WEBVTT 00:00:00.660 --> 00:00:04.620 Starting at verse 11, if you've got a page number. 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:09.859 All the ones, four ones. 00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:27.519 So Acts chapter 16, starting at verse 11, and it's on page 1111. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.179 Let's hear God's word. 00:00:47.179 --> 00:00:55.359 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:01:04.319 From there we travelled to Philippi, a Roman colony, and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. 00:01:05.239 --> 00:01:07.180 And we stayed there several days. 00:01:07.180 --> 00:01:14.740 On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:19.540 We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:30.340 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God. 00:01:30.340 --> 00:01:37.299 The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 00:01:38.520 --> 00:01:44.359 When she and the members of her household were baptised, she invited us to her home. 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:50.920 If you consider me a believer in the Lord, she said, come and stay at my house. 00:01:51.859 --> 00:01:53.439 And she persuaded us. 00:01:55.519 --> 00:02:00.420 I'm going to invite Jonathan, who's going to come and speak this morning. 00:02:00.620 --> 00:02:01.539 Thanks, Jonathan. 00:02:01.540 --> 00:02:18.080 If you still have Acts chapter 16 open, please keep your finger on it. 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:25.400 But at the same time, with your other hand, turn to Philippians, which if you're using the Red Bible is on page 1178. 00:02:26.100 --> 00:02:30.360 And we're going to read the first 11 verses of that as our text this morning. 00:02:31.539 --> 00:02:39.840 Starting in verse 1. 00:02:40.539 --> 00:02:43.719 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. 00:02:44.620 --> 00:02:50.319 To all saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons. 00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:55.620 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:02:56.599 --> 00:02:59.419 I thank my God every time I remember you. 00:02:59.419 --> 00:03:04.379 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:08.959 Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 00:03:09.419 --> 00:03:17.060 I've been confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 00:03:17.060 --> 00:03:22.580 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, since I have you in my heart. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:31.400 For whether I am in chains, or defending, or confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 00:03:32.699 --> 00:03:36.879 God can testify how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:44.680 And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:51.840 so that you may be able to discern what is best, and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 00:03:52.419 --> 00:03:59.719 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:02.620 Let's just commit our time to the Lord in prayer. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:08.479 Father, as we have read your word, we are excited at the thought of what you will teach us through it. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:15.979 Father, we want to become students of your word, people who put your word into practice in our lives. 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:17.019 We thank you for Jesus. 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:19.519 We thank you for our salvation. 00:04:19.660 --> 00:04:23.879 And we thank you that we can grow in our salvation by learning about you through your word. 00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:26.699 We do want to commit this time to you. 00:04:26.920 --> 00:04:29.300 Open up our hearts, I pray, in Jesus' name. 00:04:30.100 --> 00:04:30.459 Amen. 00:04:33.899 --> 00:04:35.180 Has this ever happened to you? 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:37.540 You want to send a greeting card to someone. 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:43.719 So you go down to the shop, and you start picking through the cards to say exactly what you want to say. 00:04:43.860 --> 00:04:46.540 So you pick up a card, and you read it, and you think, 00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:49.519 that sounds all right, but it's not really what you want to say. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:51.480 So you pick up another one, and you think, well, 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:54.319 most definitely I'm not going to send that to my loved one. 00:04:54.900 --> 00:04:57.020 And eventually you go through all the cards, 00:04:57.220 --> 00:05:02.439 and at the end you find there's nothing in any of these cards that I really want to say to my loved one. 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:05.900 So you decide you're going to buy a card with a blank message. 00:05:06.620 --> 00:05:09.120 So you take it on home, you sit down at the table, 00:05:09.340 --> 00:05:11.920 and you start writing a personal message. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:16.720 For after all, what you want to say to your loved one is something that you have in your own heart to say, 00:05:16.900 --> 00:05:19.900 rather than some standard message that is on a card. 00:05:19.899 --> 00:05:22.779 But excitedly, you put it back in the envelope, 00:05:23.019 --> 00:05:25.339 you either post it or hand it to whoever you want to give it to, 00:05:25.719 --> 00:05:28.519 they open it, and they're so excited, 00:05:28.599 --> 00:05:29.339 because do you know what? 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:32.419 It was exactly the message that they wanted to hear. 00:05:32.799 --> 00:05:38.379 So the message you wanted to say to them was exactly what they wanted to hear. 00:05:39.359 --> 00:05:43.439 Well, in Paul's time there was no hallmark, there was no card shops, 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:49.019 but he had a very personal message that he wanted to say to the people of Philippi. 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:52.980 He didn't want to say something standard or just write down some standard comments, 00:05:53.100 --> 00:05:55.800 send it off, and thinking, yeah, they'll be happy with that. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:56.560 No. 00:05:57.220 --> 00:05:59.060 When he wrote his letters to the Philippians, 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:02.420 he had this personal message of joy. 00:06:02.420 --> 00:06:06.439 And as we read the letter, you'll actually see that coming through the letter. 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:10.879 He's so joyful and so happy to be writing to these Philippians. 00:06:11.980 --> 00:06:14.840 For the next eight weeks, we'll be going through the book of Philippians, 00:06:15.140 --> 00:06:16.920 and I would encourage you to read it. 00:06:17.340 --> 00:06:19.740 Perhaps this week, find the time to read the book, 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.400 the letter, so that you're familiar with it before each sermon. 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:27.379 A few minutes ago, we were reading from Acts. 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:32.919 And the reason we start there is because that is where Paul came across the Philippians. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:36.819 You might wonder, where is Philippi? 00:06:36.919 --> 00:06:39.299 After all, it's not a name that perhaps we're familiar with. 00:06:39.799 --> 00:06:41.439 Well, just looking at the map here, 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:45.319 you'll see that Philippi is right here in northern Greece. 00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:48.079 Many of us have been on holidays in Italy or in south Greece, 00:06:48.539 --> 00:06:50.179 but Philippi was over here. 00:06:50.180 --> 00:06:55.079 So we could turn to Acts 16, where we had started from verse 5. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:07:00.400 We see that Paul was on his second missionary journey. 00:07:01.220 --> 00:07:02.379 And Paul had this idea. 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:08.160 He wanted to travel all around Asia and up here into Asia. 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:10.139 But something happened to him. 00:07:10.840 --> 00:07:12.480 If we start in reading from verse 1, 00:07:12.540 --> 00:07:15.560 we'll find he was prevented from going into Asia. 00:07:16.300 --> 00:07:18.079 He wasn't actually sure what he was supposed to do. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:20.199 And one night, he had a vision. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:23.120 He had a vision of a man from Macedonia, 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:24.560 which is our area here, 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:27.180 which said, and the man said to him, 00:07:27.599 --> 00:07:30.300 come over to Macedonia and help us. 00:07:31.259 --> 00:07:33.199 Paul, the very next day, thought, 00:07:33.579 --> 00:07:36.799 you know, this is where God wants us to preach the gospel. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:41.000 So the gospel started coming into Europe for the first time. 00:07:44.900 --> 00:07:49.100 Now we read in verse 5 that from there we travel to Philippi, 00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:53.980 a Roman colony and leading city of that district of Macedonia. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:56.280 Now, if you're interested in history, 00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:58.740 you might have heard of Alexander the Great. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:01.939 He was this great king of the Greek Empire. 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:05.879 Well, his father's name was Philip, King Philip. 00:08:06.699 --> 00:08:09.480 And he founded this city called Philippi. 00:08:09.860 --> 00:08:11.980 Now you might think, well, he must like the place. 00:08:12.060 --> 00:08:14.540 Well, it's more to do with the fact that there was gold around it. 00:08:14.819 --> 00:08:18.659 So he named it after himself, Philippi, Philip. 00:08:19.459 --> 00:08:21.420 But as what happens in the ancient kingdoms, 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:23.579 it was taken over by another kingdom. 