WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.800 Today's reading is taken from the book of 2 Timothy 4, verses 6-22, and that would be found in page 1197 on your Blue Bibles. 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:20.179 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 00:00:20.179 --> 00:00:25.760 I have fought a good fight and have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:39.820 Now, there is in store for me that the crown of righteousness, which is the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 00:00:40.820 --> 00:00:51.280 Do your best to come to me quickly. For Demas, because he loved this world, he deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. 00:00:51.280 --> 00:01:00.079 Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. 00:01:00.400 --> 00:01:06.859 Because he is helpful to me in my ministry, I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:15.180 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus atroas and my scrolls, especially the parchments. 00:01:15.180 --> 00:01:24.200 Alexander, the metal worker, did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 00:01:25.020 --> 00:01:30.160 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:38.979 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. 00:01:39.979 --> 00:01:41.840 May it not be held against them. 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:50.759 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles might hear it. 00:01:51.340 --> 00:01:53.719 And I watched delivered from the lion's mouth. 00:01:53.719 --> 00:02:00.539 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. 00:02:01.379 --> 00:02:04.439 To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:17.539 Great Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus, Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus ill in Miletus. 00:02:17.539 --> 00:02:20.620 Do your best to get here before winter. 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:27.239 Yubilus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. 00:02:27.859 --> 00:02:30.959 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all. 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:33.840 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:34.739 --> 00:02:35.719 Thanks, Mayor Chu. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:39.419 Let me say hello again. 00:02:39.419 --> 00:02:44.479 Again, I'm David. I'm one of the leaders, and I'm really pleased to get to be teaching this morning, 00:02:44.679 --> 00:02:51.079 because Steve is still away, getting a much-needed, much-deserved holiday with his family. 00:02:51.279 --> 00:02:53.939 So we'll get to do this together. 00:02:54.239 --> 00:02:58.899 But before I get started, let me just pray once again for the Lord to lead us in. 00:03:01.339 --> 00:03:03.859 Father, we thank you for gathering us today. 00:03:03.860 --> 00:03:09.240 Thank you for the beautiful day that it is, for the kindness that you have given us 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:14.740 in just blessing us with sunshine and things that lift our spirits. 00:03:15.060 --> 00:03:19.160 Lord, we want to look to the word today, the words that you have for us, 00:03:19.260 --> 00:03:27.960 to see something of you, to know you better, to change our lives such that we can live for you 00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:33.280 and with you in a way that would be beneficial to us but glorifying to you. 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:37.159 Lord, help us to read it carefully, to understand it clearly, 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:42.439 and may the words that are said this morning be your words, not mine. 00:03:43.099 --> 00:03:44.659 We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:50.500 We've been looking at 2 Timothy, and we've been here for a number of weeks, 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:57.199 and so we'll continue on, but what we have here is the very last bit. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:03.419 And so I'm kind of wrapping up, closing what has been this series, this moment, 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:06.479 looking at 2 Timothy, this letter from Paul. 00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:12.419 And so there'll be a little bit of like kind of summary and conclusion here, 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:16.839 but really grounded in those final verses that Meritju just read for us. 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:19.399 I don't know about you. 00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:24.219 I don't know what you're dealing with when you came in today, what your week has been like, 00:04:24.299 --> 00:04:29.959 but sometimes it feels like life is incredibly, almost impossibly hard. 00:04:30.919 --> 00:04:33.039 Maybe you've felt that recently. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:39.319 I feel like I have had a week where as soon as I felt that I had my feet under me, 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:44.739 that something else came, another email, another phone call would knock me back down. 00:04:44.740 --> 00:04:49.480 And it couldn't seem, I just felt like I couldn't make any ground, right? 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:53.680 It's like I would go two steps forward and then three steps backwards, right? 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:58.579 It was this constant challenge, and I would avert one crisis, 00:04:59.060 --> 00:05:03.040 and there was something else waiting in the wings for me in its place, right? 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:09.079 In the world that we live in, there's so many things that could come and sort of attack us, right? 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:18.180 Whether it's physical health, mental health, navigating relationships, financial pressures, loneliness, 00:05:19.159 --> 00:05:27.500 work-related stress, grief, trauma, the impact from our own poor choices or negative habits, right? 00:05:27.539 --> 00:05:33.500 Whatever it is, probably, if you're like me, it's several of those dragging us down, right? 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:37.360 And somehow it feels like we just can't catch a break, right? 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:42.360 And we've been studying this letter for the past weeks, right? 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:48.180 It's a letter addressed to a guy called Timothy, and it's written by his mentor, Paul. 00:05:48.980 --> 00:05:51.620 And Paul seems to be having this sort of week, doesn't he? 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:53.900 Maybe longer than a week, actually. 00:05:54.300 --> 00:05:58.660 We know it's been a good while for Paul, much more, right? 00:05:58.699 --> 00:05:59.660 It's been a tough go. 00:05:59.740 --> 00:06:01.960 He's endured all sorts of hardships, 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:07.739 hardships that maybe we have experienced or maybe are way beyond what we have experienced, 00:06:07.859 --> 00:06:12.879 but they were physical and emotional, and he's been beaten and stoned. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:15.279 He's been shipwrecked and imprisoned, 00:06:16.299 --> 00:06:21.959 faced opposition from the religious leaders and from the government leaders, 00:06:22.659 --> 00:06:24.079 financial challenges, 00:06:24.479 --> 00:06:30.000 and he's even named some sort of thorn in his side without giving any more description. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:34.180 And at one point, he was even bitten by a snake, right? 00:06:34.259 --> 00:06:41.600 So he's been deserted and abandoned by those he thought were friends, right? 00:06:41.639 --> 00:06:43.839 We read that even in the verses today. 00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:49.079 And we know that Paul is even writing this letter from inside a Roman prison, 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:53.779 and he believes that he's nearing the end, right? 00:06:53.819 --> 00:06:59.360 Either by execution or that he'd just be left to rot in this prison for the rest of his days. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:04.660 And so his message in this letter to Timothy, 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:08.860 he has the message for him, and so he writes this letter. 00:07:09.460 --> 00:07:15.240 And for Timothy, what he has for him is probably not what Timothy expects, right? 00:07:15.300 --> 00:07:19.240 It's not what he would hope for, I don't think, right? 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:21.199 But it is the one that Timothy needs, 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:25.080 and I think it's the one that we need in our walk with Christ, right? 