WEBVTT 00:00:00.420 --> 00:00:08.540 Hello folks, my name is George Sinclair. I'm the pastor here at Church of the Messiah and it's my great privilege and honor to open the word with you. 00:00:08.939 --> 00:00:13.700 We'll be looking at Philippians chapter 2 beginning at verse 14 if you want to turn to that. 00:00:14.620 --> 00:00:20.199 And just as you, well here, just as you're turning to it, let's just say a prayer. 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:34.960 Father, we confess before you that we think we know ourselves really well and we think we know how the world works really well and so we often stand in judgment on your word. 00:00:35.980 --> 00:00:49.200 And Father, we think these things, but Father, when we actually really do think about it, we realize that we don't know ourselves very well and we don't know the world very well and we are in no position to judge your word. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:01:10.260 We ask, Father, that the Holy Spirit would come with might and power and deep conviction upon each of us so that as we think about Jesus and as we listen to your word, you would help us to understand better who we are and who we can be in and through the work and presence of Jesus in our lives. 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:14.400 So pour out the Holy Spirit, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:14.520 Amen. 00:01:16.600 --> 00:01:27.160 You sort of get a bit of the idea from the introduction is that if you're honest and what Christians, if we're honest, we often find the Bible underwhelming. 00:01:27.600 --> 00:01:30.680 We read it and say, is that all there is? 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:33.160 Is that the big reveal? 00:01:33.380 --> 00:01:34.540 Is that the big message? 00:01:34.760 --> 00:01:36.580 And we're often disappointed. 00:01:36.860 --> 00:01:41.360 In fact, there's whole books written on the problem of disappointment with God. 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:49.780 Well, I want to suggest the text that we're going to look at today is a prime example of how we can be disappointed with God. 00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:54.200 But what it reveals is actually a lack of insight about ourselves. 00:01:55.019 --> 00:02:03.260 And sort of a, I don't mean to offend you, when I say, like I'm including myself in this, you know, in the words of that old, beautiful old song, 00:02:03.260 --> 00:02:06.940 it's me, it's me, it's me, it's me, oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer. 00:02:07.620 --> 00:02:10.140 So this isn't me pointing my finger at other people. 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:17.420 You know, even if I point my finger, I'm conscious that there's three fingers pointing back at me, only one pointing away. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:24.500 But often, the fact of the matter is, is that we just assume we know about ourselves and we think we know what's important. 00:02:24.920 --> 00:02:26.580 And God's word seems underwhelming. 00:02:26.580 --> 00:02:35.420 But by the grace and mercy of God, slowly and intermittently, I really do realize that the Bible is far wiser than I am. 00:02:35.620 --> 00:02:39.100 And I really need to camp with it and listen to it. 00:02:39.640 --> 00:02:46.120 So with that as a workup, we're going to look at Philippians chapter 2, verse 14 and following. 00:02:47.420 --> 00:02:52.480 In particular, I'm going to read just the first three verses. 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:57.439 And why this is a little bit underwhelming, you need to, if you read the book from beginning to end, 00:02:57.500 --> 00:03:00.519 you'll have a bit of a sense as to why this is an underwhelming text. 00:03:01.979 --> 00:03:05.519 It is describing the problem of envy and rivalry. 00:03:05.939 --> 00:03:08.219 It's describing the problems of pride. 00:03:08.839 --> 00:03:17.099 There's this wonderful text that encourages us to try to deal with these things in a way which is more humble. 00:03:17.099 --> 00:03:20.519 There's this, well, I'm going to return to it in a moment. 00:03:20.659 --> 00:03:27.979 There's this very, very powerful, beautiful, poetic message of how God, the Son of God, 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:36.439 seeing human need, didn't grasp or hold on to the advantages he had in heaven as God, the Son of God, 00:03:36.780 --> 00:03:41.799 in perfect fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit and the adoration of angels. 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:47.060 But setting all of that aside, but remaining God, he takes into himself our human nature. 00:03:47.880 --> 00:03:49.560 And he does this to serve. 00:03:49.740 --> 00:03:54.320 And his posture as a servant includes like a working class, lower working class life. 00:03:54.540 --> 00:04:02.300 And his posture of emptying and service goes all the way to him dying a very, very shameful death upon the cross. 00:04:02.300 --> 00:04:11.640 And then the Father's great exalting of him so that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the highest name. 00:04:12.260 --> 00:04:18.460 And then it goes right from that into this sort of a bit of a shocking text where it says to us 00:04:18.460 --> 00:04:24.100 that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:29.100 As if there's something that we have to do 100% of all of that work to be made right with God. 00:04:29.100 --> 00:04:34.200 And then there's this like almost like a whiplash where all of a sudden then God says, 00:04:34.340 --> 00:04:37.720 but just remember that all of the work and all of the willing comes from me. 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:39.500 And now we have a word. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:43.600 And in our text, it goes, it doesn't have it, but it should say now. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:47.100 And so now you're sort of ready for something big. 00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:54.840 This powerful picture of Jesus, this profound encouragement to go 100%, 00:04:54.840 --> 00:04:57.680 this great mystery of 100% from God. 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:03.620 And now we're ready to hear, do all things without grumbling. 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:05.120 You know what? 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:07.980 It leads to that. 00:05:08.780 --> 00:05:15.420 Do all things without grumbling or disputing that you may be blameless and innocent children of God 00:05:15.420 --> 00:05:18.600 without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:23.680 among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:30.300 So then the day of Christ, I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 00:05:30.620 --> 00:05:32.420 Like it's a little bit underwhelming. 00:05:32.939 --> 00:05:41.980 After this powerful, powerful text, that what we have to do is do all things without grumbling or disputing. 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:49.700 Now, if we camp with this, and I've had to camp with it all week, I'm going to confess to you, I was a bit underwhelmed. 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:57.840 In fact, I realized one of the great benefits that I have in teaching the word is it makes me more honest with myself. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:05:59.020 Not as often as it should be. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:01.920 You can pray that I will be more honest with myself. 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:09.360 But because I know I have to actually teach it, I actually have to look at it and I think, well, you know, like we'd expect something more. 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:09.740 Wouldn't we? 00:06:09.780 --> 00:06:12.879 We'd expect take these 10 or 15 or 20 steps. 00:06:13.100 --> 00:06:18.720 Or, you know, like in terms of modern spirituality, it would be like you learn these yoga moves. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:20.300 You learn these meditation techniques. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:23.000 You master this body of knowledge. 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:23.740 You do this. 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:24.240 You do that. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:25.580 We expect something big. 00:06:25.700 --> 00:06:29.540 And all it says is do all things without grumbling or disputing. 00:06:29.540 --> 00:06:31.879 But here's the first point. 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:37.760 And it's a very important point that we don't realize without just thinking about the powerful thing of all things. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:52.280 The first point is the narrow way, in quotes, the narrow way of Jesus brings you in to the worldwide expanse of freedom. 00:06:52.279 --> 00:07:07.159 And by the way, these points that I have will eventually be in the side thing here. 00:07:07.679 --> 00:07:10.000 But one of the things is they'll all be online later on. 00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:13.219 Or you can email me if you're just curious and you want to have them. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:14.039 And we are working. 00:07:14.139 --> 00:07:17.099 Hopefully next week or later we'll be able to have these points on screen. 00:07:17.100 --> 00:07:18.980 We're also working today. 