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 I'm going to read now a portion of 2 Corinthians chapter 9.

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! I'll pick up reading from verse 6 and then read to the end of the chapter, verse 15.

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 So 2 Corinthians 9, this is page 1164 if you have one of the Red Church Bibles.

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 Remember this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.

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 And whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

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 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,

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 not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

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 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times,

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 having all you need, you will abound in every good work.

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 As it is written, they have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever.

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 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed,

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 and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

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 You will be enriched in every way, so that you can be generous on every occasion.

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 And through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

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 This service you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people,

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 but it is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

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 And through the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience

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 that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing

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 with them and with everyone else.

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 And in their prayers for you, their hearts will go out to you because of the surpassing grace

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 God has given you.

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 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

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 Amen.

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 This morning I noticed the fact that love seems to be the thread which binds the Bible together.

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 So too, this word that we see both in chapter 8 and chapter 9 of 2 Corinthians is a key link throughout the Bible.

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 2 Corinthians 8 verse 9 and 2 Corinthians 9 verse 8, these are the two texts that I'm going to be focusing on.

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 And in my memory, I find it easy to remember both of them just because of the reversal of the numbers.

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 8 verse 9 and 9 verse 8.

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 Chapter 8 verse 9, for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich,

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 yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

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 And then 2 Corinthians 9 verse 8, and God is able to bless you abundantly, or God is able to make all grace abound to you.

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 It captures the same theme and the same word, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need,

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 you will abound in every good work.

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 You see, grace is very difficult to illustrate because it's so unique to God that it's difficult to explain what it looks like apart from what God himself says.

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 Yesterday, I was at a wedding, Kirstie Ann McPherson and Tom Cox, and the ring bearer was a small child.

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 Now, I've done a lot of weddings, and I've had dogs as ring bearers, I've had small children as ring bearers.

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 As a rule, dogs are more reliable, they're more likely to get the ring to the right place at the right time,

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 but it became quite clear that there was an agreement between the groom and the ring bearer.

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 The groom had a packet of stickers in his pocket, and he made it quite clear to his nephew that should the ring be delivered at the appropriate time,

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 in the appropriate way, that he would exchange the stickers for the ring, and it worked a treat.

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 Because at the right time I asked for the rings to be given, young Tommy came forward with the rings,

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 and with a handout for the stickers.

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 A quid pro quo.

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 But that's not what grace is like.

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 You see, we're used to things like that where you do something and you get something.

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 You give something and you receive something.

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 So, every month, the Free Church of Scotland generously puts money into my bank account.

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 But that's not grace.

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 That's my salary.

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 I do something in return for my salary.

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 So, when it comes to illustrating grace, it's really difficult because all of the illustrations that we might think of don't really capture it.

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 You see, when we think about God and his nature, he is so different than we are.

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 You see, God, for example, is inexhaustible.

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 You know, you and I, we expend energy and we get tired.

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 God expends energy and he never gets tired.

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 God's resources are inexhaustible.

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 You see, if I give you 10 pounds, you're 10 pounds richer, but I'm 10 pounds poorer.

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 God expends resources, but he's never impoverished.

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 I can't explain that.

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 I can tell you that it's true, but I can't explain it how it's true.

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 Because every idea that I have is that if you give something, that means you no longer have it.

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 Whereas God gives and gives and gives and never has less.

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 God works and works and works and is never tired.

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 And we come to this text.

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 And before we get to the two texts that I've highlighted, let me just give you a little bit of the flavor or a little bit of the context.

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 Because the context is quite remarkable.

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 You see, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth.

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 And the church in Corinth has a lot going for it.

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 It's in a strategic place.

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 It's in a place where there's a kind of a crossroads, a trading crossroads.

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 It's quite a prosperous city.

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 And it's also a place where the gospel shines brightly.

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 Because the spirit of the age and the culture is so contrary to the gospel.

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 It's a place where immorality is high.

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 It's a place where spiritual light seems to be in short supply.

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 And yet the gospel takes root in Corinth.

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 It's kind of like that song of New York.

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 If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.

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 If the gospel can take root in Corinth, it just can take root absolutely anywhere.

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 But you see, the Corinthians, they may have had resources.

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 They were, generally speaking, a more affluent church than some others.

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 But you see, these were the kind of folks that would quickly make promises but not fulfill them.

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 They would make commitments quickly but find it difficult to keep those commitments.

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 And Paul, in chapter 8, at the beginning, he says,

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 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

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 Grace.

