WEBVTT

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 How many of you know Ronnie Millsap's song, number one, many years ago, What a Difference

00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:11.320
 You've Made in My Life?

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 Raise your hand.

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 Most people here.

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 Most people here.

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 He recorded that song to be what most people would call a secular song.

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 What a Difference You've Made in My Life.

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 You could sing it or play it for just about anybody who had made a difference in your life.

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 That's probably why it was him.

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 He did a great job with it, but it was such a good song that had a good message.

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 What a Difference You.

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 You could sing it to your spouse.

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 You could sing it to anybody who had made a difference in your life.

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 Well, a few years later, B.J. Thomas recorded that song.

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 It went way up in the chart on gospel stations.

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 And B.J. Thomas sang it as a Christian song.

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 And when he was singing What a Difference You've Made in My Life, everyone knew.

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 He emphasized, he was talking about the difference that Jesus made in his life.

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 That song was written by Archie Jordan.

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 Archie's a Christian, but he's not really what you would call a writer of Christian songs.

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 He wrote that song because of something that happened at a small group Bible study he attended.

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 He tells the story.

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 You can look it up.

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 He was at a Bible study with his wife.

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 And the man was there who gave his testimony.

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 And the man's testimony was that not too many years before that,

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 he had everything in life that a person could desire.

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 He had a beautiful wife and just a great family.

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 He had a dream job.

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 And he made a lot of money.

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 But he couldn't handle the success.

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 And he started drinking a lot.

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 He started using recreational drugs.

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 And before he knew it,

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 he lost his wife and children.

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 He lost his job.

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 He went through all of his money.

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 He was broke.

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 And in that Bible study with that small group,

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 he said,

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 it took me losing everything

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 to come to the place in my life

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 where I knew I needed a relationship with Christ.

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 And the last thing he said in giving his testimony was,

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 what a difference Jesus has made in my life.

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 Well, Archie Jordan,

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 he was moved by that story.

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 He couldn't get it off his mind.

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 And the next morning,

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 he got up and he wrote

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 or started writing the song,

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 what a difference you've made in my life.

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 And he was writing about

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 the difference Jesus makes

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 in people's life.

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 Now,

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 I want us to apply this personally.

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 There's two lines from that song

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 I'm going to put on the screen.

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 The title of it,

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 what a difference you've made in my life.

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 And then,

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 what a change you have made in my heart.

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 Could you sing that song?

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 Maybe not out loud,

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 but could you sing that song

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 as it was originally intended

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 to describe the difference

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 that Jesus has and is making in your life?

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 Could you recite those words

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 and mean it this morning?

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 Just talking about Jesus.

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 What a change you have

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 and are making in my life.

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 Can you sing that song

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 and mean it

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 because it's your testimony?

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 Last Sunday,

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 we celebrated the most important event

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 that has ever taken place in history,

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 the resurrection

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 of the Son of God,

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 Jesus Christ.

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 We looked at some of the details

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 about the resurrection

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 in 1 Corinthians chapter 15,

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 and I want you to turn back with me

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 to that chapter today

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 and look at the last verse

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 with me in a moment.

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 But I want to quickly summarize

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 one of the main points

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 of last week's message like this.

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 The resurrection of Christ

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 should comfort us

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 as we face death.

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 The resurrection should give

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 every Christian comfort

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 as we think about

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 our own death.

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 Death will not be

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 the final winner

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 in any believer's life.

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 Paul says in verse 54,

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 death is swallowed up

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 in victory.

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 That describes how

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 Christ won the victory

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 over death

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 by his resurrection.

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 If you have a real relationship

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 with Christ,

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 you should not fear death.

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 His resurrection guarantees yours.

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 We will die,

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 but the Lord will give us

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 a new body one day.

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 We'll live eternally

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 with him one day.

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 The death and resurrection

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 of Jesus has removed

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 what Paul called

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 the sting from death.

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 Look at the statement

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 he made about that

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 in verse 55.

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 It's as if he is

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 taunting death

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 after the resurrection.

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 He says,

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 oh death,

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 where is your victory?

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 Oh death,

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 where is your sting?

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 If we are truly Christians,

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 death is like a yellow jacket

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 without a stinger.

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 We may not like it.

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 I'd still spray that sucker

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 with spectricide,

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 wasp and hornet killer.

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 But it couldn't hurt us

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 without a stinger.

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 Christ has removed

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 the sting of death.

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 So we need to think

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 of death today.

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 It's not something you,

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 you know,

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 you get excited about,

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 but we should think of death

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 not with fear,

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 but with confidence.

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 It's just going to be

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 the process we go through

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 to get from this life

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 into the presence of Jesus

00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:05.340
 in paradise

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 where we'll live forever.

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 The resurrection of Christ

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 means that we should not

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 fear death.

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 Our sins are forgiven.

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 We are children of God.

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 We have eternal life.

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 And that is so very important,

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 isn't it?

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 But it's not everything.

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 The resurrection means more

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 than that.

