WEBVTT

00:00:00.980 --> 00:00:06.679
 The scripture reading comes from Philippians chapter 1 starting in verse 27.

00:00:07.219 --> 00:00:09.759
 Please follow along on the screen of your Bible.

00:00:13.460 --> 00:00:17.800
 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,

00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:22.500
 so that whether I come and see you or am absent,

00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:26.820
 I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit,

00:00:26.820 --> 00:00:31.780
 with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

00:00:32.579 --> 00:00:35.859
 and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

00:00:36.480 --> 00:00:39.640
 There is a clear sign to them of their destruction,

00:00:40.299 --> 00:00:43.480
 but of your salvation, and that is from God.

00:00:44.019 --> 00:00:47.859
 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ,

00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:52.039
 you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake.

00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:56.260
 Engage in the same conflict that you saw that I had,

00:00:56.259 --> 00:00:58.399
 and now hear that I still have.

00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:00.159
 This is the word of God.

00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:07.400
 Great. Good morning, Watermark.

00:01:07.659 --> 00:01:10.799
 My name is Chris, for those of you who don't know me.

00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:14.239
 And just really exciting to see you again this morning.

00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:19.459
 Before we get into God's word, I just wanted to pray for us.

00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:23.759
 Father, thank you that your word is powerful.

00:01:25.559 --> 00:01:28.099
 Father, just, we so need you.

00:01:28.459 --> 00:01:31.719
 Lord, what you call us to is totally beyond ourselves.

00:01:32.379 --> 00:01:34.939
 We desperately need your spirit to change us.

00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:39.219
 We desperately need you to open our hearts to be willing for you to change us.

00:01:39.219 --> 00:01:44.879
 We pray that your word would not just go into our ears, but go deep into our hearts,

00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:49.659
 and really encourage us, lift us up, challenge us, and help us to see you this morning.

00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:51.140
 In Jesus' name.

00:01:51.980 --> 00:01:52.340
 Amen.

00:01:52.340 --> 00:01:52.540
 Amen.

00:01:53.980 --> 00:01:54.460
 Great.

00:01:55.820 --> 00:02:00.960
 We have been going through this series in the book of Philippians together.

00:02:01.880 --> 00:02:05.520
 And Philippians is really a very apt book for us to be looking at,

00:02:05.600 --> 00:02:08.539
 because in this season, I don't know about you,

00:02:08.580 --> 00:02:12.840
 but I've been having a lot of conversations with people who are talking about citizenship,

00:02:13.379 --> 00:02:16.199
 who are talking about B&O passports,

00:02:16.199 --> 00:02:22.479
 and are talking about the fact that they feel like Hong Kong is not the home that they thought it was before.

00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:23.839
 Maybe things have changed.

00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:25.099
 Some people have said to me,

00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:28.299
 I don't feel it's the same as it used to be.

00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:33.379
 And so we're in a situation where, with social distancing, with the security law,

00:02:33.459 --> 00:02:36.539
 people are feeling a sense of restlessness,

00:02:37.079 --> 00:02:38.899
 and a sense of, where do we belong?

00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:41.139
 Well, Paul understood,

00:02:41.620 --> 00:02:44.659
 the person who wrote the book of Philippians understood these feelings,

00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:49.819
 because he had been locked up in a jail in Rome,

00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:54.359
 awaiting trial and possible execution for sharing the gospel.

00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:57.840
 And he's surrounded by people who are wanting to intimidate him,

00:02:58.159 --> 00:02:58.939
 shut him up.

00:02:59.060 --> 00:03:01.079
 It's a difficult situation for him.

00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:06.000
 And he then speaks to a church in Philippi,

00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:08.259
 which is in Greece, over a thousand miles away,

00:03:08.939 --> 00:03:14.579
 who are also struggling with opposition surrounding them on the outside of the church,

00:03:14.580 --> 00:03:17.100
 and then internally there are some tensions in the church.

00:03:18.040 --> 00:03:21.980
 And Paul could feel hopeless, helpless,

00:03:22.720 --> 00:03:23.920
 all this way away,

00:03:24.180 --> 00:03:25.080
 not able to help them,

00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:26.080
 but instead what he does,

00:03:26.140 --> 00:03:28.360
 he writes the letter of Philippians to them,

00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:29.640
 and he tells them,

00:03:29.720 --> 00:03:34.660
 he offers his own life as a model to them of how to respond in a situation.

00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:35.400
 He says,

00:03:35.540 --> 00:03:36.400
 imitate me.

00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:37.020
 Why?

00:03:37.020 --> 00:03:38.980
 Because he is trying to imitate Jesus.

00:03:40.300 --> 00:03:40.740
 And so,

00:03:40.939 --> 00:03:42.980
 in the times of difficulty,

00:03:43.140 --> 00:03:44.520
 Philippians is telling us,

00:03:44.820 --> 00:03:45.840
 you've got to have a purpose,

00:03:45.980 --> 00:03:46.840
 you've got to have a vision,

00:03:47.140 --> 00:03:48.900
 which is beyond yourself,

00:03:50.920 --> 00:03:52.100
 beyond your own comfort,

00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:54.420
 for us to be able to thrive.

00:03:55.460 --> 00:03:57.480
 And Oscar last week showed us

00:03:57.480 --> 00:04:00.800
 what Paul's vision and his ambition was.

00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:02.260
 He showed us this,

00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:02.599
 he said,

00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:03.859
 Christ said,

00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:04.699
 Paul said,

00:04:05.399 --> 00:04:06.500
 my greatest hope,

00:04:06.739 --> 00:04:07.919
 my greatest expectation,

00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:09.819
 is that with courage,

00:04:09.959 --> 00:04:10.719
 full courage,

00:04:11.179 --> 00:04:12.099
 right now,

00:04:12.959 --> 00:04:15.659
 Christ may be honored in my life,

00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:17.180
 whether by life or by death,

00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:18.199
 whatever I'm going through,

00:04:18.379 --> 00:04:20.159
 I want Jesus to be glorified.

00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:23.079
 And then he's going to say to the Philippians today,

00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:25.699
 that is how you are to now respond,

00:04:25.860 --> 00:04:26.620
 imitate me.

00:04:27.340 --> 00:04:28.840
 So he's going to say to them,

00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:30.840
 how do you imitate him?

00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:32.939
 By glorifying Jesus,

00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:34.879
 through being a united,

00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:36.019
 courageous,

00:04:36.360 --> 00:04:36.720
 fearless,

00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:37.540
 suffering,

00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:39.300
 gospel proclaiming church,

00:04:39.459 --> 00:04:40.699
 in the midst of difficulty.

00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:42.800
 In difficulty,

00:04:42.939 --> 00:04:43.920
 in social distancing,

00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:47.139
 in all the different challenges we may go through,

00:04:47.220 --> 00:04:48.139
 we're often tempted,

00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:49.860
 to be disunited,

00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:50.959
 to be cowardly,

00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:51.840
 to be comfortable,

00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:53.399
 to be self-focused.

00:04:54.500 --> 00:04:55.399
 And Paul's going to say,

00:04:55.660 --> 00:04:56.360
 don't do that,

00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:57.379
 lift your eyes up,

00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:58.860
 there's a bigger purpose,

00:04:59.420 --> 00:05:01.040
 there's a greater vision.

00:05:01.699 --> 00:05:02.860
 So how do we live,

00:05:02.960 --> 00:05:04.740
 with courage and purpose,

00:05:04.860 --> 00:05:05.560
 at this time?