00:07:25.079 --> 00:07:32.319 The letter to Timothy stands as sort of a stark reminder that Paul's life and ministry, 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:35.279 even though incredibly influential, 00:07:35.859 --> 00:07:42.759 and his impact on the rest of history are largely unmatched for a human, right? 00:07:43.159 --> 00:07:47.159 They were marked by persistent challenge, suffering, and struggle. 00:07:47.160 --> 00:07:53.640 And it reminds Timothy and us that following Jesus involves risk and sacrifice, 00:07:54.380 --> 00:08:00.000 and means inviting a certain level of tension and discomfort into our lives, right? 00:08:00.020 --> 00:08:04.680 But it also reminds us that these things are not a sign of Jesus' absence in our lives. 00:08:05.540 --> 00:08:06.540 What far be it, right? 00:08:06.540 --> 00:08:14.560 It's rather that Paul has discovered, along with all the generations of those following Jesus after him, 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:19.860 that it's precisely in those dark moments, and it's precisely in those difficult times, 00:08:20.080 --> 00:08:25.939 that Jesus' love and faithfulness become most tangible to us, right? 00:08:25.980 --> 00:08:30.300 And so, as we look at it, let's remind that. 00:08:30.340 --> 00:08:33.720 That's sort of the thesis in here, but let's look at specifically. 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:36.899 As I said, the recipient of this letter is Timothy. 00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:40.540 He was the direct subject of Paul's encouragement. 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:45.220 And Timothy was trained by Paul and left to lead the church in Ephesus. 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:48.360 We know that from the first letter to Timothy. 00:08:49.100 --> 00:08:50.100 So he was left there. 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:51.840 Paul chose him directly. 00:08:52.680 --> 00:08:55.279 And, you know, in the way that we would talk about it now, 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:59.779 Timothy is effectively a full-time pastor of the church there, right? 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:00.700 That's his job. 00:09:00.740 --> 00:09:02.300 It's his day job, right? 00:09:02.299 --> 00:09:07.199 And so, funnily enough, as I look out at most of you, 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:13.019 you're not employed by the church to be ministers, right? 00:09:13.179 --> 00:09:14.719 Lucky for you, neither am I. 00:09:15.019 --> 00:09:17.639 And so we're all in the same boat here today, right? 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:20.299 But what I think is helpful for us to understand that 00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:27.699 while Paul is giving this specific instruction to someone who is employed to do ministry as their full-time job, 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:33.900 that instruction and that encouragement, they apply to all of us who claim to follow Jesus, right? 00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:41.919 And as it happens, history would seem to show that the idea of this salaried full-time pastor didn't even come into play, 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.319 didn't really come about until about the time of the Reformation. 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:49.459 So, you know, thousand plus years after this time. 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:56.079 Paul himself makes clear in his letter to the Ephesians, if you look over there, right? 00:09:56.080 --> 00:10:02.300 He says, Christ himself gave the apostles, prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and the teachers 00:10:02.300 --> 00:10:06.040 to equip his people for the works of service 00:10:06.040 --> 00:10:10.540 so that the body of Christ might be built up until we all reach unity in faith 00:10:10.540 --> 00:10:12.840 and in the knowledge of the Son of God to become mature, 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:16.100 attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ, right? 00:10:16.139 --> 00:10:18.600 To equip his people for the works of service. 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:22.300 Maybe put more clearly, the New King James says, 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:26.320 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, right? 00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:29.779 So it's our job, those of us who get to stand up here, 00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:32.860 it's our job, those who do get paid to do ministry, 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:36.899 not to go and be the ones that are on the front lines doing the ministry. 00:10:37.019 --> 00:10:40.659 No, it's we're the trainers and the helpers so that you all, 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:45.440 the regular people of Jesus, do the ministry that's called for, right? 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:52.020 And so as we look at a word here, the saints, all who have trusted Christ, 00:10:52.140 --> 00:10:55.100 are the recipients of these words from Paul, right? 00:10:55.180 --> 00:11:02.780 And one of the strongest messages from this letter from Paul is that life is hard, right? 00:11:04.660 --> 00:11:09.360 There's no promise of an easy life with Christ, right? 00:11:09.380 --> 00:11:14.580 In fact, what he did promise very clearly is that if the world hated him, 00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:19.360 it would certainly hate those who claim him and identify with him, right? 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:22.960 Nowhere is that more clear than looking at the life of Paul, right? 00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:23.820 We already went through it. 00:11:23.920 --> 00:11:27.759 Just in this chapter of this letter, we see that Paul is in prison. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.660 At the end of his rope, he says, 00:11:29.780 --> 00:11:32.080 for I'm already being poured out like a drink offering, 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:35.379 and the time for my departure is near, right? 00:11:35.400 --> 00:11:37.920 He's in prison, nearing death. 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:40.340 He's apparently freezing cold. 00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:45.180 He says, when you come, bring the cloak that I left with Karpus at Troas, right? 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:50.540 He's in this cell, and it's cold, and he wishes that he had a coat just to keep him warm. 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:55.000 And he has been completely abandoned, right? 00:11:55.080 --> 00:11:59.600 He says, at my first offense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. 00:12:00.040 --> 00:12:01.240 That was in verse 16, right? 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:04.420 So Paul has had a difficult go. 00:12:04.419 --> 00:12:09.579 So really, many of the disciples that we see also came to incredibly difficult ends, right? 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:13.139 Vastly different than what they may have anticipated, 00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:17.879 what may they have hoped for when they met Jesus for the first time, right? 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:19.199 When he was walking on earth, right? 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:23.439 They didn't expect the way things to go the way they did. 00:12:24.459 --> 00:12:27.699 And what Paul is doing in this letter to Timothy, 00:12:28.199 --> 00:12:30.459 he's commending this life to him. 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:35.920 He says, do you remember, he said in chapter 2, he says, join with me in suffering. 00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:38.000 Join with me in this suffering. 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:39.680 He's not saying avoid suffering. 00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:42.840 He's not saying, oh wait, don't mess up here and here, 00:12:42.920 --> 00:12:45.280 and avoid this fate that I found myself in. 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:46.320 He says, no, join me. 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:48.900 This is the way, right? 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:53.379 And so it's not just circumstances that are hard, 00:12:53.900 --> 00:12:57.379 but relationships are hard, and people fail us, right? 