WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.560 Do you ever feel disappointed by the amount of joy that is in your life, 00:00:05.660 --> 00:00:07.860 specifically in your Christian life? 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:10.279 Or maybe you're not a Christian. 00:00:10.859 --> 00:00:14.000 Maybe you're still thinking about whether or not that's something for you. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:19.199 And I wonder if you look at Christians and think they don't seem that joyful. 00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:24.620 They kind of just seem like everyone else, somber, serious, 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:27.539 everyone else minus the fun stuff. 00:00:30.820 --> 00:00:35.219 If you're a Christian, do you hear Jesus' words in the Bible, 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:37.399 places like John 10 where he says, 00:00:37.500 --> 00:00:39.820 I've come that you might have life and have it to the full? 00:00:40.019 --> 00:00:42.299 Do you hear that and think, yep, that's me. 00:00:42.939 --> 00:00:43.920 My life is full. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:48.500 Or do you hear it and think it sounds really nice, 00:00:49.299 --> 00:00:52.219 but it's not really how my life feels? 00:00:53.879 --> 00:00:54.920 Why the disconnect? 00:00:54.920 --> 00:01:01.060 Why being told life can be full and joyful and satisfying and amazing 00:01:01.060 --> 00:01:04.859 and then a different experience in our day-to-day or week-to-week? 00:01:05.500 --> 00:01:07.659 I mean, have we misunderstood God? 00:01:09.140 --> 00:01:10.560 I mean, are we reading him wrong? 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:13.140 Do we have a wrong idea of what he means by joy? 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:17.740 When he said life to the full, did he actually mean it'll be horrible, 00:01:17.939 --> 00:01:19.359 but hey, it won't last forever? 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:23.719 Instead of kind of joy the way we normally think about it, 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:26.780 was he talking about some kind of steely resolve, 00:01:27.379 --> 00:01:30.459 you know, some kind of grit your teeth and persevere version of joy? 00:01:30.459 --> 00:01:35.819 Maybe some kind of abstract version of joy 00:01:35.819 --> 00:01:38.819 that's a bit more intangible and harder to pin down, 00:01:38.919 --> 00:01:42.280 so it's harder to say if you do or don't have it. 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:47.439 But we know what joy is. 00:01:48.619 --> 00:01:49.899 You know what joy is. 00:01:50.819 --> 00:01:54.099 Even if you want to distinguish it out from being something more substantial 00:01:54.099 --> 00:01:56.500 than, you know, just plain, simple happiness, 00:01:56.679 --> 00:01:57.839 you know what joy is. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:05.200 It's that feeling you get when what you desire becomes yours, 00:02:05.880 --> 00:02:07.900 when the thing that you want becomes yours. 00:02:07.980 --> 00:02:11.080 It's that feeling you have when you get down on one knee 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:12.860 and ask her to marry you and she says yes. 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:16.780 It's that feeling you have when you desperately need a job 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:18.879 and a letter of offer arrives. 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:21.480 It's that feeling you have when you share the gospel 00:02:21.480 --> 00:02:25.120 with somebody who's been resisting it and even opposed to it 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:26.460 and they say yes. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:30.680 It's when your desires get fulfilled. 00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:31.539 That's joy. 00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:33.259 You know what it feels like. 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:37.039 It's that deep, overflowing bubbliness. 00:02:38.060 --> 00:02:42.060 The dictionary describes it as a feeling of deep pleasure or happiness. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:45.860 It's all those good feelings just kind of turned up a bit 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:48.699 with that higher degree of intensity and substance. 00:02:48.980 --> 00:02:50.199 I mean, joy is great. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:51.520 We know what joy is. 00:02:51.640 --> 00:02:52.699 Joy is desirable. 00:02:52.699 --> 00:02:57.679 But is it a word that you would use to describe your life as a Christian? 00:03:01.119 --> 00:03:05.179 Is it the main word you would use to describe your life as a Christian? 00:03:06.239 --> 00:03:09.500 Now, we can still get out of this one because you might say, 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:13.319 hey, I know that some people are like those overtly joyful people, 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:14.379 but that's just not me. 00:03:14.379 --> 00:03:19.400 And I can testify on this one because I'm what I like to refer to as emotional. 00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:23.159 I struggle to express emotions whether they're up or down. 00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:27.000 I only have one tone of voice, whether I'm happy or sad or anywhere in between. 00:03:27.359 --> 00:03:29.240 And you might be sitting there going, yeah, that's me too. 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:30.439 I don't really express myself. 00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:33.199 So I'm joyful, but I'm just, I'm doing my back flips on the inside. 00:03:33.819 --> 00:03:36.280 You know, I'm cheering and clapping and everything, but it's internal. 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:37.300 You just can't see it. 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:39.000 I just express it differently. 00:03:39.140 --> 00:03:42.300 I don't like to be annoyingly happy like some people are. 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:46.200 You know, you don't want to be that person who's standing at the bus stop in the rain 00:03:46.200 --> 00:03:48.740 when the bus comes, hits the puddle, sprays everyone. 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:52.900 People are swearing, cursing, sending abusive emails to Sydney buses. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:56.380 But there's just that one person smiling and, you know, just, you know, 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:58.240 it's nice to be refreshed with water. 00:03:58.420 --> 00:04:01.800 And you're just thinking you're a fraud or an idiot and I want to punch you in the face. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:04.640 And you don't want to be that annoying people. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:08.979 And just before we go on, if you are one of those people who has that punch reflex at that moment, 00:04:09.079 --> 00:04:14.519 sit on your hand because for the rest of tonight, Paul's probably going to annoy you. 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:20.639 Paul's going to be one of those annoyingly joyful people in a ridiculous situation. 00:04:21.579 --> 00:04:25.339 This letter, Philippians, in the New Testament is a letter between Paul and the Philippians 00:04:25.339 --> 00:04:27.459 and it's written in response to a visit. 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:32.939 So Paul's in prison and the Philippians send a guy named Epaphroditus to visit him 00:04:32.939 --> 00:04:35.740 to see how he's doing because they've heard he's in prison. 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:39.439 They've heard he's doing it tough and they want to know what's going on for him. 00:04:39.540 --> 00:04:42.879 And so from this verse, verse 12 through to the end of chapter 3, 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:45.860 is kind of the bit where Paul starts giving them details. 