WEBVTT

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 Please take your seats and turn, if you will, in your copies of God's Word to Matthew 5.

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! The passage that was read for us a few moments ago.

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! The Sermon on the Mount.

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 The word sermon certainly has negative connotations today.

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 Certainly that's the case outside the church, but also increasingly inside the church as well.

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 You can attend lots of churches across this country that

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 say that they believe the Bible, are committed to the Bible, and are committed to sermons.

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 They don't like the Word, so they call them Bible talks or that kind of thing.

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 We say, you see, we're told at least that we don't like the format.

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 But a monologue delivered with instruction about what to do, delivered with authority.

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 We say that, and yet there has been an explosion across the world in the popularity of monologues,

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 delivered with authority, telling you how to do certain things.

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 From TED Talks, to podcasts, to vodcasts and vlogs and all those other things.

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 The entire product is a person speaking with authority, telling you what to do.

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 And people are signing up for this, left, right, and center.

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 In the corporate world, actually, people will pay thousands of pounds to have their preacher

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 of choice come and deliver their sermon.

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 I think part of the growth of that is an acknowledgement that we need help in order to live well in this

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 world.

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 The current trending topics on TED, how to rebuild a broken state, what makes a good life,

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 lessons from the longest study on happiness.

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 My podcast feed, recent podcasts, Unlocking the Science of Longevity, 19 Harsh Truths About Human Nature,

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 Italy's Forgotten Reformation.

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 That one's not so popular.

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 It didn't have so many downloads.

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 These and other themes downloaded thousands, even millions of times.

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 What makes a good life?

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 Lessons from the longest study on happiness.

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 Forty-five million people have watched that.

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 We're willing to listen because we know we don't have all the answers to living well in the world.

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 Now, there are voices everywhere.

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 With all of these voices around us, preaching the sermons that they have to offer.

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 How do we decide which speaker to listen to?

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 We decide, I think, on the basis of two categories.

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 The first is the credibility of the speaker.

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 And the second is the relevance of the topic.

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 We'll listen to somebody that we think has something important to say,

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 and we'll listen if we think that their topic has something important to say to us.

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 Now, there may be other reasons why we would listen, but these, I think, are the main ones.

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 So, as we turn to our passage this morning, to something as well known as the Sermon on the Mount,

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 there is a danger that we might think initially, well, we know what it says.

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 It's really familiar in the life of the church and also actually in our culture.

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 Judge not lest ye be judged.

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 You know, back in the 300 odd years ago, that's how people spoke.

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 Those kinds of phrases are part of discourse.

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 We think we know what it says.

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 Or, of course, you might be here this morning.

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 You're standing, as it were, looking into the Christian faith.

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 You're assessing what you think of it, and you don't care what it says, actually,

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 because it belongs to a religious world, and you're not really that interested in it.

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 But consider the speaker for a moment.

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 It's Jesus.

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 Okay, that might be enough for most of us, I suspect, this morning.

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 We know that Jesus is a good man to listen to.

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 But I want you to see that Matthew has actually taken time up to this point in his gospel

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 to establish Jesus' credibility in everything that he has said so far.

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 He could have actually started his gospel at chapter 5, verse 1.

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 Jesus sitting down to preach this sermon.

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 But he didn't do that.

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 We're five chapters in.

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 He started in chapter 1 by taking time to tell us about Jesus' birth

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 and how he is descended from King David.

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 In chapter 2, he's recognized by King Herod as a threat to his sovereignty.

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 And so he has to be taken away to safety.

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 Herod wants to get rid of him.

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 Chapter 3, when he's baptized, you remember that voice from heaven?

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 Declares him to be,

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 This is my son.

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 He is the Son of God.

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 But it is that title that was ascribed to the king in Psalm 2.

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 And then in chapter 4, he's gone into the wilderness.

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 He has overcome the assault of Satan.

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 And he has gained power to announce with certainty.

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 Chapter 4, verse 17.

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 If you just look over back a few verses,

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 he is God's king, bringing in God's kingdom.

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 And he can declare that with authority.

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 And then just in case we're not sure,

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 at the end of chapter 4,

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 he demonstrates his power over sickness and affliction

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 by healing anybody who came near

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 to prove that he's God's king

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 and he's worth following.

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 So can you see, as he speaks,

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 Matthew has taken time to demonstrate the credibility

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 of the one who is speaking.

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 He wants us to know that Jesus is God's king.

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 And our passage this morning, the Beatitudes,

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 it is bookended by references to the kingdom.

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 Do you see verse 3?

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 Blessed are the poor in spirit,

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 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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 And at the end, verse 9,

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 persecuted for righteousness sake,

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 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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 Here is the king speaking about his kingdom.

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 His kingdom in the present

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 and his kingdom as it will extend into the future.

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 But he isn't just shown to be God's king.

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 5 verse 1, it's significant that he's on a mountain.

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 He goes up to a mountain.

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 Why has Matthew told us that?

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 Because mountains in the Bible are also significant.

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 You can trace it all the way through.

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 Mountains are where God and man meet.

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 It's where life-shaking,

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 earth-shaking things happen.

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 The most notable example,

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 Mount Sinai.

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 Moses receives the law from God

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 and is tasked with making God's Word known.

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 The early readers of this,

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 we are supposed to read this

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 and we're supposed to hear an echo of that.

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 Here is God's ministry of revelation

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 being given to his king.

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 God's king bringing God's revelation.

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 Will you listen?

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 Matthew is teeing it up so that we will say,

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 here's somebody we should listen to.

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 And I want to suggest to you that

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 whatever you believe,

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 this sermon is for you.

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 Have a look again at verse 1.

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 Seeing the crowds,

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 Jesus went up on the mountain

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 and when he sat down,

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 his disciples came to him.

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 Two groups of people.

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 Crowds and disciples.

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 This isn't just a pep talk for religious folk.

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 Whatever you believe this morning,

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 you are in one of those two groups.

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 You're either in the crowds,

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 looking on,

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 assessing what you make of Jesus,

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 but not yet committed to him.

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 Or you are a disciple.

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 You are someone who follows him.

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 I want you to see

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 that the Sermon on the Mount is for you.

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 Whoever you are,

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 whatever you believe,

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 wherever you've come from,

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 the Sermon on the Mount is for you.

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 But I want to suggest

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 that that's especially the case

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 when we consider the second category.

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 The second category

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 by where we assess

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 whether or not we listen,

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 and that is the relevance of the topic.

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 The relevance is repeated nine times

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 in those verses.

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 Now, later in the Sermon on the Mount,

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 Jesus will go on to speak

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 of issues of anger and lust

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 and divorce,

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 honesty, truth, money,

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 anxiety, and wisdom.

