WEBVTT

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 How many of you like to listen to our singing together?

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 Do you enjoy that?

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 I, particularly this morning, I guess one of the things I want to thank the Lord for

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! is the enthusiastic and joyful faces of our choir. Did you notice them?

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 I mean, they're not up there just kind of with this obligation, like, okay, I've got to sing this morning, so...

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 I like looking at your smiling faces. I was tempted to turn around and look at the rest of you,

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 because it sounded like you were having a good time, and I'm thankful for that.

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 Here's the deal. Are you listening? If we know Christ as our Savior,

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 and we are filled with the Spirit, what should our singing be like?

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 How should it be? Huh? It should be pretty enthusiastic. Would you agree with that?

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 Amen.

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 Okay. I want to thank you for that enthusiastic singing.

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 Stop while you're ahead. Okay, I got that.

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 Hey, I want you to turn your Bibles this morning to 2 Corinthians chapter 5.

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 We're going to be looking at a passage that really brings together what we are gathered here today to do.

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 This day is a day where we celebrate the Lord's table. Isn't that right?

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 And these elements here, this bread and this cup, are little reminders for all of us who know Christ as our Savior.

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 I want to tell you up front that taking communion doesn't make you saved,

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 and it doesn't get you extra points in heaven.

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 You know, the idea that you have to take communion in order to get a pass or whatever,

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 whatever, that's not in the Scriptures.

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 We take communion to celebrate what Christ has done for us,

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 and anyone who is here that has come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior

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 is invited and welcomed to this table.

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 We want you to celebrate with us when we remember what Christ has done for us.

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 And as we take the bread and we take the cup,

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 we are really taking what are reminders of His sacrifice.

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 The bread reminds us of His death on the cross.

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 The cup reminds us of the blood of the new covenant.

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 And when we take that bread and we take that cup,

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 one of the things I trust that happens in your heart,

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 and I would not be put off in the least,

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 if as you are taking the bread and you taking the cup,

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 you went ahead and said out loud,

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 thank you, Lord Jesus, for being my Savior

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 and for the blessing of what you've done in my life.

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 And I have no doubt that part of Christ's purpose

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 in giving us this command to remember what He has done for us

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 is not so much to inform us of the facts of what He's done,

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 but to rekindle in our heart an affection and appreciation

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 for His grace and His salvation.

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 And so when we are taking these elements,

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 it is appropriate to think about just how foundational

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 and how central His salvation is in our lives.

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 And I want you to look this morning to a passage

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 in 2 Corinthians chapter 5

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 where the apostle addresses this issue

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 of the centrality of Christ's work for us

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 and how affecting that is to be in all of our lives.

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 I want you to look there, if you will,

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 in verses 14 and 15.

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 For the love of Christ controls us

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 because we have concluded this,

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 that one has died for all,

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 therefore all have died.

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 And He died for all,

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 that those who live might no longer live for themselves,

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 but for Him who for their sakes died and was raised.

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 As we look at this passage,

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 we're going to find three little truths

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 that I want you to focus on.

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 We're going to find, first of all,

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 the believer's operating principle.

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 What is it that governs and controls our life?

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 The believer's operating principle.

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 We're going to find, secondly,

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 a reminder of the believer's past.

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 And every single one of us in here

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 have a past that we'd soon not remember.

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 Am I right?

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 Every one of us.

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 Third, we're going to see the believer's present

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 and a reminder of this fact

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 that if you have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 you are not your own.

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 We find Paul says elsewhere,

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 you are bought with a price.

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 You belong to Christ.

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 And so let's begin, first of all,

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 by looking at the believer's operating principle.

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 You look there in verse 14,

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 it says,

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 for the love of Christ controls us.

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 Now, one of the important rules

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 to understanding the Scriptures

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 is remembering that the best commentary

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 on the Scriptures is the...

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 It's the Scriptures.

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 And so in order to understand

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 what a passage is saying,

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 it always helps to pay attention

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 to the context.

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 And the larger context of this passage

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 really is the entire book of 2 Corinthians.

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 You'll remember,

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 if you think about the book of 1 Corinthians,

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 that it was written to a church

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 dealing with a lot of different problems,

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 and Paul was writing to correct

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 one thing after another.

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 In particular,

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 the church was struggling with immorality.

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 The church was also struggling

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 with having an argumentative

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 and divisive spirit within the body,

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 and Paul wrote to correct that.

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 Now, as a result of Paul

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 ministering to the church at Corinth

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 and giving them these kind of firm admonitions,

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 guess how they responded to it?

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 Hey, how do you do when you're corrected?

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 Bring it on.

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 I had it coming.

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 I need it.

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 Is that how all of you behave?

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 When your wife says to you,

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 honey, you need to stop,

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 how do you do that?

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 Oh, thank you.

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 I am so glad that God hired you

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 to be my primary helper.

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 Is that how you deal with it?

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 Well, here's what happened.

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 When Paul kind of admonished

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 the church at Corinth,

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 they kind of bristled

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 and they got a little attitude,

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 and they began pushing back

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 against the apostle.

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 And one of the things

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 that was particularly used

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 against the apostle

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 is that he was suffering so much.

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 He had one hardship after another

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 come into his life,

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 and as a result,

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 the people that were critics of him

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 said, hey, listen,

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 if Paul was really God's man,

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 he would not be having

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 all these problems.

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 Do you ever bump into people today

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 that propose

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 one of the clear indicators

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 that you're God's man

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 is that everything goes perfectly?

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 I mean, after all,

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 after we're saved,

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 we all have these promises

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 that we're going to get a better job,

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 we're going to get more pay.

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 Is that the way it goes?

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 Now, if you're buying into

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 the health and wealth gospel,

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 probably so,

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 but this is not the first time,

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 this generation is not the first time

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 that people have been caught up

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 in ideas that if you're God's child,

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 everything's going to be perfect,

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 and just a wonderful uphill kind of walk

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 with everything kind of working out perfectly.

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 And so Paul's critics were saying,

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 listen, here's the proof

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 that Paul is not really an apostle.

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 Look at all his sufferings.

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 Look at all the difficulties he's having.

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 Look at all the persecution he endures.

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 And Paul took this subtle accusation head on

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 and wasn't shy in the least

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 about talking about his suffering for the gospel.

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 In fact, he goes on and explains

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 the value of suffering.

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 We're going to see that,

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 particularly just a little snapshot,

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 in chapter 1.