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 Undeserved favor.

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 Unmerited love.

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 Again, it takes several words to describe this one word.

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 The grace that God has given.

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 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

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 Paul says, let me tell you a story.

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 Let me tell you a true story.

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 They're the most interesting ones.

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 Let me tell you a story, Corinthian Christians.

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 Let me tell you about a poor group of people who, by the grace of God, became generous.

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 And you think, that doesn't really make sense.

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 Poor people don't have stuff.

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 So therefore, poor people can't give stuff.

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 Well, yes and no.

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 Humanly speaking, yes.

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 But when God enters a situation, God has a way of doing impossible things in impossible situations.

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 And God has a way of transforming people.

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 He says, for I testify that they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability entirely on their own.

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 So Paul is teaching a lesson about giving.

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 That's the practical lesson here.

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 But he's teaching an even more profound lesson about grace.

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 This is what the grace of Jesus looks like.

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 And that's where he brings his argument to its kind of crescendo in verse 9.

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 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 You see, Jesus Christ is full of grace.

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 Full of grace and truth.

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 As we heard this morning in John chapter 1, verse 17.

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 He is full of grace.

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 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 That though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.

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 The apostle Paul never gave us an account of the birth of Jesus.

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 We see that in Matthew.

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 And we see that in Luke.

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 So we don't have the Bethlehem story captured for us by Paul.

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 And yet we do have Paul here reflecting on the reality of the incarnation.

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 God is in heaven.

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 And now God in the person of Jesus Christ comes down.

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 And he dwells on earth.

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 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 That though he was rich.

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 Rich in glory.

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 Rich in heaven.

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 Right hand of the majesty on high.

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 All power.

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 All authority.

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 All wisdom.

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 All honor.

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 Was his.

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 By right.

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 But what did he do?

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 For your sake he became poor.

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 So the grace of Jesus is the rich one becomes poor.

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 Why?

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 So that the poor ones become rich.

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 So that through his poverty you might become rich.

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 This is what the gospel of Jesus looks like.

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 The one with all power.

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 With all authority.

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 The one with all majesty.

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 With all might.

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 With all glory.

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 And with all honor.

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 Takes a position.

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 A humble place.

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 You see that's why Jesus often preached that theme.

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 Remember?

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 He says those who humble themselves will be exalted.

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 And those who exalt themselves will be humbled.

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 You see Jesus practices what he preaches perfectly.

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 Every other preacher is inconsistent.

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 But this preacher is perfectly consistent.

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 He preaches about humility.

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 Being humble.

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 And he does exactly that.

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 He takes a position of humility.

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 Why?

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 So that others might be exalted.

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 Others might be raised.

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 He comes down so that we can go up.

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 And you see this is why it's so difficult to illustrate.

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 Because this is not the way things are.

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 This is not the way we tend to think of things.

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 We kind of love those rags to riches stories.

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 Poverty.

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 Difficulty.

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 Challenge.

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 So the man or the woman is in these difficult situations.

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 And all of a sudden they persevere.

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 They get an education.

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 They find an idea.

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 They start a business.

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 And all of a sudden they once were in the slums.

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 They're now in the palace.

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 But the gospel is the exact opposite.

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 This is not a story of upward mobility.

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 This is a story of downward mobility.

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 But it's deliberate.

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 That he becomes poor.

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 So that we as a people might become rich.

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 So you see when Paul is teaching a lesson.

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 He's teaching a lesson.

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 A theological lesson.

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 With a practical outcome.

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 And the foundation is none other than Jesus.

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 So you see when we want to know what it looks like to live the Christian life.

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 We look to him.

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 He's our example.

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 He's our motivation.

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 He's the foundation.

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 He is the object of our desire as a pupil.

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 He's the teacher.

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 We're the pupils.

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 We want to look more and more like him.

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 He took a humble place.

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 Why?

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 Because he had a care for others.

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 And what he did, he did uniquely.

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 We can't repeat that.

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 And yet there's a model here.

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 He becomes a model for Christian living.

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 He becomes a model of Christian discipleship.

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 Jesus became poor.

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 So that the poor could become rich.

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 So the Macedonian Christians are poor.

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 For example, Philippi is a city in Macedon.

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 If you know your ancient history, Philip of Macedon.

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 The father of Alexander the Great.

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 So a lot of cities are named after Philip.

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 And at the end of chapter 4 in Philippians, Paul said this.

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 He said,

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 It was good of you to share in my troubles.

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 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel,

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 when I set out from Macedonia, Macedonian church,

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 not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only.