00:12:57.379 --> 00:13:03.779 But in verse 10, we saw Paul say that Demas, this guy that was with him, 00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:05.340 he says, Demas has deserted me. 00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:08.220 Life is relationally hard. 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:13.419 And Paul wants Timothy to see this because he says it so many times. 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:15.559 He must want him to know something about this. 00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:17.559 Right in verse 10, he says, 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:21.399 for Demas, in love with the present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:25.539 Evidently, Demas had been a faithful partner at one point, 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:28.819 because in another letter, Colossians, it says, 00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:32.059 Luke, the beloved physician, greets you as does Demas. 00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:32.879 Right? 00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:37.559 So Demas wasn't just a fly-by-night guy that came and then went, 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:42.059 but no, he was a trusted partner, and now he has gone his own way. 00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:42.360 Right? 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:45.279 Paul, forsaken by his friend Demas. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:47.379 Look in the middle of the same verse. 00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:52.639 Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia, and Luke alone is with me. 00:13:53.259 --> 00:13:53.399 Right? 00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:54.299 So you've got these other names. 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.620 At one point, there was a team. 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:58.139 There was a whole group of people that were with Paul. 00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:00.860 And now it's down to Paul and just Luke. 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:01.439 Right? 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:03.159 And he's pleading for help. 00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.360 Keep looking. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:06.419 Verse 14 and 15 says, 00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:09.179 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm, 00:14:09.299 --> 00:14:11.519 for he strongly opposed our message. 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:15.539 See, Paul didn't just have loneliness and abandonment, 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:20.639 but on the inside, he also got opposition from people on the outside, 00:14:20.719 --> 00:14:23.099 looking and saying, no, that's the wrong thing, 00:14:23.179 --> 00:14:25.959 and slandering him and pushing him down and saying, stop talking, 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:28.599 opposing his message. 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:32.740 And then verse 16, one of the saddest sentences in the letter, 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:33.240 he says, 00:14:33.339 --> 00:14:37.139 At my first defense, no one came to stand by me, 00:14:37.319 --> 00:14:38.740 but all deserted me. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:39.459 Right? 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:40.419 No one showed up. 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:41.120 Not one friend. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:45.639 Can you imagine, like, standing at court or in front of the thing 00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:47.240 that could determine your fate, 00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:50.519 and none of your friends turn up to that? 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:52.240 No one comes to support you. 00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:54.820 No one comes to say, this guy's okay. 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:57.340 Like, be a character witness for him. 00:14:57.700 --> 00:14:59.700 You know, I'll stand beside him. 00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:00.480 They didn't come. 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:03.860 And then in verse 20, we see him say, 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:05.379 Erastus remained in Cornuth, 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:08.440 and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:10.759 He says, do your best to come before winter. 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:14.019 Sometimes sickness interrupts partnership. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:19.179 Sometimes seasonal changes mean that people we used to care about 00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:20.860 are now in some other part of the world 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:22.659 or some other part of the city. 00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:25.399 It makes that loneliness more difficult. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:27.840 Sometimes good reasons, right? 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:32.080 Reasons that we would agree to mean that people we care about 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:33.639 find their way to somewhere else, 00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:34.960 and they're no longer with us. 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:35.539 Right? 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:37.019 And so, but it still hurts. 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:37.639 Right? 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:40.279 Just because it's a good reason and we believe in it 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:43.480 doesn't mean that we don't mourn the loss of a friend 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:45.819 and their relationship in the way that it once was. 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:46.579 Right? 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:49.439 So, what we see is that life is hard. 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:52.839 For Paul, for Timothy, and for all of us. 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:53.039 Right? 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:55.679 There's no mistaking it. 00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:57.019 Relationships are hard. 00:15:57.579 --> 00:15:58.779 Sometimes people leave us. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:00.459 Sometimes people oppose us. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:03.360 Sometimes people go, even if we want them to. 00:16:03.699 --> 00:16:04.959 And it's still hard to deal with. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:06.180 So, life is hard. 00:16:06.300 --> 00:16:07.220 Relationships are hard. 00:16:08.060 --> 00:16:09.660 And one more thing that Paul shows here 00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:12.680 is that keeping the faith can be hard at times. 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:15.519 Look again at this guy, Demas, in verse 10. 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:19.600 It says, Demas, because he loved this world, 00:16:20.160 --> 00:16:22.500 has gone away and abandoned me. 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:22.840 Right? 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:24.759 I think Paul is looking to Timothy, 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:26.400 and he wants him to see something specific. 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:28.720 He wants him to feel the force of this. 00:16:28.780 --> 00:16:31.300 This guy, Demas, who was one of the trusted. 00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:34.899 He was one of those that they were carrying on with, 00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:40.159 has fallen in love with the world, 00:16:40.359 --> 00:16:41.259 and has deserted me. 00:16:41.319 --> 00:16:41.459 Right? 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:43.799 When we were studying Mark earlier in this year, 00:16:43.859 --> 00:16:45.939 we saw the parable of the sower. 00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:49.959 And what happens is sometimes thorns grow up 00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:51.039 and choke the plants. 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:51.759 Right? 