WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.240 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:15.419 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:30.339 My name is Chelsea and I'm part of the Alameda Community Group. 00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:33.140 A reading from Paul's letter to the Philippians. 00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:39.259 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, 00:00:39.259 --> 00:00:45.960 together with the overseers and deacons, grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:48.599 I thank my God every time I remember you. 00:00:49.060 --> 00:00:54.239 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel 00:00:54.239 --> 00:00:57.599 from the first day until now, being confident of this, 00:00:57.959 --> 00:01:03.500 that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:08.420 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart, 00:01:08.420 --> 00:01:12.299 and whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, 00:01:12.659 --> 00:01:15.040 all of you share in God's grace with me. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:19.560 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:25.319 And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:30.659 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:34.040 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, 00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:36.040 to the glory and praise of God. 00:01:36.379 --> 00:01:37.560 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:39.379 Thanks be to God. 00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:41.780 Good morning. 00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:46.020 Let's go to the Lord in prayer as we open up his word. 00:01:48.900 --> 00:01:56.180 Lord, we pray that your breath would indeed go forth toward us in the preaching of your word, 00:01:57.240 --> 00:02:01.620 that we'd hear what you have to say, that we'd get a window into your heart. 00:02:01.620 --> 00:02:07.280 Lord, would you shape us in the preaching of your word, in the receiving of your word, 00:02:07.380 --> 00:02:10.560 and in the application of your precious word? 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:16.020 And would we be those kinds of disciples to do everything that Jesus commanded us to do? 00:02:16.020 --> 00:02:19.800 So use your means of grace, we pray this morning in the name of Jesus. 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:20.780 Amen. 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:20.819 Amen. 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:27.360 You know, for those of you who missed our biannual congregational meeting last week, 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:29.639 I have to say that you really missed out, okay? 00:02:29.659 --> 00:02:34.240 I think you really missed out because not only was it nice and concise and informative, 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:39.900 but more than that, I think you got really a glimpse into the hearts of your leaders, 00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:44.900 the elders of Christ Church East Bay, whether it was Brian and Tonya sharing their delight 00:02:44.900 --> 00:02:48.100 over all the fruit that we've been seeing in Alpha, having these spiritual conversations 00:02:48.100 --> 00:02:53.000 with people exploring Christianity, whether it was Wes and Lori's humorous and heartfelt 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:57.180 invitation to build community with us at the All Church retreat. 00:02:57.180 --> 00:02:59.719 By the way, registration's open, so get on that. 00:02:59.860 --> 00:03:05.879 Or Jesus' shepherdly update on our safety protocols, Karen's invitation to prayerfully consider, 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:09.260 you know, who we might nominate as an elder or a deacon in this church. 00:03:09.340 --> 00:03:16.439 Or, you know, Bill, Bill Barnes' kind of signature, slightly meandering, extemporaneous bit about 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:21.520 just how much he loves this church and how thankful he is for all of you and your generosity. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:23.020 It was a great meeting. 00:03:23.020 --> 00:03:29.719 But, you know, for me, I think what the highlight was for me was hearing lastly from Jonathan. 00:03:29.920 --> 00:03:32.680 I personally found that pretty moving. 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:39.200 And I felt like we got an unfiltered glimpse into the heart of our lead pastor. 00:03:39.320 --> 00:03:42.140 I think his opening words were something like, I love you. 00:03:42.640 --> 00:03:43.700 I love this church. 00:03:43.780 --> 00:03:45.240 I love you, Christ Church. 00:03:45.320 --> 00:03:49.080 And then he proceeded to share with us how he's been processing, you know, being one of 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:53.780 our founding pastors, having led this church for the past 19 years, and how he's committed 00:03:53.780 --> 00:03:56.080 to leading us into the next decade. 00:03:56.300 --> 00:03:59.520 And man, I felt that when he shared that with us. 00:03:59.540 --> 00:04:03.460 As someone who gets to work closely with him, it wasn't hard for me to believe what he said. 00:04:03.640 --> 00:04:05.320 He loves this church. 00:04:05.420 --> 00:04:09.300 And it's been easy for me as the associate pastor here to follow him. 00:04:09.300 --> 00:04:14.740 And he's led, as he's led our church in these past five years toward, you know, a healthy 00:04:14.740 --> 00:04:20.560 united session of elders, a community of faith that's longing for revival in our time, in 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:26.879 our city, and a church that's committed to and growing in prayer, getting on our knees before 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:32.060 the Lord, a church that's also, you know, intentional about engaging those who are not yet disciples 00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:34.080 of Christ with the gospel. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:39.899 And I really hope that you've been able to see that with me, Jonathan's leadership in 00:04:39.899 --> 00:04:41.839 that way, and his heart for this church. 00:04:42.419 --> 00:04:45.800 You know, Jonathan's not perfect, only Jesus is, but he's been faithful. 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:50.659 And there is no doubt in my mind that he really loves Christ Church. 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:53.139 I mean, in many ways, this church is kind of like his baby. 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:57.860 I mean, he kind of gave birth to this church with Catherine before they had Constance. 00:04:57.860 --> 00:05:03.080 And as a founding pastor, I can see that just like his children will always have his heart 00:05:03.080 --> 00:05:09.800 and always occupy his mind, maybe even keep him up late at night, so also is Christ Church 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:10.699 to him. 00:05:11.259 --> 00:05:15.540 And I share this not to make much of Jonathan, but because I think that this heart that I 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:19.040 hope many of us see in our lead pastor, hopefully in me too, right? 00:05:19.139 --> 00:05:19.300 All right. 00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:26.720 But again, I share this because I think Jonathan's heart for this church is a helpful illustration 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:31.220 of the Apostle Paul's heart for the church in Philippi, all right? 