WEBVTT

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 Okay, so we are going to go through Philippians.

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 So the format we followed last year for a season where Josh would preach every other week just about and bring some kind of topical thing.

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 And the rest of the time we spent going through a book of the Bible, went through Colossians.

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 And the guys who are eager to teach, who wanted to teach, would sort of alternate.

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 Not sort of alternate, we would alternate.

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 Okay, so we have a preaching schedule throughout the year.

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 And so you're going to hear from a lot of us.

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 And we're going to go through Philippians.

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 We chunked it out, not quite a chapter a person, about half a chapter a person, depending on the chapter and the subject matter.

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 So I'll start off by giving a little intro to Philippians.

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 Philippians is an epistle.

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 It's a letter written by Paul the Apostle.

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 And it was from prison.

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 We don't know exactly where he's in prison.

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 I think traditionally the church has held that he was in Rome.

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 And Philippi is a really long distance from Rome.

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 So I think that that has called into question.

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 Maybe he was somewhere else.

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 But he was somewhere.

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 He was in prison.

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 And he was writing this letter from prison to a church that had come forth on one of his missionary journeys.

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 The first, I believe, the first time Paul and his team were in Europe, the church at Philippi was birthed.

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 So he's, let's see here.

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 Acts 16 covers this.

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 I'm not going to dig into that.

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 I'm not going to open up Acts 16 and read through it.

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 But in summary, they're going through Asia, which is basically Turkey.

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 And they get a vision from Macedonia.

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 Or they get a vision.

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 Paul gets a vision of this guy from Macedonia saying,

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 Come over to us and preach the gospel to us.

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 Come help us.

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 And so he concludes that's from the Lord.

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 And they go over there.

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 And they're in this city called Philippi.

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 And it seems like there's a sort of random series of events.

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 They find, they go down to the water.

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 There's this woman, Lydia.

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 And the Lord opens her heart to hear the word Paul preaches.

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 She's the first convert.

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 So she believes.

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 And her whole household believes and is baptized.

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 So that's the first convert in the church in Philippi.

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 And then they're jailed.

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 Because I think Paul casts a demon out of this servant girl who's using this demon for divination.

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 She's making her bosses a lot of money by fortune telling.

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 And Paul's so annoyed by this woman.

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 She's following him around saying, you know, these guys are from the Lord.

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 And anyway, he turns around and casts the demon out.

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 I think this is the story.

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 So if I'm mixing this up, correct me afterwards.

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 But anyway, he gets thrown into jail.

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 And they're in jail.

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 And through a miraculous set of circumstances, praise the Lord.

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 This earthquake happens.

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 And none of them leave.

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 And the jailer is so gripped that he just falls down on his knees and says, how can I be saved?

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 And he said, believe on the Lord Jesus and you'll be saved.

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 You and your whole household.

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 He's got this awesome promise.

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 One of the first gospel promises that's not only particular to a person, but their whole family.

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 He's just saying, hey, the whole thing.

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 So he goes, takes him into his home.

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 This jailer does.

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 This whole family's baptized.

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 You know, they believe.

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 You know, and anyway, this is the start of the church.

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 It's basically just these two people.

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 These two households.

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 Lydia's household.

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 The jailer's household.

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 And they're there for some time ministering.

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 I don't think it's very long.

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 Maybe three months or so.

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 And they're driven out by persecution.

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 He's gone.

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 All right.

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 And that was the start of the church.

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 So sometime from then, Paul's in jail in another place for preaching the gospel.

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 And he's writing a letter to them.

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 And the letter is one of encouragement.

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 I mean, this is the letter that's, there's not a lot of rebukes.

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 There's warnings and things.

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 But it's like, man, I'm so stoked you guys are doing so good.

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 That's just kind of the overall theme over and over again.

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 So these are, Philippians is chock full of heavy hitter verses.

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 These are just sticky, theologically rich, promise, like, man, I can hang my hat on type verses.

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 I wrote out a bunch of them.

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 I'm not going to read all of them.

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 But for example, Philippians 121, for me to live as Christ and to die as gain.

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 Glorious verse.

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 It's on my mom's tombstone.

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 Philippians 2.13.14, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

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 You see this, this wonderful synergy between God's working and our responsibility, our outworking in light of his work.

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 And then in Philippians 3, you get this huge, just one of my personal most precious parts of scriptures in Philippians 3,

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 when Paul basically gives his whole history of pursuit of God and everything he did for God in Judaism and how the Lord just radically changes his whole life.

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 Everything that he had leveled up in, he counted his loss for the sake of knowing Christ.

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 Just knowing Jesus was better than all of it.

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 Everything he had achieved was garbage.

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 And he found this wonderful discovery that there's a righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

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 And it's not our works.

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 And everything that he'd achieved by his own works, garbage.

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 It's a wonderful truth.

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 And it reorients his whole life around a singular goal of knowing Christ and being crucified.

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 Philippians 3.13.

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 But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward that lies ahead.

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 I press on to the goal of the prize, the upper call of God in Christ Jesus.

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 It's another wonderful promise.

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 A mature Christian forgets what's behind him, presses on to the goal.

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 It's amazing.

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 People don't think like this.

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 This is maturity.

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 I think that's like irresponsibility.

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 No, no, no.

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 This is, Paul says right after that, if you're mature, you ought to think this way.

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 But wonderful promise.

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 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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 Philippians 4.13.

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 Another glorious one.

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 Anyway, there's a lot of heavy hitters.

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 It's a wonderful book.

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 There's a lot packed into this short book.

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 And I'm just really excited to get into it.

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 So I will start Philippians 1, verses 1 through 11.

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 That's my passage today.

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 So I'm going to read through it.

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 Philippians 1, starting in verse 1.

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 It is right.

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 It is right for me to feel this way about you all.

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 Because I hold you in my heart.

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 For you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

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 For God is my witness how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

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 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment,

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 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

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 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

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 Amen.

00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:41.319
 Okay.

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 I'm going to make some comments on these passages, mostly verse by verse, just working through it.

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 Starting with verse 1.

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 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi,

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 with the overseers and deacons.

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 So this is a letter written to all the Christians in Philippi,

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 but you note that they are with the overseers and deacons.

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 This isn't sort of a scattered group of, you know, one Christian's over here doing one thing,

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 and other Christian's doing this thing over here, and, you know, there's no unified sense of church.

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 No, it's a real church with real overseers and deacons.

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 It's a family.

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 You know, in a family, you know who the mom and dad are.

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 In this church, you knew who the overseers and deacons are.

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 You knew who was responsible for caring for the needs of this flock, you know.

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 I think that's notable.

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 The saints are in a church with leaders.

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 This implies order.

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 It organically emerged from the preaching of the gospel while Paul was there,

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 and then he was gone, potentially before even any orders in place.

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 But this shows that God's order in the church with real elders, with real familial order,

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 is part of his will.

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 When God plants the church, it ends up there, you know.

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 We can't do our own thing.

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 We've got to do things God's way.

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 Verse 2, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 The thing that really stuck out to me about this is grace and peace go together.

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 It's a wonderful thing.

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 It starts off so many letters.

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 Grace and peace to you.

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 Anxiety.

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 There's a foundational anxiety that's there for all mankind because of our alienation from God.

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 I'm anxious because I'm not right with God.

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 There's stuff that's wrong.

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 I know the things that are wrong, and it causes a perpetual undercurrent of anxiety

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 because I'm not confident about my relationship with God.

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 God's grace puts us right with God,

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 and there's peace that comes with it.

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 It's amazing.

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 They go together.

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 Julie and I were just talking about this the other night.

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 She was talking, we were talking about someone who has been burdened for and praying for

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 who has anxiety,

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 and she was remembering how long it's been since she had the kind of anxiety of this person.

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 Because you forget, you know.

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 Yeah, we've got anxieties.

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 We've got things we're tempted to be anxious about.

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 It's different.

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 There is a peace that surpasses understanding for a Christian because you're right with God.

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 You know you're still consciously aware of all the sins in your life where you fall short,

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 but you're right with God.

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 You're right with God.

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 It's amazing.

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 Peace comes with that.

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 Jesus says,

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 This is the peace of a Christian, and it goes with grace.

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 And this isn't true for the wicked.

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 You can't have it.

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 Isaiah 57, 24, 21 says,

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 The wicked are like the tossing sea.

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 It cannot be quiet.

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 Its waters toss up mire and dirt.

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 There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.

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 If we're trying to pay for our sin with confessing, with self-improvement plans, you can't get there.

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 You can't achieve this peace.

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 You need the peace that was accomplished for you on the cross of Jesus.

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 It's available as a free gift.

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 And it says,

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 Therefore, in Romans 5, verse 1 through 2,

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 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Through him, we have also attained access by faith into this grace in which we stand,

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 and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

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 The grace of God is what saves us, and it's a free gift.

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 And when we receive it, we have peace with God.

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 And that's the normal.

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 You know, if there's a lie that you've ingested that it's okay for you to just sort of have anxiety be part of your life as just a normal experience,

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 it's not.

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 It's not God's will.

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 A Christian is at peace.

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 And that's normal.

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 So, anyway.

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 Verse 3,

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 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you,

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 in every prayer of mine for you all,

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 making my prayer a joy because your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

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 So, we use the term partnership at Christchurch to refer to church membership.

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 And this is one of the verses that kind of underpins that.

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 It's a foundational partnership verse.

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 Partnership in the gospel.

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 Togetherness, unity towards one mission.

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 It's the same word for fellowship.

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 Some translations render this fellowship.

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 Partnership is another word.

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 Partnership in the gospel is the foundation of any unified church membership.

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 You don't have unity apart from the gospel.

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 You don't.

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 And Paul sees this fruit.

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 He pulls this out as one of the very first thing he commends him for is,

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 I thank God for your partnership in the gospel from the very first day you believed it until now.

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 Now, the nature of that, it's like a thing that grows.

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 The first day you just believe it and receive it and you're right with God.

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 You're just praising the Lord because your sins are washed away and you're right with God.

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 But that partnership grows and matures.

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 You know, there's a day later, he's referencing other aspects of this partnership.

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 You're actually sharing the gospel with other people.

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 You were just talking to our MC this last week.

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 Ken was just sharing how gripped he's been with sharing the gospel.

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 Like, well, this is how it grows.

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 This partnership, we rejoice in Christ Jesus and what he's done for us.

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 And then immediately we're telling people about it.

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 And we're working together with other members of the Bible of Christ to tell people about it.

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 And we're setting aside other things around this mission of knowing Christ and him crucified

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 and sharing that truth with other people.

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 And Paul rejoices about this truth.

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 And this is the foundation of any real church membership.

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 If you don't have this, all you have is just a club.

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 That's, we're introspective.

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 We're self-serving.

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 It's sort of a self-improvement, humanistic, feel-good, social club.