00:16:51.859 --> 00:16:55.299 Sometimes the worries and pleasures of life 00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:57.079 and the deceitfulness of wealth 00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:59.419 and desires for other things come in, 00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:02.539 and they choke us out before we can get to it. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:03.199 Right? 00:17:03.459 --> 00:17:05.180 Paul says we can't let it. 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.579 Demas did, 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:09.339 but he doesn't want it to happen to Timothy, 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:11.059 and he doesn't want it to happen to us. 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:11.359 Right? 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.200 Life is hard work. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:15.779 We can see it clearly in Paul. 00:17:15.899 --> 00:17:17.000 We can see it in Timothy 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:18.879 and in most of the other disciples. 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:22.579 The thing is, the hard work, right? 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:26.700 We know that we are made right with God by grace, 00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:27.579 not by works. 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:27.819 Right? 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:30.019 So, there's no question of that. 00:17:30.179 --> 00:17:32.859 Grace tells us there's nothing we can do 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:36.099 to make ourselves more loved or accepted by God 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.879 than we already are. 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:40.619 What happens after that? 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:43.159 What happens after we've been made right with God 00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:44.419 through faith in Jesus? 00:17:44.919 --> 00:17:46.139 How do we grow? 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:46.980 How do we, 00:17:47.159 --> 00:17:49.599 what does it mean to truly follow Jesus? 00:17:50.339 --> 00:17:50.480 Right? 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:53.000 Coming to God, trusting in God, 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:54.779 that's the easy part in some ways, 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:57.700 because Jesus has done all of the heavy lifting for us. 00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:59.500 He's done everything on our behalf, 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:02.079 and we can't add anything to it, 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:03.059 even if we wanted to. 00:18:03.899 --> 00:18:05.079 But growing in Christ, 00:18:05.639 --> 00:18:07.420 being transformed into his likeness, 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:09.259 becoming who we were made to be, 00:18:09.399 --> 00:18:11.720 stepping into rich and full lives, 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:13.740 that takes some grit. 00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:14.819 It takes some work, 00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:16.420 because it is hard. 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:18.599 Dallas Willard, in his book, 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.539 The Great Omission, 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:21.299 says this, 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:23.920 Grace is opposed to earning, 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.339 not to effort. 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:29.359 In fact, nothing inspires and enhances effort 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:31.279 like the experience of grace. 00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:34.920 Becoming Christ-like never occurs 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:37.579 without intense and well-informed action 00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:38.680 on our part. 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:39.599 Right? 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.759 Grace is opposed to earning, 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.920 not opposed to effort. 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:44.720 Right? 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.379 If you're a Christian, 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:47.119 if you're in here and you're a Christian, 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:50.119 you didn't sign up for an easy life. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:52.259 You did sign up for a good life. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:55.479 And if you're not yet a follower of Jesus, 00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:57.739 and you were hoping that life would get easier, 00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:59.759 or if you're a new follower of Jesus, 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:02.099 and it feels like life has just gotten harder 00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:03.819 since you came to faith, 00:19:03.859 --> 00:19:05.399 and you're wondering if you missed something, 00:19:05.919 --> 00:19:07.939 I wish, in some ways, 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:09.059 that that was the case. 00:19:09.439 --> 00:19:10.919 But that's not the gospel of Jesus. 00:19:11.199 --> 00:19:13.639 That's not the good news that he gives us. 00:19:13.719 --> 00:19:16.319 The gospel is so much better than that. 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:18.839 That while it sounds good, 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:22.000 an easy life would be wholly unsatisfying. 00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:25.159 Or as Scott Fitzgerald once said, 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:27.619 nothing any good isn't hard. 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:28.819 Right? 00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:31.859 Of course, following Jesus is not going to be easy. 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:32.859 Why? 00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.899 Why would we expect it to be? 00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:37.919 The greatest treasures in life we know 00:19:37.919 --> 00:19:40.179 are often the ones that we work and sweat 00:19:40.179 --> 00:19:41.119 and bleed for. 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:41.359 Right? 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:43.819 This is a common thing. 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:44.079 Right? 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:44.960 Look at everything. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.740 If you make music, 00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:50.680 the songs that you create have value 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:52.779 because the work that you put into them, 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:56.420 not because of any success or money 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.319 that's gained from them. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.500 If you're an athlete, 00:19:58.700 --> 00:20:00.440 the hours of sweat, blood, and tears 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:02.140 that you invest in your sport 00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:03.740 are what make it valuable to you. 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:05.519 That's what makes winning 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:07.880 and competing worth it and fun. 00:20:08.360 --> 00:20:08.579 Right? 00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.299 If you're a parent, 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:11.120 the home you create has value 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:13.019 because of the relentless love 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:14.839 that you pour into that relationship. 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:15.739 Right? 00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:19.139 Good kids that follow Jesus, 00:20:19.139 --> 00:20:20.419 if you didn't have to do anything, 00:20:20.719 --> 00:20:22.039 doesn't really give you much. 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:22.259 Right? 