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:26.279 And this kingdom was the Roman Empire. 00:08:26.620 --> 00:08:31.319 So they took over Philippi and they made it into a Roman colony. 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:32.580 Well, what does that mean? 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:36.000 Well, it means that Philippi was like a mini Rome. 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:39.879 The people living there considered themselves as Romans. 00:08:40.319 --> 00:08:42.399 They had the rights of Roman citizens. 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:46.120 And they were very proud of that citizenship. 00:08:47.319 --> 00:08:49.799 They also, it was also on the way to Rome. 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:51.720 So it's a very important place. 00:08:52.299 --> 00:08:54.759 And as we read through Philippians, 00:08:54.980 --> 00:08:59.480 you'll actually find different references that make sense of that very fact. 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:03.620 And we'll see some references to Rome are the way the culture think at the time. 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:06.620 So just looking at Acts, 00:09:06.700 --> 00:09:10.180 we find that he stayed there a few days from verse 12. 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:12.779 And on the Sabbath, he went down to find a place of prayer. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:15.240 And he met some women there. 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:16.620 And he preached to them. 00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:19.180 They heard his message and believed. 00:09:19.179 --> 00:09:23.379 And a woman named Lydia and all her family were baptized. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:28.839 And he invited, they invited Paul and his friends to their house. 00:09:29.059 --> 00:09:30.359 And if we continued reading in Acts, 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:33.659 we'd find the very famous story of the Philippian jailer. 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:37.059 And by the end of the chapter, we find that there were different brothers there. 00:09:37.179 --> 00:09:41.019 So the colony of believers was now formed in Philippi. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:45.000 There was a church, a community of believers was being built there. 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:48.740 And Paul, as he was on a journey, moved on and left them. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:49.940 And if we continue to read in Acts, 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:53.580 we'd find that he'd visited Philippi at least once, if not twice. 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:56.879 So before we look at what Paul had to say to them, 00:09:57.179 --> 00:09:58.820 let's just take a big picture approach. 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:06.159 And just to see exactly why Paul wrote the letter. 00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:09.860 Well, first of all, he wanted to give his gratitude to the people. 00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:17.720 You see, by the time we get to chapter four, we read that the people in Philippi had not forgotten Paul. 00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:22.159 Even though he wasn't there for very long, they had sent him gifts when he was in need. 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:24.399 When he was in Macedonia, they'd sent him gifts. 00:10:24.899 --> 00:10:30.159 And now that he was in prison in Rome, they'd also send him gifts. 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:34.039 But not only that, but they'd also send a man by the name of Epaphroditus to him 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:36.420 to give him the gifts and to take care of his needs. 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:41.039 But unfortunately, Epaphroditus got sick and he was sending him back to the Philippines. 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:47.860 And he wanted to say, you welcome this man back because he was somebody who served God well. 00:10:48.579 --> 00:10:51.699 But Paul also wanted to give spiritual guidance to the church. 00:10:52.099 --> 00:10:57.379 And as we, over the next few weeks, we will see that Paul wants to encourage them in the whole area of unity, 00:10:57.719 --> 00:11:01.480 of imitating Christ and also growing in their spiritual lives. 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:07.279 And thirdly, Paul writes this letter because he wants to give them a spirit of joy and gladness. 00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:12.659 Not a false joy or pretending, oh, I'm happy all the time, but a joy that comes from the Lord. 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:14.779 He'll say to them, rejoice in the Lord. 00:11:15.800 --> 00:11:21.960 So with that in mind, let's turn to the first two verses of Philippians. 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:29.080 And here we read the standard opening of Paul's letters. 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:36.360 You'll see that Paul uses the convention of his day, who wrote the letter, who it was to, and a greeting. 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:41.340 And first of all, we read in verse one, Paul and Timothy. 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:44.980 Now you might think, oh, well, maybe Paul and Timothy wrote the letter together. 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:49.360 Well, as we read the letter, you'll notice that Paul always uses the first person. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:52.840 So if you look down in verse three, he says, I thank my God. 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:55.180 And in verse four, in all my prayers. 00:11:55.300 --> 00:11:57.500 So it's Paul himself is doing the speaking. 00:11:57.860 --> 00:12:03.039 In fact, by the time we get to chapter two, he refers to Timothy when he says to send Timothy to you soon. 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:08.659 So Timothy couldn't have written the letter, but he was a companion of Paul. 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:15.320 In fact, in Acts chapter 16, we have it recorded that this is where just before he went to Philippi, 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:19.260 he'd met Timothy and Timothy joined him on his travels. 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:26.660 So after Paul introduces himself as the writer, he then describes himself as a servant of Christ Jesus, 00:12:27.180 --> 00:12:30.000 or in some translations, it will say a slave. 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:35.980 Now you might think to yourself, well, why would you write to these Roman citizens and call yourselves a slave? 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:41.139 After all, in Roman thinking, privilege and status was very important. 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:47.220 So you always want to build yourself up and you certainly wouldn't want to describe yourself as a slave or a servant. 00:12:47.940 --> 00:12:53.539 But you see that Paul wanted to show the people what his position in life was. 00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:57.420 And that was as a servant of Jesus Christ. 00:12:57.419 --> 00:13:04.539 He wanted to exalt Jesus, whereas bringing himself down to state where his true position was. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:12.019 And then he writes, to all the saints in Christ Jesus. 00:13:12.439 --> 00:13:13.719 And we think of the word saints. 00:13:13.979 --> 00:13:20.159 Obviously, we have this concept in everyday language of someone special or holy or someone privileged. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:27.699 After all, when we think of the different names of schools or hospitals, we think of St. Luke's or St. John's or St. Mary's. 00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:32.039 In fact, what we might say is, well, maybe the modern way of writing it would have been 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:39.980 St. Paul to all of the Christians who lived in Philippi, rather than saying slave Paul to all the saints. 00:13:40.419 --> 00:13:43.539 But that doesn't accord with the biblical meaning of the word saints. 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:48.980 Some translations will say to the holy people of Philippi. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.740 And that's what saints means. 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:53.959 Those who were set apart for God. 00:13:55.399 --> 00:14:01.699 When Paul wrote to the Romans, he spoke of those who are loved by God and called to be saints. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:04.459 So saints were those who were loved by God. 00:14:05.319 --> 00:14:11.620 And when he wrote to the Ephesians, he said, described them as those who are faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:18.039 In fact, actually, the word saints is used over 60 times in the New Testament and always refers to believers. 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:26.820 So when Paul says to all the saints in Christ Jesus, he was referring to them as believers, as holy people. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:29.440 But notice that they're not holy in their own right. 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:32.519 They didn't just become holy because of their good living. 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:35.399 It was because of Jesus Christ. 00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:38.879 Just like Paul, they were believers. 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:47.139 Let's just pause there for a moment because it's very easy for us to read over a verse like that and pass over. 00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:48.299 I'm thinking too much about it. 00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:51.840 He says, to all the saints in Christ Jesus. 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:57.639 And wherever we see in Christ Jesus or of Christ Jesus or from Christ Jesus, 00:14:58.080 --> 00:15:01.759 we should really pause to think, what is actually Paul trying to say? 