WEBVTT

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 Okay, good morning everyone. Lovely to see you. My name is Graeme, I'm the pastor here of the church and it's been wonderful to meet some new faces this morning.

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 You're so welcome. You are joining us at an exciting time. We're at the penultimate sermon in our series in 2 Corinthians.

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 So, if you have a Bible, come with me to 2 Corinthians chapter 12.

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 If you don't have a Bible, then you can grab one of the pews round about.

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 They are for that purpose. If you didn't bring a Bible, you can use them.

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 You can scroll on your phone, 2 Corinthians chapter 12, or failing that, the verses will be on the screen behind me and you can follow along as we read together.

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 But as you turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 12, know that you are turning to one of the most loved portions of the Bible for Christians down the generations all across the world.

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 And I think as we take in these 10 verses in chapter 12 together, we will see the beauty.

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 So, the invitation this morning is whatever's going on in your life just now, whatever you've brought in those doors with you, bring it and bring your soul to these verses.

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 And let's be refreshed as we take in once again who Jesus is.

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 So, in verse 1, chapter 12, Paul writes this,

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 I must go on boasting.

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 Although there's nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

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 I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago was caught up in the third heaven.

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 Whether it was in the body or out of the body, I do not know.

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 God knows.

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 And I know that this man, whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know, but God knows, was caught up to paradise.

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 And heard inexpressible things that no one is permitted to tell.

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 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself except about my weaknesses.

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 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool because I would be speaking the truth, but I refrain.

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 So, no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say because of these surpassing great revelations.

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 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me.

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 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me, but he said to me,

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 my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

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 Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me.

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 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses and insults and hardships and persecutions and difficulties.

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 For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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 And Lord, we just pray that you'd be with us this morning as we turn to your living and your active word.

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 Father, thank you that when we open our Bibles, we hear your very voice.

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 And so, Lord, I ask that your spirit, that he would take these truths,

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 that as we meditate on them and glory in them over the next half an hour or so,

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 that he would be at work in our hearts.

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 Whatever's going on in our lives today, Father, would you bring the perfect application of these verses to our lives?

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 Father, thank you for your love for us.

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 And we just pray these things in the strong name of Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So, friends, here is a question to get us going.

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 Ready for it?

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 What does a powerful person look like?

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 It's a TV show currently airing on the BBC that's on its 19th series called The Apprentice.

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 It's dog-eat-dog in the business world.

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 There's 18 people.

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 They compete for Lord Sugar's 250 grand investment in their business proposal.

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 And it is all-out power.

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 Now, I'll give you a little example of this.

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 This is my favorite from a candidate from a few years ago.

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 He said this of himself.

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 He said, I'm a Swiss army knife of business skills and enthusiasm.

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 I've got everything highly tuned and highly chiseled.

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 Now, I've long given up in the hope of being highly chiseled.

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 But there's part of me that would love to be a Swiss army knife.

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 Would you not love that in your life?

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 That's the kind of person that oppresses me.

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 The kind of person that can do anything, that can turn their hand to everything.

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 Someone whose pitches are slick.

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 Someone whose qualifications are second to none.

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 Someone who's got more letters after their name than they do actually in their name.

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 Someone whose dress sense is top-notch.

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 I guess that's why in our culture we talk about power dressing.

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 Someone who's confident and capable at everything.

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 Able to cope with every challenge that life throws at them.

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 We love in our world and we celebrate the story of the self-made man.

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 We were around in the 90s.

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 I think it was 1999 from the top of my head.

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 You remember Destiny's Child had that song.

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 Independent Woman.

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 And we think these kind of people are mightily impressive.

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 And I look at people like that and I see them in my own life.

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 And then I look back at my own heart and life.

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 And I think to myself as I do, compare.com.

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 I wish I had it a bit more all together.

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 And so here's how this passage has acted in my life this week.

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 And it's an invitation I want to just extend to us all this morning.

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 It's about like this.

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 You know, from our house we've got a great view of King's buildings.

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 You know, on the university campus just in the south of the city.

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 Here's the thing about King's campus.

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 At the minute there's a massive building project going on.

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 So every day I take the kids to school and we look up and there's a massive yellow crane that's dominating the skyline.

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 What's happening at King's is there is a massive building there which has stood for decades.

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 And what's happened is it is gradually being deconstructed.

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 Deconstructed.

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 It's derelict.

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 It's being torn down.

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 Brick by brick, steel bar by steel bar.

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 They are deconstructing this thing.

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 And the plan I heard is once it's down is to build something else in its place.

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 Now that's a wonderful picture of discipleship and how it works in our hearts and lives.

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 Friends, we all come at this text having a standing building in our minds of what power looks like.

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 And what impresses us in this life.

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 And what God has done in my heart this week, and this is a long-term process,

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 is that that vision of what power is and what impresses me, he's began to slowly deconstruct it.

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 And in its place, he's given me this passage.

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 And he said, this is what true power looks like.

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 So here's chapter 12.

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 Here is, friends, the liberating paradox of weakness being the new strength.

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 Right?

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 Right?

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 Weakness being the new strength.

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 And here's the secret sauce of the Christian life.

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 We are never more useful to the Lord than when we are completely dependent on him.

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 Weakness is the way.

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 To some degree, what we're doing is we're just looping back this morning to where we all started.

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 And the big thing of this book is weakness is the way.

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 And the thing is, this is the opposite of how Corinth thinks.

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 This letter written to the church in Corinth.

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 A city where the apprentice would go down a storm.

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 They would love the idea of the apprentice in Corinth in the first century.

