WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.700 All right, today I'm going to talk about warring against distractions. 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:08.320 Warring against distractions. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:16.839 A distraction can be defined as a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:17.859 to something else. 00:00:19.179 --> 00:00:28.060 And distractions are probably one of the most prevalent things in our day compared to any 00:00:28.060 --> 00:00:29.179 other day in history. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.280 Given with the rise of technology and news and social media, more than ever before, we 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:41.120 have more provisions to distract ourselves with. 00:00:41.939 --> 00:00:48.719 If you were to eliminate all those things that distract us, that technology give or those 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:53.340 type of things, we would still have many opportunities for distraction as well. 00:00:53.340 --> 00:01:02.620 But I've chosen the title warring against distractions, a type of military kind of mindset fighting 00:01:02.620 --> 00:01:03.760 against distractions. 00:01:04.260 --> 00:01:10.760 Because I think that there's a possibility that this is one of the main things that hinders 00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:17.400 the work of God and might hinder our body at Christchurch right now. 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:24.200 So distraction could be anything that prevents someone from giving full attention to something 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:24.500 else. 00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:25.900 Full attention. 00:01:26.800 --> 00:01:34.820 When I think about following God and God's commands, you know, it says to do it with your 00:01:34.820 --> 00:01:36.080 whole heart, right? 00:01:36.360 --> 00:01:41.140 That's a full type of thing with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. 00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:43.019 All of your strength, all of your constitution. 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:44.219 Give it fully. 00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:50.379 First Corinthians 15 says that we should always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:53.019 knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. 00:01:53.019 --> 00:02:00.840 And, you know, some of us in this room are more easily distracted than others. 00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:06.739 And some of us are distracted with things that, you know, we could literally set down. 00:02:06.979 --> 00:02:08.599 Mainly this, our phones. 00:02:08.900 --> 00:02:10.120 Our phones are a distraction. 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:13.319 Sometimes work can be a distraction. 00:02:14.019 --> 00:02:15.259 You know, practical things. 00:02:15.259 --> 00:02:22.280 But I'm going to try and talk about maybe not the trivial distractions, the things that 00:02:22.280 --> 00:02:27.359 we can immediately just say, okay, this is something that needs to go, but a type of hindrance 00:02:27.359 --> 00:02:35.459 to the work that God has called us to as a way of putting away that distraction. 00:02:36.219 --> 00:02:40.219 You know, saying no to what might distract us from moving forward as a body. 00:02:40.219 --> 00:02:48.719 Um, so the word distraction, the prefix, the Latin prefix dis means to just kind of break 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:49.199 apart. 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:54.780 And then, uh, trahir, uh, in Latin just means to drag. 00:02:55.259 --> 00:03:00.939 So, um, if you think, if you think about the word distraction, uh, literally it means to, 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:06.460 to pull away, to drag away or to stop moving, you know, lack of traction. 00:03:06.780 --> 00:03:08.000 You know, you think about that? 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:13.020 Like if you're distracted, you're not moving anywhere or at least maybe not moving in the 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:13.740 right direction. 00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:25.159 So, um, you know, in our day and age, we can have, uh, so much time wasted very easily. 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:31.979 Um, if you get on social media, there's, there's these things called, called, uh, reels. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:36.219 They're like little video shorts and you can watch an endless amount of them. 00:03:36.219 --> 00:03:41.800 You know, you can pull up your phone and scroll and flip to the next one, gather information. 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:47.500 And then when you put your phone down, you don't really know what you learned, uh, because, 00:03:47.500 --> 00:03:51.539 uh, well, that's the goal of the real. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:55.599 It's just to keep you focused and possibly distracted. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:04:07.019 Um, so, Satan, Satan would love for this church and every church for that matter to be focused 00:04:07.019 --> 00:04:09.019 on the wrong thing, to be distracted. 00:04:09.419 --> 00:04:15.879 Maybe not to focus on nothing, but if he can redirect our gaze somewhere else, uh, that would 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:17.680 be of much benefit to him. 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:25.420 A focused church, a church that is focused on a particular path, namely God's mission 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:30.480 as a church that is warring against distraction and wars against Satan himself. 00:04:31.420 --> 00:04:37.699 And I think that our church, Christ's church is in need of focus, you know, eliminating distractions, 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:42.420 clearing the, clearing the field, not just making it empty, but filling it with the right thing, 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:43.340 the right focus. 00:04:43.339 --> 00:04:50.339 Um, we've talked a lot about, uh, mission up until this point, uh, how mission needs 00:04:50.339 --> 00:04:51.219 to be our focus. 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:53.779 I don't think that conversation is over. 00:04:54.159 --> 00:04:59.839 So in large part, I'm going to talk today about how we can be less distracted and more 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:03.939 focused about the mission of God, the mission of the church, uh, and so forth. 00:05:03.939 --> 00:05:12.539 So, um, I've got a couple areas that I believe that are. 00:05:13.339 --> 00:05:14.759 Current distractions for us. 00:05:15.159 --> 00:05:21.299 But one, one thing before I go into that is to know that, uh, distractions are in large 00:05:21.299 --> 00:05:22.199 part provided. 00:05:22.719 --> 00:05:26.019 Like we provide ourselves with distractions. 00:05:26.199 --> 00:05:27.500 Some distractions are accidental. 