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 It means something about

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 the way we live,

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 as Michael so beautifully

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 sang a moment ago.

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 I want you to look

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 in verse 58 now

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 and see that the resurrection

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 of Christ

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 should make a difference

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 in how we live today.

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 The resurrection

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 that so many people

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 came here

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 and went to churches

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 last week

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 to celebrate,

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 as important as it is,

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 it's not everything.

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 It should make a difference

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 in the way that you

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 and I live each day.

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 I want you to look

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 at verse 58.

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 Therefore,

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 my beloved brothers,

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 be steadfast,

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 immovable,

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 always abounding

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 in the work of the Lord,

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 knowing that in the Lord

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 your labor is not in vain.

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 The word therefore,

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 you know that's

00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:23.039
 an important word

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 in anything you read.

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 It's recalling

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 what has just been said

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 and in some ways

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 going to apply it

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 or elaborate on it

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 in the words that follow.

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 That's what Paul does.

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 It calls us to recall

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 what has just been said

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 about the Lord's victory,

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 his triumph

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 over death

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 and sin.

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 We certainly need

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 to remember

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 what the Lord

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 has done for us

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 but not stop there.

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 We need to think about

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 what the Lord

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 has done for us.

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 He loved us so much

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 that he gave his life.

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 That it motivates us

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 to live now

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 in a way

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 that demonstrates

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 our love for him

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 and our gratitude

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 to him

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 for what he's done

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 for us.

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 Paul points out

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 some of the ways

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 we can and should

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 do that

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 in the rest of this verse.

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 He uses three words

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 to describe

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 how we need to live.

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 Look at them.

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 Be steadfast,

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 be immovable,

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 abound in the work

00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:23.659
 of the Lord.

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 Look at the first two first.

00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:26.559
 They sort of go together.

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 Steadfast means

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 to be steady

00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:30.199
 as you move forward.

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 Keep on going.

00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:34.459
 Don't quit.

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 Don't stop and start.

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 Start and stop.

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 Steadfast.

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 Firm.

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 Strong.

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 Moving.

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 And then the word

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 immovable is similar

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 but it's stronger.

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 He's talking about

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 standing strong

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 and not being moved

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 like a tree

00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:58.719
 that has deep roots

00:09:58.719 --> 00:10:00.000
 that go way down

00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:00.860
 and hold it

00:10:00.860 --> 00:10:02.939
 strong and secure

00:10:02.939 --> 00:10:06.079
 in the bad winds

00:10:06.079 --> 00:10:06.679
 that come.

00:10:07.719 --> 00:10:09.039
 Never gets blown down.

00:10:10.740 --> 00:10:12.019
 That's what he tells us.

00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:12.919
 This is how

00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:13.679
 we should live

00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:14.199
 as Christians.

00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:15.100
 We should be people

00:10:15.100 --> 00:10:16.179
 who are steadfast.

00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:18.480
 We're not up and down,

00:10:18.839 --> 00:10:19.699
 on and off

00:10:19.700 --> 00:10:21.220
 as living the Christian life

00:10:21.220 --> 00:10:23.000
 and we don't let things

00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:25.000
 just sway us

00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:28.160
 the winds of adversity

00:10:28.160 --> 00:10:30.720
 that we all have to experience.

00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:31.759
 You know,

00:10:31.780 --> 00:10:32.700
 these two words

00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:34.220
 recalls what Paul said

00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:37.460
 in the same chapter

00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:38.340
 verses one and two.

00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:39.460
 If you've got your Bible

00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:40.740
 open to 1 Corinthians 15,

00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:42.080
 look up verses one and two.

00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:43.680
 It'll be on the screen as well.

00:10:43.680 --> 00:10:45.080
 He says,

00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:47.200
 Now I would remind you,

00:10:47.340 --> 00:10:47.560
 brothers,

00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:48.600
 of the gospel

00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:49.600
 I preached to you,

00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:51.580
 which you received,

00:10:52.060 --> 00:10:53.639
 in which you stand,

00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:56.080
 and by which you are

00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:57.280
 being saved,

00:10:58.220 --> 00:11:02.060
 if you hold fast

00:11:02.060 --> 00:11:03.460
 to the word

00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:04.580
 I preached to you.

00:11:05.580 --> 00:11:07.460
 Unless you believed in vain,

00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:09.220
 it's possible

00:11:09.220 --> 00:11:10.120
 to believe in vain.

00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:12.940
 You know,

00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:13.799
 there's a lot of people

00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:15.960
 who make a profession

00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:16.659
 of faith,

00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:19.220
 even become baptized.

00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:21.919
 They just don't

00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:24.639
 continue in the faith.

00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:26.639
 They don't

00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:29.060
 act like anything happened

00:11:29.060 --> 00:11:30.639
 and what Paul is saying here,

00:11:30.740 --> 00:11:31.340
 nothing did.

00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:32.220
 It was

00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:33.600
 in vain.

00:11:35.680 --> 00:11:36.060
 We're,

00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:37.860
 we are as Christians.