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 And so I want you to turn back,

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 keep your finger there,

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 in chapter 5.

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 But look at chapter 1, verse 4.

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 Paul's talking about suffering,

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 and remember, people were being critical

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 of his suffering.

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 And so he says, hey, let's take a look

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 at this issue of suffering.

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 In chapter 1, verse 4, he says,

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 who comforts us in all our affliction

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 so that we may be able to comfort

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 those who are in any affliction

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 with the comfort with which we ourselves

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 are comforted by God.

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 Do you know what Paul's saying?

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 One of the benefits of our own suffering

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 is that God uses that to equip us

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 to minister to other people.

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 Have you found that to be true?

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 The things that have been your private heartaches

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 and things that you have had to deal with

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 over the years,

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 whether it is a disappointment

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 in a family relationship

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 or losing your job

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 or whatever that hardship is,

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 the Spirit of God then takes those very difficulties

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 and brings in His wisdom and economy,

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 He brings people into your life.

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 You didn't go looking for them.

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 You didn't have to post on the internet.

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 I have suffered in ABC.

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 If you're interested in any counsel

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 in relationship to these things,

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 please email me and I'll follow up.

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 That doesn't happen.

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 But here's what happens.

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 God in His wisdom knows what your suffering has been,

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 and He knows how He got you through it,

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 and He will, in His providence,

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 bring people right into your life

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 that you can minister to

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 according to how He's ministered to you.

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 And Paul says,

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 hey, suffering's not all bad.

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 Suffering is actually one of the things

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 that equips me to minister to other people.

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 And so this morning,

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 as you're sitting there

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 and you're wondering,

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 what's going on in my life

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 and why am I having some of the hardships

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 that I'm having?

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 Understand this.

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 God is actually in that,

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 not only strengthening your character

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 and your spiritual walk,

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 but He's also equipping you

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 for a future ministry

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 that you will someday have.

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 Look also, if you will,

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 at verse 8 and 9.

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 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers,

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 of the affliction we experienced in Asia.

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 Remember there were people

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 that were being critical

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 and saying, you know,

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 that Paul,

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 he's not the real deal

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 because if he really was God's man,

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 everybody would just love him.

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 Paul says, hey,

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 let's be up front.

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 When we were in Asia,

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 we were taking a beating.

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 And he says,

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 don't want us

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 have you be ignorant about that

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 for we were so utterly burdened

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 beyond our strength

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 that we despaired of life itself.

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 Have you ever felt like you were

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 so overwhelmed

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 that you just couldn't handle it anymore?

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 That's what Paul was talking about.

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 He says,

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 I was burdened to the point,

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 I can't do it.

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 Look at verse 9.

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 Indeed,

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 we felt that we had received

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 the sentence of death,

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 but that was to make us rely

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 not on ourselves,

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 but on God who raises the dead.

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 Guess what another lesson is

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 that we learn in hardship?

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 We learn our own inadequacy

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 and we learn His sufficiency.

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 So long as you think

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 you can pull it off by yourself

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 and you're not dealing

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 with any of the hardships of life,

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 it just seems,

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 hey, I'm good.

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 I can handle this.

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 And then God allows something

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 to come into your life

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 that is absolutely beyond your ability

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 and you find yourself

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 relying upon God

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 and you discover what?

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 His sufficiency

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 and His worth

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 to handle that challenge.

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 And so when we find ourselves

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 in those hard times

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 and those difficulties,

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 instead of kind of despairing

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 and saying,

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 I give up, I give up,

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 understand that in that,

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 God is at work

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 and He is not only strengthening you,

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 but He's teaching you

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 that He will care for the problem.

00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:32.139
 We may not admit it,

00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:34.519
 but we are guppies in some sense

00:11:34.519 --> 00:11:35.759
 for the prosperity gospel.

00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:39.080
 And we act that way on occasion

00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:40.299
 because when disappointment

00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:41.539
 and difficulties come,

00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:43.799
 we find ourselves kind of wondering,

00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:44.659
 so all right, God,

00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:45.580
 what did I do?

00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:46.660
 What's happening?

00:11:47.180 --> 00:11:48.840
 Where are you in this picture?

00:11:49.420 --> 00:11:51.200
 And we need to remind ourselves

00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:53.400
 that when those difficult times come,

00:11:53.820 --> 00:11:55.680
 it's something that God wants us

00:11:55.680 --> 00:11:56.340
 to learn through.

00:11:56.400 --> 00:11:57.340
 And so recognize this,

00:11:57.680 --> 00:11:59.180
 a test of faith really

00:11:59.180 --> 00:12:01.160
 is how we handle the hard times.

00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:01.980
 Mark it down.

00:12:02.300 --> 00:12:03.240
 A test of faith

00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:05.020
 is how we handle the hard times.

00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:06.379
 Now, you don't need to go around

00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:07.740
 praying for those opportunities.

00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:08.500
 Do you understand that?

00:12:09.060 --> 00:12:10.200
 I've had people say to me,

00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:11.580
 well, I'm praying for patience.

00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:12.340
 Don't do that.

00:12:13.400 --> 00:12:14.120
 Hey, listen to me.

00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:16.200
 He knows what you need

00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:17.120
 better than you do.

00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:19.580
 And so just kind of say,

00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:20.220
 all right, Lord,

00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:21.440
 whatever you pitch,

00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:23.759
 let me be on the game

00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:24.799
 and be able to handle it

00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:26.179
 and grow through this.

00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:28.339
 I'll never forget

00:12:28.339 --> 00:12:30.399
 several weeks ago

00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:30.899
 when we were having

00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:31.919
 our missions conference

00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:33.779
 and Tom Graves stood up here

00:12:33.779 --> 00:12:34.199
 and he said,

00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:34.479
 you know,

00:12:34.719 --> 00:12:35.439
 in Romania,

00:12:35.439 --> 00:12:36.559
 they are looking to have

00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:37.519
 a Bible conference

00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:39.099
 and the chief thing

00:12:39.099 --> 00:12:40.159
 that they're going to talk about

00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:41.399
 is, all right, all right,

00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:43.120
 so what have we lost

00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.459
 now that we no longer

00:12:44.459 --> 00:12:45.719
 suffer open persecution

00:12:45.719 --> 00:12:46.539
 for Christ?

00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:48.579
 Isn't that amazing?