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.959 I mean, you would be thankful for it, 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:25.199 but it wouldn't be the same 00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:26.500 without the struggle, 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:28.279 without understanding how sinful 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.219 your kids could be 00:20:29.219 --> 00:20:30.579 and how sinful you could be. 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.179 Right? 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:33.099 The struggle is what makes that sweet. 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:36.279 We inherently attach value 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.859 to things that we've worked hardest 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.759 to accomplish. 00:20:39.419 --> 00:20:40.500 And on the other side 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.139 of all that effort, 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:42.419 on the other side 00:20:42.419 --> 00:20:44.139 of perseverance and pain, 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.839 we can expect it 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:46.879 to all be worth it. 00:20:47.179 --> 00:20:48.240 Because it is worth it. 00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:50.679 Jesus is worth it. 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:50.879 Right? 00:20:50.959 --> 00:20:52.139 And this is what Paul says. 00:20:52.219 --> 00:20:52.480 This is, 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:54.259 he builds up all of this, 00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:56.079 like, look at how hard things are. 00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:57.599 And then he gets to this point 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:59.359 in verse 17 and 18, 00:20:59.359 --> 00:20:59.939 and he says, 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:02.120 But the Lord stood at my side 00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:03.259 and gave me strength, 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.660 so that through me 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:06.140 the message might be fully proclaimed 00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:07.680 and the Gentiles might hear it. 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.740 And I was delivered 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.720 from the lion's mouth. 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.400 The Lord will rescue me, 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.600 and from every evil attack 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:13.720 he will bring me safely 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:15.200 to his heavenly kingdom. 00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:16.860 To him be the glory 00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.779 forever and ever. 00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:18.080 Amen. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:19.120 Right? 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:20.940 Paul, he's in this cell. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:22.620 His body is tired and broken. 00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:24.960 His mind is weary and exhausted. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.440 And most of his friends 00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:27.700 have left or abandoned him. 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:29.240 And yet his words here 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.579 are filled with joy 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.640 and kindness 00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:32.559 that the Lord 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.799 has stood by me. 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.960 The Lord has given me strength. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.579 Paul is joyful 00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:39.279 and content 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:40.180 with the path 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:41.059 that his life has taken 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:41.640 such that 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:43.000 he even commends it 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.680 to Timothy 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:44.059 and says, 00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:45.180 No, this is what you want. 00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:46.500 This is where we're going. 00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.539 This is the good stuff. 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:50.700 Because it's been with Jesus. 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.059 Because it's been 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.880 in service to Jesus. 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:55.019 Jesus was tempted 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.799 in all the ways 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.500 that we are, right? 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.059 We know that. 00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:58.899 He truly knows 00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.720 what we go through. 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.700 Look at his life. 00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:02.379 He faced physical struggles. 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:04.899 He dealt with aging parents. 00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:06.319 He had friends 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:07.720 that died much too soon. 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.220 He was under 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.559 an incredible amount of stress. 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:12.359 He faced undue 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:15.220 and inaccurate accusation 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:15.940 from the authorities. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.339 And he saw nearly 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:18.319 all of his friends 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:19.399 leave him 00:22:19.399 --> 00:22:20.659 at his time of need. 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:21.639 Right? 00:22:21.679 --> 00:22:22.559 He persisted, 00:22:22.899 --> 00:22:23.759 was faithful, 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:25.179 faithful even to the cross, 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:26.200 so that you and I 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:27.080 could be with him 00:22:27.080 --> 00:22:27.660 in his kingdom 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.580 and like Paul, 00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.420 stand and say, 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.360 this was worth it. 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.120 Jesus is worth it. 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.660 He kept the faith 00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:34.820 in a way that no one else could. 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:36.940 In fact, 00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:37.660 Jesus 00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:39.580 is the only 00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:42.060 truly reliable friend. 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.680 He's the only 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:45.259 flawless friend. 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.440 He's the only 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:48.039 all-satisfying friend. 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:48.680 Right? 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.660 As much as you may love 00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:50.600 your earthly friends 00:22:50.600 --> 00:22:51.860 and your earthly family, 00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:53.360 they cannot do this 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:53.839 for you. 00:22:54.539 --> 00:22:55.319 They cannot do 00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:57.059 2 Timothy 4, 18 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:58.439 and rescue you 00:22:58.439 --> 00:22:59.379 from every evil deed 00:22:59.379 --> 00:23:00.279 and bring you safely 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.299 into the heavenly kingdom. 