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 Playing right into that are the super apostles who've shown up in Corinth

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 and have tapped into this whole idea of a city who loves the impressive.

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 And what they've done is they have dazzled the people in this church with their claims.

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 Right?

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 This is like our kids do this every time we go into Princess Street.

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 And they see that shop called Kingdom of Sweets.

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 You ever seen it?

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 And every time they say, Daddy, can we go?

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 What's attracting them to the Kingdom of Sweets?

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 Right?

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 Bright lights over here.

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 Shiny things over there.

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 Music coming.

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 Can we go?

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 Can we go?

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 It's like that.

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 If you imagine that emoji on your phone.

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 It's like the little yellow man with the stars in his eyes.

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 Right?

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 That's what's happened to the people in this church.

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 They've been dazzled by these false teachers who are tapping into the world's idea of impressiveness.

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 What they're doing is they are teaching and promoting this.

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 We'll come back to it in a minute.

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 And what they're doing at the same time is that they're discrediting Paul.

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 And you can imagine the lines.

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 This guy is so unimpressive.

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 He's yesterday's man.

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 Sure, he had that wonderful vision on the Damascus Road.

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 But that was almost 20 years ago.

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 Is he seriously still living off that?

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 We've got better visions.

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 We are giving better talks.

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 We've got better looking lives.

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 Paul knows exactly what they're up to.

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 And here's one of the key verses in this text.

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 Did you see how often it crops up?

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 It's the word boast.

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 That word comes up roughly 21 times in this letter.

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 Here's a little factoid for you.

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 It comes up 21 times roughly in this letter.

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 And five of them are in these 10 verses.

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 It's interesting, isn't it?

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 Paul knows there's a lot of boasting going on.

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 These false teachers, these super apostles are making big boasts.

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 And here's the thing.

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 Paul's going to boast back.

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 He's all up for a boast off.

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 He'll play their game.

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 But he'll play it on his terms.

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 So Paul's going to boast all right.

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 But he's not going to boast in himself.

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 He'll boast.

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 Come with me to the text.

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 Verse 5.

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 He'll play it on his own.

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 In the things that show his weaknesses.

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 And that is extraordinary.

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 It's one thing to admit that you've got weaknesses in life.

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 It's another thing completely to boast in those weaknesses.

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 No one says this better than D.A. Carson.

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 He's got a lovely little book on chapters 10 to 13 of 2 Corinthians,

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 if you want to get into it, talking about Christian character.

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 And he says this.

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 Try this insight on for size.

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 He says,

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 Most people go through life concerned that others will think too little of them.

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 Guilty.

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 Paul was concerned that others would think too much of him.

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 And you think to yourself,

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 How has Paul got there?

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 Well, that's where we're headed this morning.

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 Here's the game plan.

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 Here's the formation of this sermon.

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 Friends, I've got two points.

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 Two big truths from this passage.

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 And then one big application for us at the end.

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 Is that okay?

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 Two, one.

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 Here's the first truth, verses 1 to 7.

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 And really, it's the folly of boasting in self.

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 So when it comes to boasting,

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 here's the thing to see if you come to these verses.

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 It's not like Paul didn't have a card that he could play.

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 Do you see that?

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 He's had an encounter with the risen Lord Jesus.

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 But hear the awkwardness as he talks about it.

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 I know a man, he says, verse 2.

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 Now, here's the spoiler alert.

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 Paul is talking about himself in the third person.

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 Who 14 years ago, he says,

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 which if you're into your timelines,

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 it puts this somewhere between Acts 9 and Acts 11,

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 when Paul is in Tarsus.

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 Okay?

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 Paul has his vision, which takes him to paradise.

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 Now, again in the text, what he calls the third heaven.

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 Do you see that?

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 Jews of Paul's day often talk about the heavens and realms.

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 So the first realm, the first heaven is,

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 if you imagine this going up,

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 it's where the birds are.

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 Birds fly, it's the sky, right?

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 The second heaven is where the stars are.

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 Right?

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 You getting it?

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 Then the third heaven is the very dwelling place of God.

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 But notice how Paul goes out of his way,

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 given all of that,

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 to underscore just how passive he is in all of this.

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 As if to say, this was nothing to do with me.

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 This was not like a video game

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 where I unlocked a secret level.

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 Look what he says.

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 Was I in the body or out of the body?

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 I don't know.

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 No.

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 Completely passive.

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 Now, this isn't an outer body experience.

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 What this says is Jesus taking hold of his life

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 and showing him what Paul describes here,

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 inexpressible things.

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 Now, here's the thing to see.

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 Imagine they gave me top trumps.

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 If ever there was a card that Paul has

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 that he could play to beat the super apostles,

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 here's the card.

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 But Paul refuses to be drawn into that trap.

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 He doesn't want them to base their confidence in him

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 on the fact that he's claiming to see something.

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 That's what the super apostles are doing.

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 He's saying, my claim, my message's claim,

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 what backs it up is my character.

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 Maybe think about it like this.

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 Why won't he be drawn into the trap?

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 There's a statue in the city of Corinth

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 that depicts a famous story from history.

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 And it features Alexander the Great.

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 And the story goes that he rides back into town one day

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 after another victory on the battlefield.

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 And he does what victorious emperors, kings,

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 would do back in the day.

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 Imagine if you're a football fan,

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 you saw Newcastle do this yesterday.

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 What they do is they parade through the city.

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 So Alexander's parading through the city

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 so that everyone can see him in his splendor and in his pomp.

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 Everybody's into this.

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 But Alexander, from his horse,

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 spies a man at the side of the road

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 who looks mightily unimpressed.