00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:50.079
 Here are people

00:12:50.079 --> 00:12:51.000
 who recognize

00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:51.860
 that hardship

00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:52.599
 and difficulty

00:12:52.599 --> 00:12:54.299
 were doing positive things

00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:55.459
 for their spiritual walk

00:12:55.459 --> 00:12:56.240
 and over here

00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:57.099
 we would be doing what?

00:12:57.240 --> 00:12:58.279
 We would have a conference

00:12:58.279 --> 00:12:59.000
 ringing our hands

00:12:59.000 --> 00:12:59.179
 about,

00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:00.179
 what are we doing wrong?

00:13:00.219 --> 00:13:01.159
 Nobody likes us.

00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:01.399
 You know,

00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:02.579
 all wound up.

00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:03.500
 Here they are.

00:13:03.579 --> 00:13:03.759
 Hey,

00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:05.679
 what do we lose

00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:07.500
 when we're not suffering

00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:08.279
 for the gospel?

00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:10.879
 And so I want you

00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.379
 to recognize

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:11.939
 that Paul,

00:13:12.079 --> 00:13:13.000
 as he is working

00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:13.539
 his way through

00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:14.679
 the book of 2 Corinthians,

00:13:14.679 --> 00:13:16.099
 each one of the chapters

00:13:16.099 --> 00:13:17.500
 talk about this issue

00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:19.259
 of hardship and suffering.

00:13:20.439 --> 00:13:21.639
 And so the logical question

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.419
 is this,

00:13:23.319 --> 00:13:23.599
 Paul,

00:13:24.359 --> 00:13:26.179
 what makes you different?

00:13:27.459 --> 00:13:28.599
 What makes you

00:13:28.599 --> 00:13:29.559
 the way you are

00:13:29.559 --> 00:13:31.219
 in the face of the adversity

00:13:31.219 --> 00:13:33.000
 and the difficulty you have?

00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:33.939
 And we're dealing

00:13:33.939 --> 00:13:35.879
 with that question's answer

00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:38.179
 in verse 14 of chapter 5.

00:13:38.719 --> 00:13:39.859
 Christ's love

00:13:39.859 --> 00:13:42.319
 is the gospel-centered motive

00:13:42.319 --> 00:13:43.359
 for Christian living

00:13:43.359 --> 00:13:43.839
 and endurance.

00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.560
 That's what Paul

00:13:44.560 --> 00:13:45.920
 is going to remind us of.

00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:46.660
 Christ's love

00:13:46.660 --> 00:13:48.940
 is the gospel-centered motive

00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:50.500
 for Christian living

00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.139
 and endurance.

00:13:52.280 --> 00:13:53.040
 Look at the passage

00:13:53.040 --> 00:13:53.639
 that we are going

00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:54.300
 to deal with here.

00:13:54.660 --> 00:13:56.259
 For the love of Christ

00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:58.100
 controls me.

00:13:59.540 --> 00:14:00.759
 What really motivates

00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:01.399
 a person

00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:03.379
 reveals what's in their heart

00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:04.200
 and what they value

00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:04.740
 the most.

00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:06.720
 It's always interesting

00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:07.680
 that when you bump

00:14:07.680 --> 00:14:08.379
 into people

00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:09.740
 within a short period

00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:10.220
 of time,

00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:11.620
 if they're relatively

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.240
 new to you,

00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:12.980
 you figure out

00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:14.120
 what things they care about.

00:14:14.180 --> 00:14:14.639
 Isn't that right?

00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:17.700
 When you're in a situation

00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:18.620
 that's fairly new,

00:14:19.060 --> 00:14:20.680
 there may be a little bit

00:14:20.680 --> 00:14:21.840
 of natural reservation,

00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:23.159
 but eventually you open up

00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:24.259
 and we always begin

00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:25.100
 to talk about the things

00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:25.720
 that we like.

00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:27.700
 We talk about the things

00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:28.680
 that we think are important.

00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:30.580
 We talk about the things

00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:31.820
 that we value.

00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:33.399
 We can't help ourselves.

00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.139
 It comes out.

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:35.940
 And Paul says,

00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:36.159
 listen,

00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:36.940
 let me tell you something.

00:14:36.940 --> 00:14:39.300
 It is the love of Christ

00:14:39.300 --> 00:14:42.240
 that controls me.

00:14:44.160 --> 00:14:45.840
 I look at a world

00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:46.940
 that we live in

00:14:46.940 --> 00:14:49.680
 that you don't have

00:14:49.680 --> 00:14:51.080
 to listen to very long

00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:52.080
 if you're paying attention

00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:52.780
 to the news.

00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:54.360
 And guess what you find out

00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:55.520
 when you listen to the news?

00:14:56.140 --> 00:14:57.500
 You have two opposing

00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.380
 world systems,

00:14:58.540 --> 00:14:59.060
 both of them

00:14:59.060 --> 00:15:00.140
 which are deeply flawed,

00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:01.040
 that propose

00:15:01.040 --> 00:15:01.900
 that the solution

00:15:01.900 --> 00:15:03.500
 to all the world's problems

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.260
 really lie

00:15:04.260 --> 00:15:05.900
 in one side or another.

00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:08.699
 How many of you know

00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:09.939
 John Kenneth Galbraith?

00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:10.319
 Do you know

00:15:10.319 --> 00:15:11.379
 John Kenneth Galbraith?

00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.139
 One or two

00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:14.939
 of the older people here

00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:16.659
 know John Kenneth Galbraith

00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.899
 was an economist,

00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:19.519
 an incredibly brilliant man.

00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:20.360
 And by the way,

00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:21.019
 he's buried out

00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:22.100
 in Sunset Cemetery

00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:23.159
 within a stone's throw

00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:24.100
 of where William Brock

00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:24.500
 is buried.

00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:25.899
 You needed to know that.

00:15:25.959 --> 00:15:26.480
 Write that down.

00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.679
 There'll be a quiz

00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:28.559
 on that little fact.

00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.519
 It's an extra piece.

00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:31.960
 But John Kenneth Galbraith

00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:32.740
 made this statement.

00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:33.240
 He said,

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.720
 capitalism is a system

00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:37.399
 in which one man

00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.019
 takes advantage

00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:38.639
 of another one.

00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:40.139
 He said,

00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:40.779
 and communism

00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:42.820
 is exactly the opposite.

00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:44.620
 You know what he meant?