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 This is not about us.

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 You know?

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 This is why I really believe, you know, getting partnership in the gospel right is essential for any true committed church membership.

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 You have to have it.

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 If you're not unified on the gospel, honestly, you're not unified on anything.

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 You know?

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 You can have apparent commonalities in many other areas of your life, but the foundation's different.

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 You know?

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 So we've got to fight for that.

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:22.960
 Okay.

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 Okay.

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 Verse 6.

00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:40.779
 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:44.879
 I love how the NASB words this.

00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:55.059
 For I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.

00:14:56.240 --> 00:15:00.699
 So this brings an element of this completion.

00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:05.939
 There's a, when Jesus comes, there's another verse that says, when we see him, we'll be like him.

00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:08.860
 We see him, we'll be transformed in a twinkling of the eye.

00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:11.320
 This is the hope of a Christian looking forward to when Jesus comes back.

00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:13.899
 I'm going to be made new.

00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:14.899
 All right?

00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:16.759
 And it's going to be complete on that day.

00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:22.200
 Which is kind of how the ESV, you know, it kind of leans towards that way of interpreting it.

00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:27.720
 But there's other ways of interpreting it that speaks of the perfecting work.

00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:28.399
 You know?

00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:35.960
 That Jesus started something in you, and he's going to continue that in you until the day he returns.

00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:39.400
 He's going to perfect that which is concerning us.

00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:43.080
 And I think this is, first of all, this is something we could take to the bank.

00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:48.980
 I have a rest and a confidence knowing that I did not choose him, he chose me.

00:15:49.540 --> 00:15:49.720
 Okay?

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.639
 And he promised me he's going to finish it.

00:15:51.900 --> 00:15:54.500
 He picked me, and he's going to finish it.

00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:55.400
 He's going to keep me until the end.

00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:58.240
 This brings tremendous rest into our hearts.

00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:08.960
 But lest I take that and start using that as a license for sin, there's an element of the fact that he's saying, I'm perfecting this work.

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:14.820
 I started a work in you of conforming you to the image of Jesus.

00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:15.960
 This is what it says in Romans 8.

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:20.539
 Those who he foreknew, he predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, Jesus.

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.879
 That's the orientation of this work.

00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.080
 It's not a ticket to heaven.

00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:27.159
 This is becoming conformed to the image of Christ.

00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:30.399
 And I'm going to keep doing that in your life until Jesus comes back.

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.519
 It's an awesome thing.

00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:34.600
 It gives me the hope.

00:16:35.579 --> 00:16:37.939
 And it sets my expectations correctly.

00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:39.980
 He's working on me.

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:44.860
 And if it feels uncomfortable, it's because he loves me and he's keeping me.

00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:45.699
 They go together.

00:16:46.079 --> 00:16:46.219
 All right?

00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:48.439
 All right.

00:16:48.819 --> 00:16:50.620
 You might say, what about all the warning passages?

00:16:51.579 --> 00:16:55.319
 You know, there's many times in the Bible where there's warnings to believers about falling away.

00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:58.220
 Well, there's a lot there.

00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:03.160
 And there's way too much to go in there in this message.

00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:07.360
 This doesn't talk about the warnings.

00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.360
 It talks about the promise.

00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:13.180
 And we shouldn't let warnings negate the gloriousness and the confidence we have in these promises.

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.660
 And I will say this, though.

00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:16.320
 There is no...

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:23.039
 There's not a notion in the scripture of perseverance without the perfecting work of the Spirit.

00:17:23.659 --> 00:17:24.200
 It's just not there.

00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:29.639
 And Jesus' warnings are given to lead us to repentance.

00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:38.900
 So for a Christian, I can read a warning and have it participate in the sanctifying work of the Spirit in my life.

00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:39.400
 It's awesome.

00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:43.100
 I don't need to have you like, oh, wait.

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:46.220
 He's warning me that if I don't hold fast to Jesus, I'm going to fall away.

00:17:46.320 --> 00:17:47.420
 But he's going to preserve me.

00:17:47.540 --> 00:17:48.960
 And, well, this is part of...

00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.380
 Jesus says, those whom I love, I rebuke.

00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.620
 Be zealous, therefore, and repent.

00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:56.259
 And so for me, my basic conviction I've arrived to at...

00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.959
 Currently, I'm still working through a lot of this stuff.

00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:59.459
 These go together.

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:00.479
 Okay?

00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:01.379
 They go together.

00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:05.659
 You don't have to downplay one to the exclusion of the other.

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:06.699
 We can hold them.

00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:10.059
 And we can have great confidence that he started it and he's going to finish it.

00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:12.000
 All right.

00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:15.479
 How can we know this promise applies to us?

00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.500
 All right.

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.619
 That's the real...

00:18:19.239 --> 00:18:20.099
 That's the rub.

00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:25.500
 He promises specific people that he's going to complete the work he started.

00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:27.879
 How do I know that I am one of those specific people?

00:18:28.939 --> 00:18:29.779
 What have I got wrong?

00:18:31.139 --> 00:18:32.339
 I'm going to talk about three things.

00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:35.579
 One, how can we know the promise applies to us?

00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:38.619
 By faith in Jesus and his finished work on the cross.

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.539
 The New Testament is full of this message.

00:18:41.679 --> 00:18:43.099
 This is the basic message of the New Testament.

00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.299
 One verse, though.

00:18:44.419 --> 00:18:45.439
 Hebrews 7.25.

00:18:46.399 --> 00:18:49.659
 Consequently, and it's speaking of Jesus' unchanging priesthood.

00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:52.420
 It's one of many of the things about the gospel that...

00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:55.660
 It's a great, wonderful foundation stone.

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:59.620
 If your foundation understanding of the gospel is missing this foundation stone,

00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:01.240
 the perpetual priesthood of Jesus,

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.500
 go read Hebrews and get that in your foundation.

00:19:04.620 --> 00:19:05.060
 It's wonderful.

00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:13.279
 Consequently, he, Jesus, is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him,

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:17.119
 since he always lives to make intercession for him.

00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:28.079
 I come to Jesus and know that he will save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him.

00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:31.500
 Just the fact that I can come to Jesus and believe in faith is a gift of God.

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:34.160
 Ephesians 2 says, the grace you're saved through faith.

00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:36.140
 And this is not your doing.

00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.960
 It's the gift of God.

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.839
 God gave me faith.

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:42.319
 And the fact that I can even look to Jesus and trust him, God did that.

00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:43.539
 Okay?

00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:45.019
 So I got to keep coming to Jesus.

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:45.819
 Trust the gospel.

00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.319
 Number one is trusting the gospel.

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:50.720
 Trusting the finished work of Jesus and looking to Jesus.

00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:53.180
 Number two, witness of the Holy Spirit.

00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:56.660
 Ephesians 1, verse 13 through 14 said,

00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:00.100
 In him you also, when you heard the word of the truth, which is the gospel,

00:20:00.840 --> 00:20:04.779
 the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, that's Jesus,

00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:08.340
 you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:11.920
 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,

00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.320
 to the praise of his glory.

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:17.779
 God puts his spirit in us when we trust in Jesus in a saving way.

00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:18.920
 All right?

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:20.720
 And what's that produce?

00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:26.300
 Romans 8 speaks of the spirit bearing witness to us that we're adopted as sons.

00:20:26.800 --> 00:20:28.759
 And we cry out, Abba, Father.

00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:32.000
 He takes away the sense of alienation from God.

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.759
 It's just amazing.

00:20:33.800 --> 00:20:37.500
 And if you haven't felt this, go to God and ask him for it.

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.120
 You know?

00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:40.519
 If you're understanding the gospels up here,

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:43.519
 but you haven't discovered this witness of the spirit that says,

00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.460
 you're mine.

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:48.420
 Because Jesus is mine, you're mine.

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.560
 Go get it.

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:51.820
 Go get it.

00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:52.539
 Go ask him for it.

00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:54.960
 Every Christian should be totally confident about this.

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.940
 This is part of our inheritance.

00:20:57.100 --> 00:21:02.140
 Three, by conviction of sin that results in repentance.

00:21:02.860 --> 00:21:04.360
 This is the perfecting part.

00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:07.880
 When the Lord sends a spirit into our heart,

00:21:08.340 --> 00:21:11.039
 it fulfills many of the promises of the spirit.

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:13.080
 One of which was one of the first ones from Jesus says,

00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:15.920
 when the spirit comes, he will convict the world of sin.

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:21.080
 His conviction of sin in our life is a sign that he's not leaving us alone.

00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:22.240
 He's not letting us get away with it.

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.300
 All right?

00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:25.340
 He's getting up in our business.

00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.840
 He's exposing sin.

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.039
 He's reproving.

00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:29.560
 And he's working repentance.

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.720
 It's not just conviction.

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:34.660
 It's conviction that turns into repentance.

00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.539
 Don't deceive yourself.

00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:38.220
 This is key.

00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:42.920
 There are many who are convicted of sin and are like,

00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.799
 oh, that's enough.

00:21:44.360 --> 00:21:45.240
 I can be convicted.

00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:47.579
 I can go confess my sins to the priest.

00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.000
 No.

00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:55.019
 The spirit both convicts and enables turning.

00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:56.660
 All right?

00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.220
 They go together.

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.359
 And we can look at that.

00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.140
 We can look at our life.

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:02.019
 You got to put this in the right place, okay?

00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:03.240
 You can't start with this one.

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.180
 You got to start with the gospel.

00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.039
 All right?

00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:08.639
 And the witness of the Holy Spirit.

00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:12.240
 And then we need to judge the fruit of that by looking and saying,

00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:19.019
 has this actually turned into real responding to the Lord when he convicts me and repenting?

00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:19.879
 Yeah.

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.839
 I love this.

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:25.440
 In Revelation 3.19, Jesus says,

00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:29.159
 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline.

00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:31.579
 So be zealous and repent.

00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.980
 And the NLT, I love how the NLT puts it.

00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:37.480
 I correct and discipline everyone I love.

00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:41.779
 So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.500
 I love how he puts that.

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.440
 Indifference.

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:49.240
 Think of the sins in your life that you've developed indifference to.

00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:50.960
 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.700
 He's convicted me.

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.279
 He's convicted me.

00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:52.839
 He's convicted me.

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:54.059
 Okay, I'll get around to it.

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.539
 No.

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.319
 No.

00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:57.000
 I love you.

00:22:57.720 --> 00:23:02.720
 And every single child that I receive and love, I convict.

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:04.920
 Be zealous.

00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:06.240
 Be diligent.

00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:08.960
 Turn away from this indifferent attitude.

00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:10.380
 It's not a game.

00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:12.240
 It's not a game.

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.579
 It's not a game.

00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:15.299
 All right.

00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:19.119
 So what's the point?