00:23:02.199 --> 00:23:03.199 Only one friend 00:23:03.199 --> 00:23:03.759 can do that. 00:23:05.459 --> 00:23:07.039 And when your friends 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:07.479 on earth 00:23:07.479 --> 00:23:08.839 do inevitably fail you, 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.479 when there's 00:23:09.479 --> 00:23:10.759 a moment 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:11.740 that they don't show up 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.479 at your trial, 00:23:12.679 --> 00:23:13.579 whatever that looks like, 00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:14.619 they don't show up 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.159 at the funeral 00:23:15.159 --> 00:23:16.219 of your loved one, 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:18.199 you don't see them 00:23:18.199 --> 00:23:18.779 at your stay 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.439 at the hospital, 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:22.000 don't turn 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:23.600 on the friend 00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:24.400 who will be there. 00:23:25.120 --> 00:23:25.259 Right? 00:23:25.320 --> 00:23:25.799 Don't let 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:27.000 their failure 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.420 trick you 00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.279 into mistrusting 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:29.940 Jesus. 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:30.900 Right? 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.180 There is a friend 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:33.140 who sticks closer 00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:33.960 than a brother 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:35.700 and he is faithful 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.360 to the end 00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:37.620 because even if 00:23:37.620 --> 00:23:38.460 we are faithless, 00:23:38.620 --> 00:23:39.720 he remains faithful. 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.740 And we get to be 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.340 with him forever. 00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:43.120 Right? 00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:44.120 By choosing 00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:44.840 to follow 00:23:44.840 --> 00:23:46.160 the real Jesus, 00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:46.960 right, 00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:48.019 choosing to go 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:49.000 this direction, 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:50.079 you choose a path 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:51.139 that will be difficult. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.339 In fact, 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.259 there's no 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.680 bait and switch. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.059 Jesus is clear, 00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.539 the Bible is clear, 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.879 it's going to be difficult 00:23:58.879 --> 00:24:00.339 and demanding 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.139 and trying 00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:02.000 at times. 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.319 But you've chosen it 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:03.920 with belief 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:04.619 and the faith 00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.319 that in the end 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.139 this way of life 00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:06.940 is both good 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.799 and best. 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:09.279 And on the basis 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:09.720 of faith 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.519 you move forward 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.700 putting one obedient 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.500 foot in front 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:12.940 of the other. 00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:13.920 Right? 00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:14.920 And after you've 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.859 done that again 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:16.579 and again 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.180 and again 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.060 you find yourself 00:24:18.060 --> 00:24:18.759 living in ways 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.259 that you never 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.019 imagined that you 00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.259 would, 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:21.940 giving gifts 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.460 that you never 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.279 thought you'd give, 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:25.140 forgiving people 00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:26.200 who don't deserve it, 00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:27.940 haven't asked for it, 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.560 and you're becoming 00:24:28.560 --> 00:24:29.320 the person that you 00:24:29.320 --> 00:24:29.799 never thought 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.440 you could become. 00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:32.140 Because Jesus 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:33.279 is by your side. 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:35.100 Life is hard, 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.500 Jesus is worth it, 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:38.560 and that should result, 00:24:39.560 --> 00:24:39.779 oh, 00:24:39.820 --> 00:24:40.420 I did this before, 00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.519 that should result 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:42.920 in sharing it 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:43.560 with everyone. 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:43.860 See, 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:45.340 the final thing 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.039 that Paul gives 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.459 us here 00:24:46.459 --> 00:24:47.399 is that 00:24:47.399 --> 00:24:48.439 in that verse 00:24:48.439 --> 00:24:51.500 in 17 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.079 he says, 00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:53.179 the Lord 00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:54.359 stood at my side 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:55.419 and gave me strength 00:24:55.419 --> 00:24:56.579 so that 00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.659 the message 00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.500 might be proclaimed 00:24:58.500 --> 00:25:00.019 and all might hear it. 00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:00.819 See, 00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:01.279 our suffering 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:01.879 and our struggles 00:25:01.879 --> 00:25:02.319 in life, 00:25:02.659 --> 00:25:03.279 they certainly 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:03.899 aren't for us 00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:04.559 to sit back 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:04.899 and say, 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:05.519 woe is me. 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.439 They're not even 00:25:07.439 --> 00:25:08.220 for us to just 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:08.879 grow in our own 00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:09.599 personal faith 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.079 and trust. 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.439 Right? 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.059 It does that, 00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:11.959 but it's not just 00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.340 for that. 