WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.419
 Those are safety features. I want to get those cords out of the way.

00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:07.080
 Well, so far this morning, it's already been eventful.

00:00:08.620 --> 00:00:14.720
 We kind of challenged you on offering to see, right?

00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:21.600
 And I understand Tom shared that there was an ambulance here and someone was taken away.

00:00:22.439 --> 00:00:23.119
 Who was it?

00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:27.219
 Pardon?

00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:30.119
 Oh, Melissa, okay.

00:00:31.380 --> 00:00:32.880
 Does anybody know what was wrong?

00:00:33.420 --> 00:00:39.240
 Okay, thank you.

00:00:39.880 --> 00:00:40.039
 Okay.

00:00:40.740 --> 00:00:42.920
 So why don't we stop at the very beginning.

00:00:43.880 --> 00:00:45.640
 This is not the very beginning. I apologize.

00:00:45.939 --> 00:00:49.640
 That was a preacher's faux pas, not a pastor's faux pas.

00:00:51.480 --> 00:00:54.859
 Preacher thinks that it gets started when he starts, but that's not true.

00:00:55.420 --> 00:00:55.620
 Okay?

00:00:56.500 --> 00:00:57.439
 Theologically inaccurate.

00:00:57.700 --> 00:00:59.260
 So, but we are going to stop and pray.

00:00:59.260 --> 00:01:02.880
 Melissa Johnson, pray that whatever's going on,

00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:08.400
 that she would be fine and that it would be something that we hear good news back on,

00:01:08.460 --> 00:01:13.480
 and then also that God just gives us a heart to hear the word of God and have it touch us.

00:01:13.740 --> 00:01:14.420
 Let's pray.

00:01:14.420 --> 00:01:23.960
 Father, our hearts this morning are quiet before you because we realize our frailty.

00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:33.159
 We recognize, as Melissa has been taken by the squad, that there's something going on there that needs our prayer.

00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:39.419
 And knowing so little, other than the greatness of your name and the power that you have,

00:01:39.420 --> 00:01:46.280
 we are glad to be able to call upon you and just ask that you would touch our sister and strengthen her and raise her up.

00:01:47.060 --> 00:01:52.659
 We pray also, Father, this morning that your word would have free course in our hearts

00:01:52.659 --> 00:01:57.079
 and that we would be guarded from sin,

00:01:57.079 --> 00:01:59.459
 that we would listen carefully,

00:01:59.459 --> 00:02:05.099
 and that your spirit would take the beauty of your word and etch it into our lives

00:02:05.099 --> 00:02:13.099
 and cause us to live with joy and power in the Holy Spirit to the testimony of Christ and the cross.

00:02:13.099 --> 00:02:20.579
 And we're going to give you the glory in advance for what you do in us and around the world.

00:02:21.299 --> 00:02:23.699
 We ask this in your precious name. Amen.

00:02:24.759 --> 00:02:27.979
 Well, I want you to turn your Bibles this morning to Ephesians chapter 3.

00:02:28.099 --> 00:02:34.479
 We're going to pick up, actually, in verse 6 and work our way through.

00:02:35.419 --> 00:02:37.819
 And as we are studying this passage this morning,

00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:39.500
 I want you to understand that at the very beginning,

00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:44.400
 this passage is one where Paul uses an interesting little statement

00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:48.520
 that in our culture is completely different from the way it was used in the Bible.

00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:52.759
 When we think about a mystery, how do we think about a mystery?

00:02:54.620 --> 00:02:59.020
 A mystery is something where there's a key part that we really don't know

00:02:59.020 --> 00:03:02.120
 and we're kind of curious about what's going to happen.

00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:04.080
 We watch mystery theater.

00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:08.879
 We read mystery novels on occasion.

00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:13.840
 We're looking for some kind of detail that's hidden and not understood

00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:15.599
 and we can't get our hands on it.

00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:20.919
 In the ancient world, a mystery was completely different from that.

00:03:21.359 --> 00:03:27.560
 A mystery was actually something that was understood only by those who were part of the inner circle.

00:03:28.419 --> 00:03:31.359
 And they were told the secrets of that mystery.

00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:38.320
 A mystery religion was a religion where only those who were initiated into the group

00:03:38.320 --> 00:03:42.640
 had access both to the information and to the place of worship.

00:03:43.180 --> 00:03:48.740
 And those who were initiated, they had secret handshake or they had secret signals

00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:53.560
 and they communicated all through this kind of mumbo-jumbo and that was a mystery.

00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:57.640
 And in order to be part of that mystery, you had to be invited in

00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:02.439
 and they had to learn all these important things and the mystery was something that was revealed.

00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:08.479
 Paul uses the word mystery four different times in this chapter

00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:13.039
 and we're not going to pick up on all of them because we touched on them a little bit last week,

00:04:13.179 --> 00:04:17.939
 but we're going to move through and understand the secrets that God has shared with us as believers.

00:04:17.939 --> 00:04:23.079
 And as we look at this passage, I want you to pick up with me there in verse 6.

00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:23.899
 He says,

00:04:24.219 --> 00:04:29.240
 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body,

00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:32.439
 and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

00:04:33.339 --> 00:04:36.159
 So as we get started understanding this mystery,

00:04:37.420 --> 00:04:40.360
 as I've already pointed out, a mystery in the New Testament,

00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:43.740
 different than for us, a mystery that is not understood.

00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:50.019
 In the Bible, a mystery is something that only those who are initiated understand.

00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:55.160
 And the fact that Paul speaks about Christ and the gospel as being a mystery

00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:58.460
 is both biblically consistent and also telling.

00:04:58.639 --> 00:04:59.800
 It announces something.

00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:07.780
 Jesus made it clear, actually, that spiritual truth and spiritual matters

00:05:07.780 --> 00:05:10.860
 are not simply understood by applying human intellect.

00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:14.600
 If I were to throw out a relatively simple math problem,

00:05:14.780 --> 00:05:17.199
 if you had been exposed to math previously,

00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:20.620
 2 plus 2, I'm kind of at my level here.

00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:21.180
 Do you follow me?

00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:26.960
 But if I did 2 plus 2, most everybody here that's beyond 5 or 6 could say what?

00:05:28.379 --> 00:05:28.860
 4.

00:05:29.139 --> 00:05:31.620
 And I would say, good job.

00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:34.439
 If I went a little further than that,

00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:38.520
 we'd begin to kind of weed out those who have not learned all those details, right?

00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:41.500
 Because they were kind of confusing to us.

00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:48.000
 And Jesus made it clear that spiritual truth was not just understood by mere intellect.

00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:51.039
 Turn in your Bible so we see this for ourselves.

00:05:51.919 --> 00:05:55.639
 Go over to Luke chapter 10, verse 21 and 22.

00:05:55.639 --> 00:06:02.899
 The context is that earlier Jesus had sent out His disciples to preach the gospel,

00:06:03.159 --> 00:06:05.120
 to announce the kingdom, and they returned.

00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:07.560
 And when they came up, came back,

00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:11.500
 they were really enthused about the tremendous blessing that they had had

00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:14.240
 in preaching the gospel, announcing the kingdom,

00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:16.839
 and seeing God do some miraculous things.

00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:19.680
 And they're kind of whooping it up because of what they'd seen happen.

00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:23.600
 And Jesus said, hey, listen, this is the thing that really ought to fire you up,

00:06:23.840 --> 00:06:26.860
 the fact that your name is written in the book of life,

00:06:26.920 --> 00:06:27.980
 that you're a child of God.

00:06:28.400 --> 00:06:32.439
 And on that statement, He then goes on in verse 21.

00:06:32.579 --> 00:06:32.860
 He says,

00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:35.920
 In the same hour, He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,

00:06:36.280 --> 00:06:38.280
 I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:41.680
 that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding

00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:44.019
 and revealed them to little children.

00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:47.680
 Yes, Father, for such is your or was your gracious will.

00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:51.199
 All things have been handed over to me by my Father,

00:06:51.420 --> 00:06:54.879
 and no one knows who the Son is except the Father,

00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:57.500
 or who the Father is except the Son,

00:06:57.780 --> 00:07:01.100
 and everyone to whom the Son, what's the next word?

00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:04.759
 chooses to reveal Him.

00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:09.060
 So how is it that there are some of you sitting here this morning

00:07:09.060 --> 00:07:11.420
 that know who Jesus Christ is?

00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:17.000
 Did that really happen because you had a different intellectual capacity

00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:21.220
 than other people that you work with that when they use the word Jesus Christ,

00:07:21.339 --> 00:07:23.240
 what's their means of, what are they saying?

00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:24.720
 It's an oath.

00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:27.699
 It's an expression of a curse word or something like that.

00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:30.120
 They don't have a personal relationship with Christ.

00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:31.480
 They don't think in those terms.

00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:32.699
 Why is it that you do?

00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:34.139
 It says here,

00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:38.740
 God in His kindness has chosen to reveal this mystery to you.

00:07:39.259 --> 00:07:42.139
 We look over at another passage that makes it clear to us,

00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:45.120
 and if you would, look in 1 Corinthians 2.

00:07:46.919 --> 00:07:49.620
 1 Corinthians 2, verse 2 through 7.

00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:53.779
 Chapter 2, verse 7 through 14,

00:07:53.919 --> 00:07:55.199
 and I'm not going to take all the passage,

00:07:55.419 --> 00:07:56.699
 but just kind of touch this.

00:07:57.159 --> 00:07:57.439
 It says,

00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:15.279
 Does that make sense?

00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:24.339
 Do you think if Satan understood the plan of redemption,

00:08:24.719 --> 00:08:28.939
 he would have partnered with the Roman government to put Christ on the cross?

00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:29.599
 What's the answer?

00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:33.120
 I mean, when he thought the victory was his,

00:08:33.339 --> 00:08:38.339
 he was actually driving the last nail into his own coffin and his destruction.

00:08:38.439 --> 00:08:39.000
 Isn't that right?

00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:42.199
 And why did that happen?

00:08:42.199 --> 00:08:43.360
 Here's what it says.

00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:46.899
 If the rulers of this age had understood this,

00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:48.060
 for if they had,

00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:50.800
 they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

00:08:51.220 --> 00:08:53.480
 And as we work our way on down through,

00:08:53.560 --> 00:08:54.379
 look at verse 10.

00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:56.659
 These things,

00:08:57.580 --> 00:09:00.100
 God has revealed to us through the Spirit,

00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:01.639
 for the Spirit searches everything,

00:09:01.779 --> 00:09:02.840
 even the depths of God.

00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:04.779
 And then he goes on,

00:09:04.820 --> 00:09:05.960
 and he says there in verse 12,

00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:08.180
 Now we have received not the Spirit of the world,

00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:10.180
 but the Spirit who is from God,

00:09:10.179 --> 00:09:14.759
 that we might understand the things freely given to us by God.

00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:18.659
 Why is it that you understand spiritual truth?

00:09:19.479 --> 00:09:20.259
 What's the answer?

00:09:20.859 --> 00:09:26.459
 We understand spiritual truth because of the blessing of the work of God in our lives

00:09:26.459 --> 00:09:29.339
 that has revealed these truths to us,

00:09:29.419 --> 00:09:30.879
 and they humble us,

00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:32.859
 and they also cause us to be thankful.

00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:35.580
 And Paul speaks of these spiritual truths,

00:09:35.659 --> 00:09:35.980
 and he says,

00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:36.320
 Listen,

00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:39.560
 it's because of the grace of God that you understand these things

00:09:39.560 --> 00:09:41.039
 and can recognize them to be true.

00:09:41.659 --> 00:09:42.100
 Now,

00:09:42.279 --> 00:09:45.500
 you look here in the passage going back to Ephesians chapter 3,

00:09:45.940 --> 00:09:49.080
 and we need to understand that the mystery Paul wrote about

00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:50.940
 is all about Christ and His salvation.

00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:52.879
 That's what the mystery consists of,

00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:54.120
 in broad terms.

00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:55.820
 But we break it down in this passage,

00:09:56.019 --> 00:09:58.360
 and there are references to different pieces of it.

00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:01.480
 In one sense,

00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:05.720
 part of the overarching issue is the mystery of redemption,

00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:07.300
 what He did in saving us.

00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:10.159
 And there is a reference to that mystery of redemption

00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:12.460
 over in Hebrews chapter 3, verse 20.

00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:13.560
 I'm not going to have you turn there,

00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:17.600
 but recognize that when we think about what God has done in saving us,

00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:20.600
 it is a mystery that if we were not told about it,

00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:22.080
 we wouldn't understand it.

00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:24.639
 I want you to think just for a moment.

00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:27.199
 Earlier this morning,

00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:29.379
 as I was meditating and praying about Sunday

00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:30.860
 and the passage that we were going to look at,

00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:35.879
 I was kind of putting myself in Adam and Eve's shoes after they sinned.

00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:36.299
 I mean,

00:10:36.340 --> 00:10:40.439
 can you imagine the absolute horror that came over their conscience

00:10:40.439 --> 00:10:43.279
 as they thought about the terrifying reality

00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:47.360
 that they had offended the supreme God and creator of this universe?

00:10:48.199 --> 00:10:49.340
 When we sin,

00:10:49.439 --> 00:10:50.759
 and we sin often,

00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:54.539
 we have kind of a practiced indifference to it

00:10:54.539 --> 00:10:56.220
 because we do it so often.

00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:57.799
 Do you understand that?

00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:00.659
 But for Adam and Eve's conscience

00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:03.960
 to be struck for the very first time in history

00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:06.120
 by the appalling nature of sin,

00:11:06.319 --> 00:11:07.879
 it must have been terrifying.

00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:11.259
 And God comes into the garden

00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:13.799
 and He's looking for them

00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:14.939
 and they're hiding.

