WEBVTT

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 Well, this is great to be able to lead in today's message.

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 I was just thinking the last time that I taught in a situation like this was with a crib in the back was like 25 years ago.

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 We had a Sunday school class with a lot of young people, and we would just put the packing plays in the back and let all the babies stay with us.

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 And it reminds me of that.

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 I remember that.

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 If you would turn to Colossians chapter 1, that's where we're going to be at this morning, Colossians chapter 1, 1 through 8.

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 So turn there, and we will talk about this particular passage a lot.

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 All right, Colossians chapter 1, 1 through 8.

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 Let me read that.

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 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and Timothy, our brother, to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae.

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 Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

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 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,

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 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

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 Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing,

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 as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.

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 Just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, he's a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,

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 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

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 Let's pray.

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 Heavenly Father, we come to you again this morning, and we thank you for a time of worship.

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 We thank you for this time where we can open up your word together.

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 And Jesus, we pray for your gospel.

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 I pray for a deeper understanding of the power of your gospel, what that means in my life, in our life, in this church's life.

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 And Father, I pray that you would teach us now, and Holy Spirit, give us power as we look into these sacred words.

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 In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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 So, I like octopuses.

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 I would like one.

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 I like to watch them.

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 I'm fascinated by them.

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 I would like one for a pet, but they're also good to eat.

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 I don't know if we've had octopus, but this is the thing.

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 And I was watching a show on octopuses.

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 Is that right, octopuses?

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 Octopi?

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 However, whatever the plural is there.

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 So, I was watching this show on the octopus, and there was like, he was chasing a crab for dinner.

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 You know, like that's what they eat, and among other things, I guess.

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 I don't, I've never actually touched one.

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 I would like to someday.

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 So, this octopus, there was a big piece of coral or rock or something.

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 And talking about the cracks where the light all gets in and everything.

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 He jumped over this, or it might have been a she, I don't remember.

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 But got over this coral, and then with all of its legs, almost like a, it reached into every part of that piece of coral.

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 And there wasn't, the legs, they can get skinny, and they can get into each little crack, you know.

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 And that's what it did.

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 And then with one of them, it pulled out that crab.

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 And then he ate it.

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 You know.

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 They had like a beak inside that they crunched these crabs up with them.

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 Anyway, I thought about that because this passage today, the power of the gospel is what this message is about, is what this first, what I want to draw out of these first eight verses.

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 And when I thought about that, in my mind, I sort of equated the gospel as going into every part of the world and into our lives.

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 Sort of like that octopus that just reaches around and gets into every crack of that coral.

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 So, they worked, those tentacles worked their way into every crevice.

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 The gospel also reaches in and affects all areas of life.

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 Every bit of us, the gospel affects.

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 The power of the gospel finds its way into our lives.

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 So, Colossians is where we're at.

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 Now, I want to just give a quick background since this is the first lesson on Colossians of many.

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 Probably we'll need to come back to this a few times.

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 But just a couple of high points.

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 It was written by Paul.

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 Very few disagree with that.

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 About 60 or 61 A.D.

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 So, that means this was about 35 years, give or take.

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 We can all wrestle with this number, but about 35 years after Jesus died on the cross.

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 So, this time had elapsed.

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 And the church was going out.

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 Paul was in prison in Rome.

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 And the church at Colossae needed encouragement in their growth.

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 And there were some warnings in this book as well.

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 Many warnings about false teachers in particular.

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 But then a lot of encouragement and instruction on life, family, and going back to important concepts like the preeminence of Christ.

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 So, that's a little bit of background.

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 Paul had not been to this church in Colossae.

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 Some people say it's different.

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 Colossae is what I think.

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 Paul had not been to that church, but he may have known some of the workers that came from this church.

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 May have met them around at different points.

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 And Epaphras is mentioned, a fellow worker, and most likely an apostle with Paul, planted this particular church.

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 So, Paul himself didn't actually plant Colossae.

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 Epaphras was sent there.

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 So, the gospel is on the moon.

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 That is one of the main points of that.

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 It was spreading and bearing fruit in the world.

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 And the first eight verses of chapter one, what we just read, begins with a salutation, spiritual description of the Colossians, and some words of the gospel.

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 And that's what we're going to dive into this morning.

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 So, let's go back to verses one through three and take a look at this, what you would call a salutation or a greeting, how he opened up many of his letters.

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 It looks the same in a lot of these.

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 So, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother, to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae, grace to you and peace from God our Father.

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 So, it's to the saints and faithful brothers.

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 This, Paul immediately was encouraging them, building them up.

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 He had concerns that he explores later in the book of Colossians in this letter.

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 But right now, he's building them up, and he's talking about their faith and important parts of who they are.

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 And one of the most important, they were saints.

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 These were believers.

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 They were ones that were carrying this gospel out from the church that they were a part of.

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 They, this is a great tactful beginning by Paul when you think about it.

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 He did have tough stuff to talk about, but he opened up with the good stuff of who they were and what they were about.

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 And this is really a great way to interact with people, isn't it?

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 Make a habit of offering positive, strengthening feedback to people.

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 Do you do that?

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 Like, there's so many times, I want to talk about it later, but so many times when we have opportunity to give that encouraging feedback, and we should.

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 Maybe it's on our minds or the tip of our tongue, we have to just offer it.

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 Just give these encouraging words to one another, even if something negative needs to be addressed.

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 Maybe in business or managing, sometimes you start with, well, Jim, you're doing great.

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 You know, I really like the way you do that.

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 But, you know, then you're hammering me over whatever you've done wrong.

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 But anyway, so Paul's sort of starting out this way in a very encouraging way to a group that he does want to also talk serious as well.

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 So a great, great tactful beginning.

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 Paul and Timothy are great examples of perseverance, love, care.

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 They were apostolic, compassionate, understanding.

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 And probably one of the main things that I see here at the beginning is they were invested in the Colossians.

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 In their hearts, in their minds, in the way that they saw this group of people, they were invested in them.

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 Beginning with verse 3 is when he starts to share his thankfulness in a prayer and in their prayers.

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 But when I think about this invested, who are you invested in?

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 This is a small group right now, right?

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 And it's really cool to be a part of this group right at this moment.

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 It's not going to stay this way, is it?

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 We'll look back in however long, whatever distance of time.

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 We'll look back and we'll think about these days and be like, laugh at each other.

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 Wow, can you believe, you know, this is what it looked like?

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 Once it starts to grow, once people start to come in, this question just keeps coming up.

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 Who are we invested in?

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 Right now, who are we invested in?

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 There's an investment that we put into our family, our MC, our church.

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 But there's also this investment that truly, I guess last Wednesday, we started to really consider and think about and plan for.

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 And that's the investment in Raytown, namely.

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 How are we going to invest in them?

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 Does it look the same way as it did with Paul and Timothy?

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 Who's the Lord leading you to be invested in, in his power?

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 Not just in what we come up with or what we think might be good,

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 but how do we invest in his power with one another and now on mission, now that we're on mission?

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 Verse 3, he expresses thankfulness.

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 Let's look at that.

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 Verse 3, we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

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 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints.

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 The apostles are consistent.

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 They are all, look at that, we always, in verse 3, we always thank God.

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 They're consistent with this investment in the church at Colossae.

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 The apostles are offering prayers, remembering the Colossians, when we pray.

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 So we get this picture of these guys, at least Paul and Timothy, probably the rest others as well.

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 But at least these two guys, remembering this church in prayer and speaking of them.

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 He goes over their names later, speaking about them and praying for them specifically in their needs

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 and whatever encouragements there.

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 Paul and Timothy also are praying together for the Colossians and considering them together.

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 The testimony of the Colossians begins in verse 4.

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 So, we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.

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 Since verse 4, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus,

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 of the love that you have for all the saints, and then beginning of 5,

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 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

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 There's faith in Jesus, love for all the saints, and hope laid up for them in heaven.

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 Does that ring a bell?

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 These three things, this triad of maybe 1 Corinthians 13, we know better.

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 There's faith, hope, and love, right?

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 Same three group there of characteristics.

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 1 Thessalonians 1, 2 through 3.

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 1 Thessalonians 1, 2 through 3 also demonstrates this triad.

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 He says,

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 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,

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 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith,

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 and labor of love, and steadfastness of hope.

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 Here he's talking to the Thessalonians at the beginning of that book.

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 So, your work produced by faith, labor motivated by love, and endurance inspired by hope.

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 These three go together.

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 When one of these three, if you will, rises in us, the other two do as well.

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 These all work with each other.

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 And so, that's why you see it in the various ways.

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 Let's examine Christian hope, the idea of hope.

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 So, I can find myself, I learned this about myself.

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 I can find myself hoarding my time, and my energy, and my words.

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 Now, this is, you know, even God-given words.

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 I can find myself hoarding that, or holding on to it, when I should be letting it go.

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 Right?

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 That's kind of what hoarding is.

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 We've seen hoarders, you know, the TV show.

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 You know, that's sometimes what my heart can look like.

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 This is changing, and it has changed a lot over the last couple years.

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 But once I really realized this thing about myself, is that I was holding all of that inside and not giving it away.

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 I came up with this illustration.

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 I love illustrations, by the way.

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 I've got a couple more, because I really like it.

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 I did tons of illustrations.

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 I need to hold back on them.

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 But anyway, this is the illustration I came up with, and it really helped me.

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 It's like coins.

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 Like, you have, like, ten coins.

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 And when I would go, I came up with this a couple years ago, maybe the first time.

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 And so I would go to church, and instead of listening to lies like, you don't have a good word for anybody.

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 You're not contributing to anything.

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 You don't have anything to share.

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 Instead of listening to that, I pictured myself having ten coins.

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 And these coins, I would get to church, and I would try to give away.

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 And those coins were in the form of a good word, a word from the Lord, an encouragement, asking somebody about their life somehow or how something went.

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 Instead of being turned inward and expecting something to be given to me, I wanted to give.

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 And I wanted to sort of encourage myself or force myself to do that.

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 And be that sort of non-hoarding person, right?

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 Give these things away, what God has given to me.

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 Well, when it comes to this thought of the triad, there's Christian hope.

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 And I think how this is sort of playing out with these Colossians is when they stand on hope, the hope of heaven, the hope that Jesus gives, that fact doesn't leave.

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 And what is produced then is love, right?

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 If I trust in him for eternal life, for he's got me, he will never forsake me or leave me, then my love for the saints grows.

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 My faith in what he does in this relationship grows.

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 You see, the three are dynamically connected there.