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:49.120 Well, sort of. 00:04:49.899 --> 00:04:51.079 Have a look at verse 12. 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:54.500 Now, I want you to know, brothers and sisters, 00:04:54.500 --> 00:04:58.159 that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 00:04:58.860 --> 00:05:01.899 Now, before we get too far into this, we're going to slow down in this verse. 00:05:01.899 --> 00:05:04.539 Paul doesn't really give any detail about his situation. 00:05:04.719 --> 00:05:07.539 Even as we read the rest of this section, even as we get through the whole book, 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:10.259 we know he's in chains, we know he's shackled. 00:05:10.459 --> 00:05:15.279 But what we know from other parts of the Bible is that Paul is most likely writing this 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:17.259 while he's a prisoner under Roman guard. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:18.739 Literally shackled. 00:05:19.339 --> 00:05:21.459 Literally chains on his hands and feet. 00:05:22.099 --> 00:05:25.000 Constantly with a soldier guarding him with him. 00:05:25.099 --> 00:05:25.779 Never alone. 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:26.939 Not comfortable. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:29.239 He's not in a minimum security day spa. 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:33.740 However, the Roman Empire prided itself on its ability to be brutal. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:39.139 Paul's not in a pleasant place when he writes this letter. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:46.639 He doesn't know whether this imprisonment will end in him being executed or him being released. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:50.599 He doesn't know how long he's going to be stuck as a prisoner. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:57.899 And he's there because he did what God told him to in the first place. 00:05:58.439 --> 00:05:59.779 He preached Jesus. 00:06:00.919 --> 00:06:07.079 Now, if this was me, I would have been sending you status updates every 10 minutes about just how tough it all was. 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:17.079 I would have been letting you know every detail about every sore and scar and wound and beating and terrible food and all that I could. 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:20.199 Because I would want you to comprehend just how tough it was for me. 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:23.759 I'd want you to appreciate what I was going through, to have empathy for it. 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:27.439 And no one would think any less of me for that self-indulgence. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:34.360 You would think it's reasonable if I'm in that situation to claim it, to put my hand up and say, this is tough. 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:42.680 But all Paul gives, and remember, this is a letter to some people who are his close friends. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:46.680 His dear, precious brothers and sisters, who he loves. 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:52.319 And all he gives them, by the way of detail, he says, dear brothers and sisters, 00:06:52.319 --> 00:07:04.620 I really want you to know, what he's about to say is important, that all that has happened to me, that's it. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:06.819 That's the detail. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:07.879 All. 00:07:10.579 --> 00:07:16.879 I mean, the Philippians sent Epaphroditus traveling across the world because they wanted to know what was going on for Paul. 00:07:17.039 --> 00:07:18.439 They wanted to know how he was. 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:19.480 They sent him with provisions. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:21.459 They sent him with well wishes, with money. 00:07:21.459 --> 00:07:25.699 In fact, Epaphroditus nearly died on this journey to go and see how Paul is going. 00:07:28.979 --> 00:07:34.459 And all the Philippians get back is, hey, I want you to know that all that has happened to me, 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:40.219 it's like all that has happened from Paul's perspective is just incidental. 00:07:40.539 --> 00:07:41.399 It's not important. 00:07:41.919 --> 00:07:44.339 I'm not going to go into these details. 00:07:44.459 --> 00:07:50.699 I've got something important to say, but apparently his own personal situation and suffering 00:07:50.699 --> 00:07:51.719 don't rather mention. 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:57.680 They're not worth bringing up except as kind of background to what he actually wants to talk about. 00:07:58.860 --> 00:08:03.159 Now, it's not to say that his situation is not real and painful and difficult. 00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:05.699 It's not to say he wasn't hurting or sad. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:09.740 It's not to say that it's bad to be any of those things. 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:13.379 But for him, it's just not the most important thing. 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:20.620 If he's just got one letter to these people that he loves, he wants to tell them something that matters most to him. 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:23.240 And so, verse 12. 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:38.639 As a result, it's become clear throughout the whole palace garden to everyone else that I'm in chains for Christ. 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:44.340 See, all that stuff which Paul can't even be bothered writing about, his suffering, his isolation, 00:08:44.340 --> 00:08:51.080 his potential impending death and execution, all that has served to advance the gospel. 00:08:52.160 --> 00:08:53.899 The gospel is what he wants to talk about. 00:08:54.040 --> 00:08:55.519 Jesus is what matters to him. 00:08:55.580 --> 00:09:03.840 His deepest concern, even in his horrible circumstance, is that people keep hearing about Jesus. 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:09.759 That the message of Jesus who died on the cross and rose again continues to be proclaimed. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:14.399 What he cares about is that other people get a chance to know what he knows. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:17.600 That God is a loving God. 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:19.439 That God is a forgiving God. 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:25.419 Paul's life is consumed with this gospel agenda. 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:27.179 With a Jesus agenda. 00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:30.399 Self-preservation, comfort, doesn't matter. 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:32.059 Not important. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.480 Reputation, doesn't matter. 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:36.439 Have a look at verse 14. 00:09:36.440 --> 00:09:42.100 Because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord 00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:45.280 and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. 00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:50.060 It's true, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 00:09:50.800 --> 00:09:54.480 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I'm put here for the defense of the gospel. 00:09:55.160 --> 00:09:58.820 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, 00:09:59.020 --> 00:10:02.380 supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I'm in change. 