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:36.360 Today we're starting our sermon series in this letter to the Philippians from Paul. 00:05:36.699 --> 00:05:41.660 And like Christ Church to Jonathan, the church in Philippi was Paul's baby. 00:05:42.620 --> 00:05:47.240 And this morning, we'll be looking at the first 11 verses of his letter to these people 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:47.860 in Philippi. 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:52.300 And man, unless you, you know, weren't really paying attention, Paul pretty much spends these 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:57.519 first 11 verses in this letter just gushing over this church in Philippi. 00:05:58.199 --> 00:06:03.759 And that's what I want us to pay attention to today, Paul's unmistakable, undeniable, unwavering 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:06.360 affection for this church in Philippi. 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:09.400 So what we're going to do is we're going to walk through this text verse by verse, and we're 00:06:09.400 --> 00:06:15.759 going to try hard to pay special attention to Paul's heart as he writes this letter, okay? 00:06:16.400 --> 00:06:16.960 So let's go. 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:20.759 Verse 1, Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:24.159 And I'll stop us right there because, you know, often in Paul's letters, he'll assert 00:06:24.159 --> 00:06:28.259 his authority from the very beginning, especially for the more, you know, contentious and challenging 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:29.599 churches, maybe like the Corinthians. 00:06:30.339 --> 00:06:33.740 Paul will often identify himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:39.699 He'll foreground his weight and his authority as coming from the Lord, but not here, not here 00:06:39.699 --> 00:06:40.799 to the church in Philippi. 00:06:41.699 --> 00:06:46.479 To the church in Philippi, he and his colleague Timothy are just servants of Christ Jesus. 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:47.420 That's how he sees himself. 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:52.580 That's how he identifies as their servant, as a fellow servant even, nothing more and 00:06:52.580 --> 00:06:53.939 nothing less, okay? 00:06:54.640 --> 00:06:58.600 Then he says, to all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi. 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:02.259 So the next thing that he does is he identifies who they are. 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:06.519 Other translations rightly translate this holy people part as saints. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:08.180 You could rightly translate it that way. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:12.000 Paul's not only identifying who he is, but he's saying, this is who you are. 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:12.879 You are saints. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:13.980 You are holy people. 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:18.139 If you have been united with Christ, you are God's holy people. 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:23.240 Set apart, purified, consecrated because of your union with the holy and pure Son of God. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:27.199 And by the way, as we go through Philippians, I really want us to be paying attention to 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:28.319 Paul's language, okay? 00:07:28.780 --> 00:07:34.920 This in Christ, in the Lord, with Christ, with him, in him, in the Lord language, union with 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:37.560 Christ is central to Paul's theology, okay? 00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:40.420 So just pay attention to that as we keep going, but let's keep going now. 00:07:40.660 --> 00:07:41.939 He's specifically writing to who? 00:07:42.460 --> 00:07:44.680 To these people in Philippi, all right? 00:07:44.699 --> 00:07:45.680 And I just want to give you some background. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:47.620 I have a slide for this. 00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:54.780 I want to show you a map, and what this map is going to be is it is a picture of Paul's 00:07:54.780 --> 00:07:56.959 second missionary journey. 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:59.680 Can we get that slide up, please? 00:07:59.860 --> 00:08:00.420 Oh, there we go. 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:01.019 Thank you. 00:08:01.899 --> 00:08:05.620 So on Paul's first missionary journey, if you know the book of Acts, what he does is 00:08:05.620 --> 00:08:10.759 he goes up into that area to the top right, Galatia, and he goes and he preaches the gospel 00:08:10.759 --> 00:08:11.139 up there. 00:08:11.220 --> 00:08:14.879 He plants churches in that area, Galatia, also known as Asia Minor. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:21.779 But on his second missionary journey, he has this vision, and God calls him to go even 00:08:21.779 --> 00:08:23.139 further up northwest. 00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:28.939 So he crosses over into that place all the way up in the top left, okay? 00:08:29.420 --> 00:08:31.759 We know today as southeastern Europe. 00:08:32.439 --> 00:08:35.320 And the first major stop that he has is at number 12. 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:37.460 It's at Philippi, okay? 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:41.019 And that's what Jonathan preached about last week from Acts chapter 16. 00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:45.120 And in case you missed it, basically, Paul went into Philippi sharing about Jesus, and 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:48.480 a whole bunch of different kinds of people received and embraced his message. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:54.340 A wealthy, pious merchant named Lydia, a slave girl who had a wicked spirit in her and who 00:08:54.340 --> 00:08:59.120 was being used by her slave owner to turn a prophet, and then also a dutiful employee 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:00.840 of the Roman Empire, a jailer. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:06.379 The very jailer who had put Paul's feet in stocks in prison when the city had turned against 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:10.039 him for preaching and delivering people in the name of Jesus. 00:09:10.860 --> 00:09:16.120 So these three people, Lydia, the slave girl, and the jailer, and many more, all become Christians, 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:22.320 and that's the beginning of the church in Philippi, the first church in Europe, actually, the first 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:22.799 church in Europe. 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:25.419 So this is who Paul is writing to in this letter. 00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:29.340 Only now about a decade or so has gone by, and a couple things have happened, okay? 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:30.200 A couple things have happened. 00:09:30.520 --> 00:09:34.620 One, Paul is writing now from prison, perhaps in Rome, maybe in Ephesus. 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:37.660 Two, the church in Philippi is thriving. 00:09:37.780 --> 00:09:38.640 It's even more established. 00:09:38.800 --> 00:09:41.460 Verse one tells us they now have deacons and overseers. 