00:11:14.940 --> 00:11:18.060
 Can you just think with me

00:11:18.060 --> 00:11:20.120
 about the absolute futility of Adam and Eve

00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:21.060
 hiding from God?

00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:24.600
 Have you ever played hide and seek with your kids

00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:25.340
 when they were small?

00:11:26.920 --> 00:11:33.780
 And they hide in the most obvious place.

00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:38.060
 You close your eyes and you count to ten.

00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:41.780
 And then they hide behind the couch

00:11:41.779 --> 00:11:44.519
 and the only part that's really hidden is what part?

00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:46.319
 Their head.

00:11:46.939 --> 00:11:49.220
 The rest of it's sticking out from behind the couch

00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:52.379
 and all you have to do to give them away

00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:53.779
 or get them to give themselves away

00:11:53.779 --> 00:11:54.039
 is say,

00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:56.039
 I wonder where...

00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:57.079
 And they begin doing what?

00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:59.100
 They begin giggling.

00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:02.059
 And so you go...

00:12:02.059 --> 00:12:04.299
 If you walk out of the room and say,

00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:05.759
 I'll bet you they've left the room,

00:12:06.079 --> 00:12:07.519
 the little child does what?

00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:10.259
 No, no, I didn't leave the room.

00:12:10.339 --> 00:12:11.360
 You know, they've got to give it all away.

00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:15.180
 Just imagine the absolute ridiculous idea

00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:16.180
 of hiding from God.

00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:19.379
 And here's Adam and Eve tucked away.

00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:21.159
 Who knows where?

00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:22.620
 Behind a bush or something like that.

00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:25.360
 And God shows up and...

00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:26.960
 What's going on?

00:12:29.180 --> 00:12:31.539
 And just think about what happens.

00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:40.200
 God covers their sinful flesh with a skin.

00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:42.740
 What did they try to cover it with already?

00:12:44.020 --> 00:12:44.500
 Leaves.

00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:48.660
 And in that covering

00:12:48.660 --> 00:12:51.520
 was the first indication

00:12:51.520 --> 00:12:53.780
 of the shedding of blood

00:12:53.780 --> 00:12:55.600
 for the covering for sin.

00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:58.700
 And then God makes an announcement.

00:12:58.920 --> 00:12:59.220
 He says,

00:12:59.440 --> 00:12:59.980
 He says,

00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:00.379
 Listen,

00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:03.240
 You will bruise

00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:05.480
 His head

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:08.680
 and He will bruise your heel.

00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.399
 Speaking of Christ

00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:11.980
 and the plan of redemption.

00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:13.580
 I know Tom.

00:13:13.800 --> 00:13:15.300
 Tom is teaching on Christ

00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:16.000
 in the Old Testament

00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:17.060
 and one of the very first,

00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:18.800
 the proto-evangelism,

00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:20.720
 it talks about the first time it appears

00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:21.480
 is in that phrase.

00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:23.019
 And it's interesting

00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:24.920
 that when Adam and Eve had a son,

00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:25.860
 their first son,

00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:27.379
 do you know what they expected

00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:29.159
 that first son to perhaps be?

00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:30.519
 Does anybody know?

00:13:31.300 --> 00:13:32.240
 This is the guy.

00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.240
 This is the one.

00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:35.460
 This is the Messiah who's coming.

00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:36.740
 That was their ambition.

00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:38.000
 They were looking

00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:40.000
 for the solution

00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:41.500
 to their sinful heart.

00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:45.419
 And all the way down

00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:46.419
 through the Old Testament,

00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:50.379
 the symbolism of sacrifice,

00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.679
 Abraham on Mount Moriah,

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:56.220
 David when he sacrificed there

00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:57.240
 to stop the plague,

00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.259
 the temple built there,

00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:01.460
 and later Christ crucified.

00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:03.659
 The plan of redemption

00:14:03.659 --> 00:14:06.279
 is a plan that God revealed to us

00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:06.740
 and beloved,

00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:08.200
 would we have figured it out

00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:09.379
 apart from Him telling us

00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.039
 and the answer is,

00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:11.100
 not at all.

00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:12.580
 It's a mystery

00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.580
 that He's given to us.

00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:15.080
 A second part of the mystery

00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:16.340
 that we find particularly here

00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:17.559
 in Ephesians chapter 2

00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:19.039
 is the mystery

00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:20.080
 of His inclusion

00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:22.440
 of Gentiles as His people.

00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:25.779
 Prior to the New Testament,

00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.460
 the way for a Gentile

00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:30.419
 to become a part

00:14:30.419 --> 00:14:31.899
 of the family of God

00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:33.779
 was only through

00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:35.480
 becoming a Jew.

00:14:38.179 --> 00:14:39.500
 And God opens up

00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:43.419
 and reveals to Jew and Gentile

00:14:43.419 --> 00:14:45.279
 that His plan of redemption

00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:46.379
 does not have

00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:48.139
 that complicated layer

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:49.279
 of Judaism

00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:51.440
 and those laws,

00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:52.399
 but rather it is

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:53.340
 all of grace.

00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:54.399
 And apart from grace,

00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:55.779
 there is no salvation.

00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.960
 And as we look at the passage

00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:01.600
 actually in Ephesians chapter 3,

00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:02.700
 look where it says there

00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:03.820
 talking about this mystery

00:15:03.820 --> 00:15:04.539
 of the Gentile.

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.319
 Now, it says,

00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:06.419
 this mystery is that

00:15:06.419 --> 00:15:08.899
 the Gentiles are fellow heirs,

00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:10.860
 members of the same body,

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:12.399
 and partakers of the promise

00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:13.699
 in Christ Jesus

00:15:13.699 --> 00:15:14.620
 through the gospel.

00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:17.419
 Now, in the English translation,

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.939
 the hammer blows

00:15:19.939 --> 00:15:21.599
 of what Paul is saying

00:15:21.599 --> 00:15:24.120
 are a little muted for us

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:25.980
 because what Paul does

00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:28.240
 is he takes three Greek root words

00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:30.000
 and he puts a little preface

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.199
 at the beginning of them

00:15:31.199 --> 00:15:32.879
 to make it very, very clear.

00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:34.299
 In essence, what he is saying

00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:36.399
 is that Gentile believers are,

00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:38.000
 and he uses the word soon,

00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:38.960
 which means with,

00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:42.500
 he says Gentiles are heirs with.

00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:46.600
 He says Gentiles are members with.

00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:48.299
 He says that Gentiles

00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:50.019
 are partakers with.

00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:51.679
 And he's talking about the fact

00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:53.460
 that God has taken two

00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:55.100
 and put them together

00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:56.100
 by His grace.

00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:57.840
 And because of that,

00:15:58.100 --> 00:16:00.299
 there is no second-class citizenry

00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:01.600
 in the body of Christ.

00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:03.259
 We are all together

00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:05.080
 members of the body

00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:06.560
 and the bride of Christ,

00:16:06.800 --> 00:16:08.879
 equally in the eyes of God.

00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:11.620
 The third part of this mystery

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.840
 that we find in the scriptures

00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:14.720
 is that we have the privilege

00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:17.680
 of a personal relationship with Christ.

00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:21.100
 I don't know whether that overwhelms you,

00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.440
 but, beloved, it should.

00:16:24.540 --> 00:16:25.879
 The truth of the matter is

00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:27.240
 is that apart from Christ,

00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:29.820
 we would be aliens to God,

00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:31.420
 we would be enemies with God,

00:16:31.540 --> 00:16:33.640
 we would have no intimate communion

00:16:33.640 --> 00:16:35.240
 or relationship with God.

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:37.660
 And I was having a great time

00:16:37.660 --> 00:16:38.660
 this morning explaining

00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:39.980
 the example prayer

00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:41.420
 that we find in Luke,

00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:42.440
 and we find it in Matthew.

00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:44.120
 How does the prayer start

00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:45.200
 that's an example for us?

00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:45.760
 What do we say?

00:16:46.660 --> 00:16:48.160
 Our Father.

00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:50.400
 Does that give you cold chills

00:16:50.400 --> 00:16:51.120
 when you stop and think

00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.000
 about what that says?

00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:54.360
 Hey, if you know anything

00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:56.019
 about the other religions

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.779
 in the world,

00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:58.620
 they have no idea

00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:01.220
 of a personal, intimate relationship

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.680
 with the Creator and God

00:17:02.680 --> 00:17:03.300
 of this universe.

00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:07.740
 And we, because of Christ,

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:10.420
 have the privilege and blessing

00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:12.960
 of being in personal relationship

00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.599
 with Him.

00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:14.539
 And, beloved,

00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:16.259
 when we stop and think about that,

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:18.360
 that ought to quiet our uncertain

00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:20.359
 and frail heart

00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:21.659
 and encourage us

00:17:21.659 --> 00:17:24.159
 to be profoundly thankful

00:17:24.159 --> 00:17:26.559
 in the blessing we have

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.459
 in Christ Jesus.

00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:29.839
 Let me give you a little sidebar.

00:17:29.959 --> 00:17:30.259
 I read,

00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.619
 I just finished up a book

00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.619
 called God's at War

00:17:32.619 --> 00:17:33.619
 by Kyle Eidelman.

00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:34.559
 You want to read a good book?

00:17:34.719 --> 00:17:35.399
 That's a good one.

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.459
 Tag it.

00:17:36.659 --> 00:17:37.339
 It's a good one.

00:17:38.199 --> 00:17:39.379
 And as I was coming

00:17:39.379 --> 00:17:41.019
 towards the end of the book,

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.199
 it's talking about

00:17:42.199 --> 00:17:43.240
 the struggle that we have

00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:45.159
 with idolizing ourself.

00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.059
 How many of you realize

00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:47.679
 that every day when you wake up,

00:17:47.899 --> 00:17:49.220
 there's this little niggling interest

00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.359
 of being an idol yourself?

00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:51.419
 You want everybody to bow

00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:53.159
 to the idolatry of you.

00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:55.200
 And he said,

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.799
 it's actually been amped up

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.500
 on steroids.

00:17:59.399 --> 00:18:00.379
 Five researchers

00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:03.799
 in San Diego State University

00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.460
 have done,

00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:08.919
 I think it is from 1986 to 2007,

00:18:08.919 --> 00:18:10.299
 they have interviewed

00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:13.619
 16,000 college students

00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:15.319
 about the problem

00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:16.619
 with narcissism.

00:18:16.679 --> 00:18:17.879
 Do you know what narcissism is?

00:18:18.659 --> 00:18:19.639
 Let me give you the end story

00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:20.740
 of what narcissism is.

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.119
 How many of you remember

00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:22.919
 singing,

00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:23.960
 Frere Jacques,

00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:25.139
 Frere Jacques,

00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:26.099
 Dormez-vous?

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:29.359
 Here is the contemporary version

00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.159
 of Frere Jacques.

00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:32.419
 I am special,

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:34.079
 I am special,

00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:35.839
 yes I am,

00:18:36.179 --> 00:18:37.259
 yes I am.

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:37.779
 Isn't that good?

00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:38.419
 Isn't that a good song?

00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:40.220
 Anyway,

00:18:41.939 --> 00:18:42.659
 some of you probably

00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.860
 sang it in school.

00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:46.180
 But this study

00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:48.540
 revealed that

00:18:48.540 --> 00:18:49.180
 there has been

00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:51.259
 an absolute skyrocketing

00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:53.080
 issue with narcissism.

00:18:53.560 --> 00:18:54.840
 People who are narcissists

00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:56.660
 think such things as

00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:58.279
 if I were in charge

00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.180
 the world would be

00:18:59.180 --> 00:19:00.180
 a better place.

00:19:01.560 --> 00:19:01.900
 Okay?

00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:03.440
 Now when you have

00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:04.400
 ten people in the room

00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.420
 thinking the same thing,

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.720
 guess what you automatically have?

00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:12.920
 The narcissist thinks

00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:14.759
 when I'm getting my way

00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.819
 things are good.

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.519
 The narcissist

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:20.839
 is pretty full of themself.

00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:22.420
 Incidentally,

00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:23.120
 the narcissist

00:19:23.120 --> 00:19:24.620
 has profound trouble

00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:26.680
 in lasting relationships.

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.640
 The narcissist

00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:31.259
 by the survey

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:33.460
 is far more inclined

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.559
 to be dishonest

00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.180
 and cheat.

00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:38.200
 cannot sustain

00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:39.320
 integrity

00:19:39.320 --> 00:19:41.080
 in any kind of task.

00:19:42.080 --> 00:19:42.660
 Incidentally,

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:44.019
 very curiously,

00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:45.120
 these researchers

00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:46.000
 began asking

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.460
 when did narcissism

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:48.740
 begin to develop

00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:50.080
 into a predominant character

00:19:50.080 --> 00:19:51.660
 of American culture?

00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.140
 Guess when it happened?

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:56.120
 Back in 1980,

00:19:56.560 --> 00:19:57.259
 our culture

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.779
 was swept away

00:19:58.779 --> 00:20:01.400
 by the self-esteem movement.

00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:04.560
 and these

00:20:04.560 --> 00:20:06.060
 unbelieving

00:20:06.060 --> 00:20:07.440
 researchers

00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:10.120
 at San Diego State University

00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:11.259
 began making

00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:12.100
 a correlation

00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:13.080
 between the

00:20:13.080 --> 00:20:14.840
 I am special,

00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:16.380
 I am special,

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.100
 yes,

00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:18.040
 I am,

00:20:18.280 --> 00:20:19.840
 and the struggle

00:20:19.840 --> 00:20:20.860
 with our culture

00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:21.780
 with everybody

00:20:21.780 --> 00:20:23.100
 becoming self-focused

00:20:23.100 --> 00:20:24.620
 and nobody thinking

00:20:24.620 --> 00:20:25.519
 about anybody else

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.200
 but themselves.