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 Verse 8, I mean 5, I'm sorry, 5.

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 He begins it with the end of that triad, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

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 But then he says, and it almost sounds, or the beginning of it there says, because of the hope laid out for you.

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 That's just really illustrating the fact that these are all interconnected.

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 So there's faith and there's love because of the hope that you have in heaven.

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 So it really plays into the other two.

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 They were heavenly minded.

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 These Colossians, they were heavenly minded.

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 Because that's what hope is, right?

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 When we think about the future and what the Lord has for us and the idea of heaven, that's heavenly minded.

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 Thinking that eternally.

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 John Piper, he has a good quote on this.

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 He says, it is not heavenly mindedness that hinders love on this earth.

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 It is worldly mindedness.

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 And therefore, the great fountain of love in the powerful freeing confidence of Christian hope.

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 So, worldly mindedness is not where love comes from.

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 It's the heavenly mindedness.

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 It's the hope that we have.

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 Are you confident in Christian hope?

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 Or does this world and its worldly mindedness drag you down?

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 Or are you confident in this hope?

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 Can you stand on that looking forward?

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 Well, this hope is part of the gospel.

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 Look at 5b, verse 5b.

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 So, he says, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel.

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 You heard of this hope.

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 You heard of this eternal life, this hope of heaven.

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 Of this you heard in the gospel.

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 The word of truth is the gospel.

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 And the gospel is active.

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 It's spreading.

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 If we look on to verse 6, or end of 5.

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 Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing, as it also does among you since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.

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 It's spreading.

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 It's spreading.

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 It's come to you.

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 It's going out into the world.

00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:04.460
 It's bearing fruit in the world and in you.

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:08.700
 And it is increasing in the world and in you.

00:20:10.379 --> 00:20:12.359
 The gospel is powerful.

00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:13.980
 It's powerful.

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:21.220
 It's tentacles, if you will, are reaching out and working into the world.

00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.899
 Romans 1.16.

00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:34.480
 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:37.440
 1 Corinthians 1.18.

00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:45.980
 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.

00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:54.200
 The gospel has the power to immediately do these things.

00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:56.480
 Look back at the beginning of 6.

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:59.620
 He says, which has come to you.

00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:02.220
 Wait.

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:05.680
 Just before that.

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:15.259
 Where does he say the day of?

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.339
 Verse 6, is it?

00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:20.480
 Which has come to you.

00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.839
 Indeed, the whole world is bearing fruit.

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:22.460
 Oh, yeah.

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:24.940
 As it does among you.

00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:27.539
 Since the day you heard it.

00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.319
 Since the day.

00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:29.100
 So it's immediate.

00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:31.100
 This is immediate power.

00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:34.039
 It's immediate power to bear fruit.

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.519
 Faith, hope, and love.

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:39.220
 What Paul is commending them for.

00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:41.960
 The gospel working out through them.

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.759
 Faith, hope, and love.

00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:49.379
 But it's also immediate in redeeming people from death's grip.

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:50.960
 Immediate.

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.440
 Their lives are different.

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.819
 It changes lives.

00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.480
 It heals.

00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:55.740
 It sets free.

00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:56.559
 Immediately.

00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.240
 Immediately.

00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:04.819
 Gospel has the power to increase and go throughout the world.

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:12.940
 Increasing in lives, churches, and all corners of the globe.

00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:21.420
 The gospel itself is the life-giving agent of change, which is another way of saying that God acts in the gospel.

00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:30.579
 The gospel of Jesus Christ is moving through Raytown.

00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:35.839
 And this, I think, is the crux of what I want to bring out.

00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:39.299
 What do you believe?

00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:41.460
 What do you believe on this?

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:50.240
 Do you believe that this gospel can immediately save and change and heal and set people free?

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:52.259
 Do you believe that?

00:22:56.099 --> 00:23:01.400
 We have to answer this question in our own hearts to be a messenger of this gospel.

00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:12.700
 Because if we go out and we do not believe this thing that we're saying, then who's going to listen to us?

00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:15.519
 Who's going to understand this as truth?

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:21.280
 If it hasn't even infected or changed me, you understand?

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:26.139
 Like, this has to be what is on our mind.

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.039
 Is it powerful?

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.639
 Will it save?

00:23:29.399 --> 00:23:33.619
 Will people change as we evangelize, as we go out?

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.980
 And I'm talking to somebody.

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:43.700
 Am I so worried or concerned about me and what I'm saying or my own thoughts or whatever, my fear, blah, blah, blah, you name it.

00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:48.460
 Or am I concerned about the gospel changing that person?

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:51.680
 And do I believe it?

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:59.940
 If I don't believe it, it's just going to be an exercise in a memory, an act of memorizing verses and words,

00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:03.660
 and then going out and standing in front of somebody and parroting that.

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:06.779
 That's all it will amount to be.

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:17.960
 I used to sit and play cards on a Mark 48 torpedo in the torpedo room.

00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:19.259
 There was a whole bunch of them.

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:25.220
 And on the boat, sometimes when we would go on long deployments,

00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:31.119
 we would actually set beds up because there wasn't enough space for everybody.

00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:37.559
 We would set up like a little flat board or bed and strap it onto a Mark 48 torpedo.

00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:39.319
 Right?

00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:43.619
 And so we would sit there when they weren't sleeping in it,

00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:50.459
 and we would play cards on that and sort of straddle these torpedoes to play cards.

00:24:50.460 --> 00:25:00.019
 And, you know, we were sitting on a torpedo that carried a 700-pound high explosive,

00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:02.620
 and we didn't think a thing of it.

00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:09.360
 It was no big deal to sit on this torpedo and visit or whatever we were doing.

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:19.579
 We got used to hanging out, sitting on that much power, and it became nothing to us.

00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:22.159
 It became ordinary to us.

00:25:22.439 --> 00:25:24.319
 It was just a routine thing.

00:25:24.659 --> 00:25:25.740
 It made no difference.

00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.980
 It was another chair on the boat.

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.559
 We could sit anywhere.

00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:31.059
 This was just a place we could hide away.

00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:33.000
 It was routine and ordinary.

00:25:35.399 --> 00:25:39.319
 May the gospel never be ordinary to us.

00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.740
 This is power.

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:46.519
 The gospel is power.

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:54.680
 When we treat it like ordinary, when we treat it like it's just something that we memorized a Roman road,

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:59.099
 now we're going to go share this with somebody, and then walk away and feel great about ourself,

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:03.460
 that is not gospel power.

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:04.500
 Right?

00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:12.700
 If we are not allowing the gospel to work in our own lives, to change our own lives,

00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:17.660
 how can we possibly explain that to somebody else?

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:22.660
 May it never be ordinary.

00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:23.619
 Is it powerful?

00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.480
 Will it save?

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:27.559
 Will people that we talk to be changed?

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:33.839
 Here's the big question, though, which has to be answered first is,

00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:37.200
 is the gospel accomplishing these things in your life?

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:43.519
 Is the gospel accomplishing these things in your life?

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:48.700
 I just described a challenge that I had to face up to.

00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:54.400
 The idea of I'm holding back what God has given in some way.

00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:56.940
 I'm hoarding or I'm holding back.

00:26:57.299 --> 00:27:01.059
 Now, I've spent a little bit of time with you guys,

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:08.599
 and I know that some of you also can deal with this as well.

00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:09.279
 All right?

00:27:10.439 --> 00:27:18.959
 I want to encourage you that the way that we employ what God has given in our gifts and talents

00:27:18.959 --> 00:27:20.939
 is when we believe.

00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:27.139
 When we tap into that power, and he works through us,

00:27:27.419 --> 00:27:34.279
 and he gives us those words or that action or that love or that care

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:36.679
 or that willingness to sacrifice.

00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:39.580
 That's his power through us.

00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:41.400
 It's not of ourselves.

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:43.039
 Not of ourselves.

00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.640
 Look at verse 6 again.

00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:54.740
 This is kind of where I hung out a bit, and I thought it was really great.

00:27:55.340 --> 00:27:57.160
 So, I'm sorry, let's start at the 5B.

00:27:57.240 --> 00:28:00.620
 If this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,

00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:04.639
 which has come to you as indeed in the whole world,

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:11.719
 it is bearing fruit and increasing, as it also does among you since the day you heard it

00:28:11.719 --> 00:28:15.119
 and understood the grace of God in truth.

00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:25.299
 Do you truly appreciate God's grace?

00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:31.159
 Verse 6, that's it from the ESV, the way I just read it.

00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:34.620
 In the Christian standard, it says it a little bit different,

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:38.259
 but it helps to sort of understand this little phrase better.

00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.779
 He says,

00:28:40.320 --> 00:28:48.500
 since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God's grace.

00:28:48.500 --> 00:29:03.299
 So, there was a point in time where you recognized that you were elect by God.

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:12.359
 He brought you, he gave you life and regenerated you.

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:16.639
 You recognized and understood, I am elect of God,

00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:22.219
 and I truly appreciated God's grace from that point.

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.419
 Now, did you know everything about it?

00:29:23.479 --> 00:29:23.719
 No.

00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:27.139
 Is that a learning thing until the day we die?

00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:30.439
 Absolutely, because it is so deep.

00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:38.279
 Let's turn to Psalm 108, 8 through 14.

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:39.139
 Psalms 108.

00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:45.179
 I want to talk about grace for just a second.

00:29:50.240 --> 00:30:02.139
 Psalm 108, and we want to look at 8 through 14.

00:30:03.439 --> 00:30:04.839
 Ah, where is it 106?

00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.799
 I think I've got the wrong.

00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:11.059
 I've got a typo.

00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:20.279
 Sorry.

00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:25.939
 I'm looking for where he knows our frame.

00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:29.759
 If somebody, I've got 108, but that's not right.

00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:30.559
 That's 103.

00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.479
 103.

00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:33.199
 Oh, maybe it is.

00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:35.339
 I probably should have put it on my glasses.

00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:35.819
 I don't know.

00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:38.359
 Okay, let's get to 103.

00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:41.059
 Yeah, 103, 8 through 14.

00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:41.539
 Yeah.

00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:47.619
 Okay.

00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:50.220
 Yes.

00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:51.859
 Okay.

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:54.740
 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger,

00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:57.359
 and abounding in steadfast love.

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:59.319
 Now, as we listen to this, think about grace.

00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:02.720
 Think about the understanding,

00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:06.960
 truly understanding the grace of God as we read through this, okay?

00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:10.960
 And where we stand in respect to him.