00:09:41.540 --> 00:09:42.480 We call them elders here. 00:09:42.520 --> 00:09:43.140 It's the same thing. 00:09:43.180 --> 00:09:44.100 They have deacons and elders. 00:09:44.420 --> 00:09:45.460 They're an established church. 00:09:45.820 --> 00:09:49.900 And three, another thing that's happened in the past 10 years or so since Paul's first 00:09:49.900 --> 00:09:54.440 trip to Philippi is that this church, more than any other church that Paul helped 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:59.900 start this church in Philippi, was a church that generously partnered with and supported 00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:03.079 Paul's ministry even when he found himself in prison. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:04.740 I have another slide for you. 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:08.659 Look what Paul says toward the end of his letter to the Philippians in chapter 4. 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:09.740 He writes, 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:11.580 It was good of you to share in my troubles. 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:15.980 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:21.100 when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:23.080 receiving except you only. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:27.879 For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:31.340 I have received full payment and have more than enough. 00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:37.180 I am amply supplied now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. 00:10:37.179 --> 00:10:41.120 Okay, so this is the context for the letter to the Philippians. 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:44.979 He's writing to this first church in Europe, this church he planted, this church he knew 00:10:44.979 --> 00:10:50.639 from infancy, and that he got to see grow and flourish and even become a partner in his work. 00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:55.719 This church that faithfully stood by him even when he was in prison, sending Epaphroditus 00:10:55.719 --> 00:10:57.199 to bring him a timely gift. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:58.339 And by the way, this was crucial. 00:10:58.659 --> 00:11:02.319 This was crucial in ancient Roman prisons because they didn't provide like state-funded basic 00:11:02.319 --> 00:11:03.199 necessities. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:07.680 N.T. Wright says that when people were put in prison in Paul's world, they were not normally 00:11:07.680 --> 00:11:09.060 given food by their captors. 00:11:09.420 --> 00:11:11.120 They had to rely on friends helping them. 00:11:11.680 --> 00:11:15.740 Since Paul probably couldn't carry on his tent-making business in prison, he was completely 00:11:15.740 --> 00:11:17.700 dependent on support like this. 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:22.540 The fact that people from a different country would raise money and send one of their number 00:11:22.540 --> 00:11:27.400 on the dangerous journey to carry it to an imprisoned friend speaks volumes for the esteem 00:11:27.400 --> 00:11:29.379 and love in which they held him. 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:33.059 Okay, so I'm trying to put some skin on the bones here to help you understand the context 00:11:33.059 --> 00:11:33.860 of this letter. 00:11:33.939 --> 00:11:38.460 It's a very human letter from a real pastor to a real church. 00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:43.740 Okay, so all this is to say that Paul is massively thankful and massively proud of this church, 00:11:43.820 --> 00:11:47.559 and so it's no wonder that it occupies a very special place in his heart. 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:48.200 Okay? 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:53.320 And so here in verse 2, he summarily states all that he desires for this church that's 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:55.759 like a baby to him, and he says this in verse 2. 00:11:56.540 --> 00:12:00.980 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:12:01.640 --> 00:12:02.420 This is his heart. 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:05.620 This is what he wants for them, the ultimate gift from heaven poured out from the Father 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:10.740 above and accomplished and applied through the Lord and King, not Caesar, the crucified 00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:12.900 and risen Lord and King, Jesus Christ. 00:12:12.899 --> 00:12:15.259 And notice he doesn't just say shalom, right? 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:17.659 He says grace and peace. 00:12:17.939 --> 00:12:18.919 Grace and shalom. 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:23.620 Paul wants even more than shalom for this beloved church. 00:12:23.699 --> 00:12:24.740 He wants grace as well. 00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:26.000 And in fact, this is essential. 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:28.360 This is essential to the Christian message, right? 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:33.279 That because of the fall, that because of sin, that because of all the brokenness in this 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:37.199 world and in our hearts, and because of the debt we've incurred before our holy God, 00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:42.019 who cannot and will not tolerate our wicked waywardness, and because of the brokenness, and because 00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:46.960 of the anti-shalom that we have brought into this world, there is no peace, there is no 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:54.340 shalom without grace, without God's initiative, without God doing something for us that we 00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:56.240 could not do for ourselves. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:02.779 There is no shalom without God generously and mercifully granting favor to his people, people 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:05.960 who don't deserve it, and in fact, who deserve the opposite. 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:12.040 One way that I've heard of defining grace that I think is helpful is G-R-A-C-E. 00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:17.139 G-R-A-C-E, God's riches at Christ's expense. 00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:19.900 God's riches at Christ's expense. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:28.160 The gift of free shalom for us, but at ultimate cost to God, his son on a cross, and that's 00:13:28.160 --> 00:13:28.639 the gospel. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.840 And this is Paul's heart for his church. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:35.200 Not just their shalom, but grace and shalom from the Father and through the Son. 00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:36.960 Verse 3. 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:40.220 I thank my God every time I remember you. 00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:40.940 Okay? 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:42.600 I thank my God every time I remember you. 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:45.379 So this is one dominant feeling that he has for this church. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.060 It's gratitude. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:47.580 He's sitting there in prison. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:52.700 Maybe he's remembering the days when he was in that Philippian jail, and how his feet were 00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:57.540 so painfully put into those stocks, and how hardly anyone in the city cared about him 00:13:57.540 --> 00:13:58.440 or wanted to support him. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.940 But now he's even in more trouble. 00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:04.220 Maybe he's awaiting execution in Rome. 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:10.840 But here he is now having just received a hefty gift from Epaphroditus, from this church 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:15.000 that's been supporting him really for about a decade, and he is filled with thanks. 00:14:15.660 --> 00:14:18.060 And not only thanks, but he's filled with remembrance. 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:20.940 This church is freshly on his heart. 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:22.020 It's freshly on his mind. 00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:26.560 Have you ever known the honor of being remembered by someone, of being thought of? 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:30.159 That feeling of being seen, right? 00:14:30.199 --> 00:14:32.879 When you had no expectation that anyone would see or think you. 00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:37.439 That out-of-nowhere text, just pinging you that, hey, I'm thinking about you. 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.219 Hey, how's this going? 00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:40.619 I thought about that thing that you have of coming. 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:44.820 That thoughtful, you know, handwritten letter that you get in the mail out of nowhere. 00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:49.240 It's a special and touching thing to be remembered, right? 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:50.379 It's a real gift. 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:56.420 In a world where there are so many things vying for our attention and for our mental bandwidth, 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:59.200 to be remembered is really a treasure. 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:02.940 You know, one of my best friends from college, one of my groomsmen, 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:05.980 I actually got to see him just the other week in the Sacramento area. 00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:11.180 We get together, I don't know, maybe once or twice for like real quality time a year. 00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:18.019 But still today, even 16 years later, we've been able to maintain a very deep and loving 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:19.460 long-distance friendship. 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:27.000 And I think that the key has been us making an effort to remember each other and each other's kids. 00:15:27.800 --> 00:15:31.019 You know, this friend of mine, his son has Down syndrome. 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:36.139 And so, like, this family's life, it's, well, it's different, right? 00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:37.439 It's different than mine. 00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:39.600 It's probably different than many of yours. 00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:47.360 And the way my friend describes it is that the joys can be higher, but the lows can also be a lot harder. 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:52.039 And especially in those moments where he's going through it and he knows that everyone else is just kind of 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:55.340 living their typical lives, having no idea what he's going through, 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:59.100 having no window into what their family is experiencing. 00:15:59.100 --> 00:16:05.180 And so, what I've made an effort to do as someone who wants to love him and wants to be a good friend to him 00:16:05.180 --> 00:16:07.120 is, you know, I make an effort to ping him. 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:11.320 Whenever his family, whenever he comes to my mind, maybe with a prayer, 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:14.800 a text of Scripture that made me think of him and his family, 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:17.040 one thing he once shared with me was like, 00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:21.519 I don't really know what, like, friendship is going to look like for my son Tyler. 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:28.799 And then one morning I was reading about Jesus and the three friends, or was it four friends? 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.000 Oh, I'm a pastor, I don't know. 00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:37.220 The friends who opened the roof and brought their paralytic friend to come into the presence of Jesus. 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:44.360 And I said, man, Travis, like, I just had this vision that, like, I think that's what God wants for Tyler. 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:48.580 You know, I make a place in my heart, right? 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:51.440 I'm not just trying to communicate to them, I love you guys, I'm thinking about you guys, 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:58.180 but I'm trying to communicate to them that I'm intentionally creating space in my mind and my heart for you and your family. 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:02.580 And I think that's what Paul was doing here for the church in Philippi, remembering them. 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:05.440 It's a beautiful thing, remembering them in love. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:11.340 And then also it says, with joy, verse four, in all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. 00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:15.519 So it's not just gratitude and remembrance, but joy. 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:17.559 It's not mere duty, it's delight. 00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:22.600 It's not like, oh, I'm obligated to this church, it's my first church plant in Europe. 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:27.559 No, it brings Paul joy to think about them and to remember them in his many prayers for them. 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:28.460 Why? 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:35.380 Verse five, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:42.980 See, he's watched his baby, he's watched these people, he's watched this church grow up to not just receive support and nourishment from his ministry, 00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:44.820 but also to partner in it. 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.940 You know, that's a rewarding thing, right? 00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:51.480 The parents out there, you know, this is something I'm experiencing with Cammie and Leah, you know, 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:57.059 when they were able to feed themselves and go to the bathroom by themselves, buckle and unbuckle their car seats, 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:59.420 now put away the dishes, help take out the trash. 