00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.320
 He meant,

00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:47.279
 it's also a system

00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:48.100
 where one man

00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:48.700
 takes advantage

00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:49.340
 of another man.

00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:51.139
 Can I tell you

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:53.120
 that when Jesus comes back

00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.139
 and the millennium

00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:55.000
 gets kicked off,

00:15:55.180 --> 00:15:56.279
 he is not going to rely

00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:56.980
 on capitalism

00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.060
 or communism.

00:15:58.680 --> 00:15:59.960
 He is going to rely

00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:01.920
 upon his infinite wisdom

00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:03.299
 and his justice

00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.479
 and his love

00:16:04.479 --> 00:16:06.059
 to bring about

00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:07.399
 perfect governance

00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:09.679
 and a world at peace.

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:12.179
 And I want you

00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:12.740
 to understand

00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.579
 that as we

00:16:13.579 --> 00:16:14.879
 who are his children

00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:16.399
 think about how we are

00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:18.039
 to live in this present day,

00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:20.360
 it is not getting wound up

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.799
 by one side or another

00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:22.519
 of that argument.

00:16:22.719 --> 00:16:24.099
 It is getting wound up

00:16:24.099 --> 00:16:25.139
 by the supremacy

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:26.639
 of the love of Christ

00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.399
 that he has lavished on us.

00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:31.480
 And when your life

00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.340
 is dominated

00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:33.399
 and controlled

00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.919
 by your appreciation

00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:35.840
 for the love of Christ,

00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:36.319
 and I appreciate

00:16:36.319 --> 00:16:37.659
 what John said this morning,

00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:39.539
 getting overwhelmed

00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:40.799
 with the love of Christ

00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:42.360
 and understanding

00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.000
 the depth

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.019
 of the love of Christ

00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:46.120
 is the driving force

00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:47.740
 in helping you grow

00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:48.980
 to be a more loving person.

00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.559
 Apart from appreciating

00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:51.360
 the love of Christ,

00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:53.019
 you are not going

00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:54.740
 to be very loving

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.939
 of anyone

00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:56.939
 but guess who?

00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:59.000
 Do this little thing

00:16:59.000 --> 00:16:59.380
 right here.

00:17:00.380 --> 00:17:01.760
 If you are not affected

00:17:01.760 --> 00:17:02.940
 by the love of Christ,

00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:04.059
 you will be affected

00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:05.519
 by the love of self.

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.360
 That's the way it is.

00:17:09.840 --> 00:17:10.820
 Well, Paul wants us

00:17:10.820 --> 00:17:11.420
 to recognize

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.279
 that the believer

00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.580
 is to be dominated

00:17:13.580 --> 00:17:14.640
 and to be controlled

00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:15.720
 by the love of Christ.

00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.559
 Let me come to the second part

00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:18.900
 as we think about this passage.

00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:20.000
 You see,

00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:21.259
 a believer has a past

00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:22.740
 and there in verse 14

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.000
 it says,

00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:23.680
 the love of Christ

00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.500
 controls us

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:26.400
 because we have concluded this

00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:28.620
 that one has died for all,

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:30.240
 therefore all were dead.

00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:32.940
 So I want you to recognize

00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:34.820
 that prior to salvation,

00:17:35.300 --> 00:17:36.140
 each of us

00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:37.400
 were utterly dead

00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:38.400
 and lost.

00:17:40.080 --> 00:17:40.840
 Do you understand

00:17:40.840 --> 00:17:41.519
 that the gospel

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.380
 actually starts

00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:43.100
 with bad news?

00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:46.180
 The idea that

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:47.980
 Jesus came into the world

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.700
 just to be

00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:50.180
 kind of a nice

00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:51.500
 and wonderful example

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:53.100
 that people can follow

00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:54.240
 and kind of move

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.119
 their way uphill

00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:56.500
 and eventually get there

00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.599
 is a lie from hell.

00:17:58.819 --> 00:17:59.939
 When you ask people

00:17:59.939 --> 00:18:00.639
 what the gospel

00:18:00.639 --> 00:18:01.539
 actually is

00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:03.099
 and they propose to you

00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:03.899
 that this gospel

00:18:03.899 --> 00:18:04.839
 is just a,

00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:06.299
 just simply

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.179
 and exclusively

00:18:07.179 --> 00:18:08.299
 a nice

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.099
 and wonderful

00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:10.000
 little story

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.159
 about how to be

00:18:11.159 --> 00:18:12.219
 sweet to each other,

00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:14.219
 if that's what they think,

00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.599
 they're missing

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.319
 what the scripture

00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:16.959
 has to say

00:18:16.959 --> 00:18:17.740
 about the gospel.

00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:19.399
 Paul made this statement,

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:19.819
 he said,

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:20.460
 that the gospel

00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:20.980
 is something

00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:21.960
 that is offensive.

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.299
 Do you know

00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:24.839
 what's offensive

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.619
 about the gospel?

00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:28.000
 The gospel

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.659
 is offensive

00:18:28.659 --> 00:18:30.240
 because first of all

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.200
 it tells us

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.579
 that all mankind

00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:34.439
 equally are dead

00:18:34.439 --> 00:18:35.379
 in their trespasses

00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:35.980
 and sins

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.720
 and stand justly

00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.439
 condemned before

00:18:38.439 --> 00:18:39.079
 a holy God.

00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.059
 That's the part

00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:40.960
 people don't like.

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.139
 But you know

00:18:42.139 --> 00:18:42.819
 what Jesus said?

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.099
 He said,

00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:44.339
 hey,

00:18:44.939 --> 00:18:45.819
 those who don't

00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:47.059
 understand that they're sick,

00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:47.980
 there's a free rendition

00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.619
 unless you're wondering

00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.359
 what passage it is.

00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.319
 Remember Jesus said this?

00:18:50.659 --> 00:18:51.019
 He said,

00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.019
 it's not those

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.679
 who are healthy

00:18:52.679 --> 00:18:53.639
 that need the physician

00:18:53.639 --> 00:18:55.759
 but those that are sick.

00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:57.059
 By the way,

00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:57.579
 was he saying

00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:58.179
 that some of us

00:18:58.179 --> 00:18:58.619
 were healthy

00:18:58.619 --> 00:18:59.599
 and some of us

00:18:59.599 --> 00:18:59.959
 were sick?