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 All very relevant.

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 Who doesn't need help in these areas?

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 We all do.

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 That's what drives

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 the self-help downloads.

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 That's why people listen.

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 He's speaking to these issues.

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 But the repeated word,

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 it's as plain as a nose in your face,

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 the repeated word is blessed.

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 Jesus starts the Sermon

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 talking about the blessing of God.

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 Now, I want to suggest

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 that there is nothing more relevant

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 to any of us than that.

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 This is something that we all of us long for.

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 This is something that in the deepest parts

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 of our being,

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 we desire to live in the favor

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 and acceptance of God.

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 And the reason for that is,

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 that is what we were made for.

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 That is why you were created,

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 to live in the love and the favor

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 and the acceptance of God.

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 The restlessness in your heart and mine

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 was made to find peace only

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 in one place,

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 and that is in relationship

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 with the God who made you.

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 Now, Christians have done a good job

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 of making the blessed word

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 sound a bit bland

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 or worse, perhaps a bit cliche.

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 Well, I was blessed.

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 That was a real blessing.

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 Oh, I'm blessed.

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 There was a time when hashtag blessed

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 was a thing in social media.

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 What that does is

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 it completely evacuates

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 the word of its substance.

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 Now, partly that overuse,

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 I mean, it's okay to use it

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 if you're feeling that, you know,

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 God has blessed you

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 in a particular way, of course,

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 that's the right language to use,

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 but it's important

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 that we don't just see it as a cliche.

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 Part of the reason, though,

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 why we've kind of got confused about it

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 is because the original word

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 in the Greek, makarios,

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 is hard to translate across to English

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 in a way that captures

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 the full sense of the word.

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 It has a breadth of meaning.

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 It can mean happy.

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 It can mean fortunate or favored.

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 And there's a sense of each of those here.

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 But if we bring together

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 how the word is used

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 all the way through the Bible

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 and its Hebrew equivalent

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 in the Old Testament,

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 with the context of the day

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 in which this gospel was written,

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 the Greek wisdom, virtue,

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 tradition of the day,

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 and we consider the future focus

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 that the sermon has,

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 the New Testament scholar

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 Jonathan Pennington argues

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 that the best translation

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 is flourishing.

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 Flourishing.

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 So I want to suggest

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 that what Jesus is doing

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 in this sermon

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 is holding out a vision

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 of the good life.

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 Here is the good life.

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 That is what those restless hearts

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 that we have are looking for.

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 Isn't that what the advertisers

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 are trying to sell us?

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 Isn't that why they spend

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 billions and billions of pounds

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 to try and project a vision

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 of something that their product

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 will give us,

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 the good life?

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 If you have this thing,

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 then you'll be happy.

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 Then you'll be blessed.

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 Next,

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 this morning,

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 God's King is our speaker

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 and He gives us both

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 a description of

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 and an invitation

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 into this life of flourishing

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 that characterizes

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 the kingdom of God.

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 Two points.

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 Point number one,

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 description,

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 a description of true flourishing.

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 Now, I don't know

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 how you've approached

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 the Beatitudes in the past.

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 Perhaps you've thought about them

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 as a standard to reach.

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 If I can become meek,

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 well then I'll inherit the earth.

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 It's a kind of ladder

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 from your repentance

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 all the way up to perfection.

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 You think you can do that

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 and you think that

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 that's the way you should

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 kind of aim to apply them

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 into your life

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 or perhaps more likely

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 if you're like me,

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 you'll see them

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 as an impossible standard

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 that you can't reach.

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 That would be the way

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 I would lean.

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 And then it leaves you in despair.

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 So you look at them

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 and you think,

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 if I can become meek

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 then I'll inherit the earth.

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 I'm going to get after that

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 and I'm definitely going to succeed.

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 Or you think,

00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:30.120
 if I can become meek

00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:31.539
 then I'll inherit the earth.

00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:32.379
 And you think,

00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:33.379
 I'll never become meek.

00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:34.600
 Oh, well, there's nothing here for me.

00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:37.679
 But the Beatitudes,

00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:38.600
 I want to suggest,

00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:39.779
 are not at first

00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:41.519
 statements of what we are to do.

00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:44.200
 They are a description

00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:45.940
 of what we are in Christ.

00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:48.559
 They are a description

00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:49.320
 of the character

00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:50.899
 of a true disciple.

00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:54.179
 They are a declaration,

00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:54.819
 if you like,

00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:55.639
 of our status

00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:56.980
 in this new kingdom

00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:58.740
 that Jesus has brought in.

00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:00.179
 Think of it like this.

00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:01.579
 Jesus is looking at you

00:13:01.579 --> 00:13:02.919
 and He's pointing

00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:03.559
 and He's saying,

00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:04.159
 flourishing.

00:13:05.459 --> 00:13:05.899
 Flourishing.

00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:07.079
 If you're in Christ,

00:13:07.179 --> 00:13:07.579
 He's saying,

00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:08.980
 this is the good life.

00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:12.579
 Now that's a shock,

00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:12.939
 isn't it?

00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:14.980
 It's a shock

00:13:14.980 --> 00:13:15.919
 because what He describes

00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:16.500
 as flourishing

00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.259
 isn't what we think

00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.120
 when the Word is mentioned.

00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:21.840
 Verse 3,

00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.419
 flourishing

00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:25.460
 are the poor in spirit.

00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:28.940
 Poor in spirit

00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:29.700
 isn't talking about

00:13:29.700 --> 00:13:31.200
 the state of our bank accounts.

00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:33.279
 It's talking about

00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:34.679
 poverty of spirit

00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:37.059
 in relation to

00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:37.899
 how you view yourself

00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:39.440
 and how you view God.

00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:40.519
 The confession of sin

00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.419
 that we used earlier

00:13:41.419 --> 00:13:43.019
 on page 3 of the handout,

00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:44.220
 I commend that to you.

00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:44.840
 Take that home,

00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.860
 stick it on your fridge,

00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:47.039
 and meditate on that

00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:47.440
 this week.

00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.779
 Those are great descriptions

00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:52.000
 of what these things mean.

00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:53.500
 Each of the Beatitudes.

00:13:55.779 --> 00:13:56.919
 I'm sure Paul came up

00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:57.480
 with that himself.

00:13:57.560 --> 00:13:58.720
 It looks like all his own work.

00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:02.860
 Those are good things

00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:03.580
 to meditate on.

00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:05.180
 Expand the descriptions

00:14:05.180 --> 00:14:06.320
 of what I'm talking about here.