00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:06.980
 And Paul's going to give,

00:05:07.699 --> 00:05:09.560
 a key identity,

00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:10.080
 he's going to say,

00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:12.100
 Christians have a new passport.

00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:14.259
 And then he's going to play that out,

00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:16.560
 in two implications of that.

00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:17.759
 One which is,

00:05:18.020 --> 00:05:19.060
 so therefore we've got to be,

00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:20.740
 firm and fearless,

00:05:21.139 --> 00:05:22.759
 on the mission God has called us to be.

00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:24.139
 And we've also got to see,

00:05:24.280 --> 00:05:26.000
 suffering as grace.

00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:27.300
 So that's where we're going,

00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:28.400
 this morning.

00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:29.699
 So first of all,

00:05:30.460 --> 00:05:31.040
 Christians,

00:05:31.400 --> 00:05:33.439
 have a new passport.

00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:36.620
 I've got a passport with me.

00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.620
 This is a British passport.

00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:39.920
 A lot of people in Hong Kong,

00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:40.800
 right now,

00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:43.379
 would love to have something like this,

00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:44.379
 to,

00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:45.160
 or a B&O,

00:05:45.220 --> 00:05:45.620
 or whatever,

00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:46.500
 because people,

00:05:46.860 --> 00:05:47.819
 are thinking of spending,

00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:48.540
 all kinds of money,

00:05:48.699 --> 00:05:49.199
 jumping all,

00:05:49.280 --> 00:05:50.740
 through all kinds of hoops,

00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:51.819
 to get one.

00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:52.400
 Why?

00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:54.300
 Because the idea of being a citizen,

00:05:54.300 --> 00:05:55.540
 in a land,

00:05:56.360 --> 00:05:57.560
 gives you rights,

00:05:57.660 --> 00:05:58.460
 and privileges,

00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:00.879
 and people want that idea.

00:06:01.900 --> 00:06:03.360
 Where you are a citizen,

00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:04.300
 has a profound,

00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:06.199
 implications for your life.

00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:08.259
 And that can even mean,

00:06:08.340 --> 00:06:08.840
 for example,

00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:10.500
 if you are a citizen,

00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:11.560
 of the US,

00:06:12.400 --> 00:06:13.540
 you've got to live,

00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:15.240
 in line with your citizenship,

00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:16.000
 so you've actually,

00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:17.100
 still got to pay taxes,

00:06:17.100 --> 00:06:17.920
 in Hong Kong,

00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:19.019
 wherever you are.

00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:20.120
 Because your citizenship,

00:06:20.579 --> 00:06:21.120
 counts.

00:06:22.220 --> 00:06:22.980
 Paul says,

00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:24.199
 in verse 27,

00:06:24.340 --> 00:06:24.720
 he says,

00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:26.540
 let your manner of life,

00:06:26.660 --> 00:06:27.319
 be worthy,

00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:29.139
 of the gospel of Christ.

00:06:30.060 --> 00:06:31.100
 And we don't get this,

00:06:31.139 --> 00:06:32.319
 in the English translation,

00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:33.160
 of this,

00:06:33.220 --> 00:06:33.740
 but in Greek,

00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:34.660
 this is literally,

00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:36.560
 live as citizens,

00:06:36.960 --> 00:06:39.000
 worthy of the gospel of Christ.

00:06:39.860 --> 00:06:41.460
 Citizens of Philippi,

00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:43.100
 they prided themselves,

00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:44.019
 on the fact,

00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:44.939
 that their city,

00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:46.519
 had the same status,

00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:47.259
 as Rome,

00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:48.680
 in terms of tax privileges,

00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:49.819
 and all kinds,

00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:50.920
 of legal benefits.

00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:52.860
 And to live,

00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:54.259
 as worthy citizens,

00:06:54.379 --> 00:06:55.019
 was to live,

00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:57.180
 loyal to the Roman emperor.

00:06:58.400 --> 00:06:58.879
 Well,

00:06:59.139 --> 00:07:00.280
 Paul is saying here,

00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:01.160
 you may be,

00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:02.079
 Philippian citizens,

00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:02.920
 you may be,

00:07:03.019 --> 00:07:03.920
 Hong Kong citizens,

00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:04.699
 British citizens,

00:07:04.840 --> 00:07:06.220
 wherever you're a citizen from,

00:07:06.620 --> 00:07:07.100
 but,

00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:08.519
 in chapter 3,

00:07:08.579 --> 00:07:09.040
 verse 20,

00:07:09.139 --> 00:07:10.220
 he says to Christians,

00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:12.379
 your ultimate citizenship,

00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:14.460
 is not on earth,

00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:15.479
 it's in heaven,

00:07:15.739 --> 00:07:16.620
 where Jesus,

00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:18.519
 rules and reigns.

00:07:19.159 --> 00:07:20.599
 You didn't have to apply,

00:07:20.699 --> 00:07:21.439
 for this citizenship,

00:07:21.739 --> 00:07:23.159
 you didn't have to pay money,

00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:23.659
 for it,

00:07:24.039 --> 00:07:25.579
 you didn't have to earn it,

00:07:25.659 --> 00:07:27.099
 it's a free gift,

00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:29.120
 found through Jesus Christ.

00:07:29.819 --> 00:07:31.099
 Which means that,

00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:32.799
 if you have trusted in Jesus,

00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:34.139
 you are now,

00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:35.479
 a dual citizen.

00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:38.099
 You have a heavenly passport,

00:07:38.100 --> 00:07:39.700
 and an earthly passport,

00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:41.160
 but your heavenly one,

00:07:41.260 --> 00:07:42.660
 counts way more,

00:07:42.740 --> 00:07:43.700
 than your earthly one.

00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:45.879
 Because with Jesus,

00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:48.260
 you have a higher status,

00:07:48.700 --> 00:07:49.980
 greater privileges,

00:07:50.300 --> 00:07:51.180
 than any,

00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:51.920
 B&O,

00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:52.580
 Hong Kong,

00:07:52.760 --> 00:07:53.180
 Canadian,

00:07:53.340 --> 00:07:54.220
 whatever passport,

00:07:54.379 --> 00:07:55.200
 you may want,

00:07:55.960 --> 00:07:57.020
 can ever give you.

00:07:57.260 --> 00:07:58.080
 And nobody,

00:07:58.260 --> 00:07:59.660
 can take those privileges away.

00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:01.379
 Now,

00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:02.180
 I want to show you,

00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:03.340
 maybe you're not a Christian,

00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:03.920
 maybe you're,

00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:05.480
 on a journey,

00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:06.439
 I want to show you,

00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:08.520
 why this is utterly revolutionary.

00:08:09.640 --> 00:08:10.319
 Because you see,

00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:12.060
 the way our world works,

00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:13.640
 it works by what I call,

00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:14.879
 the M curve,

00:08:15.300 --> 00:08:16.600
 the me curve.

00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:17.379
 So,

00:08:18.420 --> 00:08:19.160
 astronomy,

00:08:19.660 --> 00:08:20.680
 has shown us,

00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:21.700
 that the universe,

00:08:22.020 --> 00:08:23.879
 is just so vast,

00:08:24.460 --> 00:08:25.480
 that we as humans,

00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:28.000
 are just this little speck of dust,

00:08:28.520 --> 00:08:30.220
 in this incredible world.