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 So what he does is he goes over in his horse.

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 This man's name is Diogenes.

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 And he goes over in his horse to Diogenes

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 and simply says, what can I do for you?

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 And Diogenes sitting there replies,

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 I just want you to get out of the way of the sun.

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 Here's what I think Paul's understood in this passage here.

00:16:05.939 --> 00:16:08.799
 The devil would love him to get in the way of the sun.

00:16:11.859 --> 00:16:13.599
 Satan would love nothing more

00:16:13.599 --> 00:16:18.399
 than for Paul to block the glory of Jesus.

00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:23.279
 Friends, what a lesson for us

00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:25.179
 that the devil rubs his hands with glee

00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:26.339
 when we boast in us.

00:16:28.339 --> 00:16:30.059
 When we are self-reliant,

00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:31.179
 when we are dazzled,

00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.299
 when we are drawn

00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:35.659
 to play the boasting game on the world's terms.

00:16:36.419 --> 00:16:37.779
 When that happens,

00:16:38.219 --> 00:16:42.559
 he has got us exactly where he wants us.

00:16:45.339 --> 00:16:47.240
 And that takes us just to the second truth.

00:16:47.319 --> 00:16:48.479
 This is verses 8 to 12.

00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:52.379
 And really it's the beauty of resting in grace.

00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:56.440
 And this all centers on

00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:58.659
 what Paul refers to here at verse 7.

00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:00.080
 Just see it in the text.

00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:04.740
 He talks about his thorn in the flesh.

00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:07.480
 And you get the figurative image there

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:08.319
 that Paul's using.

00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:10.019
 This is something in his life

00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:14.519
 that weakens him and causes him pain.

00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:17.139
 Now people have got their theories

00:17:17.139 --> 00:17:18.680
 on what exactly this is.

00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:20.639
 Maybe it's to do with his poor eyesight.

00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:24.619
 Maybe it's to do with a difficult person

00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:25.799
 who keeps showing up.

00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.700
 I say they're all speculative.

00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:31.119
 And the fact that we aren't told

00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.539
 precisely what it is,

00:17:32.619 --> 00:17:34.460
 can I suggest that's a really good thing?

00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:36.559
 Because it means that the principle

00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:38.559
 that we are going to unearth here

00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:42.099
 is a timeless one for the Christian life.

00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:44.579
 But before we get there,

00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:45.980
 just notice the precision.

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:49.200
 Notice the clarity with which he writes.

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:51.559
 They always say that that's the aim

00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:52.720
 of a good public speaker,

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:53.579
 a good writer,

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:56.980
 is to be so clear that you are understood.

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:59.379
 And yet to be so clear

00:17:59.379 --> 00:18:00.980
 that you cannot be misunderstood.

00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:03.220
 So see what he's doing here.

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.460
 Notice the precision.

00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:08.079
 Paul is not calling evil good.

00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:12.880
 Nor is this anything to do with his sin,

00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:14.380
 as if he's blaming God

00:18:14.380 --> 00:18:16.000
 for the sin in his own life.

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:19.519
 Verse 7, this is a messenger of Satan.

00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:24.059
 So Paul understands the source of this.

00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:28.079
 But nor does he glory in the pain

00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.900
 that comes from it.

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:30.259
 It's so important that we see that.

00:18:30.860 --> 00:18:31.960
 Verse 8, what does he say?

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:32.860
 Three times,

00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:34.639
 I pleaded with the Lord

00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:36.159
 for this to be taken away.

00:18:38.679 --> 00:18:39.839
 So he's praying.

00:18:39.979 --> 00:18:42.119
 He's pouring his soul out to his father.

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.519
 Lord, would you take it away?

00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:45.419
 And yet he's content in the fact

00:18:45.419 --> 00:18:47.099
 that the Lord says no.

00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.479
 Do you see how Paul is no

00:18:50.479 --> 00:18:52.399
 massacist?

00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:54.059
 This is not a hit me again,

00:18:54.179 --> 00:18:54.899
 hit me again.

00:18:56.479 --> 00:18:58.179
 Reveling in the hits that he's taken.

00:18:58.779 --> 00:18:59.659
 It's not that.

00:18:59.659 --> 00:19:01.099
 And yet here's what he does perceive.

00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:01.799
 Verse 7,

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:05.839
 I was given it.

00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.639
 And that word given,

00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.980
 it invites us,

00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:11.259
 it is the portal

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:13.759
 to a galaxy of theology.

00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:15.519
 Do you see the word given there?

00:19:16.899 --> 00:19:18.919
 Paul has only got that word given

00:19:18.919 --> 00:19:21.539
 because he gets the gospel.

00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:22.000
 gospel.

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.680
 The gospel,

00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:24.759
 the gospel,

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:27.839
 what Christians call the good news

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:29.960
 because it announces

00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:31.319
 that there is a way

00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:34.559
 to be right with God forever.

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.899
 And to stand before him,

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.680
 our creator,

00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:42.220
 spotless and forgiven of our sin.

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:44.559
 Not because of our deeds,

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:46.039
 not because of our works,

00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:47.240
 but because of the blood

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.879
 that Jesus shed for us

00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:50.220
 on the cross.

00:19:50.260 --> 00:19:52.200
 It is there that Jesus

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.520
 pays the price

00:19:53.520 --> 00:19:55.340
 to make us

00:19:55.340 --> 00:19:57.160
 through faith

00:19:57.160 --> 00:19:58.400
 his own.

00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:00.780
 So he

00:20:00.780 --> 00:20:02.660
 buys us.