00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:07.879
 But poverty of spirit

00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:10.139
 is about how you relate

00:14:10.139 --> 00:14:11.320
 in terms of your view

00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:12.460
 of yourself and of God.

00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:13.920
 It's a recognition

00:14:13.920 --> 00:14:15.139
 that we are dust.

00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:17.919
 And we're fully dependent

00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:18.860
 on others.

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.340
 And ultimately,

00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:22.680
 fully dependent on God

00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:23.539
 for our existence.

00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:25.000
 Look, we like to think

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.360
 of ourselves as self-sufficient.

00:14:27.060 --> 00:14:27.879
 What did it say?

00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:29.940
 We confessed it earlier.

00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:31.060
 We have been proud in spirit

00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:32.300
 and flitted with our own

00:14:32.300 --> 00:14:33.279
 self-sufficiency.

00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:35.460
 If there is a cardinal virtue

00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:38.159
 in 21st century Westernism,

00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.000
 it is...

00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:40.740
 Western culture,

00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:41.480
 Westernism,

00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:42.039
 is that a thing?

00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:42.480
 Anyway,

00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:44.419
 it is self-sufficiency.

00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:48.360
 Listen to any number

00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:49.759
 of those self-help downloads,

00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.740
 and they are all about

00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.519
 becoming strong in yourself

00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:54.259
 on the basis of thinking

00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:55.699
 more sort of positively

00:14:55.699 --> 00:14:56.439
 about things

00:14:56.439 --> 00:14:58.159
 or adopting particular ways

00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:58.439
 of life

00:14:58.439 --> 00:14:59.459
 so that you can present

00:14:59.459 --> 00:15:00.199
 in a way that is

00:15:00.199 --> 00:15:01.360
 more self-sufficient.

00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:05.860
 The one thing in life

00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:07.800
 that should take the feet

00:15:07.800 --> 00:15:08.480
 out from under us

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.120
 on that thought

00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:11.659
 is thinking about sleep.

00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:15.240
 When you go to bed at night,

00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:17.220
 I know some of you

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:18.139
 with little ones

00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:19.399
 would love to be able

00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:20.120
 to think about sleep.

00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:21.080
 You dream about sleep.

00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.519
 It's all you think about.

00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:24.860
 But if you think about

00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:25.779
 what's actually happening,

00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:27.200
 you have no control.

00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:30.320
 You close your eyes

00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:31.480
 and you trust yourself

00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:33.720
 to the sovereign care of God.

00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:36.879
 Sleep is an act of worship.

00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:40.860
 God keeps your heart going.

00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:42.840
 God gives you every breath

00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:43.379
 through the night.

00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:44.240
 You're not even aware

00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:44.900
 that it's happening.

00:15:46.300 --> 00:15:47.180
 And He's the one

00:15:47.180 --> 00:15:47.960
 that opens your eyes

00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:48.420
 in the morning

00:15:48.420 --> 00:15:49.040
 if they open.

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.560
 Poverty of spirit

00:15:52.560 --> 00:15:53.620
 acknowledges that debt.

00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:54.300
 We are dependent

00:15:54.300 --> 00:15:55.040
 when we're little.

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:55.900
 Boys and girls,

00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:56.680
 you're dependent

00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:57.359
 on your parents

00:15:57.359 --> 00:15:57.839
 for everything.

00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:00.239
 As we grow,

00:16:00.319 --> 00:16:01.159
 we're always dependent

00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:01.699
 on others.

00:16:02.479 --> 00:16:03.039
 And ultimately,

00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:03.719
 we're dependent

00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:05.079
 on our God.

00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:06.279
 Poverty of spirit

00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:07.339
 acknowledges that debt.

00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:08.259
 And it recognizes

00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.199
 even more than that

00:16:09.199 --> 00:16:09.919
 that it goes deeper.

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.719
 The debt is deeper.

00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:11.279
 In fact,

00:16:11.579 --> 00:16:12.439
 it goes to the point

00:16:12.439 --> 00:16:13.059
 of bankruptcy

00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:14.000
 before God

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.839
 because of our sin.

00:16:17.719 --> 00:16:18.379
 Here's the thing.

00:16:18.439 --> 00:16:19.239
 When we see others,

00:16:20.199 --> 00:16:21.139
 when we see ourselves

00:16:21.139 --> 00:16:21.599
 like that,

00:16:22.599 --> 00:16:24.339
 it changes the way

00:16:24.339 --> 00:16:25.079
 that we see others.

00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:27.959
 We don't look up.

00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:29.120
 We don't look down

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:32.120
 because we're not proud.

00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:34.679
 Flourishing are the poor

00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:35.099
 in spirit.

00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:35.839
 Verse 4,

00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:36.779
 Flourishing are those

00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:37.479
 who mourn.

00:16:39.099 --> 00:16:40.339
 This isn't just a word

00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:41.199
 to the bereaved.

00:16:41.339 --> 00:16:42.419
 That wouldn't make sense

00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:43.500
 ultimately in the context.

00:16:43.599 --> 00:16:44.399
 But the background here

00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.899
 is Isaiah 61

00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:46.779
 where the people of God

00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:47.479
 are mourning.

00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.539
 They're mourning

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.639
 over their sin

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:52.699
 and the consequences

00:16:52.699 --> 00:16:53.500
 of that sin.

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.940
 and they are longing

00:16:54.940 --> 00:16:55.960
 for the future

00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:57.419
 that God has promised them.

00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:02.179
 Christians don't pretend

00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:02.860
 that their lives

00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:03.480
 are all together.

00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:06.940
 Christians don't hide

00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:07.819
 from the consequences

00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:08.319
 of sin

00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.079
 or shift the blame

00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.940
 for those things

00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.779
 to other people.

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:13.519
 We lean into repentance.

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:15.019
 That's what it means

00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.799
 to be a Christian.

00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:17.359
 You are a repenting person

00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:20.799
 which in turn invites

00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:21.640
 the blessing of God.

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.320
 Verse 5,

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.960
 Flourishing are the meek.

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.140
 This word is used

00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:28.020
 in Psalm 37

00:17:28.020 --> 00:17:28.980
 where the meek are those

00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:30.240
 who wait for the Lord

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.759
 when times are hard.

00:17:32.080 --> 00:17:33.100
 In the midst of struggle,

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.600
 we wait for You, Lord.

00:17:35.600 --> 00:17:36.880
 We look to You, Lord.

00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:39.220
 We don't try and take matters

00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:40.080
 into our own hands.

00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.860
 We accept God's providence

00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:43.440
 in the pain

00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.680
 and we look to Him.

