
of the cross
of Christ
well it is to be an enemy
of all those things
of love
humility
and sacrifice
Paul shows
the seriousness
of this
doesn't he
in verse
19
so verse 18
he tells us
that these
earthly minded people
are enemies
of the cross
and then verse 19
their destiny
is destruction
opposition
to the cross
of Christ
ultimately leads
to destruction
and this
in a sense
is path
number one
the earthly
things
the earthly
minded
the path
that we all
start out on
you don't have
to choose
this path
I mean we do
every day
but we don't
have to make
a conscious
decision
even to be
on this path
we are born
with this instinct
we are born
with this desire
to put ourselves
as number one
you see
earthly mindedness
is opposed
to humility
and sacrifice
and love
it is about
being number one
it means to be
me minded
earthly minded
means to be
me minded
our selfish
and sinful ways
put us
in direct
opposition
to humility
and being
other centred
our destiny
then is
destruction
this is a path
we did not
need to choose
we were there
but we continue
to choose
every day
by our actions
it is the path
we start down
as unbelievers
in Christ
and it's the one
we choose
to walk on
Paul then
tells us
that to be
earthly minded
is to be driven
by your stomach
to be driven
by your stomach
now that
doesn't mean
that you
like food
or not
or anything
like that
but what he's
saying is
the God
that we look
to
the God
that we look
to is not
the God
of the universe
the God
who is beyond
us and outside
of ourselves
and is the creator
and just judge
of the whole world
the God we look
to is
in our stomach
and the stomach
in this case
is the source
of those selfish
desires
and those selfish
appetites
Paul elsewhere
in the book
of Romans
chapter 16
he puts it
this way
talking again
of earthly
mindedness
for such
people
are not
serving
our Lord
Jesus
but their
own appetites
that's the
God of the
stomach
to be
earthly minded
is to serve
ourselves
finally
he says
the last
phrase
their glory
is in their
shame
their glory
is in their
shame
it's not
beauty
or love
or hope
or joy
or humility
or all the
things that we
see in the
cross of Christ
that the
earthly minded
strive for
it's not really
about mending
the neighbor's
car
or volunteering
for the
tidy towns
or giving
money to the
cats and dogs
home
they might do
those things
but it's
really to ease
their own
conscience
no
the earthly
minded
instead
ultimately
are boasting
in the
very things
they should
be ashamed
of
glory
in being
able to
spend
my money
and to
spend
my time
on myself
purely on
myself
because well
I deserve
it and that's
what I want
and that's
what makes
me feel
good
boasting
and continuing
in destructive
and immature
behaviors
maybe it's
glorying in
having sex
with whoever
you want
casting off
all restrictions
living so
called free
lives
or the case
yesterday
where two
Irish women
live tweeted
on the internet
their trip to
England to
carry out
an abortion
glorying in
the shame
of ending
a life
in the womb
they glory
in their
shame
as a
parent
will warn
their own
flesh and
blood
so Paul
warns his
spiritual
children
in verse
18
for as
I have
often told
you before
and now
say again
with tears
many live
as enemies
of the cross
of Christ
and these
tears
of Paul
for his
spiritual
children
are no
different
to the
tears
of a
mother
or father
who will
plead
with their
child
to stay
home
and not
go out
in that
car
with those
drunken
friends
into the
city
because the
parents know
can only
go wrong
it's very
simple
brothers and
sisters
this morning
there are
those
that should
not be
followed
in this
world
there are
those
that should
not be
followed
in this
world
and in
this
life
they are
not
ultimately
followers
of Jesus
even if
they utter
familiar
sounding
words
and wear
the clothing
of a
sheep
they are
in fact
wolves
enemies
it says
of the
cross
of
Christ
the cross
that shows
humility
is not
their cross
it is
shameful
and sinful
actions
that they