00:23:19.199 --> 00:23:24.039
 The preserving work of God, this perseverance of the saints is a perfecting work.

00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:25.799
 They're like this.

00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:26.740
 Okay.

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:31.559
 He's going to continue making more like Jesus all the way until Jesus returns.

00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:34.880
 You can't separate perseverance from sanctification.

00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:36.539
 They're just, they're unified.

00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:38.319
 Jesus is the same.

00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:40.140
 His salvation is the same.

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.240
 There's a unity in this.

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:41.680
 Okay.

00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:44.759
 So objections to this.

00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:47.680
 Does this turn into a works-based orientation?

00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:52.359
 You know, it can if it's not through faith, for sure.

00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:58.299
 And there can be thought, okay, this is a narrative I've, this is me.

00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:58.799
 Okay.

00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:59.759
 This is a narrative I've played.

00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.779
 I love perseverance.

00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:04.519
 I believe in Jesus, faith in Jesus, faith in the gospel.

00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:06.240
 I love the Holy Spirit witness.

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:10.099
 But repentance, my sin is bad.

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:10.460
 Yes.

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:12.660
 But God needs to change my heart before I can repent.

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:14.319
 So I'm just going to sit here.

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:18.799
 I'm going to ask that God changes something inside of me until, and until then, I just

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:20.940
 don't have an expectation that I can actually turn from the sin.

00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:23.980
 I need God to do something for me.

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:27.279
 You know, I just don't, I don't want to.

00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.120
 I want to sin.

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:33.339
 Doesn't God need to like change something in my heart till I, so I don't want to sin

00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:33.680
 anymore.

00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:37.960
 I mean, I know he's convicted me about it, but like, there's got to be something more.

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:38.700
 Right?

00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.600
 I think that's a lie.

00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.740
 I think it's a trap from Satan.

00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:45.940
 If you weren't a Christian, that'd be true.

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:46.759
 Okay.

00:24:47.380 --> 00:24:52.180
 But if you're in Christ, Titus 2, verses 11 through 13 says,

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:59.060
 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying

00:24:59.060 --> 00:25:03.740
 ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:07.880
 age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus

00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.299
 Christ.

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:10.279
 You have all grace.

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:12.559
 What's this other verse?

00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.960
 John 1, 16 says,

00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:18.519
 And of his fullness, Jesus, have we all received in grace for grace.

00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:21.980
 The law came through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus.

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:26.740
 Because you have Jesus, you have everything you need for life and godliness, including

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:29.940
 the grace to turn from that sin right now.

00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:33.220
 If you know about it, you already have grace to turn from it.

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:35.559
 And the devil says you need something more.

00:25:35.820 --> 00:25:37.039
 You need a feeling.

00:25:38.320 --> 00:25:39.279
 You don't.

00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:40.180
 That's a lie.

00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:41.039
 That's a lie.

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:47.460
 That's a lie that's trapping you and keeping you stuck and waiting for basically something

00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.500
 that's not going to happen.

00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:50.460
 Now, God does move powerfully.

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.559
 He does things in our life.

00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:53.140
 He moves in very powerful ways.

00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.620
 He parts Red Seas.

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.480
 He delivers people.

00:25:55.480 --> 00:26:02.059
 But the daily boring grind of discipleship and sanctification, there are so many things

00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:04.960
 that the Lord convicts us of that we don't want to do at all.

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:11.099
 And there's grace, abundant grace, if we repent and turn to Jesus and say, Lord, I don't want

00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:12.339
 to, but you commanded me to.

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:16.200
 In Jesus' name, I trust you to set me free from this.

00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.519
 And I'm going to burn the bridges.

00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:19.339
 I'm going to cut it off.

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.319
 Okay?

00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:22.200
 The obedience of faith.

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:25.120
 Anyway, I feel like I need to hit that one.

00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:27.700
 Verse 7.

00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:30.039
 Who wants to increase here?

00:26:31.059 --> 00:26:31.279
 Okay.

00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.099
 Verse 7.

00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:38.660
 Speaking of this confidence in their perseverance, it's right for me to feel this way about you

00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:40.079
 all because I hold you in my heart.

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:45.480
 For you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and the defense and

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.440
 confirmation of the gospel.

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:50.759
 Paul's confidence in their salvation proceeds from the evidence of fruit of grace in their

00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.019
 lives.

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:53.579
 And it's the same kind of grace that he's partaking of.

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.240
 All right?

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.740
 He sees it happen.

00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:56.279
 It's like your kids.

00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:58.839
 You know, they start seeing them go through the same things that you go through.

00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:02.220
 You know, he saw them get saved.

00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:03.480
 And it's wonderful evidence.

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:05.140
 Later on, he's out in prison.

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.359
 Some years have passed.

00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:09.400
 And he's doing his thing, going and preaching and getting thrown in prison, going and preaching

00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.160
 and getting thrown in prison.

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:12.799
 And he looks back and, whoa, they're doing the same thing.

00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.519
 This is awesome.

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:16.819
 You guys are partakers of the same grace I have.

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:17.680
 You know what?

00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:21.519
 But it's right for me to think that God's going to continue this work because you're doing

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:21.740
 it.

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:25.320
 He's doing the same thing in your life that he's doing in my life.

00:27:25.360 --> 00:27:26.480
 He totally upended it.

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.080
 And now I'm suffering for it.

00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:30.120
 And the gospel is the main thing I'm living for.

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:32.320
 And he's great.

00:27:32.399 --> 00:27:36.519
 I'm fine discovering the sufficient grace that all my hardships get this grace that's

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:38.639
 just more than abundant for all my needs.

00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:40.839
 And I turn around and here you are joyfully doing the same thing.

00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.240
 Man, I'm so encouraged.

00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.439
 He's going to finish the work in you.

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:50.819
 Verse 8, for God is my witness how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:55.379
 Man, this one just really hit me.

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:58.759
 He doesn't just say, I yearn for you all.

00:27:58.899 --> 00:28:00.179
 He doesn't just say, I love you.

00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:02.200
 I love you so much.

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:09.400
 He says, I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

00:28:12.600 --> 00:28:16.080
 Okay, this comes into the mystery of being a Christian.

00:28:17.320 --> 00:28:20.060
 Like Galatians 2, 20, Amber got me that awesome passage.

00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:20.820
 It's my favorite passage.

00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:22.140
 I'm crucified with Christ.

00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:23.180
 Nevertheless, I live.

00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:25.759
 Yet not I, but Christ lives in me.

00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:28.460
 There's that thing going on here.

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:32.059
 There's a real affection that he has.

00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:32.900
 It's overflowing.

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.519
 It's yearning.

00:28:34.340 --> 00:28:35.120
 But it's not his.

00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:38.019
 It's the affection of another, Jesus.

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.900
 And this is key.

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.579
 This is really key.

00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:46.600
 This is like expectation reorienting truth here about our own love for believers.

00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:51.139
 So, yeah.

00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:54.379
 We experience these affections, but they come from God.

00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.519
 It's a gift.

00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:57.139
 God put it into me.

00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:59.379
 Something that I didn't naturally have, he put it there.

00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:01.500
 So what's this affection look like?

00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:04.240
 This Christ affection, the affection of Jesus Christ.

00:29:04.639 --> 00:29:05.699
 Number one, it's selfless.

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:09.119
 Christ's love does not seek its own.

00:29:09.199 --> 00:29:10.579
 It's not self-interested.

00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:13.079
 It's God and others interested.

00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:15.939
 It's a unique quality of this affection.

00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:20.839
 Philippians 2, later on in Philippians 1, 20-21, he's speaking of Timothy.

00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:22.059
 He says,

00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:25.939
 For I have no one like-minded who will sincerely care for your sake.

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:28.379
 For all seek their own.

00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:32.099
 Not the things which are of Christ Jesus.

00:29:32.419 --> 00:29:33.220
 So we see it there.

00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:36.419
 Timothy, his child, got this too.

00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.039
 He got it.

00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:43.720
 He, he'd set aside his own and he had a different thing going on with his affections.

00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:45.339
 He could see people.

00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:49.980
 He could see the things of Jesus and he could see the things of Jesus and other people.

00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:51.779
 And he was just yearning for that.

00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:52.099
 Right?

00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:53.659
 It's selfless.

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.460
 It's very simple.

00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:56.099
 This is just, you know, Christianity 101.

00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.180
 Love is selfless.

00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:59.599
 1 Corinthians 13, 5.

00:30:00.639 --> 00:30:02.879
 A long litany of what love is.

00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:07.320
 Love does not seek its own.

00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:08.360
 I love how the NASB.

00:30:08.820 --> 00:30:11.380
 The ESB says does not insist on its own way.

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:14.020
 And I love how the NASB renders it.

00:30:14.320 --> 00:30:17.460
 Does not seek its own.

00:30:18.620 --> 00:30:21.940
 I don't love you because of what I can get out of you.

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:25.400
 I don't love God because of what I can get out of God.

00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:26.700
 Okay?

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:28.120
 That's how humans love.

00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:28.519
 Okay?

00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.279
 It's basic human.

00:30:29.580 --> 00:30:31.539
 That's how, I mean, it's just like that whole worldview.

00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:35.840
 It's just hard to even think of anything different because that's just how we, that's everything we know.

00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:39.660
 That's why it's from Christ Jesus.

00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.840
 That's how he thinks.

00:30:41.140 --> 00:30:41.819
 It's different.

00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:43.519
 It feels alien because it is alien.

00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:44.920
 It's what Jesus is.

00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:51.440
 And he puts through this Holy Spirit that into us and we can start participating in that love.

00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:58.980
 Philippians 1, 17, you see this later on, things that are motivated by self-love.

00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:03.740
 Speaking of people who are preaching the gospel, he says,

00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:07.240
 they former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than pure motives.

00:31:07.700 --> 00:31:08.880
 They were in it.

00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:09.740
 They were preaching.

00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:11.039
 They're doing ministry.

00:31:12.800 --> 00:31:13.560
 For themselves.

00:31:14.080 --> 00:31:14.440
 Okay?

00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:16.480
 Right alongside all the other believers.

00:31:17.080 --> 00:31:20.019
 And Paul, like, we might not even be able to tell the difference, but Paul can see it.

00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:22.340
 He just rejoices that Christ is being preached.

00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:23.100
 But he's like, you know what?

00:31:23.560 --> 00:31:24.820
 Some are doing it for love.

00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.400
 Some are not.

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:29.560
 It is love, but it's self-love.

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:30.620
 Okay?

00:31:31.580 --> 00:31:33.800
 So, second thing, it's faithful.

00:31:34.060 --> 00:31:35.600
 Christ's love endures to the end.

00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:36.580
 John 13, 1.

00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:40.880
 Speaking, it's before the feast of the Passover.

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.240
 This is right before he goes to the cross.