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:16.559
 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:20.740
 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:27.160
 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

00:31:27.160 --> 00:31:35.120
 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.

00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:41.259
 As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

00:31:41.800 --> 00:31:48.400
 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:53.500
 For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are death.

00:31:56.060 --> 00:32:03.000
 So a couple key things that jump out to me for grace is slow to anger.

00:32:06.040 --> 00:32:09.420
 Slow to anger does not deal with us according to our sin.

00:32:10.120 --> 00:32:11.120
 We're forgiven.

00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:17.819
 How long does it take to truly understand that?

00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:20.799
 To really let that sink in?

00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:21.979
 Right?

00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:22.799
 A lifetime.

00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:23.779
 A lifetime.

00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:26.839
 Sin was taken on the cross.

00:32:27.979 --> 00:32:29.959
 1 Peter 2, 24 and 25.

00:32:29.959 --> 00:32:35.179
 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.

00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:39.119
 That we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:41.679
 By his wounds you have been healed.

00:32:41.959 --> 00:32:43.079
 Not by our wounds.

00:32:44.219 --> 00:32:45.539
 We're not healed by our wounds.

00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.199
 That's grace.

00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:47.579
 That is grace.

00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:53.639
 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

00:32:54.159 --> 00:32:59.819
 He also talks about in 103, steadfast love.

00:33:00.139 --> 00:33:01.000
 He mentions this.

00:33:01.139 --> 00:33:02.219
 It doesn't go anywhere.

00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:04.319
 He's not fickle.

00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:09.299
 He's not going to be upset with us and leave or walk out the room or something like this.

00:33:11.419 --> 00:33:12.599
 Compassion on his children.

00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:16.579
 In verse 14, this is one that has just really stuck with me.

00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:18.439
 He knows me.

00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:20.879
 He knows that I'm...

00:33:22.659 --> 00:33:23.740
 He knows my frame.

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:30.299
 He knows my errors, my mistakes, where I fall, where I...

00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:32.299
 Just...

00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:35.279
 My propensities towards sin and problem.

00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:37.660
 He knows these things about me.

00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:45.440
 So do you truly appreciate his grace?

00:33:46.800 --> 00:33:47.980
 This grace...

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:49.060
 And that's just a snippet.

00:33:49.140 --> 00:33:50.240
 That's just a little bit.

00:33:50.580 --> 00:33:54.380
 We're just hitting some high points here in those points of 103.

00:33:55.620 --> 00:33:59.759
 How do you know that you truly appreciate his grace?

00:34:00.040 --> 00:34:04.000
 So this is sort of a personal heart check that can be done, right?

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.960
 Uh...

00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:06.720
 So do you exhibit these qualities?

00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:09.460
 And Paul mentions these with the Colossians.

00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:11.320
 So I just want to go back over them.

00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:13.059
 Specifically, faith, hope, and love.

00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:15.059
 That's kind of what these are all couched in.

00:34:15.139 --> 00:34:20.000
 But if I exhibit those qualities, then just like the Colossians,

00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:22.420
 because he says, you guys have this,

00:34:23.099 --> 00:34:28.460
 and you are understanding deeply the grace of God.

00:34:28.719 --> 00:34:31.960
 So let's take some of these qualities and see if they apply.

00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:34.000
 This is our own personal heart check is what we do.

00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:36.360
 So first thing is,

00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:41.260
 do you recognize this truth in your beliefs?

00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:44.320
 Or does your faith grow?

00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:49.840
 Do you recognize this truth of grace in how you believe?

00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:51.900
 I believe he has forgiven me.

00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:53.860
 I believe he knows me.

00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:56.800
 I believe he does not hold my sin against me.

00:34:57.980 --> 00:35:00.300
 Do I believe those things?

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:04.280
 And then do I see that evidenced,

00:35:04.340 --> 00:35:05.800
 that I do believe in those things?

00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:07.120
 Another area,

00:35:08.080 --> 00:35:09.880
 you will behave similar.

00:35:10.660 --> 00:35:12.200
 Love, grace, forgiveness.

00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:15.560
 If that has been given to me,

00:35:15.660 --> 00:35:21.220
 if I believe in this grace,

00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:22.700
 I'll act like him.

00:35:22.699 --> 00:35:25.699
 And I will forgive as I have been forgiven,

00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:27.039
 like Jesus says.

00:35:27.919 --> 00:35:30.599
 I will love because he has loved me.

00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:35.339
 These things will naturally come forward in my life.

00:35:36.659 --> 00:35:39.460
 I will find rest in him or faith.

00:35:39.879 --> 00:35:41.599
 Take my yoke and I will give you rest,

00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.359
 Jesus says.

00:35:43.359 --> 00:35:46.399
 His grace leads me and shepherds me.

00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:48.159
 That's if I believe this.

00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:52.579
 And you will be heavenly minded or hope-filled.

00:35:53.299 --> 00:35:54.000
 The Colossians,

00:35:54.179 --> 00:35:56.699
 this describes their state,

00:35:56.879 --> 00:35:59.579
 what Paul was telling us about this group of people,

00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:02.739
 is these were characteristics of them.

00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:04.819
 His grace prepares a place for us

00:36:04.819 --> 00:36:07.480
 that we don't deserve.

00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:11.159
 It's that hope and that heavenly mindedness.

00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:13.099
 We don't deserve heaven.

00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:15.779
 We don't deserve to live with him eternally.

00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:18.500
 That's not something that we've done

00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:20.079
 something good to get there

00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:21.779
 or be a part of that.

00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.559
 It's his grace.

00:36:24.339 --> 00:36:25.380
 Colossians came to a place

00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:26.599
 where they heard the gospel

00:36:26.599 --> 00:36:28.699
 and truly appreciated,

00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:29.500
 it says,

00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:30.699
 God's grace.

00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:34.500
 The results were seen and noted by Paul.

00:36:36.259 --> 00:36:38.480
 Evidence of the power of the gospel

00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:40.699
 must show in our lives.

00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:44.279
 It's tied to what we believe.

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:46.299
 When we're challenged,

00:36:47.199 --> 00:36:49.339
 we take that power

00:36:49.339 --> 00:36:50.619
 and we stand on it

00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:51.779
 and we meet the challenge.

00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:53.559
 Whether that's a personal thing,

00:36:53.659 --> 00:36:55.859
 whether it's a Christchurch thing,

00:36:55.939 --> 00:36:57.259
 we meet this challenge

00:36:57.259 --> 00:36:58.839
 in his power

00:36:58.839 --> 00:37:00.759
 because we believe it.

00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:02.519
 Because we believe it.

00:37:03.339 --> 00:37:03.519
 Now,

00:37:03.939 --> 00:37:05.659
 there are some areas

00:37:05.659 --> 00:37:07.739
 that we can,

00:37:08.319 --> 00:37:09.899
 by flipping that coin,

00:37:09.900 --> 00:37:11.300
 we can see

00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:13.460
 where powerlessness

00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:16.200
 is evident in our life.

00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:16.840
 Okay?

00:37:17.320 --> 00:37:17.579
 So,

00:37:17.740 --> 00:37:19.000
 you see what I'm doing here?

00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:20.900
 The gospel has power

00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:22.900
 far beyond ourselves.

00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:24.200
 It's of God.

00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:26.119
 But sometimes we can forget

00:37:26.119 --> 00:37:27.920
 and attempt

00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:30.139
 to circumvent that

00:37:30.139 --> 00:37:31.260
 and work on our own.

00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:32.619
 We can try to do things

00:37:32.619 --> 00:37:34.320
 by the arm of flesh,

00:37:34.780 --> 00:37:39.139
 not in his strength.

00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:39.819
 So,

00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:41.199
 here's just a couple areas

00:37:41.199 --> 00:37:42.440
 that I want to bring up

00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:43.819
 that we can,

00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:45.839
 there's flags in our life

00:37:45.839 --> 00:37:47.460
 that show us

00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:48.539
 that we're off track,

00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:50.739
 that we're trying to operate

00:37:50.739 --> 00:37:51.480
 in our own power

00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:52.619
 and not in God's power.

00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:53.079
 Right?

00:37:53.679 --> 00:37:54.099
 So,

00:37:54.299 --> 00:37:54.960
 first one,

00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:56.400
 and this is,

00:37:56.859 --> 00:37:57.460
 I've got a couple

00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:58.279
 that I think are key.

00:37:58.379 --> 00:37:59.199
 I think they're all pretty good,

00:37:59.259 --> 00:38:00.519
 but this one I think

00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:01.119
 is kind of key

00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:01.940
 because it's easy.

00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:03.460
 This is an easy thing.

00:38:03.759 --> 00:38:04.440
 The first one,

00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:05.099
 how do we know

00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:05.960
 that we're off track?

00:38:05.960 --> 00:38:07.720
 Our emotions take over.

00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:10.039
 Our emotions take over.

00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:10.940
 Anger,

00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:11.619
 frustration,

00:38:11.880 --> 00:38:12.260
 jealousy,

00:38:13.940 --> 00:38:14.579
 selflessness.

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:15.780
 I mean,

00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.579
 selfishness,

00:38:16.679 --> 00:38:17.260
 not selflessness.

00:38:17.940 --> 00:38:18.599
 These things,

00:38:18.699 --> 00:38:20.000
 when these things happen,

00:38:20.539 --> 00:38:21.280
 we realize,

00:38:21.400 --> 00:38:21.699
 hey man,

00:38:21.740 --> 00:38:22.900
 I'm off track here.

00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:25.079
 I'm about me now.

00:38:25.400 --> 00:38:26.300
 I hear it.

00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:27.460
 I hear it in my words

00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:28.360
 in the ways

00:38:28.360 --> 00:38:28.960
 that I'm acting.

00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:30.500
 Galatians 5,

00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:31.460
 19 through 24.

00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:32.440
 Let's look at that.

00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:34.000
 And it just really outlines

00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:35.320
 pretty much all of them.

00:38:35.960 --> 00:38:37.199
 Galatians 5.

00:38:43.139 --> 00:38:44.519
 Now the works of the flesh

00:38:44.519 --> 00:38:45.000
 are evident.

00:38:45.179 --> 00:38:46.059
 Sexual immorality,

00:38:46.220 --> 00:38:46.599
 impurity,

00:38:46.760 --> 00:38:47.440
 sensuality,

00:38:47.960 --> 00:38:48.780
 idolatry.

00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:51.440
 Idolatry creeps in

00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:52.659
 so many ways

00:38:52.659 --> 00:38:53.320
 when we're not,

00:38:53.579 --> 00:38:54.659
 when we're not believing

00:38:54.659 --> 00:38:55.760
 in the power of the gospel.