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 For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.

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 Not that I desire your gifts.

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 What I desire is more be credited to your account.

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 Strange, isn't it?

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 The Macedonian churches gave to Paul.

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 That means they had less.

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 And Paul says,

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 Actually, no.

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 That means you have more.

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 You know, I used to be an accountant.

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 Most ministers,

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 Alec MacDonald accepted,

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 most ministers become ministers because they're not able to do much else.

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 Right?

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 So I wasn't that good at accountancy.

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 But I understand debits and I understand credits.

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 Debits is what you don't have.

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 Credits is what you do.

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 And Paul is saying,

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 What you've given,

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 which is a debit,

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 is actually now a credit.

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 So you see,

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 there's an economy here of grace,

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 which is difficult to explain

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 because it goes against standard accounting procedure.

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 He says,

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 Not that I desire,

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 but what I desire is that more be credited to your account.

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 I have received full payment

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 and have more than enough.

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 I am amply supplied

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 now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.

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 They are a fragrant offering,

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 an acceptable sacrifice,

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 pleasing to God.

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 And my God will meet all your needs

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 according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

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 So Paul says,

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 I want to say thank you.

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 Thank you for your generosity.

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 Thank you for your gifts.

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 But these gifts actually are a credit to you.

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 And they're a credit in that now,

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 you can write a check

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 against the bank of Jesus Christ.

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 And you see,

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 the bank of Jesus Christ has an infinite balance.

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 It never decreases.

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 It's never at risk.

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 Economic crisis,

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 tariffs of one sort or another,

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 there's no danger here.

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 So Paul says,

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 I want to thank you for your generosity.

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:54.019
 Not that I needed it,

00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:58.419
 but your generosity actually now becomes a credit to your account.

00:15:59.220 --> 00:15:59.720
 And he says,

00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:02.460
 my God will meet all your needs

00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:05.539
 according to the riches of glory in Christ Jesus.

00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:08.379
 I wasn't able to get there yesterday,

00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:11.320
 but yesterday was an open day at the Leith Church,

00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:12.620
 the new Hope Church,

00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:13.159
 Leith,

00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:14.360
 Castle Bank Street.

00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:18.399
 Derek and Katrina are the oldest church planters

00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:20.240
 in the free church in their 60s.

00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:25.299
 And it was an open day to see this newly refurbished church.

00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:26.019
 It's light,

00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:26.840
 it's bright,

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:28.100
 it looks new,

00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:29.379
 it's exciting.

00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:31.800
 But one thing I'm often reminded of

00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:33.080
 when I'm in Derek's company

00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:36.120
 is that Derek often repeats this phrase.

00:16:36.660 --> 00:16:37.040
 He says,

00:16:37.180 --> 00:16:39.700
 God is no man's debtor.

00:16:40.580 --> 00:16:43.720
 God has a way of giving back

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:47.620
 in a way that is completely out of proportion

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:50.220
 to whatever might be given.

00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:54.639
 Spurgeon captured this 150 years ago.

00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.639
 He said,

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:57.740
 in all my years of service to my Lord,

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:59.220
 I have discovered a truth

00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:00.819
 that has never failed

00:17:00.819 --> 00:17:02.779
 and has never been compromised.

00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:06.440
 That truth is that it is beyond the realm of possibilities

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:09.539
 that one has the ability to outgive God.

00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:12.839
 Even if I give the whole of my worth to him,

00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:15.680
 he will find a way to give back to me

00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:17.700
 much more than I gave.

00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.259
 So grace,

00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:21.579
 the economy of grace,

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.980
 the accountancy of grace,

00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:26.720
 grace doesn't seem to make sense,

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:29.740
 doesn't seem to fit with our understanding

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:31.059
 of credits and debits.

00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:33.019
 But God has a way

00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:36.420
 of taking whatever might be given

00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:39.299
 and multiplying it to the giver.

00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:40.819
 Not just to the receiver,

00:17:41.360 --> 00:17:42.059
 but to the giver.

00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.079
 So you see,

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:45.019
 if we grasp the gospel,

00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:47.299
 the incarnation of Jesus

00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:48.880
 is the rich one became poor.

00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.279
 Why?

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:51.379
 So that the poor ones might become rich.

00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:53.859
 He in heaven now dwells on earth,

00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:56.980
 lives a life characterized by poverty.

00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.619
 He had nowhere to lay his head.

00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:00.079
 Almost immediately,

00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.539
 he was a political refugee.