00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:40.759
 We are to hold

00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:41.480
 to the truth

00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:42.379
 of God's word,

00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:43.539
 especially the truth

00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:44.220
 of the gospel,

00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:45.740
 firmly.

00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:49.300
 The reason he says that

00:11:49.300 --> 00:11:49.759
 is because

00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.159
 some people don't.

00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:53.419
 We're all tempted

00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:54.259
 not to,

00:11:55.560 --> 00:11:56.539
 but we all know people

00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:57.560
 who started out like

00:11:57.560 --> 00:11:59.419
 what I just described

00:11:59.419 --> 00:11:59.980
 a moment ago.

00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:02.340
 We all know people,

00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:03.420
 maybe it's people

00:12:03.420 --> 00:12:04.279
 you grew up with,

00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:05.159
 went to church with,

00:12:05.580 --> 00:12:06.639
 were baptized with,

00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:07.720
 went to Sunday school with.

00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:09.820
 Maybe some people

00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:11.060
 that you work with.

00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:13.360
 At one point in their life,

00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:14.720
 they confessed faith.

00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:17.200
 At one point in their life,

00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:18.000
 they would talk about

00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:19.139
 the things of God.

00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:21.519
 But after a period of time,

00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:22.539
 it just seems that

00:12:22.539 --> 00:12:24.539
 they didn't care.

00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:27.100
 They didn't continue

00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:28.419
 because they had no

00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:29.720
 desire to continue.

00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:31.419
 Their life never changed.

00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:33.800
 They appear to have

00:12:33.800 --> 00:12:35.300
 believed in vain,

00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:37.100
 is what we're talking about.

00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:39.560
 We're talking about people

00:12:39.560 --> 00:12:42.460
 who are easily blown over

00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:46.519
 when difficulty comes in life.

00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:48.120
 Now,

00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:51.980
 you're here this morning

00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:54.899
 if you say,

00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:56.419
 I'm a firm believer.

00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:58.139
 I've gone through a lot in life

00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:59.580
 and I've never wavered.

00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:00.259
 Good.

00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:02.060
 That's a sign

00:13:02.060 --> 00:13:04.279
 of God's hand on you

00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:05.740
 and you've cooperated with Him.

00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:06.960
 That's good and great,

00:13:07.060 --> 00:13:08.060
 but don't be prideful.

00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:11.960
 All of us

00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:12.980
 are tempted

00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:14.740
 to give up at times

00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:17.080
 and all of us

00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:18.720
 do give in

00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:19.379
 to the temptation

00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:20.820
 at times.

00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:22.200
 All of us,

00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:23.840
 all of us

00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.240
 fail the Lord

00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:27.320
 at times

00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:28.480
 in our lives.

00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:30.519
 and I want you

00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:31.700
 to be honest

00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:32.500
 with God about it,

00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:33.320
 honest with yourself.

00:13:33.680 --> 00:13:34.440
 There are no

00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:35.420
 super saints

00:13:35.420 --> 00:13:36.259
 in this room.

00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:39.279
 There's no one

00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:39.680
 in this room

00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:40.159
 who doesn't know

00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:40.820
 what it's like

00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:41.539
 to be tempted

00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:42.460
 and to give in

00:13:42.460 --> 00:13:43.220
 to that temptation

00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:44.259
 and to fall

00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:45.600
 flat on your face

00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:47.039
 before God

00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.899
 in guilt

00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:49.840
 and shame.

00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:52.920
 Even Peter,

00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:55.019
 the leader

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:56.820
 of the Lord's disciples,

00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:58.100
 the apostle Peter,

00:13:58.620 --> 00:14:00.620
 he failed

00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.340
 the Lord

00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:02.340
 miserably

00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:03.360
 on more than one occasion.

00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:06.460
 But Peter

00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:08.740
 always came back.

00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:11.280
 Sometimes he was down,

00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.300
 but he was never out.

00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:13.600
 That's the sign

00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.360
 of a true Christian.

00:14:16.560 --> 00:14:17.320
 The sign

00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:18.320
 of a true Christian

00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:18.920
 is never

00:14:18.920 --> 00:14:21.040
 they live

00:14:21.040 --> 00:14:22.240
 flawless lives.

00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:23.900
 They never fail.

00:14:24.140 --> 00:14:24.440
 The sign

00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:25.580
 of a true Christian

00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:26.900
 is how they respond

00:14:26.900 --> 00:14:28.900
 after they failed

00:14:28.900 --> 00:14:31.300
 by getting back up.

00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:33.120
 When a true

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:34.000
 child of God

00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:35.160
 falls or stumbles

00:14:35.160 --> 00:14:35.920
 into sin,

00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.400
 sooner or later

00:14:37.400 --> 00:14:37.900
 they're going to be

00:14:37.900 --> 00:14:39.060
 convicted of their sin.

00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:39.700
 They're going to be

00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:41.080
 made aware of it.

00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:41.860
 The Spirit of God

00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:42.620
 living within them

00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.200
 will do that.