00:07:19.100 --> 00:07:24.660 We thought we'd be able to hook up this video right directly onto the internet. 00:07:24.780 --> 00:07:27.840 We had technical problems that didn't allow us to have that. 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:29.360 So we're still going through Wi-Fi. 00:07:29.860 --> 00:07:36.280 Just pray as we sort a couple of these things out to get rid of some of the jerkiness and some of the sound issues. 00:07:36.520 --> 00:07:37.360 Just pray for us. 00:07:37.780 --> 00:07:38.920 But back to the point. 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:46.580 If you think about it for a second, what we usually think of is that there's religious things and non-religious things. 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:49.100 There's spiritual things and non-spiritual things. 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:54.140 And one of the reasons that people don't like spirituality and they don't like religion is it takes up so much time. 00:07:54.259 --> 00:07:55.560 Like you've got to go to Bible studies. 00:07:55.900 --> 00:07:56.879 You've got to go to church. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:57.960 You've got to give up your money. 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:01.460 Like, you know, and then you have to, you know, do all sorts of certain things. 00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:12.379 Like a good example, getting outside of the Christian world, like for very devout Muslims, like there'd be things like because you want to be like Muhammad, you don't shave your mustache and you let your beard grow long. 00:08:12.459 --> 00:08:18.240 Like another thing would be for a very devout Muslim that you have pants, which are a bit short because that's how Muhammad did it. 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:20.139 And it just seems like there's all of these rules. 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:27.159 But here all of a sudden there's this narrow way because Christians believe in this text is going to, and I'm going to talk about it more in a moment, 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:35.800 that the only way that we can be made right with God is by what God has done to make us right with himself that we receive by faith. 00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:36.980 And it's very, very narrow. 00:08:37.100 --> 00:08:38.379 It's only the person of Jesus. 00:08:38.980 --> 00:08:48.960 But when you enter into this narrow way, Jesus be my Savior and my Lord, and now you come to expect religion, it says do all things. 00:08:49.800 --> 00:08:56.500 Now, obviously it's going to say, you know, if you get to know the Bible, it doesn't include go ahead and murder and don't rape and all that. 00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:59.759 But there's this whole world of freedom. 00:09:00.740 --> 00:09:01.779 Do all things. 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:05.580 Like you don't have to have a certain type of job. 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:07.980 You don't have to have a certain type of exercise. 00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:09.360 You don't even have to have exercise. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:11.740 You don't have to eat certain types of food. 00:09:12.139 --> 00:09:13.600 You don't have to eat in a certain pattern. 00:09:14.059 --> 00:09:16.159 You don't have to do prayers at certain times. 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:17.879 It's do all things. 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:19.100 You're going rock climbing. 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:23.799 You're going to go and hang out with a cafe once the lockdown and the shutdown's all thing. 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:25.500 You're going to spend time with your friend. 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:26.620 You're going to spend time with your family. 00:09:26.740 --> 00:09:33.699 You're going to dance a dance, sing a song, paint a painting, balance a budget, build a business, work in the government. 00:09:33.979 --> 00:09:34.819 Do all things. 00:09:34.979 --> 00:09:36.219 The whole world is open. 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:39.139 You don't have to just learn a certain language. 00:09:39.299 --> 00:09:40.579 You don't have to live in a certain place. 00:09:40.620 --> 00:09:41.779 You don't have to dress a certain way. 00:09:42.059 --> 00:09:43.159 Do all things. 00:09:43.659 --> 00:09:44.699 All things. 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:52.020 Like the Bible calls us to live in our father's world with freedom. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:58.460 And the freedom aspect is going to get into by this particular odd thing about grumbling. 00:09:59.100 --> 00:10:13.840 Do all things without grumbling or disputing that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life. 00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:19.259 And it actually opens us up into an expanse of freedom. 00:10:20.180 --> 00:10:29.460 And that's why the grumbling text, which seems so trivial, like in an odd way, if you think about it, we grumble that the Bible would pick on grumbling. 00:10:29.680 --> 00:10:30.680 Like we grumble about it. 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:33.139 If you think about it for a second, like why on earth is he? 00:10:34.239 --> 00:10:35.239 Like, come on, God. 00:10:35.379 --> 00:10:36.599 Like, you know, take a chill pill. 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:37.639 Like, what's so big? 00:10:37.819 --> 00:10:47.199 Like in a sense, we grumble about the fact that he warns us about grumbling, which if you think about it for a second, should give us a little tiny bit of an indication that there's something more going on with it. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:49.300 But here's the first thing. 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:52.460 I'm going to explain why grumbling. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:55.900 Well, here's the thing. 00:10:56.600 --> 00:11:02.720 Let me explain why he picked something which seems so small and so, like, trivial. 00:11:04.540 --> 00:11:07.720 Six years ago, we bought the house that we currently live in. 00:11:08.020 --> 00:11:13.540 It was a house built in 1960, and it was an original owner, actually, that we bought it from. 00:11:13.539 --> 00:11:21.099 And it's sort of a corner lot that, like this side of the corner, so it has like a pie-shaped backyard. 00:11:21.719 --> 00:11:32.459 And one of the things that we noticed, and you couldn't help but not notice it when we looked at the house, is that off to the side, there was about 30 or 40 feet really old cedar hedge. 00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:35.599 Really high, really old, and it broke up the yard. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:42.699 The only thing we could gather was that we guessed, and then we sort of figured, we ended up hearing later on that that was probably the case, 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:52.940 that he had some things that he stored there, and he built the cedar, had planted the cedar hedge so that he could plant, put his RV or his trailers or his other stuff into this corner, 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:54.660 and it would be out of view from the rest of the yard. 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:56.800 But we didn't want to have anything like that. 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:58.320 We wanted to have the full use of our yard. 00:11:58.640 --> 00:12:01.280 So we had to get rid of the cedar hedge. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:06.659 Now, if you're at all like me, or if I'm like most of you, I have more time than money. 00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:08.939 And so we didn't hire anybody. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:11.379 First of all, we cut down the hedge. 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:17.740 But then, you just can't cut down the hedge, because then you have all these big pieces of wood sticking up about this high. 00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:22.199 And if you don't do something else, it's going to just keep growing and growing and growing. 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:35.720 So I had to spend days and days and days of back-breaking work with a pickaxe and some other things and shovels to one by one go throughout that entire length, 00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:41.920 dig down around the roots, and dig out the roots and pull the thing up. 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:44.759 I ruined three shovels doing it. 00:12:45.040 --> 00:12:50.000 The three best shovels I could find, three of them, got broken in the process of trying to remove. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.980 And I eventually did remove this cedar hedge. 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:54.299 And I got most of the roots, but not all of the roots. 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:55.620 But here's the thing. 00:12:56.740 --> 00:13:02.519 I cut the grass, and you get these little sprouts occasionally of a cedar hedge, which comes up. 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:06.659 But you just mow those over with the lawnmower. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:09.340 They just go like nothing, you know? 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:12.960 But when those little roots, if you don't deal with those little tiny bits of a thing, 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:17.700 they grow up into these huge cedar hedges, these huge cedar trees with these big root systems, 00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:19.580 which are really, really hard to get rid of. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:24.559 And you see, so what this Bible text is saying about here is very, very wise. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:26.179 Here's the second point. 00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:33.759 Since you live beyond death, even the smallest sin in your life can grow to consume you. 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:42.620 Since you live beyond death, even the smallest sin in your life can grow to consume you. 00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:46.259 But you still say, George, it's just like grumbling. 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:47.539 Well, here's the thing. 00:13:48.319 --> 00:13:49.259 Now, it's going to be really hard. 00:13:49.439 --> 00:13:50.480 Like, what is grumbling? 00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:56.419 And to try to get into what grumbling is, it's going to probably be very hard to think about yourself at first. 00:13:56.419 --> 00:14:06.759 So think of a situation where either a friend of yours grumbles, where you've been the boss, or you've been the manager, you've been the supervisor, you've been the dad, or the mom, or the parent, or whatever. 00:14:07.219 --> 00:14:08.620 Because that would be the dad or the mom. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:14.199 And your kids are grumbling, you know, your adult kids are grumbling, or other people are grumbling. 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:17.900 And what you notice is this. 00:14:18.520 --> 00:14:21.400 First of all, grumbling and disputing. 00:14:21.920 --> 00:14:26.560 The word for disputing in the original language has two senses, depending on the context. 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:29.840 One is a positive sense, and the other one is a bad sense. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:34.420 The positive sense is that there's just sometimes you need to get into a discussion with somebody. 00:14:34.520 --> 00:14:38.379 You need to set forth your case because something's been done wrong. 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:42.379 But in a negative sense, it's really describing something like being quarrelsome. 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:51.039 And another way to look at it is grumbling is the outer, and this quarrelsome aspect is the inside aspect. 00:14:52.179 --> 00:15:02.340 What it's really talking about is that there's this aspect of us which is self-righteous, self-centered, proud thinking. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:06.720 Like, think about other people's grumbling for a moment, okay? 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:15.480 And, you know, they grumble and they send you an email or they give you a phone call or they take you aside. 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:20.200 They don't assume goodwill on me. 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:27.480 They don't think that they know everything that needs to be known. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:33.560 They don't actually ever think that there's more to the situation than they realize. 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:40.199 They think that they're smarter than me, wiser than me, more practical than me. 00:15:40.579 --> 00:15:44.079 They think they could do the job way better than me. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:55.739 They never, people who grumble, they never seek to understand what's going on as a first step. 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:58.399 Why? Because they think they know what's going on. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:03.399 They don't, they've set aside, the more you grumble, the less you seek to understand. 00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:08.579 And on top of that, people who grumble, they think that they're right. 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:16.019 And they almost always give themselves a pass on the times that they've been wrong. 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:24.039 But they don't give me or you a pass on the times that they've, that they've been, that we've been wrong. 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:25.779 They remember it. 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:28.799 They water it. 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:30.019 They feed it. 00:16:31.079 --> 00:16:34.819 They give it the right type of environment so that it can grow. 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:39.240 Now isn't that true of other people? 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:43.159 And isn't it all true, always true, also true, 00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:47.360 that it's easy for me to think of how this is for other people, 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:51.279 but it's actually hard for me to think about it for myself? 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:56.959 So, you know, you just think about it. 00:16:56.959 --> 00:16:58.720 That is what I'm like. 00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:00.819 And that's a hard thing for me to confess. 00:17:00.959 --> 00:17:05.799 This has been a very challenging week for me spiritually, let me tell you. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:11.299 It's hard for me to acknowledge that there's this part of me that thinks I'm always right. 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:13.960 For those of you who are watching this who disagree with me, 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:16.920 like inside, part of me goes, sucks to be you. 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:18.139 I'm the one who's right. 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.899 I'm the one who's wrong. 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.980 I'm the one who's wise. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:24.220 And for some of you, if the Holy Spirit's moving in your lives, 00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:27.099 you're going, actually, George sucks to be you, 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:28.779 because I'm the one who's always right. 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:34.980 And in fact, this tiny, tiny thing like grumbling opens up 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:37.940 a deep condition of the soul 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:40.960 that we tend to be self-righteous. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.960 We tend to be self-centered. 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:44.120 We tend to be self-centered. 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:46.079 And we tend to be proud. 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:48.240 And that's how we see the world. 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:50.200 And it comes out in grumbling. 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:54.480 If you watch any of the different pandemic movies, 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:56.799 or any of the different types of plague movies, 00:17:57.080 --> 00:17:58.240 how do they all begin? 00:17:58.420 --> 00:18:00.279 Or how do they all early on? 00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:01.480 I mean, usually there's something, I don't know, 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:03.420 they're all having a party, they're all having a good time, 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.860 they're all doing this, they're all doing that. 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:08.059 But it almost always starts, not with all of a sudden, 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:10.480 somebody with full-blown Ebola, 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:12.519 or some other horrific plague, 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:15.120 walking down the street, spewing blood. 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.500 No, how does it always begin? 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.500 A little cough. 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:25.279 Or maybe they just, they go like this 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.380 because they sweat a little bit, 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:27.660 and it always begins, very tiny. 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.740 Isn't that how it always begins? 00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:30.579 The worst plagues? 00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:34.579 How we first become aware of it? 00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:36.860 Well, one moment here. 