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:08.279 He's excited because while his ministry is limited, he's only got one person at a time that he can talk to. 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:10.439 And even them he's been talking to about Jesus. 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:14.379 He's excited that while he can't be out on the street corners preaching, 00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:18.220 while he can't be in the synagogue talking to people about how amazing Jesus is, 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:19.820 other people are doing it. 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:21.799 Other people are taking on the job. 00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:29.479 His reputation as the gun speaker, as the amazing evangelist, as the celebrity pastor, 00:10:29.719 --> 00:10:35.019 is probably shrinking because these new people are stepping up and taking on all the roles that he used to have. 00:10:35.539 --> 00:10:36.659 And what's his response? 00:10:37.059 --> 00:10:37.500 Great. 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:40.139 It's not about me. 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:44.139 Even when people are preaching with mixed motives. 00:10:44.599 --> 00:10:45.500 Did you catch that? 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:50.379 Some people are preaching Jesus, hoping that somehow it's going to cause trouble for Paul. 00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:53.059 And how does he respond? 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:54.940 Verse 18. 00:10:56.860 --> 00:10:57.679 But what does it matter? 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:02.960 The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:04.419 Christ is preached. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:07.000 And because of this, I rejoice. 00:11:08.779 --> 00:11:09.940 What does it matter? 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:11.860 He's in prison. 00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:16.300 These guys are preaching Jesus with some weird mixed motive, 00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:18.340 hoping it's going to make his life more difficult. 00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:21.080 And he's like, this is amazing. 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:23.620 Because people are hearing about Jesus. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:32.560 His life is so consumed with a desire to see the gospel go forward that he just wants people to meet Jesus. 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:35.399 He doesn't care if he's the one who gets to tell them. 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:40.440 He doesn't care if him being in prison is the means by which that happens. 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:46.820 Because the deepest desire of his heart, the thing that matters most to him, 00:11:47.300 --> 00:11:49.180 is that Jesus is preached. 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:57.000 And because that is happening, even in shackles, he rejoices. 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:01.620 He's still joyful even as he suffers. 00:12:02.300 --> 00:12:04.560 And he goes on, verse 18, second half. 00:12:04.640 --> 00:12:04.900 It says, 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:34.899 00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:45.720 He wants more than anything else for his life to adequately point to Jesus as his saviour, 00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:48.240 as his treasure, as his joy. 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:50.759 And his only fear is that he would fail at that. 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.779 He's not scared of prison. 00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:59.659 He's not scared of physical pain, of emotional pain, of struggle in life. 00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:04.819 His fear is that he would fail to adequately point to the one that is his source of joy. 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:06.439 Jesus. 00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:13.240 And yet even in that fear, he eagerly expects and hopes that he'll be strengthened by the Spirit, 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:14.839 that he'll be able to stand firm. 00:13:15.419 --> 00:13:20.819 Whether that's in his death or in his release and further ministry. 00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:30.600 He's confident God will sustain him and satisfy him, regardless of his situation. 00:13:32.540 --> 00:13:34.540 So that Jesus is exalted. 00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:38.000 And so he keeps rejoicing. 00:13:39.420 --> 00:13:43.360 In his arrest, in his struggle, in his limitation. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:47.360 I mean, his life is so full of joy, it seems illogical. 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:51.139 I mean, he's the quintessential, annoying, joyful person. 00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:58.200 In your moment of deepest anguish, he would be smiling, ready for a hug or a high five. 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:05.500 I sometimes wonder if the Philippians who knew him well would have received this letter, 00:14:05.940 --> 00:14:12.220 opened it up and been reading it and started to ask the question whether or not Paul had lost his grip on reality. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:19.879 Or whether they were wondering if, you know, maybe he's lost a few marbles and, you know, he doesn't know what's going on. 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:22.940 And so he's sitting in prison singing out of blissful ignorance. 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:25.960 He doesn't actually understand the intensity of what's going on. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:28.340 He doesn't understand that he's potentially about to die. 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:30.259 He doesn't understand how serious this is. 00:14:31.800 --> 00:14:33.120 But that's not his issue. 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:39.740 Because there's plenty of places in the New Testament where we get a glimpse into the suffering that Paul experienced 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:42.379 and the personal anguish that he went through. 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:45.060 He knows what's going on. 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:51.659 Even here in verse 20, he knows that he requires a degree of courage if he's going to stand firm. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:57.519 He asks the Philippians to pray for him so that he can remain joyful in Jesus, 00:14:57.680 --> 00:15:02.019 so that he can continue to point to Jesus and celebrate the gospel being proclaimed, 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:06.100 even when he doesn't get to be a part of it, even when he's stuck in chains himself. 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:11.659 See, his joy in this passage is not a denial of his situation. 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:18.460 It's a perspective that's so transformed by the gospel 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:24.480 that his circumstances are no longer the main thing. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:32.580 They're no longer the starting point for him when he measures whether or not his life is satisfying or fulfilling 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:34.080 or what he hoped it would be. 00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:37.960 Having met Jesus in the gospel, 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:42.580 having discovered a God who loves him unconditionally, 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:45.779 a God who guarantees his eternal future, 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:49.939 that is now all that matters. 