00:14:45.280 --> 00:14:45.820
 Understand what

00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:46.440
 we're talking about here.

00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:48.700
 If you're a true Christian,

00:14:51.280 --> 00:14:51.640
 let's say,

00:14:51.780 --> 00:14:52.120
 if we,

00:14:52.160 --> 00:14:52.740
 I don't know what you think,

00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:54.220
 just you,

00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:55.460
 all of us,

00:14:55.560 --> 00:14:56.720
 if we're true Christians,

00:14:57.060 --> 00:14:58.139
 we can fail

00:14:58.139 --> 00:14:58.680
 the Lord

00:14:58.680 --> 00:14:59.580
 miserably.

00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.379
 We can bring

00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:02.720
 shame to ourselves

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.720
 and our families.

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.759
 We can do harm

00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.700
 to the name of Christ

00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:07.500
 by some of the things

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.500
 that we say

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:10.139
 as well as some

00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:10.580
 of the things

00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:11.720
 that we do.

00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:14.600
 But sooner

00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.180
 or later,

00:15:15.180 --> 00:15:16.759
 if the Spirit

00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.120
 of God

00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:17.879
 lives within us,

00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:18.560
 and the Bible says

00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:19.399
 the Spirit of God

00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:20.680
 lives within every Christian,

00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:22.279
 sooner or later,

00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:23.659
 we're going to

00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:24.699
 feel the guilt

00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:26.659
 and the shame.

00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:28.379
 And as children

00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:28.899
 of God

00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.899
 being disciplined

00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:30.539
 by God,

00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:31.139
 we're going to

00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:31.879
 confess it.

00:15:31.979 --> 00:15:32.479
 We're going to say,

00:15:32.599 --> 00:15:33.199
 yes, Lord,

00:15:33.319 --> 00:15:34.120
 it's true.

00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:35.359
 We're going to

00:15:35.359 --> 00:15:36.339
 change our,

00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.079
 we're going to repent

00:15:37.079 --> 00:15:37.279
 of it.

00:15:37.339 --> 00:15:37.839
 We're going to change

00:15:37.839 --> 00:15:38.620
 our mind about it.

00:15:38.659 --> 00:15:39.199
 We're going to turn

00:15:39.199 --> 00:15:39.699
 from it.

00:15:40.699 --> 00:15:41.459
 We're going to come

00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:42.319
 back to Christ

00:15:42.319 --> 00:15:42.959
 in faith,

00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:43.959
 trusting Him

00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:44.839
 that He's paid

00:15:44.839 --> 00:15:45.159
 the penalty

00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.979
 for our sins.

00:15:46.719 --> 00:15:47.759
 We're right with God

00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.599
 through faith in Him.

00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:49.500
 That's what's going

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:49.799
 to happen

00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:50.859
 if you're a true Christian

00:15:50.859 --> 00:15:52.379
 when you fail,

00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.379
 when you fall

00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.319
 into sin

00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:55.399
 sooner or later.

00:15:57.699 --> 00:15:58.500
 That's why,

00:15:58.679 --> 00:15:59.279
 for an example,

00:15:59.579 --> 00:16:00.719
 John describes

00:16:00.719 --> 00:16:01.759
 the importance

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.919
 of Christians

00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:03.659
 admitting

00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:04.839
 and confessing

00:16:04.839 --> 00:16:05.639
 their sins.

00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:07.000
 Look at it

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:08.359
 in 1 John 1

00:16:08.359 --> 00:16:09.439
 verses 8

00:16:09.439 --> 00:16:10.719
 and 9.

00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:11.259
 We've looked

00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:12.179
 at verse 9 a lot.

00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:12.919
 Let's look at verse 8

00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:13.459
 to begin with.

00:16:14.079 --> 00:16:14.559
 If we say

00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:15.419
 we have no sin,

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.519
 we deceive ourselves

00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.000
 and the truth

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.620
 is not in us.

00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:18.439
 Stop for a moment.

00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:20.539
 I know

00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:22.639
 there would be

00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.319
 very few people

00:16:23.319 --> 00:16:23.979
 who could possibly

00:16:23.979 --> 00:16:24.439
 be here

00:16:24.439 --> 00:16:25.479
 who would deny

00:16:25.479 --> 00:16:25.839
 that,

00:16:25.959 --> 00:16:26.740
 but every now

00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:27.099
 and then

00:16:27.099 --> 00:16:28.719
 I have come

00:16:28.719 --> 00:16:29.419
 across a Christian

00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:30.179
 who just really

00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:30.699
 doesn't want

00:16:30.699 --> 00:16:31.479
 to admit,

00:16:31.979 --> 00:16:32.719
 deal with the

00:16:32.719 --> 00:16:33.419
 reality that

00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:34.099
 they sin.

00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:35.740
 It may be

00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.259
 an attitude,

00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:37.679
 it may be

00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:38.339
 words,

00:16:38.439 --> 00:16:38.819
 it may be

00:16:38.819 --> 00:16:39.299
 actions,

00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:39.699
 it may be

00:16:39.699 --> 00:16:40.500
 something small.