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:05.000 After all, when we think of some of the great truths of Scripture, 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:08.379 it refers to them as being in Christ. 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:11.580 In Christ means a union with Christ. 00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:16.340 Just like Paul, the Philippians had a union with Christ. 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:19.820 If you think of some of the great truths that we hold dear, 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:22.480 you think of Romans chapter 8, verse 1. 00:15:22.820 --> 00:15:27.159 There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:30.580 Or in Ephesians, when he spoke to them about spiritual blessings, 00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:35.660 he said, believers have every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:38.080 Or in Corinthians, when he wrote to them, he said, 00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:41.920 if you are anyone who is in Christ, it's a new creation. 00:15:42.520 --> 00:15:44.660 So what Paul was trying to get across here was, 00:15:45.180 --> 00:15:49.720 these Philippians, they are defined not by the fact that they're nice people 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:51.360 or they're people that he met on his journey, 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:55.280 but instead by the fact that they're believers in Jesus Christ. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:58.399 In verse 2, he then gives them a greeting. 00:15:58.839 --> 00:16:02.639 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:03.539 --> 00:16:06.100 Grace is that foundation of our faith. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:09.459 For it is by grace we are being saved through faith. 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:11.120 That's what starts off our faith. 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:15.600 And one of the first fruits of grace, of salvation, is peace. 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:20.639 After all, when we are saved, we are freed from the penalty of sin 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:22.379 and we have peace with God. 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:25.740 But it's more and deeper than that, in that we now in our very lives 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:29.740 have a peace that can only come from knowing Christ. 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.720 So what's Paul saying here? 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:35.519 Is he saying, oh, well, I'd like you all to be saved and Christians again 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:38.139 because that would be a good thing. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:40.379 Well, no, I think what he's doing is he's trying to remind them 00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:44.340 that God hasn't changed, that grace and peace still comes from God. 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:48.220 And note that it comes from God and the Lord Jesus. 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:58.220 He then gets into the meat of his passage in verse 3. 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:01.240 Let's just read that section again. 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:05.779 And as we read it, note the number of references that Paul makes 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:09.799 to his affection or love for the Philippians. 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:11.920 He says in verse 3, 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:20.220 In verse 7 he says, 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:22.880 It is right for me to feel this way about you all. 00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:24.360 And verse 8 he says, 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:28.340 Notice how in verse 3 he says, 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:31.160 every time he remembers the Philippians, 00:17:31.360 --> 00:17:32.160 what's his reaction? 00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:35.000 To thank God. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:37.140 So you can imagine Paul, here he is. 00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:38.720 He's travelling throughout Europe, 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:40.140 preaching the gospel, 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:42.799 but he still remembers this group of believers 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.220 that he met on his way into Europe. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:48.440 He said, I thank my God every time. 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:50.920 So each time he remembers them, he's thankful to them. 00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:54.119 And then in verse 4 it tells us that 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:56.880 he prays for them in all my prayers for you. 00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.500 Now you might think, well, 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:02.559 perhaps his prayers are built out of a sense of, say, frustration, 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.819 or perhaps he's crossed with them, 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:08.200 or he really wants to teach them something. 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:10.460 But no, his prayers, as he says, 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:12.200 is always praying with joy. 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.899 When he prays for the Philippians, 00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:16.559 it's a joyful prayer. 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.879 That's what he, 00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:21.500 that's his uttermost feeling when he thinks about them. 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.559 So why was he joyful? 00:18:24.679 --> 00:18:26.519 Well, he tells us in verse 5, 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:29.240 it is because of your partnership, 00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.660 or fellowship in the gospel, 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:32.799 from the first day until now. 00:18:32.879 --> 00:18:35.639 So even though the Philippians were over here, 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:40.039 and Paul was now in a jail in Rome, 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:42.180 they still shared with him, 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:43.799 even though they were so far away. 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.980 Well, how do we know that? 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:49.980 Well, we know it because they gave to him financially. 00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:52.400 As he said, that was recorded in verse 4. 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:55.180 However, they continued their concern for him, 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.500 even though they were so far away. 00:18:57.120 --> 00:19:00.920 But not only were they willing to write a check to him, 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.780 or pass on gifts, 00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:03.519 but they were also willing to give of themselves 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:05.340 by sending one of their own. 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:07.340 And isn't that a lovely picture 00:19:07.340 --> 00:19:09.400 of partnering with someone in the gospel? 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.600 For when we start supporting people, 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:14.400 or supporting or having concern 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.820 for those who are preaching the gospel, 00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:16.780 it's very easy for us to, 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:18.220 well, I'll write a check, 00:19:18.380 --> 00:19:20.320 and I won't feel guilty anymore, 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.619 and I just send off the check, 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:23.700 and then don't think about them again 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:25.079 until we get another prayer letter, 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:27.279 or when they visit the church, or whatever. 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:30.099 But instead, we get a beautiful picture 00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:32.779 of the Philippians partnering with Paul. 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:34.460 So even though they are far away, 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:37.359 they still are concerned with Paul, 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.819 concerned about the gospel, 00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:40.839 and they want to support him 00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:43.539 by not just giving him of their gifts, 00:19:43.879 --> 00:19:45.759 but also sending one of their own 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:47.539 to give support to him. 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:51.680 They have this desire to support him 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:54.519 and see the gospel continue to be spread. 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:58.799 And in verse 7, we see that Paul says 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:00.259 it is right for him to feel this way. 00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:01.559 It's right for him to be thankful 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.980 and to be joyful, 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:05.420 because he has them in his heart. 00:20:06.399 --> 00:20:07.559 And whether he's in chains, 00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:08.460 which he is at the moment, 00:20:08.899 --> 00:20:11.099 or whether he's outside defending the gospel 00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:13.960 against those who would dispute with him, 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:17.700 he knows that they all share in God's grace with them. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:20.240 He knows that they are with him. 00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.740 As fellow believers, 00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:22.779 they are with him, 00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:24.980 even though they're very far away. 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:27.500 And verse 8, concluding that section, 00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:29.880 says, God can testify, calls on God, 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.779 how I long for you all 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:33.559 with the affection of Christ Jesus. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.559 And this longing that Paul has, 00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:37.480 he just doesn't say this at the start of the letter, 00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:39.200 he also says it in chapter 2, 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.180 where he again repeats 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:41.680 that he'd like to be with them, 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:43.000 and he longs for them 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:45.900 with the affection of Christ Jesus. 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.360 In other words, 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:48.620 he wants to imitate Christ's love 00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:50.279 for the people in his own life. 00:20:52.060 --> 00:20:53.519 But have we missed something? 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.600 I mean, after all, 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:56.600 we've just read a number of verses 00:20:56.600 --> 00:20:59.200 that speak about his affection for the Philippians, 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.660 about his love for them, 00:21:00.840 --> 00:21:02.220 and his long for them, 00:21:02.600 --> 00:21:03.460 and the reason for that 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:05.380 is their partnership in the gospel with them. 00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:08.400 But did we miss something in verse 6 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:10.440 that is on a deeper level, 00:21:10.840 --> 00:21:12.820 something that really is a foundation 00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:15.880 for Paul's joy for the Philippians? 00:21:16.280 --> 00:21:17.560 Let's read verse 6 again. 00:21:18.040 --> 00:21:18.380 He says, 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:20.420 Being confident of this, 00:21:20.540 --> 00:21:21.980 that he, being God, 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:24.060 who began a good work in you, 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.680 will carry it on to completion 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:28.040 until the day of Christ. 00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:29.780 Now remember, 00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:32.280 Paul was there when the church was founded. 00:21:32.780 --> 00:21:34.420 He saw the first believers 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:37.180 opened up to the message about Jesus. 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:39.039 And what he's saying is, 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:41.980 I am confident that it was God 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:44.600 who began the work of salvation in their lives. 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:46.400 And we see a beautiful picture 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:48.640 back in Acts chapter 16 of that. 00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:50.720 Do you remember when we read about Lydia? 00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:53.220 Well, Paul went out into the riverside, 00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:55.600 he started preaching the gospel of Jesus 00:21:55.600 --> 00:21:56.440 to the people, 00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:59.160 and Lydia heard the message. 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:01.580 But did you notice when we were reading it, 00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:04.360 who caused Lydia to believe? 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:08.659 It says that the Lord opened up Lydia's heart 00:22:08.659 --> 00:22:09.759 to hear the gospel. 00:22:10.479 --> 00:22:13.240 So even though it was Paul preaching, 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:17.059 and it was Lydia listening, 00:22:17.699 --> 00:22:20.419 it was actually God started the work 00:22:20.419 --> 00:22:21.679 of salvation in their lives. 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:23.059 I think that's a beautiful picture 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:24.099 of what God does. 00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.000 He says, 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:28.079 I am confident that he who began a good work in you, 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:29.159 and Paul could testify that, 00:22:29.199 --> 00:22:31.959 because he saw the work that was began. 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:34.200 And for us as believers, 00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:37.019 it was God started that work in us. 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:39.299 He was the one who chose us, 00:22:39.600 --> 00:22:40.779 and we believed. 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:42.960 It wasn't that there was anything in ourselves, 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:45.200 or because of our cleverness, 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.579 or whatever. 00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:48.299 It was because of God. 00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:50.680 But Paul is not only confident 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:55.039 that God was the one who initially saved them, 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:56.660 but he's also the one 00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:59.120 who's going to continuously sustain them. 00:22:59.380 --> 00:23:00.180 Listen to what he says. 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:03.920 He who began a good work in you 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:06.299 will carry it onto completion. 00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:06.740 In other words, 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:08.480 these believers in Philippi 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:11.320 are still in the hands of the Lord, 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:14.740 and they will be right up until the end. 00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:19.259 He speaks of the day of Christ Jesus. 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:21.779 We live in a very privileged time. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:24.299 We live in between the first coming of Christ 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:26.859 and the second coming of Christ. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:28.619 You might remember a few years ago, 00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:30.220 we were looking at Thessalonians, 00:23:30.419 --> 00:23:31.639 and that was encouraging us 00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:34.940 to look ahead to the day of the Lord. 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.859 And what Paul is saying is, 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:39.019 I am confident with you, Philippians, 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:41.019 that God, who started the work in you, 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:42.500 will carry it onto completion, 00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:44.740 and by the time Christ comes back 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:46.299 and you receive the full, 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:49.619 all the full promises of your salvation 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.859 will all be fulfilled, 00:23:51.399 --> 00:23:54.019 that God is the one who will do that. 00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:55.720 You might even remember 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:58.659 the verses that were up on the screen 00:23:58.659 --> 00:23:59.839 right when we came in first, 00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:01.159 that Johnny preached from, 00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:02.759 or Johnny referred to, 00:24:03.159 --> 00:24:03.960 John chapter 10, 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:06.240 that when we are in the Lord's hands, 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:08.460 nobody can take us out. 00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.779 And Paul was confident of that. 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:11.899 So when Paul is saying that he is joyful 00:24:11.899 --> 00:24:13.220 and thankful for the Philippians, 00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:16.579 yes, he is thankful for the immediate reason 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:18.619 being that they're partners within the gospel, 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:21.639 but also because he's a deep confidence 00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:23.619 that it's God who's doing the work in them. 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:24.879 They're not false Christians. 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:27.279 They are God's people, 00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.899 and God will take care of them. 