00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.840
 Listen to me.

00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:30.480
 There is no remedy

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:32.879
 to be found

00:20:32.879 --> 00:20:35.019
 for that incessant battle

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.079
 other than

00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:37.459
 in a joyful

00:20:37.459 --> 00:20:38.319
 and personal

00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.319
 relationship

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.240
 with the Lord

00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:40.779
 of glory

00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:42.799
 and that is why.

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:45.279
 I love the truth

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.980
 of salvation.

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.299
 It delivers me

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.659
 from the absolute

00:20:48.659 --> 00:20:49.539
 tyranny

00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:51.519
 of self-centered living.

00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:52.839
 And as we look

00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.500
 at this passage,

00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.279
 Paul says,

00:20:54.399 --> 00:20:54.539
 listen,

00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:55.339
 it's my privilege

00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:56.179
 to talk to you

00:20:56.179 --> 00:20:57.379
 about the mystery

00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:58.539
 that God has revealed

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.139
 to us.

00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.699
 I want you to notice

00:21:00.699 --> 00:21:01.399
 something else

00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:02.179
 in relationship

00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:02.939
 to this mystery

00:21:02.939 --> 00:21:03.779
 talking about

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.679
 announcing the mystery

00:21:04.679 --> 00:21:05.319
 and we see that

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:06.439
 in the passage

00:21:06.439 --> 00:21:07.679
 in 7 through 9

00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:09.179
 of this gospel,

00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:09.899
 Paul says,

00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:11.199
 I was made

00:21:11.199 --> 00:21:11.959
 a minister

00:21:11.959 --> 00:21:12.919
 according to the gift

00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:13.679
 of God's grace

00:21:13.679 --> 00:21:14.939
 which was given to me

00:21:14.939 --> 00:21:15.599
 by the working

00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.159
 of His power.

00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:17.179
 Stop just for a moment

00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:18.359
 and think with me.

00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.879
 When we find something

00:21:19.879 --> 00:21:20.619
 in scripture,

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.839
 it is there

00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:23.240
 because Paul thought

00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.939
 it was a good idea

00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:24.500
 to include.

00:21:24.579 --> 00:21:25.279
 Is that the answer?

00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:25.899
 Or,

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:26.480
 B,

00:21:27.139 --> 00:21:28.079
 the Spirit of God

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:28.639
 put it there

00:21:28.639 --> 00:21:29.579
 for our benefit

00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:30.299
 and our edification.

00:21:31.679 --> 00:21:32.439
 It's there

00:21:32.439 --> 00:21:33.659
 because the Spirit

00:21:33.659 --> 00:21:34.039
 of God

00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:35.139
 thinks it's for our benefit

00:21:35.139 --> 00:21:35.799
 and edification.

00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:38.259
 And so,

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.579
 when we read here

00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:41.319
 that Paul announces

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.419
 this truth

00:21:42.419 --> 00:21:43.779
 in relationship

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:45.039
 to himself

00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:46.539
 of this gospel,

00:21:46.699 --> 00:21:47.639
 I was made

00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.339
 a minister

00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.679
 according to the gift

00:21:49.679 --> 00:21:50.539
 of God's grace,

00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.259
 we understand

00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.740
 that Paul is saying

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.439
 something about

00:21:53.439 --> 00:21:54.359
 those who are messengers.

00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:55.119
 And put it this way,

00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:56.599
 godly messengers

00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.240
 are marked

00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:58.599
 by genuine humility.

00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.819
 Paul's declaration

00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:03.539
 here of self-perception

00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.740
 is that he's saying,

00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:04.980
 listen,

00:22:05.139 --> 00:22:06.179
 this is what I am

00:22:06.179 --> 00:22:07.819
 and mark what he says.

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:10.579
 I am the very least

00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:11.799
 of all the saints.

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.279
 Now,

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:13.159
 is he just being,

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:15.019
 is he just exercising

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.019
 false humility?

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.460
 Let me give you

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:17.839
 a picture

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:19.019
 of false humility

00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.779
 so you understand

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.440
 what it is.

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.759
 Just let's say

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.500
 that an exceptionally

00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.299
 attractive woman

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:26.000
 goes into the dressing room

00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:27.539
 and puts on a lovely dress

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.519
 and she walks out

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.859
 and she really does

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.579
 look pretty good,

00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.859
 but what she says

00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:32.500
 to her friends

00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.460
 that are gathered around

00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.259
 is what?

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:35.919
 What's she say?

00:22:36.800 --> 00:22:37.220
 Oh,

00:22:37.300 --> 00:22:38.100
 this dress makes me

00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:38.800
 look too fat.

00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.140
 She says,

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.680
 this dress probably

00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.560
 doesn't look good on me.

00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:43.620
 What is she looking for?

00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:44.560
 Guys,

00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.500
 what's she looking for?

00:22:46.800 --> 00:22:47.840
 What's she looking for?

00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:50.039
 In fact,

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:50.980
 she's just looking

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:52.000
 for affirmation,

00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:52.519
 isn't she?

00:22:53.300 --> 00:22:54.400
 She looks at herself

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:54.860
 in the mirror

00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:55.340
 and she thinks,

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:55.560
 well,

00:22:55.620 --> 00:22:56.640
 I'm looking pretty good.

00:22:57.620 --> 00:22:58.800
 And what do you think?

00:22:59.059 --> 00:22:59.240
 I mean,

00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.339
 she's looking for someone else

00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:01.099
 to agree with her.

00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:02.299
 She wants someone else

00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:03.460
 to bow at her idolatry,

00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:03.700
 right?

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.339
 And kind of agree

00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:06.079
 with her value.

00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:07.539
 Paul,

00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:08.159
 when he says

00:23:08.159 --> 00:23:08.899
 what he does

00:23:08.899 --> 00:23:09.919
 in verse 8

00:23:09.919 --> 00:23:10.399
 where he says,

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:12.220
 I am less than least

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.099
 of all the saints,

00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.079
 I want you to understand

00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:15.279
 that he is speaking

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:15.839
 the truth

00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:17.000
 about what God

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.779
 has helped him

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.960
 understand about himself.

00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:21.240
 And Paul saw himself

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:23.359
 first as an appointed servant.

00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:25.119
 Look at what it says

00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:26.019
 there in verse 7.

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:28.619
 I was made a minister

00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:31.079
 according to the gift

00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:32.439
 of God's grace.

00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.119
 And incidentally,

00:23:33.219 --> 00:23:34.239
 that word minister there

00:23:34.239 --> 00:23:34.819
 is the word

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:36.439
 from which we get deacon.

00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:38.239
 Paul says,

00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.639
 I am a deacon.

00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:42.039
 I am a deacon

00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:43.479
 according to the gift

00:23:43.479 --> 00:23:44.379
 of God's grace.

00:23:44.699 --> 00:23:46.119
 And God is at work in me.

00:23:46.379 --> 00:23:47.019
 He has given me

00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.919
 this responsibility.

00:23:48.199 --> 00:23:49.839
 He saw that his task

00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.679
 and his responsibility

00:23:50.679 --> 00:23:52.419
 was not a career choice

00:23:52.419 --> 00:23:53.259
 but something that God

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.059
 had laid on him.

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.179
 I want you to understand also

00:23:56.179 --> 00:23:57.619
 that Paul in his ministry

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.979
 and we see his humility

00:23:58.979 --> 00:24:00.059
 by the fact that he was not

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.739
 an arrogant and combative person.

00:24:02.439 --> 00:24:03.679
 I want you to turn back

00:24:03.679 --> 00:24:04.500
 just a little bit

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.299
 if you would actually

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.019
 turn forward

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.059
 to 2 Timothy.

00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:09.759
 Go to 2 Timothy chapter 2

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.599
 verse 24 and 25.

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:13.799
 What was Paul like

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:15.539
 in ministry to other people

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:18.139
 in his circle?

00:24:19.179 --> 00:24:20.639
 Chapter 2 verse 24.

00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:21.899
 2 Timothy chapter 2

00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:23.099
 verse 24 and 25.

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:24.139
 It says,

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.240
 The Lord's servant

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:27.839
 must not be quarrelsome

00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.799
 but be kind to everyone,

00:24:29.919 --> 00:24:30.740
 able to teach,

00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:33.000
 patiently enduring evil,

00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:34.559
 correcting his opponents

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.639
 with gentleness.

00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.679
 God may perhaps

00:24:37.679 --> 00:24:38.619
 grant them repentance

00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:39.539
 leading to the knowledge

00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.159
 of the truth.

00:24:40.719 --> 00:24:42.000
 So what kind of characteristic

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:43.099
 was Paul displaying

00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:44.119
 in his ministry?

00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:46.139
 Did he thump and strut?

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.099
 Did he walk around

00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:48.179
 with a cudgel

00:24:48.179 --> 00:24:48.799
 letting people

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.740
 that disagreed with him

00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.839
 know that there was

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.459
 a consequence

00:24:51.459 --> 00:24:52.879
 for crossing him?

00:24:52.939 --> 00:24:53.459
 Not at all.

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.419
 He was marked

00:24:54.419 --> 00:24:55.919
 by humility and tenderness

00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:57.500
 and that was the characteristic

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.259
 of his heart

00:24:58.259 --> 00:25:00.579
 because he saw himself

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:02.740
 as least of the saints.

00:25:04.699 --> 00:25:05.759
 I want you to mark also

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.919
 that his life was marked

00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:07.599
 by an affection

00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.480
 for other people.

00:25:08.699 --> 00:25:10.059
 As you read your way

00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:11.839
 through the pastoral epistles

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:13.099
 you see that Paul speaks

00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:14.559
 about his relationship

00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.679
 with the body of Christ

00:25:15.679 --> 00:25:17.519
 being that like a nursing mother

00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:19.019
 caring for those people.

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:21.400
 and how was Paul treated

00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:22.519
 by some of the people

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.180
 that he cared for?

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.079
 Does anybody have an idea?

00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:26.099
 Always favorably,

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.200
 always appreciated,

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:27.900
 always loved,

00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.339
 not at all.

00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:29.559
 In fact,

00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:30.599
 in the very last days

00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.400
 of Paul's life

00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:32.639
 most everyone

00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:33.980
 who he had served

00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.940
 and ministered to,

00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.160
 those that he poured

00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.960
 his life in

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.680
 turned away

00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.559
 and walked from him.

00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.599
 And here's what Paul says.

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.680
 He says,

00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:43.759
 do not hold it

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.599
 to their charge.

00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.579
 He's praying to God

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.299
 and says don't hold it

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.059
 to their charge.

00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:49.879
 I want you to recognize

00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:50.519
 one other thing

00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.039
 as you go back

00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:51.839
 to that passage

00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:53.879
 in Ephesians.

00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.759
 Let's look at Ephesians

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.839
 chapter 3

00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.480
 and pick up

00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.339
 what we find there

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.919
 as we continue

00:25:58.919 --> 00:25:59.679
 working through it.

00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.399
 He says here

00:26:00.399 --> 00:26:02.399
 to bring to light

00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:03.059
 in verse 9

00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:04.019
 to bring to light

00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:05.879
 for everyone

00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:07.039
 what is the plan

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.799
 of the mystery

00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:08.740
 hidden for ages

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.379
 in God

00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:10.919
 who created all things.

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:11.779
 So we see

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.679
 the humility

00:26:12.679 --> 00:26:13.419
 of a servant

00:26:13.419 --> 00:26:14.179
 but then secondly

00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:15.080
 we see that

00:26:15.080 --> 00:26:16.000
 godly messengers

00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.220
 see the gospel

00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:17.980
 as being something

00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.680
 for everyone.

00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:20.500
 I appreciate the fact

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.000
 that Paul

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.240
 had no hesitation

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.259
 to make it very,

00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:23.940
 very clear

00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:25.700
 that the doctrine

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.240
 of election

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.160
 and predestination

00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:28.360
 are stated in the gospel

00:26:28.360 --> 00:26:29.600
 but on the other hand

00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:30.759
 what was Paul's attitude

00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.480
 towards preaching?

00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:32.259
 Was there any place

00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.140
 that he wouldn't preach?

00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:35.240
 He'd preach in a synagogue

00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:35.799
 wouldn't he?

00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.340
 And when he went

00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:38.000
 into the synagogue

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.920
 as his ministry developed

00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:41.160
 did he anticipate

00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:41.680
 that everybody

00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.519
 was going to love him

00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:44.119
 and just appreciate

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:45.059
 the gospel ministry

00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:45.559
 that he has?

00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.139
 Not at all.

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.299
 He appreciated

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.759
 the privilege he had

00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.859
 of being the messenger

00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:50.619
 of the gospel

00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:52.519
 and he was not put off

00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:53.240
 by the treatment

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.960
 that he received.

00:26:54.639 --> 00:26:55.680
 Paul preached in prison.

00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:56.559
 He preached

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.259
 in the marketplace.

00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.119
 He preached

00:26:58.119 --> 00:26:59.220
 down by the riverside.

00:26:59.539 --> 00:26:59.960
 He preached

00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.539
 to prisoners.

00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:01.319
 He preached

00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:02.180
 to soldiers

00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:03.000
 who were chained

00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.480
 to Paul

00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.680
 and everywhere

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.799
 he preached

00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.720
 I think one of the things

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.460
 that you need

00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.059
 to understand

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:09.059
 about Paul's preaching

00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:10.220
 is that he preached

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:11.119
 with a passion

00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:12.480
 and an earnestness

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:12.960
 to see people

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.680
 come to Christ.