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:00.159
 No,

00:19:00.219 --> 00:19:00.699
 he was saying

00:19:00.699 --> 00:19:01.479
 the problem

00:19:01.479 --> 00:19:02.279
 with the Pharisees

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.139
 is they didn't understand

00:19:03.139 --> 00:19:03.799
 just how sick

00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:04.959
 their soul was.

00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:06.699
 You see,

00:19:06.939 --> 00:19:08.459
 in order for people

00:19:08.459 --> 00:19:09.479
 to recognize

00:19:09.479 --> 00:19:11.500
 their desperate need

00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.479
 for the gospel,

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.699
 the first thing

00:19:13.699 --> 00:19:14.599
 they have to do

00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:15.799
 is come to grips

00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:17.119
 with the wickedness

00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:18.919
 and the absolute despair

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.800
 of their soul.

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.080
 And can I tell you something?

00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.960
 Of all the things

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:25.180
 we can learn from history,

00:19:26.100 --> 00:19:27.940
 the thing that is clearest

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:30.000
 is that apart from

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.560
 the power of Christ

00:19:31.560 --> 00:19:33.160
 to save mankind,

00:19:33.700 --> 00:19:35.580
 all human existence

00:19:35.580 --> 00:19:37.320
 is insufferably wicked

00:19:37.320 --> 00:19:38.019
 and despicable.

00:19:38.300 --> 00:19:38.840
 Does that mean

00:19:38.840 --> 00:19:39.940
 we're as bad as we could be

00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:41.019
 without further practice?

00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:41.340
 No.

00:19:41.580 --> 00:19:42.640
 But here's the truth.

00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:44.420
 Apart from Christ,

00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:45.140
 what it says

00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:45.680
 in the Scripture

00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:47.360
 is there is none righteous,

00:19:47.560 --> 00:19:48.200
 no, not one.

00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.060
 There's not a one

00:19:49.060 --> 00:19:50.240
 that seeks after Christ.

00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.680
 And so as we think

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.400
 about the truth

00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.920
 of what the gospel tells us,

00:19:55.120 --> 00:19:55.840
 it announces,

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:56.600
 as we see here

00:19:56.600 --> 00:19:57.240
 in this passage,

00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:59.140
 that prior to the grace

00:19:59.140 --> 00:19:59.580
 of God,

00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:00.560
 I was utterly dead

00:20:00.560 --> 00:20:01.120
 and hopeless

00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.180
 in my sin

00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:02.940
 with no hope.

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:05.120
 I stood justly condemned

00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:06.019
 for the blackness

00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:06.600
 of my heart

00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.720
 and the wickedness

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.400
 of my sins,

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.539
 and yet Christ chose

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.940
 to take my place

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:12.519
 and die in my stead.

00:20:14.340 --> 00:20:15.160
 And that's true

00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:15.960
 for every one of you

00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:16.720
 here this morning

00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.440
 that know Christ

00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:18.440
 as your personal Savior.

00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.440
 He took your sin.

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.740
 He paid the penalty.

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.640
 He was given

00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.880
 the full judgment

00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:24.539
 of God

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.799
 in place of you.

00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.440
 And the thought

00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.440
 of what He has done

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.220
 for me

00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:32.039
 and how He loves me

00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:32.559
 is something

00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:34.539
 that I should never tire

00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.920
 of thinking about

00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:37.299
 and it should give me

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.340
 warm fuzzies

00:20:38.340 --> 00:20:39.100
 every time.

00:20:39.580 --> 00:20:39.600
 Hmm?

00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:42.000
 Last night,

00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:43.940
 sitting in the

00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:46.360
 family room,

00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.640
 I said to Judith,

00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:48.559
 I love you.

00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.220
 It was just out

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:49.759
 of the clear blue.

00:20:49.840 --> 00:20:50.340
 You were watching

00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:51.080
 OSU football

00:20:51.080 --> 00:20:51.960
 and so there was

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.759
 a very clear connect

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.720
 between the two events,

00:20:53.820 --> 00:20:54.059
 you know.

00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:56.600
 I said,

00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.100
 I love you.

00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:57.559
 And she said,

00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.059
 and she asked

00:20:59.059 --> 00:20:59.680
 that dumb question,

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.019
 why?

00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:01.759
 Well,

00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:02.680
 and here's my answer.

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.180
 She's sitting in the back.

00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:05.100
 I think she'll raise

00:21:05.100 --> 00:21:05.880
 a hand if I miss it.

00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:06.640
 But I said,

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.400
 actually,

00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.539
 starting point

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.940
 is because Jesus loves me.

00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.900
 Do you understand that?

00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:13.279
 Here's what the Bible says,

00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.180
 love is of,

00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:16.660
 how did Tim Knoyer,

00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:19.360
 and I'll tell you what,

00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:21.120
 a pathological sinner

00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:22.740
 apart from the grace of God,

00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.940
 how did Tim Knoyer

00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.680
 become someone

00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.799
 who loved anybody else

00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.360
 but himself?

00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.960
 It was the grace of God

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.900
 who brought salvation

00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:29.580
 in my life

00:21:29.580 --> 00:21:30.580
 and taught me

00:21:30.580 --> 00:21:32.039
 the width and breadth

00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.960
 and depth and height

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.940
 of a love of Christ

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:35.279
 and then began working

00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:36.200
 and helping me learn

00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:37.180
 how to love other people.

00:21:37.320 --> 00:21:38.820
 It didn't happen by accident.

00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:40.380
 It happened on the cross

00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:41.799
 and it happened subsequently

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:43.180
 in the work of God

00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:44.480
 dealing in the life

00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.080
 of a believer.

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.500
 I said,

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.660
 I love you because of Jesus.

00:21:49.340 --> 00:21:49.940
 I love you,

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.299
 secondly,

00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.620
 because I promised

00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:52.400
 to do that.

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.660
 I made a promise.

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.539
 I think it's 43

00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.880
 and a half years ago,

00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.420
 give or take.

00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.400
 I said,

00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:00.440
 that's the one

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.960
 I'm going to spend

00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:01.880
 the rest of my life

00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:02.759
 learning how to love.

00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.500
 And can I tell you something?

00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:06.220
 It's a whole lot more fun today

00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:07.160
 than it was yesterday

00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:07.880
 and the day before.

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.460
 You follow that?

00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:10.259
 It gets better as you go.

00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.059
 By the way,

00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:12.980
 here's a little surprise,

00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:14.220
 but it does take work.