00:15:58.079 --> 00:16:01.879 Gospel joy is not a denial of the challenges that you face in your life. 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:07.539 Gospel joy is not about pretending that things don't hurt when they do. 00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:14.319 We don't get the kind of joy that Paul has here by pretending that our relationships aren't broken, 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:18.079 by ignoring the fact that we don't have the money we need to pay the bills, 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:23.319 or just being blissfully ignorant about whatever struggles are in your life. 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:29.599 Gospel joy is found in having our priorities so transformed 00:16:29.599 --> 00:16:33.279 that our joy is no longer tied to our circumstances, 00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:35.599 it's tied to Jesus. 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:40.219 In our pain, 00:16:40.959 --> 00:16:42.179 in our sadness, 00:16:42.819 --> 00:16:44.980 in our struggle in day-to-day life, 00:16:45.319 --> 00:16:47.240 we can have something more important. 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:52.959 The one who died for us and rose again. 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:56.480 The unconditional love of a heavenly father. 00:16:58.679 --> 00:17:03.719 Paul summarises what it looks like to have your perspective shaped in verse 21. 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:06.420 This is his life credo. 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.940 He says, 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.140 For to me, 00:17:09.800 --> 00:17:11.480 to live is Christ, 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:13.320 and to die is gain. 00:17:14.340 --> 00:17:15.680 It's a great memory verse. 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:17.300 I'm sure you've heard it before. 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:18.039 We love it. 00:17:19.340 --> 00:17:20.360 Amen, we think. 00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:21.940 For me, 00:17:22.060 --> 00:17:23.660 to live is Christ. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:28.160 No, it's not. 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:31.519 It's just not. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.740 I wish it was. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.200 But we're just not even close. 00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:43.000 Even just as a hypothetical, 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:47.579 I know that this would not be my response if I was in Paul's situation. 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:50.859 I would be whinging, 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:52.299 complaining, 00:17:53.579 --> 00:17:54.379 yelling at God. 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:58.019 I know in my life now how controlled I am 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:59.579 by my day-to-day circumstances. 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:02.899 I know that my joy levels fluctuate based on 00:18:02.899 --> 00:18:04.879 what kind of food I got to eat today, 00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:07.720 how bad the traffic was on the way to work, 00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:09.679 how stressful things are, 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:11.359 how many things I have going on. 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:15.279 But not for Paul. 00:18:17.679 --> 00:18:18.539 For him, 00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:21.979 to live is Christ. 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.779 It's all about Jesus. 00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:25.979 Everything, 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:27.759 to die even, 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:29.619 is a gain because he would get Jesus. 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.559 His whole life 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:33.199 is consumed 00:18:33.199 --> 00:18:36.579 with a heart's desire to see Jesus exalted. 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:40.019 And so joy and satisfaction 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:42.000 and the measure of fulfilment in his life 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.480 are no longer connected to 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:45.740 transient comfort or control 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:47.420 or situation or circumstance. 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.740 Now it's just about Jesus. 00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:57.599 Now his joy is attached 00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:00.779 to a desire that is guaranteed. 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:04.579 His deepest desire 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:06.180 is that Christ would be exalted. 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.180 And God's will 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.500 in his creation 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:12.339 is that Christ would be exalted. 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.839 What God is doing 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:19.119 is revealing Jesus 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:19.980 so that one day 00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:21.079 every knee will bow 00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:22.279 and every tongue confess 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:23.079 that he is Lord 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.079 and Paul's joy 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.980 is now wrapped up 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:26.779 in that unstoppable direction. 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.740 His joy is now inevitable. 00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:34.319 Because God himself 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.500 has guaranteed to do 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.839 what Paul desires most. 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:40.879 I mean, 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:42.059 how do you even stop joy 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:43.119 for someone like this? 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.700 How do you make him, 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.119 you know, 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.980 less annoyingly joyful? 00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:51.720 You can imprison them, 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:53.839 beat them, 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:57.459 they'll just rejoice 00:19:57.459 --> 00:20:00.980 because nothing's changed. 00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:03.179 They're still loved by God. 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:05.539 They still have Jesus with them 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.500 in their circumstance. 00:20:07.159 --> 00:20:07.980 They still know 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.059 that he's being proclaimed 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:10.179 even if they're not the ones 00:20:10.179 --> 00:20:10.839 who get to do it 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:12.299 because God's going to make it happen. 