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:14.860
 Turn over

00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:15.539
 if you would

00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:16.880
 to 2 Corinthians

00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:18.759
 chapter 5

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:20.460
 and mark the spirit

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.079
 that he had

00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:21.640
 in preaching.

00:27:22.900 --> 00:27:23.579
 2 Corinthians

00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.480
 chapter 5

00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.519
 verse 20

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:29.120
 he says this

00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:30.059
 as he describes

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.620
 his preaching

00:27:30.620 --> 00:27:31.779
 therefore we are

00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:33.079
 ambassadors for Christ

00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:34.460
 God making his appeal

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.019
 through us

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:36.599
 we implore you

00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.900
 in the King James

00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:39.120
 I think it says

00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:40.579
 we plead with you

00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.620
 in Christ's stead

00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:44.599
 so when Paul

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.819
 preached the gospel

00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.939
 to people

00:27:46.939 --> 00:27:48.539
 day in and day out

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.199
 whether it was

00:27:49.199 --> 00:27:50.239
 in prison or the synagogue

00:27:50.239 --> 00:27:51.619
 what kind of affection

00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.159
 and passion

00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:53.139
 did he have for doing it?

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:55.319
 There was earnestness

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:56.000
 in his voice

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.359
 and there was a desire

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.559
 to see people

00:27:58.559 --> 00:27:59.259
 come to Christ

00:27:59.259 --> 00:27:59.859
 isn't that right?

00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:01.099
 Well let me ask you

00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:01.559
 the question

00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:03.619
 if this is a picture

00:28:03.619 --> 00:28:05.079
 of the apostle Paul's heart

00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:06.919
 when was the last time

00:28:06.919 --> 00:28:08.839
 that you shared

00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.359
 the gospel

00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:10.059
 with someone

00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:11.299
 with the kind

00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.019
 of passion

00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.959
 and affection

00:28:12.959 --> 00:28:13.679
 that Christ

00:28:13.679 --> 00:28:14.379
 shared it with?

00:28:15.639 --> 00:28:16.859
 When was the last time

00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.480
 you shared it

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.419
 with the kind of passion

00:28:18.419 --> 00:28:19.919
 that Paul shared it with?

00:28:20.459 --> 00:28:21.579
 Let me take another step

00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:22.159
 and just ask you

00:28:22.159 --> 00:28:22.980
 a practical question

00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:24.039
 you may not have had

00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.720
 some opportunities

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:26.379
 in the last several weeks

00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:26.740
 right?

00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.240
 Forcing them

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.019
 is not a good idea

00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.339
 so when was the last time

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.919
 you prayed

00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:33.379
 with that kind of passion

00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:34.059
 and concern?

00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:35.859
 Let me give you

00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.619
 a couple illustrations

00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:38.399
 I was here yesterday

00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:39.819
 with helping

00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:41.119
 with the crowd

00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:41.959
 of people

00:28:41.959 --> 00:28:42.759
 that were babysitting

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:44.459
 and I know

00:28:44.459 --> 00:28:45.159
 that one of the little

00:28:45.159 --> 00:28:46.179
 babies in our fellowship

00:28:46.179 --> 00:28:47.399
 was sick

00:28:47.399 --> 00:28:48.879
 and the mother

00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:49.479
 went home

00:28:49.479 --> 00:28:51.239
 and I happened

00:28:51.239 --> 00:28:51.779
 to come out

00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:52.379
 from the nursery

00:28:52.379 --> 00:28:53.759
 there were plenty

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.259
 of helpers

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.359
 and I was also

00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:56.759
 over in the gym

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.519
 working in the kitchen

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.500
 there with Pastor Saul

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:58.899
 and Todd

00:28:58.899 --> 00:29:00.299
 and I'd come out here

00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:00.779
 and I walked

00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.599
 and I saw three or four

00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:03.199
 of our mothers

00:29:03.199 --> 00:29:04.179
 that were just kind

00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:04.899
 of huddled together

00:29:04.899 --> 00:29:06.599
 sharing sympathetically

00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:09.599
 and I just

00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.379
 I was touched

00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:11.339
 by their affection

00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.819
 together

00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:14.619
 for this little child

00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.639
 that wasn't feeling well

00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:16.399
 still not doing

00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:16.980
 all that well

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:18.899
 and so you know what

00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:19.939
 I began praying for that

00:29:19.939 --> 00:29:20.639
 and when you care

00:29:20.639 --> 00:29:21.159
 about something

00:29:21.159 --> 00:29:22.240
 how often do you pray?

00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:24.399
 You pray a lot

00:29:24.399 --> 00:29:26.039
 praying over and over again

00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.799
 for this little child

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.339
 to get better

00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:28.679
 through the day

00:29:28.679 --> 00:29:30.299
 texting him later

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.000
 how's he doing?

00:29:31.179 --> 00:29:31.359
 Well

00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:33.299
 about three times

00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:33.699
 and then

00:29:33.699 --> 00:29:35.219
 I get up this morning

00:29:35.219 --> 00:29:35.899
 to have devotions

00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:36.320
 in prayer

00:29:36.320 --> 00:29:37.120
 and there is

00:29:37.120 --> 00:29:37.700
 a little text

00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.400
 at 1130

00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:38.860
 by the way

00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:39.540
 my phone goes

00:29:39.540 --> 00:29:40.160
 on quiet

00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:41.240
 so that you don't

00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:42.100
 I want to sleep

00:29:42.100 --> 00:29:44.140
 but I fire my phone

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:44.780
 up and there's

00:29:44.780 --> 00:29:45.940
 so somebody else

00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:46.820
 has got their child

00:29:46.820 --> 00:29:47.540
 in the hospital

00:29:47.540 --> 00:29:48.380
 and what do I start

00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:48.800
 doing?

00:29:49.800 --> 00:29:50.800
 I start praying

00:29:50.800 --> 00:29:52.420
 and I'm praying

00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:53.280
 with earnestness

00:29:53.280 --> 00:29:56.980
 when a child

00:29:56.980 --> 00:29:57.580
 is sick

00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:59.820
 how does a parent

00:29:59.820 --> 00:30:00.220
 pray?

00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:00.940
 How does a parent

00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.259
 pray?

00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.240
 You tell me

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:03.700
 Lord

00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.339
 if it's your will

00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:05.059
 you take care of them

00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:05.700
 it's up to you

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.660
 I don't care

00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.420
 right?

00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:09.559
 Probably shouldn't have

00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:09.880
 had them

00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:14.620
 I remember

00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:15.559
 when Judith and I

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.900
 were relatively

00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:17.740
 young parents

00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:20.160
 I was teaching

00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:20.880
 at a Christian school

00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.440
 we didn't have

00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:22.099
 any insurance

00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:25.579
 and our first child

00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:27.059
 for some strange

00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:27.359
 reason

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.500
 had one bout

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:30.400
 with spiking fevers

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.160
 after another

00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:32.019
 and I can just

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.600
 remember

00:30:32.600 --> 00:30:34.080
 both of us

00:30:34.080 --> 00:30:34.740
 sitting down

00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:35.500
 on the floor

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.280
 next to her bed

00:30:36.280 --> 00:30:37.200
 and just crying out

00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:37.740
 to God

00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:39.120
 that she would live

00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:42.900
 when was the last

00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.720
 time that you

00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:45.060
 when you thought

00:30:45.060 --> 00:30:45.740
 about some of the

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.400
 people that are

00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:47.519
 not going to heaven

00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.740
 were you struck

00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.580
 by affection

00:30:49.580 --> 00:30:50.340
 and burden?