00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:16.340
 The reason it takes work

00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:17.220
 is because I'm a sinner

00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:18.279
 living with another sinner.

00:22:19.860 --> 00:22:20.960
 Coming back to the subject,

00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.980
 I want you to understand

00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:23.920
 that as I think about

00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:25.140
 the love of Christ,

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:27.240
 it ends up affecting

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:29.720
 my love for others.

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:34.000
 I want you to recognize

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.100
 the believers present.

00:22:36.620 --> 00:22:37.500
 You look there

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.860
 at the passage again

00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:40.519
 and pick up in verse 15.

00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:40.840
 It says,

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.779
 and he died for all

00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:43.559
 that those who live

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:45.220
 might no longer live

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:46.100
 for themselves,

00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:48.299
 but for him

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.940
 who for their sakes died

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:51.340
 and was raised.

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.319
 Who do you live for?

00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:55.960
 Who does your life belong to?

00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.640
 Who determines

00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:58.900
 what you do

00:22:58.900 --> 00:23:00.019
 and where you are

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:01.460
 and how you spend

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.019
 your time?

00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:04.099
 Are you the center

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:05.519
 of your universe

00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:06.819
 or is Christ?

00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:08.279
 Can you justly

00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:09.420
 and honestly say

00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.660
 that the driving

00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:11.779
 and operating principle

00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.500
 in my life

00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.599
 is a desire

00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:16.079
 to draw attention

00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.759
 to the lover

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.759
 of my soul?

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.599
 The text really

00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.460
 isn't complicated,

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.359
 and it makes the point

00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:23.480
 that those who are gripped

00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.740
 by the love of Christ

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:26.599
 will live their life

00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:27.619
 for him

00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:29.279
 and not for themselves.

00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:30.939
 And so,

00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:32.159
 Paul closes off

00:23:32.159 --> 00:23:32.939
 his argument here

00:23:32.939 --> 00:23:33.619
 as he explains,

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:35.139
 what is it that makes you

00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:36.099
 handle the suffering

00:23:36.099 --> 00:23:37.319
 and the rejection

00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.219
 and the disappointment

00:23:38.219 --> 00:23:39.719
 that you live with?

00:23:40.439 --> 00:23:40.839
 He says,

00:23:40.959 --> 00:23:42.939
 that's not a hard question.

00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:44.500
 I'm the way I am

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:46.179
 because the love of Christ

00:23:46.179 --> 00:23:47.139
 controls me.

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.579
 And let me explain it this way.

00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:51.960
 I was dead

00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.939
 and Jesus died for me.

00:23:55.399 --> 00:23:56.119
 And so,

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.579
 the remainder of my life,

00:23:57.679 --> 00:23:59.439
 I live to say thank you

00:23:59.439 --> 00:24:01.019
 for who he is

00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:02.279
 and what he's done for me.

00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:03.559
 So,

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.659
 let me ask you this.

00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:06.299
 Do you really honestly believe

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.519
 that he loved you enough

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.779
 to die in your place

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:10.240
 and that he has paid

00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.599
 the penalty for your sins?

00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:13.559
 Is that a thought

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.819
 that is central

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:16.059
 in your living?

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:19.619
 If it is.

00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:22.039
 I want you to understand this.

00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:23.179
 Listen to me carefully.

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:25.059
 The way we think

00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:27.000
 determines the way we act.

00:24:27.099 --> 00:24:27.879
 Do you understand that?

00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:29.379
 Let me kind of put

00:24:29.379 --> 00:24:30.200
 the string together.

00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:32.059
 Thoughts

00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:34.399
 produce actions

00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:36.500
 and actions

00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:37.559
 produce consequences.

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.399
 Would you agree with that?

00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:40.679
 The way we think

00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:42.919
 ends up being evident

00:24:42.919 --> 00:24:44.159
 in the way we act.

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:46.040
 and the way we act

00:24:46.040 --> 00:24:47.620
 creates consequences.

00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:48.920
 And so,

00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:50.060
 here is Paul saying,

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.400
 listen,

00:24:50.600 --> 00:24:51.600
 I got it.

00:24:51.800 --> 00:24:52.779
 I got it figured out.

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.560
 I am dominated.

00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.320
 I am controlled

00:24:55.320 --> 00:24:55.920
 by the fact

00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.100
 that Christ loves me

00:24:57.100 --> 00:24:58.400
 and because of that,

00:24:58.580 --> 00:25:00.300
 I don't live my life

00:25:00.300 --> 00:25:01.220
 for myself.

00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:03.380
 Turn over in your Bible

00:25:03.380 --> 00:25:04.019
 just for a moment

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.620
 to a passage

00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:05.820
 in Titus chapter 3,

00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.279
 verse 8.

00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:10.180
 Titus chapter 3,

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.200
 verse 8.

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:20.380
 Titus nails it

00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:21.540
 when he talks about

00:25:21.540 --> 00:25:22.259
 Christian motive.

00:25:24.060 --> 00:25:25.320
 He says there in verse 8,

00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:26.980
 the saying is trustworthy

00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:28.380
 and I want you to insist

00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:29.120
 on these things.

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.820
 He's talking about

00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:31.560
 the pastoral responsibility

00:25:31.560 --> 00:25:32.420
 is to kind of

00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:34.120
 challenge God's people

00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:35.460
 to live a life

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:37.779
 to a certain agenda

00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.340
 and objective.

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:38.700
 He says,

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:40.080
 I want you to insist

00:25:40.080 --> 00:25:41.200
 on these things

00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:43.740
 so that those

00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.799
 who have believed

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.799
 in God,

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.940
 you might even

00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.559
 underline this

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.259
 and memorize it,

00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.819
 so that those

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:50.880
 who have believed

00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.420
 in God

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.680
 might be careful

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.980
 to devote themselves

00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:54.960
 to good works.

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:56.980
 Hmm.

00:25:57.640 --> 00:25:58.380
 What does it mean

00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.140
 to devote yourself

00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.860
 to good works?

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:00.920
 Ah,

00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:02.080
 working into your agenda

00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:03.120
 once every six years.

00:26:03.840 --> 00:26:04.100
 Right?

00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:06.099
 Well,

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:07.159
 make it a point,

00:26:07.699 --> 00:26:08.679
 once a quarter,

00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:10.559
 you're going to kind of

00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:12.000
 do something nice.