00:20:13.699 --> 00:20:14.779 You can kill them 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:17.619 but then they see that as a win 00:20:17.619 --> 00:20:18.980 because then they get to go to heaven 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.960 and they get Jesus 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:22.120 without any distractions, 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:24.039 without any of the bad circumstances. 00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:25.120 They get all the good stuff 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:25.880 and nothing bad 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:27.779 so they rejoice even more. 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.680 His source of joy 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.460 is immovable. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.960 It can't be taken away from him. 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:39.759 The killer of joy 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.279 is disappointment. 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:44.920 It's when what you desire most 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:45.700 doesn't happen. 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.539 You don't get the thing 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.460 that you care about. 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.740 And so for the Christian, 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:53.639 the only possible joy killer 00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:56.839 would be if there was some enemy 00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:58.519 that was powerful enough 00:20:58.519 --> 00:21:01.359 to stop Jesus being exalted. 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:04.759 Some enemy that was powerful enough 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:07.500 to stop people from proclaiming Jesus, 00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.879 stop people from knowing 00:21:08.879 --> 00:21:09.940 and treasuring him. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:15.139 And suffering can't do it. 00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:19.579 Hardship can't do it. 00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:23.200 In fact, the church often grows quickest 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.619 and most dramatically 00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:26.059 when the church suffers. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:29.759 The ancient historian Tertullian wrote 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:31.240 that the blood of the martyrs 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.700 is the seed of the church. 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:35.599 What he was referring to 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.539 was that basically 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:39.160 all of the key extreme growth movements 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:40.599 in Christian history 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:43.319 were preceded by extreme persecution, 00:21:44.199 --> 00:21:46.079 by the murdering of Christians, 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:48.179 the imprisoning of Christians. 00:21:48.679 --> 00:21:50.000 Because what happens then 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:52.399 is these annoyingly joyful people 00:21:52.399 --> 00:21:54.339 continue to be annoyingly joyful, 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:56.240 even though everything about their lives 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.399 says they shouldn't be. 00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:59.240 And everybody else looks at that 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.799 and says there's something there. 00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:03.859 And that something is Jesus. 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:07.679 When we suffer, 00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:09.639 but continue to rejoice 00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:12.379 because Jesus is all satisfying, 00:22:14.159 --> 00:22:15.919 Jesus is exalted 00:22:15.919 --> 00:22:18.059 and others come in to know 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:19.439 and taste and experience 00:22:19.439 --> 00:22:21.579 the same joy that we have as Christians. 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.259 Suffering 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:26.819 is not the enemy. 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:30.179 In fact, 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:32.139 the greatest enemy 00:22:32.139 --> 00:22:33.500 to your joy as a Christian 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:35.559 is comfort. 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:41.279 The thing that's most likely 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.240 to distract you 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.659 from an all-consuming 00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:44.799 gospel passion 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:49.139 is comfort. 00:22:51.939 --> 00:22:53.279 Self-sufficiency, 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:55.980 selfish ambition. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.460 The greatest enemy 00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.099 of your joy 00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:00.220 is not your circumstance 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:00.980 right now, 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:03.940 but it's a diluted 00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:05.379 or a lukewarm affection 00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.019 for Jesus. 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.940 It's the heart that says, 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:09.160 yeah, 00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.700 I love Jesus with everything, 00:23:11.379 --> 00:23:13.039 but it's also really important 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.859 to me in my life 00:23:13.859 --> 00:23:14.500 to look after 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:16.519 my kids' future. 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:19.259 It's the heart that says, 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:20.460 Jesus is number one 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:20.960 and my life 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.140 is all about him, 00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:24.180 but I've just got to get 00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:25.539 through these exams first. 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.740 It's the heart that says, 00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:30.460 God, 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.640 I want to be poured out 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.539 for your service 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.440 so long as it's not 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.279 too painful. 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:39.980 When our hearts 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.840 wander away 00:23:40.840 --> 00:23:41.819 from loving Jesus 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:43.019 as the centerpiece 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:44.200 of all that we are, 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:47.740 then all that's left for us 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.340 for meaning, 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.180 for purpose, 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:49.940 for joy, 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:53.340 is the flippant 00:23:53.340 --> 00:23:55.400 and temporary circumstances 00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.360 that we have to face 00:23:56.360 --> 00:23:56.960 day to day. 