00:38:57.039 --> 00:38:57.679
 Sorcery.

00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:58.740
 I don't know how many of us

00:38:58.740 --> 00:38:59.420
 get into that,

00:38:59.539 --> 00:39:00.840
 but it's possible,

00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:01.260
 right?

00:39:02.599 --> 00:39:03.159
 Enmity,

00:39:03.159 --> 00:39:03.579
 or,

00:39:03.579 --> 00:39:03.940
 or,

00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:04.380
 you know,

00:39:04.380 --> 00:39:06.000
 strife,

00:39:06.200 --> 00:39:06.640
 jealousy,

00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:07.800
 fits of anger,

00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:08.579
 rivalries,

00:39:08.740 --> 00:39:09.380
 dissensions,

00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:10.180
 divisions,

00:39:11.860 --> 00:39:12.200
 envy,

00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:13.420
 drunkenness,

00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:13.840
 orgies,

00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.900
 and things like these.

00:39:16.099 --> 00:39:16.640
 Man,

00:39:16.840 --> 00:39:18.320
 if we as a group

00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:19.900
 stop trusting

00:39:19.900 --> 00:39:21.119
 in the power

00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:22.019
 of the gospel,

00:39:22.900 --> 00:39:24.019
 there's a couple

00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:24.360
 of these

00:39:24.360 --> 00:39:25.720
 that really stand out

00:39:25.720 --> 00:39:26.140
 to me.

00:39:26.139 --> 00:39:28.259
 dissensions,

00:39:28.819 --> 00:39:29.519
 divisions,

00:39:30.019 --> 00:39:31.679
 we'll see it

00:39:31.679 --> 00:39:32.440
 as a group.

00:39:32.980 --> 00:39:33.739
 We can see it

00:39:33.739 --> 00:39:34.639
 in our own lives

00:39:34.639 --> 00:39:35.460
 when these things

00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:36.879
 start cropping up,

00:39:37.460 --> 00:39:38.859
 when we're even

00:39:38.859 --> 00:39:39.819
 doing the work

00:39:39.819 --> 00:39:40.940
 quote of the Lord.

00:39:41.819 --> 00:39:42.699
 We're here,

00:39:42.879 --> 00:39:43.759
 we're serving,

00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:45.599
 but what happens

00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:46.359
 when these things

00:39:46.359 --> 00:39:46.960
 show up

00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:48.420
 as we operate together?

00:39:48.699 --> 00:39:49.400
 What happens

00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:50.079
 when we go out

00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:51.039
 and we're evangelizing

00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:52.079
 and these things

00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:52.699
 show up?

00:39:53.599 --> 00:39:54.359
 We're working

00:39:54.359 --> 00:39:55.019
 in our own power.

00:39:55.019 --> 00:39:56.039
 We're not in the Lord's power.

00:39:56.639 --> 00:39:57.300
 We're not working

00:39:57.300 --> 00:39:58.059
 in the power

00:39:58.059 --> 00:39:58.619
 of the gospel

00:39:58.619 --> 00:39:59.719
 that saves.

00:40:02.420 --> 00:40:03.000
 Emotions,

00:40:03.559 --> 00:40:05.139
 super key

00:40:05.139 --> 00:40:05.980
 to knowing

00:40:05.980 --> 00:40:07.280
 when I'm off

00:40:07.280 --> 00:40:09.039
 on my own way.

00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:11.019
 And it's so easy

00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:12.079
 because we see it right away.

00:40:12.739 --> 00:40:13.360
 Second thing,

00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:14.059
 exhaustion.

00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:16.619
 No refreshing

00:40:16.619 --> 00:40:17.820
 of my body,

00:40:18.039 --> 00:40:18.340
 mind,

00:40:18.380 --> 00:40:18.860
 or spirit.

00:40:19.300 --> 00:40:20.759
 I'm just exhausted.

00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:22.000
 I don't want

00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:22.759
 to go further.

00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:23.800
 I'm tired.

00:40:25.019 --> 00:40:26.300
 not interested

00:40:26.300 --> 00:40:27.759
 in the work

00:40:27.759 --> 00:40:28.500
 anymore.

00:40:29.139 --> 00:40:30.059
 Maybe even

00:40:30.059 --> 00:40:30.719
 spiritually,

00:40:30.900 --> 00:40:31.880
 exhaustion leads

00:40:31.880 --> 00:40:33.079
 to a

00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:34.780
 letting go

00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:35.719
 of maybe

00:40:35.719 --> 00:40:36.820
 spiritual disciplines,

00:40:36.940 --> 00:40:37.519
 things like that.

00:40:37.780 --> 00:40:38.559
 These things start

00:40:38.559 --> 00:40:40.259
 to go by the wayside

00:40:40.259 --> 00:40:41.340
 when I get

00:40:41.340 --> 00:40:42.159
 exhausted

00:40:42.159 --> 00:40:42.820
 in this way.

00:40:43.440 --> 00:40:43.599
 Well,

00:40:44.420 --> 00:40:46.099
 that's obviously

00:40:46.099 --> 00:40:46.659
 not

00:40:46.659 --> 00:40:48.960
 how the Lord

00:40:48.960 --> 00:40:49.840
 designed

00:40:49.840 --> 00:40:51.019
 His power.

00:40:51.720 --> 00:40:51.860
 It,

00:40:52.860 --> 00:40:53.579
 um,

00:40:53.800 --> 00:40:55.380
 we don't find

00:40:55.380 --> 00:40:55.860
 ourselves

00:40:55.860 --> 00:40:56.539
 exhausted

00:40:56.539 --> 00:40:57.660
 like that.

00:40:57.940 --> 00:40:58.940
 That's striving.

00:40:59.539 --> 00:41:00.500
 That's striving

00:41:00.500 --> 00:41:01.539
 on our own

00:41:01.539 --> 00:41:02.500
 in some way,

00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:02.680
 shape,

00:41:02.720 --> 00:41:03.039
 or form.

00:41:03.460 --> 00:41:04.200
 Third thing

00:41:04.200 --> 00:41:04.960
 is confusion.

00:41:07.220 --> 00:41:08.079
 We know

00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:08.920
 that we're not

00:41:08.920 --> 00:41:09.559
 operating

00:41:09.559 --> 00:41:09.980
 in the power

00:41:09.980 --> 00:41:10.500
 of the gospel

00:41:10.500 --> 00:41:11.460
 when confusion

00:41:11.460 --> 00:41:13.260
 is abound.

00:41:13.260 --> 00:41:15.360
 trying to make

00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:16.160
 my own

00:41:16.160 --> 00:41:16.880
 plans,

00:41:17.500 --> 00:41:18.480
 trying to

00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:19.700
 get other

00:41:19.700 --> 00:41:20.500
 people to get

00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:21.140
 onto my

00:41:21.140 --> 00:41:21.560
 plan,

00:41:22.660 --> 00:41:24.120
 trying to

00:41:24.120 --> 00:41:25.720
 make

00:41:25.720 --> 00:41:26.800
 these things,

00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:28.800
 whatever plan,

00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:29.960
 work out

00:41:29.960 --> 00:41:31.560
 on my own.

00:41:32.260 --> 00:41:32.860
 Um,

00:41:32.860 --> 00:41:36.300
 sometimes

00:41:36.300 --> 00:41:36.840
 this,

00:41:36.840 --> 00:41:37.360
 uh,

00:41:37.460 --> 00:41:38.079
 steamrolling

00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:38.579
 others

00:41:38.579 --> 00:41:39.260
 can be a

00:41:39.260 --> 00:41:39.940
 part of this,

00:41:40.780 --> 00:41:41.160
 you know,

00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:41.660
 just,

00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:42.400
 just running

00:41:42.400 --> 00:41:42.920
 over people

00:41:42.920 --> 00:41:43.599
 because I

00:41:43.599 --> 00:41:44.519
 have a plan.

00:41:44.760 --> 00:41:45.559
 I have an

00:41:45.559 --> 00:41:46.039
 idea,

00:41:46.039 --> 00:41:47.740
 and I don't

00:41:47.740 --> 00:41:48.280
 want anybody

00:41:48.280 --> 00:41:49.320
 else to,

00:41:49.440 --> 00:41:50.579
 to get

00:41:50.579 --> 00:41:51.300
 in my way.

00:41:52.140 --> 00:41:53.059
 Red flag

00:41:53.059 --> 00:41:53.740
 right away,

00:41:53.800 --> 00:41:54.340
 isn't that?

00:41:55.900 --> 00:41:56.460
 Confusion,

00:41:56.940 --> 00:41:57.740
 and that's

00:41:57.740 --> 00:41:58.019
 personal,

00:41:58.019 --> 00:41:58.760
 that's personal

00:41:58.760 --> 00:41:59.220
 confusion,

00:41:59.780 --> 00:41:59.980
 right?

00:42:00.019 --> 00:42:00.660
 It could cause

00:42:00.660 --> 00:42:01.220
 other confusion

00:42:01.220 --> 00:42:01.760
 as well,

00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:02.579
 but,

00:42:02.579 --> 00:42:03.279
 but I

00:42:03.279 --> 00:42:03.960
 can tell

00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:04.559
 when I'm

00:42:04.559 --> 00:42:05.059
 off track

00:42:05.059 --> 00:42:05.940
 when I'm

00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:06.500
 confused,

00:42:06.500 --> 00:42:07.199
 and I'm

00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:07.579
 going about

00:42:07.579 --> 00:42:08.039
 things my

00:42:08.039 --> 00:42:08.259
 way.

00:42:08.840 --> 00:42:09.380
 Fourth thing

00:42:09.380 --> 00:42:12.139
 is disregarding

00:42:12.139 --> 00:42:13.019
 God's timing

00:42:13.019 --> 00:42:13.900
 or instructions.

00:42:16.019 --> 00:42:16.819
 One good

00:42:16.819 --> 00:42:17.400
 example,

00:42:17.659 --> 00:42:18.079
 uh,

00:42:18.299 --> 00:42:18.900
 of how we

00:42:18.900 --> 00:42:19.299
 should do

00:42:19.299 --> 00:42:19.980
 it is in

00:42:19.980 --> 00:42:20.480
 Acts 1,

00:42:20.519 --> 00:42:20.900
 when they

00:42:20.900 --> 00:42:21.539
 were to

00:42:21.539 --> 00:42:22.440
 wait on

00:42:22.440 --> 00:42:22.759
 the Holy

00:42:22.759 --> 00:42:23.739
 Spirit to

00:42:23.739 --> 00:42:23.980
 come.