00:30:54.860 --> 00:30:55.700
 It ought to be

00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:56.240
 that way

00:30:56.240 --> 00:31:00.259
 we come to

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.000
 another part

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:02.099
 as we think

00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:02.400
 here

00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:04.039
 of enjoying

00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:05.180
 the scope

00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:05.700
 and the

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.779
 part that we

00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:07.299
 have in the

00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.079
 mystery of God

00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.680
 and verse 10

00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.059
 it says

00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.720
 so that

00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.400
 through the

00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.059
 church

00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:13.960
 the manifold

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.660
 wisdom

00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:15.680
 of God

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.880
 might now

00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:17.779
 be made

00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.460
 known

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:22.500
 I want to tell you

00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:22.880
 there are some

00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:23.839
 points here

00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:24.120
 that

00:31:24.120 --> 00:31:25.380
 earlier in the

00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:25.680
 week

00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.600
 I found

00:31:26.600 --> 00:31:27.000
 myself

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.440
 wanting to

00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:27.860
 preach on

00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:28.360
 Thursday

00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:29.900
 and I found

00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.320
 myself

00:31:30.320 --> 00:31:30.760
 wanting to

00:31:30.760 --> 00:31:31.120
 preach them

00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:32.420
 on Friday

00:31:32.420 --> 00:31:33.940
 and I found

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.360
 myself

00:31:34.360 --> 00:31:34.780
 wanting to

00:31:34.780 --> 00:31:35.180
 preach them

00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.860
 on Saturday

00:31:35.860 --> 00:31:36.520
 and here it

00:31:36.520 --> 00:31:36.880
 is

00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:37.600
 okay

00:31:37.600 --> 00:31:38.520
 let me tell

00:31:38.520 --> 00:31:38.720
 you

00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.620
 number one

00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:40.320
 the body

00:31:40.320 --> 00:31:40.820
 of Christ

00:31:40.820 --> 00:31:41.820
 is supremely

00:31:41.820 --> 00:31:42.440
 important

00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.600
 to displaying

00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:44.340
 his wisdom

00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:45.920
 let me

00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.760
 pick up on

00:31:46.760 --> 00:31:47.420
 that first

00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:48.040
 part again

00:31:48.040 --> 00:31:49.040
 so that

00:31:49.040 --> 00:31:49.460
 through

00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:49.920
 the

00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:50.680
 church

00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:54.259
 and ponder

00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:54.580
 with me

00:31:54.580 --> 00:31:54.920
 just how

00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:55.299
 poignant

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:55.560
 and how

00:31:55.560 --> 00:31:56.019
 significant

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:56.580
 those words

00:31:56.580 --> 00:31:56.880
 are

00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:58.700
 when we

00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.200
 read the

00:31:59.200 --> 00:31:59.480
 Bible

00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.000
 we have a

00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:00.299
 tendency

00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.720
 to read

00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.140
 the Bible

00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:01.519
 in a

00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:02.000
 personal

00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.740
 sense

00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.060
 isn't that

00:32:03.060 --> 00:32:03.299
 right

00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:05.160
 I read

00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:05.500
 the Bible

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.000
 for Tim

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.900
 Nellie

00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.340
 reads the

00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:08.580
 Bible

00:32:08.580 --> 00:32:09.200
 for Nellie

00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:10.600
 and since

00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:10.940
 Nellie

00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.320
 is sitting

00:32:11.320 --> 00:32:11.700
 next to

00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:12.039
 Olivia

00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:12.940
 and Olivia

00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.240
 is kind

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.480
 of giving

00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:13.759
 me that

00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:13.960
 look

00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.360
 don't use

00:32:14.360 --> 00:32:14.840
 my name

00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:15.420
 Olivia

00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:15.980
 reads the

00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.259
 Bible

00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:17.019
 for Olivia

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:19.079
 it's just

00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.500
 the way

00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:19.960
 it is

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:20.200
 do you

00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:20.740
 follow that

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:22.339
 and that's

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:22.720
 not all

00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.180
 bad

00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:24.700
 but when

00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.180
 scripture

00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:25.960
 was written

00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.680
 here

00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:27.359
 in the

00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:27.879
 pastoral

00:32:27.879 --> 00:32:28.279
 epistles

00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:29.019
 it was

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.339
 written

00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:29.740
 to be

00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.140
 read

00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:30.660
 to the

00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:30.960
 whole

00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:31.339
 body

00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:31.900
 of Christ

00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:32.579
 and they

00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:33.099
 understood

00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:33.400
 it

00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:34.339
 collectively

00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:36.619
 I mean

00:32:36.619 --> 00:32:37.879
 I am

00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:38.700
 very thankful

00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.619
 that my

00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:40.180
 finger

00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:41.079
 does not

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:41.700
 think about

00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.140
 itself

00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:42.680
 apart

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:43.119
 from the

00:32:43.119 --> 00:32:43.519
 body

00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:45.960
 it's

00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.440
 attached

00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:46.980
 together

00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.579
 it fits

00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:49.660
 and here

00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:50.039
 is the

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.539
 apostle

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.200
 penning

00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:51.519
 these

00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:51.940
 words

00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:52.640
 and he

00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:53.140
 is saying

00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:53.559
 something

00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:53.900
 of

00:32:53.900 --> 00:32:54.799
 profound

00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.759
 value

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.319
 to us

00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:56.980
 he's

00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:57.180
 saying

00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:57.700
 so that

00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:58.380
 in

00:32:58.380 --> 00:32:58.980
 the

00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.660
 church

00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:01.519
 through

00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.100
 the

00:33:02.100 --> 00:33:02.779
 church

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:04.980
 many

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.160
 of you

00:33:05.160 --> 00:33:05.700
 the church

00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.019
 has a

00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:06.319
 place

00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:06.799
 to go

00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:08.860
 that's

00:33:08.860 --> 00:33:09.039
 not

00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:09.380
 right

00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:11.039
 the

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:11.340
 church

00:33:11.340 --> 00:33:11.519
 is

00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:11.880
 something

00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:12.220
 that

00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:12.400
 the

00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:12.819
 believer

00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:13.180
 is

00:33:13.180 --> 00:33:13.340
 to

00:33:13.340 --> 00:33:13.819
 belong

00:33:13.819 --> 00:33:14.200
 to

00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:15.019
 by

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.740
 God's

00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.440
 divine

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.160
 appointment

00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:19.420
 and

00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:19.759
 each

00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.200
 member

00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:21.000
 in the

00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:21.240
 body

00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:21.420
 of

00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:21.720
 Christ

00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:21.980
 has

00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.140
 been

00:33:22.140 --> 00:33:22.640
 called

00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:22.900
 and

00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.339
 equipped

00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:23.859
 to

00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:24.259
 fit

00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.799
 together

00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:25.200
 for

00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:25.440
 his

00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:25.819
 glory

00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:26.559
 and

00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:26.680
 I

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:26.839
 got

00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:26.960
 to

00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:27.160
 tell

00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:27.279
 you

00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:27.440
 that

00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:27.579
 the

00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:27.819
 church

00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:27.960
 is

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.120
 a

00:33:28.120 --> 00:33:28.400
 far

00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:28.720
 more

00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:29.700
 significant

00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.279
 display

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:30.680
 of his

00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:31.200
 wisdom

00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:31.900
 than

00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:32.539
 creation

00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:33.180
 is

00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:34.000
 think

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:34.200
 about

00:33:34.200 --> 00:33:34.380
 that

00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:34.660
 with me

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:34.940
 for a

00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:35.259
 moment

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:36.279
 we

00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:36.500
 know

00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:36.720
 from

00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:36.900
 the

00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:37.420
 Psalms

00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:37.920
 the

00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:38.319
 heavens

00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:38.920
 declare

00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:39.380
 finish

00:33:39.380 --> 00:33:39.539
 it

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:39.720
 for

00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:39.920
 me

00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:40.859
 the

00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:41.380
 glory

00:33:41.380 --> 00:33:41.640
 of

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.220
 God

00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:42.900
 but

00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:43.039
 I

00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:43.220
 want

00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.359
 to

00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:43.599
 tell

00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:43.819
 you

00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:44.399
 that

00:33:44.399 --> 00:33:44.720
 the

00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:45.279
 heavens

00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:45.779
 and

00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.159
 all

00:33:46.159 --> 00:33:46.339
 of

00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:46.879
 creation

00:33:46.879 --> 00:33:47.559
 is

00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:47.740
 a

00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.519
 relatively

00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:49.759
 insignificant

00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.839
 challenge

00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:51.619
 for the

00:33:51.619 --> 00:33:51.919
 wisdom

00:33:51.919 --> 00:33:52.399
 of God

00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:52.859