00:05:27.639 --> 00:05:33.699 You know, if you, uh, uh, are watching a show or whatever and an ad pops up, you can't 00:05:33.699 --> 00:05:34.779 really do anything about that. 00:05:35.239 --> 00:05:39.120 Uh, takes your, uh, focus away from what you were, what you were doing. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:44.840 But in large part, we have control over what we focus on and thus we provide ourselves with 00:05:44.840 --> 00:05:45.420 distractions. 00:05:45.420 --> 00:05:53.840 So Romans 13, uh, verse 14 says, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for 00:05:53.840 --> 00:05:56.180 the flesh to gratify its desires. 00:05:56.180 --> 00:06:06.060 So from this verse, we see that, uh, we have to have a taking on of Jesus to make no provision 00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:07.740 for the flesh. 00:06:08.400 --> 00:06:16.079 And if Satan would aggravate our flesh so as to have us focus on another thing, uh, so as 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:20.180 to not make us look at God, you know, the Bible says to look to Jesus. 00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:23.720 And that's a very specific phrase to focus on Jesus. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:30.699 If Satan wants to aggravate our flesh so that he can make us provide ourselves with distractions, 00:06:31.060 --> 00:06:33.379 um, then he's winning. 00:06:33.579 --> 00:06:40.980 But here in Romans 13, it says, make no provision, suffocate all provisions for the flesh. 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:48.500 You know, all of us have, uh, different, uh, ways of life, um, different jobs, uh, different 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:49.860 circumstances, all those things. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:51.959 And we're tempted with different distractions. 00:06:51.959 --> 00:06:56.819 We're not, we don't all have the same ones, but you know what those are. 00:06:57.259 --> 00:07:01.480 You know, if you did a quick survey of your life and ask yourself, what are the main things 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:02.420 that distract me? 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:04.279 It probably wouldn't be zero. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:07.720 You could probably say, okay, yeah, this is my number one thing. 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:13.819 And I think the Lord wants to highlight, um, why that is, you know, and ask yourself, do 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:17.339 I provide myself with those things, with those distractions? 00:07:17.339 --> 00:07:24.419 What is it about me that wants to take my gaze away from what I should be doing, what God 00:07:24.419 --> 00:07:32.199 wants me to doing, to be doing, and, uh, and thus, um, fulfilling his work to me. 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:45.719 So, um, number one, I believe, uh, distraction for this body is, um, kind of two things. 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:50.260 Number one, feelings and opinions. 00:07:51.200 --> 00:07:52.540 Feelings and opinions. 00:07:53.740 --> 00:07:58.620 Second Timothy four, three says that for the time is coming when people will not endure 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:05.260 sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to 00:08:05.260 --> 00:08:06.380 suit their own passions. 00:08:06.379 --> 00:08:12.939 So, right here, Paul, or, yeah, Paul's writing to Timothy saying, there's a time that's coming, 00:08:14.159 --> 00:08:21.079 uh, kind of looking forward to the last days possibly, that people won't endure something. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:24.040 They won't endure sound teaching. 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:26.839 Why won't they endure that? 00:08:26.839 --> 00:08:32.039 What's, what's the, uh, what's, why the departation from sound teaching? 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:36.939 And it's because their ears itch. 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:38.399 Interesting phrase. 00:08:39.059 --> 00:08:46.799 Uh, in other words, it doesn't scratch the, the, the itch that, that would suit somebody 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:50.759 anymore to, uh, um, maybe keep them focused. 00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:57.479 You know, um, when you hear the same thing over and over again, you know, it can get pretty 00:08:57.479 --> 00:08:57.839 old. 00:08:58.219 --> 00:09:03.019 And as a culture, we're really not, uh, conditioned to, uh, love the old thing. 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:09.620 You know, um, I was talking to someone the other day about how like sauce, like on food 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:15.039 is just like everywhere, you know, like it seems like anywhere you go, it's just like, 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:17.459 you have like a thousand sauces that you could add. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:21.000 And it's just like, nothing tastes good without sauce. 00:09:21.079 --> 00:09:24.199 We have to have sauce, you know, it used to be just salt, but I guess now it's, you know, 00:09:24.980 --> 00:09:29.240 sauce and flavor kind of just addicts of flavor in the same way. 00:09:29.339 --> 00:09:39.360 I think, you know, um, sometimes we can, uh, we can not be satisfied with what we have heard 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:39.959 so often. 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:45.019 We treat what is common, uh, with maybe some disdain after a while. 00:09:45.820 --> 00:09:50.300 And, um, Paul is saying that there's coming a day when people won't endure what is sound. 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:56.400 It's not just one endure something old, but what is actually sound, stable, firm. 00:09:56.519 --> 00:10:00.620 They won't endure it because it doesn't scratch the itch, you know? 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:08.759 And, um, not only does, do their ears itch for something else, but it says that they will 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:13.720 accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, passions as in feelings. 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:20.980 You know, they're led by how they feel, you know, you might sit in a service and hear the 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:25.100 gospel and you've heard it a thousand times and say, you know, I just don't really feel 00:10:25.100 --> 00:10:26.420 like that's doing it for me. 00:10:27.320 --> 00:10:33.320 You know, I don't really feel like, uh, maybe what we would regard as sound teaching is scratching 00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:33.879 the itch. 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:38.360 You know, maybe I'll get some, maybe I'll find some other guys that will distract the 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:38.620 itch. 00:10:38.800 --> 00:10:43.720 Maybe I'll look up, you know, the opinions of other people, uh, see if there's a better 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:44.720 sermon out there. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:51.220 Um, and, and to be honest, there's endless amounts of opinions, you know, maybe with some 00:10:51.220 --> 00:10:56.100 sound teaching mixed in there, I'm not going to, you know, I'm not demonizing preaching 00:10:56.100 --> 00:11:00.120 or any of that, you know, I think we should regularly listen to sermons. 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:08.180 I mean, I'm doing one right now, but, uh, but only, only if, you know, we have the backdrop 00:11:08.180 --> 00:11:10.080 of sound teaching the word of God. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:14.180 If I speak to any of you with authority, it's because it lies in the word of God. 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:18.679 I have no authority of my own, but it presides in God's words himself. 00:11:18.859 --> 00:11:21.199 So if I speak God's word to you, then I speak with authority. 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:27.299 So I think feelings and opinions can be a distraction to us. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:35.899 And what I mean by that specifically is, is that we are all too often led by sight, which 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:37.779 is very closely tied to how we feel. 00:11:38.059 --> 00:11:42.240 We observe something and we say, you know, I feel this or that way about that, you know, 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:44.279 what the Bible says to walk by faith. 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:51.799 You know, what we don't see, um, is what we believe for, you know, and our heart actually 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:52.659 follows that. 00:11:54.039 --> 00:12:04.419 Um, Luke 12 verse 34 says, for where your treasure is there, your heart will be also the, the, 00:12:04.419 --> 00:12:08.919 the heart could probably be described as the feeling mechanism, you know, somebody. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:17.299 And, uh, so if you seek, if you seek the treasure, then your heart will feel the right things. 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:20.219 If you seek the right treasure, your heart will feel the right things. 00:12:20.219 --> 00:12:20.459 Right. 00:12:20.460 --> 00:12:28.160 Um, but if you avoid, if you avoid that, that which is true and right, then, um, maybe you 00:12:28.160 --> 00:12:32.960 might still feel it, but the question is what, what is the treasure that you seek? 00:12:33.540 --> 00:12:39.580 Where, where is your heart directed to, you know, is your heart distracted and you're treasuring 00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:44.980 opinions, maybe your own compass to guide you, your own feelings, you know? 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:50.019 Um, you know, the Bible talks about seeking. 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:51.519 It says, seek first. 00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:55.940 Jesus himself says to seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to 00:12:55.940 --> 00:12:56.720 you, his righteousness. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:57.120 Right. 00:12:58.039 --> 00:13:05.860 Um, and when we do that with all of our heart, then we feel after the fact we have to have 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:07.420 a plumb line that guides us. 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:13.080 So feelings and opinions, Christ Church, don't let it be a distraction. 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:14.660 I know it's easy. 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:20.660 I myself struggle sometimes with how I feel about things, um, taking the opinions of other 00:13:20.660 --> 00:13:21.139 people. 00:13:21.660 --> 00:13:29.660 Uh, but ultimately what God says and the way that he has set things up matter most, you 00:13:29.660 --> 00:13:36.160 know, he is our, is our compass, you know, let it not be that we are led astray by or distracted 00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:38.080 by feelings and opinions. 00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:43.020 Um, what's another distraction? 00:13:43.280 --> 00:13:49.840 I think in large part, this might sound really simple, but comfort and convenience, comfort 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:50.700 and convenience. 00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:57.500 Luke 9, 23 says, and he said to, he said to all, if anyone would come after me, let him 00:13:57.500 --> 00:14:03.520 deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me for whoever would save his life will lose 00:14:03.520 --> 00:14:03.740 it. 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:07.700 But whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:11.840 There's many, there's many things that Jesus said. 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:17.360 In large part, there's a lot of uncomfortable things, you know, calling us out, you know, 00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:23.399 of, uh, the things that we coddle, calling us out of idolatry, the things that we idolize 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:24.139 more than God. 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:28.519 Uh, you know, if anyone would come after me, uh, he would have to deny himself. 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:31.539 You know, I just talked about feelings. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:35.179 Feelings are a large, are a large thing that we have to deny regularly. 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:43.539 Um, what are some examples of comfort and convenience that distract us? 00:14:43.599 --> 00:14:49.500 I think that, you know, for Christ's church, we've been sent out by, by Bellico's church 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:54.579 with a blessing and with authority to do one work. 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:59.660 Um, it's to spread the kingdom of God and all of life and do it together. 00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:11.340 Um, but we can coddle a type of comfort and convenience, uh, about ideal settings or how 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:17.759 we think things should be or how, you know, things are going and whether we, um, measure 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:23.440 up to those things or, you know, uh, our own opinions and how much influence they have. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:31.460 We can, we can, we can reside in a type of, um, critique, uh, if we're distracted by comfort 00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:32.360 and convenience. 00:15:33.780 --> 00:15:37.820 Like it's not comfortable to be placed in the setting that you're not used to, you know, 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:44.340 I'm sure all of us have gone to a party or, you know, place or event that we don't know 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:46.020 anybody, never experienced. 00:15:46.140 --> 00:15:48.440 And it's just kind of like, yeah, this isn't comfortable. 