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:01.220 Paul doesn't write this lightly. 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.120 He's not some guy 00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:04.200 who had a sheltered life 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:05.059 in a simple world. 00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:06.500 He knows what suffering is. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.480 He knows what it is 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.680 to experience anguish 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.480 and anxiety, 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:13.680 grief, 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:16.279 but still, 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:18.720 he is annoyingly joyful. 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:22.620 in all of his circumstances, 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:24.720 his heart remains consumed 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:26.799 with a love for Jesus, 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:29.539 with a satisfaction in Jesus. 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:31.000 His life stays consumed 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.500 by a gospel ambition, 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:34.559 a desire for Jesus 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.740 to be the main thing. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.960 And the result of that 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.519 is joy. 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:40.619 joy. 00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:44.279 That's how he sits in prison 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:45.200 and sings. 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:48.000 That's how he faces death 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.480 and he says, 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.599 it's a tough choice for me 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:51.240 because death is a big win. 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.180 But you know what? 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:53.779 I'm going to put up 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.500 with this suffering 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.759 so that you get more joy, 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.920 so that you learn more 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.519 of what it is 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.779 to love and treasure Jesus. 00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:03.299 Jesus is enough 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:06.619 for us to rejoice 00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.839 even as we weep, 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.920 even as we suffer. 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.579 The issue for us 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:16.339 isn't that we've tried Jesus 00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:18.559 and there's just other things 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.359 that are more appealing. 00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.920 The issue isn't that 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.859 we've tried Jesus 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:24.319 and he's just not as satisfying 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.119 as we expected. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:29.679 The issue is that 00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:30.919 most of us have never 00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:33.659 really given Jesus everything. 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:37.579 The idea of it sounds great, 00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:38.899 to live as Christ. 00:25:39.959 --> 00:25:41.119 But most of us 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:42.000 have never really 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.759 handed over ambition, 00:25:45.939 --> 00:25:47.779 handed over our very selves 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.139 and said, 00:25:48.219 --> 00:25:49.159 God, do what you want. 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.500 Stick me in prison, 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.239 I'll sing. 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:56.119 If you afflict me 00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:57.319 with physical illness, 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.019 I'll rejoice. 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:03.659 When I was younger, 00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:05.439 I remember learning to skate. 00:26:06.239 --> 00:26:07.059 I've told you before, 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.039 I'm one of three brothers, 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.019 I've got sisters as well, 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:10.839 but three brothers 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:12.019 and I was the least coordinated 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:12.899 by a country mile. 00:26:13.739 --> 00:26:14.399 I had a little brother 00:26:14.399 --> 00:26:15.819 who was five years younger than me 00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:16.599 and so it shouldn't have been 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.159 a competition, 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:18.179 but five minutes after 00:26:18.179 --> 00:26:18.899 we tried anything, 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:20.139 he was better at it than I was. 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:21.699 And one of the things 00:26:21.699 --> 00:26:23.000 I learned as a young person 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.659 was skating. 00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:25.720 And it resulted 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.640 in a whole bunch of injuries 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.820 that I'm still paying for now. 00:26:28.540 --> 00:26:29.580 But one of the things 00:26:29.580 --> 00:26:30.740 that you have to learn 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.920 when you're learning to skate 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:33.500 is what it is to drop in 00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:34.120 on a ramp. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.019 What that means is 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:37.360 you stand on the top of a ramp, 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:38.279 you put your skateboard 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.480 on the edge of it, 00:26:39.560 --> 00:26:40.680 kind of dangling off the side, 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.700 you put your back foot on 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:43.820 and you put your front foot on 00:26:43.820 --> 00:26:45.279 and at this point 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.279 there are two options. 