 in

00:33:52.859 --> 00:33:53.619
 comparison

00:33:53.619 --> 00:33:54.299
 to

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.819
 redemption

00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:56.319
 does that

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:56.960
 make sense

00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:58.859
 why is it

00:33:58.859 --> 00:34:01.039
 it

00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:01.459
 tells us

00:34:01.459 --> 00:34:01.699
 in the

00:34:01.699 --> 00:34:01.959
 scriptures

00:34:01.959 --> 00:34:02.240
 that

00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:02.659
 angels

00:34:02.659 --> 00:34:04.419
 clapped

00:34:04.419 --> 00:34:05.079
 and sung

00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:05.899
 for joy

00:34:05.899 --> 00:34:06.899
 as they

00:34:06.899 --> 00:34:07.659
 watched

00:34:07.659 --> 00:34:08.239
 God

00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:08.759
 with

00:34:08.759 --> 00:34:09.339
 simply

00:34:09.339 --> 00:34:09.599
 a

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.139
 word

00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:10.900
 create

00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:12.239
 this

00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:12.739
 universe

00:34:12.739 --> 00:34:14.199
 it

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:14.619
 tells

00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:14.880
 us

00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:15.099
 and I

00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:15.219
 want

00:34:15.219 --> 00:34:15.319
 you

00:34:15.319 --> 00:34:15.460
 to

00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:15.679
 turn

00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:15.960
 over

00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:16.159
 to

00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:16.299
 the

00:34:16.299 --> 00:34:16.659
 passage

00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:16.859
 and

00:34:16.859 --> 00:34:17.059
 look

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:17.219
 at

00:34:17.219 --> 00:34:17.319
 it

00:34:17.319 --> 00:34:17.440
 with

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:17.579
 your

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:17.759
 own

00:34:17.759 --> 00:34:18.079
 eyes

00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:18.659
 it

00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:18.920
 tells

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:19.079
 us

00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.219
 in

00:34:19.219 --> 00:34:19.420
 1

00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:19.699
 Peter

00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:20.019
 chapter

00:34:20.019 --> 00:34:20.480
 1

00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:20.759
 verse

00:34:20.759 --> 00:34:21.199
 12

00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:21.799
 that

00:34:21.799 --> 00:34:22.299
 angels

00:34:22.299 --> 00:34:22.559
 when

00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:22.719
 they

00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:23.159
 think

00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:23.539
 about

00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.000
 us

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:24.219
 who

00:34:24.219 --> 00:34:24.400
 are

00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:24.980
 redeemed

00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:25.539
 it

00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:25.799
 says

00:34:25.799 --> 00:34:26.000
 they

00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.279
 kind

00:34:26.279 --> 00:34:26.440
 of

00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:26.960
 ponder

00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:27.359
 this

00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:27.860
 and

00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:27.980
 they

00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:28.180
 want

00:34:28.180 --> 00:34:28.340
 to

00:34:28.340 --> 00:34:28.740
 peer

00:34:28.740 --> 00:34:29.079
 in

00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:29.340
 and

00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:29.920
 understand

00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:30.260
 it

00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.059
 1

00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:31.280
 Peter

00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:31.599
 chapter

00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:31.920
 1

00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:32.160
 verse

00:34:32.160 --> 00:34:32.539
 12

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:35.079
 it

00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:35.260
 was

00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:35.740
 revealed

00:34:35.740 --> 00:34:36.460
 to them

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:36.880
 that they

00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.480
 were serving

00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:37.720
 not

00:34:37.720 --> 00:34:38.059
 themselves

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:38.740
 but you

00:34:38.740 --> 00:34:40.019
 in the

00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:40.280
 things

00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:40.680
 which have

00:34:40.680 --> 00:34:41.120
 now been

00:34:41.120 --> 00:34:41.559
 announced

00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.220
 to you

00:34:42.220 --> 00:34:42.820
 through

00:34:42.820 --> 00:34:43.200
 those

00:34:43.200 --> 00:34:43.380
 who

00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:43.660
 preach

00:34:43.660 --> 00:34:43.860
 the

00:34:43.860 --> 00:34:44.039
 good

00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:44.300
 news

00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:44.599
 to you

00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:44.740
 by

00:34:44.740 --> 00:34:44.860
 the

00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:45.019
 Holy

00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:45.340
 Spirit

00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:45.620
 sent

00:34:45.620 --> 00:34:45.840
 from

00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.140
 heaven

00:34:46.140 --> 00:34:46.920
 things

00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:47.300
 into

00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:47.720
 which

00:34:47.720 --> 00:34:47.980
 the

00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.660
 angels

00:34:48.660 --> 00:34:50.059
 long

00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:50.480
 to

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.039
 look

00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:56.260
 what's

00:34:56.260 --> 00:34:56.380
 that

00:34:56.380 --> 00:34:56.700
 saying

00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:59.639
 angels

00:34:59.639 --> 00:35:00.099
 who

00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:00.799
 enjoy

00:35:00.799 --> 00:35:01.059
 the

00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:01.559
 presence

00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:01.819
 of

00:35:01.819 --> 00:35:01.960
 the

00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:02.319
 father

00:35:02.319 --> 00:35:03.719
 who

00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:03.960
 can

00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:04.379
 see

00:35:04.379 --> 00:35:04.859
 him

00:35:04.859 --> 00:35:05.419
 in

00:35:05.419 --> 00:35:05.739
 his

00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:06.739
 resplendent

00:35:06.739 --> 00:35:07.279
 glory

00:35:07.279 --> 00:35:09.000
 who

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:09.639
 enjoy

00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:09.899
 the

00:35:09.899 --> 00:35:10.519
 benefit

00:35:10.519 --> 00:35:11.079
 of

00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:11.339
 the

00:35:11.339 --> 00:35:11.839
 holiness

00:35:11.839 --> 00:35:12.579
 and

00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:12.799
 the

00:35:12.799 --> 00:35:13.259
 glory

00:35:13.259 --> 00:35:13.500
 of

00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:13.879
 heaven

00:35:13.879 --> 00:35:14.599
 are

00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:15.460
 kind

00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:15.799
 of

00:35:15.799 --> 00:35:16.639
 not

00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:17.179
 troubled

00:35:17.179 --> 00:35:19.139
 but

00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:19.379
 they're

00:35:19.379 --> 00:35:20.139
 curious

00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:22.139
 they

00:35:22.139 --> 00:35:22.579
 want

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:22.799
 to

00:35:22.799 --> 00:35:23.579
 understand

00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:25.719
 what

00:35:25.719 --> 00:35:26.860
 what did

00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:27.299
 you do

00:35:27.299 --> 00:35:27.779
 God

00:35:27.779 --> 00:35:29.199
 when you

00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:29.579
 saved

00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:29.900
 those

00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:30.400
 people

00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:31.779
 and by

00:35:31.779 --> 00:35:32.079
 the way

00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:33.059
 what makes

00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:33.819
 angelic

00:35:33.819 --> 00:35:34.639
 curiosity

00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:35.699
 more

00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:36.440
 significant

00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:37.360
 is how

00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:37.920
 were all

00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:38.579
 the angels

00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:38.980
 treated

00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:39.880
 who decided

00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:40.420
 they'd try

00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:41.119
 sin number

00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:41.519
 one

00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:43.199
 what

00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:43.519
 happened

00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:45.259
 they were

00:35:45.259 --> 00:35:45.759
 cursed

00:35:45.759 --> 00:35:46.279
 for all

00:35:46.279 --> 00:35:46.739
 eternity

00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:47.199
 in hell

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:48.319
 and so

00:35:48.319 --> 00:35:48.759
 the rest

00:35:48.759 --> 00:35:49.019
 of them

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:49.460
 are sitting

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:49.799
 up there

00:35:49.799 --> 00:35:50.099
 kind of

00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:50.460
 scratching

00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:50.940
 their heads

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.220
 saying

00:35:51.220 --> 00:35:53.679
 I know

00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:53.940
 you're

00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:54.220
 holy

00:35:54.220 --> 00:35:54.639
 I know

00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:54.900
 you're

00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.280
 wise

00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:55.980
 I know

00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:56.220
 you're

00:35:56.220 --> 00:35:56.519
 good

00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:56.740
 but

00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:58.019
 what

00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:58.260
 is

00:35:58.260 --> 00:35:58.740
 this

00:35:58.740 --> 00:36:00.179
 this

00:36:00.179 --> 00:36:00.539
 blessing

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:00.740
 of

00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.300
 salvation

00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:03.059
 and

00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:03.300
 beloved

00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:03.659
 I want

00:36:03.659 --> 00:36:03.860
 you to

00:36:03.860 --> 00:36:04.300
 understand

00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:04.720
 that the

00:36:04.720 --> 00:36:05.039
 scriptures

00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:05.699
 declare

00:36:05.699 --> 00:36:06.960
 that before

00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:07.960
 the foundation

00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:08.559
 of the

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:08.960
 world

00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:09.500
 he had

00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:10.059
 ordained

00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.519
 the plan

00:36:10.519 --> 00:36:11.220
 of salvation

00:36:11.220 --> 00:36:12.159
 and he

00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:12.900
 had your

00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:13.360
 name

00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:14.360
 in mind

00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:17.800
 I like

00:36:17.800 --> 00:36:18.320
 that song

00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:18.740
 that says

00:36:18.740 --> 00:36:19.420
 he knows

00:36:19.420 --> 00:36:20.139
 my name

00:36:20.139 --> 00:36:20.539
 right

00:36:20.539 --> 00:36:22.639
 it says

00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:22.859
 that

00:36:22.859 --> 00:36:23.980
 my name

00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.879
 is engraven

00:36:24.879 --> 00:36:25.460
 upon his

00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:26.079
 hands

00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:29.440
 well

00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:30.539
 in Ephesians

00:36:30.539 --> 00:36:31.139
 chapter 3

00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:31.519
 it says

00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.779
 that it's

00:36:32.779 --> 00:36:33.319
 through the

00:36:33.319 --> 00:36:33.799
 church

00:36:33.799 --> 00:36:34.379
 that the

00:36:34.379 --> 00:36:34.859
 manifold

00:36:34.859 --> 00:36:35.500
 wisdom

00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:36.339
 of God

00:36:36.339 --> 00:36:38.139
 is displayed

00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:40.079
 so let's

00:36:40.079 --> 00:36:40.519
 talk a little

00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:40.779
 bit

00:36:40.779 --> 00:36:41.739
 about God's

00:36:41.739 --> 00:36:42.039
 wisdom

00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:44.339
 Paul

00:36:44.339 --> 00:36:45.079
 is writing

00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:45.759
 here about

00:36:45.759 --> 00:36:46.400
 manifold

00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:46.940
 he uses the

00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:47.539
 word manifold

00:36:47.539 --> 00:36:48.139
 to talk about

00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:48.739
 something that

00:36:48.739 --> 00:36:49.539
 is just

00:36:49.539 --> 00:36:50.599
 everywhere you

00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:50.920
 look

00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:51.739
 it is just

00:36:51.739 --> 00:36:52.619
 incredibly

00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:54.320
 wonderful to

00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:54.699
 consider

00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:55.980
 I'm going to

00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:57.119
 oversimplify

00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:57.679
 things just

00:36:57.679 --> 00:36:58.039
 for a little

00:36:58.039 --> 00:36:58.259
 bit

00:36:58.259 --> 00:36:58.880
 but how

00:36:58.880 --> 00:36:59.259
 many of

00:36:59.259 --> 00:36:59.579
 you have

00:36:59.579 --> 00:37:00.259
 heard of

00:37:00.259 --> 00:37:00.840
 pinhead

00:37:00.840 --> 00:37:01.360
 logic

00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:02.019
 or wisdom

00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:03.360
 or pinhead

00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:03.900
 intellect

00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:04.259
 how many of

00:37:04.259 --> 00:37:04.779
 you understand

00:37:04.779 --> 00:37:06.519
 let me use

00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:07.079
 an illustration

00:37:07.079 --> 00:37:08.159
 so that I'm

00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:08.579
 going to

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:09.659
 cast stones

00:37:09.659 --> 00:37:10.320
 upon people

00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:10.900
 like me

00:37:10.900 --> 00:37:11.340
 rather than

00:37:11.340 --> 00:37:11.860