00:20:02.760 --> 00:20:03.980
 It's where the Bible gets the word

00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:04.980
 redemption from.

00:20:05.060 --> 00:20:06.460
 It's the slave market term.

00:20:07.040 --> 00:20:08.740
 Jesus buys us.

00:20:09.040 --> 00:20:10.100
 What that means is

00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:11.140
 when he buys us,

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.580
 he fully commits himself

00:20:12.580 --> 00:20:13.620
 to us.

00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:15.759
 And what that means,

00:20:15.939 --> 00:20:16.239
 friends,

00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.759
 is that nothing happens

00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.639
 to us

00:20:18.639 --> 00:20:20.619
 that is out

00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:21.759
 with his

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:23.500
 say-so.

00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.759
 Jesus never drops

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.299
 the ball.

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:29.319
 Nothing sneaks in

00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:30.279
 under his radar.

00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:31.339
 We've got this song

00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:33.179
 from Colin Buchanan

00:20:33.179 --> 00:20:33.739
 that we sing

00:20:33.739 --> 00:20:34.739
 with the kids at night

00:20:34.739 --> 00:20:35.459
 and it really simply

00:20:35.459 --> 00:20:36.199
 goes like this.

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:38.439
 God never says oops.

00:20:41.739 --> 00:20:42.859
 Here's what Paul senses

00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:44.339
 that over and above

00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:45.459
 Satan's worst

00:20:45.459 --> 00:20:49.199
 stands an all-sovereign

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.439
 Jesus

00:20:50.439 --> 00:20:52.639
 who loves him,

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.519
 who holds him,

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.959
 and is fully committed

00:20:55.959 --> 00:20:56.839
 to Paul's

00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:57.819
 best.

00:20:59.099 --> 00:21:00.779
 So Paul can say

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.519
 to the devil,

00:21:02.459 --> 00:21:04.659
 you mean it

00:21:04.659 --> 00:21:06.019
 for evil.

00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:09.000
 But Paul can say

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:10.319
 to Jesus,

00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:13.059
 but you

00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:13.539
 mean it

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:13.960
 for

00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:15.339
 good.

00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.059
 Why?

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:19.139
 Just follow the logic

00:21:19.139 --> 00:21:19.700
 in the text.

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.099
 Why?

00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:21.619
 Paul recognizes

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:22.700
 that he

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.639
 gave me it

00:21:23.639 --> 00:21:24.439
 to stop me

00:21:24.439 --> 00:21:25.059
 becoming

00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:26.879
 conceited.

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:27.679
 Do you see that word?

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.339
 So Paul recognizes

00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:31.159
 that God has given him

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:32.059
 something to keep him

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:32.539
 humble

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.399
 and keep him

00:21:33.399 --> 00:21:33.939
 weak.

00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:35.019
 Maybe Paul knows

00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:35.759
 his own heart.

00:21:36.899 --> 00:21:37.339
 Right?

00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:38.419
 Maybe the temptation

00:21:38.419 --> 00:21:39.759
 to drift towards

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:41.519
 self-reliance.

00:21:41.639 --> 00:21:42.099
 Or actually,

00:21:42.459 --> 00:21:43.399
 maybe I could claim

00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:44.519
 just 2%

00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.539
 of the limelight

00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:46.459
 for myself.

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.419
 And he's learned

00:21:50.419 --> 00:21:50.799
 in the words

00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.720
 of Charles Spurgeon

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:55.059
 to kiss the wave

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.919
 that throws him

00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:57.379
 back

00:21:57.379 --> 00:21:58.980
 against the rock

00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.480
 of ages.

00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:02.759
 And that's why

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.640
 he's unashamed,

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:04.620
 verse 10,

00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.319
 about the hardships

00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:06.380
 that he goes through

00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:07.079
 as a result

00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:08.620
 of following Jesus.

00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:09.559
 We saw the catalogue

00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.240
 of them last week.

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:10.940
 We just got a few

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.460
 of them here.

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.279
 Do you see how

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:13.259
 Paul's life is the

00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:13.900
 opposite of

00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:14.620
 Instagrammable?

00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:17.819
 Everyone on Facebook

00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:19.180
 set on telling you

00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:19.940
 about their best

00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:20.480
 moments.

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.880
 Paul's game

00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:23.940
 for telling us

00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:25.039
 about his toughest.

00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.180
 We've just got to

00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:28.759
 get this right.

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:30.079
 He is no constant

00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.059
 rock of emotional

00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:31.700
 stability.

00:22:32.660 --> 00:22:33.160
 I think we're so

00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.859
 often guilty

00:22:33.859 --> 00:22:35.480
 of talking about

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.319
 him like that,

00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.339
 as if nothing

00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:38.059
 phases him.

00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:38.700
 Nonsense.

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.339
 Every time he feels

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.220
 the ouch of that

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:43.420
 thorn, it reminds

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:44.480
 him of what God

00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.240
 said to him.

00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.339
 And we just get

00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:47.059
 it at verse 9.

00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:47.400
 If you're looking

00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.339
 for a memory verse,

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.420
 you do worse

00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.460
 than this one.

00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.980
 God said to him,

00:22:55.879 --> 00:22:56.779
 my grace

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:58.079
 is sufficient

00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:59.859
 for you

00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:01.859
 for,

00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.559
 because

00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:03.879
 my power

00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:05.339
 is made

00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.299
 perfect

00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:08.799
 in weakness.

00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:09.299
 Now that word

00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:09.839
 sufficient,

00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.519
 maybe our English

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.159
 translations don't

00:23:11.159 --> 00:23:11.699
 quite get it.