00:17:44.800 --> 00:17:46.080
 Meekness is releasing

00:17:46.080 --> 00:17:46.720
 your grip

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.020
 on your means

00:17:48.020 --> 00:17:49.300
 and your connections

00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:51.019
 and your self-sufficiency

00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:52.799
 and looking to God.

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.559
 Jesus describes

00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.539
 those who are marked

00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.500
 by these traits

00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:01.299
 as flourishing.

00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:04.619
 It might not look like it

00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:04.980
 to others.

00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:05.799
 It might not always

00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:07.059
 feel like it to us.

00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.319
 But that is how Jesus

00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:10.460
 describes you

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:13.240
 if you're in relationship

00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:13.659
 with Him.

00:18:15.419 --> 00:18:16.480
 And the reason for this

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.500
 is seen in the second half

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.359
 of each of those verses.

00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:19.640
 The first half of each

00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:20.960
 beatitude can't be separated

00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:21.619
 from the second.

00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:23.319
 The reason those who are

00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:24.000
 poor in spirit

00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:24.859
 are flourishing

00:18:24.859 --> 00:18:26.740
 is because they are

00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.680
 citizens of the kingdom.

00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:31.299
 The reason those who mourn

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:31.839
 are flourishing

00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:33.220
 is because they enjoy

00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:34.119
 the comfort of God,

00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.819
 the nearness of His care,

00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:36.859
 and the certainty

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:37.500
 of those things

00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.099
 in their fullness

00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:39.240
 on that future day

00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:40.059
 in glory.

00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:42.980
 The reason that the meek

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:43.559
 are flourishing

00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:44.859
 is because they know

00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:45.500
 their place

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.500
 before a holy God.

00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:48.880
 And however hard

00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:49.539
 things get,

00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:50.480
 they wait on His

00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:51.299
 good providence

00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:52.519
 knowing that one day

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:54.559
 they will inherit

00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.019
 the earth.

00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:57.039
 What an inheritance!

00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:00.700
 And so it goes

00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.819
 with each of the Beatitudes.

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:04.880
 When you look at all

00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.140
 that is not right

00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:06.640
 with the world

00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.380
 and you groan,

00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:09.319
 oh, come Lord Jesus.

00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:12.519
 When you see poverty

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.180
 and injustice

00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:14.879
 on your news feed

00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:15.400
 and your heart

00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.379
 breaks another bit,

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:19.440
 when you decide

00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:19.839
 in life

00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.180
 that you're going

00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:20.839
 to set aside

00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.259
 your ego

00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.359
 and submit yourself

00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:23.519
 to the providence

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.619
 of God in your life,

00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:27.200
 you are flourishing

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.639
 in His sight.

00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.740
 That is actually

00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.460
 what it looks like

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.259
 to hunger and thirst

00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:35.839
 for righteousness.

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:39.079
 To grieve

00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:39.980
 and mourn

00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:40.680
 over sin

00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.360
 in your own life

00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:42.000
 and in the world.

00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:43.620
 To submit your life

00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:45.079
 to God's providential care.

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.500
 And to pray

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.440
 and long

00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:49.440
 for that future day

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:49.819
 in glory.

00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.819
 That is what it looks like

00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:51.819
 to hunger and thirst

00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.519
 for righteousness.

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.339
 And so,

00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:57.960
 because of that,

00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:59.099
 as a citizen of the kingdom,

00:19:59.220 --> 00:19:59.599
 one day

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.059
 you will be satisfied.

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:01.740
 One day,

00:20:01.860 --> 00:20:02.640
 God's righteousness,

00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.500
 that day when God's righteousness

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.759
 reigns in all things,

00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:07.059
 all your discontent

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.839
 will vanish.

00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:08.699
 The pure in heart

00:20:08.699 --> 00:20:10.500
 will see God.

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:17.220
 And the peacemakers

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:19.740
 will be called

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.480
 sons of God.

00:20:24.199 --> 00:20:24.959
 When you are

00:20:24.959 --> 00:20:26.199
 a citizen of the kingdom

00:20:26.199 --> 00:20:26.879
 through faith

00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:27.779
 in Jesus Christ,

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.419
 these qualities,

00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:30.379
 these characteristics

00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:32.439
 will mark your life.

00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:35.319
 We want to see them grow.

00:20:35.459 --> 00:20:36.279
 We want to nurture them.

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.259
 We want to cultivate them

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:37.879
 by faith.

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.680
 But they will mark your life.

00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:41.619
 And though,

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.579
 we see it increasingly,

00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:45.279
 the culture will despise you.

00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:46.740
 Let's be honest.

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:48.139
 Who looks at poverty of spirit?

00:20:48.379 --> 00:20:50.039
 Who looks at mourning over sin?

00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:51.420
 Who looks at pursuing

00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:52.379
 a pure heart

00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:53.200
 and thinks that you're

00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:54.379
 living your best life?

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.720
 Who in our culture

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.519
 goes yay

00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.740
 to all those things?

00:20:59.160 --> 00:20:59.920
 Very few.

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.279
 So we're despised

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:03.200
 for living like this.

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:05.539
 But look again.

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:06.700
 Even that

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:08.000
 is a mark of flourishing.

00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:08.640
 Verse 10.

00:21:09.100 --> 00:21:10.240
 It's the one characteristic

00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.420
 that Jesus repeats

00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:12.580
 probably because

00:21:12.580 --> 00:21:13.819
 it's so hard to believe.

00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:16.240
 Blessed are those

00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:16.980
 who are persecuted

00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:18.140
 for righteousness' sake,

00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:18.900
 for theirs is

00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:19.740
 the kingdom of heaven.

00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.279
 Blessed are you

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.600
 when others revile you

00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:23.460
 and persecute you

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.500
 and utter all kinds

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.340
 of evil against you

00:21:25.340 --> 00:21:26.539
 falsely on my account.

00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:27.920
 Rejoice

00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:29.019
 and be glad

00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:30.380
 for your reward

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.380
 is great in heaven.

00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:33.400
 That looks like madness

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.900
 to the world.

00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:38.680
 Jonathan Pennington

00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.220
 says this,

00:21:39.300 --> 00:21:40.600
 Is there any worse suffering

00:21:40.600 --> 00:21:41.340
 than being attacked

00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:41.900
 and slandered

00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.760
 and being cut off

00:21:42.760 --> 00:21:43.480
 from community

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.900
 precisely when one

00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:45.380
 is innocent,

00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:45.880
 true,

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.740
 and living according

00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.620
 to God's righteousness?

00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:48.520
 No.

00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:51.100
 Yet Jesus claims

00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:52.820
 this is true flourishing

00:21:52.820 --> 00:21:54.680
 because these are

00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:55.480
 the inheritors

00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.700
 of God's kingdom

00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.760
 and recipients

00:21:57.760 --> 00:21:59.280
 of a great reward.