00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:31.340
 And if,

00:08:31.420 --> 00:08:32.759
 atheism tells you,

00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:33.899
 that there's no God,

00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:36.179
 and if there's no God,

00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:36.939
 then all we are,

00:08:36.979 --> 00:08:38.059
 is just insignificant,

00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:39.339
 bits of matter,

00:08:39.719 --> 00:08:40.959
 in the vast,

00:08:41.079 --> 00:08:42.279
 and meaningless universe.

00:08:43.059 --> 00:08:44.240
 What that means is,

00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:44.860
 you and I,

00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:46.479
 are just the product of chance,

00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:47.479
 and we,

00:08:47.699 --> 00:08:49.939
 have no intrinsic value,

00:08:50.099 --> 00:08:50.319
 meaning,

00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:51.419
 or purpose ourselves,

00:08:51.559 --> 00:08:52.939
 we've got to create it.

00:08:53.439 --> 00:08:54.939
 We've got to make it up ourselves.

00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:58.000
 So what happens is,

00:08:58.120 --> 00:08:59.279
 if that's where you start,

00:08:59.360 --> 00:08:59.799
 at the bottom,

00:09:00.099 --> 00:09:01.759
 you've got to make your way up,

00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:03.579
 you've got to try and elevate yourself,

00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:05.100
 to give you some kind of status,

00:09:05.280 --> 00:09:06.060
 boost your comfort,

00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:07.320
 boost your reputation,

00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:08.580
 boost your power.

00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:10.280
 And then what often happens is,

00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:11.240
 things come up,

00:09:11.540 --> 00:09:12.820
 which then threaten that,

00:09:13.020 --> 00:09:14.980
 and they threaten to mess up our plans,

00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:15.900
 mess up our comfort,

00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:17.620
 and then we just keep fighting,

00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:19.240
 to keep pushing ourselves up again,

00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:20.820
 and pushing ourselves up again.

00:09:21.940 --> 00:09:23.960
 Trying to stay in control of our lives.

00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:26.340
 Isn't that how many bosses,

00:09:26.680 --> 00:09:27.180
 politicians,

00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:29.180
 corporations work,

00:09:29.259 --> 00:09:30.540
 we're all trying to be in power,

00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:31.879
 and keeping ourselves,

00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:33.840
 in some kind of power and status.

00:09:34.780 --> 00:09:36.040
 Because earthly citizens,

00:09:36.160 --> 00:09:37.600
 are shaped by the M curve.

00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:39.820
 We're trying to make it all about ourselves,

00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:41.080
 trying to find purpose,

00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:41.519
 and meaning,

00:09:41.580 --> 00:09:42.139
 and identity,

00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:43.500
 through our performance.

00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:46.900
 But the hymn in chapter 2,

00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:47.720
 of Philippians,

00:09:47.920 --> 00:09:49.720
 which is the centerpiece,

00:09:49.920 --> 00:09:50.900
 of the book of Philippians,

00:09:50.899 --> 00:09:52.699
 which everything flows out from,

00:09:53.199 --> 00:09:54.559
 shows that Jesus' life,

00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:55.819
 was not shaped like an M,

00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:57.100
 it was shaped like a J.

00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:59.360
 It's what in economics,

00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:01.199
 and what the author Paul Miller calls,

00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:02.740
 the J curve.

00:10:03.659 --> 00:10:04.000
 You see,

00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:06.319
 the gospel says,

00:10:06.539 --> 00:10:08.519
 you are not just a meaningless bunch,

00:10:08.659 --> 00:10:10.179
 a purposeless bunch of molecules.

00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:13.299
 Because God created,

00:10:13.299 --> 00:10:15.220
 the whole universe.

00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:16.799
 And this God,

00:10:16.939 --> 00:10:18.220
 out of love,

00:10:19.379 --> 00:10:20.799
 has come down,

00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:22.159
 to insignificant,

00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.240
 and not just insignificant people,

00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:25.459
 but selfish,

00:10:25.779 --> 00:10:26.419
 rebellious,

00:10:26.740 --> 00:10:27.659
 unloving people.

00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:29.399
 And he,

00:10:29.579 --> 00:10:30.899
 has come down,

00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:31.740
 and given us,

00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:32.740
 infinite worth,

00:10:32.819 --> 00:10:33.220
 by bringing,

00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:34.399
 coming to our level,

00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:36.740
 though he was in very nature God,

00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:38.279
 though he was equal of God,

00:10:38.459 --> 00:10:39.100
 though he was at the,

00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:40.399
 the top of the J,

00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:42.159
 he didn't cling to that right,

00:10:42.299 --> 00:10:43.480
 to be honored as God,

00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:45.100
 but he humbled himself.

00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:46.659
 He went down,

00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:49.079
 even to the point of death.

00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:51.180
 Instead of wiping us off the planet,

00:10:51.180 --> 00:10:51.900
 for our death,

00:10:52.139 --> 00:10:52.840
 he came,

00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:54.360
 he became our servant,

00:10:54.800 --> 00:10:56.900
 and he put the towel around his waist,

00:10:57.139 --> 00:10:58.320
 and served us,

00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:00.080
 even to death.

00:11:01.180 --> 00:11:02.580
 And through death,

00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:03.940
 he rose victorious,

00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:05.860
 and now he is exalted,

00:11:06.020 --> 00:11:06.740
 and at his name,

00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:07.980
 every knee shall bow.

00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:10.120
 He comes up to the highest place,

00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:12.840
 so that everyone will honor,

00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:13.539
 one day,

00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:14.639
 him as Lord.

00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:16.320
 That's the J curve,

00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:17.279
 that is actually,

00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:18.600
 the curve of what love,

00:11:18.700 --> 00:11:19.620
 truly looks like.

00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:21.299
 You see,

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.299
 there's no other boss,

00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:23.340
 there's no other leader,

00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:24.379
 there's no other thing,

00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:25.399
 that you can look to,

00:11:25.700 --> 00:11:26.600
 whose life,

00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:27.659
 is pictured,

00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:29.320
 in that level of love.

00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:31.659
 And he did it,

00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:32.320
 to show us,

00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:33.419
 both his glory,

00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:35.519
 but also to draw us,

00:11:35.680 --> 00:11:36.580
 to himself,

00:11:37.180 --> 00:11:38.860
 in relationship with him,

00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:40.800
 to then give us an identity,

00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:42.180
 of such worth,

00:11:42.300 --> 00:11:43.300
 and such value,

00:11:43.460 --> 00:11:44.379
 with purpose,

00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:46.039
 that we're now saints,

00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:47.100
 we belong to him,

00:11:47.180 --> 00:11:47.919
 we're sacred.

00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:50.840
 We're new citizens,

00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:52.879
 of a heavenly kingdom.

00:11:53.820 --> 00:11:54.919
 And that means,

00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:55.919
 you're secure.

00:11:56.600 --> 00:11:57.659
 If you know this,

00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:58.240
 you're free.

00:11:58.840 --> 00:11:59.759
 We're free,

00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:01.100
 to die to ourselves.

00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.279
 We're free,

00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:03.180
 to serve others,

00:12:03.300 --> 00:12:04.060
 and go down,

00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:05.580
 to go up.

00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:06.960
 Because we don't need,

00:12:07.060 --> 00:12:08.480
 to create our own identity,

00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:09.259
 our reputation,

00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:10.820
 because we already have it,

00:12:10.940 --> 00:12:12.060
 from a king of kings,

00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:12.879
 and the lord of lords,

00:12:12.920 --> 00:12:14.420
 and he's done everything for us.