00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:04.759 It's not only brought a lot of efficiency to the Ong household, but it's been rewarding. 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:10.299 Watching these girls grow and really join in the mission of our family. 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:15.600 Watching them grow not just for growth's sake, but as partners in what God is calling us to do together. 00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:19.559 Another example is this friend I have in Castor Valley. 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:23.220 I went to high school with him, but I didn't really get to know him well until we went to college. 00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:28.120 And when he got to college, he wasn't very interested in Christianity or a relationship with Christ. 00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:33.759 But after time, we started to meet together regularly with some other guys, and he was won over to the gospel. 00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:36.579 He was won over to Christ, and he was baptized. 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:40.339 And man, just observing him now. 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:42.460 He's a dentist now, crushing it. 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:51.980 20 years from then, he's got a godly wife, just raising his family, serving in the church, raising his children to love Jesus, to memorize Scripture. 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:53.559 It's so rewarding. 00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:55.480 It's so rewarding to me. 00:18:56.539 --> 00:19:05.559 And my point is just that there is joy in watching infants of the faith grow up to increasingly join in and participate in the mission of the church. 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:10.819 And that's what filled Paul's heart, I think, when he thought of these Philippians. 00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:20.639 And like every good parent, he looked forward to and anticipated and trusted God that this church would continue to grow and mature and fulfill its highest calling. 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:26.099 That's why in verse 6, he isn't just joyful that they grew to partner with him in ministry, but he was joyfully confident. 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:35.399 He was joyfully confident that God, who started the work in this church, would carry it on to completion at the end of history, at the last day of Jesus Christ. 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:38.119 So again, Paul is like a parent here. 00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:40.519 And what does every good parent want for their child? 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:43.079 Well, they want their children to know how much they are loved, right? 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:46.480 And they want their children to grow and develop. 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:52.139 And they want their children to reach their highest potential and fulfill their God-given callings. 00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:54.619 This is Paul's heart for the church in Philippi. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:20:01.720 And he reiterates this in verse 7, even maybe recognizing now how much he's been gushing over them, but then he doubles down on it and he says, 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:05.480 It is right for me to feel this, like, gushing way about all of you. 00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:14.220 Since I have you in my heart, and whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:14.960 He says it himself. 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:17.240 They occupy a special place in Paul's heart. 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:19.840 And he feels like a kinship, a union with them. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:22.720 No matter his circumstances, they are ride-or-die partners. 00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:26.960 In chains, in defending the gospel, in confirming the gospel, they are with him. 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:33.140 And not just as fanboys and Paul loyalists, but because of something deeper that's binding and knitting them together. 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:33.579 Paul says, 00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:36.839 All of you share in God's grace with me. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.879 All of you share in God's grace with me. 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:41.359 Grace is what binds them together. 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:47.819 You know, right after this, I have to go off to San Francisco to officiate a wedding of a couple I've been doing premarital counseling for. 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:49.480 Many of you remember Ted Leong. 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:51.279 He's getting married this afternoon. 00:20:51.279 --> 00:21:09.599 And you know what I hope, what I hoped to convey to him and his fiancee in our premarital counseling sessions is that it isn't simply their love and their good feelings toward each other that are going to make their relationship and their bond and their covenant work and last. 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:11.160 That's not what's going to sustain it. 00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:15.519 No, their relationship has to be founded and grounded in Christ. 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:21.240 And what they really need to share together to make it work is they need to share in the grace of God. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:29.279 For everyone I do premarital counseling with, I tell them that they will fail and disappoint each other again and again and again. 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:34.599 So their relationship cannot solely be dependent on one another's performance. 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:44.379 No, they have to see each other as united in Christ, as two sinners with one great Savior, a forgiving Savior who will never leave them nor forsake them. 00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:45.440 And that's the power. 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:49.399 That's the only power that will sustain their union, the grace of God. 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:51.059 That's a beautiful thing. 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:52.480 And we all share as Christians. 00:21:52.639 --> 00:22:00.960 This is what Paul sees in Philippi, not just his sentimental first church plants in Europe, but fellow recipients of the grace of God. 00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:05.220 I hope that's what you see here when you come into this place, when you come to this table. 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:06.419 Take a moment, look around. 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:11.720 You're not the only one hearing the words, Christ's blood shed for your sins. 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.460 Let's move on to verse 8. 00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:17.100 In verse 8, Paul writes, 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:23.100 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:28.000 Okay, so I started this sermon with Jonathan's heart for Christ's church. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:32.819 And we spent most of this sermon talking about Paul's heart for the church in Philippi. 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.980 But here's where I give you the main point. 00:22:35.699 --> 00:22:36.599 It's not about Jonathan. 00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:38.740 It's not even about Apostle Paul. 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:40.160 Paul's heart for the church. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:43.620 All the affection that you have ever seen from a pastor for their church. 00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:46.140 It is only ever a derived affection. 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:53.380 A glimmer of your chief shepherd, Jesus Christ's affection for his church, for his flock. 00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:59.500 Paul's only longing for them with affection, with the affection of Christ. 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:01.720 It's Christ's affection that's compelling him. 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:05.480 So the point here isn't that, wow, Apostle Paul really loved this church in Philippi. 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:10.100 I know his affections were simply channeling the affection of Christ for the whole church. 00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:13.720 This passage is ultimately about God's heart. 00:23:14.360 --> 00:23:17.640 For you, for me, for your fellow followers of Christ. 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:21.500 And maybe even for those who you haven't seen in a while. 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:27.120 So yes, I hope to develop a love for the church, particularly for this church, Christ's church. 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:30.500 A love and affection like Paul's for the church in Philippi. 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:35.680 But what I'd really love to see is for all of us to long with affection for the church, 00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:38.759 not just like Paul and Jonathan, but like Christ. 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.519 This is God's heart. 00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:46.380 God's heart for us is to love this church, to give our time, our talent, and treasure in service of the church. 00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.700 To give thanks for the church. 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:49.140 To remember the church. 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:52.039 And to remember particular people in this church. 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:59.099 And I pray that we'd be at church, at this church, just as joyfully delighting in one another. 00:23:59.099 --> 00:24:07.279 Not simply because of shared interest or shared consumer preferences or socioeconomic lifestyle patterns or hobbies or life stages, 00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:15.279 but joyfully delighting in our union and communion with Christ and each other and our partnership in the ministry of the gospel. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:21.339 See, if we aren't about the mission of the church, to make disciples of the nations and to teach them everything, 00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:24.039 to teach them to do everything that Jesus commanded, 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:30.899 if we don't work out the implications of the gospel in our lives and go on mission and work it out in our workplaces 00:24:30.899 --> 00:24:34.039 and in our families and in our spheres of influence in this church, 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:38.119 it's just going to become another insular gathering, a religious country club. 00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:44.099 But if we see each other as partners in the gospel, as Paul saw this church in Philippi, 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:49.319 and if that is our joy, that we have all these partners in the gospel, this thing that we love so much, 00:24:50.239 --> 00:24:55.199 then that's what's going to make a real spirit-led difference in the world. 00:24:55.959 --> 00:25:01.099 That's what God wants to ignite and advance in, among, and around us. 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:06.519 And remember, just like Paul was confident that God would complete the good work he began in the church of Philippi, 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:09.819 this is a confident joy that we can have as well. 00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:13.459 God will do the work in us. 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.419 He'll bring it to completion. 00:25:15.419 --> 00:25:17.159 So why not devote our lives to it? 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:22.079 Why not invest in what God is doing in and through His church? 00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:26.039 Now, maybe you're here today, and it never occurred to you that the church, 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:29.879 let alone this church, might be worthy of such affection and remembrance, 00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:32.500 and just like space in your heart and in your mind. 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:36.080 What if you just started with praying for this church? 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:39.480 In your homes, in your private life, 00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:43.340 here on Sunday mornings at 9.30 a.m. in the boiler room, 00:25:44.560 --> 00:25:47.020 on second Wednesdays here at 7 p.m., 00:25:47.020 --> 00:25:50.760 do you, will you pray for our church? 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:54.700 You know, when I look at Paul's heart for this church in Philippi, 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:59.420 we can definitely see that his prayer for them here in verses 9 through 11, 00:25:59.820 --> 00:26:02.940 it emerges from a deep affection that he has for them. 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:03.880 And maybe you're thinking to yourself, 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:06.320 well, that's why I don't pray that much for the church, 00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:09.060 and that's why I don't give much of my time, talent, and treasure to serve it. 00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:11.660 I just don't have as much affection as Paul did, 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:13.259 and I don't want to be inauthentic. 00:26:13.300 --> 00:26:15.100 I'll wait until I have more of a love for the church, 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:17.720 and that's when I'll pray for it, I'll serve it. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.279 But you know what? 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:24.480 I don't think Paul was just praying wherever his affections led him, okay? 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.920 I think it worked in the other direction too. 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:32.559 I think he prayed for what he wanted his affections to be stirred up around. 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.920 Because here's the thing about prayer. 