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:48.759 Go all in 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:50.900 or hesitate 00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:52.079 and train wreck. 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:54.019 If you hesitate 00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:55.319 even a little bit, 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.359 I can guarantee 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:57.099 all you'll get 00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:58.379 is bruises and bumps, 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.079 grazes, 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:00.920 headaches, 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.299 stitches. 00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:07.460 But if you go all in 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:09.099 and only when you go all in 00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:10.879 will you experience 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:12.039 the crazy adrenaline 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.980 and exhilaration 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:15.079 of kind of free-falling 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.960 but on purpose 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:18.440 and rolling away, 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:22.440 you'll probably still go home 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.079 at the end of the day 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.660 with bumps 00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.839 and bruises 00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:25.620 and grazes, 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.519 maybe even stitches, 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:27.880 but you'll be smiling 00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:33.360 because it's an amazing feeling. 00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:39.259 If you follow Jesus 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:42.019 but not with everything, 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:44.860 if you make him 00:27:44.860 --> 00:27:46.660 your almost treasure 00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:49.420 as long as you can keep 00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.220 a couple of other things 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:50.880 in your life, 00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:52.539 if you make him 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:53.539 your life's ambition 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:55.120 as long as it doesn't push out 00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:55.920 this other thing 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:57.220 that you really care about, 00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:59.319 your experience 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.200 of being a Christian 00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:02.200 will be just 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:03.200 the bumps 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.420 and bruises 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:05.620 and grazes 00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:06.740 and stitches 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:09.180 because following Jesus 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:09.900 is hard 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:11.480 and that's part of the deal. 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:15.420 but only 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:17.839 if you hand your life 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.819 over completely, 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:21.180 if you surrender 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:21.920 everything 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.799 that you are 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:25.620 and say it's yours, 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.700 use it as you wish, 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:30.279 will you be able 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:31.180 to get those bumps 00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:31.799 and bruises 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.460 and grazes 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:34.259 and sicknesses 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.420 and broken relationships 00:28:35.420 --> 00:28:37.039 and financial stresses 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.720 and whatever else 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.599 you face in life 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.500 and do it 00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:40.180 with joy 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:42.859 because even 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:43.779 in all of that 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:48.200 you will have Jesus. 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.819 You will be loved. 00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:52.720 You will be seeing 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.420 that which 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.599 satisfies you 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:55.680 more than anything else 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:56.299 exalted 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:58.000 in your suffering, 00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.599 in your struggle. 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:02.399 now I'm not giving you 00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:03.319 specifics about 00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:04.259 what this might look like 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:04.599 for you 00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.779 because we'll probably 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:06.879 all have different things 00:29:06.879 --> 00:29:07.419 that we're trying 00:29:07.419 --> 00:29:08.039 to hold on to 00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:09.000 alongside Jesus. 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.740 We'll all be using 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.459 different things 00:29:11.459 --> 00:29:12.359 to dilute him 00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:14.379 and ultimately 00:29:14.379 --> 00:29:15.500 the answer for all of us 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.199 is to come back 00:29:16.199 --> 00:29:16.839 to the gospel, 00:29:17.699 --> 00:29:18.879 to look to the one 00:29:18.879 --> 00:29:19.839 who died for us 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.539 while we were still 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.179 his enemies, 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.459 look to the one 00:29:22.459 --> 00:29:23.219 who rose again 00:29:23.219 --> 00:29:24.179 and sits on the throne 00:29:24.179 --> 00:29:25.019 over all creation 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:26.179 and find that he's worthy 00:29:26.179 --> 00:29:27.119 of everything 00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:27.779 or nothing. 