00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:17.659
 That is good news.

00:12:18.180 --> 00:12:19.200
 That is good news,

00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:20.200
 in a world of performance,

00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:21.039
 and striving,

00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:22.899
 to make ourselves great.

00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:24.940
 Good news,

00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:27.159
 and heavenly citizens,

00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:28.740
 people who get this,

00:12:28.920 --> 00:12:29.960
 live lives,

00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:31.039
 not just to go,

00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:32.000
 oh thank you Jesus,

00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:33.560
 for giving me this status,

00:12:33.680 --> 00:12:34.460
 now I can carry on,

00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:35.480
 living the way I want to.

00:12:35.800 --> 00:12:35.920
 No,

00:12:36.300 --> 00:12:37.480
 heavenly citizens,

00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:39.340
 live lives,

00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:40.279
 which are worthy,

00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.340
 of this gospel.

00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:43.139
 Which means,

00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:44.139
 that Christians,

00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:45.159
 are not just those,

00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:46.100
 who try and,

00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:46.800
 work hard,

00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:47.379
 and be nice,

00:12:47.420 --> 00:12:48.659
 and be good moral people.

00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:49.360
 No,

00:12:49.420 --> 00:12:49.899
 Christians,

00:12:50.200 --> 00:12:50.840
 are those,

00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:52.000
 whose lives,

00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:53.560
 are patterned,

00:12:53.560 --> 00:12:54.560
 entirely,

00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:55.639
 by Jesus.

00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:56.300
 Which means,

00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:56.740
 we,

00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:57.840
 are increasingly,

00:12:57.840 --> 00:12:58.779
 looking in our lives,

00:12:58.860 --> 00:13:00.060
 less like the M curve,

00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:01.940
 and more like the J curve,

00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:02.980
 in our lives.

00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:04.200
 That's what it means,

00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:05.680
 to live life,

00:13:05.779 --> 00:13:06.800
 as the citizens,

00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.920
 of the heavenly kingdom,

00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:08.899
 worthy,

00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:10.740
 of the gospel,

00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:12.379
 of Jesus.

00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:15.220
 So there's two implications,

00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:15.860
 that Paul,

00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:17.060
 comes out from this.

00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:18.320
 The first implication,

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.259
 he says,

00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:19.840
 Christians,

00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:20.879
 who,

00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:21.700
 if you get,

00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:23.019
 that you have this new passport,

00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:23.920
 this new identity,

00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:25.080
 this new citizenship,

00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:26.519
 this new status,

00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:28.500
 Christians,

00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:29.519
 are firm,

00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:30.179
 and fearless,

00:13:30.699 --> 00:13:32.259
 in the mission,

00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:33.100
 the purpose,

00:13:33.299 --> 00:13:33.960
 that Christ,

00:13:34.059 --> 00:13:34.779
 has given them.

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.059
 You see,

00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:36.720
 the Philippians,

00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:37.899
 are facing,

00:13:38.319 --> 00:13:38.759
 pressure,

00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:40.000
 from the outside,

00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.100
 and the inside.

00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:42.720
 Opponents,

00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:43.600
 are mocking them,

00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:45.919
 they're marginalizing them,

00:13:46.299 --> 00:13:47.340
 there's temptations,

00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:47.860
 to feel like,

00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:48.399
 they just want to,

00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.439
 fit in with the way,

00:13:49.439 --> 00:13:50.480
 everyone else is living,

00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:51.220
 the heat's on.

00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:53.240
 And there's tensions,

00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:54.220
 inside the church,

00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:55.019
 there's some rivalry,

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.659
 going on,

00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:56.659
 a couple of women,

00:13:56.819 --> 00:13:57.879
 Euodia and Syntyche,

00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:59.019
 which we see in chapter 4,

00:13:59.079 --> 00:13:59.740
 they've got offended,

00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:00.339
 with each other,

00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:01.000
 they're not talking,

00:14:01.079 --> 00:14:01.579
 to each other.

00:14:01.819 --> 00:14:02.699
 It seems like,

00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:03.939
 there's just,

00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:05.120
 the heat is on.

00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:06.259
 And when the heat is on,

00:14:06.319 --> 00:14:06.899
 we tend to,

00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:07.659
 look in,

00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:08.759
 and turn in on ourselves.

00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:10.519
 But Paul says,

00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:11.620
 living the Jacob,

00:14:11.819 --> 00:14:12.500
 of citizens,

00:14:12.819 --> 00:14:14.419
 worthy of Jesus,

00:14:14.959 --> 00:14:15.759
 looks like,

00:14:15.939 --> 00:14:17.199
 when a church is under pressure,

00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:18.219
 this,

00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:18.779
 he says,

00:14:19.319 --> 00:14:20.799
 you are standing firm,

00:14:21.339 --> 00:14:22.539
 in one spirit,

00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:23.899
 with one mind,

00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:24.939
 striving,

00:14:24.940 --> 00:14:26.240
 side by side,

00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:26.880
 for the faith,

00:14:26.920 --> 00:14:27.520
 of the gospel,

00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:28.860
 not frightened,

00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:30.160
 in any way,

00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:31.380
 by your opponents.

00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:32.460
 You see,

00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:34.080
 he's using two images here.

00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:36.140
 One is a military image,

00:14:36.300 --> 00:14:38.180
 and the other is an athletic image.

00:14:38.300 --> 00:14:39.000
 The first image,

00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:40.460
 is standing firm,

00:14:40.540 --> 00:14:41.720
 in one spirit.

00:14:42.780 --> 00:14:43.800
 The image is taken,

00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:45.920
 from the Roman military formation,

00:14:46.160 --> 00:14:46.940
 where soldiers,

00:14:48.020 --> 00:14:49.080
 would have shields,

00:14:49.260 --> 00:14:50.780
 which they locked together,

00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:52.140
 alongside each other,

00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:53.840
 and they would move forward,

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.740
 with their spears,

00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:55.899
 kind of pointing through,

00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.360
 and so they were totally,

00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:58.720
 impenetrable.

00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:01.939
 And it was devastatingly successful,

00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:03.899
 because they were just,

00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:05.879
 this one mass army,

00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:07.000
 moving together.

00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:09.539
 And Paul is saying here,

00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:10.519
 as a church,

00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:12.220
 don't get distracted,

00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:13.299
 from Jesus,

00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:14.000
 and the gospel,

00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:14.740
 and who he is.

00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:15.159
 No,

00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:15.919
 your mission,

00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:17.019
 is to be one,

00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.480
 and focusing on him.

00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:20.759
 And then he says,

00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:21.379
 secondly,

00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:22.300
 an athletic image,

00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:22.600
 he says,

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.500
 striving,

00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:24.940
 side by side,

00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:25.879
 for the faith,

00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:26.680
 of the gospel.

00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.120
 And the word,

00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:29.379
 that striving side by side,

00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:31.000
 it's an athletic term,

00:15:31.060 --> 00:15:32.180
 meaning competing,

00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.480
 like an athletic,

00:15:33.800 --> 00:15:35.340
 like maybe a rugby team,

00:15:35.680 --> 00:15:36.379
 together,

00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:38.019
 you've got the same goal,

00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:38.639
 together.

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:40.039
 You're not pulling apart,

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:41.539
 you're not doing your own thing.