00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:52.680 This isn't convenient, you know, but there's a reason why we do those things. 00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:56.079 God calls us out to, uh, to the lost. 00:15:56.699 --> 00:16:02.079 You know, he himself said he came to seek and save the lost, which is going to press us. 00:16:02.599 --> 00:16:09.079 It's going to press us to, to embrace what is uncomfortable and not convenient, but not 00:16:09.079 --> 00:16:09.819 to no end. 00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:18.519 We, we embrace the uncomfortable and inconvenience, not in vain, but for a specific purpose. 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:27.460 God has, God has called us out to be a people who regularly embrace the uncomfortableness so 00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:34.259 that others like Jesus himself for, you know, not pleasing himself, the scriptures say, uh, 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:38.720 so that others might feel welcomed and comfortable and convened. 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:40.540 And we embrace that. 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:45.639 So I think that's, that's one thing to convene, the comfort and convenience of maybe neutral 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.320 talk and neutral relationships. 00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:54.960 Um, although we should be, we should be seeking out normal, natural, neutral avenues for people 00:16:54.960 --> 00:17:00.180 to come in, you know, that's caring for them, but make no mistake that the gospel itself 00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:04.700 is, um, is not a comfortable thing. 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:10.899 You know, in fact, actually there's a promise that we will one day be hated for the gospel, 00:17:10.899 --> 00:17:13.299 but we do it for Christ's sake. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:22.879 So comfort and convenience, uh, of things having the way we want it, you know, I mean, I think 00:17:22.879 --> 00:17:28.039 that that, that resides in all of us, you know, you think about, okay, how would I do this? 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:33.819 You know, what's the way that I would want things, you know, um, maybe even on a small 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:39.119 level, obviously big level, we can be okay with things, but like little nitpicky things. 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:45.759 Those are the things that, that really get us hung up, you know, like, um, our way versus 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.700 how God chose to flesh it out. 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:55.420 Um, the scriptures say to always be ready to give up account for the hope that you have 00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:57.920 a reason for the hope that you have, you know? 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:04.619 Sometimes we're not always ready where we have to be prepared, you know, are you, are 00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:06.519 you someone in Christ's church? 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:09.480 Are you someone following God that is not prepared? 00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:15.799 You know, and if all, if all the ducks are in the row, um, if everything lines up, then 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:20.839 I'll be good, you know, or are you somebody who's saying, no, Lord, by your grace, you may 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:21.379 be prepared. 00:18:21.379 --> 00:18:27.440 And I'm willing to embrace the uncomfortable, the inconvenient to, uh, to follow you, whatever 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:27.900 it be. 00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:39.320 Acts, Acts 20 verse 19 says, Paul himself writes, I do not account my life of any value nor as 00:18:39.320 --> 00:18:40.320 precious to myself. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:54.819 Paul didn't count his life as precious to him. 00:18:54.819 --> 00:19:02.619 He says of any value, which is kind of like, you know, like of any value, like all lives 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:08.240 are valuable, but yet he had a specific lens on, uh, in which he viewed his life. 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:12.099 And he said, I don't count my life of any value or as precious to myself. 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:15.120 Do we, do we share that, that sentiment with Paul? 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:18.980 You know, Christ's church is, is a missionary people. 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:20.279 It was sent out. 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:25.059 And you have to ask yourself, is my time too precious to me? 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:27.220 Is my schedule too precious? 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:29.779 Is my stuff, my belongings too precious to me? 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:37.240 It's my relationships, whether in the past or, um, presently, you know, hindering a work 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.420 that God is doing. 00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:43.320 We have to ask ourselves, is my appearance, is my reputation too precious to me? 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:48.759 These are all distractions and God would have us be focused. 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:54.560 God would have us be delivered from that which bogs us down, you know? 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:59.779 And I believe that God wants to save us from some distractions. 00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:03.120 What about another distraction? 00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:07.019 I kind of just mentioned it, but, um, sentimentality. 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.380 Can be distracting. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:13.300 Um, being sentimental is not bad in and of itself. 00:20:13.300 --> 00:20:19.880 I think, you know, um, it has a lot of good fruit and to some degree, if you have love and 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:22.360 affection for somebody, you'll want to see them again. 00:20:22.820 --> 00:20:23.800 You're sentimental about that. 00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:26.240 You'll make memories with somebody and you'll treasure those memories. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:35.920 But a sentimentality that is, uh, that finds us in an idolatry, meaning a fixation of always 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:41.420 living in the past, always wishing you had something that you don't currently have. 00:20:42.080 --> 00:20:49.820 Um, relationships with old friends, uh, can only be, uh, experienced with them and not, 00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:52.720 uh, to the end of new relationships. 