00:42:24.559 --> 00:42:25.340
 One bad

00:42:25.340 --> 00:42:26.239
 example is

00:42:26.239 --> 00:42:26.940
 Saul getting

00:42:26.940 --> 00:42:27.619
 out ahead,

00:42:27.759 --> 00:42:28.480
 King Saul,

00:42:29.119 --> 00:42:29.460
 um,

00:42:29.500 --> 00:42:30.099
 was just in

00:42:30.099 --> 00:42:30.460
 our reading,

00:42:30.539 --> 00:42:30.759
 if you're

00:42:30.759 --> 00:42:31.279
 doing the

00:42:31.279 --> 00:42:31.860
 McShundry,

00:42:31.940 --> 00:42:32.239
 I think it

00:42:32.239 --> 00:42:32.419
 was this

00:42:32.419 --> 00:42:32.919
 last week

00:42:32.919 --> 00:42:34.139
 or something

00:42:34.139 --> 00:42:34.439
 like that

00:42:34.439 --> 00:42:34.899
 a week ago.

00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:35.239
 I don't

00:42:35.239 --> 00:42:35.379
 know.

00:42:35.679 --> 00:42:36.259
 But anyway,

00:42:36.519 --> 00:42:36.939
 so he,

00:42:37.039 --> 00:42:37.819
 he is,

00:42:37.979 --> 00:42:38.500
 uh,

00:42:38.559 --> 00:42:39.259
 going out

00:42:39.259 --> 00:42:39.799
 to battle

00:42:39.799 --> 00:42:40.299
 because he

00:42:40.299 --> 00:42:40.759
 doesn't want

00:42:40.759 --> 00:42:40.959
 to wait

00:42:40.959 --> 00:42:41.639
 around anymore.

00:42:41.939 --> 00:42:42.500
 So he's

00:42:42.500 --> 00:42:42.719
 going to

00:42:42.719 --> 00:42:43.079
 take the

00:42:43.079 --> 00:42:43.539
 group out

00:42:43.539 --> 00:42:43.959
 and of

00:42:43.959 --> 00:42:44.339
 course he

00:42:44.339 --> 00:42:45.099
 is,

00:42:45.219 --> 00:42:45.579
 gets in

00:42:45.579 --> 00:42:46.259
 trouble for

00:42:46.259 --> 00:42:46.439
 that.

00:42:46.779 --> 00:42:47.199
 That's when

00:42:47.199 --> 00:42:47.779
 God says,

00:42:47.939 --> 00:42:48.139
 you're not

00:42:48.139 --> 00:42:48.519
 to be king

00:42:48.519 --> 00:42:48.779
 anymore.

00:42:49.539 --> 00:42:49.979
 Um,

00:42:50.239 --> 00:42:50.839
 because he

00:42:50.839 --> 00:42:51.199
 wanted to

00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:51.619
 take it on

00:42:51.619 --> 00:42:52.419
 himself and

00:42:52.419 --> 00:42:52.919
 go about

00:42:52.919 --> 00:42:53.539
 it his

00:42:53.539 --> 00:42:54.079
 own way.

00:42:54.539 --> 00:42:54.979
 So,

00:42:54.979 --> 00:42:55.919
 uh,

00:42:56.179 --> 00:42:56.839
 disregarding

00:42:56.839 --> 00:42:57.119
 God's

00:42:57.119 --> 00:42:57.539
 timing,

00:42:57.539 --> 00:42:58.099
 you may

00:42:58.099 --> 00:42:58.779
 find yourself

00:42:58.779 --> 00:42:59.340
 trying to

00:42:59.340 --> 00:43:01.300
 hurry or

00:43:01.300 --> 00:43:04.099
 stall God's

00:43:04.099 --> 00:43:04.440
 work.

00:43:05.139 --> 00:43:06.099
 That's us.

00:43:06.360 --> 00:43:06.880
 That's,

00:43:06.940 --> 00:43:07.380
 that's a red

00:43:07.380 --> 00:43:07.860
 flag.

00:43:08.099 --> 00:43:08.820
 And it

00:43:08.820 --> 00:43:09.119
 takes,

00:43:09.320 --> 00:43:09.719
 I think,

00:43:09.719 --> 00:43:10.820
 where emotions

00:43:10.820 --> 00:43:11.940
 are an easy

00:43:11.940 --> 00:43:12.619
 key,

00:43:12.619 --> 00:43:13.779
 uh,

00:43:13.880 --> 00:43:14.460
 indicator.

00:43:14.460 --> 00:43:15.240
 I think

00:43:15.240 --> 00:43:15.800
 something like

00:43:15.800 --> 00:43:16.220
 this is a

00:43:16.220 --> 00:43:16.740
 little harder

00:43:16.740 --> 00:43:18.159
 because this

00:43:18.159 --> 00:43:18.699
 is what we

00:43:18.699 --> 00:43:19.380
 think should

00:43:19.380 --> 00:43:21.360
 happen rather

00:43:21.360 --> 00:43:22.000
 than,

00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:22.659
 uh,

00:43:22.940 --> 00:43:23.220
 really,

00:43:23.559 --> 00:43:24.619
 truly trusting

00:43:24.619 --> 00:43:25.059
 in the Lord

00:43:25.059 --> 00:43:25.820
 and in his

00:43:25.820 --> 00:43:26.220
 timing.

00:43:26.699 --> 00:43:27.380
 That's a

00:43:27.380 --> 00:43:27.820
 little harder

00:43:27.820 --> 00:43:29.179
 to discern

00:43:29.179 --> 00:43:29.659
 in ourselves

00:43:29.659 --> 00:43:30.119
 sometimes.

00:43:31.300 --> 00:43:32.079
 Five and

00:43:32.079 --> 00:43:32.599
 six would

00:43:32.599 --> 00:43:33.460
 be distance

00:43:33.460 --> 00:43:34.179
 from God

00:43:34.179 --> 00:43:35.059
 and distance

00:43:35.059 --> 00:43:35.760
 from brothers

00:43:35.760 --> 00:43:36.400
 and sisters.

00:43:38.179 --> 00:43:39.440
 And these

00:43:39.440 --> 00:43:40.079
 are both

00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:41.240
 key things.

00:43:41.559 --> 00:43:41.860
 These are

00:43:41.860 --> 00:43:42.679
 both in,

00:43:42.800 --> 00:43:43.159
 in our

00:43:43.159 --> 00:43:43.699
 lives,

00:43:43.699 --> 00:43:44.719
 um,

00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:45.539
 when this

00:43:45.539 --> 00:43:46.599
 flag comes,

00:43:47.339 --> 00:43:49.539
 we easily

00:43:49.539 --> 00:43:50.339
 see this.

00:43:50.719 --> 00:43:51.399
 We easily

00:43:51.399 --> 00:43:51.960
 see it.

00:43:52.299 --> 00:43:52.719
 Uh,

00:43:52.719 --> 00:43:53.159
 we see

00:43:53.159 --> 00:43:53.539
 ourselves

00:43:53.539 --> 00:43:54.099
 separating

00:43:54.099 --> 00:43:54.559
 from the

00:43:54.559 --> 00:43:54.799
 group.

00:43:54.799 --> 00:43:55.619
 We see

00:43:55.619 --> 00:43:56.099
 ourselves

00:43:56.099 --> 00:43:56.759
 doing our

00:43:56.759 --> 00:43:57.439
 own thing

00:43:57.439 --> 00:43:59.299
 between us

00:43:59.299 --> 00:44:00.000
 and God.

00:44:00.319 --> 00:44:01.319
 It's easy

00:44:01.319 --> 00:44:01.859
 to see.

00:44:02.219 --> 00:44:03.199
 We stop

00:44:03.199 --> 00:44:03.639
 reading.

00:44:03.879 --> 00:44:04.699
 We stop

00:44:04.699 --> 00:44:05.179
 praying.

00:44:05.460 --> 00:44:06.379
 We find

00:44:06.379 --> 00:44:06.859
 that we've

00:44:06.859 --> 00:44:07.460
 gone a

00:44:07.460 --> 00:44:07.779
 week,

00:44:08.039 --> 00:44:08.579
 two weeks

00:44:08.579 --> 00:44:09.179
 and,

00:44:09.259 --> 00:44:09.799
 and not,

00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:10.619
 not even

00:44:10.619 --> 00:44:11.019
 looked at

00:44:11.019 --> 00:44:11.519
 the word

00:44:11.519 --> 00:44:12.339
 and not even

00:44:12.339 --> 00:44:13.059
 really had any

00:44:13.059 --> 00:44:13.460
 meaningful

00:44:13.460 --> 00:44:13.940
 prayer.

00:44:15.039 --> 00:44:15.619
 That

00:44:15.619 --> 00:44:16.320
 distance

00:44:16.320 --> 00:44:17.199
 from God,

00:44:17.900 --> 00:44:18.360
 a hundred

00:44:18.360 --> 00:44:18.980
 percent,

00:44:19.099 --> 00:44:19.920
 it's me

00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:20.699
 operating in

00:44:20.699 --> 00:44:21.019
 my own

00:44:21.019 --> 00:44:21.500
 power.

00:44:22.280 --> 00:44:23.079
 I am

00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:23.619
 totally

00:44:23.619 --> 00:44:24.539
 disregarding

00:44:24.539 --> 00:44:25.720
 that power

00:44:25.720 --> 00:44:26.920
 in the

00:44:26.920 --> 00:44:27.440
 gospel that

00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:28.000
 he provides.

00:44:29.199 --> 00:44:29.720
 Um,

00:44:30.059 --> 00:44:31.159
 and this

00:44:31.159 --> 00:44:31.579
 can turn

00:44:31.579 --> 00:44:32.059
 into an

00:44:32.059 --> 00:44:32.760
 even uglier

00:44:32.760 --> 00:44:33.480
 situation

00:44:33.480 --> 00:44:34.059
 in our

00:44:34.059 --> 00:44:34.340
 hearts,

00:44:34.360 --> 00:44:34.900
 if I can

00:44:34.900 --> 00:44:35.579
 kind of

00:44:35.579 --> 00:44:36.440
 run down

00:44:36.440 --> 00:44:37.000
 this track.