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.220
 And he's saying,

00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:44.519
 a church that is following,

00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:46.080
 that J curve,

00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:47.800
 will be looking,

00:15:48.160 --> 00:15:48.740
 actively,

00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:50.600
 to help each other,

00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.860
 to love Jesus more.

00:15:52.180 --> 00:15:52.940
 And they're putting,

00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:54.379
 all their effort in,

00:15:54.520 --> 00:15:55.259
 as a team,

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:55.879
 as one,

00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.240
 to make Jesus known,

00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:58.360
 to others.

00:15:58.540 --> 00:16:00.500
 Even in social distancing,

00:16:00.920 --> 00:16:02.240
 that's what our call is.

00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:03.900
 Even in the security law,

00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:05.020
 in any,

00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:07.000
 and every circumstance,

00:16:07.420 --> 00:16:08.820
 Paul has modelled,

00:16:09.060 --> 00:16:10.040
 even in prison,

00:16:12.040 --> 00:16:14.080
 that his goal,

00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.680
 is that Jesus might be made known.

00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:18.960
 And that's what he's calling the church to be,

00:16:19.020 --> 00:16:19.720
 this army,

00:16:19.920 --> 00:16:20.660
 on a mission.

00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:22.360
 That's what we're called to.

00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:24.280
 I wonder whether in,

00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.500
 even in this time of,

00:16:25.540 --> 00:16:26.620
 of social distancing,

00:16:27.040 --> 00:16:28.200
 whether we see,

00:16:28.280 --> 00:16:29.540
 our community groups,

00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:31.020
 or Watermark as a whole,

00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.500
 as a gospel team,

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.500
 as an army.

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:35.780
 Or are we just a bunch of individuals,

00:16:35.780 --> 00:16:37.379
 who just kind of hang out together,

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:39.280
 but during social distancing,

00:16:39.280 --> 00:16:40.400
 it's kind of out of sight,

00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:41.320
 out of mind.

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.000
 Do you have a list,

00:16:44.040 --> 00:16:44.700
 if you're a believer,

00:16:44.780 --> 00:16:45.440
 do you have a list,

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.820
 of two or three people,

00:16:47.020 --> 00:16:48.220
 in your community group,

00:16:48.300 --> 00:16:48.980
 in your church,

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.620
 that you're regularly talking to,

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.400
 praying with,

00:16:51.540 --> 00:16:52.220
 encouraging,

00:16:52.520 --> 00:16:53.300
 with the gospel,

00:16:53.400 --> 00:16:54.520
 and what you're reading in scripture?

00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.260
 Are we striving,

00:16:57.780 --> 00:16:58.780
 side by side,

00:16:58.920 --> 00:16:59.780
 for the gospel,

00:17:00.020 --> 00:17:00.340
 thinking,

00:17:00.520 --> 00:17:01.960
 how can we even be creative,

00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:02.920
 during this time,

00:17:03.040 --> 00:17:03.980
 to help others,

00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.960
 come to know Jesus?

00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.799
 Or are we wrapped up,

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.420
 in ourselves,

00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:08.779
 in the M curve?

00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:10.339
 You see,

00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:12.200
 imagine if in that Roman formation,

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:12.920
 what you get,

00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.559
 is a couple of the soldiers,

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.079
 just decide,

00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:15.279
 hey,

00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:17.200
 I just fancy going on YouTube,

00:17:17.379 --> 00:17:18.480
 more than being with these guys,

00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:19.779
 it's a bit tough work,

00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.299
 being an army,

00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:20.539
 so,

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.740
 puts down his shield,

00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:23.099
 takes out his iPhone,

00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:23.779
 and,

00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:24.259
 I mean,

00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:25.319
 that's a disaster,

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:26.039
 for everyone.

00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:28.079
 It doesn't just affect him,

00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:29.899
 it affects everyone.

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:31.799
 You see,

00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:33.539
 when you do the M curve,

00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:36.319
 you will not be the only person,

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.420
 who is shaped by that,

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.619
 the whole church is.

00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:40.700
 But when you live the J curve,

00:17:40.899 --> 00:17:41.299
 you see,

00:17:41.379 --> 00:17:42.279
 it actually turns us,

00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.180
 out of ourselves,

00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:45.119
 to really looking at others,

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.399
 and looking at Christ.

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:49.799
 We're called to be this united team,

00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:51.079
 on God's mission.

00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:53.859
 But,

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:55.339
 why do we often fail,

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:57.119
 to strive together,

00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:58.220
 for the gospel,

00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.220
 in this way?

00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:00.779
 Well,

00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:01.879
 because at some point,

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:02.639
 one of the reasons,

00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:03.539
 is at some point,

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:05.759
 there is always a clash,

00:18:05.899 --> 00:18:07.619
 between living the M,

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:09.319
 an M curve lifestyle,

00:18:09.439 --> 00:18:10.219
 and a J curve,

00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:12.139
 between heavenly citizens,

00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:13.519
 and earthly citizens,

00:18:13.679 --> 00:18:15.039
 and the demands they make.

00:18:15.899 --> 00:18:17.239
 And it can feel scary,

00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:18.879
 if you're trying to live,

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.399
 as Christ's,

00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:22.000
 we fear being rejected,

00:18:22.139 --> 00:18:23.500
 if we truly live for him.

00:18:23.739 --> 00:18:25.019
 We fear not belonging,

00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:26.439
 we fear missing out.

00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:27.519
 Which is why,

00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:28.779
 Paul has to say to them,

00:18:28.959 --> 00:18:30.219
 don't be frightened,

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.539
 in anything,

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.600
 by your opponents.

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:34.440
 This is a clear sign,

00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:34.940
 to them,

00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:36.480
 of their destruction,

00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:38.220
 but of your salvation,

00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.660
 and that from God.

00:18:40.600 --> 00:18:40.960
 You know,

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.779
 there's a story told,

00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.460
 of a,

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.539
 Maasai,

00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:44.380
 Kenyan,

00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.380
 tribesman,

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.200
 called Joseph,

00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:48.460
 who encountered Jesus,

00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:49.539
 and he was,

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:51.100
 utterly changed by him.

00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:53.240
 He was so excited,

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.620
 about the gospel message,

00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:55.900
 that he went back,

00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.839
 to his tribe,

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.879
 to tell them,

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:59.199
 this incredible news,

00:18:59.259 --> 00:18:59.799
 of the love,

00:18:59.959 --> 00:19:01.079
 of Christ for them.

00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:02.579
 And,

00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:04.039
 his tribe though,

00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:04.799
 his village though,

00:19:04.919 --> 00:19:06.579
 didn't just not listen to him,

00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.839
 they actually came out,

00:19:07.919 --> 00:19:08.939
 and they beat him,

00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:09.959
 so hard,

00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.759
 that he was unconscious,

00:19:10.919 --> 00:19:12.039
 and then they dragged him out,

00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:12.779
 into the bush,

00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.000
 and left him to die.

00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:16.179
 He actually,

00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:18.220
 after a little while,

00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:19.799
 he managed to regain consciousness,

00:19:20.059 --> 00:19:21.139
 and kind of was trying to figure out,

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.119
 what was wrong,

00:19:22.179 --> 00:19:22.740
 and he was wondering,

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:24.019
 did I just explain,

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:25.019
 this message badly?

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:26.099
 Did I miss something else?