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.279
 Everything.

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.119
 My grace

00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:15.819
 is sufficient.

00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:16.619
 My grace is

00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.519
 everything you'll

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.039
 ever need.

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:20.939
 Paul,

00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:21.500
 as you reach

00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.259
 the end of your

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:23.119
 resources and

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:23.839
 turn to me,

00:23:23.919 --> 00:23:24.539
 you'll find me

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.220
 to be a God

00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.660
 who draws

00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:27.660
 alongside you,

00:23:27.860 --> 00:23:28.640
 full of power,

00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:30.100
 full of love,

00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:31.799
 abounding in

00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:32.220
 kindness,

00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:32.759
 mercy,

00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:33.500
 and compassion.

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:34.559
 And this is one

00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.140
 of the deepest

00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.019
 mysteries of the

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.860
 Christian life,

00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:37.740
 that in our

00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:39.059
 darkest hours,

00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:41.940
 when we cannot

00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:43.700
 fathom how we're

00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.120
 going to make

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:45.079
 another step,

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:47.600
 Jesus,

00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.640
 our good shepherd,

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.640
 holds us,

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.000
 is with us,

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.059
 and he will

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:54.839
 not fail us.

00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.579
 Jesus,

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.660
 the divine man

00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.299
 of sorrows,

00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:00.160
 fully acquainted

00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:00.779
 with grief,

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:02.119
 knows perfectly

00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:03.480
 how to draw

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.519
 near to his

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:06.019
 people in

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.440
 times of

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:07.819
 trouble.

00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.380
 Maybe think of

00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:10.019
 it like this.

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:10.960
 Friends,

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.660
 when we boast

00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:12.140
 in our own

00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:12.900
 abilities and

00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:13.579
 capabilities,

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.700
 when we try to

00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:15.640
 work it out,

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:16.839
 when there's a

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.220
 problem,

00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.079
 when something's

00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:18.599
 gone wrong,

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.740
 the devil has

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.400
 us exactly

00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.140
 where he wants

00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:21.440
 us.

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.620
 But flip it.

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:25.960
 When we run

00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:26.440
 to our

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:26.900
 Father,

00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:29.700
 completely out

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.340
 of resources,

00:24:31.560 --> 00:24:31.880
 Lord, I've

00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:32.580
 got nothing but

00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:33.240
 you, help me

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:34.140
 to know you

00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:34.580
 more.

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.580
 Friends, our

00:24:36.580 --> 00:24:37.340
 Father has us

00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:38.640
 exactly where

00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:39.440
 he wants us.

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.259
 Isn't it amazing

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:41.620
 when you read

00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.180
 the Gospels?

00:24:42.560 --> 00:24:43.040
 Something I

00:24:43.040 --> 00:24:43.580
 asked my kids

00:24:43.580 --> 00:24:44.240
 this week to

00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:46.020
 read in the

00:24:46.020 --> 00:24:46.600
 chapter of Luke

00:24:46.600 --> 00:24:47.060
 every night.

00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.700
 Just go away,

00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.440
 tell me something

00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.980
 fascinating, really

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.620
 interesting you

00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:51.259
 found out about

00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:51.599
 Jesus.

00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.579
 They come back

00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:53.959
 and they tell

00:24:53.959 --> 00:24:55.199
 me, and I

00:24:55.199 --> 00:24:55.719
 see things I've

00:24:55.719 --> 00:24:56.059
 never seen

00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:56.779
 before, but

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.079
 here's the

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:57.779
 thing, some

00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.539
 of the most

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.419
 compassionate and

00:24:59.419 --> 00:25:00.139
 loving words that

00:25:00.139 --> 00:25:00.959
 Jesus has in the

00:25:00.959 --> 00:25:02.079
 Gospels are for

00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:03.459
 people who

00:25:03.459 --> 00:25:04.759
 realise they've

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.839
 got nothing but

00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.099
 him.

00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:11.359
 Our Father has us

00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:12.139
 exactly where he

00:25:12.139 --> 00:25:12.579
 wants us.

00:25:12.679 --> 00:25:13.399
 And so on that

00:25:13.399 --> 00:25:14.019
 note, and as we

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.139
 begin to draw the

00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:15.779
 threads of this

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.519
 passage together,

00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:17.099
 here's the big

00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:17.679
 application.

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:20.660
 Friends, I

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.660
 wonder if God is

00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:22.600
 calling some of

00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:23.640
 us to embrace

00:25:23.640 --> 00:25:25.220
 our dead ends.

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.380
 I'll do the

00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:28.060
 way here, okay,

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.600
 just dead ends.

00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:30.779
 You're stuck.

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.360
 Maybe that's

00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.060
 exactly where you

00:25:32.060 --> 00:25:32.680
 are just now.

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.400
 You're stuck.

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.140
 You feel like a

00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:37.100
 chess piece backed

00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:37.860
 into a corner.

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.799
 You've got no idea

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.860
 what your next move

00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:40.420
 is.

00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:43.019
 You've got no idea

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.580
 what the future

00:25:43.580 --> 00:25:44.060
 holds.

00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.480
 I just cannot see

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.039
 ahead of me.

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.859
 You feel like one

00:25:46.859 --> 00:25:47.639
 of those days last

00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:48.119
 week when the

00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:48.940
 hard just came in

00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.480
 over Edinburgh,

00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:50.139
 but couldn't see a

00:25:50.139 --> 00:25:50.440
 thing.

00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.399
 I don't know

00:25:51.399 --> 00:25:52.099
 what's up ahead.