00:20:54.560 --> 00:20:56.060 Sentimentality can be a distraction. 00:20:56.059 --> 00:21:03.240 Luke 9 verse 59. 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:07.259 Jesus said, he said to another, follow me. 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:13.419 But he answered, Lord, let me first, let me first go and bury my father. 00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:18.539 And Jesus said to him, leave the dead to bury their own dead. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:22.720 But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. 00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:28.560 That's like a really like staunch phrase, you know, but notice that Jesus didn't just say, 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.640 leave the dead to bury their own, bud. 00:21:32.340 --> 00:21:33.019 See ya. 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:36.220 You know, he provided them with what to focus on. 00:21:36.300 --> 00:21:38.660 He said, but as for you, go proclaim the kingdom of God. 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:40.039 Preach the gospel. 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:45.200 We don't, we don't, we're not unaware of what God has said to do. 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:50.079 If, if we're distracted by something in our own heart or our own life, 00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:56.259 not only can we depart from those distractions by God's grace, but we actually know the way. 00:21:58.039 --> 00:22:03.700 That there are souls, that there are souls right now in Raytown and in Kansas City that 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:05.940 God is orchestrating for us to run into. 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.539 Do you believe that? 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:12.619 Do you believe that God has called us out as an apostolic people, a sent people? 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:15.000 Then we need to preach the gospel. 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:19.399 We need to depart from the, the, the coddling of the dead. 00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:23.339 Maybe not like literally, but you know what I mean? 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.599 Coddling our distractions. 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:27.559 And preach the gospel by any means. 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:33.159 1 Corinthians 9, 15 through 16 says, 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:36.599 But I have made no use of any of these rights. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.919 This is Paul talking. 00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:41.179 Nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:47.200 For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. 00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:51.720 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. 00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:53.779 For necessity is laid upon me. 00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:56.679 Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. 00:22:56.680 --> 00:23:01.840 There's a lot of people in here that are really good at preaching the gospel. 00:23:02.580 --> 00:23:04.880 I don't think we're, we're terrible at it. 00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:08.000 But we must not be distracted. 00:23:08.560 --> 00:23:09.880 We must be focused. 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:26.120 I was just talking yesterday to, to somebody and remembering like, in, in the Lord of the Rings, right before the battle at Helm's Deep in the second movie. 00:23:26.780 --> 00:23:29.620 There's a, oh, sorry. 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:31.199 That's a really old movie. 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:32.359 I can't believe you haven't watched it. 00:23:33.159 --> 00:23:33.879 I won't spoil anything. 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:40.320 All these, all these elves are lined up ready to fire. 00:23:41.320 --> 00:23:43.640 They've got their arrows drawn, ready to go. 00:23:43.760 --> 00:23:47.560 And they're waiting on their commander's command. 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:53.139 And once he gives it to him, they all fire in unison. 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:58.240 And they take out that first line, that first rank of bad guys. 00:23:58.500 --> 00:24:00.980 And then they draw and they get ready for the next man. 00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:06.240 But then as the battle progresses, they can't really do that in unison anymore. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:10.640 There's, there's a, there's a, there's a, there's a command to just fire at will. 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.319 And it's kind of pandemonium. 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.400 Everyone's just fighting, you know. 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:25.339 There's a way that we can, as, as, as Christians and as a body of Christ, be firing at will of our own volition and not in unity. 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:26.599 Okay. 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:29.920 Christ is our chief commanding officer. 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:33.339 And he, he gives us directives. 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:48.839 And I would say that in order for us to be undistracted and a focused and effective church, that God wants us to rid ourselves of distractions, focus on the same thing and listen for similar cues from our commanding officer to fire in unison. 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:50.199 Okay. 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:54.459 If we all fire at will, if we say, I'm going to preach to this guy, you can preach to that guy. 00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:56.939 And maybe we'll just eventually come together and it'll be great. 00:24:57.539 --> 00:25:01.740 Well, I believe God wants us to be a little bit more organized than that. 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:05.339 He wants us to be aimed together at the ready. 00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:06.599 You know what I'm saying? 00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:14.880 Like waiting on our commanding officer, watching, watching for people who God is drawing. 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:20.220 You know, Jesus said, no one comes to me unless the father draws them. 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:22.079 Are we watching for that? 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.259 Do we know what that means? 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:26.319 Do we know what it looks like for someone to draw somebody? 