00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:26.259
 So,

00:19:26.379 --> 00:19:27.119
 he went back,

00:19:27.219 --> 00:19:28.039
 to the village again,

00:19:28.219 --> 00:19:29.480
 to try and share with them,

00:19:29.699 --> 00:19:31.039
 the incredible news,

00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:32.139
 that he'd heard.

00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:33.980
 And as he went back to them,

00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.959
 he got the same response,

00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:36.599
 they came out,

00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:37.279
 they beat him,

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.199
 with barbed wire,

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:40.159
 and they knocked him unconscious,

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.219
 and they dragged him out,

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.579
 into the bush again,

00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.039
 to die.

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.259
 This time,

00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.240
 his wounds were more serious,

00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:46.039
 so it actually took,

00:19:46.219 --> 00:19:46.859
 quite a few days,

00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:48.139
 for him to recover,

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.179
 but miraculously,

00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:50.759
 he actually survived this.

00:19:51.139 --> 00:19:51.819
 And beaten,

00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:53.359
 and bruised,

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.199
 he decided,

00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.120
 that he would go back,

00:19:56.120 --> 00:19:56.799
 into the village,

00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.620
 to share again,

00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.259
 about Jesus.

00:19:59.319 --> 00:19:59.700
 And so,

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.420
 as he kind of,

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.039
 walks through,

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:03.100
 he walks into the village,

00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:04.059
 and starts telling them,

00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:05.559
 how Jesus is so amazing,

00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:06.340
 his love for you,

00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.019
 is so incredible.

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.160
 And they come out,

00:20:08.360 --> 00:20:09.620
 and the women particularly,

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.460
 were beating him,

00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.240
 with the barbed wire.

00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:12.380
 The last thing he saw,

00:20:12.580 --> 00:20:13.860
 before he went unconscious,

00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.519
 was suddenly,

00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.900
 the women who'd been beating him,

00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:16.759
 stopped,

00:20:17.080 --> 00:20:18.039
 and they were weeping.

00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:20.519
 He actually woke up,

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.519
 a few days later,

00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.740
 in his own bed,

00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.379
 being tended,

00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:25.119
 by these same people,

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:26.240
 who'd been beating him.

00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.379
 And he discovered,

00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.420
 that the whole of the village,

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.460
 had come to Christ.

00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:31.940
 Because what they had seen,

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:34.240
 they had rejected Joseph,

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:35.400
 but they had seen,

00:20:35.639 --> 00:20:36.799
 in his courage,

00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:38.039
 a sign.

00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.519
 They'd seen,

00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:41.240
 that Joseph had something,

00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:42.180
 that they didn't.

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.539
 That he had this,

00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:45.180
 confident security,

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:46.519
 that they never had.

00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:48.240
 He had a different,

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:48.980
 citizenship,

00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.680
 from them,

00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:51.420
 which made him,

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:53.000
 just ridiculously courageous.

00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:55.759
 Now we may not face,

00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:57.299
 that kind of beatings,

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:57.940
 in Hong Kong.

00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:02.079
 But I want to suggest,

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:03.740
 that actually,

00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:04.259
 sometimes,

00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.660
 we're not afraid of beating,

00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.680
 we're sometimes just afraid,

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.379
 of that rejection,

00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.119
 and embarrassment,

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.139
 or awkwardness.

00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:10.960
 And the thing is,

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.859
 we fear,

00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:13.139
 the death,

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.639
 the going down,

00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.279
 in the Jacob,

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.299
 of our reputation.

00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:18.019
 That humbling,

00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:19.579
 that Jesus went through.

00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.519
 We fear that,

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.539
 because it's costly.

00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.519
 But Paul says,

00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:26.859
 that Christians who see,

00:21:27.139 --> 00:21:28.779
 just how beautiful Jesus is,

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:30.720
 they may feel afraid,

00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:31.740
 of what it really means,

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.460
 to follow him.

00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.799
 But they don't give in,

00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:34.359
 to fear.

00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:35.900
 They're clear,

00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:37.200
 in the face of fear.

00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:38.599
 Because you know,

00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.279
 people may think,

00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:39.900
 you're stupid,

00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:41.180
 but people can't argue,

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:41.940
 with courage.

00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.099
 You know,

00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:44.220
 I remember hearing,

00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:45.680
 about a lady,

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:47.000
 at inner city ministries,

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:47.840
 in Jordan,

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.140
 which is one of our mission partners.

00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:51.400
 And they've been reaching out,

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.000
 to some kids,

00:21:52.060 --> 00:21:52.840
 I think in the park,

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:54.100
 and singing some Christian songs,

00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:55.400
 and sharing the gospel with them.

00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.440
 And then a neighbor,

00:21:56.560 --> 00:21:57.340
 shouted out,

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.200
 from one of the windows,

00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.060
 really angrily,

00:21:59.400 --> 00:21:59.600
 like,

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.259
 shut up,

00:22:00.320 --> 00:22:01.779
 otherwise I'm going to call the police.

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.380
 And everyone was feeling,

00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.299
 a little bit intimidated,

00:22:05.420 --> 00:22:06.060
 a little scared.

00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:08.000
 But one of the aunties,

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:09.259
 was not intimidated by this.

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:09.579
 She said,

00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:10.119
 just give me,

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.759
 hold on a second,

00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:11.200
 it's okay.

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.899
 And so she says,

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.960
 I'll go up and talk to him.

00:22:14.679 --> 00:22:15.940
 And so she disappears,

00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:16.799
 for like 30 minutes,

00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:17.279
 40 minutes,

00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:18.119
 I'm not sure how long.

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.000
 And then about,

00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.200
 45 minutes later,

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.099
 she comes down,

00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.220
 with this guy,

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:22.480
 and says,

00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:23.119
 oh it's okay,

00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:24.240
 I've just shared the gospel with him,

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.539
 and he's just accepted Christ.

00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:27.679
 And everyone was like,

00:22:28.419 --> 00:22:30.419
 how did you do that?

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:31.240
 That,

00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:32.839
 that was crazy.

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:35.439
 But that kind of courage,

00:22:35.639 --> 00:22:36.899
 became infectious.

00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:38.819
 Because,

00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:40.659
 how can somebody do that?

00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.000
 It's not by,

00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:44.159
 trying really hard,

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:46.059
 to muster up your own sense of,

00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:46.439
 okay,

00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.419
 positive thinking.

00:22:48.419 --> 00:22:48.619
 She,

00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:50.919
 she shows that actually,

00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:53.679
 she'd seen something about Jesus.

00:22:54.699 --> 00:22:55.959
 She'd seen something,

00:22:56.119 --> 00:22:57.839
 of the glory and beauty,

00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.359
 and the love of Jesus,

00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.419
 in the J curve.

00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:03.800
 And she wanted to be like him.

00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:04.660
 You see,

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.920
 I'm really challenged by this,

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.940
 this is really challenging.

00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.560
 That actually,

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.320
 as Christians,

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.980
 we're not called to just,

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.460
 accept the gospel,

00:23:12.580 --> 00:23:13.759
 and get out of jail,

00:23:13.860 --> 00:23:14.400
 free card.

00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.960
 We're called to live the gospel.

00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:18.120
 And we can only do that,

00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:19.620
 with Christ at the center.

00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.380
 So I want you to just,

00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.440
 reflect for a second.