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:54.220
 Did you not laugh

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.940
 a little bit the

00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:56.099
 other day, was it

00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:56.759
 Tuesday or Wednesday,

00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:58.000
 I forget, that was

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.839
 the five-year

00:25:58.839 --> 00:26:00.059
 anniversary of that

00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:00.819
 COVID lockdown.

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.000
 How did you

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.339
 celebrate?

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.159
 I keep finding

00:26:05.159 --> 00:26:06.200
 masks and jacket

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:07.039
 pockets and jean

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.480
 pockets.

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.180
 It's funny.

00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:09.180
 It just reminds me

00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:09.819
 of those days.

00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:10.779
 It feels like a

00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:11.659
 lifetime ago, and

00:26:11.659 --> 00:26:12.220
 yet that was only

00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:13.119
 five years ago.

00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:14.359
 I remember that

00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:15.059
 lockdown being

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:15.859
 announced on the

00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:16.940
 Tuesday and

00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:17.980
 thinking to myself,

00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:19.319
 I have not got a

00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:20.619
 clue what we are

00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.099
 going to do.

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.539
 And Gary rings me

00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.259
 and says, I've got

00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:25.879
 an idea, brilliant

00:26:25.879 --> 00:26:26.200
 idea.

00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:28.059
 I've not got a

00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:29.059
 clue what to do.

00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:29.720
 Friends, when was

00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.359
 the last time you

00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:31.119
 found yourself in

00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.700
 that place?

00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.359
 Have you ever

00:26:34.359 --> 00:26:35.899
 considered, if

00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:36.720
 you're facing a

00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:38.899
 dead end, that God

00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:39.759
 might have you

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.879
 exactly where he

00:26:40.879 --> 00:26:43.179
 wants you so that

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:44.019
 you would learn

00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:45.000
 this?

00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:48.320
 Are you saying

00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:49.420
 to yourself, I'm

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:50.460
 finishing uni this

00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:51.560
 summer, I have not

00:26:51.560 --> 00:26:52.680
 got a scooby what

00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:53.660
 the future holds?

00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:56.200
 And God says, good,

00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:58.759
 I want you to come

00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:00.460
 to me and remember

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.600
 that I am the one

00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:03.200
 who is eternal and

00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:03.940
 knows the end from

00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:04.400
 the beginning.

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.720
 I'm not sure what

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.420
 job to do.

00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:11.600
 Good, come to me

00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:13.519
 and know that I am

00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.240
 the one who has

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:14.980
 got good works

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.160
 prepared in advance

00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:18.019
 for you to walk

00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.200
 in.

00:27:18.360 --> 00:27:19.640
 I just worry so much

00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.480
 as a parent for my

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.120
 kids, I just want

00:27:21.120 --> 00:27:21.600
 them to make the

00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.380
 right decisions.

00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:25.680
 Good, come to me

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:28.080
 and know that I am

00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:30.320
 the perfect father.

00:27:31.840 --> 00:27:33.080
 I get so tired, I

00:27:33.080 --> 00:27:33.800
 need my eight hours

00:27:33.800 --> 00:27:34.580
 sleep a night, I

00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:35.180
 wish I could burn

00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:36.080
 the candle at both

00:27:36.080 --> 00:27:37.160
 ends, but I can't, I

00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:37.920
 just get so tired.

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:41.120
 Good, lay your head

00:27:41.120 --> 00:27:43.220
 on that pillow, take

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:45.140
 an evening off and

00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:46.019
 know that I am the

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.940
 God who holds you

00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:48.200
 and I am the God

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.100
 who doesn't slumber

00:27:49.100 --> 00:27:49.880
 nor sleep.

00:27:52.820 --> 00:27:53.640
 Friends, what is he

00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:56.720
 teaching us about his

00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.800
 all-sufficient grace?

00:27:59.080 --> 00:28:00.620
 I always love how C.S.

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:02.240
 Lewis puts this, you'll

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.220
 be surprised to hear

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.460
 that.

00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:04.940
 Captures this so

00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.620
 wonderfully in his

00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:06.779
 book Prince Caspian

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.779
 and it's this scene

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.980
 where Lucy sees

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:10.279
 Aslan again after a

00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:12.319
 long break and here's

00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:12.839
 the script.

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:14.019
 Aslan, said Lucy,

00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:14.819
 you're bigger.

00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:17.200
 That is because you

00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.279
 are older, little one,

00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:18.879
 he answered.

00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.599
 Not because you are,

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:21.599
 said Lucy.

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:25.079
 I am not child, but

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:26.339
 every year you grow,

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:28.420
 you will find me

00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:28.779
 bigger.

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.420
 bigger.

00:28:32.099 --> 00:28:33.259
 You know, a test I think

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.220
 of whether I find him

00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:36.519
 bigger and more

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:38.599
 sufficient and all

00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.500
 loving and knowing.

00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:42.279
 Is my quickness when

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:44.019
 things happen in my

00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:45.279
 life that my default

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.139
 position is to just

00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:47.319
 try and fix on my own,

00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:50.019
 do I find him bigger?

00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:51.019
 The test is whether

00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:52.240
 how quickly I run to

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.339
 him all out of

00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:53.720
 resources.

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:57.180
 Or if I could spin a

00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:58.279
 cheesy phrase, and

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.920
 that's why you came

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.700
 this morning, wasn't

00:28:59.700 --> 00:28:59.880
 it?

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:01.400
 Friends, we live in a

00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:03.000
 world that says when

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:04.180
 the going gets tough,

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.259
 the tough get going.