00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.580
 Because of this

00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:01.260
 true promise,

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:01.900
 those suffering

00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.460
 in this state

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.379
 can actually rejoice

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.019
 and be glad

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.259
 and have a taste

00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:07.200
 of flourishing now.

00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:11.980
 Do you see how encouraging

00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.920
 and how strengthening

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.539
 this is?

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.900
 In the face of persecution,

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:19.960
 you can rejoice.

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:23.379
 Not just grit your teeth.

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:24.839
 Not just,

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.039
 oh, I've got to get through this.

00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:26.980
 But rejoice.

00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.079
 Rejoice.

00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:30.879
 At school,

00:22:31.399 --> 00:22:32.639
 when you get a hard time

00:22:32.639 --> 00:22:34.259
 from those around you

00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.779
 because you're a Christian.

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:39.319
 When those in your class

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:39.960
 laugh at you

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.500
 and mock you

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.960
 because of your Christian views.

00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.119
 Rejoice.

00:22:44.199 --> 00:22:44.599
 Smile.

00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:46.839
 Thank them for their assault.

00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:50.879
 When you get disciplined

00:22:50.879 --> 00:22:51.899
 and work because you won't

00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:52.699
 join in the great

00:22:52.699 --> 00:22:53.619
 pronoun delusion.

00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.759
 Or you're just going

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.419
 about your business

00:22:56.419 --> 00:22:57.139
 perfectly happy

00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:57.799
 with the lanyard

00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.879
 that you always use.

00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:00.500
 And now you've been

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.419
 called into a meeting

00:23:01.419 --> 00:23:02.039
 with HR.

00:23:02.399 --> 00:23:02.839
 Rejoice.

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.639
 It sounds crazy.

00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.859
 But Jesus is saying,

00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:10.159
 and we need to remember this

00:23:10.159 --> 00:23:11.439
 in these days,

00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.480
 Jesus is saying

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.900
 that in His economy,

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:15.460
 a life lived

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.380
 in the pursuit

00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:17.000
 of righteousness

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:18.500
 is a flourishing,

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.160
 blessed life.

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.320
 This is what it means

00:23:24.320 --> 00:23:24.759
 for you to be

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.220
 the person

00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.500
 that you were created to be.

00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:29.620
 Even in the struggle,

00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:32.759
 this is what it means

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.700
 for you to be

00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:35.000
 the person

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.980
 that God wants you

00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:37.220
 to be where you are

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:39.240
 as you live

00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:40.140
 for the age to come.

00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:44.200
 So the Beatitudes

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:44.940
 are a description

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.880
 of true flourishing.

00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:49.320
 But they're not just that.

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.820
 Their positioning

00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.440
 in the sermon

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:55.680
 and the evocative way,

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.039
 I suppose,

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:56.900
 that they describe

00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.880
 the life of the kingdom,

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.539
 it serves to draw us in.

00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:01.140
 We're supposed to

00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:02.299
 read these things

00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:04.059
 and to choose this life

00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:05.440
 and to pursue

00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.100
 and to grow

00:24:06.100 --> 00:24:06.820
 in these qualities

00:24:06.820 --> 00:24:07.539
 more and more.

00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:08.779
 They're there

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.680
 to draw us in

00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:10.000
 to say,

00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:10.880
 come, come, come.

00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:11.980
 This is the good life.

00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:14.640
 So in that sense,

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.320
 they serve as,

00:24:15.520 --> 00:24:15.640
 secondly,

00:24:15.820 --> 00:24:16.620
 point number two,

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.820
 an invitation

00:24:17.820 --> 00:24:19.100
 into true flourishing.

00:24:19.560 --> 00:24:20.420
 If they, first of all,

00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:21.340
 are a description of it,

00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:21.860
 secondly,

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.740
 they are an invitation

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:24.380
 into true flourishing.

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.580
 Jesus is calling us

00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:26.620
 into a way of life.

00:24:27.540 --> 00:24:28.260
 What He's doing,

00:24:28.320 --> 00:24:28.940
 He's showing us

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.320
 a kingdom

00:24:29.320 --> 00:24:30.260
 where there is comfort,

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.780
 an amazing inheritance,

00:24:32.300 --> 00:24:32.740
 satisfaction,

00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:33.460
 mercy,

00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.120
 and joy

00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:34.600
 in knowing

00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:35.420
 and seeing God.

00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:38.660
 It is a spectacular vision

00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.660
 of a life

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.420
 that is good

00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:41.740
 in the truest sense

00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.240
 of the word.

00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.740
 Now, there is

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.960
 a present aspect

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.440
 to this.

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.240
 You become a citizen

00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.880
 of God's kingdom

00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.779
 when you humble yourself

00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.440
 before Him,

00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.640
 when you put your faith

00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:52.259
 in His Son,

00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.279
 when you receive

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.940
 His salvation.

00:24:54.060 --> 00:24:54.660
 At that point,

00:24:54.800 --> 00:24:55.700
 yours is the kingdom

00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:56.120
 of heaven.

00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.480
 At that point,

00:24:57.840 --> 00:24:59.000
 you see God

00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.080
 by faith.

00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:03.480
 In fact,

00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:05.019
 speaking of that

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:07.419
 present experience,

00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.879
 Sinclair Ferguson,

00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:12.079
 he describes

00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:13.099
 his experience

00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:14.559
 of knowing

00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.399
 the peace of God

00:25:15.399 --> 00:25:16.039
 and then seeking

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.879
 to be a peacemaker

00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:17.379
 himself.

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.319
 He says this,

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.559
 quote,

00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.859
 I frequently experience

00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:20.859
 this at the Lord's Supper.

00:25:21.919 --> 00:25:22.740
 I don't think

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.379
 it's a strange

00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:24.259
 Scottish emotion,

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:26.059
 but because at the Lord's Supper

00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:26.639
 we have these

00:25:26.639 --> 00:25:27.799
 physical expressions,

00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.460
 physical expressions

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.519
 that through Jesus Christ

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.579
 we have peace with God

00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:33.000
 and we've been reconciled

00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.380
 to Him.

00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.960
 What I would like to do

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.880
 at the end of the service

00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:36.900
 is just to go around

00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.620
 the congregation

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.819
 hugging everyone

00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:39.680
 and saying to them,

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.140
 let's live in this peace.

00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:42.039
 If you have anything

00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.660
 against me,

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.480
 pardon me.

00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.319
 If I have anything

00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:44.900
 against you,

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:46.259
 I freely forgive you.

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:48.079
 We have tasted this peace

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.519
 and so we want to become

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.620
 peacemakers.