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:33.079 So you might think, 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:36.259 well, if God is the one who starts salvation, 00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:37.660 and God is the one who continues it, 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:40.600 and God is the one who finishes it, 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:43.040 maybe we could all sit back and do nothing. 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:44.160 After all, if it's all of God, 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:45.120 it's nothing to do with us. 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.580 But I think we'll find, 00:24:46.820 --> 00:24:49.160 when by the time Paul gets down to his prayer 00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:50.380 in verses 9 to 11, 00:24:51.040 --> 00:24:53.180 that we also have a part to play. 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:58.560 So let's move to verse 9. 00:24:59.040 --> 00:25:00.300 And this is my prayer. 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:03.000 Now, Paul is after already telling them 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.720 that he's praying for him. 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.500 Back up in verse 4, he says, 00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:06.980 in all my prayers for all of you. 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:08.620 It's nice when people tell us 00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:09.839 that they're praying for us. 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:13.019 We don't always know what they're praying for us, 00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:16.079 but here, Paul is specifically telling the Philippians 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.980 what he is praying for. 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:20.400 He says, in verse 9, 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:23.740 that your love may abound more and more 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:26.480 in knowledge and depth of insight. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.880 Abound more and more, 00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:29.920 meaning to increase. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:32.180 But what love is he talking about? 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:33.819 Is he talking about brotherly love? 00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:35.500 Is he talking about loving Paul more? 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:37.500 Or is he talking about loving God more? 00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:40.519 Well, initially the context might suggest 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:42.359 a brotherly love loving one another, 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:46.559 and it certainly doesn't exclude loving God. 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:50.660 But I don't think the love that he is talking about 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:52.240 stops there. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:55.559 It's a love that he wants to grow more and more 00:25:55.559 --> 00:26:00.519 in knowledge and depth of insight. 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:04.220 When he wrote to the Thessalonians, 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:06.940 Paul said that he wants their love to increase 00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:09.200 so that it would overflow. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:12.880 But I don't think the love that he's talking about 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:14.759 is kind of a blind love 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:16.420 or a sentimental love 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:18.840 or a love if we look at the culture around us 00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:19.860 and their definition of love. 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:21.880 I don't think that's what he is actually saying. 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:26.000 And I think the word knowledge 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:28.100 helps us in understanding what that love is. 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:31.019 For those who have understood Greek, 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:33.620 when it's talking about knowledge, 00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:38.399 it's talking about a deep or intensive spiritual knowledge, 00:26:38.659 --> 00:26:42.439 the knowledge of God and of Jesus. 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:45.599 It's used over 20 times in Scripture, 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.959 and it's always used in connection 00:26:47.959 --> 00:26:49.239 with the things of God. 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.619 When Paul wrote to the Colossians, 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:54.099 he said to them that he wanted them 00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:57.539 to have the full riches of complete understanding 00:26:57.539 --> 00:27:01.220 so that they might know the mystery of God in Christ. 00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:04.019 Or when he wrote to the Ephesians, 00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:06.639 he said, speaking about the body of Christ, 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.039 he said, 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:09.519 until all reach unity in the faith 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:12.240 and in the knowledge of the Son of God 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:14.659 and become mature. 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.799 What Paul is saying is, 00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:20.200 I want you Philippians to grow in your love 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:23.539 as you grow in the knowledge of God 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:25.019 and the things of God. 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:28.900 He wants them almost to become Bible students, 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.680 learning more about God 00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:34.240 and growing in maturity from that. 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.639 And you might think, 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.799 well, you know, 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:38.139 we could all grow in knowledge 00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:39.960 and it's great to have knowledge, 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:42.240 but what about putting it into practice? 00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:46.440 But I think Paul is actually referring to that as well. 00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.379 When he says, 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:50.039 in knowledge and depth of insight, 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:52.639 the whole idea of depth of insight 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:56.860 comes from a word that refers to putting into practice. 00:27:57.300 --> 00:27:57.680 It's used, 00:27:57.900 --> 00:28:00.120 a variant of it is used in Hebrews 00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:02.480 and the writer was talking about solid food. 00:28:02.580 --> 00:28:04.759 He was talking about growing as a believer. 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:07.940 And he says that solid food is for the mature, 00:28:08.540 --> 00:28:10.520 who by constant use 00:28:10.520 --> 00:28:13.240 have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.040 In other words, 00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:17.340 they were using the solid food of God's word to grow. 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.759 So they were able to discern 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:21.079 the difference between good and evil. 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.399 So they could choose, 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.879 they could make moral decisions. 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.579 They were putting into practice 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:27.039 what they were learning. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:30.720 So I think what Paul is saying is, 00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.699 yes, Philippians, 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:33.379 I want you to grow in your knowledge, 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:36.799 but it's to have a practical benefit. 00:28:37.399 --> 00:28:38.799 And verse 10 he says, 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:41.399 so that you may be able to discern what is best 00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:42.959 and may be pure and blameless. 00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:44.699 Discern what is best. 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.720 There's many good things. 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:48.420 If we think about how we spend our time 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.360 or our thinking, 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:51.059 there's so many good things 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:52.299 that we can do in our lives. 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:55.339 We can think of many things 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.140 that we're involved in. 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.740 But sometimes should we take a step back 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.059 and ask, 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.660 are they the best things? 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:03.200 Do we have our priorities right? 00:29:03.620 --> 00:29:05.759 Are we prioritizing God 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.900 and the things of God? 00:29:07.140 --> 00:29:09.059 And yes, we might even still be doing things, 00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:11.120 but are they the best? 00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:12.900 And I think what Paul is saying is, 00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.860 choose what is best. 00:29:14.859 --> 00:29:16.819 Look for the priorities. 