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:42.919
 But every now

00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:43.219
 and then

00:16:43.219 --> 00:16:44.120
 I run across

00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:44.599
 someone who

00:16:44.599 --> 00:16:45.099
 gives the

00:16:45.099 --> 00:16:45.620
 appearance

00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:46.159
 or acts

00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:46.799
 like they're

00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:47.279
 a little bit

00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.699
 above others,

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:49.899
 a little bit

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:50.699
 condescending

00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:52.259
 toward less

00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:53.779
 faithful Christians.

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.339
 If you don't

00:16:57.339 --> 00:16:58.240
 understand the

00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:59.799
 seriousness of

00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:01.479
 your sin as a

00:17:01.479 --> 00:17:01.939
 Christian,

00:17:02.219 --> 00:17:02.620
 look at that

00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:02.959
 verse.

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.099
 If you say we

00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:05.799
 have no sin,

00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:06.740
 you take it

00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.539
 lightly even.

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.799
 You're deceiving

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.579
 yourself and the

00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.659
 truth is not in

00:17:10.659 --> 00:17:11.059
 you.

00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:13.899
 But read on.

00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:15.620
 But if we

00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:16.560
 confess our

00:17:16.560 --> 00:17:17.920
 sins, he is

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.620
 faithful and

00:17:18.620 --> 00:17:19.500
 just to forgive

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.840
 us our sins

00:17:20.840 --> 00:17:21.680
 and to cleanse

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:23.100
 us from all

00:17:23.100 --> 00:17:24.060
 unrighteousness.

00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.920
 That's the good

00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:26.840
 news about when

00:17:26.840 --> 00:17:27.860
 God disciplines

00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:29.380
 us, when he

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.420
 breaks us, when

00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:31.540
 he humbles us.

00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:32.700
 It's all for the

00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.560
 purpose of making

00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:34.680
 us come back to

00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:35.560
 him and this is

00:17:35.560 --> 00:17:36.280
 the way back.

00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:37.960
 This is not all

00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:38.620
 John said.

00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:40.700
 There was a

00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:41.460
 verse 10 that

00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:41.759
 we're going to

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.100
 skip.

00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:43.180
 Then I want you

00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:43.820
 look at chapter

00:17:43.820 --> 00:17:44.779
 2 verses 1

00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.060
 and 2.

00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:46.360
 He writes,

00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:46.799
 my little

00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.279
 children.

00:17:47.820 --> 00:17:48.380
 He likes to

00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:49.000
 write that way

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.920
 to the church.

00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.080
 My little

00:17:51.080 --> 00:17:51.600
 children, I'm

00:17:51.600 --> 00:17:52.140
 writing these

00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:53.279
 things to you so

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.360
 that you may not

00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:54.680
 sin.

00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.539
 That's the goal.

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.680
 I'm emphasizing

00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.640
 we all do.

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:02.860
 But we

00:18:02.860 --> 00:18:03.680
 shouldn't accept

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.180
 that in

00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:04.720
 ourselves.

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:05.720
 We should

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:07.759
 seek to obey

00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.279
 God, not

00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:08.900
 disobey him.

00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:09.640
 We should

00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:10.519
 seek to live a

00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:11.160
 holy life, not

00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:12.019
 an unholy life.

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:13.620
 I'm writing

00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:14.180
 these things to

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.539
 you so that

00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.500
 you may not

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:15.820
 sin.

00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:16.880
 But if anyone

00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:19.200
 does sin, we

00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:20.259
 have an advocate

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.259
 with the

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.480
 Father, Jesus

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.400
 Christ the

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:23.840
 righteous.

00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.440
 He is the

00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:27.259
 propitiation for

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.980
 our sins.

00:18:28.580 --> 00:18:29.460
 Some translations

00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.120
 say he's the

00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:30.940
 sacrifice of

00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:31.360
 atonement.

00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:32.180
 What that means,

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:32.539
 he's the

00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:33.640
 propitiation for

00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:34.039
 our sin.

00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.080
 He's the one

00:18:35.080 --> 00:18:35.680
 who stands

00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.460
 between God

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.240
 and us.

00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.440
 He takes the

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:38.779
 blow.

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.380
 He absorbs

00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:42.600
 the wrath of the

00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:43.679
 righteous wrath

00:18:43.679 --> 00:18:44.559
 of God against

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:47.039
 sin so that

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:47.539
 we don't have

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:47.719
 to.

00:18:49.719 --> 00:18:50.439
 He is the

00:18:50.439 --> 00:18:51.500
 propitiation for

00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.679
 our sins and

00:18:52.679 --> 00:18:53.719
 not for ours

00:18:53.719 --> 00:18:54.799
 only, but also

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.399
 for the sins of

00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:56.119
 the whole world.