00:44:37.400 --> 00:44:37.920
 Um,

00:44:38.159 --> 00:44:39.019
 because when

00:44:39.019 --> 00:44:39.699
 we distance

00:44:39.699 --> 00:44:40.199
 ourselves

00:44:40.199 --> 00:44:41.000
 from God,

00:44:41.759 --> 00:44:42.300
 uh,

00:44:42.980 --> 00:44:43.679
 we start

00:44:43.679 --> 00:44:44.519
 to use

00:44:44.519 --> 00:44:45.099
 the things

00:44:45.099 --> 00:44:45.599
 of God

00:44:45.599 --> 00:44:46.059
 for our

00:44:46.059 --> 00:44:46.400
 own

00:44:46.400 --> 00:44:47.000
 purposes.

00:44:47.759 --> 00:44:48.800
 And so

00:44:48.800 --> 00:44:49.880
 the things

00:44:49.880 --> 00:44:50.780
 of,

00:44:50.920 --> 00:44:51.559
 of maybe

00:44:51.559 --> 00:44:51.820
 it's

00:44:51.820 --> 00:44:52.300
 leadership

00:44:52.300 --> 00:44:52.739
 or the

00:44:52.739 --> 00:44:53.039
 things of

00:44:53.039 --> 00:44:53.500
 the church

00:44:53.500 --> 00:44:53.800
 or the

00:44:53.800 --> 00:44:54.159
 things,

00:44:54.159 --> 00:44:54.980
 um,

00:44:55.059 --> 00:44:56.159
 of relational

00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:56.940
 issues,

00:44:56.940 --> 00:44:57.900
 um,

00:44:57.900 --> 00:44:58.340
 we can

00:44:58.340 --> 00:44:59.000
 start to

00:44:59.000 --> 00:45:00.139
 use one

00:45:00.139 --> 00:45:00.559
 another

00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:01.840
 to get

00:45:01.840 --> 00:45:02.440
 what we

00:45:02.440 --> 00:45:02.900
 want

00:45:02.900 --> 00:45:03.559
 or to

00:45:03.559 --> 00:45:04.139
 scratch an

00:45:04.139 --> 00:45:04.579
 itch or

00:45:04.579 --> 00:45:04.980
 to feel

00:45:04.980 --> 00:45:05.599
 good about

00:45:05.599 --> 00:45:06.279
 something

00:45:06.279 --> 00:45:06.659
 in my

00:45:06.659 --> 00:45:06.920
 own

00:45:06.920 --> 00:45:07.380
 life.

00:45:07.839 --> 00:45:08.079
 And so

00:45:08.079 --> 00:45:08.539
 I start

00:45:08.539 --> 00:45:08.920
 to,

00:45:08.920 --> 00:45:09.599
 uh,

00:45:09.659 --> 00:45:10.219
 use

00:45:10.219 --> 00:45:10.759
 people

00:45:10.759 --> 00:45:11.159
 or the

00:45:11.159 --> 00:45:11.420
 things

00:45:11.420 --> 00:45:11.860
 of God

00:45:11.860 --> 00:45:12.239
 for my

00:45:12.239 --> 00:45:12.460
 own

00:45:12.460 --> 00:45:12.940
 purposes.

00:45:13.679 --> 00:45:14.159
 Um,

00:45:14.420 --> 00:45:15.759
 and,

00:45:15.900 --> 00:45:16.179
 um,

00:45:17.219 --> 00:45:17.699
 uh,

00:45:17.920 --> 00:45:20.079
 basically

00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:20.539
 denying

00:45:20.539 --> 00:45:21.079
 the power,

00:45:21.519 --> 00:45:21.779
 denying

00:45:21.779 --> 00:45:22.079
 the power

00:45:22.079 --> 00:45:22.219
 of the

00:45:22.219 --> 00:45:22.380
 gospel.

00:45:22.579 --> 00:45:23.519
 So I'm,

00:45:23.519 --> 00:45:24.039
 I'm working

00:45:24.039 --> 00:45:25.279
 hard right

00:45:25.279 --> 00:45:26.079
 now at,

00:45:26.079 --> 00:45:26.480
 um,

00:45:27.699 --> 00:45:28.599
 um,

00:45:29.739 --> 00:45:30.039
 keto.

00:45:30.420 --> 00:45:30.719
 I,

00:45:30.819 --> 00:45:31.159
 I am

00:45:31.159 --> 00:45:31.440
 doing

00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:31.920
 keto.

00:45:32.639 --> 00:45:33.199
 Um,

00:45:33.239 --> 00:45:33.739
 and keto,

00:45:34.099 --> 00:45:34.599
 uh,

00:45:34.639 --> 00:45:35.059
 you've,

00:45:35.059 --> 00:45:35.980
 you stop

00:45:35.980 --> 00:45:37.019
 eating sugars

00:45:37.019 --> 00:45:38.239
 and carbs

00:45:38.239 --> 00:45:38.880
 and you

00:45:38.880 --> 00:45:39.480
 eat a lot

00:45:39.480 --> 00:45:40.000
 of fats

00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:40.759
 and protein

00:45:40.759 --> 00:45:41.759
 and things

00:45:41.759 --> 00:45:42.159
 like that.

00:45:42.159 --> 00:45:43.039
 And so

00:45:43.039 --> 00:45:43.440
 I'm,

00:45:43.500 --> 00:45:43.759
 I'm,

00:45:43.840 --> 00:45:44.420
 I've learned

00:45:44.420 --> 00:45:44.880
 this.

00:45:44.880 --> 00:45:45.579
 I've had a lot

00:45:45.579 --> 00:45:45.880
 of help

00:45:45.880 --> 00:45:46.139
 to,

00:45:46.259 --> 00:45:47.299
 to learn,

00:45:47.400 --> 00:45:47.539
 you know,

00:45:47.539 --> 00:45:47.920
 we got some

00:45:47.920 --> 00:45:48.460
 books and

00:45:48.460 --> 00:45:49.360
 watch videos

00:45:49.360 --> 00:45:49.820
 and stuff

00:45:49.820 --> 00:45:50.299
 learning

00:45:50.299 --> 00:45:51.079
 keto.

00:45:51.860 --> 00:45:52.219
 Um,

00:45:52.500 --> 00:45:52.799
 well,

00:45:52.880 --> 00:45:53.139
 if,

00:45:53.279 --> 00:45:53.960
 if I learned

00:45:53.960 --> 00:45:54.579
 all about

00:45:54.579 --> 00:45:55.139
 it and

00:45:55.139 --> 00:45:55.739
 then just

00:45:55.739 --> 00:45:56.820
 like went

00:45:56.820 --> 00:45:57.860
 around and

00:45:57.860 --> 00:45:58.840
 became sort

00:45:58.840 --> 00:45:59.279
 of a,

00:45:59.279 --> 00:46:00.119
 uh,

00:46:00.820 --> 00:46:01.559
 a spokesperson

00:46:01.559 --> 00:46:02.679
 for keto

00:46:02.679 --> 00:46:04.079
 and then

00:46:04.079 --> 00:46:04.880
 still ate

00:46:04.880 --> 00:46:05.639
 my M&Ms

00:46:05.639 --> 00:46:06.440
 and my

00:46:06.440 --> 00:46:07.039
 chips when

00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:07.440
 I watched

00:46:07.440 --> 00:46:07.980
 movies,

00:46:07.980 --> 00:46:09.079
 uh,

00:46:09.279 --> 00:46:10.079
 I,

00:46:10.199 --> 00:46:10.659
 I'm not a

00:46:10.659 --> 00:46:11.039
 very good

00:46:11.039 --> 00:46:11.819
 spokesman for

00:46:11.819 --> 00:46:12.699
 keto anymore.

00:46:13.599 --> 00:46:14.119
 Um,

00:46:14.119 --> 00:46:14.759
 that's not

00:46:14.759 --> 00:46:15.619
 something that

00:46:15.619 --> 00:46:15.980
 I,

00:46:15.980 --> 00:46:16.679
 I can talk

00:46:16.679 --> 00:46:17.239
 the talk.

00:46:17.440 --> 00:46:18.159
 I can do

00:46:18.159 --> 00:46:18.679
 those things

00:46:18.679 --> 00:46:19.500
 because I

00:46:19.500 --> 00:46:19.980
 can learn

00:46:19.980 --> 00:46:20.480
 it and I

00:46:20.480 --> 00:46:20.900
 can behave

00:46:20.900 --> 00:46:21.480
 that way.

00:46:22.119 --> 00:46:22.679
 But,

00:46:22.679 --> 00:46:23.759
 uh,

00:46:23.799 --> 00:46:24.119
 and I,

00:46:24.119 --> 00:46:24.799
 I can sound

00:46:24.799 --> 00:46:25.000
 like,

00:46:25.079 --> 00:46:25.500
 this was a

00:46:25.500 --> 00:46:25.960
 new word

00:46:25.960 --> 00:46:26.639
 I learned

00:46:26.639 --> 00:46:27.219
 yesterday.

00:46:27.219 --> 00:46:27.460
 We were

00:46:27.460 --> 00:46:27.860
 watching the

00:46:27.860 --> 00:46:28.039
 thing.

00:46:28.039 --> 00:46:29.019
 I can sound

00:46:29.019 --> 00:46:29.380
 like a

00:46:29.380 --> 00:46:29.960
 key toner.

00:46:29.960 --> 00:46:30.900
 That's what

00:46:30.900 --> 00:46:31.360
 they call

00:46:31.360 --> 00:46:32.099
 us keto

00:46:32.099 --> 00:46:32.500
 people.

00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:33.440
 Um,

00:46:33.440 --> 00:46:34.000
 I can sound

00:46:34.000 --> 00:46:34.380
 like a

00:46:34.380 --> 00:46:34.880
 key toner.

00:46:35.599 --> 00:46:36.079
 Um,

00:46:36.300 --> 00:46:36.980
 but I'm

00:46:36.980 --> 00:46:37.720
 really not.

00:46:38.400 --> 00:46:38.840
 Maybe I

00:46:38.840 --> 00:46:39.280
 just want

00:46:39.280 --> 00:46:40.059
 somebody to

00:46:40.059 --> 00:46:40.579
 think I

00:46:40.579 --> 00:46:40.880
 am.

00:46:41.220 --> 00:46:41.679
 Maybe I

00:46:41.679 --> 00:46:42.119
 want them

00:46:42.119 --> 00:46:42.699
 to think

00:46:42.699 --> 00:46:43.260
 that I'm

00:46:43.260 --> 00:46:44.420
 on track

00:46:44.420 --> 00:46:44.659
 or,

00:46:44.659 --> 00:46:45.179
 or doing

00:46:45.179 --> 00:46:45.840
 things right.