00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:24.800
 When was the last time,

00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:25.519
 if you're a Christian,

00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:27.400
 when was the last time,

00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:28.779
 God called you,

00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:29.619
 to do something,

00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.859
 for the sake of the gospel,

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:33.200
 that you were afraid of doing?

00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.960
 That you were afraid of doing?

00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:38.980
 What was your response in that?

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:42.319
 And if you're not a Christian,

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:45.099
 let me use Martin Luther's,

00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:45.619
 King's phrase,

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:47.220
 if you've got nothing worth dying for,

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.680
 you've got nothing worth living for.

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.019
 What in your life,

00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:53.200
 is worth losing everything for?

00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:55.279
 And if you're on your deathbed,

00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:58.359
 how valuable do you think that will be?

00:23:59.000 --> 00:23:59.899
 So I'm going to give you,

00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:01.119
 just a minute or so,

00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:02.420
 to reflect or to discuss,

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.680
 with the person next to you,

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.859
 those questions.

00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:05.980
 And then we'll come back,

00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:07.160
 and continue.

00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:18.800
 And I'll be,

00:24:18.800 --> 00:24:19.519
 Yeah.

00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:21.620
 Thank you.

00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:23.820
 So,

00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:53.799
 Thank you.

00:24:53.819 --> 00:25:23.799
 Thank you.

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:53.799
 Thank you.

00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:55.819
 Thank you.

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:57.819
 Thank you.

00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:59.819
 Thank you.

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:01.819
 Thank you.

00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:05.579
 Now, this is challenging.

00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:06.720
 I find this really challenging.

00:26:06.919 --> 00:26:07.579
 But Paul says,

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:25.839
 Now, this is really crazy.

00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:30.919
 The word granted there means graciously given, freely given.

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.659
 It's the same word.

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:34.759
 It's the verb of the noun grace.

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:44.379
 And in Watermark, we often think that, we often say that the grace of God is what Christ has done for us.

00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:49.379
 Our salvation, our forgiveness, everything is a gift from him, this new identity.

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.099
 And it is.

00:26:50.439 --> 00:26:51.559
 Nothing you can earn it.

00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:52.539
 You can do nothing.

00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.359
 It's grace.

00:26:53.859 --> 00:27:00.179
 And if you're not a Christian, Jesus isn't looking for you to clean up your act to come to him and just be a good person.

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:02.939
 He takes only sinners.

00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:09.940
 And so we come empty-handed, trusting in his death and resurrection for us.

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:13.920
 But Paul says God doesn't just give the grace of salvation.

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:17.340
 God gives the gracious gift of suffering.

00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:20.740
 Not just the fact of suffering that we all experience.

00:27:21.199 --> 00:27:24.939
 But here he's talking about suffering for Christ's sake.

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:27.980
 Suffering because you're living for the gospel.

00:27:28.159 --> 00:27:30.179
 It's a gift with a bow tied on it.

00:27:30.699 --> 00:27:32.119
 I don't know if you've ever thought of that.

00:27:33.159 --> 00:27:37.500
 And Paul isn't this kind of masochist martyr who just loves pain.

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:39.259
 That's not where he's going.

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.659
 But he's saying,

00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:46.579
 The friend who was kicked out of home by her Muslim parents when she came to faith, that's grace.

00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:46.699
 Grace.

00:27:47.179 --> 00:27:51.859
 The lady who was passed over for promotion because she talked about Jesus too much, that's grace.

00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:56.819
 The youth who got laughed at by his friends because he refused to get drunk, that's grace.

00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:02.519
 And if you think Paul is just a little bit crazy going on about this, Acts 5.

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:05.899
 Jesus followers, they've seen the resurrected Jesus.

00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:08.339
 And they have started proclaiming him.

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:10.819
 And they've just been beaten for sharing the gospel.

00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:12.179
 And it says,

00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:20.539
 And they left that place rejoicing that they've been counted worthy of suffering dishonor for the sake of the name.

00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:22.940
 They've been beaten up and they're going,

00:28:23.320 --> 00:28:24.720
 Wow, what a privilege.

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:33.180
 But if you're anything like me, sometimes aren't we often, you know, I told her I was a Christian and she looked at me weird and,

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.799
 Oh no, what did I do wrong?

00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:40.140
 You see, the J curve is completely counterintuitive.

00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:43.240
 But it's beautiful.

00:28:44.020 --> 00:28:51.100
 You see, when you go to the Avenue of Stars, you know, I have seen people excitedly go,

00:28:51.280 --> 00:28:53.420
 Let me just find Jackie Chan's handprint.

00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:58.100
 And they run over to put their hands in where Jackie Chan's handprint was.

00:28:58.300 --> 00:29:02.820
 And they go, Wow, I can't believe that I put my hand where his hand was.

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:10.700
 I've even heard, and this is maybe a little weird, but that actors like George Clooney have donated clothes for charity auctions.

00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:14.539
 But they fetch far more money if they're unwashed.

00:29:15.179 --> 00:29:18.859
 Because people want to be able to smell George.

00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:21.379
 They want to get so close to him.

00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.559
 Now, I think that's weird.

00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:24.299
 But hey, some people have their thing.

00:29:24.679 --> 00:29:30.359
 But what's the difference between the Apostle Paul, Joseph, that auntie, and so many of us?

00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:34.399
 It's not that Jackie Chan or George Clooney they wanted to get close to.

00:29:34.679 --> 00:29:36.359
 No, they wanted to get close to Jesus.

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:49.459
 And when their lives could bear the marks of Jesus, they saw what a privilege that this gospel message of a J curve of love for us,

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:52.119
 of death to resurrection glory,

00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:55.339
 that most beautiful of love stories,

00:29:55.339 --> 00:30:00.639
 that God is using in some way our lives to retell that message

00:30:00.639 --> 00:30:04.119
 and for people to see just how precious Jesus really is.

00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:10.079
 Because we know that suffering on that Jacob leaves to glory.

00:30:10.639 --> 00:30:15.439
 We're becoming more like Jesus as we go through the pain.

00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:22.279
 Now, I don't know about you,

00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:26.259
 but the question that has really been coming through to me

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:29.400
 has been, how much do I want to be like Jesus?

00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:32.420
 How beautiful is he?

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:38.039
 Because if I see that Jesus is all that I need and all that I want,

00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:41.140
 then suffering is grace because that's the path Jesus walked.

00:30:41.140 --> 00:30:43.759
 And we know where it ended.

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.700
 It ended with glory.

00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:48.900
 And it will for us too if we walk that path.

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:51.660
 You know, I know of a guy from a Muslim background

00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:53.660
 who I heard him say,

00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:54.759
 he said,

00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:56.200
 you westernize Christians,

00:30:56.300 --> 00:30:57.740
 he was talking in the UK,

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:59.980
 but I think this is true for us here.

00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:03.480
 You always go through these agonizing decisions

00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:05.680
 when Christ calls you to surrender something

00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:08.520
 or to face the cost of sharing the gospel

00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:11.240
 and you wrestle with how it's going to affect this relationship

00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:12.680
 or that relationship and so on.

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.680
 And he said,

00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:15.839
 those of us who are converted from a Muslim background,

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:18.039
 we don't wrestle with that so much.

00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:19.379
 When we got baptized,

00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:21.500
 we died to ourselves.

00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:24.519
 We knew the cost already of losing our families,

00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.319
 of our friends,

00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:26.319
 all that we had.

00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:29.319
 And we saw that Jesus was worth it.