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:12.500
 You know,

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:14.139
 you're in line

00:26:14.139 --> 00:26:15.219
 at McDonald's

00:26:15.219 --> 00:26:16.699
 and when you pull up

00:26:16.699 --> 00:26:17.639
 and you hear the

00:26:17.639 --> 00:26:19.059
 next order coming in,

00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:19.399
 you say,

00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:19.679
 hey,

00:26:19.939 --> 00:26:20.859
 I'll pay for that

00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.519
 so that,

00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:23.359
 is that it?

00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:23.879
 No.

00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.139
 Here's what it says.

00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:26.519
 Nothing wrong

00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:27.379
 with the McDonald's idea

00:26:27.379 --> 00:26:28.019
 if I'm behind you,

00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:29.119
 but the point is,

00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:29.399
 look,

00:26:29.459 --> 00:26:29.980
 it says here.

00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.519
 You caught that?

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.159
 You're awake.

00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:34.160
 Oh,

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.160
 let's read the verse.

00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:40.279
 What's it say?

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.500
 It says,

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.880
 those who have believed

00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:46.300
 in God,

00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:46.840
 is that you?

00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.240
 Is that you?

00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:49.120
 Have you believed in God?

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.519
 In other words,

00:26:49.560 --> 00:26:50.320
 you've believed in Christ

00:26:50.320 --> 00:26:51.240
 as your personal Savior?

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.259
 It says,

00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:53.200
 if you believed in God,

00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:53.940
 you may be careful

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:54.900
 to devote yourself

00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.800
 to good works.

00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:58.000
 These things are excellent

00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.820
 and profitable

00:26:58.820 --> 00:26:59.620
 for people.

00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:01.080
 Who should know

00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:02.620
 about your good works?

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.660
 Who should know

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.519
 about your good works?

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:08.140
 Number one is God,

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.360
 but number two,

00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.080
 it's your neighbors.

00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:11.840
 Everybody smile

00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:13.620
 because what you're asking me,

00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.660
 the next thought you're having

00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.519
 is can you prove that

00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.040
 from the Bible?

00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:16.680
 Is that what you're saying?

00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.740
 Is that what you're thinking?

00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:18.600
 Is that,

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:20.380
 so should I go to my neighbors

00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:21.440
 and hand out a little survey

00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:21.779
 saying,

00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:23.160
 so do you know

00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:24.259
 that I'm into good works?

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.819
 Okay.

00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.599
 Matthew chapter five,

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.740
 remember what Jesus says

00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.480
 in verse 14,

00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:32.200
 you are what?

00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:35.119
 You might be on occasion.

00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.500
 He says,

00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:36.400
 you are the light.

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.740
 And he says,

00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.460
 by the way,

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.960
 this is the next part of it,

00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:42.579
 he says,

00:27:42.660 --> 00:27:44.460
 and when you light a lamp,

00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.200
 what do you do?

00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.819
 So when God saved you,

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.980
 his intention in using your life

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:50.579
 was just like

00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.539
 when you light a candle

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.039
 in a home.

00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:53.059
 You put it somewhere

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:54.139
 where it makes a difference.

00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:56.220
 The expectation that Christ has

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.180
 is that you and I

00:27:57.180 --> 00:27:58.500
 are lights where we've been planted.

00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:01.139
 Monday morning

00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:02.599
 when everybody comes into work

00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.879
 and their attitude is,

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:04.299
 ugh,

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.200
 ugh,

00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:05.559
 you know,

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.139
 I mean,

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.539
 the one bright spot

00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:08.240
 is what happened

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.339
 in the OSU game

00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.220
 and the rest of life

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.579
 is kind of a bust,

00:28:11.659 --> 00:28:11.859
 you know,

00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:13.180
 and here you are.

00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:14.139
 How are you acting

00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:14.940
 on Monday morning?

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.579
 Happy Monday!

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.819
 Probably when I come in

00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.819
 on Monday,

00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.879
 I'll say to Connie,

00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:22.740
 the same thing I said

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.460
 on Thursday,

00:28:23.600 --> 00:28:23.700
 you know,

00:28:23.760 --> 00:28:24.460
 happy Thursday,

00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:25.240
 it'll be Monday,

00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:26.120
 happy Monday,

00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:26.700
 right?

00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:28.860
 Why?

00:28:29.800 --> 00:28:30.240
 Because

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:32.100
 I've been lit

00:28:32.100 --> 00:28:32.840
 like a candle

00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:34.800
 and by the way,

00:28:35.060 --> 00:28:35.960
 when that candle

00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:37.140
 is shining properly,

00:28:37.300 --> 00:28:38.180
 who gets the credit?

00:28:38.300 --> 00:28:39.140
 Here's what it says,

00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:40.740
 that people may see

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.740
 your good works

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:43.560
 and glorify

00:28:43.560 --> 00:28:44.720
 your Father

00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.920
 who is in heaven.

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:49.700
 the way you act

00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:53.000
 either reflects favorably

00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:54.000
 on Christ

00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:56.720
 or it causes people

00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.700
 to think he is

00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:59.720
 of irrelevant difference

00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.620
 in their life

00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:01.740
 and anybody else's.

00:29:02.580 --> 00:29:03.539
 And so let me help you

00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.560
 understand as you think

00:29:04.560 --> 00:29:05.320
 about this matter

00:29:05.320 --> 00:29:06.740
 is when you recognize

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:08.220
 what God has done,

00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:09.140
 understand this,

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:10.840
 that the love of Christ

00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:12.460
 controls my life

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.640
 because I knew

00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:15.380
 I deserved the penalty

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:15.860
 of death

00:29:15.860 --> 00:29:17.380
 and he died in my place.

00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:20.240
 I was bought with a price

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:22.779
 and my life

00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:24.120
 belongs to him.

00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:26.579
 As a result of that,

00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:29.579
 other people should be able

00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:30.240
 to see that.

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.779
 Isn't that right?

00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.079
 They should be able

00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:33.640
 to see that Christ

00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:35.799
 has made a difference.

00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:38.440
 I am living proof

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:40.859
 and you are living proof

00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:42.659
 of the power of Christ

00:29:42.659 --> 00:29:44.599
 to change a life.

00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.480
 Agreed?

00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:48.940
 Agreed?

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.839
 And one of the ways

00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.460
 we do that

00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.579
 is not by being

00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:54.240
 a frowny, grumpy, frumpy person.

00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.019
 Would you agree with that?