00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:42.539
 It says,

00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:52.819
 It's faithful.

00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:54.259
 It's consistent.

00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.659
 It never gives up.

00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:57.980
 This is why it's a love we can take to the bank.

00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:59.339
 Human love's not like this.

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.079
 Christ's love is.

00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:03.679
 Self-love gives up.

00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:05.000
 All the disciples said,

00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:05.980
 We'll never leave you.

00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:06.899
 We'll never forsake you.

00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:08.379
 Jesus loves them to the end.

00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:11.299
 And the disciples thought they could love him to the end.

00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:11.500
 They're like,

00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:12.779
 Are you crazy?

00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:13.779
 He would never forsake you.

00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:14.419
 He said,

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:15.539
 Every one of you will.

00:32:15.939 --> 00:32:16.399
 Peter's like,

00:32:16.919 --> 00:32:19.059
 If all these guys forsake you,

00:32:19.159 --> 00:32:19.960
 I won't do it.

00:32:20.899 --> 00:32:21.559
 You'll do it.

00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:23.019
 You'll do it extra.

00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:24.000
 Okay?

00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:25.759
 Just to teach you this lesson.

00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:26.880
 It doesn't work.

00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:31.039
 Self-love cannot motivate you to obey God.

00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:31.519
 It can't.

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.400
 It gives up at the end.

00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:34.480
 Christ's love goes to the cross.

00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:35.740
 That's why we need it.

00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.240
 We need his.

00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:38.839
 We don't need our love for each other.

00:32:38.900 --> 00:32:40.660
 We need Christ's love for each other.

00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:41.480
 It's a gift.

00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:43.619
 So what's the point?

00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.920
 Paul's love comes from God,

00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:45.920
 not himself.

00:32:46.620 --> 00:32:46.820
 So,

00:32:47.100 --> 00:32:48.880
 you might say,

00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:49.100
 Okay,

00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:49.840
 wait a minute.

00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:53.240
 Does this mean that God makes a swap?

00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:53.820
 Like he just,

00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:55.700
 he eliminates our own love?

00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.720
 Like we can't love ourselves?

00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.160
 No,

00:32:58.340 --> 00:32:58.720
 that's not it.

00:32:59.279 --> 00:32:59.779
 Jesus says,

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.460
 Love your neighbor as yourself.

00:33:01.560 --> 00:33:02.539
 It's the second greatest commitment.

00:33:03.100 --> 00:33:06.100
 Love them as you do yourself.

00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:07.580
 He doesn't say stop loving yourself.

00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:10.500
 What it does is it takes it off the throne.

00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:11.700
 It's not the boss anymore.

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.180
 God's love.

00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.480
 So,

00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:16.940
 2 Corinthians 5 verse 14 says,

00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:19.940
 Christ's love compels us.

00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:21.840
 All right?

00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.820
 Whether I want to do it,

00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:26.860
 and my love agrees with that love,

00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:29.740
 that's awesome when that works.

00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.700
 Or I don't want to do it.

00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:33.700
 Doesn't matter.

00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:36.920
 Christ's love now controls us.

00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:38.560
 That's the hope of a Christian.

00:33:40.140 --> 00:33:40.620
 So,

00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:43.100
 our self-love will not go to the cross

00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:44.799
 and die for God and others.

00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:46.699
 It will not love them to the end.

00:33:47.939 --> 00:33:48.679
 Christ's love will.

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.599
 That's the love of a Christian.

00:33:49.719 --> 00:33:50.119
 We have it.

00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:51.279
 Through faith in Jesus,

00:33:51.399 --> 00:33:52.139
 we can receive it.

00:33:52.459 --> 00:33:52.619
 So,

00:33:52.939 --> 00:33:53.179
 anyway.

00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:56.579
 Verse 9,

00:33:56.659 --> 00:33:57.079
 moving on.

00:33:57.199 --> 00:33:58.679
 And it is my prayer that your love,

00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.559
 this kind of love,

00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.899
 would abound more and more

00:34:00.899 --> 00:34:02.459
 with knowledge and all discernment.

00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:03.679
 I think it's,

00:34:03.679 --> 00:34:04.039
 it's,

00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:05.740
 it's important to note that love,

00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:06.679
 growth and love,

00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:08.659
 comes with real knowledge.

00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:10.359
 The NASB says real knowledge

00:34:10.359 --> 00:34:12.279
 and all discernment.

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:13.859
 This is true towards God.

00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.759
 This is true towards people.

00:34:14.839 --> 00:34:15.359
 It says love God,

00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:15.779
 love people.

00:34:15.839 --> 00:34:16.619
 We can apply it to both.

00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:17.359
 Right?

00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:17.619
 So,

00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:19.839
 love for God,

00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:21.879
 growth in love for God,

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:24.319
 results in growth of true knowledge of Him

00:34:24.319 --> 00:34:26.039
 and being able to discern

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:27.399
 what is from Him

00:34:27.399 --> 00:34:28.859
 and what is not from Him.

00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.819
 John 17, 3 says,

00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:34.559
 this is eternal life that they know you.

00:34:35.239 --> 00:34:35.920
 They know Him.

00:34:36.680 --> 00:34:38.260
 Hebrews 5, 11 through 14,

00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:39.500
 speaking of Christ,

00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:39.800
 says,

00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:41.320
 concerning Him,

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:43.420
 we have much to say

00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:45.099
 and it's hard to explain

00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:46.480
 since you've become dull of hearing.

00:34:47.139 --> 00:34:48.280
 For though by this time

00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:49.079
 you ought to be teachers,

00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.260
 you have need again

00:34:50.260 --> 00:34:51.059
 that someone teach you

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:52.340
 the elementary principles

00:34:52.340 --> 00:34:53.519
 of the oracles of God

00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:55.159
 and you have come to need milk

00:34:55.159 --> 00:34:56.180
 and not solid food.

00:34:56.740 --> 00:34:58.639
 For everyone who partakes only of milk

00:34:58.639 --> 00:35:00.300
 is not accustomed to the word of righteousness

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:01.619
 for he is an infant.

00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:04.599
 But solid food is for the mature

00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:06.259
 but because of practice

00:35:06.259 --> 00:35:07.519
 have their senses trained

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.920
 to discern good and evil.

00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:09.699
 This is what happens.

00:35:09.759 --> 00:35:10.699
 We grow up in the Lord.

00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:12.000
 We stop living on milk

00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:12.880
 but we actually grow.

00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:15.380
 Our discernment grows.

00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:17.259
 We start to understand more of God

00:35:17.259 --> 00:35:18.139
 and what He said

00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:19.639
 and then in light of that

00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.339
 we turn around and we're like,

00:35:20.420 --> 00:35:20.960
 oh, wait a minute.

00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:23.059
 Oh, that's way off.

00:35:23.339 --> 00:35:24.539
 Oh, that's wrong.

00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.319
 Why?

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:26.920
 All the reasons why?

00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:27.679
 Okay, first of all,

00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:28.500
 I just know it's wrong

00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:29.259
 because I know God.

00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:31.440
 Now, I'll get into the Bible

00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:31.860
 and show you.

00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:34.420
 If you're living on milk,

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:34.900
 you won't know.

00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.880
 People say all kinds of things

00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:38.820
 with Bible verses on it

00:35:38.820 --> 00:35:40.559
 like you don't know

00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:42.640
 because your powers of discernment

00:35:42.640 --> 00:35:43.079
 aren't trained.

00:35:43.160 --> 00:35:44.059
 You have to go ask someone else

00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:45.059
 whose powers of discernment

00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:45.519
 are trained

00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:46.780
 or you have to get in the Word

00:35:46.780 --> 00:35:47.980
 and see what the Bible says about it.

00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:48.559
 Sometimes, you know,

00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.019
 we're all grown.

00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:49.620
 We got to do that

00:35:49.620 --> 00:35:51.800
 but you should be growing

00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:52.940
 in your knowledge of God

00:35:52.940 --> 00:35:55.780
 such that your knowledge of Him,

00:35:56.240 --> 00:35:57.099
 your relationship with Him

00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:57.400
 is growing

00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.579
 and your powers of discernment

00:35:58.579 --> 00:35:59.240
 are being trained.

00:35:59.239 --> 00:36:01.879
 This is also true towards people.

00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:06.199
 There is a carnal understanding of love

00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:07.319
 that treats it as

00:36:07.319 --> 00:36:08.699
 see no evil,

00:36:08.819 --> 00:36:09.339
 hear no evil.

00:36:10.919 --> 00:36:11.819
 When I love somebody,

00:36:11.959 --> 00:36:12.799
 and to love somebody means

00:36:12.799 --> 00:36:13.979
 I stick my head in the ground

00:36:13.979 --> 00:36:16.059
 about anything they got wrong with them.

00:36:16.279 --> 00:36:16.459
 You know,

00:36:16.939 --> 00:36:17.979
 this is immature.

00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:18.879
 This is not true love

00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:22.860
 because true love

00:36:22.860 --> 00:36:25.240
 comes with knowledge

00:36:25.240 --> 00:36:26.860
 and discernment.

00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:28.599
 As it grows,

00:36:29.559 --> 00:36:32.340
 it's interested in the good of others

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:33.099
 and so it wants to know

00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:33.700
 what's going on.

00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:34.619
 You know,

00:36:34.740 --> 00:36:35.320
 it's curious.

00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:36.920
 I think of Gina

00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:38.599
 when I think of this passage.

00:36:38.920 --> 00:36:39.760
 When we first met her,

00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:41.519
 I was set aback

00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:44.460
 by how aggressively curious she was.

00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:46.800
 And I kind of categorized it

00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:47.280
 as kind of like,

00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:47.820
 I don't know,

00:36:47.820 --> 00:36:48.580
 I just didn't like it.

00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:49.780
 But,

00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:51.740
 it's so good.

00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.420
 I had a shield.

00:36:53.580 --> 00:36:54.059
 I had a shell.

00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:55.519
 I didn't like people

00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:56.559
 getting up in my business,

00:36:56.840 --> 00:36:58.120
 asking all these kind of questions.

00:36:58.940 --> 00:36:59.240
 And I thought,

00:36:59.320 --> 00:36:59.440
 okay,

00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:00.280
 it's a little gossipy,

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:00.700
 you know.

00:37:01.800 --> 00:37:02.120
 No.

00:37:02.700 --> 00:37:03.160
 It's love.

00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:04.200
 It's mature love.

00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:05.840
 Mature love wants to dig in there

00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:06.720
 to find out what's going on.

00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:07.380
 Chris and Stacey

00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:08.340
 are feeling great about this too.

00:37:08.620 --> 00:37:09.460
 Just get on in there.

00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:11.400
 Ask lots of questions.