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:29.380 Do we know what new birth starts to look like? 00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:34.760 You know, first Peter says, let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. 00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:39.000 Do we see that in unbelievers lives? 00:25:39.100 --> 00:25:40.800 Do we see them a departation? 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:43.460 You know, do we see people being drawn? 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:51.040 You know, but more importantly, are we as a body undistracted enough to say to the guy to the left and the guy to the right? 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:53.420 We're not firing at will. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:55.940 We're all drawn together. 00:25:59.659 --> 00:26:06.139 So that's what I believe, I think, are some of the main distractions. 00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:07.299 There are more distractions. 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:11.539 You could keep up many, but I tried to keep it concise. 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:23.059 I just started talking about the next half of this sermon, which is what we actually should focus on. 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:29.039 So if we know the things that distract us, then what exactly do we put our hand to? 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.240 What do we focus on? 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:41.940 And some aims, areas we can take aim and focuses, I believe one of them is a concentration on mission. 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:50.400 And this is kind of the number one thing, you know, we've talked about church as a family. 00:26:51.380 --> 00:27:04.039 And I think three weeks ago I was talking about kinship and how that is one of the most apologetics for the gospel, a church that is alive and familial, which must be there. 00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:05.559 It must fight for regularly. 00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:12.980 But even more so, we must be a missional family that goes out and seeks the lost. 00:27:13.179 --> 00:27:14.980 So a concentration on mission. 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:20.960 We have to concentrate on doing it together. 00:27:21.679 --> 00:27:26.879 And we have to concentrate on preaching the gospel, the only gospel, the one that saves, you know. 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:35.319 So often we can get maybe lazy or apathetic with our relationships with unbelievers. 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:37.839 You know, and don't get me wrong. 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.419 Each one is different. 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:43.519 We have to develop trust with some before we share the gospel. 00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:47.319 But with others, the time might be short. 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.960 So we must preach. 00:27:50.879 --> 00:27:56.039 Romans 15 and verse 18 says, 00:27:56.039 --> 00:28:14.019 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the spirit of God, 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:26.680 so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Elycrium, I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:34.460 And thus, I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation. 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:38.980 Paul says he makes it his ambition to preach the gospel. 00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:41.819 Is it your ambition? 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:46.140 You know, we've got a lot of ambitions in this room. 00:28:46.620 --> 00:28:47.819 A lot of great ones. 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:50.720 Is our primary one that we would preach the gospel? 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:57.980 You know, I talked a little bit about three weeks ago about our calling, fulfilling our calling, our ministry. 00:28:57.980 --> 00:29:02.460 And that's kind of a specific thing to specific people. 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:04.160 You know, do you know what you're called to do? 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:05.700 Do you know what your ministry is? 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:09.980 You have specific gifts that God has given to you. 00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:13.200 And a specific calling. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:18.559 But one thing I will say, and that Paul is saying here, is that all of us are called to one thing. 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:25.400 And that's the calling that Jesus gave in Matthew 28, the Great Commission. 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:31.019 He says, go into all the world and make disciples, teaching them to obey all that I've commanded. 00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:32.740 Everyone has that calling. 00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:34.019 Everyone in this room does. 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:38.259 You know, some people are gifted evangelists and others aren't. 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:41.400 You know, but we are all called to make disciples. 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:43.300 We're all called to preach the gospel. 00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:45.480 And Paul says, this is my ambition to do that. 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:52.940 It's my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation. 00:29:52.940 --> 00:30:07.600 But do we look deep inside and say, okay, Lord, if I have any distracting ambitions that hinder me from doing this work, would you save me? 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:08.700 You know? 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:19.500 In the parable of the sower, one of the most deep strikes to me as I read that is the desire for other things, being led away by the desire for other things. 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:27.259 You know, like straight up apostasy, you know, like God hating, you know, I've done with God is one thing. 00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:33.559 But there is a type of being led away by just life itself, you know, that can happen. 00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:34.960 And we must be on guard. 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:41.720 And so as to make the kingdom of God and all of life together, you know, that's our mission at Christ Church. 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:46.259 Our ambition, you know, to preach the gospel, to make disciples. 00:30:46.259 --> 00:31:00.019 So we do it by taking aim at what we have received, you know, the apostolic tasks that we were given, you know, reminding each other of that. 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:06.059 And we do that through various ways. 00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:10.480 One, I think, which is good to think about is micro missions. 