00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:03.839
 He was fleeing with his family.

00:18:04.399 --> 00:18:05.339
 They had to go to Egypt

00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:06.460
 because it was dangerous

00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:08.440
 to stay in Judea.

00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:10.680
 So the one who had everything

00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:11.700
 had nothing

00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:13.279
 in order that we,

00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:14.559
 spiritually speaking,

00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.740
 who have nothing

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:17.279
 might have everything.

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:20.200
 So the grace of Jesus Christ

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.700
 is the foundation

00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:24.360
 for all generosity,

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.440
 all giving,

00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:27.460
 all Christian service.

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:29.299
 He is the model.

00:18:29.820 --> 00:18:31.460
 He is the exemplar.

00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:34.180
 He is the goal of,

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:37.559
 or he is the object

00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:39.400
 of our focus here.

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.980
 But in the next chapter,

00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:45.000
 Paul goes on to describe

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:48.000
 not just the grace of Jesus Christ,

00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:49.700
 but the grace of the people

00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:51.000
 of Jesus Christ.

00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:53.180
 You see this in verse eight.

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.920
 And God is able

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:56.200
 to bless you abundantly

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:59.059
 or to make all grace abound

00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:00.899
 so that in all things

00:19:00.899 --> 00:19:01.639
 at all times,

00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:03.000
 having all that you need,

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:03.819
 you will abound

00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:04.899
 in every good work.

00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:07.359
 There are five alls there.

00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:09.379
 Five everys there.

00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:11.139
 This is Paul saying

00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:12.700
 to the people of Corinth,

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:15.980
 if you think that giving

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:17.679
 makes you poorer,

00:19:18.159 --> 00:19:20.799
 if you think that expending resources

00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.500
 impoverishes you,

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.399
 Paul says,

00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.460
 I want to tell you

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.460
 something different.

00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:27.339
 When you give,

00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:28.159
 you receive.

00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:29.820
 And when you give,

00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:31.540
 you receive in such a way

00:19:31.540 --> 00:19:33.200
 as to make the giving

00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:35.620
 completely out of proportion.

00:19:37.320 --> 00:19:38.200
 Billy Graham,

00:19:38.320 --> 00:19:39.620
 the American evangelist,

00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:40.440
 put it this way.

00:19:41.320 --> 00:19:41.600
 He said,

00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:43.600
 God has given us two hands.

00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:45.640
 One is the hand

00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:46.460
 that we receive

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.279
 and the other

00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.700
 is the hand that we give.

00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:50.840
 The gospel is a gift

00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:52.540
 that must first be received.

00:19:52.800 --> 00:19:54.279
 And we receive the gift

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:56.400
 of God by faith,

00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:57.600
 with gratitude

00:19:57.600 --> 00:19:58.759
 and with thanksgiving.

00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:00.840
 And we then give

00:20:00.840 --> 00:20:02.040
 with the other hand.

00:20:02.560 --> 00:20:02.900
 He says,

00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:04.400
 we are not cisterns

00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.840
 made for hoarding,

00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:07.280
 but we are channels

00:20:07.280 --> 00:20:08.140
 meant for sharing.

00:20:08.820 --> 00:20:09.800
 And that's the argument

00:20:09.800 --> 00:20:11.040
 that Paul is making here.

00:20:11.540 --> 00:20:12.019
 He says,

00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:12.759
 here's the grace

00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.759
 of Jesus Christ

00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:15.380
 and here's the grace

00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:16.660
 of Jesus' people.

00:20:17.040 --> 00:20:19.019
 And it's the same measure.

00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:20.319
 The poor,

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:22.359
 the rich one becomes poor,

00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:23.660
 the poor become rich,

00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:25.740
 and those that give

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.059
 have a blessing

00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:28.180
 and have abundance

00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:29.660
 that's completely

00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:31.279
 out of proportion

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:33.599
 to what they themselves

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.359
 have given.

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.379
 John Wesley

00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:37.579
 kind of paraphrased

00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.339
 this verse.

00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:39.279
 He says,

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.799
 do all the good you can,

00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:42.660
 by all the means you can,

00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:44.019
 in all the ways you can,

00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:46.039
 in all the places you can,

00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:48.399
 at all the times you can,

00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:50.579
 to all the people you can,

00:20:50.659 --> 00:20:53.079
 as long as ever you can.

00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:55.779
 All grace abounds

00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:58.740
 so that all things,

00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.899
 all times,

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.779
 having all that you need,

00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:03.279
 you will abound

00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.740
 in every good work.