00:37:12.440 --> 00:37:13.059
 Make you feel a little,

00:37:13.160 --> 00:37:13.300
 huh,

00:37:13.300 --> 00:37:14.039
 you know.

00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:15.480
 It's great.

00:37:15.820 --> 00:37:16.460
 This is true love.

00:37:16.460 --> 00:37:18.420
 True love wants to know

00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:19.320
 what's going on.

00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:20.780
 Wants to understand,

00:37:21.380 --> 00:37:21.740
 you know.

00:37:23.539 --> 00:37:24.240
 Immature love

00:37:24.240 --> 00:37:24.940
 or lack of love,

00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:25.480
 you don't care.

00:37:25.880 --> 00:37:26.619
 Don't tell me your problems.

00:37:26.720 --> 00:37:27.579
 If you tell me your problems,

00:37:28.260 --> 00:37:29.380
 I got to deal with them.

00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:31.880
 Makes me feel uncomfortable.

00:37:32.559 --> 00:37:33.679
 I almost have to deal with them

00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:34.619
 where I just have to awkwardly

00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:35.659
 turn around and walk away.

00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:35.820
 Like,

00:37:35.860 --> 00:37:37.320
 I don't want to know.

00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:39.679
 That's selfishness.

00:37:39.740 --> 00:37:40.420
 It's not true love.

00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:42.960
 This false kind of love,

00:37:43.760 --> 00:37:44.960
 this is what turns into like,

00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:46.240
 you start having these like

00:37:46.240 --> 00:37:47.659
 unspoken social contracts

00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:48.000
 with people

00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:48.619
 where you're just not going to

00:37:48.619 --> 00:37:49.500
 ask them certain things.

00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:50.659
 Even like,

00:37:50.900 --> 00:37:52.119
 best friend type relationships.

00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:55.220
 That's messed up.

00:37:55.659 --> 00:37:57.059
 That should not be the case with us.

00:37:57.099 --> 00:37:57.680
 And it happens.

00:37:58.119 --> 00:37:58.880
 Naturally happens.

00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:00.119
 It happens because

00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:01.519
 they don't want to

00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:02.539
 tell you your sin

00:38:02.539 --> 00:38:03.039
 and you,

00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:05.019
 they don't want to tell you

00:38:05.019 --> 00:38:05.559
 their sin.

00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:08.300
 And you feel that.

00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:10.100
 And so you agree with them.

00:38:10.620 --> 00:38:10.940
 All right.

00:38:11.880 --> 00:38:13.160
 We haven't even spoken

00:38:13.160 --> 00:38:13.980
 about this arrangement.

00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:15.720
 We've just silently been like,

00:38:15.780 --> 00:38:16.000
 all right,

00:38:16.039 --> 00:38:16.180
 cool.

00:38:16.300 --> 00:38:16.600
 We agree.

00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:18.200
 I get the vibe.

00:38:18.780 --> 00:38:20.000
 I ask you how you're doing

00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:20.820
 about certain things

00:38:20.820 --> 00:38:21.780
 and I can tell there's some areas

00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:22.240
 where you're just like,

00:38:22.280 --> 00:38:22.800
 nope,

00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:23.519
 nope,

00:38:24.160 --> 00:38:24.320
 no,

00:38:24.560 --> 00:38:25.120
 no,

00:38:25.180 --> 00:38:25.180


00:38:25.200 --> 00:38:25.280
 no,

00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:25.519
 it's fine.

00:38:27.100 --> 00:38:28.460
 And if I agree with you,

00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:30.960
 we now have a social contract

00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:31.580
 that we're not going to,

00:38:31.640 --> 00:38:32.300
 we're not going to go there.

00:38:33.240 --> 00:38:33.980
 That's jacked up.

00:38:34.280 --> 00:38:35.400
 That's not how Jesus is.

00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:37.840
 So,

00:38:38.300 --> 00:38:39.260
 true love

00:38:39.260 --> 00:38:40.420
 is curious

00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:42.300
 and it's willing to dig.

00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:44.100
 It's willing to get in there

00:38:44.100 --> 00:38:45.320
 and find that information.

00:38:46.360 --> 00:38:47.340
 Bible commands us

00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:48.240
 to bear one of those burdens

00:38:48.240 --> 00:38:49.340
 to fulfill the law of Christ.

00:38:49.700 --> 00:38:50.460
 If they don't want to give you

00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:50.840
 the burden,

00:38:51.260 --> 00:38:51.760
 guess what?

00:38:52.080 --> 00:38:53.000
 That doesn't stop Jesus.

00:38:53.820 --> 00:38:54.400
 He doesn't care.

00:38:55.100 --> 00:38:55.960
 Gets right up in there.

00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:57.340
 Asks uncomfortable questions.

00:38:57.440 --> 00:38:58.200
 Makes people squirm.

00:38:58.539 --> 00:38:59.300
 That's good.

00:38:59.380 --> 00:39:00.140
 That's mature,

00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:00.880
 healthy.

00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:02.360
 Love.

00:39:02.940 --> 00:39:03.519
 It's love.

00:39:04.360 --> 00:39:05.320
 He does it for us.

00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:07.700
 Discernment.

00:39:07.699 --> 00:39:08.480
 This is a great one.

00:39:09.559 --> 00:39:11.379
 Discernment lets you pick up,

00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.239
 like,

00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:13.839
 knowledge lets you pick up

00:39:13.839 --> 00:39:14.460
 on what they're saying.

00:39:14.579 --> 00:39:15.439
 Discernment lets you pick up

00:39:15.439 --> 00:39:16.119
 on what they're not saying.

00:39:16.899 --> 00:39:18.019
 We got to grow in that too.

00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.839
 We all have done this.

00:39:19.899 --> 00:39:20.599
 We all put up fronts

00:39:20.599 --> 00:39:21.460
 and stuff like this

00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:22.619
 and God has given

00:39:22.619 --> 00:39:23.279
 through the Holy Spirit

00:39:23.279 --> 00:39:23.980
 discernment

00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:24.519
 to know.

00:39:25.139 --> 00:39:25.639
 You know what?

00:39:26.480 --> 00:39:27.419
 They keep saying

00:39:27.419 --> 00:39:28.439
 lots of good things

00:39:28.439 --> 00:39:29.779
 but I keep noticing

00:39:29.779 --> 00:39:30.980
 a pattern

00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:32.359
 of some bad things

00:39:32.359 --> 00:39:33.759
 and they're not

00:39:33.759 --> 00:39:34.919
 talking to me about it.

00:39:34.920 --> 00:39:36.860
 they're doing this.

00:39:37.740 --> 00:39:38.200
 You know what?

00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:39.900
 Discernment refuses

00:39:39.900 --> 00:39:41.619
 to take their version

00:39:41.619 --> 00:39:42.159
 of the truth

00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:42.780
 at face value.

00:39:43.220 --> 00:39:43.380
 It says,

00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:43.800
 no, no, no.

00:39:44.240 --> 00:39:44.599
 I know.

00:39:45.700 --> 00:39:46.099
 Sorry,

00:39:46.200 --> 00:39:46.860
 I'm a sinner too.

00:39:47.820 --> 00:39:48.940
 I know who we are.

00:39:49.780 --> 00:39:51.559
 Not going to stay there.

00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:52.940
 It gives you something

00:39:52.940 --> 00:39:53.539
 to pray about

00:39:53.539 --> 00:39:54.420
 and it guides

00:39:54.420 --> 00:39:55.480
 where you can start digging

00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:56.420
 and we should.

00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:56.960
 We should do this

00:39:56.960 --> 00:39:57.400
 with each other.

00:39:57.480 --> 00:39:58.139
 We should ask God

00:39:58.139 --> 00:39:59.019
 for discernment

00:39:59.019 --> 00:40:00.180
 and dig

00:40:00.180 --> 00:40:01.559
 and don't be ashamed of it.

00:40:01.559 --> 00:40:02.539
 We're all in this boat together.

00:40:02.960 --> 00:40:03.139
 You know,

00:40:03.219 --> 00:40:03.440
 like,

00:40:03.639 --> 00:40:03.799
 hey,

00:40:04.440 --> 00:40:06.159
 we're sinners.

00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:07.320
 We needed Jesus

00:40:07.320 --> 00:40:08.139
 to come down

00:40:08.139 --> 00:40:09.000
 and die for us.

00:40:09.960 --> 00:40:10.159
 So,

00:40:10.980 --> 00:40:11.400
 and we're putting

00:40:11.400 --> 00:40:12.279
 to each other's lives

00:40:12.279 --> 00:40:14.159
 for the perfecting work

00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:15.500
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:40:15.759 --> 00:40:15.860
 So,

00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:18.460
 I guess,

00:40:18.559 --> 00:40:19.219
 so that brings us

00:40:19.219 --> 00:40:19.699
 to the goal.

00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:20.639
 What's the goal?

00:40:20.799 --> 00:40:21.259
 Verse 10,

00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:23.019
 so that you may approve

00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:23.699
 what is excellent

00:40:23.699 --> 00:40:24.480
 and so be pure

00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:25.000
 and blameless

00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:25.799
 for the day of Christ.

00:40:26.099 --> 00:40:26.820
 It's part of the

00:40:26.820 --> 00:40:27.659
 sanctifying work

00:40:27.659 --> 00:40:28.079
 of the Spirit.

00:40:28.199 --> 00:40:28.960
 This all goes together.

00:40:29.659 --> 00:40:30.579
 Love is how

00:40:30.579 --> 00:40:31.659
 he sanctifies us.

00:40:31.960 --> 00:40:32.519
 Whoever loves

00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:33.380
 to fulfill the law,

00:40:33.840 --> 00:40:34.539
 he sheds abroad

00:40:34.539 --> 00:40:35.760
 his love in our hearts

00:40:35.760 --> 00:40:36.500
 through the Holy Spirit

00:40:36.500 --> 00:40:38.780
 and it's part of this keeping.

00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:39.420
 You know,

00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:40.019
 even the church,

00:40:40.119 --> 00:40:40.840
 even each other

00:40:40.840 --> 00:40:42.340
 are part of God's

00:40:42.340 --> 00:40:43.119
 sovereign means

00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:44.019
 of keeping each other

00:40:44.019 --> 00:40:44.480
 in the faith

00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:45.360
 all the way till the end.

00:40:47.240 --> 00:40:48.079
 Filled with the fruit

00:40:48.079 --> 00:40:48.559
 of righteousness.

00:40:48.760 --> 00:40:49.199
 Verse 11,

00:40:49.659 --> 00:40:50.500
 filled with the fruit

00:40:50.500 --> 00:40:51.079
 of righteousness

00:40:51.079 --> 00:40:52.440
 that comes through Jesus Christ,

00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:53.579
 the glory and praise of God.

00:40:54.599 --> 00:40:55.019
 Fruit

00:40:55.019 --> 00:40:56.420
 comes from Jesus.