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:40.180 All of a sudden, we see that the Bible is just saying, 00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:42.080 you want to have a bit of an insight 00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:44.539 into the state of, George, 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:46.360 your self-righteousness, 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:49.539 your self-centeredness, 00:18:50.080 --> 00:18:51.500 your proud thinking, 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:54.700 your habit to not seek to understand, 00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:57.600 your habit to think that you're the wise one, 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.120 you're the smart one, 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:00.700 you're the insightful one, 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:03.620 everybody else is whatever. 00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:07.299 George, just look at your grumbling. 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:08.640 Why? 00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:11.700 It's the cough. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:16.680 It's the little bit of a sweat from a fever. 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:22.460 You see, 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.160 since you, 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.180 here's the third point, 00:19:25.320 --> 00:19:27.440 since you cannot leave yourself, 00:19:28.080 --> 00:19:30.100 you cannot deliver yourself. 00:19:30.840 --> 00:19:34.539 You need a Savior who knows you and loves you. 00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:37.240 Since you cannot leave yourself, 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.680 you cannot deliver yourself, 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:44.000 you need a Savior who knows you and loves you. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.660 In fact, 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:46.019 you know, 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:46.680 you think about it, 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.559 part of the text, 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:49.440 which probably bothered some of you 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.319 when you're reading it, 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:51.559 and might have made some of you 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:51.819 very, 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:53.059 very troubled, 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.299 listen to it again, 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:56.160 verses 14 to 16. 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:59.980 Do all things without grumbling or disputing. 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.180 Now, 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.920 remember here that another way to put it 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.819 is the disputing is the inner aspect. 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:05.259 It should probably be translated 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:06.819 as a quarrelsome spirit. 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:09.439 The type of nitpicking, 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.359 observational, 00:20:11.899 --> 00:20:12.759 put-down, 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:15.000 cynical spirit 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:19.399 that lurks in far too many of us. 00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:19.859 Okay? 00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:22.519 That you may be blameless and innocent, 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:24.579 children of God without blemish, 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:29.079 in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:32.079 among whom you shine as lights in the world, 00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:33.779 holding fast to the word of life. 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:36.099 That crooked and twisted, 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:39.200 here's the thing to understand about this phrase. 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:42.119 This is describing what human beings are like. 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:44.019 And it isn't Paul saying, 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:44.619 by the way, 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.339 I'm not crooked and twisted, 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:48.420 and it really sucks that the rest of the world 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.700 is crooked and twisted, 00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:51.539 unlike straight, 00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.639 blameless, 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.480 pure, 00:20:53.899 --> 00:20:54.700 innocent me. 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:56.440 Not at all. 00:20:57.399 --> 00:20:58.299 This is a very, 00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:59.779 very powerful image 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:01.819 of what happens to us with pride. 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:04.299 Because the fact of the matter is, 00:21:04.659 --> 00:21:06.359 is that you watch any movie 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:07.539 that does this very well, 00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:08.480 read any book, 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:10.480 think about somebody that you know 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.879 that seems to be very, 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.700 very proud, 00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:13.159 very, 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.480 very, 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.720 very self-righteous, 00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:15.139 very, 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:16.500 very me-centered, 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:17.679 very, 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:20.079 very picky out of that. 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:22.439 Do they seem like the strongest, 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.259 straightest, 00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:23.819 wholest, 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.619 most whole, 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.319 free person? 00:21:25.439 --> 00:21:25.659 No. 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.460 What do you think? 00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:29.380 You think it's bending them out of shape. 00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:32.240 You think it's making them smaller. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:35.680 You think it's making it hard for them 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:37.240 to do anything well. 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:39.360 It's making it hard for them to be free, 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:41.480 hard for them to love. 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:44.640 You think it's making them crooked 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:47.400 and twisted. 00:21:48.340 --> 00:21:49.840 And the message of the gospel, 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:51.140 the good news of the gospel, 00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:52.000 is really this. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:54.440 I am a crooked and twisted man 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:58.000 who is only telling you 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.579 about the one 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:02.519 who is beginning to make me straight 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:04.480 and will make you straight 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.440 and whole and free. 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:09.160 The Christian gospel is one beggar 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:10.839 telling another beggar 00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:14.240 where to find free food, 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:17.799 where to find deliverance 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:19.420 and warmth and security. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:21.980 One beggar telling another beggar 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.720 friend, 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:23.740 I'm a beggar 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:25.500 telling you about Jesus. 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.140 You see, 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.579 and if the fact of the matter is 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.860 is that there's a part of us 00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:32.220 which is crooked and twisted, 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:34.099 that means 00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:36.079 if I can't leave myself, 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:37.740 I bring my crookedness 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:39.240 and twistedness to religion. 