 people not

00:37:11.860 --> 00:37:12.559
 like me

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.940
 literature

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:14.500
 majors

00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.099
 you know

00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:15.320
 I mean

00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:15.739
 reading the

00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:16.139
 classics

00:37:16.139 --> 00:37:16.819
 reading 20

00:37:16.819 --> 00:37:17.319
 pages a

00:37:17.319 --> 00:37:17.460
 minute

00:37:17.460 --> 00:37:17.859
 or whatever

00:37:17.859 --> 00:37:18.199
 blah blah

00:37:18.199 --> 00:37:18.359
 blah

00:37:18.359 --> 00:37:19.119
 it's

00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:19.579
 no big

00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:20.039
 stretch

00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:20.259
 do you

00:37:20.259 --> 00:37:20.799
 follow that

00:37:20.799 --> 00:37:23.259
 you want

00:37:23.259 --> 00:37:23.440
 me to

00:37:23.440 --> 00:37:23.639
 read a

00:37:23.639 --> 00:37:23.779
 book

00:37:23.779 --> 00:37:24.039
 I can

00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:24.480
 do that

00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:26.519
 you want

00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:26.759
 me to

00:37:26.759 --> 00:37:27.019
 do a

00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:27.239
 math

00:37:27.239 --> 00:37:27.659
 problem

00:37:27.659 --> 00:37:28.039
 or figure

00:37:28.039 --> 00:37:28.239
 out

00:37:28.239 --> 00:37:28.559
 something

00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.079
 engineering

00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:29.460
 wise

00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:29.659
 it's

00:37:29.659 --> 00:37:29.759
 just

00:37:29.759 --> 00:37:30.219
 my brain

00:37:30.219 --> 00:37:30.460
 goes

00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:30.699
 kind

00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:30.779
 of

00:37:30.779 --> 00:37:31.019
 numb

00:37:31.019 --> 00:37:32.480
 okay

00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:35.119
 and that's

00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:35.339
 what I

00:37:35.339 --> 00:37:35.659
 mean by

00:37:35.659 --> 00:37:36.139
 pinhead

00:37:36.139 --> 00:37:36.519
 wisdom

00:37:36.519 --> 00:37:37.039
 or logic

00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:37.299
 you know

00:37:37.299 --> 00:37:37.859
 you're

00:37:37.859 --> 00:37:38.420
 a specialist

00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:38.779
 in a

00:37:38.779 --> 00:37:39.059
 narrow

00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:39.559
 sphere

00:37:39.559 --> 00:37:39.940
 narrow

00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:40.379
 band

00:37:40.380 --> 00:37:41.640
 I see

00:37:41.640 --> 00:37:41.920
 some of

00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:42.400
 you smiling

00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:42.800
 because you

00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:43.099
 understand

00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:43.360
 what I'm

00:37:43.360 --> 00:37:43.660
 saying

00:37:43.660 --> 00:37:44.920
 see

00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:45.500
 God's

00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:45.940
 manifold

00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:46.340
 wisdom

00:37:46.340 --> 00:37:46.780
 does the

00:37:46.780 --> 00:37:47.079
 literature

00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:47.500
 and the

00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:47.740
 math

00:37:47.740 --> 00:37:47.940
 thing

00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:48.380
 together

00:37:48.380 --> 00:37:50.140
 he gets

00:37:50.140 --> 00:37:50.400
 both

00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:50.900
 parts

00:37:50.900 --> 00:37:51.740
 in fact

00:37:51.740 --> 00:37:52.039
 listen

00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:52.300
 to me

00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:53.260
 he understands

00:37:53.260 --> 00:37:53.619
 it better

00:37:53.619 --> 00:37:54.019
 than any

00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:54.300
 of us

00:37:54.300 --> 00:37:54.940
 put together

00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:56.680
 he was

00:37:56.680 --> 00:37:56.980
 the one

00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:57.480
 who invented

00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:57.780
 it

00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:58.820
 he thought

00:37:58.820 --> 00:37:59.140
 it all

00:37:59.140 --> 00:37:59.440
 up

00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:00.440
 and he

00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:00.599
 thought

00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:00.820
 it'd be

00:38:00.820 --> 00:38:01.220
 entertaining

00:38:01.220 --> 00:38:01.640
 for us

00:38:01.640 --> 00:38:01.920
 to just

00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:02.180
 get it

00:38:02.180 --> 00:38:02.400
 a little

00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:02.559
 bit

00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:02.780
 at a

00:38:02.780 --> 00:38:03.160
 time

00:38:03.160 --> 00:38:04.680
 and

00:38:04.680 --> 00:38:05.320
 and so

00:38:05.320 --> 00:38:05.920
 as we

00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:06.440
 appreciate

00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:06.860
 God's

00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:07.200
 wisdom

00:38:07.200 --> 00:38:07.579
 let's

00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:08.019
 understand

00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:08.220
 the

00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:08.619
 difference

00:38:08.619 --> 00:38:09.220
 between

00:38:09.220 --> 00:38:09.619
 wisdom

00:38:09.619 --> 00:38:09.800
 and

00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:10.119
 knowledge

00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:10.400
 because

00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:10.579
 it

00:38:10.579 --> 00:38:10.880
 helps

00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:11.299
 us

00:38:11.299 --> 00:38:13.099
 knowledge

00:38:13.099 --> 00:38:13.579
 is the

00:38:13.579 --> 00:38:14.279
 grasp

00:38:14.279 --> 00:38:14.659
 or it

00:38:14.659 --> 00:38:14.980
 is the

00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:15.339
 it is

00:38:15.339 --> 00:38:15.599
 kind of

00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:15.759
 the

00:38:15.759 --> 00:38:16.219
 gathering

00:38:16.219 --> 00:38:16.500
 of

00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:17.059
 bits

00:38:17.059 --> 00:38:17.219
 of

00:38:17.219 --> 00:38:17.839
 information

00:38:17.839 --> 00:38:19.839
 knowledge

00:38:19.839 --> 00:38:20.500
 allows

00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:20.819
 us

00:38:20.819 --> 00:38:21.259
 to learn

00:38:21.259 --> 00:38:21.440
 the

00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:21.819
 alphabet

00:38:21.819 --> 00:38:23.779
 knowledge

00:38:23.779 --> 00:38:24.359
 allows

00:38:24.359 --> 00:38:24.719
 us

00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:25.400
 to acquire

00:38:25.400 --> 00:38:26.039
 some

00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:26.639
 understanding

00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:26.900
 of

00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:27.619
 phonics

00:38:27.619 --> 00:38:30.659
 I'm

00:38:30.659 --> 00:38:30.799
 not

00:38:30.799 --> 00:38:30.980
 going to

00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:31.099
 tell

00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:31.779
 all the

00:38:31.779 --> 00:38:32.139
 details

00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:32.380
 but

00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:33.019
 yeah

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.400
 I will

00:38:33.400 --> 00:38:34.119
 my

00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:34.639
 granddaughter

00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:35.179
 thought

00:38:35.179 --> 00:38:35.400
 that it

00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:35.519
 was

00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:35.900
 appropriate

00:38:35.900 --> 00:38:36.279
 that her

00:38:36.279 --> 00:38:36.799
 parents

00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:37.880
 give her

00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:38.380
 a banana

00:38:38.380 --> 00:38:39.900
 and the

00:38:39.900 --> 00:38:40.200
 banana

00:38:40.200 --> 00:38:40.640
 was not

00:38:40.640 --> 00:38:41.180
 arriving

00:38:41.180 --> 00:38:41.559
 at the

00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:41.960
 adequate

00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:42.440
 pace

00:38:42.440 --> 00:38:42.760
 and so

00:38:42.760 --> 00:38:43.200
 what she

00:38:43.200 --> 00:38:43.480
 tried

00:38:43.480 --> 00:38:43.740
 was a

00:38:43.740 --> 00:38:43.880
 little

00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:44.480
 phonics

00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:46.460
 na-na

00:38:46.460 --> 00:38:47.220
 you know

00:38:47.220 --> 00:38:47.500
 I mean

00:38:47.500 --> 00:38:48.440
 if you're

00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:48.920
 not getting

00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:49.320
 it break

00:38:49.320 --> 00:38:49.640
 it down

00:38:49.640 --> 00:38:49.940
 to make

00:38:49.940 --> 00:38:50.380
 it simple

00:38:50.380 --> 00:38:50.680
 right

00:38:50.680 --> 00:38:51.579
 na-na

00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:53.579
 wisdom

00:38:53.579 --> 00:38:55.380
 wisdom

00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:56.799
 is

00:38:56.799 --> 00:38:57.360
 more

00:38:57.360 --> 00:38:57.599
 than

00:38:57.599 --> 00:38:58.219
 knowledge

00:38:58.219 --> 00:38:59.659
 wisdom

00:38:59.659 --> 00:39:00.319
 allows

00:39:00.319 --> 00:39:01.219
 a person

00:39:01.219 --> 00:39:01.900
 who has

00:39:01.900 --> 00:39:02.400
 gathered

00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:02.659
 the

00:39:02.659 --> 00:39:03.059
 alphabet

00:39:03.059 --> 00:39:03.400
 and

00:39:03.400 --> 00:39:03.860
 understood

00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:04.519
 phonics

00:39:04.519 --> 00:39:05.340
 to read

00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:05.880
 history

00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:06.659
 and figure

00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:06.920
 out

00:39:06.920 --> 00:39:07.340
 I don't

00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:07.659
 want to

00:39:07.659 --> 00:39:07.819
 do

00:39:07.819 --> 00:39:08.299
 that

00:39:08.299 --> 00:39:10.079
 how many

00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:10.179
 of you

00:39:10.179 --> 00:39:10.519
 understand

00:39:10.519 --> 00:39:10.679
 the

00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:11.139
 difference

00:39:11.139 --> 00:39:13.000
 wisdom

00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:13.619
 allows

00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.000
 us

00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:14.500
 to take

00:39:14.500 --> 00:39:14.940
 the

00:39:14.940 --> 00:39:15.460
 data

00:39:15.460 --> 00:39:15.900
 of

00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:16.400
 life

00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:16.900
 and

00:39:16.900 --> 00:39:17.299
 make

00:39:17.299 --> 00:39:17.779
 good

00:39:17.779 --> 00:39:18.340
 judgments

00:39:18.340 --> 00:39:18.639
 and

00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:19.199
 decisions

00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:20.259
 and wisdom

00:39:20.259 --> 00:39:20.799
 allows

00:39:20.799 --> 00:39:21.239
 the

00:39:21.239 --> 00:39:21.659
 believer

00:39:21.659 --> 00:39:22.199
 to

00:39:22.199 --> 00:39:22.779
 realize

00:39:22.779 --> 00:39:23.460
 if I

00:39:23.460 --> 00:39:23.879
 do

00:39:23.879 --> 00:39:24.219
 this

00:39:24.219 --> 00:39:24.439
 I

00:39:24.439 --> 00:39:24.839
 please

00:39:24.839 --> 00:39:25.419
 Christ

00:39:25.419 --> 00:39:26.119
 if I

00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:26.419
 do

00:39:26.419 --> 00:39:26.899
 that

00:39:26.899 --> 00:39:27.399
 I

00:39:27.399 --> 00:39:28.079
 harm

00:39:28.079 --> 00:39:28.519
 the

00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:29.039
 testimony

00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:29.339
 of

00:39:29.339 --> 00:39:29.679
 Christ

00:39:29.679 --> 00:39:30.119
 and

00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:30.279
 I

00:39:30.279 --> 00:39:30.639
 bring

00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:31.539
 heartache

00:39:31.539 --> 00:39:31.899
 on

00:39:31.899 --> 00:39:32.439
 myself

00:39:32.439 --> 00:39:32.679
 and

00:39:32.679 --> 00:39:33.179
 others

00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:37.219
 I want

00:39:37.219 --> 00:39:37.399
 you to

00:39:37.399 --> 00:39:37.779
 understand

00:39:37.779 --> 00:39:38.339
 that Paul

00:39:38.339 --> 00:39:39.079
 speaks of

00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:39.619
 the church

00:39:39.619 --> 00:39:40.559
 as being

00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:41.139
 and follow

00:39:41.139 --> 00:39:41.480
 this

00:39:41.480 --> 00:39:42.739
 the manifold

00:39:42.739 --> 00:39:43.819
 declaration

00:39:43.819 --> 00:39:44.579
 of the

00:39:44.579 --> 00:39:44.859
 wisdom

00:39:44.859 --> 00:39:45.419
 of God

00:39:45.419 --> 00:39:48.279
 he says

00:39:48.279 --> 00:39:48.539
 that

00:39:48.539 --> 00:39:49.500
 God

00:39:49.500 --> 00:39:50.360
 intends

00:39:50.360 --> 00:39:50.920
 for the

00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:51.360
 church

00:39:51.360 --> 00:39:51.619
 the

00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:52.079
 gathering

00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:52.619
 together

00:39:52.619 --> 00:39:53.400
 us

00:39:53.400 --> 00:39:53.900
 as a

00:39:53.900 --> 00:39:54.340
 body

00:39:54.340 --> 00:39:56.139
 to be

00:39:56.139 --> 00:39:56.619
 something

00:39:56.619 --> 00:39:56.980
 that

00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:57.500
 causes

00:39:57.500 --> 00:39:58.460
 others

00:39:58.460 --> 00:39:59.079
 to say

00:39:59.079 --> 00:39:59.920
 wow

00:39:59.920 --> 00:40:00.779
 what

00:40:00.779 --> 00:40:01.159
 did

00:40:01.159 --> 00:40:01.360
 you

00:40:01.360 --> 00:40:01.940
 do

00:40:01.940 --> 00:40:03.039
 how

00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:03.239
 did

00:40:03.239 --> 00:40:03.480
 that

00:40:03.480 --> 00:40:04.099
 happen

00:40:04.099 --> 00:40:07.259
 I

00:40:07.259 --> 00:40:07.440
 want

00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:07.619
 you to

00:40:07.619 --> 00:40:07.840
 look at

00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:08.199
 one other

00:40:08.199 --> 00:40:08.539
 thing

00:40:08.539 --> 00:40:08.920
 and

00:40:08.920 --> 00:40:09.300
 ponder

00:40:09.300 --> 00:40:09.759
 with me

00:40:09.759 --> 00:40:10.400
 the

00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:10.920
 thought

00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:11.320
 behind

00:40:11.320 --> 00:40:11.699
 this

00:40:11.699 --> 00:40:12.420
 Ephesians

00:40:12.420 --> 00:40:12.800
 chapter

00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:13.400
 3

00:40:13.400 --> 00:40:15.400
 verse

00:40:15.400 --> 00:40:16.400
 10

00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:16.860
 it says

00:40:16.860 --> 00:40:17.199
 so that

00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:17.539
 through the

00:40:17.539 --> 00:40:17.779
 church

00:40:17.779 --> 00:40:18.259
 the manifold

00:40:18.260 --> 00:40:18.660
 wisdom

00:40:18.660 --> 00:40:19.060
 of God

00:40:19.060 --> 00:40:19.640
 might

00:40:19.640 --> 00:40:20.120
 now be

00:40:20.120 --> 00:40:20.420
 made

00:40:20.420 --> 00:40:20.660
 known

00:40:20.660 --> 00:40:20.980
 to the

00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:21.260
 rulers

00:40:21.260 --> 00:40:21.540
 and

00:40:21.540 --> 00:40:22.040
 authorities

00:40:22.040 --> 00:40:22.340
 in

00:40:22.340 --> 00:40:22.680
 heavenly

00:40:22.680 --> 00:40:23.160
 places

00:40:23.160 --> 00:40:24.180
 why

00:40:24.180 --> 00:40:24.820
 is it

00:40:24.820 --> 00:40:25.080
 that

00:40:25.080 --> 00:40:25.500
 God

00:40:25.500 --> 00:40:25.780
 was

00:40:25.780 --> 00:40:26.400
 interested

00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:27.000
 in

00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:27.740
 demonstrating

00:40:27.740 --> 00:40:28.120
 his

00:40:28.120 --> 00:40:28.740
 manifold

00:40:28.740 --> 00:40:29.200
 wisdom

00:40:29.200 --> 00:40:30.000
 in the

00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:30.360
 heavenly

00:40:30.360 --> 00:40:31.220
 places

00:40:31.220 --> 00:40:38.860
 this

00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:39.120
 would be

00:40:39.120 --> 00:40:39.320
 way

00:40:39.320 --> 00:40:39.700
 beyond me

00:40:39.700 --> 00:40:39.940
 but I