00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:37.680 It doesn't just rise up to the ears of God in one direction. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:41.600 No, when we pray, it sinks down into our hearts. 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:43.519 It moves out into our hands as well. 00:26:43.580 --> 00:26:45.539 When we start sincerely praying for something, 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:50.120 it's really hard to not also pursue that same thing with the rest of our lives. 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:51.960 It's hard to pray, your will be done, 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:55.580 and then to selfishly spend the rest of our day pursuing our own desires. 00:26:55.579 --> 00:27:00.339 I heard a story this week about a pastor whose church, 00:27:00.419 --> 00:27:02.519 it got caught in some heat, some bad press, 00:27:02.939 --> 00:27:04.480 because of a charity event that they had, 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.399 and it caused a lot of traffic, 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.539 so people started looking them up, 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.859 and they found out what this church believed, 00:27:07.939 --> 00:27:09.639 and what this church believed was right, 00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:11.779 but not very popular in that community, 00:27:12.199 --> 00:27:14.339 and the pastor and the church, they got blasted. 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.799 Blasted on social media, 00:27:15.919 --> 00:27:19.279 tons of antagonistic comments against this pastor, 00:27:19.399 --> 00:27:20.099 against this church. 00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:25.719 But then do you know what this pastor's dad challenged him to do in response? 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:28.799 This pastor's dad challenged him to pray 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:33.939 for every single antagonistic commenter on his social media. 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:38.659 And he didn't tell them to do it just for God to soften the hearts of his critics, 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:43.359 but for God to soften the pastor's heart toward his critics. 00:27:44.399 --> 00:27:45.919 You see, that's what prayer does, 00:27:45.919 --> 00:27:50.039 not just for us and toward other people, but in us. 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.500 In us. 00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:54.759 And you have to believe that Paul here wasn't just praying for these people 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:56.279 out of his impulsive affections, 00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:57.379 but that he was praying for them 00:27:57.379 --> 00:28:01.159 in order to further fan the flame of his own affections for them. 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.679 So that's one application. 00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:04.480 Let's pray for this church. 00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:05.599 Let's pray for the church. 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.980 And then let's pray like Paul. 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.359 Let's pray like Paul. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.279 You know, Paul very rarely prays for favorable and fortunate circumstances, 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.500 like we often do. 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.259 Help me, God. 00:28:16.639 --> 00:28:18.659 Help my kids do well on that test. 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:19.879 Help me land that job. 00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:21.100 Help me meet my soulmate. 00:28:21.800 --> 00:28:23.420 Prayer rarely prays. 00:28:23.520 --> 00:28:27.500 Paul rarely prays for things that God doesn't guarantee. 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.980 He doesn't pray for things that God doesn't want. 00:28:32.100 --> 00:28:35.500 No, most of Paul's prayers are focused on people's hearts 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:37.120 and their relationships with God 00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:40.540 and their depth of insight into God's heart and will and kingdom. 00:28:41.080 --> 00:28:43.080 Look here at Paul's prayer for the Philippians in verse 9. 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.480 And this is my prayer, he writes, 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:49.819 that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. 00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:54.819 He doesn't pray that they're going to meet budget or get a building or find a children's director 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:56.859 or even that they'll grow numerically. 00:28:56.859 --> 00:29:01.019 These aren't bad things to pray for, but they're never his focus. 00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:05.959 He prays for their love to abound more and more. 00:29:06.659 --> 00:29:08.839 And notice he doesn't say love for God, neighbor, or church. 00:29:08.919 --> 00:29:12.679 He wants love to abound in every and any holy direction, 00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:14.859 in knowledge and depth of insight. 00:29:14.899 --> 00:29:18.399 He wants their love to be an informed, knowledgeable, and deeply insightful love 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:21.940 that understands more and more the heart of God. 00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:24.040 So that, verse 10, 00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:27.460 so that you may be able to discern what is best 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:30.820 and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:33.960 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:35.920 to the glory and praise of God. 00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:37.860 Again, Paul is like a faithful, loving parent. 00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:40.140 He's expressed his love to this church. 00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:42.519 He has hopes and dreams for this church 00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:45.000 to see them reach their fullest potential in Christ. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:48.359 And now, he has to do the hardest thing, 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:50.119 the thing all of us parents struggle to do. 00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:54.099 He has to trust that God will make it happen in his baby, right? 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:56.359 And he's praying toward that end. 00:29:56.980 --> 00:29:59.539 He's praying in line with what he knows and trusts 00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:02.500 that God will do in and through this church, 00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:06.579 that God will grow them into a loving, knowledgeable, thoughtful, 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:10.759 deeply insightful, discerning, pure, blameless church of saints 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:12.720 filled with the fruit of righteousness. 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:17.059 And listen, this isn't some, like, spiritual performance review 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:18.380 that he's trying to prepare them for. 