are boasting
about
the cross
that lifts
our eyes
and lifts
our gaze
upwards
and towards
Jesus
it's not
their cross
no
it is
satisfying
sinful
urges
in the
stomach
that is
their God
the cross
of Christ
that brings
rescue
and it brings
resurrection
it's not
their cross
because their
destiny is
destruction
this is
the wrong
path
there are
many examples
of this
peers
people we
know
who say
they are
following
Christ
yet by
their
behavior
and by
their
example
they are
just
constantly
pushing
so called
boundaries
they are not
the example
to follow
it is the
wrong path
and Paul
tells us
in verse
15
all of us
who are
mature
should take
a view
of such
things
verse 15
and he
says
even if
you don't
fully see
the danger
even if
on some
point
you think
differently
you can't
quite
see why
this is a
problem
Paul says
God will
make it
clear to
you
God will
make it
clear to
you
but then
he says
only let
us live
up to
what we
have
already
attained
verse 16
only let
us live
up to
what we
have
already
attained
or what
we have
already
understood
and what
he is
saying
whatever
stage
of your
Christian
life
whether
you are
a new
Christian
been a
Christian
for a long
time
whether
you are
struggling
whether
you are
a mature
Christian
or
maybe
immature
in some
areas
regardless
of where
you are
in the
Christian
life
you
know
enough
to
follow
Jesus
you
know
enough
to
follow
Jesus
follow
godly
examples
verse 17
join
with others
in following
my example
brothers
and take
note of
those who
live according
to the
pattern
we gave
you
you are
not to
follow the
path of
those that
are pushing
the boundaries
of so
called
Christian
freedom
such
freedom
is really
just chaining
yourself
to the
path
of sin
and
destruction
we spent
some time
looking at
that path
that is
one path
or one
destiny
that of
the earthly
minded
but there is
another path
that Paul
wants us
to show
wants to
show us
this morning
and that is
the path
of those
whose
citizenship
is in
heaven
the first
11 verses
of chapter
3 have
been about
Paul
letting go
of his
own wrong
path
I don't know
if you
remember the
sermon last
week or
familiar with
those verses
but it's
Paul
letting go
of the
wrong
path
letting go
of family
history
he's letting
go of his
academic
achievements
he's letting
go of his
good reputation
and his
high standing
among the
community
his peer
group
done
he says
it's actually
a stronger
word than
that but
I'm going
to say
dung
he says
rubbish
compared
to taking
hold
of
Christ
he casts
it all
off
he casts
himself
away
from that
path
that way
of living
all
even all
the good
things
that you
could look
on and say
isn't Paul
great
he casts
them all
off
so he
gets to
verse 10
and this
is he
falls into
almost a
yearning
of praise
and desire
he wants
to know
Jesus
in verse
10
he wants
to know
the power
of his
resurrection
the fellowship
of sharing
in his
sufferings
becoming
like Jesus
in his
death
and so
somehow
to attain
to the
resurrection
from the
dead
and experience
life in the
heavenly places
where Jesus
is
and he has
to stop
and that's
where we get
to in verse
12
he catches
himself
because he's
run ahead
he's almost
run too far
ahead of us
in what he
said in
verses 10
and 11
so he
slows down
and he
lets the
readers catch
up
verse 12
not that I've
already obtained
all this
for I've already
been made
perfect
but I press
on to take
hold of that
for which
Christ Jesus
took hold
of me
I haven't
reached the
end of the
path
don't mistake
me here
I know
I'm getting
really excited
and my
thinking
and my
perspective
on life
has so
changed
it's been
so
transformed
that I
can almost
feel like
I'm there
at times
in the
heavenly
places
with
Jesus
but I
haven't got
there yet
brothers
verse 13
I do not
consider myself
yet
to have
taken hold
of it
I think
the single
greatest
help in
my working
life today
came in
the very
first year
I started
I was
back in
2001
September
it was a
week after
the 9-11
attacks
in the
US
it was
the 17th