00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:53.720
 I like that.

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:57.140
 When we gather in worship,

00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:59.020
 as we do like this

00:25:59.020 --> 00:25:59.500
 this morning,

00:25:59.580 --> 00:26:00.520
 we do get a foretaste

00:26:00.520 --> 00:26:01.180
 of these things.

00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:03.560
 When we come to the Lord's

00:26:03.560 --> 00:26:04.460
 table in particular,

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:06.560
 that sense of putting

00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:08.080
 right wrongs before we come,

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:09.540
 that sense of being united

00:26:09.540 --> 00:26:10.440
 as one body,

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:13.759
 we do taste those things.

00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:15.480
 And yet,

00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:18.440
 it will always have a sense

00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:20.320
 of feeling incomplete.

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:23.899
 Because our full experience

00:26:23.899 --> 00:26:24.720
 of this flourishing,

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:26.319
 your full experience

00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.559
 of your sonship,

00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:29.720
 lies in the future.

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.139
 There is a tension

00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:36.059
 until Christ consummates

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:36.599
 His kingdom

00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:38.220
 and sets the world

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.179
 to rights.

00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.339
 And that's why

00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.579
 this point

00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.859
 is so important.

00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:46.039
 Because between now and then,

00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:47.019
 there is a struggle.

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:51.379
 There is hardship

00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:52.900
 and persecution.

00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.599
 Verses 10 and 11.

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:57.180
 Because these values

00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:59.019
 contrast sharply

00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:00.519
 with the values

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:00.960
 of the world

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.639
 that we live in.

00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:04.599
 I've said already,

00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:07.400
 our society encourages

00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:08.759
 self-promotion.

00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:12.420
 We are champions

00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:13.619
 of self-confidence.

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:16.500
 We live in a culture

00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:18.000
 that is increasingly proud

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.979
 and harsh

00:27:18.979 --> 00:27:20.299
 and ambitious

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:22.059
 and self-serving.

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.739
 And the invitation

00:27:24.739 --> 00:27:27.239
 into the kingdom

00:27:27.239 --> 00:27:29.519
 and to a life of flourishing

00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.979
 is an invitation

00:27:30.979 --> 00:27:31.859
 to self-denial.

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:36.379
 Each of these traits,

00:27:37.479 --> 00:27:39.399
 each of these qualities

00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.179
 and characteristics

00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:41.119
 reflect the same

00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:42.119
 selfless attitude.

00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:43.739
 Indeed, there is something

00:27:43.739 --> 00:27:44.319
 of a flow.

00:27:44.439 --> 00:27:45.139
 Did you notice that

00:27:45.139 --> 00:27:46.259
 as you go through?

00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.079
 Blessed are the poor

00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:48.519
 in spirit.

00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:49.979
 As you see yourself

00:27:49.979 --> 00:27:51.559
 accurately before God,

00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.199
 what happens?

00:27:53.419 --> 00:27:54.379
 You mourn

00:27:54.379 --> 00:27:55.899
 for your sin.

00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.500
 It's part of why

00:27:58.500 --> 00:28:00.479
 the worship service

00:28:00.479 --> 00:28:01.000
 is organized

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.399
 the way that it is.

00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:04.119
 We sing these songs

00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.239
 of the majesty

00:28:05.239 --> 00:28:06.059
 and the character

00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.819
 and the perfection

00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:07.439
 of God.

00:28:07.979 --> 00:28:08.939
 And what does that do?

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.359
 It causes us

00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:11.179
 to see ourselves

00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:12.180
 as we truly are.

00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:14.039
 And so we move

00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.100
 to confess our sins.

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.000
 We mourn

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:18.460
 when we are poor

00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:18.960
 in spirit.

00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:21.200
 And as you mourn

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:21.840
 for your sin,

00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:23.740
 there's a makeness

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.120
 then

00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:25.740
 that grows up.

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.720
 And a right makeness

00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.400
 is characterized

00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:30.460
 by a desire

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.980
 to live a righteous life.

00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:32.779
 That's what happens,

00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:33.160
 isn't it?

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.640
 When we mourn

00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:35.380
 over our sin,

00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.299
 we resolve

00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:38.319
 with God's help

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:40.379
 to hunger

00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:40.700
 and thirst

00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.240
 for righteousness,

00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:43.579
 to live differently,

00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:44.659
 to put that sin

00:28:44.659 --> 00:28:45.180
 to death.

00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.940
 What then happens

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.500
 is that knowing

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:50.980
 in Christ

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.740
 that we've been given

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.279
 the righteousness

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:52.799
 of God

00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.480
 as a gift,

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:55.279
 we look at ourselves

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:55.819
 and we think,

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.319
 oh, there I go again.

00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:58.359
 I've failed again.

00:28:58.359 --> 00:29:00.599
 And Christ says,

00:29:01.399 --> 00:29:03.519
 you're righteous

00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.079
 in me.

00:29:05.939 --> 00:29:07.059
 I give this to you

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.639
 as a gift.

00:29:08.399 --> 00:29:09.000
 God made Him

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.899
 who had no sin

00:29:09.899 --> 00:29:11.259
 to be sin for us

00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.019
 so that in Him

00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:13.159
 we might become

00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:13.759
 the righteousness

00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.339
 of God.

00:29:15.679 --> 00:29:16.399
 When you know

00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:17.079
 that you've been given

00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.879
 that right standing

00:29:17.879 --> 00:29:18.479
 as a gift,

00:29:18.939 --> 00:29:19.419
 when you know

00:29:19.419 --> 00:29:20.399
 that you've experienced

00:29:20.399 --> 00:29:21.019
 His mercy,

00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:21.619
 it makes you

00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:22.500
 a merciful person

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:22.980
 to others,

00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:26.240
 makes you one

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.940
 who longs

00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:27.440
 to live

00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:28.460
 to please God.

00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.079
 That is,

00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.660
 gives you a pure heart.

00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.819
 Such a person

00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.759
 having given peace

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.140
 with God

00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:35.759
 through Christ

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.339
 will live,

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.539
 will seek to live

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.339
 at peace with others

00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:40.440
 and want others

00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.700
 to know this peace,

00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:43.319
 even those

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:44.619
 who persecute them.

00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:49.000
 Here is the paradox

00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.599
 of the kingdom,

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.200
 the path

00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:52.099
 of true flourishing.

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.160
 is walked

00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:54.380
 in selflessness.

00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.680
 Get yourself

00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.299
 out of the way.

00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:00.900
 At home,

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.500
 in your relationships,

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.900
 in work,

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:06.200
 get off the me train.