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:21.460 He's not saying that they need to get their acts together 00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:25.420 and be flawless and perfect by the time Jesus gets back or else. 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.940 No, he already voiced in verse 6, right, 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:31.160 that he who began a good work in them would be faithful to complete it. 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:33.759 He knows and trusts this is going to happen, 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:36.279 just like we know and trust that God's kingdom will come 00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:37.640 and his will will be done, 00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:39.980 and yet we still pray for that every single week, right? 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:42.900 We do this, Paul prays like this, 00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:44.500 because we're praying the heart of God 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:47.380 into our own hearts and minds and lives 00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:48.960 and into the world, into reality. 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:50.680 We pray like this because we believe that 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:52.720 even as we wait for the final day of Christ, 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:54.579 when all things will be made new 00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:57.099 and all God's saints will shine like the sun 00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:59.180 and all the praise and glory and honor 00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:02.240 will fully and finally be directed at the Lord Jesus, 00:31:02.360 --> 00:31:03.839 even while we wait for that glorious day, 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:08.439 we know that God also desires to make us fruitful now, 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:12.099 to display his righteousness in us now, 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:15.559 to bring himself praise, 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:18.279 to bring his son praise and glory now, 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:21.639 and not by our own efforts or striving, 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:24.399 no, the fruit of righteousness that will bring, 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:26.519 the fruit of righteousness that will bring God 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:28.619 the most praise and the most glory 00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:30.899 is not a self-righteousness. 00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:32.480 It's not a self-derived righteousness, 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.580 but what does it say here in verse 11? 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.960 The fruit of the righteousness 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:39.620 that comes through Jesus Christ, 00:31:40.780 --> 00:31:41.900 and that's the gospel. 00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:44.940 That's the gospel that what God wants from us, 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:47.360 he works in us in Christ. 00:31:48.280 --> 00:31:50.040 That the righteousness we need 00:31:50.040 --> 00:31:52.220 is the righteousness he's provided to us 00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:54.060 by faith in Christ, 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:56.680 by trusting in and putting on 00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:59.120 Christ's righteousness as our own. 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:01.779 For it's only through our union with Christ, 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.539 it's only when we're abiding in the vine, 00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:06.379 that we will ever bear the fruit 00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:07.799 that God wants us to bear 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:10.159 unto the glory and praise of his name. 00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:12.519 So this is what he wants for us. 00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:13.679 This is what God wants. 00:32:13.719 --> 00:32:14.839 This is Paul's heart for the church. 00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:16.000 This is me and Jonathan 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:17.899 and all our elders' hearts for this church. 00:32:18.199 --> 00:32:19.000 But most importantly, 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:22.079 this is God's heart for his holy people. 00:32:23.159 --> 00:32:25.379 So as we continue in this series in Philippians, 00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:27.660 my prayer is that the good news 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:30.480 of God's affectionate heart for us in Christ 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:33.040 will stir up our affections 00:32:33.040 --> 00:32:36.280 for the church and for Christ 00:32:36.280 --> 00:32:38.680 so that we might wholeheartedly 00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:42.380 make Paul's declaration in chapter three our own. 00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:43.000 Where he says, 00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:44.360 but whatever gain I had, 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:46.780 I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:49.180 Indeed, I count everything as loss 00:32:49.180 --> 00:32:51.000 because of the surpassing worth 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:53.220 of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. 00:32:55.860 --> 00:32:57.600 This is what he wants for us. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.820 That's his heart for us. 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:01.340 And may it be our heart for him 00:33:01.340 --> 00:33:03.100 and his church as well. 00:33:03.600 --> 00:33:04.200 Let's pray. 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:04.240 Let's pray. 00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:10.759 Lord, will you stir up our hearts? 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:15.380 Would you open our eyes to your affection for us 00:33:15.380 --> 00:33:16.680 and your affection for the church? 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:19.180 And would you stir up in us an affection for you, 00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:21.180 an affection for your church? 00:33:22.320 --> 00:33:23.620 And would you make this place, 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:25.100 this congregation in particular, 00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:27.400 full of the fruit of righteousness 00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:29.140 that comes through Jesus Christ? 00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:32.220 And no other kind of righteousness, oh God, 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:34.180 but only that which comes 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:37.220 through our union with Jesus Christ. 00:33:38.360 --> 00:33:39.900 To his praise and glory we pray. 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:40.580 Amen. 00:33:40.580 --> 00:33:40.680 Amen.