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.379 What and what are the priorities? 00:29:18.479 --> 00:29:19.759 And they will always have to do 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:22.379 with the things of God. 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.279 And he then says, 00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:26.479 so that you may be pure and blameless 00:29:26.479 --> 00:29:27.599 until the day of Christ. 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:30.240 Now, I'm rather hoping that he's not saying 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.819 that everyone has to be pure and blameless 00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:33.119 as a believer in this life, 00:29:33.179 --> 00:29:34.099 because I know for myself 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:35.659 that I am not pure 00:29:35.659 --> 00:29:37.479 and I am not blameless. 00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:39.659 What he's saying is 00:29:39.659 --> 00:29:42.699 that they would be continuously changing. 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:44.380 They would be leaving aside 00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:45.539 some of their old habits, 00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:46.660 their old ways, 00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:48.500 and becoming more pure 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.500 and more blameless 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.539 as we work toward 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:52.240 the day of Christ returning. 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:54.340 If you can think of the word pure, 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.660 often we use that word 00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:57.799 in connection with a precious metal. 00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:59.440 Do you know when they find metal, 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:01.319 it's got all these bits of dirt 00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.180 and dross in it. 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.340 So what you have to do 00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:04.700 is you heat it up slowly 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:07.019 and gradually all that dirt 00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:08.480 and dross comes out. 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:10.100 But it happens over time. 00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:11.819 That's like us as believers. 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:13.279 We become believers. 00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:15.339 We grow in our knowledge of God. 00:30:15.699 --> 00:30:16.919 But it takes us a while 00:30:16.919 --> 00:30:18.679 to mature, to grow. 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:20.399 And we still get caught up 00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:21.519 in different things we shouldn't. 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:23.439 We still think things we shouldn't. 00:30:23.899 --> 00:30:25.019 But over time, 00:30:25.199 --> 00:30:27.000 we begin to change, 00:30:27.199 --> 00:30:29.079 to become more like Christ. 00:30:29.179 --> 00:30:30.459 I think that's what Paul is saying. 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.259 He's not saying, 00:30:31.659 --> 00:30:32.899 well, you've got to be perfect now 00:30:32.899 --> 00:30:35.279 because he himself wasn't perfect. 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.679 The Philippians weren't. 00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:38.740 And we certainly aren't. 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:41.440 And verse 11, he says, 00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:44.240 filled with the fruit of righteousness 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:46.339 that comes through Jesus Christ. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.740 And we think of the word fruit. 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:50.380 Well, you can't have fruit 00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:52.059 unless there's a seed. 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:55.480 And that seed was planted at salvation. 00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:58.359 And that seed grew and grew 00:30:58.359 --> 00:30:59.559 until it bears fruit. 00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:01.019 And what Paul wants is 00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:03.279 for the believers to start 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:05.180 to show fruit in their lives. 00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:07.779 Well, what fruit is he talking about? 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:09.200 Well, we can think immediately 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:10.680 of what he wrote to the Galatians 00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.720 when he spoke about 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:13.480 the fruit of the Spirit. 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:15.399 He spoke about love, 00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:18.160 joy, peace, patience, 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.579 kindness, goodness, 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.799 faithfulness, gentleness, 00:31:21.139 --> 00:31:22.019 and self-control. 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:24.079 And as we grow in our faith, 00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:25.079 we should be showing 00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:26.700 these different things in our lives. 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:28.059 Now, you might think to yourself, 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:30.019 well, I'm not patient. 00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.639 I never have been and never will be. 00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:33.879 But I'm pretty good at loving people. 00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:36.460 And I'm pretty good at kindness. 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:37.500 Or you might say, 00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:38.840 well, I'm not very peaceful 00:31:38.840 --> 00:31:40.600 and not very self-controlled 00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:42.200 because I lose my temper a bit. 00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:43.620 But I'm pretty good at the rest. 00:31:44.060 --> 00:31:46.340 But you notice that Paul says 00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:48.100 fruit of righteousness. 00:31:48.260 --> 00:31:50.540 He doesn't say fruits, plural. 00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:53.800 You see, the fruit all come together. 00:31:54.280 --> 00:31:55.480 So it doesn't work like that. 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:58.180 Well, we can be this or that, 00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:59.799 or we can choose how we grow. 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:01.380 It's all together. 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:04.380 As we grow, we are joyful. 00:32:05.060 --> 00:32:07.840 We are peaceful, patient, kind, 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:10.120 good, faithful, gentle, 00:32:10.560 --> 00:32:11.279 and self-controlled. 00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:12.920 And that will grow in us all. 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:15.060 And sometimes in our Christian lives, 00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:15.880 we don't see it. 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:17.380 Other people might see it. 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:20.160 Perhaps you haven't seen somebody for a while. 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:21.519 And all of a sudden you realize, 00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:24.100 wow, they're more peaceful than before. 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.299 They're more patient. 00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:26.519 They mightn't see it themselves, 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.879 but they are changing 00:32:27.879 --> 00:32:30.740 because they are showing fruit in their lives 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:33.019 as they grow in the knowledge of God, 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:35.240 as their love increases. 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:40.440 So as we look back 00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:41.460 and take a step back 00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.740 from our verses that we've read, 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:44.539 what is actually Paul saying? 00:32:44.639 --> 00:32:46.960 Well, he started off by stating 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:48.660 who the Philippians were. 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:50.799 They are in Christ. 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.639 They were believers. 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:55.839 We have learned that they were partners of his 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:56.899 in the gospel. 00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:58.259 And we've also learned 00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:59.919 that he had great confidence 00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:01.759 that it was God 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:03.539 who started that work in their lives. 00:33:03.919 --> 00:33:04.799 And then we see 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:06.399 that he was praying for them 00:33:06.399 --> 00:33:08.139 and he wanted them to grow, 00:33:08.279 --> 00:33:10.199 to mature in their lives. 