00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:32.379
 So we don't have to keep wondering to ourselves

00:31:32.379 --> 00:31:33.619
 whether to share or not.

00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:36.039
 Because when you've lost everything already,

00:31:36.379 --> 00:31:38.039
 there's nothing else to fear.

00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:40.759
 And every challenge and cost

00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:43.119
 has only made us love Jesus even more

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:45.799
 because we see all that we have in him.

00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:48.839
 I find that really challenging.

00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:53.079
 Every athlete who wants to follow his hero

00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:55.299
 is willing to go through the pain of training

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:56.900
 for the glory of Olympic gold.

00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:59.639
 Every army that wants to gain victory

00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:02.180
 is willing to go on the battlefield knowing the cost.

00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:06.400
 Every Christian that sees with this beautiful new identity

00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:09.720
 and security and freedom of citizenship we have

00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.680
 with a new purpose,

00:32:10.900 --> 00:32:11.700
 with new meaning,

00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:13.220
 though it costs us everything,

00:32:13.320 --> 00:32:14.180
 if we have Jesus,

00:32:14.320 --> 00:32:15.460
 we have nothing to lose.

00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:18.660
 And that's where the gospel comes real.

00:32:19.840 --> 00:32:20.620
 So this week,

00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:23.240
 let me just challenge us.

00:32:23.800 --> 00:32:24.759
 We can choose

00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:26.900
 if we want to just keep living the M curve.

00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:29.640
 Always trying to keep everyone liking you.

00:32:30.080 --> 00:32:31.400
 Always trying to manage your life.

00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.560
 Keep everything in control.

00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:35.019
 Keep yourself as comfortable as possible.

00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:37.680
 Avoid any scary or awkward conversations.

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:40.280
 Or you can look at Jesus

00:32:40.280 --> 00:32:43.540
 and see that the way down is the way up.

00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:45.700
 That we start seeing ourselves

00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:47.600
 and realizing we can't do this by ourselves.

00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:49.060
 We need each other as a team

00:32:49.060 --> 00:32:50.820
 to encourage each other.

00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:54.480
 So what if we were to actually ask our CG members

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.919
 to pray for us this week?

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:58.000
 And maybe you've got a friend

00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:00.000
 that you actually haven't talked much

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:00.919
 about the gospel with.

00:33:01.939 --> 00:33:04.059
 What if you actually rang them up this week

00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:06.119
 or talked to them and said,

00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:08.039
 I want to apologize

00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:09.879
 because with COVID

00:33:09.879 --> 00:33:12.319
 and all the fears that there have been around,

00:33:12.659 --> 00:33:14.119
 I've discovered something

00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:16.759
 which has given me strength and hope.

00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:18.700
 And I haven't shared it with you.

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:21.380
 Could you give me a couple of minutes to share that?

00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.920
 And whatever happens

00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:26.000
 will be grace.

00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:28.620
 Because you will begin,

00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:29.500
 and I can tell you this

00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:31.019
 from my own personal experience,

00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:32.720
 when you discover

00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:36.779
 that you can start taking gospel risks

00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:38.620
 and that purpose beyond yourself,

00:33:38.840 --> 00:33:41.000
 willing to lose your reputation for Christ,

00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:42.779
 you suddenly discover

00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:44.980
 an indescribable joy and freedom.

00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:48.120
 and Jesus becomes more precious to us

00:33:48.120 --> 00:33:49.500
 than ever before.

00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:50.740
 And in challenges,

00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:52.700
 we begin to thrive.

00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:55.160
 Christ is glorified

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.420
 in a united,

00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:57.819
 fearless,

00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:59.000
 suffering,

00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:01.059
 gospel-proclaiming church,

00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:02.920
 striving side by side,

00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:04.799
 even in this period of isolation,

00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:06.420
 to know Jesus

00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:08.000
 and to make him known.

00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:10.940
 Let me just pray for us.

00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:12.880
 And I'd love you just to

00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:16.460
 really be thinking right now,

00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:18.980
 how precious is Jesus to me?

00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:24.000
 We don't want Jesus

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.960
 to just be a ticket,

00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:28.039
 a get-out-of-jail-free card,

00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:30.920
 because he's called us

00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:33.039
 to live lives worthy of him.

00:34:34.659 --> 00:34:36.760
 We cannot do that in our own strength.

00:34:36.760 --> 00:34:39.420
 We need a spiritual awakening

00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:40.240
 in our hearts.

00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:45.000
 But if you want that in your heart,

00:34:45.040 --> 00:34:47.020
 if we want to have this boldness,

00:34:48.180 --> 00:34:51.460
 then let's just get on our knees

00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:52.500
 and pray.

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:55.620
 Maybe pray with me.

00:34:58.300 --> 00:34:58.700
 Father,

00:34:58.700 --> 00:34:58.820
 Father,

00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:04.300
 I recognize that so often

00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:06.660
 I live the M curve.

00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:10.380
 forgive me.

00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:13.500
 Father,

00:35:13.580 --> 00:35:14.200
 it scares me

00:35:14.200 --> 00:35:15.180
 to think what it really

00:35:15.180 --> 00:35:16.820
 might cost to follow you.

00:35:18.760 --> 00:35:19.960
 But when I look at

00:35:19.960 --> 00:35:21.220
 the life of Christ,

00:35:22.280 --> 00:35:24.200
 of what you've done for me,

00:35:25.140 --> 00:35:27.040
 and I see beauty and love

00:35:27.040 --> 00:35:28.360
 like no one else

00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:29.500
 has ever offered,

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:31.780
 I want to be like you.

00:35:33.140 --> 00:35:34.600
 We want to be like you.

00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:36.239
 So,

00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:36.559
 Father,

00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:37.679
 do a work in our heart.

00:35:37.799 --> 00:35:38.440
 Change us.

00:35:39.319 --> 00:35:40.339
 Give us opportunities

00:35:40.339 --> 00:35:41.099
 this week

00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:42.139
 to proclaim you.

00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:44.380
 And let us be bold.

00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:46.059
 Let us not fear

00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:47.659
 because we see

00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:48.420
 we're already

00:35:48.420 --> 00:35:49.420
 secure

00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:51.199
 as heavenly people.

00:35:53.279 --> 00:35:53.679
 Father,

00:35:53.759 --> 00:35:54.500
 I pray for those

00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.299
 who don't know you

00:35:55.299 --> 00:35:55.819
 right now.

00:35:55.820 --> 00:35:57.900
 I pray you'd show them

00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:58.600
 the foolishness

00:35:58.600 --> 00:35:59.580
 of living the M curve,

00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:01.140
 that it's so tiring

00:36:01.140 --> 00:36:04.380
 and that we don't have to

00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:07.000
 because we have

00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:07.920
 a great Savior

00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:08.620
 in Christ.

00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:11.780
 Open our eyes,

00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:12.740
 open our eyes,

00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.580
 open our eyes

00:36:13.580 --> 00:36:14.320
 to see you

00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:16.220
 and change our hearts

00:36:16.220 --> 00:36:17.260
 to want to love you

00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:19.000
 with all of our lives

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.500
 this week,

00:36:19.600 --> 00:36:20.500
 whatever the cost,

00:36:21.220 --> 00:36:22.420
 and to see the joy

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:24.120
 of walking in your footsteps

00:36:24.120 --> 00:36:25.860
 just as Paul did.

00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:27.720
 In Jesus' name,

00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:29.220
 Amen.