00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:06.220
 You see,

00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:07.259
 as followers

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.779
 of Martin Luther

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:10.720
 and the Protestant Reformation,

00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:12.819
 when we look at the phrase

00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.779
 good work,

00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.480
 we are often inclined

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.039
 to say,

00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:18.000
 good works do not save.

00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:19.360
 And that's true.

00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:21.259
 And the Bible makes it

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.299
 quite clear

00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:23.640
 that good works

00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:24.819
 do not save us.

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.579
 We are not saved

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.460
 by what we do,

00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.079
 we are saved

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.299
 by what Jesus does.

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:31.500
 But most of the time

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.940
 that we see this phrase

00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:33.740
 good work,

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.160
 it's not negative,

00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:37.480
 as in this doesn't save,

00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:39.539
 but it's seen positively

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.980
 as this is what

00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:42.299
 the outcome of

00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:44.099
 a saved life looks like.

00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.240
 Good work.

00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:46.160
 kindness,

00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:47.480
 generosity,

00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.640
 thoughtfulness,

00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.400
 care,

00:21:49.860 --> 00:21:50.440
 compassion,

00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:52.240
 not to be saved,

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.579
 but because we are

00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.920
 already saved.

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.099
 We have already

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:57.519
 been set free.

00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.720
 So the grace

00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.819
 of Jesus Christ

00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:02.960
 prompts gratitude

00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:04.819
 and generosity

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.400
 in the people

00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:07.660
 of Jesus Christ.

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:09.400
 John Wesley

00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:11.160
 practiced what he preached.

00:22:11.820 --> 00:22:12.440
 He once said,

00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:13.279
 it's not how much

00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:14.019
 of my money

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:15.140
 will I give to God,

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:15.759
 but how much

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.600
 of God's money

00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:17.259
 will I keep

00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.060
 for myself?

00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:20.340
 Through his writings

00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:22.460
 and through his sermons,

00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:24.440
 it was big business

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:24.720
 then.

00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:25.420
 These,

00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:27.680
 George Whitefield,

00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.720
 John Wesley,

00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:29.840
 Latterley,

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:30.560
 D.L.

00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:30.860
 Moody,

00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:31.740
 Sankey,

00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:34.519
 publishers

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.980
 made a lot

00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:36.460
 of money

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.259
 by publishing

00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:38.059
 reminiscences,

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.000
 biographies,

00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:40.279
 autobiographies,

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.519
 and it was

00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.440
 estimated that

00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.200
 during his life

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.920
 Wesley earned

00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:45.339
 30,000 pounds

00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:47.120
 through his writings,

00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.779
 which exceeds

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:50.279
 five million pounds

00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:50.799
 today.

00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:52.640
 And when he died,

00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:55.359
 the only possessions

00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:56.220
 he had,

00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.880
 he had a few coins

00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:58.660
 in his pocket

00:22:58.660 --> 00:23:00.040
 and a few coins

00:23:00.040 --> 00:23:00.900
 on his dresser.

00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:02.940
 So he gave away

00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:04.860
 all that he ever earned.

00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:06.000
 He gave away

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.380
 all that he ever received.

00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:09.060
 He lived on approximately

00:23:09.060 --> 00:23:10.460
 30 pounds a week,

00:23:10.820 --> 00:23:12.040
 having earned

00:23:12.040 --> 00:23:13.080
 30,000

00:23:13.080 --> 00:23:14.460
 during the course

00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.300
 of his life.

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:18.140
 Do all the good

00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:18.800
 you can.

00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:20.500
 You see,

00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:23.340
 as I stand here today,

00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:24.519
 I'm very much aware

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:26.120
 of the passage of time.

00:23:26.860 --> 00:23:27.720
 Came to this country

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.500
 at age 23,

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.500
 I'm now 58.

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.559
 If I live

00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:33.920
 another 35 years,

00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:35.900
 I would be 83.

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:38.160
 That may or may not happen,

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.200
 but time just goes

00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:40.259
 so quickly.

00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.619
 The opportunities

00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.400
 that we have

00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.079
 for service,

00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:43.859
 the opportunities

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:44.519
 that we have

00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.019
 for witness,

00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:46.079
 the opportunities

00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:46.940
 that we have

00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.160
 to demonstrate

00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:48.920
 the goodness

00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:49.559
 and grace

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.700
 that we have received

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:52.799
 quickly pass away.