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:12.639 But for us, 00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:14.599 what did that mean for us? 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:16.679 What can we take from it? 00:33:16.899 --> 00:33:17.500 After all, 00:33:17.919 --> 00:33:19.939 Paul was thankful for them 00:33:19.939 --> 00:33:20.899 and he loved them. 00:33:20.900 --> 00:33:23.460 But what was his major reaction 00:33:23.460 --> 00:33:24.540 to the Philippians? 00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:27.300 As we look back, 00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:28.320 it was actually 00:33:28.320 --> 00:33:30.840 that he was driven to prayer. 00:33:31.560 --> 00:33:33.019 Do you notice that he prayed 00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:35.300 because he was thankful for them? 00:33:36.340 --> 00:33:37.400 He loved them 00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:40.160 and he prayed that he wanted them 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:41.560 to mature in their faith. 00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:45.140 So what about us? 00:33:45.580 --> 00:33:47.140 Is there anything we can take from that? 00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:47.340 Well, 00:33:48.080 --> 00:33:49.360 when we think about us 00:33:49.360 --> 00:33:50.500 as a family here, 00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:51.800 we're a community of believers. 00:33:52.620 --> 00:33:53.720 We come 00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:55.520 and we spend time together 00:33:55.520 --> 00:33:56.420 in church 00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.280 on a Sunday morning. 00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.759 We do things together 00:33:58.759 --> 00:33:59.900 as a family, 00:34:00.320 --> 00:34:00.920 as believers 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:01.780 wanting to share 00:34:01.780 --> 00:34:02.660 the gospel around. 00:34:04.600 --> 00:34:06.560 When we think of other people, 00:34:07.060 --> 00:34:07.800 other believers, 00:34:08.220 --> 00:34:09.380 what's our initial reaction? 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:12.300 I'm not looking for any answers, 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.599 but how do you react 00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:14.360 when you think of 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:15.380 this person 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.860 or that person 00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:18.599 or that group of people 00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.280 or that family? 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:20.760 Are you driven 00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:23.079 to wanting to thank God 00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.559 for them? 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:28.320 Do you consider 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.519 people in the church 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.360 are a partner 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.740 with you in the gospel 00:34:31.740 --> 00:34:32.680 as the gospel 00:34:32.680 --> 00:34:33.140 is going out 00:34:33.140 --> 00:34:33.700 from this church? 00:34:34.700 --> 00:34:35.620 Do you consider 00:34:35.620 --> 00:34:37.099 them partners in that? 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.940 Do you consider, 00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:40.500 do others consider 00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.980 you a partner 00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:42.640 in the gospel? 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:47.599 What about our prayer life? 00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:50.260 What do we pray 00:34:50.260 --> 00:34:50.800 for one another? 00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:51.680 When we think about 00:34:51.680 --> 00:34:52.640 each other during the week, 00:34:53.240 --> 00:34:54.579 what do we think of? 00:34:55.180 --> 00:34:55.800 Very often, 00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:56.539 if we think about 00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:57.059 our own prayers, 00:34:57.140 --> 00:34:58.960 and I include myself 00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.280 in this, 00:34:59.700 --> 00:35:01.000 we pray for a lot 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:02.260 of physical needs 00:35:02.260 --> 00:35:02.760 for people. 00:35:03.220 --> 00:35:04.960 We pray for jobs, 00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:06.440 for accommodation, 00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:08.000 for health, 00:35:08.200 --> 00:35:09.039 and these are excellent 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.820 things to be praying for, 00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.960 and we should pray 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:11.680 for these things. 00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:13.379 We also pray 00:35:13.379 --> 00:35:14.739 for people's salvation, 00:35:14.879 --> 00:35:15.579 that they will come 00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.619 to know Jesus, 00:35:16.779 --> 00:35:17.940 that they will have 00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:18.679 that assurance 00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:20.559 of salvation 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.279 from the Lord. 00:35:23.259 --> 00:35:24.139 But do we pray 00:35:24.139 --> 00:35:26.119 for people's maturity 00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:26.719 in the faith? 00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:28.619 When we think of 00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:29.739 other people in the church, 00:35:29.899 --> 00:35:30.759 do we pray 00:35:30.759 --> 00:35:31.619 that their love 00:35:31.619 --> 00:35:32.399 would increase 00:35:32.399 --> 00:35:33.259 more and more? 00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:34.799 Do we pray 00:35:34.799 --> 00:35:35.879 that they would grow 00:35:35.879 --> 00:35:36.659 in the knowledge 00:35:36.659 --> 00:35:37.839 of the things of God? 00:35:38.639 --> 00:35:39.319 Do we pray 00:35:39.319 --> 00:35:39.739 that there would be 00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:40.599 fruit in their lives? 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.679 Do people pray 00:35:42.679 --> 00:35:43.500 for us? 00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:47.679 This whole idea 00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:48.799 of partnering 00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:49.980 in the gospel, 00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.980 there's many activities 00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:52.639 of the church. 00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:54.940 We all can't be involved 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.259 in everything. 00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:56.219 We all can't be involved 00:35:56.219 --> 00:35:56.880 in Sunday school, 00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:57.799 or we can't all be involved 00:35:57.799 --> 00:35:58.339 in the rock. 00:35:59.059 --> 00:35:59.860 But for those 00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:00.460 who are involved 00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:01.159 in these things, 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:03.579 do they consider you 00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:04.880 or me part of that, 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:05.839 even though we're not there 00:36:05.839 --> 00:36:06.900 on a Sunday morning 00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:07.539 up in the room, 00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:08.539 or we're not there 00:36:08.539 --> 00:36:09.059 on a Saturday 00:36:09.059 --> 00:36:09.679 at the rock, 00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:10.419 or on polo 00:36:10.419 --> 00:36:10.960 on a Thursday, 00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:13.759 do they still consider us 00:36:13.759 --> 00:36:15.579 part of the partnership 00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:16.179 in the gospel? 00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:16.980 I mean, 00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:17.899 when we go out 00:36:17.899 --> 00:36:18.379 on Wednesday 00:36:18.379 --> 00:36:19.419 to give out 00:36:19.419 --> 00:36:20.119 the magazines, 00:36:20.859 --> 00:36:21.799 the For You magazines, 00:36:22.399 --> 00:36:23.139 some people are not 00:36:23.139 --> 00:36:23.739 able to come. 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.019 But for those 00:36:25.019 --> 00:36:25.839 who are going out, 00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:26.859 do they still feel 00:36:26.859 --> 00:36:28.480 that they have partners 00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.139 in the gospel 00:36:29.139 --> 00:36:30.379 because there's other people 00:36:30.379 --> 00:36:31.199 behind them, 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.279 praying for them, 00:36:32.579 --> 00:36:33.339 thinking about them, 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:34.639 being thankful for them? 00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:36.920 I think there's much 00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:38.059 that we can take 00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:38.839 from the first 00:36:38.839 --> 00:36:39.920 11 verses of this. 00:36:40.319 --> 00:36:41.219 And it is a terrific 00:36:41.219 --> 00:36:42.039 introduction 00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:43.099 to the rest of the book 00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:44.179 because we will see 00:36:44.179 --> 00:36:46.480 continued love 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:48.159 for the Philippians. 