00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:09.220
 So difficult,

00:30:09.339 --> 00:30:10.299
 the culture is telling us

00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:11.019
 to go completely

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.700
 the opposite way.

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.619
 Live for yourself.

00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.519
 That's where

00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.640
 true flourishing lies.

00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.839
 Put yourself

00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:16.380
 at the center

00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:16.940
 of everything.

00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:17.460
 No!

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.119
 That is the way

00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:20.319
 to dissatisfaction

00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:21.039
 and death.

00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:27.319
 Get yourself

00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:27.920
 out of the way.

00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:29.500
 And the more

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.359
 that we embrace

00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:31.099
 this pattern

00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:32.119
 for our lives,

00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:32.740
 the more

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.960
 we will flourish.

00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.000
 flourish.

00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.640
 And here's the reason

00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.380
 that we know this.

00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.680
 Because the most

00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:43.480
 fully human person

00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:44.200
 that has ever lived,

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.039
 the most vivid

00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:46.299
 example of human

00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:46.920
 flourishing

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:48.500
 that has ever been

00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.460
 was the one

00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.319
 who embodied

00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:51.200
 these beatitudes

00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.819
 perfectly.

00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:54.380
 The Lord Jesus Christ,

00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.019
 the one who was

00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:56.220
 gentle and lowly

00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:56.819
 in heart.

00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:57.940
 That's meekness.

00:30:57.940 --> 00:31:00.900
 The one who humbled

00:31:00.900 --> 00:31:01.779
 himself down

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.880
 from heaven

00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:03.640
 to earth

00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:05.400
 in order to win

00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:06.279
 peace with God

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:06.880
 for all

00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.960
 who would trust Him.

00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:08.980
 To live

00:31:08.980 --> 00:31:09.840
 like this

00:31:09.840 --> 00:31:10.799
 is to live

00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.680
 like Jesus.

00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:14.360
 And that is to live

00:31:14.360 --> 00:31:15.039
 therefore in the

00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.660
 epicenter

00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:16.340
 of the blessing

00:31:16.340 --> 00:31:16.840
 of God.

00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:19.420
 It is to live

00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:20.480
 life in all

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.299
 its fullness.

00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:25.500
 But also,

00:31:25.639 --> 00:31:25.940
 inevitably,

00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:26.879
 it is to live

00:31:26.879 --> 00:31:27.839
 life in the

00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:28.339
 crosshairs

00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:29.079
 of persecution.

00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:31.079
 We've touched

00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:31.659
 on it already.

00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.639
 Belonging to Jesus

00:31:32.639 --> 00:31:33.259
 means that we

00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:33.899
 should expect

00:31:33.899 --> 00:31:34.399
 to suffer

00:31:34.399 --> 00:31:35.419
 as He did.

00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.359
 And the question

00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:36.579
 is,

00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:37.200
 are you prepared

00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:37.659
 for this?

00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:40.339
 Does your

00:31:40.339 --> 00:31:40.980
 Christian life

00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.599
 have a category

00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:42.180
 marked

00:31:42.180 --> 00:31:43.059
 obedience

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:44.059
 no matter

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:45.099
 what the cost?

00:31:47.639 --> 00:31:48.740
 Or a category

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.139
 marked

00:31:49.139 --> 00:31:49.859
 conviction

00:31:49.859 --> 00:31:50.940
 no matter

00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:51.460
 what they

00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:51.880
 say?

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.500
 This is where

00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.019
 the Beatitudes

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:56.440
 end.

00:31:57.640 --> 00:31:58.180
 And on the one

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:58.360
 hand,

00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:58.960
 it's the hardest

00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.740
 bit to stomach,

00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:00.360
 but on the other

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:00.559
 hand,

00:32:00.600 --> 00:32:01.460
 I want us to see

00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.299
 that these verses

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.440
 put steel in our

00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.720
 spine as we

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.360
 seek to live

00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:05.900
 for Christ

00:32:05.900 --> 00:32:06.840
 in our day,

00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.680
 wherever He

00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.559
 has placed us.

00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:10.680
 When you're

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.400
 misrepresented,

00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:12.740
 when you are

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.320
 reviled,

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:13.920
 when you're

00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.660
 lied about

00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:15.180
 because you

00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:15.840
 follow Christ,

00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:16.740
 you do not

00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.600
 need to worry.

00:32:19.100 --> 00:32:19.720
 It was this

00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.220
 way for the

00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:20.660
 prophets,

00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.920
 it was this

00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:22.580
 way for Christ

00:32:22.580 --> 00:32:22.920
 Himself,

00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:23.740
 and it will

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.160
 be this

00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:25.059
 way for all

00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.440
 who will

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.039
 flourish in

00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.400
 the sight

00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:26.860
 of God.

00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:27.960
 So rejoice.

00:32:33.100 --> 00:32:33.640
 When you

00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:34.080
 get a hard

00:32:34.080 --> 00:32:34.620
 time because

00:32:34.620 --> 00:32:35.000
 you say

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.279
 or do

00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:35.539
 dumb

00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:35.960
 things,

00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:36.840
 don't rejoice.

00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:37.680
 Change

00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:38.160
 your behavior.

00:32:38.600 --> 00:32:38.860
 He's not

00:32:38.860 --> 00:32:39.320
 talking about

00:32:39.320 --> 00:32:39.580
 that.

00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:41.100
 But when you

00:32:41.100 --> 00:32:41.480
 get a hard

00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:41.860
 time from

00:32:41.860 --> 00:32:42.320
 your colleagues

00:32:42.320 --> 00:32:42.620
 or your

00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:42.880
 friends,

00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.279
 even your

00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:43.539
 family,

00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.100
 because you

00:32:44.100 --> 00:32:44.480
 are living

00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:44.980
 your life

00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:45.539
 for Jesus,

00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:47.059
 give the

00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:47.559
 burden of

00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:47.799
 it to

00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.240
 the Lord.

00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.659
 And remember

00:32:51.659 --> 00:32:52.460
 his verdict

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:52.919
 on this

00:32:52.919 --> 00:32:53.519
 situation.

00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:55.139
 Blessed.

00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:56.500
 You're

00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:56.899
 flourishing.

00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:58.440
 He has

00:32:58.440 --> 00:32:58.659
 you where

00:32:58.659 --> 00:32:58.980
 he wants

00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.139
 you.

00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:00.440
 It's

00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:00.720
 okay.

00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.579
 And we

00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:06.119
 will only do

00:33:06.119 --> 00:33:06.599
 this if we

00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.000
 place our

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.319
 happiness

00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:07.879
 beyond this

00:33:07.879 --> 00:33:08.139
 world.