00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.039
 You see,

00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:55.000
 it's not so much

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.079
 what we receive

00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:57.480
 or what we have

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.519
 at the end of the day,

00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:00.439
 but what have we done

00:24:00.439 --> 00:24:01.579
 with what we've received?

00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:03.119
 What have we done

00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:03.899
 with the gifts?

00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:05.159
 What have we done

00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:05.960
 with the talents?

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:07.019
 What have we done

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:07.859
 with the time?

00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:09.039
 what have we done

00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:10.139
 with our resources?

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.939
 It so happened

00:24:11.939 --> 00:24:13.379
 that the Corinthian church

00:24:13.379 --> 00:24:14.279
 was blessed

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.819
 in terms of

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:18.339
 practical or financial resources.

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:20.299
 And they had a desire.

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:21.959
 They made that desire

00:24:21.959 --> 00:24:22.899
 known that they wanted

00:24:22.899 --> 00:24:23.639
 to give.

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:25.159
 They were one of the first

00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:26.039
 to sign up

00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:26.859
 for this contribution

00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.259
 for the needs

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.139
 of God's people.

00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:31.440
 Paul had to remind them

00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:32.880
 that the offer

00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:33.840
 was great,

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.940
 but actually

00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.600
 the reality

00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:36.480
 was even better.

00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:38.759
 Offering and doing

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:40.080
 can be two very

00:24:40.080 --> 00:24:41.060
 different things.

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.840
 There's a time coming,

00:24:43.320 --> 00:24:44.460
 as Jesus said,

00:24:44.820 --> 00:24:45.600
 night comes

00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:46.660
 when no one can work.

00:24:47.060 --> 00:24:47.840
 It's still daytime.

00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.240
 We still have time.

00:24:49.320 --> 00:24:50.320
 We still have resources.

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.320
 So the people of God

00:24:52.320 --> 00:24:53.420
 are encouraged

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:54.259
 to serve,

00:24:54.600 --> 00:24:55.400
 to give,

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.800
 to speak.

00:24:57.360 --> 00:24:58.440
 Whatever your gifts,

00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.799
 whatever the talents

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:01.460
 God has instructed you with,

00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:03.080
 he wants you to know

00:25:03.080 --> 00:25:05.080
 that he is able.

00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.720
 Not that you're able,

00:25:06.820 --> 00:25:07.700
 but he's able.

00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:08.620
 You see,

00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.940
 it's all of grace.

00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:11.140
 It's not what we do

00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:11.700
 for God,

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.640
 but it's what God

00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:13.680
 does for us,

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.019
 and then what God

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.880
 does in us,

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.820
 and what God

00:25:16.820 --> 00:25:17.620
 does through us.

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.840
 God is able

00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:20.480
 to bless you abundantly,

00:25:20.580 --> 00:25:22.019
 to make all grace abound,

00:25:22.360 --> 00:25:24.140
 so that in all things,

00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.940
 at all times,

00:25:26.380 --> 00:25:28.059
 having all that you need,

00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:30.000
 you will abound

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:32.019
 in every good work.

00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.659
 We live in an age

00:25:33.659 --> 00:25:34.599
 of skepticism.

00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:35.859
 We live in an age

00:25:35.859 --> 00:25:36.539
 of doubt.

00:25:37.159 --> 00:25:38.500
 People are not certain

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:39.200
 that the Bible

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.200
 is the word of God.

00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:41.519
 People are not necessarily

00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.720
 all that interested

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.379
 in who Jesus is

00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:45.579
 or what Jesus did,

00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.519
 whether he was

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.440
 a real person,

00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:48.879
 whether the actions

00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:49.899
 or the miracles

00:25:49.899 --> 00:25:50.799
 were genuine,

00:25:51.399 --> 00:25:52.399
 but something

00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:53.279
 is powerful,

00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:55.079
 and I think today,

00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:55.919
 more than ever,

00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:57.740
 when people see

00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.759
 lives that have

00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.740
 been changed,

00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:00.960
 hearts that have

00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.980
 been transformed,

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.600
 priorities that have

00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:05.300
 been turned upside down,

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:07.500
 they cannot but help

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:09.680
 seeing the reality

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.759
 of the gospel

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:12.120
 in the lives

00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:13.360
 of the people of God.