of September
my first
job for
Motorola
based here
in Cork
now shut
down
but at
the time
there was
about 400
engineers
working out
in Manhattan
I was a
graduate
I'd done
electrical
engineering
and now I was
getting paid
to be a
software
developer
I won't
get into
details
but it's
a little
bit different
from what
I'd done
in the
degree
I didn't
even know
what I
didn't know
have you
ever been
in that
position
you don't
even know
enough to
be known
that you're
ignorant
but here's
the thing
as a
graduate
engineer
this older
senior
more experienced
engineer
he took
this graduate
under his
wing
there was a
big new
engineering
project
very important
to the
company
and he
reached out
and he
pulled me
into his
team
divided up
the work
found a
really
critical
bit
I was
completely
ignorant
and he
said
Ralph
you do
this
bit
is that
okay
and I
went
yeah
it's
all
the same
to me
I'll
do
something
and I
had
little or
no
experience
in the
area
I got
a big
thick
manual
with the
computer
chip
information
and some
sample
code
and that
was it
the
confidence
of a
mentor
the
support
of a
team
we got
there in
the end
by the
way
just in
case you're
all worried
but you
know
as Paul
writes to
the
Philippian
church
in a
sense
he's like
someone like
that
isn't he
he's been
yanked
he's been
pulled
he's been
taken hold
of
into
God's
kingdom
my work
mentor
reached down
from his
position
and he
took hold
of me
for a
particular
goal
and
Jesus
in a
similar
way
has
reached
down
and he's
taken hold
of Paul
in verse
12
I press
on to
take hold
of that
for which
Christ
Jesus
took hold
of me
for the
believer
this is
always the
starting point
for the
path
to heaven
verse 12
I press
on to
take hold
of that
for which
Christ
Jesus
took hold
of me
or he
puts it
in another
way in
verse 14
doesn't he
I press
on towards
the goal
to win
the prize
for which
God
has called
me
heavenwards
in
Christ
Jesus
Christ
takes
hold of
us
and then
we learn
to take
hold of
Christ
that
is our
starting point
this morning
brothers and
sisters
it's the
starting point
for everyone
God
the father
has called
you
heavenward
he's called
you
heavenward
and his
anointed
son
has
stooped
down
he has
stooped
down
and he's
taken hold
of you
and he's
bringing you
into his
kingdom
and he's
bringing you
into his
purposes
God
calls us
and then
it's as if
his right
arm
his own
son has
been extended
from the
heavenly
realm
and grabbed
on to
us
and Paul
was captured
in this
way
wasn't he
his path
in life
Paul's
path
was literally
the path
of destruction
he was an
enemy of the
cross of
Christ
we see that
in verses
four to
seven
he was a
persecutor
of the
church
the most
ignorant
and earth
bound
slayer
of God's
plans
and God's
people
he spent
his time
ensuring that
Christians were
rounded up
put in prison
and executed
that was
Paul's path
yet he
like of all
of us
who believe
was grabbed
by Christ
on the road
to Damascus
he was
powerfully
converted
he was
grabbed by
Christ
and in
faith
he turned
to Christ
for salvation
and forgiveness
that is a
starting point
for all
heavenly
bound
people
Jesus
Christ
has
reached
down
and
taken
hold
of
us
but
that
has a
massive
effect
on our
lives
it
truly
does
because
it's
placed us
now
between
two
worlds
or two
kingdoms
we are
still
truly
part
of this
current
age
we
experience
it
just like
everyone
else
we can
stand on
the beach
and feel
the breeze
and we
can hear
the water
coming in
and out
and we
can enjoy
that
we can
be in
the hospital
holding
a perfect
newborn
baby
and just
feel the
joy that
that brings
and we
can experience
the anger
when our
children are
bullied
can feel
the confusion
when a
loved one
becomes
seriously
ill
and ultimately
the searing
pain
when someone
close to
us
dies
we
experience
all of
that
as
everyone
else
does
but
something
or someone
has changed
our world
Christ
came
and he
brought
with him
his
kingdom
and the
bible
talks about
it as
being the
age
to come
a
spiritful
age
an age
of
blessing