00:33:10.139 --> 00:33:10.700
 If we

00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:11.319
 calibrate our

00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:11.980
 definition of

00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:12.819
 flourishing to

00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:13.639
 Christ's.

00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:17.079
 You know,

00:33:17.159 --> 00:33:18.099
 if we think

00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:19.019
 flourishing involves

00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:19.480
 having a

00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.099
 lifestyle that

00:33:20.099 --> 00:33:20.639
 our magazine

00:33:20.639 --> 00:33:21.619
 or the blog

00:33:21.619 --> 00:33:22.259
 or the

00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:23.319
 Instagram feed

00:33:23.319 --> 00:33:23.759
 of choice

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.579
 preaches to

00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.099
 us about,

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:25.700
 if we're

00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:26.319
 getting our

00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:27.200
 definition of

00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:27.720
 flourishing from

00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:28.539
 the sermons that

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:29.039
 come to us

00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:29.559
 that way,

00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:31.059
 then joy will

00:33:31.059 --> 00:33:31.720
 always,

00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:32.419
 always elude

00:33:32.419 --> 00:33:32.720
 us.

00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:33.559
 It'll come

00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:33.859
 and it'll

00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:34.240
 go.

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.599
 Because when

00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.159
 we get some

00:33:36.159 --> 00:33:36.359
 of it,

00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:36.619
 it won't

00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:37.259
 satisfy and

00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:37.799
 when trials

00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:38.159
 come,

00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:38.819
 they will

00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:39.480
 crush us.

00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.200
 Because we

00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.859
 think flourishing

00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:42.579
 is this

00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:44.019
 picture that's

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.779
 normally always

00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:45.199
 made up.

00:33:47.379 --> 00:33:48.159
 But if we

00:33:48.159 --> 00:33:49.039
 see flourishing,

00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:49.919
 if we calibrate

00:33:49.919 --> 00:33:50.759
 our definition

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.299
 of flourishing

00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:52.659
 to Christ's

00:33:52.659 --> 00:33:53.500
 as these

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.699
 qualities of

00:33:54.699 --> 00:33:55.379
 the soul,

00:33:56.159 --> 00:33:56.740
 not as

00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:57.679
 external things

00:33:57.679 --> 00:33:58.139
 that we might

00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:58.919
 want to have,

00:33:59.000 --> 00:33:59.339
 but as

00:33:59.339 --> 00:33:59.919
 qualities of

00:33:59.919 --> 00:34:00.500
 the soul,

00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.879
 we can rejoice

00:34:01.879 --> 00:34:02.799
 whatever is

00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:03.539
 going on around

00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:03.879
 us.

00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:05.179
 However hard

00:34:05.179 --> 00:34:05.659
 it is,

00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:06.500
 when we lose

00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:07.079
 our job,

00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:08.239
 or our

00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:08.659
 health,

00:34:09.299 --> 00:34:09.840
 or our

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.440
 reputation,

00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:11.719
 or anything

00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:12.159
 else,

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.179
 we don't

00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:13.739
 get defensive,

00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:14.619
 we don't

00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:15.079
 get angry,

00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:15.900
 and we

00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.559
 don't despair,

00:34:16.799 --> 00:34:17.500
 we receive it

00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:17.940
 from the Lord

00:34:17.940 --> 00:34:18.539
 with confidence,

00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:19.039
 and we can

00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:19.619
 even have

00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.239
 joy in the

00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:20.719
 midst of the

00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.239
 pain because

00:34:21.239 --> 00:34:21.739
 we know it's

00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:22.199
 from God's

00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:22.679
 good hand,

00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:23.739
 and it's

00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:24.219
 always,

00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:24.880
 always,

00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:25.319
 always,

00:34:25.319 --> 00:34:26.019
 only temporary.

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.679
 There will

00:34:28.679 --> 00:34:28.980
 be,

00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:29.719
 in a little

00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:30.139
 while,

00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:31.739
 comfort,

00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.159
 satisfaction.

00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:35.559
 We'll see

00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:35.920
 God,

00:34:37.319 --> 00:34:37.920
 and nothing

00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.380
 else will

00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:38.659
 matter.

00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:40.980
 let's

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.259
 pray.

00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:41.659
 Let's

00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:41.279
 pray.

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.019
 Our

00:34:59.019 --> 00:34:59.379
 Father,

00:35:00.139 --> 00:35:00.779
 and our

00:35:00.779 --> 00:35:01.059
 God,

00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:01.599
 we praise

00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:01.879
 you.

00:35:01.880 --> 00:35:06.280
 for the

00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:06.700
 Lord Jesus

00:35:06.700 --> 00:35:07.240
 Christ,

00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:07.840
 and the

00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:08.420
 life of

00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:08.900
 flourishing

00:35:08.900 --> 00:35:09.240
 that he

00:35:09.240 --> 00:35:09.820
 has purchased

00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:10.480
 for us.

00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:15.420
 And amidst

00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:16.720
 confliction that

00:35:16.720 --> 00:35:17.460
 we feel with

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:17.940
 our sinful

00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:18.420
 hearts,

00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.300
 with a world

00:35:20.300 --> 00:35:20.900
 that is opposed

00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:21.340
 to you,

00:35:22.619 --> 00:35:23.119
 and with all

00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:23.360
 of the

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:23.860
 struggles of

00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:24.660
 life in a

00:35:24.660 --> 00:35:25.260
 broken world,

00:35:25.260 --> 00:35:25.300
 God,

00:35:26.100 --> 00:35:27.620
 we thank

00:35:27.620 --> 00:35:29.440
 you that in

00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:30.100
 obedience to

00:35:30.100 --> 00:35:30.500
 Christ,

00:35:32.080 --> 00:35:33.120
 in union

00:35:33.120 --> 00:35:33.660
 with him,

00:35:35.020 --> 00:35:35.420
 we have a

00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:36.140
 life of

00:35:36.140 --> 00:35:36.900
 true flourishing.

00:35:38.120 --> 00:35:38.840
 Help us to

00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:39.200
 live in the

00:35:39.200 --> 00:35:39.580
 light of that

00:35:39.580 --> 00:35:39.980
 this week,

00:35:40.020 --> 00:35:40.380
 we pray,

00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:40.860
 because we

00:35:40.860 --> 00:35:41.340
 ask it in

00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:41.580
 Jesus'

00:35:41.740 --> 00:35:41.920
 name.

00:35:42.560 --> 00:35:42.780
 Amen.

00:35:44.120 --> 00:35:44.560
 Let's

00:35:44.560 --> 00:35:44.760
 sing.

00:35:46.060 --> 00:35:46.600
 The church

00:35:46.600 --> 00:35:46.700
 is