00:46:45.980 --> 00:46:46.679
 Not that,

00:46:46.740 --> 00:46:46.940
 you know,

00:46:46.940 --> 00:46:47.320
 they couldn't

00:46:47.320 --> 00:46:47.740
 tell if I

00:46:47.740 --> 00:46:48.159
 kept eating

00:46:48.159 --> 00:46:48.619
 chips,

00:46:48.800 --> 00:46:49.199
 you know,

00:46:49.199 --> 00:46:50.740
 you know,

00:46:50.820 --> 00:46:51.280
 proofs in the

00:46:51.280 --> 00:46:51.639
 pudding there,

00:46:51.720 --> 00:46:51.940
 you know,

00:46:51.980 --> 00:46:52.840
 but,

00:46:53.920 --> 00:46:54.199
 um,

00:46:54.720 --> 00:46:55.480
 but here's,

00:46:55.559 --> 00:46:56.079
 here's the,

00:46:56.079 --> 00:46:56.340
 the,

00:46:56.340 --> 00:46:57.340
 the analogy

00:46:57.340 --> 00:46:57.639
 here,

00:46:57.740 --> 00:46:58.199
 the illustration

00:46:58.199 --> 00:46:59.619
 is denying

00:46:59.619 --> 00:47:00.179
 the power

00:47:00.179 --> 00:47:00.539
 of the

00:47:00.539 --> 00:47:00.960
 gospel.

00:47:01.579 --> 00:47:02.139
 Uh,

00:47:02.379 --> 00:47:02.919
 we,

00:47:03.019 --> 00:47:03.480
 we can

00:47:03.480 --> 00:47:04.119
 distance

00:47:04.119 --> 00:47:04.779
 ourself

00:47:04.779 --> 00:47:05.679
 from God.

00:47:05.679 --> 00:47:06.259
 Okay.

00:47:07.379 --> 00:47:08.079
 Find

00:47:08.079 --> 00:47:08.839
 ourself

00:47:08.839 --> 00:47:10.299
 in a

00:47:10.299 --> 00:47:11.079
 small group

00:47:11.079 --> 00:47:12.799
 and

00:47:12.799 --> 00:47:14.099
 with,

00:47:14.279 --> 00:47:14.899
 even with

00:47:14.899 --> 00:47:15.819
 that distance

00:47:15.819 --> 00:47:17.219
 and we

00:47:17.219 --> 00:47:17.879
 can talk

00:47:17.879 --> 00:47:18.559
 the talk

00:47:18.559 --> 00:47:19.239
 and we

00:47:19.239 --> 00:47:19.779
 can look

00:47:19.779 --> 00:47:21.079
 like all

00:47:21.079 --> 00:47:21.539
 the rest

00:47:21.539 --> 00:47:21.819
 of the

00:47:21.819 --> 00:47:22.279
 people,

00:47:22.679 --> 00:47:24.039
 but am

00:47:24.039 --> 00:47:24.339
 I,

00:47:25.359 --> 00:47:25.679
 you see

00:47:25.679 --> 00:47:25.839
 what I'm

00:47:25.839 --> 00:47:26.099
 saying?

00:47:26.659 --> 00:47:26.839
 Uh,

00:47:26.919 --> 00:47:27.559
 any one

00:47:27.559 --> 00:47:28.159
 of us

00:47:28.159 --> 00:47:29.500
 can fool

00:47:29.500 --> 00:47:29.960
 another

00:47:29.960 --> 00:47:30.639
 one for

00:47:30.639 --> 00:47:31.159
 a while.

00:47:31.880 --> 00:47:32.179
 I'm not

00:47:32.179 --> 00:47:32.500
 saying there's

00:47:32.500 --> 00:47:32.900
 people in

00:47:32.900 --> 00:47:33.179
 the group

00:47:33.179 --> 00:47:33.799
 fooling people,

00:47:34.179 --> 00:47:34.920
 but what I'm

00:47:34.920 --> 00:47:35.639
 saying is

00:47:35.639 --> 00:47:36.779
 that,

00:47:36.880 --> 00:47:37.960
 uh,

00:47:38.159 --> 00:47:39.739
 is using

00:47:39.739 --> 00:47:40.259
 the things

00:47:40.259 --> 00:47:40.840
 of God

00:47:40.840 --> 00:47:41.579
 for your

00:47:41.579 --> 00:47:42.199
 own purposes.

00:47:42.699 --> 00:47:43.739
 And I feel

00:47:43.739 --> 00:47:44.119
 like those

00:47:44.119 --> 00:47:44.579
 kind of things,

00:47:44.639 --> 00:47:45.099
 it creeps

00:47:45.099 --> 00:47:46.039
 in all the

00:47:46.039 --> 00:47:46.599
 time from

00:47:46.599 --> 00:47:47.000
 time to

00:47:47.000 --> 00:47:47.320
 time,

00:47:47.320 --> 00:47:48.539
 but we

00:47:48.539 --> 00:47:48.900
 have to

00:47:48.900 --> 00:47:49.340
 arrest

00:47:49.340 --> 00:47:50.179
 those things

00:47:50.179 --> 00:47:51.559
 and bring

00:47:51.559 --> 00:47:52.219
 those thoughts

00:47:52.219 --> 00:47:52.799
 captive.

00:47:53.519 --> 00:47:53.880
 Um,

00:47:54.880 --> 00:47:55.699
 use these

00:47:55.699 --> 00:47:56.539
 flags in

00:47:56.539 --> 00:47:57.079
 that way

00:47:57.079 --> 00:47:57.920
 to say,

00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:58.179
 okay,

00:47:58.219 --> 00:47:58.480
 listen,

00:47:58.539 --> 00:47:58.920
 if I'm

00:47:58.920 --> 00:47:59.279
 distant

00:47:59.279 --> 00:48:00.099
 from God,

00:48:00.559 --> 00:48:01.059
 I've,

00:48:01.099 --> 00:48:01.659
 I've got

00:48:01.659 --> 00:48:01.960
 to come

00:48:01.960 --> 00:48:02.320
 back,

00:48:02.400 --> 00:48:02.840
 number one,

00:48:02.880 --> 00:48:03.139
 I've got

00:48:03.139 --> 00:48:03.400
 to come

00:48:03.400 --> 00:48:03.860
 back to

00:48:03.860 --> 00:48:04.460
 the power

00:48:04.460 --> 00:48:05.199
 of the

00:48:05.199 --> 00:48:05.739
 gospel that

00:48:05.739 --> 00:48:06.579
 saved me

00:48:06.579 --> 00:48:07.400
 and,

00:48:07.400 --> 00:48:08.000
 and come

00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:08.460
 back to

00:48:08.460 --> 00:48:08.920
 God in

00:48:08.920 --> 00:48:09.440
 this way.

00:48:09.900 --> 00:48:10.800
 I can't

00:48:10.800 --> 00:48:11.759
 play like

00:48:11.759 --> 00:48:12.000
 I'm

00:48:12.000 --> 00:48:12.400
 something.

00:48:12.779 --> 00:48:13.300
 I can't

00:48:13.300 --> 00:48:14.119
 rely on

00:48:14.119 --> 00:48:14.480
 back

00:48:14.480 --> 00:48:15.360
 understandings,

00:48:15.739 --> 00:48:15.920
 you know,

00:48:16.239 --> 00:48:16.559
 well,

00:48:16.659 --> 00:48:17.000
 you know,

00:48:17.259 --> 00:48:17.840
 five years

00:48:17.840 --> 00:48:18.039
 ago,

00:48:18.079 --> 00:48:18.300
 man,

00:48:18.320 --> 00:48:18.659
 I was

00:48:18.659 --> 00:48:19.139
 studying all

00:48:19.139 --> 00:48:19.619
 the time

00:48:19.619 --> 00:48:20.279
 and it's

00:48:20.279 --> 00:48:20.500
 kind of

00:48:20.500 --> 00:48:20.940
 tapered off

00:48:20.940 --> 00:48:21.579
 since then.

00:48:22.219 --> 00:48:23.039
 Here I am

00:48:23.039 --> 00:48:23.380
 now.

00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:25.739
 Why the

00:48:25.739 --> 00:48:26.299
 distance?

00:48:26.639 --> 00:48:27.000
 Why the

00:48:27.000 --> 00:48:27.379
 distance?

00:48:28.519 --> 00:48:29.619
 We have

00:48:29.619 --> 00:48:30.599
 to rely

00:48:30.599 --> 00:48:31.539
 on the

00:48:31.539 --> 00:48:32.019
 power of

00:48:32.019 --> 00:48:33.139
 God and

00:48:33.139 --> 00:48:33.459
 the power

00:48:33.459 --> 00:48:33.659
 of the

00:48:33.659 --> 00:48:33.979
 gospel.

00:48:37.399 --> 00:48:37.959
 The

00:48:37.959 --> 00:48:38.500
 self-serving

00:48:38.500 --> 00:48:39.000
 part looks

00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:39.679
 like selfish

00:48:39.679 --> 00:48:40.719
 ambition or

00:48:40.719 --> 00:48:41.319
 fear of

00:48:41.319 --> 00:48:41.699
 man.

00:48:42.039 --> 00:48:42.439
 These are

00:48:42.439 --> 00:48:42.619
 all,

00:48:42.659 --> 00:48:42.979
 these are

00:48:42.979 --> 00:48:43.419
 all parts

00:48:43.419 --> 00:48:43.939
 of that.

00:48:47.379 --> 00:48:47.919
 Let's

00:48:47.919 --> 00:48:48.119
 look at

00:48:48.119 --> 00:48:48.679
 verse 7

00:48:48.679 --> 00:48:50.959
 of Colossians

00:48:50.960 --> 00:48:51.300
 there.

00:48:57.059 --> 00:48:57.699
 Just as

00:48:57.699 --> 00:48:58.179
 you learned

00:48:58.179 --> 00:48:58.340
 it,

00:48:58.519 --> 00:48:58.619
 the

00:48:58.619 --> 00:48:59.019
 gospel,

00:48:59.159 --> 00:48:59.460
 just as

00:48:59.460 --> 00:48:59.740
 you learned

00:48:59.740 --> 00:49:00.220
 the gospel

00:49:00.220 --> 00:49:00.639
 from

00:49:00.639 --> 00:49:01.280
 Epaphras,

00:49:01.440 --> 00:49:01.679
 our

00:49:01.679 --> 00:49:02.320
 beloved

00:49:02.320 --> 00:49:02.880
 fellow

00:49:02.880 --> 00:49:03.340
 servant.