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.660 I bring my crookedness 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.660 and twistedness 00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:44.339 to spirituality. 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:46.220 I bring my crookedness 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.099 and twistedness 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.160 to therapy. 00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.539 I bring all of that 00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:50.539 always with me 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.740 to whatever technique 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:53.059 I want to be mindful 00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:54.819 but I can't be mindful really 00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.960 because at the end of the day 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:57.240 there's still the me 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.960 who is crooked and twisted. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:02.079 I need someone, 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.259 you need someone 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.420 from outside 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:06.200 who can deliver you. 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:09.940 And that's what is so wonderful 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.940 about the gospel. 00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:12.140 Here's the fourth point. 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:14.660 The gospel tells 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:16.640 how the triune God 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.360 has acted 00:23:17.360 --> 00:23:18.500 to unbend 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:20.360 all human pride 00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:21.360 and atone for it, 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.340 especially yours. 00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.480 Another way to put it 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:23.900 would be this. 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:25.040 The gospel tells 00:23:25.040 --> 00:23:26.620 how the triune God 00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:27.620 has acted 00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:28.460 to 00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:29.980 untwist 00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:32.660 untwist 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:34.140 and uncrookedness, 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:35.060 that's not a word, 00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:37.980 all human pride 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.360 and atone 00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:39.980 for it, 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:41.039 especially 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:42.059 yours. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.360 That's what the gospel 00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:44.019 tells us. 00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.839 See, that's this wonderful thing. 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.779 But the thing which is so remarkable 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:49.000 about this story 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.140 that Paul tells, 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:50.860 if you go back 00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:51.339 and you read 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:51.799 verses 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:55.299 6 to 11, 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.860 is that God, 00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.940 the Son of God, 00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:59.920 in perfect harmony 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:00.539 and fellowship 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.360 with the Father 00:24:01.360 --> 00:24:02.880 and in the Holy Spirit, 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:04.960 this eternity, 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.680 ceaseless, 00:24:07.080 --> 00:24:08.580 giving and receiving, 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:09.960 knowing, 00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:10.860 revealing 00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:11.860 and knowing, 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.540 this loving 00:24:13.540 --> 00:24:15.080 and receiving 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:15.900 of love, 00:24:16.520 --> 00:24:17.920 this eternity, 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.800 this three persons 00:24:19.800 --> 00:24:21.440 but just this one God, 00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:23.320 this threeness 00:24:23.320 --> 00:24:25.700 but this unity 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.740 of love 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.240 and goodness, 00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:28.020 of truth, 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.320 of mercy. 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:31.639 and it is this 00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:33.139 triune God 00:24:33.139 --> 00:24:34.439 that's created you and me 00:24:34.439 --> 00:24:35.579 and this triune God 00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.639 who sees how we, 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:38.439 seeking to be like God, 00:24:39.439 --> 00:24:39.980 in fact, 00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:41.460 rather than becoming 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.039 like God, 00:24:42.139 --> 00:24:43.000 all that we did 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.980 was made ourselves 00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:45.099 crooked and twisted. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.139 A crookedness 00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:48.559 and making ourselves 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.339 a crookedness 00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.200 and a twistedness 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:52.460 that unless God intervenes, 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.879 unless God restrains, 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.019 would just go on 00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:55.799 for eternity. 00:24:56.919 --> 00:24:57.099 You see, 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:57.879 you go back 00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.939 to that earlier analogy 00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:00.779 if in fact 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.600 the matter is 00:25:01.600 --> 00:25:02.559 you live 00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:04.400 beyond death, 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.160 even the smallest 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:05.960 sin in your life 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:07.480 can grow to consume you. 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:08.660 It's just like 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.400 if you let that 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.940 tiny little cedar hedge 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:12.000 little thing grow 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.980 and it grows 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.360 and grows 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:13.759 and grows 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.160 and grows 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:14.660 and grows 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:15.720 and if you have 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.259 a person 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:17.360 who has a trouble 00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:18.000 with grumbling, 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.380 if it starts 00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:20.259 to become clear to you 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.039 that you grumble 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.600 sometimes, 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:22.539 if that grumbling 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.559 isn't put to death 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:24.799 and you outlive death, 00:25:25.080 --> 00:25:25.759 that grumble 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.279 can grow 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:26.620 and grow 00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:26.940 and grow 00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:28.120 until you become 00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:29.199 grumble. 