00:40:39.940 --> 00:40:40.060
 think

00:40:40.060 --> 00:40:40.180
 it's

00:40:40.180 --> 00:40:40.360
 a good

00:40:40.360 --> 00:40:40.800
 illustration

00:40:40.800 --> 00:40:41.700
 let's

00:40:41.700 --> 00:40:41.840
 just

00:40:41.840 --> 00:40:42.200
 pretend

00:40:42.200 --> 00:40:43.780
 that I

00:40:43.780 --> 00:40:43.980
 would

00:40:43.980 --> 00:40:44.460
 pull down

00:40:44.460 --> 00:40:45.220
 a chalkboard

00:40:45.220 --> 00:40:45.520
 here

00:40:45.519 --> 00:40:45.820
 and it

00:40:45.820 --> 00:40:45.980
 would

00:40:45.980 --> 00:40:46.280
 drop

00:40:46.280 --> 00:40:46.579
 down

00:40:46.579 --> 00:40:46.759
 and

00:40:46.759 --> 00:40:47.259
 I

00:40:47.259 --> 00:40:47.440
 would

00:40:47.440 --> 00:40:47.739
 begin

00:40:47.739 --> 00:40:48.199
 writing

00:40:48.199 --> 00:40:48.619
 some

00:40:48.619 --> 00:40:49.119
 very

00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:49.440
 very

00:40:49.440 --> 00:40:50.300
 complicated

00:40:50.300 --> 00:40:51.340
 mathematical

00:40:51.340 --> 00:40:52.059
 equation

00:40:52.059 --> 00:40:54.019
 a problem

00:40:54.019 --> 00:40:56.860
 and

00:40:56.860 --> 00:40:57.480
 then I

00:40:57.480 --> 00:40:57.960
 began to

00:40:57.960 --> 00:40:58.559
 work through

00:40:58.559 --> 00:40:59.259
 that problem

00:40:59.259 --> 00:40:59.579
 and I

00:40:59.579 --> 00:41:00.079
 came out

00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:00.380
 with the

00:41:00.380 --> 00:41:00.719
 answer

00:41:00.719 --> 00:41:01.059
 at the

00:41:01.059 --> 00:41:01.340
 end

00:41:01.340 --> 00:41:02.539
 most of

00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:02.699
 you

00:41:02.699 --> 00:41:03.259
 probably

00:41:03.259 --> 00:41:03.719
 wouldn't

00:41:03.719 --> 00:41:03.920
 be

00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:04.500
 impressed

00:41:04.500 --> 00:41:05.960
 do you

00:41:05.960 --> 00:41:06.099
 know

00:41:06.099 --> 00:41:06.559
 why

00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:08.980
 here's

00:41:08.980 --> 00:41:09.420
 the answer

00:41:09.420 --> 00:41:10.480
 because

00:41:10.480 --> 00:41:11.000
 probably

00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:11.659
 most of

00:41:11.659 --> 00:41:11.800
 you

00:41:11.800 --> 00:41:11.900
 are

00:41:11.900 --> 00:41:12.539
 marginally

00:41:12.539 --> 00:41:12.860
 like

00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:13.180
 me

00:41:13.180 --> 00:41:13.680
 and

00:41:13.680 --> 00:41:13.980
 math

00:41:13.980 --> 00:41:14.139
 is

00:41:14.139 --> 00:41:14.320
 one

00:41:14.320 --> 00:41:14.420
 of

00:41:14.420 --> 00:41:14.599
 those

00:41:14.599 --> 00:41:14.940
 dark

00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:15.240
 skill

00:41:15.240 --> 00:41:15.579
 sets

00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:15.780
 that

00:41:15.780 --> 00:41:15.960
 should

00:41:15.960 --> 00:41:16.119
 be

00:41:16.119 --> 00:41:16.460
 enjoyed

00:41:16.460 --> 00:41:16.680
 by

00:41:16.680 --> 00:41:16.900
 other

00:41:16.900 --> 00:41:17.340
 people

00:41:17.340 --> 00:41:18.500
 do you

00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:18.700
 follow

00:41:18.700 --> 00:41:19.000
 that

00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:20.599
 but if

00:41:20.599 --> 00:41:21.039
 the room

00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:21.920
 was full

00:41:21.920 --> 00:41:22.820
 of

00:41:22.820 --> 00:41:23.300
 math

00:41:23.300 --> 00:41:23.940
 scholars

00:41:23.940 --> 00:41:24.300
 and

00:41:24.300 --> 00:41:24.880
 professors

00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:25.680
 and the

00:41:25.680 --> 00:41:26.059
 finest

00:41:26.059 --> 00:41:26.700
 sharpest

00:41:26.700 --> 00:41:27.519
 mathematicians

00:41:27.519 --> 00:41:27.820
 in the

00:41:27.820 --> 00:41:28.159
 world

00:41:28.159 --> 00:41:28.840
 and they

00:41:28.840 --> 00:41:29.320
 saw me

00:41:29.320 --> 00:41:29.880
 pull down

00:41:29.880 --> 00:41:30.599
 the chalkboard

00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:31.180
 and then

00:41:31.180 --> 00:41:31.559
 they saw

00:41:31.559 --> 00:41:31.720
 me

00:41:31.720 --> 00:41:31.960
 begin

00:41:31.960 --> 00:41:32.139
 to

00:41:32.139 --> 00:41:32.380
 lay

00:41:32.380 --> 00:41:32.619
 out

00:41:32.619 --> 00:41:33.099
 this

00:41:33.099 --> 00:41:33.480
 just

00:41:33.480 --> 00:41:34.280
 incredibly

00:41:34.280 --> 00:41:35.099
 complex

00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:35.960
 equation

00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:36.619
 and then

00:41:36.619 --> 00:41:37.039
 they saw

00:41:37.039 --> 00:41:37.240
 me

00:41:37.240 --> 00:41:37.619
 answer

00:41:37.619 --> 00:41:37.820
 it

00:41:37.820 --> 00:41:37.820


00:41:37.820 --> 00:41:38.220
 they'd

00:41:38.220 --> 00:41:38.420
 say

00:41:38.420 --> 00:41:39.100
 wow

00:41:39.100 --> 00:41:39.480
 that

00:41:39.480 --> 00:41:39.700
 was

00:41:39.700 --> 00:41:40.140
 good

00:41:40.140 --> 00:41:41.580
 see

00:41:41.580 --> 00:41:41.820
 the

00:41:41.820 --> 00:41:42.380
 angels

00:41:42.380 --> 00:41:42.960
 can

00:41:42.960 --> 00:41:43.480
 appreciate

00:41:43.480 --> 00:41:44.120
 the

00:41:44.120 --> 00:41:44.680
 glory

00:41:44.680 --> 00:41:45.260
 of

00:41:45.260 --> 00:41:45.660
 God's

00:41:45.660 --> 00:41:46.059
 wisdom

00:41:46.059 --> 00:41:46.660
 because

00:41:46.660 --> 00:41:47.320
 they

00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:47.519
 are

00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:47.780
 not

00:41:47.780 --> 00:41:48.059
 as

00:41:48.059 --> 00:41:48.940
 handicapped

00:41:48.940 --> 00:41:49.580
 by their

00:41:49.580 --> 00:41:50.100
 sinfulness

00:41:50.100 --> 00:41:50.539
 as we

00:41:50.539 --> 00:41:50.920
 are

00:41:50.920 --> 00:41:52.780
 and

00:41:52.780 --> 00:41:53.100
 they

00:41:53.100 --> 00:41:53.539
 look

00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:53.700
 at

00:41:53.700 --> 00:41:53.880
 the

00:41:53.880 --> 00:41:54.519
 marvel

00:41:54.519 --> 00:41:55.039
 of

00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:55.220
 what

00:41:55.220 --> 00:41:55.700
 God

00:41:55.700 --> 00:41:56.000
 has

00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:56.440
 done

00:41:56.440 --> 00:41:56.960
 in

00:41:56.960 --> 00:41:57.640
 salvation

00:41:57.640 --> 00:41:58.220
 of

00:41:58.220 --> 00:41:58.539
 taking

00:41:58.539 --> 00:41:58.960
 people

00:41:58.960 --> 00:41:59.220
 like

00:41:59.220 --> 00:41:59.559
 me

00:41:59.559 --> 00:42:00.000
 and

00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:00.260
 taking

00:42:00.260 --> 00:42:00.640
 people

00:42:00.640 --> 00:42:00.920
 like

00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:01.240
 you

00:42:01.240 --> 00:42:01.760
 and

00:42:01.760 --> 00:42:02.200
 drawing

00:42:02.200 --> 00:42:02.460
 us

00:42:02.460 --> 00:42:02.740
 out

00:42:02.740 --> 00:42:02.860
 of

00:42:02.860 --> 00:42:03.039
 the

00:42:03.039 --> 00:42:03.600
 bankruptcy

00:42:03.600 --> 00:42:03.940
 of

00:42:03.940 --> 00:42:04.100
 our

00:42:04.100 --> 00:42:04.380
 heart

00:42:04.380 --> 00:42:04.780
 and

00:42:04.780 --> 00:42:05.059
 making

00:42:05.059 --> 00:42:05.240
 us

00:42:05.240 --> 00:42:05.620
 part

00:42:05.620 --> 00:42:05.720
 of

00:42:05.720 --> 00:42:05.820
 the

00:42:05.820 --> 00:42:06.140
 family

00:42:06.140 --> 00:42:06.360
 of

00:42:06.360 --> 00:42:06.620
 God

00:42:06.620 --> 00:42:07.039
 and

00:42:07.039 --> 00:42:07.199
 then

00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:07.719
 appointing

00:42:07.719 --> 00:42:07.920
 us

00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:08.460
 to be

00:42:08.460 --> 00:42:09.139
 ambassadors

00:42:09.139 --> 00:42:09.719
 for the

00:42:09.719 --> 00:42:10.139
 king

00:42:10.139 --> 00:42:10.579
 and

00:42:10.579 --> 00:42:10.759
 they're

00:42:10.759 --> 00:42:11.039
 sitting

00:42:11.039 --> 00:42:11.380
 up there

00:42:11.380 --> 00:42:11.619
 saying

00:42:11.619 --> 00:42:12.500
 wow

00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:14.639
 got that

00:42:14.639 --> 00:42:20.159
 if the

00:42:20.159 --> 00:42:20.559
 church

00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:21.239
 is so

00:42:21.239 --> 00:42:21.779
 important

00:42:21.779 --> 00:42:22.079
 to

00:42:22.079 --> 00:42:22.719
 Christ

00:42:22.719 --> 00:42:24.199
 and

00:42:24.199 --> 00:42:24.400
 the

00:42:24.400 --> 00:42:24.699
 church

00:42:24.699 --> 00:42:25.340
 declares

00:42:25.340 --> 00:42:25.820
 the

00:42:25.820 --> 00:42:26.279
 manifold

00:42:26.279 --> 00:42:26.900
 wisdom

00:42:26.900 --> 00:42:27.139
 of

00:42:27.139 --> 00:42:27.820
 God

00:42:27.820 --> 00:42:30.019
 what

00:42:30.019 --> 00:42:30.320
 has

00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:30.820
 happened

00:42:30.820 --> 00:42:31.420
 to our

00:42:31.420 --> 00:42:31.980
 contemporary

00:42:31.980 --> 00:42:32.719
 culture

00:42:32.719 --> 00:42:34.719
 church

00:42:34.719 --> 00:42:34.799
 that

00:42:34.799 --> 00:42:34.959
 the

00:42:34.959 --> 00:42:35.259
 church

00:42:35.259 --> 00:42:35.480
 has

00:42:35.480 --> 00:42:35.679
 been

00:42:35.679 --> 00:42:36.559
 marginalized

00:42:36.559 --> 00:42:37.459
 in

00:42:37.459 --> 00:42:37.679
 the

00:42:37.679 --> 00:42:38.480
 lives

00:42:38.480 --> 00:42:38.699
 of

00:42:38.699 --> 00:42:39.099
 so

00:42:39.099 --> 00:42:39.539
 many

00:42:39.539 --> 00:42:40.079
 people

00:42:40.079 --> 00:42:40.559
 today

00:42:40.559 --> 00:42:45.339
 church

00:42:45.339 --> 00:42:45.539
 is

00:42:45.539 --> 00:42:45.899
 somewhere

00:42:45.899 --> 00:42:46.219
 I

00:42:46.219 --> 00:42:46.719
 go

00:42:46.719 --> 00:42:48.259
 if it

00:42:48.259 --> 00:42:48.679
 doesn't

00:42:48.679 --> 00:42:49.339
 interfere

00:42:49.339 --> 00:42:51.039
 with

00:42:51.039 --> 00:42:51.659
 sports

00:42:51.659 --> 00:42:53.599
 or with

00:42:53.599 --> 00:42:53.859
 my

00:42:53.859 --> 00:42:54.739
 personal

00:42:54.739 --> 00:42:56.199
 self

00:42:56.199 --> 00:42:57.059
 preferences

00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:58.779
 or

00:42:58.779 --> 00:42:59.579
 my

00:42:59.579 --> 00:43:00.320
 vacations

00:43:00.320 --> 00:43:02.000
 my

00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:03.279
 luxuries

00:43:03.279 --> 00:43:06.279
 if the

00:43:06.279 --> 00:43:06.679
 church

00:43:06.679 --> 00:43:07.679
 is so

00:43:07.679 --> 00:43:08.559
 important

00:43:08.559 --> 00:43:09.099
 to

00:43:09.099 --> 00:43:09.619
 Christ

00:43:09.619 --> 00:43:13.099
 the

00:43:13.099 --> 00:43:13.460
 thing

00:43:13.460 --> 00:43:13.860
 that would

00:43:13.860 --> 00:43:14.539
 lead us

00:43:14.539 --> 00:43:15.699
 to diminish

00:43:15.699 --> 00:43:16.019
 its

00:43:16.019 --> 00:43:16.579
 significance

00:43:16.579 --> 00:43:18.360
 is that

00:43:18.360 --> 00:43:18.739
 we have

00:43:18.739 --> 00:43:19.420
 been snared

00:43:19.420 --> 00:43:19.940
 by an

00:43:19.940 --> 00:43:20.739
 idolatry

00:43:20.739 --> 00:43:22.659
 that

00:43:22.659 --> 00:43:23.179
 replaces

00:43:23.179 --> 00:43:23.479
 the

00:43:23.479 --> 00:43:23.759
 glory

00:43:23.759 --> 00:43:23.959
 of

00:43:23.959 --> 00:43:24.299
 God

00:43:24.299 --> 00:43:25.519
 with

00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:25.679
 our

00:43:25.679 --> 00:43:25.919
 own

00:43:25.919 --> 00:43:27.639
 and

00:43:27.639 --> 00:43:27.979
 leads

00:43:27.979 --> 00:43:28.179
 us

00:43:28.179 --> 00:43:28.379
 to

00:43:28.379 --> 00:43:28.979
 profound

00:43:28.979 --> 00:43:30.279
 dissatisfaction

00:43:30.279 --> 00:43:32.539
 and

00:43:32.539 --> 00:43:33.039
 spiritual

00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:33.479
 emptiness

00:43:33.479 --> 00:43:35.679
 and I

00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:36.099
 would plead

00:43:36.099 --> 00:43:36.419
 with you

00:43:36.419 --> 00:43:36.739
 beloved

00:43:36.739 --> 00:43:38.519
 this

00:43:38.519 --> 00:43:38.939
 morning

00:43:38.939 --> 00:43:39.259
 this

00:43:39.259 --> 00:43:39.739
 passage

00:43:39.739 --> 00:43:40.219
 opens

00:43:40.219 --> 00:43:40.500
 up

00:43:40.500 --> 00:43:40.659
 and

00:43:40.659 --> 00:43:41.000
 helps

00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:41.219
 us

00:43:41.219 --> 00:43:41.559
 see

00:43:41.559 --> 00:43:42.199
 that

00:43:42.199 --> 00:43:42.500
 being

00:43:42.500 --> 00:43:42.859
 part

00:43:42.859 --> 00:43:42.979
 of

00:43:42.979 --> 00:43:43.159
 the

00:43:43.159 --> 00:43:43.539
 church

00:43:43.539 --> 00:43:44.099
 is

00:43:44.099 --> 00:43:44.299
 a

00:43:44.299 --> 00:43:45.039
 supremely

00:43:45.039 --> 00:43:45.859
 wonderful

00:43:45.859 --> 00:43:46.719
 blessing

00:43:46.719 --> 00:43:47.439
 that

00:43:47.439 --> 00:43:48.039
 angels

00:43:48.039 --> 00:43:48.459
 kind of

00:43:48.459 --> 00:43:48.799
 look at

00:43:48.799 --> 00:43:49.139
 and say

00:43:49.139 --> 00:43:50.000
 wow

00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:53.159
 and you

00:43:53.159 --> 00:43:53.380
 ought to

00:43:53.380 --> 00:43:53.739
 think that

00:43:53.739 --> 00:43:54.159
 way too

00:43:54.159 --> 00:43:56.599
 let's

00:43:56.599 --> 00:43:57.000
 close in

00:43:57.000 --> 00:43:57.300
 prayer

00:43:57.300 --> 00:44:02.500
 beloved

00:44:02.500 --> 00:44:02.860
 father

00:44:02.860 --> 00:44:03.239
 as we

00:44:03.239 --> 00:44:03.579
 consider

00:44:03.579 --> 00:44:03.760
 the

00:44:03.760 --> 00:44:04.119
 glory

00:44:04.119 --> 00:44:04.860
 of the

00:44:04.860 --> 00:44:05.320
 cross

00:44:05.320 --> 00:44:06.719
 and the

00:44:06.719 --> 00:44:07.139
 plan of

00:44:07.139 --> 00:44:07.639
 salvation

00:44:07.639 --> 00:44:08.320
 that you

00:44:08.320 --> 00:44:09.000
 have revealed

00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:09.460
 to us

00:44:09.460 --> 00:44:09.760
 through the

00:44:09.760 --> 00:44:10.219
 Lord Jesus

00:44:10.219 --> 00:44:10.760
 Christ

00:44:10.760 --> 00:44:12.719
 we find

00:44:12.719 --> 00:44:13.179
 our joy

00:44:13.179 --> 00:44:13.500
 and our

00:44:13.500 --> 00:44:14.159
 satisfaction

00:44:14.159 --> 00:44:14.760
 today

00:44:14.760 --> 00:44:15.519
 as believers

00:44:15.519 --> 00:44:16.880
 in saying

00:44:16.880 --> 00:44:18.019
 you are

00:44:18.019 --> 00:44:18.780
 our savior

00:44:18.780 --> 00:44:19.219
 and our

00:44:19.219 --> 00:44:19.599
 Lord

00:44:19.599 --> 00:44:20.279
 and our

00:44:20.279 --> 00:44:20.719
 lives

00:44:20.719 --> 00:44:21.279
 belong

00:44:21.279 --> 00:44:21.679
 to you

00:44:21.679 --> 00:44:22.000
 and we

00:44:22.000 --> 00:44:22.539
 do not

00:44:22.539 --> 00:44:22.960
 want to

00:44:22.960 --> 00:44:23.239
 fall

00:44:23.239 --> 00:44:23.619
 into the

00:44:23.619 --> 00:44:23.980
 snare

00:44:23.980 --> 00:44:25.179
 of idolatry

00:44:25.179 --> 00:44:25.500
 that would

00:44:25.500 --> 00:44:26.279
 rob us

00:44:26.279 --> 00:44:27.019
 of being

00:44:27.019 --> 00:44:27.559
 part

00:44:27.559 --> 00:44:27.960
 of the

00:44:27.960 --> 00:44:28.440
 glory

00:44:28.440 --> 00:44:30.659
 and for

00:44:30.659 --> 00:44:31.119
 those who

00:44:31.119 --> 00:44:31.460
 are here

00:44:31.460 --> 00:44:31.779
 today

00:44:31.779 --> 00:44:32.199
 that do

00:44:32.199 --> 00:44:32.599
 not know

00:44:32.599 --> 00:44:33.099
 Christ

00:44:33.099 --> 00:44:34.619
 father

00:44:34.619 --> 00:44:35.000
 it is

00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:35.259
 my

00:44:35.259 --> 00:44:35.699
 plea

00:44:35.699 --> 00:44:36.980
 it is

00:44:36.980 --> 00:44:37.179
 my

00:44:37.179 --> 00:44:37.579
 prayer

00:44:37.579 --> 00:44:38.900
 that your

00:44:38.900 --> 00:44:39.279
 spirit

00:44:39.279 --> 00:44:39.839
 would draw

00:44:39.839 --> 00:44:40.299
 them to

00:44:40.299 --> 00:44:40.860
 the cross

00:44:40.860 --> 00:44:41.539
 this morning

00:44:41.539 --> 00:44:42.519
 that they

00:44:42.519 --> 00:44:43.619
 with humility

00:44:43.619 --> 00:44:44.179
 would be

00:44:44.179 --> 00:44:44.739
 willing to

00:44:44.739 --> 00:44:45.019
 say

00:44:45.019 --> 00:44:46.179
 I stand

00:44:46.179 --> 00:44:46.900
 justly

00:44:46.900 --> 00:44:47.319
 condemned

00:44:47.319 --> 00:44:47.839
 before a

00:44:47.839 --> 00:44:48.460
 holy God

00:44:48.460 --> 00:44:49.220
 and there

00:44:49.220 --> 00:44:49.720
 is no

00:44:49.720 --> 00:44:50.059
 hope

00:44:50.059 --> 00:44:50.519
 for me

00:44:50.519 --> 00:44:51.159
 apart

00:44:51.159 --> 00:44:51.679
 from what

00:44:51.679 --> 00:44:52.079
 Jesus

00:44:52.079 --> 00:44:52.559
 did on

00:44:52.559 --> 00:44:53.059
 the cross

00:44:53.059 --> 00:44:54.059
 of paying

00:44:54.059 --> 00:44:55.280
 my debt

00:44:55.280 --> 00:44:57.360
 and I

00:44:57.360 --> 00:44:58.199
 will gladly

00:44:58.199 --> 00:44:58.720
 humble

00:44:58.720 --> 00:44:59.300
 myself

00:44:59.300 --> 00:45:00.380
 and cast

00:45:00.380 --> 00:45:00.940
 myself

00:45:00.940 --> 00:45:01.780
 upon the

00:45:01.780 --> 00:45:02.300
 mercy of

00:45:02.300 --> 00:45:02.659
 Christ

00:45:02.659 --> 00:45:03.480
 and ask

00:45:03.480 --> 00:45:03.820
 him to

00:45:03.820 --> 00:45:04.460
 save me

00:45:04.460 --> 00:45:07.500
 we pray

00:45:07.500 --> 00:45:07.820
 that in

00:45:07.820 --> 00:45:08.260
 your name

00:45:08.260 --> 00:45:09.199
 amen

00:45:09.199 --> 00:45:11.199
 to

00:45:11.199 --> 00:45:12.139
 him

00:45:12.139 --> 00:45:12.139


00:45:12.139 --> 00:45:12.839
 him

00:45:12.839 --> 00:45:13.699
 to

00:45:13.699 --> 00:45:13.699


00:45:13.699 --> 00:45:14.799
 to

00:45:14.799 --> 00:45:14.799


00:45:14.799 --> 00:45:14.799


00:45:14.799 --> 00:45:14.799


00:45:14.799 --> 00:45:14.799