00:49:04.099 --> 00:49:04.280
 He is

00:49:04.280 --> 00:49:04.699
 a faithful

00:49:04.699 --> 00:49:05.380
 minister of

00:49:05.380 --> 00:49:05.780
 Christ

00:49:05.780 --> 00:49:07.420
 on your

00:49:07.420 --> 00:49:08.360
 behalf and

00:49:08.360 --> 00:49:08.760
 has made

00:49:08.760 --> 00:49:09.280
 known to

00:49:09.280 --> 00:49:09.800
 us your

00:49:09.800 --> 00:49:10.340
 love in

00:49:10.340 --> 00:49:10.500
 the

00:49:10.500 --> 00:49:10.800
 spirit.

00:49:11.599 --> 00:49:12.659
 So we

00:49:12.659 --> 00:49:13.039
 have this

00:49:13.039 --> 00:49:14.019
 final example

00:49:14.019 --> 00:49:14.639
 and this

00:49:14.639 --> 00:49:15.639
 is what

00:49:15.639 --> 00:49:16.059
 we'll close

00:49:16.059 --> 00:49:16.240
 with.

00:49:16.300 --> 00:49:16.639
 The final

00:49:16.639 --> 00:49:17.400
 example of

00:49:17.400 --> 00:49:17.980
 Epaphras

00:49:17.980 --> 00:49:19.340
 and his

00:49:19.340 --> 00:49:20.079
 comments about

00:49:20.079 --> 00:49:20.860
 the Colossians,

00:49:21.380 --> 00:49:21.880
 he was a

00:49:21.880 --> 00:49:22.380
 faithful

00:49:22.380 --> 00:49:23.059
 minister,

00:49:23.260 --> 00:49:23.800
 Paul says,

00:49:24.500 --> 00:49:26.480
 exemplified

00:49:26.480 --> 00:49:27.740
 the gospel

00:49:27.740 --> 00:49:29.119
 and power

00:49:29.119 --> 00:49:29.760
 in life.

00:49:30.980 --> 00:49:32.000
 He believed

00:49:32.000 --> 00:49:32.480
 it and

00:49:32.480 --> 00:49:33.019
 shared it,

00:49:33.159 --> 00:49:33.780
 planted that

00:49:33.780 --> 00:49:34.199
 church,

00:49:34.860 --> 00:49:36.280
 knowing that

00:49:36.280 --> 00:49:37.659
 his power

00:49:37.659 --> 00:49:37.860
 would be

00:49:37.860 --> 00:49:38.119
 evident.

00:49:38.240 --> 00:49:38.679
 Verse 8,

00:49:39.059 --> 00:49:39.579
 the Colossians

00:49:39.579 --> 00:49:40.019
 are again

00:49:40.019 --> 00:49:40.860
 encouraged in

00:49:40.860 --> 00:49:41.500
 their testimony

00:49:41.500 --> 00:49:42.139
 of faith

00:49:42.139 --> 00:49:43.420
 through what

00:49:43.420 --> 00:49:44.199
 Epaphras said

00:49:44.199 --> 00:49:44.699
 about them.

00:49:45.119 --> 00:49:45.619
 He mentioned

00:49:45.619 --> 00:49:46.159
 their love

00:49:46.159 --> 00:49:47.139
 in the spirit.

00:49:47.139 --> 00:49:48.039
 man,

00:49:48.940 --> 00:49:49.199
 wouldn't it

00:49:49.199 --> 00:49:49.500
 be great

00:49:49.500 --> 00:49:49.799
 to be

00:49:49.799 --> 00:49:50.940
 known this

00:49:50.940 --> 00:49:51.219
 way?

00:49:51.339 --> 00:49:51.699
 This is how

00:49:51.699 --> 00:49:52.039
 we want

00:49:52.039 --> 00:49:52.319
 to be

00:49:52.319 --> 00:49:52.659
 known,

00:49:53.259 --> 00:49:54.940
 as having

00:49:54.940 --> 00:49:55.500
 these

00:49:55.500 --> 00:49:57.119
 characteristics

00:49:57.119 --> 00:49:58.900
 of living

00:49:58.900 --> 00:49:59.420
 in the

00:49:59.420 --> 00:49:59.759
 power.

00:50:01.460 --> 00:50:02.059
 So,

00:50:02.299 --> 00:50:03.099
 our testimony

00:50:03.099 --> 00:50:04.159
 through belief

00:50:04.159 --> 00:50:04.400
 in this

00:50:04.400 --> 00:50:05.059
 powerful gospel,

00:50:05.199 --> 00:50:05.679
 number one,

00:50:06.379 --> 00:50:07.059
 we will

00:50:07.059 --> 00:50:08.299
 care for

00:50:08.299 --> 00:50:08.739
 a lost,

00:50:08.920 --> 00:50:09.279
 troubled,

00:50:09.599 --> 00:50:10.619
 and shipwrecked

00:50:10.619 --> 00:50:11.259
 world around

00:50:11.259 --> 00:50:11.619
 us.

00:50:12.059 --> 00:50:12.920
 This is what

00:50:12.920 --> 00:50:14.239
 energizes us,

00:50:14.400 --> 00:50:15.239
 empowers us,

00:50:15.679 --> 00:50:16.299
 gives us our

00:50:16.299 --> 00:50:17.019
 marching orders,

00:50:17.139 --> 00:50:17.699
 to Raytown.

00:50:18.099 --> 00:50:18.480
 This is the

00:50:18.480 --> 00:50:18.799
 gospel.

00:50:19.480 --> 00:50:20.279
 That's the

00:50:20.279 --> 00:50:20.900
 power to

00:50:20.900 --> 00:50:21.239
 save.

00:50:21.719 --> 00:50:22.299
 We'll stand

00:50:22.299 --> 00:50:22.960
 in confident

00:50:22.960 --> 00:50:23.739
 Christian hope,

00:50:24.099 --> 00:50:24.639
 knowing that

00:50:24.639 --> 00:50:25.179
 Jesus is

00:50:25.179 --> 00:50:25.619
 King of

00:50:25.619 --> 00:50:26.019
 Kings,

00:50:26.359 --> 00:50:26.859
 and we

00:50:26.859 --> 00:50:27.559
 have nothing

00:50:27.559 --> 00:50:28.139
 and nobody

00:50:28.139 --> 00:50:28.679
 to fear.

00:50:29.879 --> 00:50:30.199
 Nothing.

00:50:31.000 --> 00:50:31.559
 There's,

00:50:31.960 --> 00:50:32.259
 you know,

00:50:32.879 --> 00:50:33.219
 they can,

00:50:33.679 --> 00:50:34.480
 we're saying

00:50:34.480 --> 00:50:35.019
 they can kill

00:50:35.019 --> 00:50:35.299
 us.

00:50:35.539 --> 00:50:36.279
 Hopefully it

00:50:36.279 --> 00:50:36.559
 doesn't happen

00:50:36.559 --> 00:50:37.000
 in Raytown.

00:50:37.400 --> 00:50:38.319
 It's possible.

00:50:39.039 --> 00:50:39.879
 But hopefully

00:50:39.879 --> 00:50:40.400
 that's not

00:50:40.400 --> 00:50:40.879
 what we're up

00:50:40.879 --> 00:50:41.179
 against.

00:50:41.179 --> 00:50:44.099
 Third,

00:50:44.259 --> 00:50:44.539
 we can

00:50:44.539 --> 00:50:45.000
 accurately

00:50:45.000 --> 00:50:45.639
 assess our

00:50:45.639 --> 00:50:46.339
 own lives

00:50:46.339 --> 00:50:46.779
 and let

00:50:46.779 --> 00:50:47.099
 the Holy

00:50:47.099 --> 00:50:47.519
 Spirit

00:50:47.519 --> 00:50:48.619
 convict us

00:50:48.619 --> 00:50:50.000
 of unbelief

00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:50.619
 where it

00:50:50.619 --> 00:50:51.179
 rears its

00:50:51.179 --> 00:50:51.480
 head,

00:50:52.139 --> 00:50:52.419
 which

00:50:52.419 --> 00:50:53.579
 personally,

00:50:53.960 --> 00:50:54.980
 that's how

00:50:54.980 --> 00:50:55.679
 the power

00:50:55.679 --> 00:50:56.000
 of the

00:50:56.000 --> 00:50:56.659
 gospel works

00:50:56.659 --> 00:50:56.940
 in our

00:50:56.940 --> 00:50:57.259
 life.

00:50:57.519 --> 00:50:57.759
 The Holy

00:50:57.759 --> 00:50:58.019
 Spirit

00:50:58.019 --> 00:50:58.759
 convicts us

00:50:58.759 --> 00:50:59.500
 and we

00:50:59.500 --> 00:50:59.819
 grow.

00:51:00.500 --> 00:51:00.960
 That's where

00:51:00.960 --> 00:51:01.339
 the power

00:51:01.339 --> 00:51:01.659
 comes from.

00:51:01.699 --> 00:51:01.940
 It's not

00:51:01.940 --> 00:51:02.460
 from ourselves.

00:51:02.579 --> 00:51:02.859
 It's not

00:51:02.859 --> 00:51:04.179
 from something

00:51:04.179 --> 00:51:05.059
 that we

00:51:05.059 --> 00:51:05.639
 figure out

00:51:05.639 --> 00:51:05.960
 on our

00:51:05.960 --> 00:51:06.279
 own.

00:51:06.839 --> 00:51:07.159
 Romans

00:51:07.159 --> 00:51:07.739
 116,

00:51:07.859 --> 00:51:07.980
 I'll

00:51:07.980 --> 00:51:08.420
 close with

00:51:08.420 --> 00:51:08.799
 this.

00:51:09.319 --> 00:51:09.500
 For I

00:51:09.500 --> 00:51:09.839
 am not

00:51:09.839 --> 00:51:10.420
 ashamed of

00:51:10.420 --> 00:51:10.879
 the gospel,

00:51:11.319 --> 00:51:11.739
 for it

00:51:11.739 --> 00:51:12.079
 is the

00:51:12.079 --> 00:51:13.019
 power of

00:51:13.019 --> 00:51:13.639
 God for

00:51:13.639 --> 00:51:14.940
 salvation to

00:51:14.940 --> 00:51:15.739
 everyone who

00:51:15.739 --> 00:51:16.299
 believes, to

00:51:16.299 --> 00:51:17.079
 the Jew first

00:51:17.079 --> 00:51:18.299
 and also to

00:51:18.299 --> 00:51:18.719
 the Greek.