00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.919 Find that he's sufficient 00:29:30.919 --> 00:29:32.239 in all circumstances 00:29:32.239 --> 00:29:32.779 or none. 00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:35.279 Find that he's satisfying 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.899 above anything else. 00:29:37.719 --> 00:29:38.679 The issue is not 00:29:38.679 --> 00:29:39.839 that we have tried him 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:41.379 and found him unsatisfying, 00:29:41.439 --> 00:29:42.059 the issue is that 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:43.959 we haven't gone all in. 00:29:45.739 --> 00:29:47.379 Psalm 34 verse 7 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:47.759 says, 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.919 Taste and see 00:29:48.919 --> 00:29:50.239 that the Lord is good. 00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:56.719 What are you holding on to 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.460 in your life 00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:59.279 that's now a barrier 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.019 to your joy? 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:02.460 What are you diluting 00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:04.380 your own satisfaction with? 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:10.380 Because Jesus offers 00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:11.980 immovable joy. 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:15.740 Incomparable joy. 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:18.200 Inevitable joy. 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:23.960 Imagine if just a few of us 00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:25.340 were consumed 00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:26.019 with the gospel 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.740 like this. 00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:31.680 Imagine the difference 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:32.539 that we would make 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.840 in this community. 00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:40.019 But also, 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.680 imagine 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:42.700 just how satisfying 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:44.000 it would be. 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:46.019 Imagine the joy 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:47.019 that God would have 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.680 for us 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:49.000 in our day-to-day life, 00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.720 in the good, 00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:50.440 in the bad, 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.140 in the struggle. 00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:55.320 if we were consumed 00:30:55.320 --> 00:30:56.280 with the desire 00:30:56.280 --> 00:30:57.060 that Jesus, 00:30:58.040 --> 00:30:58.740 our treasure, 00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.380 our saviour, 00:31:01.520 --> 00:31:02.340 be exalted 00:31:02.340 --> 00:31:06.140 as the all-satisfying one, 00:31:06.320 --> 00:31:08.280 the only satisfying one. 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:12.100 That's the joy 00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:13.500 that God desires for you. 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.840 That's the joy 00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:17.220 that God offers 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:17.880 to you. 00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:21.360 So what do you need 00:31:21.360 --> 00:31:22.120 to let go of 00:31:22.120 --> 00:31:23.920 so you can grab 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.620 hold of Him? 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.520 Let's pray. 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.140 Father God, 00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:36.420 we want to 00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:38.260 admit that 00:31:38.260 --> 00:31:38.760 even though 00:31:38.760 --> 00:31:40.180 it seems so obvious, 00:31:41.260 --> 00:31:42.960 even though 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:43.680 there's a part of us 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:44.740 that really does 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:45.340 want to say 00:31:45.340 --> 00:31:46.000 with conviction 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:47.000 to live as Christ, 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.819 that there are so many 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.839 things in our lives 00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.819 that we hold on to. 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.880 There are ambitions 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:53.759 that we place 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.440 before you. 00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.440 We treasure 00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:58.420 our own comfort. 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:00.779 We treasure 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.440 achievement. 00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:05.680 God, 00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:06.740 there are innumerable 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.480 things that we 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:07.839 treasure. 00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:09.640 Give us eyes 00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:10.319 to see that 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:11.160 Jesus is better. 00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:13.059 Give us eyes 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.599 to see that 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:14.480 we sabotage 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.240 our own joy 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.059 by doing it. 00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:19.159 help us 00:32:19.159 --> 00:32:19.879 to grasp 00:32:19.879 --> 00:32:20.759 what it is 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.480 that you love 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.639 people like us 00:32:22.639 --> 00:32:25.279 and enable us 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.200 to come to you 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:26.859 confident 00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:29.359 that we will 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:30.299 not be disappointed, 00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:32.480 that in you 00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:33.039 our deepest 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.480 hearts' 00:32:33.659 --> 00:32:34.500 desires are met 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:35.619 and surpassed. 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:36.940 In you 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.659 there is joy 00:32:37.659 --> 00:32:38.519 unmatched. 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:39.799 Father, 00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.440 fill us 00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:40.839 with that 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.779 annoying joy 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:43.899 so that the 00:32:43.899 --> 00:32:44.659 world around us 00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:45.300 might know 00:32:45.300 --> 00:32:46.340 that there is 00:32:46.340 --> 00:32:47.320 none like you. 00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:50.259 Thank you for 00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:50.720 Jesus. 00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:52.240 Amen.