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.419 A grumble 00:25:32.419 --> 00:25:33.279 who grumbles 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.659 and cannot 00:25:34.659 --> 00:25:36.199 stop grumbling. 00:25:37.959 --> 00:25:38.859 And so we have 00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:40.579 this powerful image 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.419 of the same God 00:25:41.419 --> 00:25:42.379 who's created all things, 00:25:42.459 --> 00:25:42.819 of God, 00:25:42.899 --> 00:25:43.519 the Son of God, 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.359 doing the exact 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:45.659 opposite of grumbling, 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.500 the exact opposite 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:49.079 of being self-centered, 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:51.000 the exact opposite 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:53.959 of being me first 00:25:53.959 --> 00:25:54.579 and proud 00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.299 and looking down 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:56.079 his nose at others, 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.059 of setting aside 00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:57.579 his glory, 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.359 setting aside 00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.099 his prerogatives, 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.359 setting all of 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.359 these things aside 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:02.399 and descending 00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:03.139 and descending 00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:03.899 and emptying 00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.460 and emptying 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:05.259 and emptying himself 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:06.199 even to the most 00:26:06.199 --> 00:26:07.059 shameful death 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:08.139 upon the cross 00:26:08.139 --> 00:26:08.939 and tasting all 00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:09.879 there is to taste 00:26:09.879 --> 00:26:10.759 of death 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:12.220 with nothing left. 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.559 And he does this 00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:14.339 for you 00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:15.119 and he does this 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:15.639 for me. 00:26:15.919 --> 00:26:16.679 He doesn't do it 00:26:16.679 --> 00:26:17.319 for himself. 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.220 And then this 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.559 profound reversal 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.299 and it's as if 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:20.859 God, 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.740 the Son of God, 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:23.319 is taking our pride 00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:24.599 and our crookedness 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.720 and our twistedness 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.700 and not just me 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:28.220 but me and you 00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:28.899 and every person 00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:29.599 who's in this room 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:30.279 and every person 00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:30.799 on the planet 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.460 and every person 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.179 who's ever lived 00:26:32.179 --> 00:26:32.939 and so there's 00:26:32.939 --> 00:26:33.919 this profound 00:26:33.919 --> 00:26:35.960 movement by God, 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.980 the Son of God 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:38.059 and this profound 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:39.439 lifting of freedom 00:26:39.439 --> 00:26:40.599 and joy 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:41.379 of God, 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.079 the Son of God 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:42.700 and then when you 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.839 or I put our faith 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:45.099 and trust in Jesus, 00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:49.139 it's ours. 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:51.960 we are in Him 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:54.860 and so it becomes 00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:57.160 our experience 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:58.300 that we begin 00:26:58.300 --> 00:26:59.360 to experience now 00:26:59.360 --> 00:26:59.840 a bit 00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:01.240 but one day 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.240 in its fullness. 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.860 And the other 00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:04.600 wonderful thing 00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.320 about the Gospel 00:27:05.320 --> 00:27:06.580 is that in a sense 00:27:06.580 --> 00:27:07.420 that first part, 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.000 if you go and you 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.940 read verse 5 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:10.180 and then verses 6 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.259 to 11 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.740 how we're in Christ, 00:27:13.300 --> 00:27:14.400 then we see 00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:16.080 after that in verse 13 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:17.600 that it's God in us. 00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:18.780 You see, 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.619 it's the whole thing 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.440 about love, right? 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.059 That's why I've talked 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.799 about this time 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.720 and time and time again 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.220 in love. 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:23.879 In a sense, 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.960 I enter into the other 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.399 at least in a type 00:27:26.399 --> 00:27:27.819 of a spiritual sense, 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:29.160 a mystical sense 00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:29.579 and the other 00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.500 enters into me. 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.960 There's that mutual entry 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:33.139 and so in this thing 00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:34.039 that Jesus does 00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.700 to save us 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.399 because we can't 00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:36.059 leave ourselves 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:37.039 to save ourselves 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:38.779 that whatever it is 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.920 that He has accomplished 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:40.839 on the cross 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:43.039 to both pay the penalty 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.259 of our crookedness 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:45.079 and twistedness 00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:46.220 and in a sense 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.180 to clothe us 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:49.100 with His mighty act, 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.740 a righteousness 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:51.220 which is not our own 00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:53.880 and we get in Him 00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:55.400 and that is in us 00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.440 and that is why 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.840 when you put your faith 00:27:57.840 --> 00:27:58.799 and trust in Jesus, 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:01.539 you begin to experience 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.420 this now 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:05.600 but its final result 00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:08.140 is never in doubt. 