00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:09.420
 Paul was telling us

00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:10.720
 that when the going

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:12.380
 gets tough, the

00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:13.920
 strong get pleading.

00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.819
 Progress in the

00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:19.140
 Christian life isn't

00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:20.539
 realizing we need

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:22.440
 Jesus less.

00:29:23.379 --> 00:29:24.700
 How often we think

00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:25.500
 of it like the

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.680
 stabilizers on a

00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:26.980
 bike.

00:29:27.879 --> 00:29:28.759
 Like Jesus was a

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:30.099
 great start and yet

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:31.119
 we'll kind of figure

00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:32.159
 this Christian life

00:29:32.159 --> 00:29:33.440
 out as we grow and

00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:33.539
 as we grow and as

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.319
 we grow, we stand on

00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:34.920
 our own two feet.

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.359
 No, no, no.

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.539
 Progress in the

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.339
 Christian life is

00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.240
 realizing that we

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:40.240
 need Jesus more.

00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:42.379
 Where is God's

00:29:42.379 --> 00:29:43.940
 power seen today?

00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:46.240
 It's seen in

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.980
 weak people

00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:49.819
 who throw

00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:51.019
 themselves upon

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.839
 a strong

00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:52.539
 Christ

00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:54.480
 and who

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.720
 receive grace

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.120
 and are

00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:57.339
 strengthened by

00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:57.740
 him

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:59.599
 to keep

00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:00.120
 going.

00:30:02.099 --> 00:30:02.860
 What does that

00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:03.579
 speak of?

00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:04.500
 And this is one of

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.019
 the big challenges

00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:05.620
 that came from this

00:30:05.620 --> 00:30:06.019
 text as well.

00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:06.519
 What does it speak

00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.019
 to me of?

00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:08.160
 It speaks of

00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:09.059
 contentment.

00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:12.099
 I always love

00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:12.559
 what a woman

00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.599
 called Elizabeth

00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.140
 Elliott.

00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.640
 You've not ever

00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:15.960
 heard about

00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:16.640
 Elizabeth Elliott.

00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:17.400
 She's got a

00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:18.340
 wonderful story.

00:30:19.620 --> 00:30:20.140
 Biography is

00:30:20.140 --> 00:30:20.640
 written about her

00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:21.080
 wonderful.

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:21.620
 She just said

00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:22.000
 this about

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.520
 contentment.

00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.040
 She said,

00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:24.200
 the secret is

00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:25.340
 Christ in me,

00:30:26.060 --> 00:30:27.880
 not me in a

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.640
 different set of

00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:29.400
 circumstances.

00:30:31.640 --> 00:30:32.500
 Resting in our

00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.400
 Father's complete

00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.460
 knowledge of us

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:36.000
 and our Savior's

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:37.180
 complete hold of

00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:37.560
 us.

00:30:39.080 --> 00:30:39.800
 Friends, God

00:30:39.800 --> 00:30:40.700
 wants us this

00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:42.860
 morning to

00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:44.480
 redefine where

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.400
 strength is to be

00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:45.780
 found.

00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:47.700
 And to find

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.540
 his grace to

00:30:48.540 --> 00:30:48.900
 us,

00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:50.800
 Jesus, who's

00:30:50.800 --> 00:30:51.500
 given himself

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.140
 to us,

00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.700
 to find him

00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.820
 all

00:30:54.820 --> 00:30:56.520
 sufficient.

00:30:58.520 --> 00:30:59.020
 And just

00:30:59.020 --> 00:30:59.600
 maybe to bring

00:30:59.600 --> 00:30:59.980
 us home,

00:31:00.060 --> 00:31:00.500
 just as we

00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:00.900
 close,

00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:03.320
 let me tell you

00:31:03.320 --> 00:31:04.200
 about my

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:05.140
 favorite film

00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:07.720
 starring Brad

00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.020
 Pitt.

00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:10.839
 Now, I

00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:11.660
 think this was

00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.559
 a book that

00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.139
 was originally

00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:13.740
 written by

00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.039
 F.

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:14.940
 Scott Fitzgerald,

00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:16.160
 but I'm one

00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:16.599
 of those guys

00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:17.000
 that doesn't

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.279
 read the

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.639
 book, just

00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:18.019
 watch the

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.259
 film.

00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:20.680
 It is called

00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.379
 The Curious

00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:21.900
 Case of

00:31:21.900 --> 00:31:22.240
 Benjamin

00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:22.579
 Button.

00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:23.539
 Decent film,

00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:24.119
 it's okay.

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.039
 I was more

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:25.920
 captivated by

00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.759
 the concept.

00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:29.079
 Benjamin

00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:29.740
 Button, this

00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:30.460
 man born with

00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:31.339
 a very rare

00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:31.980
 condition,

00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:33.839
 one that makes

00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.839
 him age

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:36.339
 backwards.

00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:38.099
 Now, get

00:31:38.099 --> 00:31:38.359
 your head

00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:38.839
 around that.

00:31:40.439 --> 00:31:41.379
 He is born

00:31:41.379 --> 00:31:43.639
 because of

00:31:43.639 --> 00:31:44.359
 this condition,

00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.119
 a really

00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:46.679
 old man.

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.379
 So he

00:31:48.379 --> 00:31:49.099
 comes out

00:31:49.099 --> 00:31:50.000
 all covered

00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.500
 in wrinkles

00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.539
 and shriveled,

00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.039
 and you get

00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.519
 the idea.

00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:53.559
 And the

00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:54.319
 midwives hand

00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:54.720
 his mother

00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:55.399
 this baby,

00:31:55.639 --> 00:31:56.519
 and here it

00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:57.319
 is, here is

00:31:57.319 --> 00:31:58.139
 Benjamin born.