00:18:57.959 --> 00:18:58.240
 A true

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:58.719
 Christian will

00:18:58.719 --> 00:18:59.539
 never overcome

00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.639
 all sin in

00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:01.259
 this world,

00:19:02.179 --> 00:19:03.579
 but we should

00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:05.019
 see progress.

00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:07.659
 We should see

00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:09.419
 signs that the

00:19:09.419 --> 00:19:10.759
 Lord is making a

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.799
 difference in

00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.859
 our lives.

00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.000
 So let's just

00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.599
 pause here and

00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.240
 you make it

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:16.599
 personal.

00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:19.379
 Do you see

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.140
 some signs?

00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:23.740
 Can you

00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.960
 sing what a

00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:25.599
 difference he's

00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.359
 made in my life,

00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:26.980
 what a change

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:27.579
 he's made in my

00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:27.839
 heart?

00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:30.779
 Because you see

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.759
 it, well now

00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.839
 in your mind I

00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.519
 want you to list

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:33.779
 it.

00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:36.180
 what are some

00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:37.940
 specific differences

00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:41.200
 that the Lord has

00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.019
 and is making in

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.460
 your life?

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.119
 What are some

00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:46.599
 specific changes

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:48.599
 that he has and

00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:51.399
 is making in

00:19:51.399 --> 00:19:52.139
 your life?

00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:58.220
 If you can't

00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.060
 list some,

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.100
 there's a

00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:00.460
 problem.

00:20:02.300 --> 00:20:03.020
 If you can't

00:20:03.020 --> 00:20:03.540
 see that there's

00:20:03.540 --> 00:20:04.560
 progress being

00:20:04.560 --> 00:20:05.259
 made, maybe you've

00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:05.640
 been a Christian

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:07.400
 for 20 years,

00:20:07.620 --> 00:20:08.000
 maybe you've been

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.320
 a Christian for

00:20:08.320 --> 00:20:09.259
 only 20 months.

00:20:10.800 --> 00:20:11.700
 If the Spirit of

00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:12.700
 God lives in you,

00:20:12.840 --> 00:20:13.340
 which the Bible

00:20:13.340 --> 00:20:14.100
 says he lives in

00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:14.620
 every Christian,

00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.160
 he comes to live

00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:15.620
 within us when

00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:16.480
 we're converted.

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.420
 If you can't see

00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:19.320
 signs of what he's

00:20:19.320 --> 00:20:20.480
 doing in your life,

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.799
 you're not

00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:23.799
 perfect, but you

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.660
 are growing, you

00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:25.940
 are maturing, you're

00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:27.160
 overcoming some

00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:29.319
 sinful habits, you're

00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:31.400
 developing some new

00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:32.519
 godly character

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:36.539
 qualities, that is a

00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.360
 sign of being a

00:20:37.360 --> 00:20:37.660
 Christian.

00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:40.259
 And there's

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:40.880
 something terribly

00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:42.620
 wrong if we can't

00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:44.140
 identify and list

00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:47.240
 some changes that the

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:48.019
 Lord has and is

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:48.799
 making in us.

00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:50.399
 I want you to look

00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:51.220
 at the next phrase

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:52.139
 in verse 58.

00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.639
 Abounding in the

00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:54.299
 work of the Lord.

00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:56.240
 Look at it

00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.740
 together.

00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:58.279
 Therefore, my

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.659
 beloved brothers, be

00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:01.139
 steadfast, immovable,

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:03.480
 always abounding in

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.539
 the work of the

00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:04.879
 Lord.

00:21:05.919 --> 00:21:06.659
 Abound means to

00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:07.460
 overflow with.

00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:10.279
 It means to do

00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.759
 things that count for

00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.919
 Christ and do a lot

00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:13.200
 of them.

00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:17.039
 What are you doing

00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:19.119
 that counts for

00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:19.599
 Christ?

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.139
 How are you abounding

00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:22.839
 in the work of the

00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:23.099
 Lord?

00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:25.220
 I want to emphasize

00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:26.180
 something here that I

00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:27.039
 failed to emphasize in

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.619
 the early service.

00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:30.079
 Just about everything

00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:31.599
 we do in life, just

00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.519
 about everything we can

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.839
 do and actually do

00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:36.240
 can be done in a way

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.220
 that brings glory to

00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:38.599
 honor and brings glory

00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:39.059
 to God.

00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:44.099
 You can do your job in a

00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:45.259
 way that brings glory to

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.839
 God, that honors Him by

00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:48.299
 your attitude, the way

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.940
 you treat people, by what

00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.619
 you do on your job.

00:21:50.659 --> 00:21:51.440
 If you can't, you ought

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.480
 to change jobs tomorrow

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.179
 and I'm serious.

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.639
 We can glorify God by the

00:21:56.639 --> 00:21:58.019
 way we treat our spouse,

00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.259
 our children.

00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:02.299
 We can glorify God by the

00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:04.419
 way we act at a wreck.

00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:08.900
 Some people lose their

00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:11.720
 mind at the Y and the

00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:13.220
 wreck and other children's

00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.160
 sports events.