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:14.680 Christ doesn't 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:15.620 stand with us 00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.100 in the midst 00:25:16.100 --> 00:25:16.620 of suffering 00:25:16.620 --> 00:25:17.559 only to bring 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.160 us through it 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:18.480 alone. 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.059 He gives us 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:21.559 strength 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:23.000 so that 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.980 the message 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.620 might be 00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:25.079 proclaimed 00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:25.920 and all 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.539 might hear it. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.000 The good news 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.380 of Jesus 00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:29.000 isn't just 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.480 for us. 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.460 We get to 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.100 bring a friend. 00:25:31.840 --> 00:25:32.420 We get to 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:33.620 bring multiple 00:25:33.620 --> 00:25:33.960 friends, 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.299 hopefully. 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:35.720 And so, 00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:36.579 why do we go 00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.380 through this life? 00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.140 Why do we go 00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:38.840 through things 00:25:38.840 --> 00:25:39.539 that feel like 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:39.900 struggle? 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:41.680 Even in the 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.259 midst of all 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:42.880 the difficulty, 00:25:43.040 --> 00:25:43.440 it's to be 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:43.900 with Jesus 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.759 and to proclaim 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.440 his message 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.120 to everyone 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.840 so that they 00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:47.560 can feel it 00:25:47.560 --> 00:25:47.780 too. 00:25:48.540 --> 00:25:48.720 Right? 00:25:48.800 --> 00:25:49.720 So that they 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:50.300 might hear. 00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:51.220 And this is 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:51.840 Paul's message 00:25:51.840 --> 00:25:52.380 to Timothy. 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:53.900 And it could 00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.519 easily be 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.080 the message 00:25:55.080 --> 00:25:55.560 to us 00:25:55.560 --> 00:25:56.000 at West 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:56.340 Kilburn 00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:57.019 here this 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.280 morning. 00:26:00.120 --> 00:26:00.940 He says, 00:26:01.300 --> 00:26:01.800 protect the 00:26:01.800 --> 00:26:02.080 gospel. 00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:02.980 Right? 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.060 Paul's message 00:26:04.060 --> 00:26:04.259 is, 00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:06.320 don't water 00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:06.820 this down. 00:26:07.280 --> 00:26:07.759 The truth 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.360 of what this 00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:08.940 true gospel 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.360 is, 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:10.919 is what's 00:26:10.919 --> 00:26:11.319 worth it. 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.099 He says, 00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:12.779 preach sound 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.219 doctrine. 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.139 Right? 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.279 Don't let 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:15.959 other people 00:26:15.959 --> 00:26:16.719 preaching things 00:26:16.719 --> 00:26:17.059 that have 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.579 gone off to 00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:18.039 the side, 00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:18.479 don't let 00:26:18.479 --> 00:26:19.019 them sway 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.339 you. 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:19.899 Preach the 00:26:19.899 --> 00:26:20.319 things that 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.859 you heard 00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.679 me teach. 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.139 Preach the 00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:22.479 things that 00:26:22.479 --> 00:26:22.799 you heard 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.479 Jesus teach. 00:26:24.719 --> 00:26:25.439 And pass 00:26:25.439 --> 00:26:25.899 it on to 00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:26.199 the next 00:26:26.199 --> 00:26:26.699 generation. 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.240 Pass it 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:28.399 on. 00:26:28.459 --> 00:26:28.859 Don't let 00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.299 it die 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:29.899 with us. 00:26:30.159 --> 00:26:30.699 If all 00:26:30.699 --> 00:26:31.939 of the 00:26:31.939 --> 00:26:32.799 history of 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.479 this church 00:26:33.479 --> 00:26:34.079 building going 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:34.740 back to the 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.659 mid-1800s 00:26:35.659 --> 00:26:36.179 and the 00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:36.740 people who 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.379 kept it 00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:38.039 alive for 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.519 years and 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:38.839 years and 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.199 years so 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.519 that you 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:39.799 and I 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.140 could sit 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:40.440 in these 00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.860 seats and 00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:42.860 it only got 00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:43.420 this far 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:43.880 because we 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:44.299 didn't tell 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:44.720 anyone else 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.200 about it, 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.259 it would all 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:46.779 be for naught 00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:48.120 and it 00:26:48.120 --> 00:26:48.480 would be 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.180 sad. 00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:51.660 He says, 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.180 persevere 00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:52.819 through hardship. 