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:18.940 You know, we just had a time at Michael's shop the other night where a handful of unbelievers were there. 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:21.099 And it was an awesome night. 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:25.180 You know, it was like a group of guys were on a micro mission. 00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:31.480 There's one big mission that we all share, you know, we're all a part of. 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:40.460 But then there's then there's an actual down to earth in somebody's living room, in somebody's shop, in a bar, at a coffee shop. 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:47.820 Micro mission that we have to actually plan to do doesn't happen by osmosis, you know. 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:54.299 And some of us will do that, you know, and some of us will take care of the kids, you know. 00:31:54.399 --> 00:31:56.539 Shout out to the moms out there. 00:31:57.379 --> 00:32:02.220 But all of the things that we do to make that happen contributes to the mission. 00:32:03.679 --> 00:32:04.960 And all of it is valuable. 00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:07.000 So we do that in large events. 00:32:07.879 --> 00:32:08.939 We preach the gospel. 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:13.700 We look for the micro mission with our fellow Christ Church peeps. 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:21.460 And then we do it in small events, whether it's one on one in a home or two on one in a home, however it might be. 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:23.980 But we must prioritize it. 00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:26.039 If we don't plan to do it, it won't happen. 00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.240 OK. 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:41.660 One aim or focus that I think would be possibly helpful for Christ Church is being a church plant. 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:43.900 And not a church. 00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:57.000 And what I mean by that is to view us as we are and not as we think we should be or we think, you know, we want to be. 00:32:57.180 --> 00:33:00.340 But actually look at where we are and thank God for that. 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:06.200 You know, Jesus says that he who is faithful with little is entrusted with much. 00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:12.720 You know, the reality is we're small and little, you know, and that's fine. 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.220 That's good. 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:14.920 And that's OK. 00:33:15.160 --> 00:33:16.279 You know that we're that way. 00:33:17.100 --> 00:33:21.480 But saying Christ Church is a church plant. 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:22.960 We're not an established church yet. 00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:25.360 We have many ranks to pass through before we get there. 00:33:25.580 --> 00:33:26.299 And that's fine. 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:27.059 And that's natural. 00:33:27.140 --> 00:33:27.620 That's normal. 00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:32.860 We trust in God to grow us and to get us to a place. 00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:43.240 But a distraction, I believe, is placing a burden either on yourself or on the church to be something that we just are not. 00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:47.319 Because God has called us where we are. 00:33:47.679 --> 00:33:50.059 He's sanctifying us presently. 00:33:50.979 --> 00:33:51.619 Don't get me wrong. 00:33:51.679 --> 00:33:53.039 I think we need vision for something. 00:33:53.699 --> 00:33:56.459 I think we need to strive for something that's not here yet. 00:33:56.799 --> 00:34:01.299 But there is a contentment and rest that doesn't look like a distraction. 00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:11.139 I was helping my father-in-law with some yard work yesterday and kind of a helpful analogy. 00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:15.400 I was looking at a tree and I was like, is that a tree? 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:18.059 And he's like, he's like, hey, easy. 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:21.619 He's like, it will be a tree one day. 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:23.880 You know, and I'm like, sorry. 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:25.619 I mean, I didn't know what it was. 00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:28.079 But same principle. 00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:30.279 You might look around and be like, is this even a church? 00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:32.319 You know, are we really doing it? 00:34:32.839 --> 00:34:34.420 You know, it's just like, well, God's growing us. 00:34:34.659 --> 00:34:37.279 You know, like we're getting planted. 00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:39.039 We're getting we've got weak roots. 00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:42.279 You know, we've got strong hearts, I believe. 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:46.219 But as a church body, to sink our roots deep requires trust in God. 00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:52.919 And if we lean on the promise that he was faithful with little is entrusted with much, I think we'll do well. 00:34:53.619 --> 00:35:00.959 Don't be distracted by where we should be or don't compare yourself to bellicos. 00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:04.859 You know, they have their own problems and we have ours. 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:08.799 So we're not we're not a church. 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:11.599 We're not a church quite yet, but we're a church plant. 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:14.339 I hope you guys know what I mean when I say that. 00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:29.199 One thing that I think pairs along with that is not having a kind of get by mentality or like a fix mentality. 00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:34.319 Like we're just kind of surviving until we get a fix, you know, and then we'll be good. 00:35:34.319 --> 00:35:39.460 Or like, you know, operating off of like a Sunday high, you know, type of thing. 00:35:40.259 --> 00:35:40.619 Yeah. 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.940 That just doesn't work. 00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:49.900 Like we need enduring, long lasting during the week, every day life from God. 00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:52.659 Not pseudo life from one another. 00:35:53.059 --> 00:35:55.599 Although like we get life from God from one another. 