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:17.300
 Act like pure fools in

00:22:17.300 --> 00:22:18.740
 front of everybody.

00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.560
 I forgot who the

00:22:22.560 --> 00:22:23.320
 conversation was with.

00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:24.060
 It was somebody in the

00:22:24.060 --> 00:22:24.500
 church.

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.500
 What we talked about

00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.680
 years ago, there was

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.820
 someone that used to sit

00:22:29.820 --> 00:22:31.580
 in the stands down here

00:22:31.580 --> 00:22:33.560
 at Bruceville for

00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.599
 football games.

00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:38.399
 Oh, known, active

00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.639
 Christians, all I'm

00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:39.980
 going to say.

00:22:40.919 --> 00:22:42.119
 Some of you, whoever we

00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:42.759
 talked about this, you

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.419
 were grinning because you

00:22:43.419 --> 00:22:43.899
 know who I'm talking

00:22:43.899 --> 00:22:44.079
 about.

00:22:44.919 --> 00:22:47.039
 This person yelled and

00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.240
 screamed at officials in

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:49.740
 such a way he destroyed

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:52.079
 his witness every single

00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:54.259
 JV and varsity football

00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:55.639
 game that I was sitting in

00:22:55.639 --> 00:22:57.279
 the stands with him.

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:03.139
 It matters how we live.

00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:07.159
 It matters.

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:11.220
 And we can do anything and

00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:12.240
 everything we should be

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:14.319
 doing in a way that

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.720
 pleases God, that honors

00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:17.039
 God, that's a good

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:19.259
 witness, that impacts

00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.539
 people's lives in a great

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:20.879
 way.

00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:22.539
 And we all need to be

00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.960
 doing that first in our

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:25.500
 homes, with our family

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:27.200
 members, and where we work,

00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:29.500
 where we play, where we do

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:29.919
 anything.

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.920
 It all matters.

00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:36.160
 But now let's come down to

00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.080
 this.

00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:40.120
 How are you abounding in the

00:23:40.120 --> 00:23:42.700
 work of the Lord in some

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:44.340
 aspect of what I'm going to

00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:45.759
 call gospel ministry?

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:49.460
 Making disciples, as Jesus

00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.279
 told us in the Great

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.680
 Commission.

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.460
 That doesn't mean by any

00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.460
 means everybody's got to be a

00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:54.700
 missionary or a preacher or a

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.420
 Sunday school teacher.

00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:58.180
 It takes all kinds of

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:59.779
 people using their gifts and

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:01.060
 talents and abilities to

00:24:01.060 --> 00:24:02.560
 serve God's purpose.

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:05.500
 Some people are out front.

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.740
 They're preaching.

00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:07.400
 They're teaching.

00:24:07.560 --> 00:24:08.080
 They're singing.

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.980
 They're doing something.

00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:11.000
 And they're seen.

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:13.980
 There's a lot of people who

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:16.200
 are involved in the worthwhile,

00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.359
 meaningful ministry of the

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:19.759
 church privately, behind the

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.380
 scenes.

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:24.400
 For years, we had a group of

00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:26.000
 men and women sometimes that

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:28.460
 worked in the kitchen on Friday

00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:30.319
 mornings preparing breakfast

00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:32.160
 for Pickens High School FCA

00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:33.279
 students.

00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:35.660
 Most people in the church

00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:36.819
 didn't know who they were.

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.880
 Most of the kids that came

00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:40.039
 through the line and got the

00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:40.960
 pancakes and bacon.

00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.619
 Most of them didn't pay

00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.319
 attention to who was back

00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:44.240
 there unless they knew some

00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:44.480
 of them.

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.920
 They prepared that breakfast.

00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:50.039
 They prepared that environment

00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:52.299
 for those high school students

00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:52.879
 to come.

00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:55.299
 And somebody taught the Bible,

00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:57.980
 shared the gospel every Friday

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.440
 morning.

00:24:59.099 --> 00:25:00.339
 And for some of those students,

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.839
 that was the only exposure they

00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:04.319
 got to the gospel or to

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:05.359
 biblical teaching.

00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:09.359
 A lot of people would know who

00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:11.079
 was out front, who the speakers

00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:12.699
 were, who the singers were.

00:25:13.699 --> 00:25:15.000
 But we wouldn't have had an FCA

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.819
 breakfast for all those many

00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:18.879
 years without those men in the

00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:20.740
 kitchen, men and women in the

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:24.059
 kitchen, cooking, working early in

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.459
 the morning.

00:25:25.139 --> 00:25:26.559
 And that just applies to just about

00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:28.059
 every single thing we do as a

00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.559
 church.

00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:33.279
 Every Christian is called, we're all

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:35.339
 called to be involved in ministry

00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:37.159
 according to the way God has gifted

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:39.340
 us, opportunities given us, the

00:25:39.340 --> 00:25:41.040
 abilities that we have developed.

00:25:41.560 --> 00:25:43.460
 They can all be used in some way.