00:36:48.259 --> 00:36:49.199 We'll see that 00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:50.219 Paul continuously 00:36:50.219 --> 00:36:51.319 wants to see them 00:36:51.319 --> 00:36:51.960 grow. 00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:52.699 He doesn't want them 00:36:52.699 --> 00:36:54.119 to stand still 00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:54.799 in their faith. 00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:56.119 And for us 00:36:56.119 --> 00:36:56.759 as believers, 00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:57.779 we shouldn't want 00:36:57.779 --> 00:36:58.480 to see others 00:36:58.480 --> 00:36:59.000 stand still 00:36:59.000 --> 00:36:59.940 in their faith either. 00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:01.400 So maybe 00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:02.400 when we go out 00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:02.780 from here, 00:37:03.099 --> 00:37:03.780 we would be 00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:04.559 encouraged 00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:05.639 to remember 00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:06.420 each other 00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:07.000 in prayer, 00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:08.500 to be thankful, 00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:09.840 to consider each other 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.700 partners, 00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:12.220 but also 00:37:12.220 --> 00:37:13.460 desiring 00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:14.519 to see other people 00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:14.860 grow. 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:15.740 And we can do that. 00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:16.440 We have opportunities 00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:17.059 to do that. 00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:19.300 We have a tea and coffee 00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:20.579 halfway through the service. 00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:21.760 And it is a time 00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:22.980 to encourage 00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.500 one another 00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:25.220 to see 00:37:25.220 --> 00:37:26.460 things changing 00:37:26.460 --> 00:37:26.960 in our lives. 00:37:27.780 --> 00:37:28.460 A number of weeks ago, 00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:28.940 we were speaking 00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:29.659 about gifts 00:37:29.659 --> 00:37:30.599 of the Holy Spirit. 00:37:31.240 --> 00:37:32.420 We can encourage 00:37:32.420 --> 00:37:33.380 people to use 00:37:33.380 --> 00:37:33.740 their gifts 00:37:33.740 --> 00:37:34.200 for the church 00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:34.960 so that people 00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.619 are growing 00:37:35.619 --> 00:37:36.599 and they are fruit. 00:37:37.360 --> 00:37:38.519 And what we will see 00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:39.500 is over time 00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:40.700 that the fruit 00:37:40.700 --> 00:37:41.420 of the Spirit 00:37:41.420 --> 00:37:43.579 will be more evident 00:37:43.579 --> 00:37:44.179 in our lives. 00:37:44.760 --> 00:37:45.740 And what a joyful 00:37:45.740 --> 00:37:46.639 thing that is. 00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:48.579 Let's pray. 00:37:58.940 --> 00:38:02.159 Father, we do 00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:03.240 thank you for your word. 00:38:04.159 --> 00:38:05.000 We thank you 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:05.800 for this group 00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:06.240 of believers 00:38:06.240 --> 00:38:07.059 that is recorded 00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:07.639 for us. 00:38:08.119 --> 00:38:08.740 We thank you 00:38:08.740 --> 00:38:10.340 for the beginning 00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:12.019 of their faith. 00:38:12.780 --> 00:38:13.400 We thank you 00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:14.179 that at a point 00:38:14.179 --> 00:38:14.700 in history 00:38:14.700 --> 00:38:15.460 you decided 00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:16.420 that the gospel 00:38:16.420 --> 00:38:17.039 was going to go 00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:17.539 into Europe 00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:18.260 and those different 00:38:18.260 --> 00:38:20.059 ones were saved 00:38:20.059 --> 00:38:21.000 because they heard 00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:21.619 your message. 00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:23.519 We thank you 00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:24.760 for Paul 00:38:24.760 --> 00:38:25.619 and his desire 00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:26.480 to see people 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:27.039 grow, 00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:27.779 not to leave them 00:38:27.779 --> 00:38:28.539 stand still 00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:29.179 in their faith 00:38:29.179 --> 00:38:30.259 but to see 00:38:30.259 --> 00:38:30.960 their love 00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:31.920 grow more and more 00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:32.480 to become 00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:33.300 more mature. 00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:34.960 We thank you 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:35.699 for the truths 00:38:35.699 --> 00:38:36.840 in this passage. 00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:37.779 We thank you 00:38:37.779 --> 00:38:38.980 for the confidence 00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:40.000 that we can have 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:40.820 as believers 00:38:40.820 --> 00:38:42.079 in you 00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:43.179 that it was 00:38:43.179 --> 00:38:44.279 you started 00:38:44.279 --> 00:38:44.719 the work. 00:38:45.840 --> 00:38:46.820 It is you 00:38:46.820 --> 00:38:47.880 who continue it 00:38:47.880 --> 00:38:48.920 and it is you 00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:49.639 who will bring it 00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:50.360 to completion 00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:51.139 at the end. 00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:53.739 We thank you 00:38:53.739 --> 00:38:54.579 for our family 00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:55.000 of believers 00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:55.840 here in Carragoline. 00:38:55.840 --> 00:38:56.840 we pray 00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:57.280 that indeed 00:38:57.280 --> 00:38:57.640 we would be 00:38:57.640 --> 00:38:58.260 an example 00:38:58.260 --> 00:38:59.620 of a loving 00:38:59.620 --> 00:39:00.100 people, 00:39:00.800 --> 00:39:01.160 a people 00:39:01.160 --> 00:39:02.300 who remember 00:39:02.300 --> 00:39:02.980 each other 00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:03.860 fondly 00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:04.480 and desire 00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:05.140 to pray 00:39:05.140 --> 00:39:05.860 for one another. 00:39:07.100 --> 00:39:07.519 I pray 00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:08.160 for each one 00:39:08.160 --> 00:39:08.720 for myself 00:39:08.720 --> 00:39:09.180 that we would 00:39:09.180 --> 00:39:10.260 all grow 00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:10.960 in our knowledge 00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:11.400 of you, 00:39:11.760 --> 00:39:12.340 that we would 00:39:12.340 --> 00:39:13.680 become more 00:39:13.680 --> 00:39:14.180 mature, 00:39:14.579 --> 00:39:15.180 that our desire 00:39:15.180 --> 00:39:15.840 would be to know 00:39:15.840 --> 00:39:16.780 and understand 00:39:16.780 --> 00:39:17.480 more of the 00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:18.039 salvation 00:39:18.039 --> 00:39:18.559 that you have 00:39:18.559 --> 00:39:19.600 graciously given us. 00:39:20.740 --> 00:39:21.120 We pray 00:39:21.120 --> 00:39:21.900 that there might 00:39:21.900 --> 00:39:22.700 be fruit 00:39:22.700 --> 00:39:23.620 evident in our lives 00:39:23.619 --> 00:39:25.299 but that this fruit 00:39:25.299 --> 00:39:26.119 it wouldn't be 00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:27.219 for our glory 00:39:27.219 --> 00:39:28.299 but as the passage 00:39:28.299 --> 00:39:29.079 says that it is 00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:29.920 to the glory 00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:30.980 and praise 00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:31.500 of God 00:39:31.500 --> 00:39:32.460 and may that 00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.900 be our desire 00:39:33.900 --> 00:39:35.179 to see you 00:39:35.179 --> 00:39:35.960 glorified, 00:39:36.339 --> 00:39:37.119 to see you 00:39:37.119 --> 00:39:37.619 praised 00:39:37.619 --> 00:39:39.359 and as we 00:39:39.359 --> 00:39:40.299 go out 00:39:40.299 --> 00:39:41.699 from here today 00:39:41.699 --> 00:39:42.380 may our desire 00:39:42.380 --> 00:39:43.019 be to continue 00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:43.679 to read 00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:44.480 in Philippians 00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:45.299 to be able 00:39:45.299 --> 00:39:46.259 to learn, 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:46.639 to be able 00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.359 to read 00:39:47.359 --> 00:39:47.920 in advance 00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:48.319 so that we 00:39:48.319 --> 00:39:48.739 could be able 00:39:48.739 --> 00:39:49.799 to discern 00:39:49.799 --> 00:39:50.279 what you 00:39:50.279 --> 00:39:50.759 would have us 00:39:50.759 --> 00:39:51.059 learn. 00:39:51.059 --> 00:39:51.880 May our hearts 00:39:51.880 --> 00:39:52.539 be continuously 00:39:52.539 --> 00:39:53.299 open to your 00:39:53.299 --> 00:39:53.639 word. 00:39:54.360 --> 00:39:54.820 In Jesus' 00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:55.179 name, 00:39:55.779 --> 00:39:56.079 Amen.