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:08.900 Listen again 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.480 to the text. 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:09.839 Therefore, 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:11.279 do all things 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.940 without grumbling 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.720 or disputing 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.880 that you may be 00:28:13.880 --> 00:28:14.920 blameless and innocent 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.779 children of God. 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.740 It can also be translated 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.880 that you may become 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:19.259 blameless and innocent 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.339 children of God 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:21.440 without blemish. 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.180 Blameless means 00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:23.039 in the eyes of the world. 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:23.759 Innocent means 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.740 in terms of your life 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.519 and blemish means 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.480 in terms of how God 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.059 sees you. 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.140 In a sense, 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:29.360 it's the public, 00:28:29.860 --> 00:28:30.360 the inner, 00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:31.640 and the spiritual. 00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:34.360 Children of God 00:28:34.360 --> 00:28:35.120 because you made 00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:35.900 His child 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:37.420 by adoption and grace 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:38.519 in the midst 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.080 of a crooked 00:28:39.080 --> 00:28:40.259 and twisted generation. 00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:42.660 I am a crooked 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.600 and twisted man 00:28:43.600 --> 00:28:44.440 who has been redeemed 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:45.120 by Jesus 00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:46.860 and trying to hold fast 00:28:46.860 --> 00:28:47.880 to the word of life 00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:48.740 in the power 00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.720 of the Holy Spirit 00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:51.700 that some of my crookedness 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.920 and some of my twistedness 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.920 will come to an end 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:55.160 that I might be free, 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.519 free to know, 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.420 free to love, 00:28:57.560 --> 00:28:59.220 free to ask the questions, 00:28:59.840 --> 00:29:00.840 free to see beauty 00:29:00.840 --> 00:29:01.940 and excellence in others, 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:03.160 free to pursue 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:04.220 that which is good 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.800 and just 00:29:04.800 --> 00:29:06.300 in lives of others 00:29:06.300 --> 00:29:07.100 in the creation 00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:07.859 in the world, 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:10.079 among whom you shine 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:10.980 as lights in the world, 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.439 holding fast 00:29:12.439 --> 00:29:13.599 to the word of life, 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.519 holding fast 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.899 to the word of life. 00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:19.019 You see, 00:29:20.439 --> 00:29:21.480 the word of life 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.119 is the message 00:29:22.119 --> 00:29:22.959 of the gospel 00:29:22.959 --> 00:29:24.719 in the context 00:29:24.719 --> 00:29:25.839 of all of the Bible 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:26.919 and it's all of the Bible 00:29:26.919 --> 00:29:27.659 in the context 00:29:27.659 --> 00:29:28.439 of the gospel 00:29:28.439 --> 00:29:29.639 and the word of life 00:29:29.639 --> 00:29:30.299 is not something 00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.559 that gives you life 00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:33.759 but as you listen to it, 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.959 it leads you 00:29:34.959 --> 00:29:35.939 in the way of life 00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:37.320 just as this text 00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:38.460 reveals 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:40.080 the significance 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:41.519 of grumbling 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.580 and the inner life 00:29:42.580 --> 00:29:43.799 that goes along with it, 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.240 right? 00:29:44.360 --> 00:29:45.440 Like in a pandemic 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:46.559 or plague movie, 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:49.320 the cough, 00:29:50.120 --> 00:29:50.799 the sign 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:52.299 of a vastly 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.460 more dangerous 00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:54.880 situation 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:56.480 than you realize 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.620 with that cough. 00:29:57.619 --> 00:30:00.299 The rest of the text 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:00.939 in a sense 00:30:00.939 --> 00:30:02.159 unpacks it, 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.479 listen to it. 00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:03.859 Actually, 00:30:03.919 --> 00:30:04.819 before you listen to it, 00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.299 I'm going to give you 00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:06.079 the final point, 00:30:06.159 --> 00:30:07.079 the takeaway point, 00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:07.639 which is this, 00:30:07.679 --> 00:30:08.379 the final point. 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.759 It's also a prayer 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.839 and once again, 00:30:10.939 --> 00:30:11.959 if you can't capture it 00:30:11.959 --> 00:30:12.439 and the little thing 00:30:12.439 --> 00:30:12.899 on the side, 00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.639 send me an email 00:30:13.639 --> 00:30:14.379 or go on the webpage, 00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:15.299 it'll be up there. 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.680 loving Father, 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.139 help me to put 00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:19.259 all my grumbling 00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.659 and self-righteous 00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:21.799 thinking to death 00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:23.299 and by the power 00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:24.299 of the Holy Spirit, 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:26.539 help me to hold fast 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.619 to the word of life 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:29.579 so I will live free 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.379 to love 00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:31.619 like my Lord 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.599 and Savior, 00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:33.940 Jesus Christ. 00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:34.700 Amen. 00:30:35.639 --> 00:30:36.539 Listen to the rest 00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.159 of the text 00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:39.539 as it unpacks 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.720 what it's like 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.720 to hold fast 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.659 to the word of life. 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:44.480 Listen to it. 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:45.880 Even if I, 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.680 verse 17, 00:30:46.840 --> 00:30:47.860 am to be poured out 00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:48.840 as a drink offering 00:30:48.840 --> 00:30:50.380 upon the sacrificial offering 00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:51.000 of your faith, 00:30:51.060 --> 00:30:52.100 I am glad and rejoiced 00:30:52.100 --> 00:30:52.600 with you all. 