00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.539 It's part of the deal. 00:35:56.960 --> 00:36:03.000 But life that actually nourishes our spirit to help us endure through the day to day. 00:36:03.779 --> 00:36:05.380 That's that's a really important thing. 00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:07.519 I think that I know I've struggled with. 00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:11.259 It's like I'll just wait and kind of discouraged and I'll just wait until the next encouragement. 00:36:11.260 --> 00:36:12.460 And then I'll be good after that. 00:36:12.460 --> 00:36:15.440 And maybe a little while we'll go by and I'll be fine. 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:17.280 It's like, no, we need something enduring. 00:36:18.180 --> 00:36:19.500 Which brings me to my next point. 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:24.240 Long term investments for long term gain or large gain. 00:36:24.239 --> 00:36:33.579 You know, don't think about short term investments to get kind of here and there gain. 00:36:33.719 --> 00:36:35.559 But we're in it for the long haul. 00:36:36.099 --> 00:36:38.000 You know, I myself. 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:54.219 I told Aidea not too long ago that, you know, I want to be with this church until it either dies or it flourishes, you know, until the next one or whatever. 00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:57.959 And, you know, that's a good thought. 00:36:58.279 --> 00:37:03.219 But what's more important is that I get the food I need to endure presently. 00:37:04.179 --> 00:37:04.980 You know what I mean? 00:37:05.299 --> 00:37:09.379 And not live somewhere else, but live right now where God has me. 00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:18.239 So not having a kind of get by or type of fix mentality, I think is crucial. 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:23.279 Last point on one thing, on a thing that I think God has for us to focus on. 00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:36.299 And it's simply believing, simply believing by faith that God has actually in reality presently given us the things that we need to do it. 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:37.679 Believing that. 00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:45.699 Believing that God has blessed this church and equipped this church, you know, with the things that we need to do. 00:37:45.699 --> 00:37:52.960 If you look on the Christ's website, one of our values is missionary, servant, disciples. 00:37:53.919 --> 00:37:55.699 I'm just going to actually read that real quick. 00:37:57.879 --> 00:38:01.719 On missionaries, in Christ we are sent by God, which makes us missionaries. 00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:06.179 In Christ we belong to God, which makes us servants. 00:38:06.819 --> 00:38:10.299 And in Christ we are saved and sourced by God, which makes us disciples. 00:38:11.319 --> 00:38:13.000 So missionary, servant, disciples. 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:14.819 Those three things, that's what we are. 00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:19.460 You know, and it's not like that's what we're shooting for, although God is growing us, for sure. 00:38:20.059 --> 00:38:23.200 But God has made us into those things. 00:38:23.620 --> 00:38:24.720 We are that, you know. 00:38:25.680 --> 00:38:30.820 I think that would help against distractions, is believing that God has actually equipped us. 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:33.780 And really believing it by faith. 00:38:34.380 --> 00:38:39.620 You know, that God wants to use us, that he wants to make his home in each one of our hearts and lead us. 00:38:39.619 --> 00:38:47.519 Second Peter 1 says that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. 00:38:50.359 --> 00:38:51.420 We've got it, you know. 00:38:51.880 --> 00:38:54.079 All things that pertain to life and godliness. 00:38:54.079 --> 00:39:01.779 Last thing, being skilled in endurance and fulfilling the ministry. 00:39:03.779 --> 00:39:06.420 I kind of already talked about enduring. 00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:10.239 Fulfilling the ministry as well. 00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:17.799 And I would just encourage anyone who doesn't know their specific ministry, or the ways that even God has gifted you, 00:39:17.919 --> 00:39:24.859 to not let that be the criteria for the overall call to preach the gospel, make disciples. 00:39:25.259 --> 00:39:31.219 I think in large part, the way that we figure out our specific callings and giftings is by obeying the first. 00:39:31.219 --> 00:39:36.959 The main call, which is to make disciples and to preach the gospel. 00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:46.019 So, my prayer for Christ Church is that we would not be distracted, but we would be focused, you know, with arrows at the ready. 00:39:46.779 --> 00:39:50.679 You know, ready to really lock in together. 00:39:50.859 --> 00:39:52.119 That we would strategize. 00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:53.459 We would not be lazy. 00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:59.779 We would not let the past or the present comforts and conveniences distract us. 00:39:59.780 --> 00:40:08.180 But we would know with full assurance of faith that God would have us be focused and united, you know, and aimed at the ready. 00:40:08.300 --> 00:40:11.780 Waiting on God's order to send it. 00:40:13.880 --> 00:40:17.120 I'm going to close with one verse, and then, Michael, you can come up. 00:40:18.780 --> 00:40:21.320 This verse is from Acts chapter 20. 00:40:23.580 --> 00:40:27.040 As Paul is giving his speech to the Ephesian elders. 00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:29.779 It says, 00:40:29.820 --> 00:40:38.779 Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease, night or day, to admonish everyone with tears. 00:40:39.940 --> 00:40:49.019 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among those who are sanctified. 00:40:49.019 --> 00:40:53.079 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 00:40:53.699 --> 00:40:58.820 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who are with me. 00:40:59.239 --> 00:41:06.780 And all these things I have shown you that by working hard in this way, we must help the weak and remember the Lord. 00:41:07.159 --> 00:41:12.699 Remember the words of our Lord Jesus, how he himself said, is more blessed to give than to receive. 00:41:12.699 --> 00:41:12.779 Thank you. 00:41:13.879 --> 00:41:14.399 Thank you. 00:41:14.519 --> 00:41:15.599 Thank you. 00:41:16.500 --> 00:41:17.439 Thank you. 00:41:17.819 --> 00:41:17.939 Thank you. 00:41:18.139 --> 00:41:18.639 Thank you. 00:41:18.699 --> 00:41:18.980 Thank you. 00:41:19.339 --> 00:41:19.599 Thank you. 00:41:19.859 --> 00:41:20.539 Thank you. 00:41:21.279 --> 00:41:22.199 Thank you. 00:41:22.899 --> 00:41:25.219 Thank you. 00:41:25.399 --> 00:41:25.679 Thank you. 00:41:26.299 --> 00:41:26.579 If you're ready to welcome. 00:41:26.839 --> 00:41:27.000 You'reろう to go. 00:41:32.399 --> 00:41:33.259 You're right. 00:41:33.399 --> 00:41:34.299 Bye. 00:41:35.739 --> 00:41:36.159 I'm sorry. 00:41:36.539 --> 00:41:37.219 Bye. 00:41:41.460 --> 00:41:41.759 Bye.