00:40:57.380 --> 00:40:58.480
 He's the getting place.

00:40:58.960 --> 00:40:59.260
 Okay?

00:40:59.880 --> 00:41:01.300
 He's who produces fruit

00:41:01.300 --> 00:41:03.519
 and it is actually organic.

00:41:04.480 --> 00:41:05.860
 We trust in Jesus

00:41:05.860 --> 00:41:07.820
 in real faith.

00:41:08.440 --> 00:41:09.860
 He produces the fruit

00:41:09.860 --> 00:41:12.179
 and we ought to be filled with it.

00:41:12.699 --> 00:41:13.500
 That's the key.

00:41:14.099 --> 00:41:14.500
 Filled,

00:41:15.039 --> 00:41:17.000
 not sprinkled.

00:41:18.159 --> 00:41:18.619
 You know,

00:41:18.639 --> 00:41:19.280
 we cut ourselves.

00:41:19.420 --> 00:41:20.159
 We think it's good.

00:41:20.340 --> 00:41:20.980
 The whole thing's getting

00:41:20.980 --> 00:41:21.639
 great on the curve.

00:41:21.740 --> 00:41:22.559
 At least I have some fruit.

00:41:22.659 --> 00:41:23.079
 Okay, good deal.

00:41:23.659 --> 00:41:23.920
 All right.

00:41:24.159 --> 00:41:24.539
 Where am I?

00:41:24.699 --> 00:41:24.920
 Okay,

00:41:24.980 --> 00:41:26.199
 I'm somewhere between

00:41:26.199 --> 00:41:26.720
 the bottom of the curve,

00:41:26.780 --> 00:41:27.300
 top of the curve.

00:41:27.300 --> 00:41:28.840
 My fruit to bad,

00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:30.180
 my good fruit to bad fruit ratio.

00:41:30.620 --> 00:41:30.920
 No, no, no.

00:41:31.660 --> 00:41:33.080
 Filled with good fruit.

00:41:33.420 --> 00:41:34.220
 It comes through Jesus.

00:41:35.360 --> 00:41:36.140
 Matthew Henry,

00:41:36.519 --> 00:41:37.780
 I read his commentary on this.

00:41:38.019 --> 00:41:38.580
 First, he said,

00:41:39.160 --> 00:41:41.240
 let us not leave it doubtful

00:41:41.240 --> 00:41:42.420
 whether any good fruit

00:41:42.420 --> 00:41:43.460
 is found in us or not.

00:41:44.720 --> 00:41:46.660
 A small measure of Christian love,

00:41:46.760 --> 00:41:47.039
 knowledge,

00:41:47.080 --> 00:41:47.620
 and fruitfulness

00:41:47.620 --> 00:41:49.160
 should not satisfy any.

00:41:49.500 --> 00:41:49.720
 Okay?

00:41:50.340 --> 00:41:50.640
 So,

00:41:51.180 --> 00:41:51.860
 God's vision,

00:41:51.980 --> 00:41:52.519
 his goal is

00:41:52.519 --> 00:41:53.220
 full,

00:41:53.560 --> 00:41:54.300
 full of good fruit

00:41:54.300 --> 00:41:55.780
 and he's able to do it.

00:41:56.820 --> 00:41:57.500
 Abide in me

00:41:57.500 --> 00:41:58.680
 and I in you,

00:41:59.200 --> 00:41:59.780
 John 15,

00:42:00.420 --> 00:42:02.680
 and you will bear much fruit.

00:42:03.740 --> 00:42:04.140
 It's awesome.

00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:04.940
 Awesome promise.

00:42:05.640 --> 00:42:05.840
 Okay.

00:42:07.760 --> 00:42:08.200
 All right,

00:42:08.240 --> 00:42:08.680
 that's it.

00:42:08.760 --> 00:42:09.720
 On the exegesis,

00:42:09.840 --> 00:42:10.580
 I have some points

00:42:10.580 --> 00:42:12.180
 pulling out of this

00:42:12.180 --> 00:42:13.100
 and applying to our church.

00:42:13.180 --> 00:42:13.880
 These are things that

00:42:13.880 --> 00:42:15.000
 praying through this,

00:42:15.220 --> 00:42:16.000
 praying for our church,

00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:17.560
 these come to mind.

00:42:17.980 --> 00:42:18.660
 One is,

00:42:18.740 --> 00:42:19.519
 we already talked about this,

00:42:19.620 --> 00:42:20.640
 grace and peace go together.

00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:22.319
 If you've accepted

00:42:22.319 --> 00:42:23.259
 a baseline of anxiety

00:42:23.259 --> 00:42:23.679
 in your life,

00:42:23.759 --> 00:42:24.279
 this is not,

00:42:24.359 --> 00:42:25.379
 this is not Christianity,

00:42:25.519 --> 00:42:26.900
 this is not what God's purpose is.

00:42:27.460 --> 00:42:29.000
 The grace that brings salvation

00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:30.480
 and the peace of God

00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:31.559
 that surpasses understanding

00:42:31.559 --> 00:42:32.339
 that go together

00:42:32.339 --> 00:42:33.139
 and it's for you.

00:42:34.059 --> 00:42:35.039
 Let's not settle for it.

00:42:35.059 --> 00:42:36.039
 Let's not leave today

00:42:36.039 --> 00:42:37.259
 with anxiety.

00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:38.879
 It's just grace and peace to you

00:42:38.879 --> 00:42:39.719
 from God.

00:42:42.179 --> 00:42:42.539
 Second,

00:42:43.159 --> 00:42:43.960
 don't be discouraged

00:42:43.960 --> 00:42:44.460
 by small,

00:42:44.679 --> 00:42:45.099
 small,

00:42:45.279 --> 00:42:47.699
 don't be discouraged

00:42:47.699 --> 00:42:49.059
 by small beginnings.

00:42:49.059 --> 00:42:49.259
 Philippians.

00:42:49.799 --> 00:42:50.840
 This is God's work.

00:42:51.639 --> 00:42:52.719
 Philippians is a small church.

00:42:53.320 --> 00:42:53.639
 Matthew,

00:42:53.779 --> 00:42:54.639
 Henry notes this.

00:42:54.920 --> 00:42:55.259
 I'm not going to read

00:42:55.259 --> 00:42:55.699
 the whole quote,

00:42:55.779 --> 00:42:56.440
 but he basically said,

00:42:56.840 --> 00:42:58.079
 this started out super small.

00:42:58.199 --> 00:42:58.659
 It was basically

00:42:58.659 --> 00:42:59.559
 only two converts

00:42:59.559 --> 00:43:01.779
 and it's fruitful.

00:43:01.940 --> 00:43:02.579
 It's flourishing.

00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:03.539
 God made it flourish

00:43:03.539 --> 00:43:04.639
 and he looks back

00:43:04.639 --> 00:43:05.599
 and it's a markedly

00:43:05.599 --> 00:43:06.340
 encouraging letter.

00:43:06.440 --> 00:43:07.559
 He's writing a report card

00:43:07.559 --> 00:43:07.920
 that says,

00:43:08.039 --> 00:43:08.960
 really good job.

00:43:10.159 --> 00:43:10.840
 It's awesome.

00:43:11.340 --> 00:43:12.139
 So we should trust that.

00:43:13.759 --> 00:43:14.199
 Three,

00:43:14.840 --> 00:43:15.880
 Christ's love

00:43:15.880 --> 00:43:16.880
 is what motivates us.

00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:17.719
 We need to get this right.

00:43:17.719 --> 00:43:19.619
 Self-love cannot motivate

00:43:19.619 --> 00:43:20.679
 true obedience.

00:43:21.259 --> 00:43:21.500
 You know,

00:43:21.559 --> 00:43:22.099
 you have a pattern

00:43:22.099 --> 00:43:22.659
 of looking in

00:43:22.659 --> 00:43:23.059
 and just being like,

00:43:23.159 --> 00:43:23.299
 ah,

00:43:23.299 --> 00:43:24.500
 I just wish I loved people more.

00:43:25.480 --> 00:43:25.739
 Ah,

00:43:25.819 --> 00:43:26.019
 Lord,

00:43:26.099 --> 00:43:27.059
 help me love people more.

00:43:27.199 --> 00:43:28.019
 That's a good prayer,

00:43:28.319 --> 00:43:29.239
 but we need to know

00:43:29.239 --> 00:43:31.139
 that it's a gift from God.

00:43:31.399 --> 00:43:32.559
 It's Christ's love.

00:43:33.259 --> 00:43:33.719
 So like,

00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:34.739
 don't look for ways

00:43:34.739 --> 00:43:36.099
 to outthink your selfishness.

00:43:36.419 --> 00:43:37.000
 Don't look for ways

00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:38.219
 to motivate your selfishness

00:43:38.219 --> 00:43:38.959
 in the right direction.

00:43:39.419 --> 00:43:40.259
 It's not going to work.

00:43:40.500 --> 00:43:40.719
 Okay?

00:43:42.359 --> 00:43:42.959
 Christ's love

00:43:42.959 --> 00:43:43.939
 is what compelled Paul

00:43:43.939 --> 00:43:45.939
 and it does not seek its own.

00:43:46.220 --> 00:43:47.300
 It's a fruit of the spirit.

00:43:47.599 --> 00:43:48.720
 The fruit of the spirit is

00:43:48.720 --> 00:43:49.800
 love.

00:43:50.760 --> 00:43:51.320
 It's simple.

00:43:51.420 --> 00:43:51.599
 Lord,

00:43:52.240 --> 00:43:53.099
 I lack love.

00:43:53.900 --> 00:43:54.820
 Please forgive me.

00:43:54.940 --> 00:43:55.900
 In Jesus' name,

00:43:55.940 --> 00:43:56.860
 I know I get it from you

00:43:56.860 --> 00:43:58.440
 and you've given me your spirit.

00:43:58.539 --> 00:43:59.220
 So just shed a broad

00:43:59.220 --> 00:44:00.159
 of your love in my heart fresh.

00:44:00.619 --> 00:44:01.579
 Give me your love for people.

00:44:02.139 --> 00:44:03.000
 I'm going to trust you for it.

00:44:03.440 --> 00:44:03.559
 Okay?

00:44:04.920 --> 00:44:06.139
 True love grows in knowledge

00:44:06.139 --> 00:44:06.800
 and discernment.

00:44:06.920 --> 00:44:07.760
 Talked about that a lot.

00:44:08.579 --> 00:44:08.760
 You know,

00:44:08.840 --> 00:44:09.639
 I guess the challenge is,

00:44:09.720 --> 00:44:10.659
 are we growing in knowledge

00:44:10.659 --> 00:44:11.119
 of Jesus?

00:44:12.619 --> 00:44:13.159
 Are we?