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.660 He looks at 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:53.900 Timothy, 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:54.220 he says, 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:54.819 not only is 00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:55.299 this hardship, 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.160 is this going to 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:56.559 be hard, 00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:57.220 this life with 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.500 Jesus, 00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.680 this life of 00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.160 ministry is 00:26:59.160 --> 00:26:59.400 going to be 00:26:59.400 --> 00:26:59.660 hard, 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.000 but it's 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.400 going to be 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:00.860 worth it. 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.059 Persevere. 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.180 Point your 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.880 eyes at the 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:05.019 kingdom and 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.299 Jesus, 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:05.580 right? 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.099 If you 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.679 keep your 00:27:06.679 --> 00:27:07.119 eyes on 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:07.359 that, 00:27:07.439 --> 00:27:07.879 you can 00:27:07.879 --> 00:27:08.720 move through 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.359 because this 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.119 is what we're 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:10.599 looking to 00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:11.619 and proclaim 00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:12.059 that good 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:12.839 news to all 00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:13.179 who will 00:27:13.179 --> 00:27:13.399 hear. 00:27:13.939 --> 00:27:14.519 Because Jesus 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.159 is worth it. 00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:16.559 Because he's 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.359 the king, 00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.119 because he 00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:19.000 stands with 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.879 us through 00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.480 everything, 00:27:20.939 --> 00:27:21.519 and because he 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.179 will bring us 00:27:22.179 --> 00:27:23.039 safely into his 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.299 kingdom, 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.099 just as Paul 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:24.439 says. 00:27:24.919 --> 00:27:26.019 To him be 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.539 the glory 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.699 forever and 00:27:27.699 --> 00:27:27.960 ever. 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.480 Amen. 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:29.419 Amen. 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.379 Let me pray. 00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:32.500 Father, thank 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.900 you for 00:27:33.900 --> 00:27:37.200 standing by 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.540 us. 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.440 Lord, thank 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.000 you for 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:40.060 proclaiming a 00:27:40.060 --> 00:27:40.640 message that 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:41.020 we have 00:27:41.020 --> 00:27:42.460 heard, that 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:44.460 has infected 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.180 our lives such 00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.920 that we changed 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:47.500 everything, that 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.060 even looking 00:27:48.060 --> 00:27:49.620 into the 00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:50.700 teeth of 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.820 pain and 00:27:51.820 --> 00:27:52.500 challenge and 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.500 trial, Lord, 00:27:53.580 --> 00:27:54.120 we can 00:27:54.120 --> 00:27:55.520 persevere because 00:27:55.520 --> 00:27:56.160 we know who 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:56.740 we are with. 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.820 God, you 00:27:58.820 --> 00:27:59.660 have persevered 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.640 through all 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.740 the things to 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.360 bring us with 00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:02.600 you. 00:28:03.120 --> 00:28:03.460 Lord, might 00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.440 we persevere 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.279 to stay with 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.519 you. 00:28:06.100 --> 00:28:06.440 Lord, we 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:08.420 are thankful 00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.440 that you are 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.040 the friend that 00:28:10.040 --> 00:28:10.759 won't leave us, 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.279 that you'll 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.940 never forsake 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.320 us, that 00:28:12.320 --> 00:28:12.740 you'll stick 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.460 by us closer 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:14.140 than even our 00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:14.860 own flesh and 00:28:14.860 --> 00:28:17.160 blood, because 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:17.800 you love us, 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.759 and you want us 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.680 with you, and 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.019 you've done 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.660 everything that 00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:21.779 it takes so 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.440 that we can. 00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:24.519 Lord, help 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.300 us to see 00:28:25.300 --> 00:28:25.800 it, Lord, and 00:28:25.800 --> 00:28:28.640 to power 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:29.360 through the 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:30.000 hardness and 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.559 the challenges 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:30.939 of this 00:28:30.939 --> 00:28:32.559 life, not 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.759 out of sheer 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.519 will and 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.579 determination, but 00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:36.439 because we love 00:28:36.439 --> 00:28:37.759 you and who 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.199 you are. 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.019 Lord, would 00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:39.919 you stick with 00:28:39.919 --> 00:28:40.419 us, stand 00:28:40.419 --> 00:28:41.479 by us, hold 00:28:41.479 --> 00:28:43.319 us fast, so 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:43.919 that we might be 00:28:43.919 --> 00:28:44.479 with you in the 00:28:44.479 --> 00:28:44.919 end, and that 00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:45.579 you might welcome 00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.339 us into your 00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:46.619 kingdom. 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:48.000 It is yours 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.559 as the glory, 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.259 forever and 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:49.439 ever. 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.099 Amen. 00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:50.179 Amen. 00:28:50.179 --> 00:28:50.240 Amen. 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.240 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:52.240 Amen. 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:54.819 Amen. 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:54.819 00:28:54.819 --> 00:29:24.799 Thank you.