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:52.940 Likewise, 00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:54.120 you also should be glad 00:30:54.120 --> 00:30:55.040 and rejoiced with me. 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.519 His love and service 00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:56.940 for them 00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:57.440 and their love 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:58.240 and service for him 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.040 is a sacrifice. 00:30:59.259 --> 00:30:59.980 It's the opposite 00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:01.040 of being self-centered. 00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.200 It's a death 00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:03.040 or a service 00:31:03.040 --> 00:31:03.860 for others. 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:05.240 And then he grounds it 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:05.759 in the lives 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.540 of two people 00:31:06.540 --> 00:31:07.600 whom they know. 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:08.779 Verse 19, 00:31:08.860 --> 00:31:10.000 I hope in the Lord Jesus 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.920 to send Timothy 00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:11.779 to you soon 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.940 that I too 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:13.700 may be cheered 00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.539 by news of you 00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.539 for I have no one 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:15.980 like him 00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:16.980 who will be genuinely 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.940 concerned 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:19.399 for your welfare. 00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:20.899 For they all seek 00:31:20.899 --> 00:31:21.700 their own interests, 00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:23.379 not those of Jesus Christ. 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:25.059 The opposite of grumbling. 00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.200 But you know 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:27.440 Timothy's proven worth 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.180 how as a son 00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:28.799 with a father 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.759 he has served me 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.720 in the gospel. 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.980 I hope therefore 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.720 to send him 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.559 just as soon 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.119 as I see 00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:34.899 how it will go 00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:35.399 with me. 00:31:35.639 --> 00:31:36.859 And I trust in the Lord 00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:37.759 that shortly 00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.559 I myself 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.700 will come also. 00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:41.019 I have thought 00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.600 it necessary 00:31:41.600 --> 00:31:42.460 to send to you 00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.259 Epaphroditus 00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:44.259 my brother 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.120 and fellow worker 00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:46.100 and fellow soldier 00:31:46.100 --> 00:31:47.720 and your messenger 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.600 and minister 00:31:48.600 --> 00:31:49.360 to my need. 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:49.860 Once again 00:31:49.860 --> 00:31:50.539 the opposite 00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:51.140 of grumbling 00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:52.400 of self-righteousness 00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:53.420 of pride 00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:55.039 a giving of yourself 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.799 for the other 00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:57.259 keeping your eyes 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:58.100 on Jesus 00:31:58.100 --> 00:31:59.360 a type of freedom 00:31:59.360 --> 00:32:00.539 which expands 00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:01.480 beyond the world 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.700 from Greece to Rome 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.799 from Jerusalem 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:04.500 to Greece 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:05.559 to Greece to Rome. 00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.700 It's a world 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.940 of freedom 00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:09.559 for he has been 00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:10.839 longing for you all 00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:11.519 the opposite 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.119 of grumbling. 00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:13.139 He has been longing 00:32:13.139 --> 00:32:13.859 for you all 00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:15.159 and has been distressed 00:32:15.159 --> 00:32:15.919 because you heard 00:32:15.919 --> 00:32:16.579 that he was ill. 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.779 Indeed he was ill 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.480 near to death 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.639 but God had mercy 00:32:19.639 --> 00:32:20.079 on him 00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:21.079 and not only on him 00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:22.259 but on me also 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:23.179 lest I should have 00:32:23.179 --> 00:32:24.839 sorrow upon sorrow. 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.480 I am the more eager 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:27.460 to send him therefore 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.779 that you may rejoice 00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:30.259 rejoicing the opposite 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:30.919 of grumbling 00:32:30.919 --> 00:32:32.879 at seeing him again 00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:34.240 and that I may be 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.859 less anxious. 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.819 So receive him 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:36.259 in the Lord 00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:37.139 with all joy 00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:38.740 and honor such men. 00:32:39.339 --> 00:32:40.099 The sacrifice 00:32:40.099 --> 00:32:41.519 for he nearly died 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:42.599 for the work of Christ 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.639 risking his life 00:32:43.639 --> 00:32:44.339 to complete 00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:45.479 what was lacking 00:32:45.479 --> 00:32:46.619 in your service 00:32:46.619 --> 00:32:47.279 to me. 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.279 Friends 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:49.039 what is this text 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:49.839 calling me to? 00:32:49.919 --> 00:32:50.419 What is this text 00:32:50.419 --> 00:32:51.240 calling you to? 00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.479 It's a prayer like this. 00:32:53.139 --> 00:32:53.759 Lord Jesus 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.839 help me 00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:56.319 to put all my grumbling 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:57.379 and self-righteous 00:32:57.379 --> 00:32:58.359 thinking to death 00:32:58.359 --> 00:32:59.659 and by the power 00:32:59.659 --> 00:33:00.559 of the Holy Spirit 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:02.479 help me to hold fast 00:33:02.479 --> 00:33:03.479 to the word of life 00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.960 so I will live 00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:05.660 free 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:06.620 to love 00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:07.579 like my Lord 00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.120 and Savior 00:33:08.120 --> 00:33:09.279 Jesus Christ. 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:11.120 That is my final prayer. 00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:11.579 Amen. 00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:12.460 God bless.