00:44:13.579 --> 00:44:14.460
 God has a lot to say

00:44:14.460 --> 00:44:15.440
 about his son when he says,

00:44:15.559 --> 00:44:16.820
 I want to say all these things

00:44:16.820 --> 00:44:17.039
 to you,

00:44:17.079 --> 00:44:17.920
 but you're dull of hearing.

00:44:18.300 --> 00:44:19.199
 Are we dull of hearing?

00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:20.559
 Is that just kind of

00:44:20.559 --> 00:44:21.280
 a boring thing?

00:44:21.760 --> 00:44:22.800
 Knowing Christ.

00:44:24.099 --> 00:44:24.820
 It shouldn't be.

00:44:25.480 --> 00:44:26.240
 You need to know him.

00:44:26.699 --> 00:44:27.400
 And then towards people,

00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:28.159
 are you curious?

00:44:28.480 --> 00:44:29.440
 Are you genuinely curious

00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:30.220
 about the details

00:44:30.220 --> 00:44:31.539
 of the lives of others

00:44:31.539 --> 00:44:32.460
 and do you dig for them?

00:44:33.099 --> 00:44:33.280
 You know,

00:44:33.559 --> 00:44:34.740
 that's the mark of curiosity.

00:44:36.639 --> 00:44:37.460
 You get in there

00:44:37.460 --> 00:44:38.199
 and dig for them,

00:44:38.659 --> 00:44:39.000
 you know?

00:44:39.840 --> 00:44:40.800
 Or are you sticking your head

00:44:40.800 --> 00:44:41.099
 in the sand

00:44:41.099 --> 00:44:41.659
 and ignoring it

00:44:41.659 --> 00:44:43.079
 because you might

00:44:43.079 --> 00:44:43.739
 have to deal with it.

00:44:44.639 --> 00:44:45.339
 Bear one another's burdens.

00:44:45.519 --> 00:44:45.739
 Yes,

00:44:45.940 --> 00:44:46.420
 you're a Christian,

00:44:46.519 --> 00:44:47.099
 you have to deal with it.

00:44:47.599 --> 00:44:47.699
 Okay?

00:44:48.019 --> 00:44:49.019
 God puts you with him

00:44:49.019 --> 00:44:50.279
 to help him deal with it.

00:44:50.339 --> 00:44:50.960
 They can't deal with it

00:44:50.960 --> 00:44:51.579
 all by themselves.

00:44:51.659 --> 00:44:52.199
 They need your help

00:44:52.199 --> 00:44:52.859
 in dealing with it.

00:44:54.319 --> 00:44:54.619
 Five,

00:44:54.719 --> 00:44:55.440
 union with Christ

00:44:55.440 --> 00:44:56.379
 produces being filled

00:44:56.379 --> 00:44:57.440
 with righteous fruit.

00:44:59.559 --> 00:45:00.739
 We got a lot of good talkers

00:45:00.739 --> 00:45:01.319
 in Christchurch.

00:45:02.159 --> 00:45:02.279
 Okay?

00:45:03.039 --> 00:45:03.759
 Good at talking,

00:45:04.420 --> 00:45:05.399
 good at saying things

00:45:05.399 --> 00:45:06.440
 that are good about the Lord.

00:45:07.699 --> 00:45:08.539
 For some of us,

00:45:08.759 --> 00:45:09.920
 the fruits lag in the talk.

00:45:09.920 --> 00:45:10.480
 Okay?

00:45:11.559 --> 00:45:12.300
 And that's why

00:45:12.300 --> 00:45:12.860
 one of the words

00:45:12.860 --> 00:45:13.780
 is character.

00:45:15.599 --> 00:45:16.740
 We need

00:45:16.740 --> 00:45:18.519
 a living connection

00:45:18.519 --> 00:45:19.059
 with Jesus

00:45:19.059 --> 00:45:20.820
 that produces real fruit

00:45:20.820 --> 00:45:21.940
 and we should not

00:45:21.940 --> 00:45:22.900
 deceive ourselves.

00:45:23.320 --> 00:45:24.200
 James talks about

00:45:24.200 --> 00:45:24.860
 this dynamic

00:45:24.860 --> 00:45:26.400
 where you can come

00:45:26.400 --> 00:45:27.300
 to God's word

00:45:27.300 --> 00:45:29.380
 and if any man

00:45:29.380 --> 00:45:30.180
 be a hearer

00:45:30.180 --> 00:45:30.880
 of God's word

00:45:30.880 --> 00:45:31.480
 and not a doer,

00:45:31.559 --> 00:45:32.099
 he's like a guy

00:45:32.099 --> 00:45:33.180
 who comes and sees himself

00:45:33.180 --> 00:45:33.599
 in the mirror

00:45:33.599 --> 00:45:34.579
 and he turns around

00:45:34.579 --> 00:45:35.280
 and immediately forgets

00:45:35.280 --> 00:45:35.760
 what he looks like.

00:45:36.019 --> 00:45:37.159
 There's like this delusion

00:45:37.159 --> 00:45:38.039
 that you can get to

00:45:38.039 --> 00:45:38.980
 in Christian culture

00:45:38.980 --> 00:45:40.280
 and church culture

00:45:40.280 --> 00:45:41.099
 where you think

00:45:41.099 --> 00:45:41.860
 that acquiring

00:45:41.860 --> 00:45:43.000
 knowledge of God

00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:44.159
 and thinking on things

00:45:44.159 --> 00:45:44.699
 of God

00:45:44.699 --> 00:45:46.079
 and learning on things

00:45:46.079 --> 00:45:46.440
 of God

00:45:46.440 --> 00:45:47.440
 and talking of things

00:45:47.440 --> 00:45:47.860
 of God

00:45:47.860 --> 00:45:49.579
 is real fruit

00:45:49.579 --> 00:45:50.280
 and it's obedience

00:45:50.280 --> 00:45:51.340
 and you're actually

00:45:51.340 --> 00:45:52.380
 just using it

00:45:52.380 --> 00:45:52.880
 as a shield

00:45:52.880 --> 00:45:54.179
 to cover your disobedience.

00:45:54.960 --> 00:45:55.679
 There's a character

00:45:55.679 --> 00:45:56.699
 in Pilgrim's Progress

00:45:56.699 --> 00:45:57.460
 who is this,

00:45:57.519 --> 00:45:58.059
 it's talkative.

00:45:58.719 --> 00:45:59.400
 He can talk.

00:46:00.519 --> 00:46:01.179
 The thing is,

00:46:01.199 --> 00:46:02.000
 he can talk about everything.

00:46:02.880 --> 00:46:03.699
 Not just things of God,

00:46:03.740 --> 00:46:04.179
 he can talk about,

00:46:04.219 --> 00:46:05.039
 he's got a gift

00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:06.559
 gift of speaking

00:46:06.559 --> 00:46:08.519
 that's wonderful,

00:46:08.599 --> 00:46:09.219
 it's from God

00:46:09.219 --> 00:46:11.199
 but it can be a trap

00:46:11.199 --> 00:46:12.619
 if you think

00:46:12.619 --> 00:46:13.739
 that it equates

00:46:13.739 --> 00:46:14.639
 to fruit.

00:46:14.840 --> 00:46:15.480
 It's not,

00:46:15.599 --> 00:46:16.219
 it's not the same.

00:46:19.639 --> 00:46:20.500
 Number six,

00:46:20.679 --> 00:46:21.279
 two more here.

00:46:21.380 --> 00:46:21.960
 Number six,

00:46:22.420 --> 00:46:23.300
 partnering in the gospel.

00:46:23.900 --> 00:46:24.639
 This is a challenge

00:46:24.639 --> 00:46:25.279
 for all of us.

00:46:25.980 --> 00:46:26.920
 I'm on this,

00:46:27.279 --> 00:46:28.119
 I'm challenging myself.

00:46:28.800 --> 00:46:29.940
 Why are you here

00:46:29.940 --> 00:46:30.659
 at this church?

00:46:30.659 --> 00:46:33.719
 Is it to partner together

00:46:33.719 --> 00:46:34.319
 in the gospel

00:46:34.319 --> 00:46:35.079
 of Jesus Christ?

00:46:36.099 --> 00:46:36.980
 Or is it because

00:46:36.980 --> 00:46:37.839
 you like a smaller church?

00:46:38.799 --> 00:46:38.980
 You know?

00:46:39.599 --> 00:46:40.659
 Or because your friends

00:46:40.659 --> 00:46:40.980
 are here?

00:46:41.659 --> 00:46:42.859
 Or your family's here?

00:46:44.839 --> 00:46:46.079
 Those aren't bad reasons.

00:46:46.500 --> 00:46:47.239
 They are not

00:46:47.239 --> 00:46:49.319
 the foundational motivation

00:46:49.319 --> 00:46:50.519
 that Paul is commending

00:46:50.519 --> 00:46:51.359
 the Philippians for.

00:46:52.399 --> 00:46:52.759
 Partnership

00:46:52.759 --> 00:46:54.500
 in the gospel of Jesus.

00:46:54.960 --> 00:46:55.859
 Set apart

00:46:55.859 --> 00:46:58.299
 for the gospel of God.

00:46:58.300 --> 00:47:01.420
 We need to ask ourselves that.

00:47:01.840 --> 00:47:02.760
 We got bad motives,

00:47:02.820 --> 00:47:03.600
 we need to repent of them.

00:47:03.880 --> 00:47:04.760
 We need to get right about it.

00:47:05.580 --> 00:47:06.519
 Other motives

00:47:06.519 --> 00:47:08.039
 are a distraction

00:47:08.039 --> 00:47:09.220
 and a stumbling block.

00:47:10.860 --> 00:47:11.600
 Last one.

00:47:13.200 --> 00:47:14.980
 In light of Christ's

00:47:14.980 --> 00:47:15.660
 keeping you,

00:47:16.660 --> 00:47:18.580
 turn from your indifference.

00:47:19.260 --> 00:47:19.840
 This goes back

00:47:19.840 --> 00:47:20.940
 to that NLT version

00:47:20.940 --> 00:47:21.760
 where Jesus says,

00:47:22.060 --> 00:47:23.680
 those whom I love,

00:47:24.860 --> 00:47:26.120
 I correct and discipline,

00:47:26.500 --> 00:47:27.140
 be diligent

00:47:27.139 --> 00:47:28.719
 and turn from your indifference.

00:47:31.099 --> 00:47:32.079
 They just go together.

00:47:32.420 --> 00:47:32.879
 Preserving,

00:47:33.219 --> 00:47:34.659
 the preserving work of Christ

00:47:34.659 --> 00:47:36.319
 and repentance,

00:47:36.819 --> 00:47:38.059
 turning from your indifference.

00:47:38.480 --> 00:47:39.239
 They're just married.

00:47:39.759 --> 00:47:41.039
 They're like the same thing.