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.419
 One of the ways

00:29:56.419 --> 00:29:57.019
 we do that

00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:58.259
 is by being a forgiving

00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:59.440
 and forbearing individual.

00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.019
 One of the ways

00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.639
 we do that

00:30:00.639 --> 00:30:02.119
 is by having endurance

00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:02.980
 under stress.

00:30:03.399 --> 00:30:03.899
 One of the ways

00:30:03.899 --> 00:30:04.460
 we do that

00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:05.900
 is by being compassionate

00:30:05.900 --> 00:30:07.480
 to those who are enslaved

00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.559
 by their sin.

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:10.759
 One of the ways

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.279
 we do that

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.460
 is by having joy

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.519
 in the midst of adversity

00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:15.180
 and everybody knows.

00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:17.720
 Where's that come from?

00:30:18.600 --> 00:30:20.539
 Well, it's not from me, right?

00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:22.400
 It's from Christ.

00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:24.579
 It's from Christ

00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:27.140
 because the love of Christ

00:30:27.140 --> 00:30:28.500
 controls me.

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.880
 That they who live

00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:33.039
 should not henceforth

00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:34.039
 live unto themselves.

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:35.079
 But unto him

00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:36.279
 who died for them

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:37.779
 and rose again.

00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:40.119
 I'm going to ask

00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:40.899
 that the men come

00:30:40.899 --> 00:30:41.599
 at this time

00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:43.299
 as we come

00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:44.099
 to the Lord's table.

00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.299
 And as the men

00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:47.259
 are coming this morning,

00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.559
 let me encourage you

00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.159
 to recognize

00:30:49.159 --> 00:30:51.619
 that I need my Bible.

00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.940
 Let me encourage you

00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:57.500
 to recognize

00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:58.899
 that what I said earlier

00:30:58.899 --> 00:30:59.960
 stands to be

00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:00.879
 undeniably true

00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:02.279
 that the Lord's table

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.079
 is a table

00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:04.119
 to which all

00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:05.019
 who know Christ

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:06.619
 are freely invited.

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.379
 If you're here

00:31:08.379 --> 00:31:08.940
 this morning

00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.819
 and you know Christ

00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:10.980
 as your personal Savior,

00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:12.319
 let me encourage you

00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:12.940
 to recognize

00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:14.119
 that this table

00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:15.519
 and what we engage

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.379
 in as a memorial

00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:17.279
 is something

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:18.160
 that is designed

00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.899
 to encourage,

00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:19.819
 strengthen,

00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:20.920
 convict

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:22.460
 you as a believer.

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:24.360
 in relationship

00:31:24.360 --> 00:31:24.960
 to that,

00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.900
 it says in the Scriptures

00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:27.000
 that if you are here,

00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:28.440
 that you are also

00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.799
 to examine yourself,

00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:31.799
 that you do not

00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.860
 take the Lord's table

00:31:32.860 --> 00:31:34.220
 in an unworthy manner.

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.740
 And so as we get ready

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.640
 to take these elements,

00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.519
 I'm going to ask

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.420
 that you spend the time

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.160
 in quiet prayer

00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:40.920
 right where you're sitting

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:42.000
 and you just say,

00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:42.220
 Lord,

00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:43.039
 if there are issues

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.700
 in my life

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.640
 that I need to repent

00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:45.299
 and forsake,

00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:46.340
 now's the time

00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:46.840
 to do that

00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:48.000
 so that when I take the bread

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.140
 and I take the cup,

00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:50.240
 I can do it

00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:51.440
 with a clear conscience.

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:53.599
 Let's pray.

00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.539
 Precious Father,

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:04.079
 as we take just a moment

00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:07.359
 to examine ourselves

00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:08.079
 before You,

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:08.859
 we recognize

00:32:08.859 --> 00:32:10.299
 that the Scriptures

00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:11.160
 are quite clear

00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:12.539
 that if You were

00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:14.000
 to mark iniquity

00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:14.859
 that none of us

00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.539
 would stand.

00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:18.420
 and yet You have

00:32:18.420 --> 00:32:19.460
 granted to us

00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:19.960
 forgiveness

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:21.339
 through the Lord Jesus Christ

00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:23.180
 and so we first of all

00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:24.240
 come with thanksgiving

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:25.159
 for what He has done

00:32:25.159 --> 00:32:25.899
 for us.

00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:28.319
 At the same time,

00:32:28.379 --> 00:32:29.379
 we also recognize

00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:29.899
 that the Scriptures

00:32:29.899 --> 00:32:31.159
 teach us that clearly

00:32:31.159 --> 00:32:32.899
 we do struggle with sin

00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:33.720
 from day to day

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.579
 and so this morning,

00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.819
 if there are issues

00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:36.539
 in our hearts

00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.359
 that we need to confess

00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:38.180
 and forsake,

00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:40.559
 whether it is an attitude

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.700
 towards another believer

00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.500
 or a practice

00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:43.720
 that is secret and hidden

00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:45.440
 that is offensive to You,

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:48.639
 or a matter of the soul

00:32:48.639 --> 00:32:49.859
 that nobody else

00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.720
 knows about, Lord,

00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:51.259
 this morning

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:52.539
 that we would confess that,

00:32:53.379 --> 00:32:54.960
 that we may take this bread

00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:56.000
 and take this cup

00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:57.720
 with a clear conscience.

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.359
 We're thankful

00:33:00.359 --> 00:33:01.139
 that what it says

00:33:01.139 --> 00:33:01.680
 in the Scriptures

00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:03.099
 is if we confess our sins,

00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.299
 You are faithful

00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:05.619
 and just to forgive us

00:33:05.619 --> 00:33:06.460
 of those sins.

00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.879
 And so we ask

00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:09.799
 for that privilege

00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:11.579
 to be exercised

00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:12.279
 in the lives

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:13.519
 of each and every believer

00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:15.839
 that humbly confesses

00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:19.299
 that we may take

00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.119
 this cup

00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:20.779
 and this bread

00:33:20.779 --> 00:33:22.259
 without condemnation.

00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:24.099
 And we ask this

00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:25.019
 in Jesus' name.

00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:25.779
 Amen.

00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:25.920
 Amen.

00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:25.920


00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:25.920


00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:25.920


00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:25.920


00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:25.920


00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:25.920


00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:25.920


00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:25.920


00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:27.920
 Amen.

00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:27.920


00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:27.920


00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:27.920