and
godly
rule
and
Jesus
has brought
that age
his
birth
his life
his death
his
resurrection
his ascension
back to
heaven
that means
that this
age to
come
is here
it is
now
it's not
just a
future
thing
but it
is really
truly
here
yes
the old
age
is here
as well
and it's
passing
it is a
passing
age
the age
of sin
the age
of decay
the age
of death
it's a
passing
age on
the earth
but it's
still
it's still
the world
we feel
and experience
every day
events on
the world
stage can
still shock
us
you know
sometimes
we see
things in
the news
and we
think
am I
becoming
immune
to this
over the
summer
we were
confronted
with many
cases
but one
I think
stands out
and that's
Islamic
based terrorism
this time
in Nice
in France
carnage
carried out
by a single
man in a
truck
running
over
people
who were
out
celebrating
that evening
80 people
or more
than 80
people dead
and over
300
injured
a friend
or maybe
not as strong
as a friend
someone I know
reasonably well
on Twitter
sent a simple
response to this
he said
I thought I
kind of understood
this world
I don't
he's an
atheist
he ultimately
has to deny
that there is
any real
meaning
or purpose
in a
materialistic
universe
of atoms
just bouncing
around
yet when
confronted
with the
hurt
and such
obvious
evil
he knows
that his
attempt to
understand
the world
has failed
it is utterly
failed
he cannot
understand
there is no
framework
or understanding
for the
atheist
as to why
he should
feel that
to really
feel such
sadness
shows us
that there
is true
meaning
and true
purpose
we have
moral
obligations
that we
can't
ignore
and other
people have
similar moral
or exact
same moral
obligations
as we
have
the world
is out
of joint
it is
broken
in many
ways
even the
atheist
knows
that
or what
about when
illness
hits home
when illness
hits home
and plans
for our
future
are just
blown
apart
you know
you're going
along
what we're
going to do
this year
what we
assume
and illness
just runs
amok
work
disappears
our governments
promise that if
you work hard
keep your head
down and
contribute to
society
you'll be
fine
and then
we lose
our job
and those
empty promises
are gone
or our
close friends
even our
church family
hurt us
first in
small ways
and then
big ways
there's no
apology
there's no
reconciliation
why is
life such
a struggle
with the
people
that I
should
count on
for comfort
and for
help
you see
this age
this passing
age is not
as it
should be
and we can
give hundreds
of more
examples
at times
in fact
it's just
completely
unjust
and completely
unfair
but the
Christian knows
this
and the
Christian knows
this most
of all
because
Jesus was
a man
who always
walked on
the right
path
from day
one to the
very end
and continues
to walk the
right path
he is the
true citizen
of heaven
he always
honored God
he always
did the
right thing
in every
situation and
circumstance
he was truly
innocent
yet he was
humiliated
he was
beaten
and he
was ultimately
nailed to
a cross
the world
is broken
we see that
in Nice
France
absolutely
but I think
ultimately we
see the
brokenness
with Jesus
in Jerusalem
on the
cross
on the
cross
the truly
innocent
the truly
innocent
dies in
the place
of the
truly guilty
this broken
world
takes the
perfect
God
man
and puts
him on
the cross
but
but God
is sovereign
the Lord
is not
taken by
surprise
by dying
on the
cross
the
innocent
in place
of the
guilty
Christ
has reached
down
Christ
has reached
down
and locked
his arm
to yours
oh the
wonder that
God has
called us
heavenward
and taken
hold of
us
in
Christ
and through
the cross
he has
pulled us
out of the
mud
and he's
pulled us
out of the
mess
and he's
placed our
feet
on the
rock
he's put
us on
that secure
setting
our citizenship
verse 20
it is in
heaven
it is now
today
it is in
heaven
it's not
just future
it is now
today
we are
truly
gripped by
Christ
and we
are united
to him
now
by faith
so that
where he
is
we are
where Christ
is today
is where
we are
today
we are