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.680
 By all means,

00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.560
 we invite people

00:26:15.560 --> 00:26:16.300
 to come to church,

00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.120
 we invite people

00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:18.000
 to come to Christianity

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.700
 Explored,

00:26:19.080 --> 00:26:19.980
 but I think the great

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:21.259
 challenge and the great

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.880
 opportunity that we have

00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:24.940
 is wherever we go,

00:26:25.520 --> 00:26:26.420
 where you work,

00:26:26.540 --> 00:26:27.240
 where you study,

00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:27.940
 where you live,

00:26:28.020 --> 00:26:29.600
 wherever God places you,

00:26:30.020 --> 00:26:31.480
 that we bring the gospel

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:32.260
 with us.

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:33.740
 We bring the gospel

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.800
 with us in word,

00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.380
 and we bring the gospel

00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:37.780
 with us in action.

00:26:38.600 --> 00:26:39.500
 Words are important.

00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:41.120
 God loves you.

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:43.380
 Jesus Christ died

00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:44.520
 to forgive sin.

00:26:45.320 --> 00:26:46.780
 Jesus came into this world

00:26:46.780 --> 00:26:47.620
 to seek and to save

00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:47.980
 the lost.

00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:48.800
 These words are

00:26:48.800 --> 00:26:49.720
 incredibly important,

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:51.380
 but when those words

00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:52.059
 are accompanied

00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:52.940
 with action,

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.319
 when those words

00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.360
 are demonstrated

00:26:55.360 --> 00:26:56.559
 by the quality

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.400
 of a life

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:59.480
 changed and transformed,

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.259
 watch out.

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.980
 Watch out what God

00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.680
 can do.

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:05.259
 Watch out how God

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.259
 can use you.

00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.460
 You might think

00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.660
 that your gifts are few.

00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.819
 You might think

00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.740
 that your resources

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.299
 are limited.

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.539
 You might think

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:14.140
 that your talents

00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.140
 are not many,

00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:17.420
 but when God works

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.059
 in you,

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:19.819
 by his grace,

00:27:20.179 --> 00:27:21.779
 he works through you

00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:23.379
 by that same grace

00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:24.879
 and by that same power,

00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:26.319
 and he can use

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.720
 the small gifts

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:29.119
 with which we have

00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:29.859
 been entrusted

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:31.220
 to demonstrate

00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.599
 his great power,

00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.980
 his great mercy,

00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:36.740
 his great capacity.

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:39.460
 We can take

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.339
 the opportunity

00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:41.240
 that we have.

00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.679
 Each one of us

00:27:42.679 --> 00:27:43.740
 has opportunities

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.859
 that are unique.

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.599
 Opportunities to speak,

00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:48.119
 opportunities to serve,

00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:49.119
 and opportunities

00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:50.079
 to give.

00:27:50.959 --> 00:27:51.740
 And when we take

00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:53.000
 God at his word,

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.959
 we have every guarantee

00:27:54.959 --> 00:27:56.159
 that he indeed

00:27:56.159 --> 00:27:56.839
 is able

00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.879
 to make

00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:59.219
 all grace

00:27:59.219 --> 00:27:59.919
 abound.

00:28:00.699 --> 00:28:00.899
 He,

00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.219
 when he says,

00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:03.579
 when Paul says,

00:28:03.659 --> 00:28:04.639
 my God will meet

00:28:04.639 --> 00:28:05.639
 all your needs

00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.819
 according to the riches

00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:08.079
 of his glory

00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.799
 in Christ.

00:28:09.439 --> 00:28:10.639
 Whatever your need,

00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:12.159
 whatever your lack,

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.879
 whatever you are

00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:14.579
 requiring,

00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.679
 God is able

00:28:15.679 --> 00:28:16.599
 to provide,

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.639
 and God is able

00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:20.139
 to work in such a way

00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:21.639
 that it's beyond

00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.439
 illustration.

00:28:23.139 --> 00:28:24.480
 It's not what you can do,

00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.659
 it's not what you can,

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:26.480
 how you,

00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.279
 God gives

00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.119
 and you give back,

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.659
 it's not like that.

00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.439
 It's the grace of God

00:28:31.439 --> 00:28:32.480
 at work in the hearts

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.000
 of people

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.980
 that multiply

00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:35.299
 the work.

00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.919
 Whatever we might

00:28:36.919 --> 00:28:38.419
 give in his service

00:28:38.419 --> 00:28:39.319
 is so small,

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:41.099
 but he can multiply

00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:42.240
 those small gifts,

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:43.500
 he can multiply

00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.259
 those words

00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.240
 in such a way

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:46.460
 to demonstrate

00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.420
 his power

00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:48.660
 and his grace

00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:49.460
 and his glory.