00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.899
 He's born an

00:31:58.899 --> 00:32:00.079
 old man, and

00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:00.639
 yet Benjamin

00:32:00.639 --> 00:32:01.339
 dies at the

00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:01.839
 other end of

00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:02.299
 his life at

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:02.639
 the age of

00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:03.139
 85.

00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:05.419
 He dies a

00:32:05.419 --> 00:32:06.220
 young baby.

00:32:06.339 --> 00:32:08.899
 And I

00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.519
 remember watching

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:09.899
 it for the

00:32:09.899 --> 00:32:10.500
 first time and

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.079
 thinking to

00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:11.879
 myself, what a

00:32:11.879 --> 00:32:12.740
 wonderful picture

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.919
 of the Christian

00:32:13.919 --> 00:32:14.379
 life.

00:32:16.179 --> 00:32:17.279
 The more we

00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:18.679
 go on with

00:32:18.679 --> 00:32:21.079
 Jesus, and

00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:21.740
 the more we

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.859
 realize his

00:32:22.859 --> 00:32:25.039
 heart, friends,

00:32:25.099 --> 00:32:25.599
 the more

00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:26.399
 like dependent

00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:28.740
 children we

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.119
 should look

00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:29.459
 like.

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.500
 The message

00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:31.839
 of this

00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:32.500
 passage, the

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:32.980
 message of

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:33.759
 this book, is

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.480
 that weakness

00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:37.000
 is the

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:37.259
 way.

00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:40.500
 We would

00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:40.799
 normally have

00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.240
 questions on

00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:42.180
 the screen at

00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:43.200
 this point, but

00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:43.660
 because it's

00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:44.339
 communion, we're

00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:44.960
 just going to

00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.440
 miss it this

00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:45.620
 week.

00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.140
 But friends, if

00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:46.779
 you have any

00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:48.059
 questions, is

00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:48.620
 anything you

00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:49.160
 want to tease

00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:49.779
 out or pray

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:51.460
 about, that's

00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:51.860
 just the most

00:32:51.860 --> 00:32:52.819
 natural thing to

00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:53.640
 do in response to

00:32:53.640 --> 00:32:54.339
 this passage this

00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:54.539
 morning.

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.279
 You can grab

00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.779
 the person that

00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.440
 you came with,

00:32:57.120 --> 00:32:57.720
 grab somebody

00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.220
 you've seen up

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:58.720
 the front, we'd

00:32:58.720 --> 00:32:59.220
 love to do

00:32:59.220 --> 00:32:59.500
 that.

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:01.519
 But friends,

00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:02.720
 let's not pass

00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:03.079
 up this

00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:05.220
 opportunity to

00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:05.940
 taste and see

00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.680
 that Jesus is

00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.119
 good this

00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:07.400
 morning.

00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:08.720
 So let me

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:10.019
 pray and then

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:10.859
 we're going to

00:33:10.859 --> 00:33:11.859
 sing once again

00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:12.480
 before we move

00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.119
 into a time of

00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:13.460
 communion.

00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:21.960
 And Lord

00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:22.440
 Jesus, we

00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:23.000
 thank you so

00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:23.599
 much for what

00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:24.299
 you said,

00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:26.539
 that it is the

00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.619
 poor in spirit

00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:29.500
 who will inherit

00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:30.279
 the kingdom of

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:30.619
 God.

00:33:31.959 --> 00:33:32.719
 And Father, I

00:33:32.719 --> 00:33:33.319
 pray that whatever

00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.039
 is going on in

00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:35.079
 our lives right

00:33:35.079 --> 00:33:38.039
 now, Lord, we

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:39.019
 bring to you our

00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:41.399
 fears and our

00:33:41.399 --> 00:33:43.279
 troubles and our

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:43.759
 hardships.

00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:44.739
 We bring to you

00:33:44.739 --> 00:33:46.939
 our griefs and

00:33:46.939 --> 00:33:48.599
 our pains and

00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:49.159
 our memories.

00:33:49.939 --> 00:33:51.039
 And we ask,

00:33:51.199 --> 00:33:52.019
 Lord, that in all

00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.939
 of this, that your

00:33:52.939 --> 00:33:53.859
 spirit would be

00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:55.479
 teaching us the

00:33:55.479 --> 00:33:57.359
 beauty of knowing

00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:58.879
 that your power

00:33:58.879 --> 00:33:59.899
 is perfectly

00:33:59.899 --> 00:34:01.500
 shown in

00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:01.879
 weakness.

00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:03.139
 Thank you so

00:34:03.139 --> 00:34:03.779
 much that in

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.759
 Jesus we have a

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.439
 saviour who

00:34:05.439 --> 00:34:06.859
 knows, who

00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:08.440
 cares, and who

00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.960
 has given his

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:11.400
 life to save

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:11.739
 us.

00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:13.500
 So Father, be

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.179
 with us now as

00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:14.839
 we move to

00:34:14.839 --> 00:34:15.960
 remember him in

00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:16.719
 this time of

00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:17.099
 communion.

00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.639
 Father, we love

00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:18.900
 you.

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.179
 Be with us now,

00:34:20.279 --> 00:34:20.759
 we ask.

00:34:20.839 --> 00:34:21.539
 In Jesus' name

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:21.960
 we pray.

00:34:22.739 --> 00:34:23.219
 Amen.

00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:31.740
 Amen.

00:34:31.740 --> 00:34:31.740


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00:34:31.740 --> 00:34:31.740