00:47:41.460 --> 00:47:44.139
 One is enabling the other.

00:47:44.379 --> 00:47:45.559
 It's Christ's work.

00:47:46.599 --> 00:47:46.799
 So,

00:47:47.379 --> 00:47:48.059
 we can rejoice

00:47:48.059 --> 00:47:48.579
 in the doctrine

00:47:48.579 --> 00:47:49.139
 of the perseverance

00:47:49.139 --> 00:47:49.759
 of the saints,

00:47:50.299 --> 00:47:51.239
 but practice,

00:47:51.639 --> 00:47:52.319
 but in practice,

00:47:52.480 --> 00:47:53.079
 deny it

00:47:53.079 --> 00:47:55.099
 by resisting his work

00:47:55.099 --> 00:47:55.739
 and trying to lead us

00:47:55.739 --> 00:47:56.119
 to repentance.

00:47:56.119 --> 00:47:56.259
 repentance.

00:47:56.839 --> 00:47:57.659
 I'm in, baby.

00:47:59.440 --> 00:48:00.319
 I'm saved.

00:48:00.859 --> 00:48:02.059
 You can't tell me

00:48:02.059 --> 00:48:03.159
 that

00:48:03.159 --> 00:48:04.619
 that's going to change.

00:48:05.619 --> 00:48:06.059
 Yeah,

00:48:06.099 --> 00:48:07.159
 he says he's going to complete

00:48:07.159 --> 00:48:07.880
 the work he started.

00:48:09.440 --> 00:48:10.819
 And you resist today,

00:48:10.940 --> 00:48:12.139
 as of right now today,

00:48:12.759 --> 00:48:14.219
 you got 19 reasons

00:48:14.219 --> 00:48:14.920
 why that sin

00:48:14.920 --> 00:48:15.819
 the Lord keeps highlighting

00:48:15.819 --> 00:48:17.599
 isn't really a big deal.

00:48:17.599 --> 00:48:20.500
 I need something else

00:48:20.500 --> 00:48:20.980
 to fix me.

00:48:21.039 --> 00:48:21.420
 I don't know.

00:48:21.480 --> 00:48:22.539
 I just keep praying about it.

00:48:23.079 --> 00:48:23.299
 No.

00:48:23.940 --> 00:48:24.259
 No.

00:48:24.539 --> 00:48:25.420
 That's not the way he works.

00:48:25.420 --> 00:48:26.259
 He says,

00:48:26.779 --> 00:48:27.639
 be zealous

00:48:27.639 --> 00:48:28.819
 and repent.

00:48:29.039 --> 00:48:30.099
 I reprove you

00:48:30.099 --> 00:48:31.980
 because I love you

00:48:31.980 --> 00:48:33.519
 and it's my means

00:48:33.519 --> 00:48:34.400
 of keeping you.

00:48:34.940 --> 00:48:35.219
 Therefore,

00:48:35.380 --> 00:48:35.819
 be zealous

00:48:35.819 --> 00:48:36.239
 and repent.

00:48:36.339 --> 00:48:36.699
 Repent.

00:48:36.900 --> 00:48:37.880
 I called you

00:48:37.880 --> 00:48:39.699
 and I'm finishing you,

00:48:39.779 --> 00:48:39.940
 bro.

00:48:40.900 --> 00:48:41.500
 My daughter,

00:48:41.900 --> 00:48:42.740
 I love you.

00:48:43.159 --> 00:48:43.820
 Be zealous.

00:48:44.980 --> 00:48:46.440
 And I just want to challenge you.

00:48:46.800 --> 00:48:48.200
 If God is convicting you of sin,

00:48:49.440 --> 00:48:51.519
 you've been given

00:48:51.519 --> 00:48:52.440
 everything you need

00:48:52.440 --> 00:48:54.260
 right now,

00:48:54.400 --> 00:48:54.679
 today.

00:48:56.179 --> 00:48:57.139
 The Bible says

00:48:57.139 --> 00:48:58.119
 you've been granted

00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:59.380
 everything

00:48:59.380 --> 00:49:00.800
 you need

00:49:00.800 --> 00:49:01.840
 for life and godliness

00:49:01.840 --> 00:49:02.599
 through what?

00:49:03.099 --> 00:49:03.940
 The knowledge of him.

00:49:04.019 --> 00:49:04.980
 Do you know Jesus today?

00:49:06.099 --> 00:49:06.960
 You got him.

00:49:07.539 --> 00:49:08.440
 You already got him.

00:49:08.440 --> 00:49:10.179
 You have everything you need

00:49:10.179 --> 00:49:10.780
 today

00:49:10.780 --> 00:49:11.880
 to repent.

00:49:12.220 --> 00:49:13.260
 And if you don't believe that,

00:49:13.360 --> 00:49:14.059
 you have an excuse.

00:49:14.220 --> 00:49:14.760
 You have a bond.

00:49:14.880 --> 00:49:16.599
 You have a stronghold

00:49:16.599 --> 00:49:17.220
 in your life

00:49:17.220 --> 00:49:17.980
 that the devil

00:49:17.980 --> 00:49:18.720
 has tricked you

00:49:18.720 --> 00:49:19.880
 into protecting.

00:49:20.980 --> 00:49:21.659
 I love it.

00:49:21.679 --> 00:49:22.260
 Has anyone ever read

00:49:22.260 --> 00:49:22.980
 The Great Divorce?

00:49:23.980 --> 00:49:24.840
 I read that.

00:49:25.220 --> 00:49:25.440
 Okay.

00:49:25.840 --> 00:49:26.539
 There's a character

00:49:26.539 --> 00:49:27.380
 in The Great Divorce

00:49:27.380 --> 00:49:29.559
 and he's got this lizard on him

00:49:29.559 --> 00:49:33.300
 and it's a picture

00:49:33.300 --> 00:49:34.800
 of the sin that he loves.

00:49:34.860 --> 00:49:35.440
 He's protecting.

00:49:36.099 --> 00:49:37.220
 And the angel tries

00:49:37.220 --> 00:49:38.019
 to pull off him.

00:49:38.019 --> 00:49:39.000
 And he screams.

00:49:39.119 --> 00:49:39.900
 He loses it.

00:49:39.960 --> 00:49:40.199
 He's like,

00:49:40.320 --> 00:49:41.179
 he keeps talking about

00:49:41.179 --> 00:49:42.199
 how he wants to get free of it.

00:49:42.559 --> 00:49:43.360
 And the angel's like,

00:49:43.400 --> 00:49:43.539
 all right,

00:49:43.559 --> 00:49:44.199
 let me kill it for you.

00:49:44.539 --> 00:49:45.579
 And he screams

00:49:45.579 --> 00:49:46.460
 and he won't let it go.

00:49:47.159 --> 00:49:48.019
 He won't let it go.

00:49:50.000 --> 00:49:50.719
 It's like that.

00:49:51.280 --> 00:49:52.139
 And the devil does this.

00:49:52.179 --> 00:49:52.800
 And I really believe

00:49:52.800 --> 00:49:54.139
 there's people in this room today,

00:49:54.599 --> 00:49:56.300
 the Lord has been doing this.

00:49:56.380 --> 00:49:57.099
 Hey, repent.

00:49:57.500 --> 00:49:58.199
 I've been telling you

00:49:58.199 --> 00:49:59.099
 about this for years.

00:49:59.500 --> 00:49:59.840
 Years.

00:50:00.679 --> 00:50:01.860
 And you keep saying,

00:50:02.099 --> 00:50:03.440
 here's this reason

00:50:03.440 --> 00:50:04.079
 why I can't

00:50:04.079 --> 00:50:05.039
 and this reason why I can't.

00:50:05.039 --> 00:50:05.619
 I just need God

00:50:05.619 --> 00:50:06.480
 to change my heart,

00:50:06.579 --> 00:50:06.860
 you know,

00:50:07.199 --> 00:50:07.820
 so hard.

00:50:08.380 --> 00:50:09.059
 He's given you

00:50:09.059 --> 00:50:10.039
 everything you need.

00:50:10.320 --> 00:50:11.440
 You don't want to let it go.

00:50:12.179 --> 00:50:12.860
 That's the truth.

00:50:13.320 --> 00:50:14.259
 The actual truth is

00:50:14.259 --> 00:50:15.179
 you don't believe it.

00:50:16.539 --> 00:50:17.579
 The awesome thing is

00:50:17.579 --> 00:50:18.920
 he finally says yes,

00:50:19.000 --> 00:50:19.679
 the angel takes it,

00:50:19.699 --> 00:50:20.360
 he kills it,

00:50:20.360 --> 00:50:21.860
 and then it turns into

00:50:21.860 --> 00:50:23.320
 this like magnificent horse

00:50:23.320 --> 00:50:24.539
 and that guy gets on

00:50:24.539 --> 00:50:25.180
 and rides it.

00:50:26.280 --> 00:50:28.120
 It's not ruling him anymore.

00:50:28.320 --> 00:50:28.980
 He's ruling it.

00:50:30.079 --> 00:50:30.800
 That's the intent,

00:50:30.920 --> 00:50:31.079
 you know,

00:50:31.140 --> 00:50:31.700
 that's the intent.

00:50:32.420 --> 00:50:32.860
 A lot of times

00:50:32.860 --> 00:50:33.640
 there's these things

00:50:33.640 --> 00:50:35.220
 the Lord's putting his finger on

00:50:35.220 --> 00:50:36.740
 and you don't want to let it go

00:50:36.740 --> 00:50:37.340
 because you love it.

00:50:37.420 --> 00:50:37.940
 You love your sin.

00:50:38.039 --> 00:50:38.700
 You love your independence.

00:50:39.840 --> 00:50:40.860
 And you don't realize,

00:50:41.640 --> 00:50:42.300
 like,

00:50:42.880 --> 00:50:43.579
 it's good enough reason

00:50:43.579 --> 00:50:44.559
 just because God said sin

00:50:44.559 --> 00:50:45.039
 and you repent.

00:50:45.200 --> 00:50:45.680
 That's good enough.

00:50:46.200 --> 00:50:47.500
 But there's even more.

00:50:48.260 --> 00:50:48.460
 Like,

00:50:48.920 --> 00:50:49.760
 that thing

00:50:49.760 --> 00:50:51.039
 that's ruling your life,

00:50:52.039 --> 00:50:53.500
 you trust the Lord with it,

00:50:53.940 --> 00:50:56.039
 you're going to be a master of it,

00:50:56.800 --> 00:50:58.139
 and it's going to bring glory to God.

00:50:59.320 --> 00:51:00.139
 It's just wonderful.

00:51:00.380 --> 00:51:00.500
 So,

00:51:00.960 --> 00:51:01.679
 I think that's probably

00:51:01.679 --> 00:51:03.000
 the number one thing in my heart.