with him
in the
heavenly
places
that's an
amazing
thought
because of
our
being united
to Christ
we are
as entitled
to heaven
as Jesus
is
let that sink
again the
father
fully
accepts
the
son
as
entitled
as
Jesus
is
to
heaven
so we
are
we have
as much
a right
to be
there
as
Jesus
the
son
has
strangely
then
because of
all of
this
this is
why
as
believers
we feel
more than
most
the
struggle
this
morning
do you
ever
think
that
why
do I
feel
that life
is such
a
struggle
well
I
think
as
believers
yes
we have
the
common
understanding
with
everyone
in
this
world
but
I
think
as
believers
we
feel
it
most
the
struggle
between
how
the
world
is
and
how
the
world
should
be
and
this
is
why
we
pray
our
father
in
heaven
hallowed
be
your
name
your
kingdom
come
and
your
will
be
done
on
earth
as
it
is
in
heaven
as
we
face
this
tension
in
daily
life
between
how
it
is
and
how
it
should
be
always
come
back
and
start
here
as
Christ
does
as
Paul
does
Christ
has
taken
a hold
of
you
as
you
feel
that
struggle
every
day
in
all
these
ways
Christ
has
taken
a hold
of
you
through
the
cross
we
must
continue
then
to
press
on
if
he
has
taken
hold
of
us
we
must
continue
to
press
on
and
put
our
trust
in
him
the
prize
the
prize
it
says
is
Christ
himself
the
man
who
has
gone
before
us
the
Lord
Jesus
himself
is
our
prize
God
himself
united
to a
fully
human
nature
will
be the
glory
of
heaven
that
we
will
one
day
see
and
rejoice
in
he
will
bring
this
old
age
to
a
close
it
will
be
finished
and
the
new
age
is
going
to
be
fully
rolled
out
look
with
me
verses
20
and
21
but
our
citizenship
is
in
heaven
isn't
that
great
to
hear
this
morning
our
citizenship
is
in
heaven
and
we
eagerly
await
a
saviour
from
there
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
who
by
the
power
that
enables
him
to
bring
everything
under
his
control
will
transform
our
lowly
bodies
so that
they
will be
like
his
glorious
body
the
glorious
truth
this
morning
is
here
that
this
old
frail
body
this
broken
world
this
sin
infested
life
this
life
of
men
in
trucks
running
over
children
this
life
of
illness
striking
our
families
all
of
that
is
going
to
be
pushed
aside
and
set
right
it's
going
to
be
fully
swept
away
by
the
appearing
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
once
and
for
all
his
power
it says
in verse
21
is going
to
bring
everything
back
under
control
everything
will be
back
in the
order
it should
be
that we
intuitively
know
it should
be like
this
it shouldn't
be like
that
it should
be like
this
where a
kind
and loving
creator
is
visibly
ruling
and
sin
and
death
and
Satan
are no
more
he
is
the
one
when
he
returns
who
will
reorder
the
world
to
be
as
it
should
be
and
in
the
same
instance
it
says
he's
going
to
transform
our
lowly
bodies
our
bodies
that are
subject
to
death
and
decay
and
illness
he's
going
to
transform
this
be
like
his
glorious
resurrection
body
his
physical
body
that
will
last
for
eternity
here
then
is
the
answer
to
Paul's
longing
do you
remember
his
longing
to
want
to
know
Christ
back
in
verse
10
and
the
longing
of
all
of
those
who
want
to
know
Christ
and
the
power
of
his
resurrection
here's
the
answer
we
await
our
savior
from
heaven
and
he's
going
to
make
all
things
right
press
on
Paul
tells
us
press
on
that
path
remember
the
book
ends
and
this
then
is
how
we
stand
firm
and this
is why
we should
rejoice
we press
on
to take
hold
of
Jesus
our
prize
and
wait
for his
final
return
let's
speak to
God in
prayer
our
heavenly
father
we
give
you
praise
this
morning
that
you
have
called
us
heaven
ward
through
your
son
Jesus
we
thank
you
for
the
cross
we
confess
lord
that
we
are
we
are
tempted
to
live
selfish
and
destructive
lives
even
as
believers
but
we
thank
you
that
you
have
taken
hold
of
us
help
us
to
keep
a
hold
of
you
through
life
father
we
look
forward
to
that
day
when
the
sun
returns
in
glory
and
everything
is
put
right
help
us
to
live
in
the
light
of
eternity
each
and
every
day
in
Jesus
name
amen