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.900
 If we take him

00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.839
 at his word,

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.819
 the grace of Jesus Christ

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:55.120
 and the grace

00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:55.859
 of the people

00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.880
 of Jesus Christ,

00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:58.380
 you put those together

00:28:58.380 --> 00:28:59.819
 and watch

00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.720
 and wait

00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:02.039
 to see what God

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:03.079
 can do in us

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.000
 and what God

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.120
 can do through us

00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:06.380
 because I'm convinced

00:29:06.380 --> 00:29:07.620
 that we are here

00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:09.019
 in this place

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:10.259
 at this time

00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.779
 for a reason.

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.200
 Just as there were

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.259
 believers in Corinth

00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:16.799
 in the first century A.D.,

00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:18.200
 an unlikely place

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:20.240
 for an unlikely setting,

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.759
 the people of God

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.799
 were gathered there.

00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.079
 Paul wanted

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.339
 to encourage them

00:29:25.339 --> 00:29:26.859
 to practice

00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:27.839
 the generosity

00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:29.299
 of grace,

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.759
 the grace received,

00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.680
 the grace given,

00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:32.839
 to demonstrate

00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.720
 the reality

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.960
 of Jesus in Corinth.

00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:36.579
 Let's demonstrate

00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:38.039
 the reality of Jesus

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:39.180
 on the south side

00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:39.700
 of Edinburgh,

00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:41.060
 in this city,

00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:42.539
 among these people,

00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:43.799
 a people skeptical,

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:45.140
 a people who doubt,

00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:46.400
 a people who do not

00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:47.140
 read the Bible

00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:49.060
 but who see us

00:29:49.060 --> 00:29:50.480
 as the people of Jesus.

00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:52.820
 Let us be credible witnesses

00:29:52.820 --> 00:29:54.720
 to the grace of God,

00:29:55.080 --> 00:29:56.299
 a grace received

00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:57.799
 and a grace shared

00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:59.560
 and a generous people

00:29:59.560 --> 00:30:00.759
 will be a people

00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.420
 that will know

00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:02.620
 the blessing of God

00:30:02.620 --> 00:30:04.900
 and whatever might be expended

00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:06.440
 will be returned

00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.480
 manyfold.

00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.839
 that's the grace

00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:09.839
 of Jesus Christ

00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:11.120
 and that's the power

00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:11.860
 of the gospel

00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:13.599
 and may he richly

00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.759
 and abundantly

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:16.000
 bless us

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.099
 and make us

00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.620
 a blessing

00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:19.180
 in the lives of others.

00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:20.339
 Let's pray.

00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:22.180
 Father in heaven,

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:22.900
 we come to you

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.660
 in that precious,

00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:25.240
 powerful name of Jesus.

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.559
 We recognize

00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.799
 that he had everything

00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:29.640
 and he placed himself

00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:30.539
 here on earth.

00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:31.740
 He gave up

00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:33.640
 all of his privilege.

00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:35.100
 He gave up all

00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:36.840
 of his riches

00:30:36.840 --> 00:30:38.620
 in order to make

00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:41.240
 a poor people rich.

00:30:42.040 --> 00:30:42.540
 We thank you

00:30:42.540 --> 00:30:43.660
 that in his humility

00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:45.160
 we have been exalted

00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:47.020
 and he is now exalted

00:30:47.020 --> 00:30:47.860
 to that place

00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:49.000
 of ultimate honor

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.560
 and glory

00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:50.720
 at your right hand

00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.759
 and as we come

00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.680
 to you in his name

00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.759
 we come in the name

00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:55.120
 in that powerful name

00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:55.660
 of Jesus

00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:57.740
 asking that you might do

00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:59.100
 as you have promised

00:30:59.100 --> 00:31:00.860
 that you might make us

00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:02.660
 vessels in your hand

00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:03.840
 that we might be used

00:31:03.840 --> 00:31:04.480
 by you

00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:05.680
 that you might work

00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:07.160
 in us and through us

00:31:07.160 --> 00:31:08.660
 and that the grace

00:31:08.660 --> 00:31:09.200
 of Jesus

00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:10.480
 might be demonstrated

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.259
 in the words

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.000
 that we speak

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.980
 in the lives

00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.680
 that we give

00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:15.000
 and in the actions

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.900
 of our hands

00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:17.340
 that you might indeed

00:31:17.340 --> 00:31:19.240
 make all grace abound

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.340
 and these things

00:31:20.340 --> 00:31:20.840
 we pray

00:31:20.840 --> 00:31:21.860
 in the precious name

00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:22.380
 of Jesus.