00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:47.140
 So let me ask you, how are you

00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:49.400
 helping us as Pickens First

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:53.500
 Baptists to be well, to be a

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:55.300
 worshiping, evangelizing, learning

00:25:55.300 --> 00:25:56.880
 and loving family of faith for the

00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.560
 glory of God?

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.680
 How are you doing it?

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:02.040
 What are you involved in?

00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:05.500
 Name it.

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.920
 It doesn't have to be a lot.

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.519
 It doesn't have to be where people

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.059
 see it.

00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:14.180
 How are you involved?

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.539
 What are you giving?

00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:19.240
 What are you doing for the glory of

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:21.379
 God and the good of others, the

00:26:21.379 --> 00:26:24.039
 promotion of the gospel, helping

00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:25.579
 Christians to grow?

00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:27.359
 What are you doing behind the

00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:27.740
 scenes?

00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:30.039
 What are you doing that makes

00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:31.920
 things that are more visible

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.480
 happen?

00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:37.899
 Now, if you are involved, don't be

00:26:37.899 --> 00:26:38.440
 smug.

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:42.539
 Don't pat yourself on the back and

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.339
 ask another question.

00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:45.440
 Are you doing it willingly,

00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:50.139
 lovingly, for the glory of God and

00:26:50.139 --> 00:26:51.379
 the good of others?

00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:56.319
 You know, sometimes we could just

00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:59.240
 do something because it's sort of

00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:00.200
 expected of us.

00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:02.259
 We could do something because we

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:03.000
 like to be seen.

00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:03.940
 We like the attention.

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:09.279
 Are you doing what you're doing

00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:12.059
 out of a sense of, this is what I

00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:14.380
 know God wants me to do because I

00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:14.960
 can do it.

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:16.539
 He's given me what I need to do it

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:17.839
 and I'm doing it.

00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:19.299
 It's hard work.

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:22.700
 It takes time away from doing some

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:24.240
 things that I would sort of like to

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:24.559
 do.

00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:28.059
 But the Lord gave his life for me.

00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:31.399
 I'm going to give something to him.

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:35.119
 If you're doing the right ministry for

00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:36.819
 the right reason, the right heart, it'll

00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:38.919
 be rewarding even if it's hard, even if

00:27:38.919 --> 00:27:41.440
 it's tiring, even if it's taking more

00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:45.240
 time than some days you want to give to

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.399
 it.

00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:50.780
 Our Lord is worthy of us giving of

00:27:50.780 --> 00:27:54.560
 ourselves, of our time, our energy, our

00:27:54.560 --> 00:27:57.580
 money, our whatever to serve him.

00:27:58.820 --> 00:28:00.040
 You know, we've got a problem in this

00:28:00.040 --> 00:28:01.360
 country and it's not just in the church,

00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.759
 not just among Christians, but it's

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.400
 among us too.

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:08.180
 We are basically a selfish people who are

00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:11.740
 entertaining ourselves to death with all

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:17.960
 kinds of technological toys, hobbies, or

00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:19.180
 what some people would call leisure

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.940
 activities.

00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:22.420
 I want you to look at something John

00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:24.759
 MacArthur said along this line.

00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:26.700
 It's eye-opening, convicting.

00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:28.019
 Look at it.

00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:31.920
 Leisure and relaxation are two great

00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:35.440
 modern idols to which many Christians

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:37.960
 seem quite willing to bow down to.

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:41.620
 In proper proportion, recreation and

00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:44.460
 diversions can help restore our energy

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:46.279
 and increase our effectiveness.

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.059
 I want to stop there.

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:51.360
 If you're a workaholic who takes pride

00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:52.660
 in the fact that you never take time

00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:54.200
 off, never take a day off, never take a

00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:58.740
 vacation, you are not commended.

00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:04.500
 You are not wise.

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:07.279
 And God is not honored.

00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:13.240
 Everybody needs rest, recreation,

00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.279
 socialization.

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:20.160
 The bow needs to be unstrung sometimes

00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:22.819
 for every human being.

00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:25.160
 It's important.

00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:27.220
 Go on a vacation.

00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:29.039
 Take time off.

00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.980
 Play with your kids.

00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:33.740
 Do something that doesn't make you money.

00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:37.059
 Do something fun.

00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:44.620
 Having said that, don't make that what you

00:29:44.620 --> 00:29:45.500
 major on.

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:48.259
 Look at what he says.

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:53.059
 But they also can easily become ends in

00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:56.720
 themselves, demanding more and more of our

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:59.660
 attention, concern, time, and energy.

00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:03.400
 More than one believer has relaxed and hobbied

00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:07.320
 himself completely out of the work of the Lord.

00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:11.700
 Could that be describing you?

00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:17.700
 Have you allowed your hobbies, your leisure,

00:30:18.800 --> 00:30:23.120
 your technological toys to take all of your

00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:25.219
 attention, your attention, your

00:30:25.219 --> 00:30:27.500
 concentration, your time?

00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:32.139
 And it's preventing you from serving the Lord in any

00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:36.139
 kind of meaningful and consistent way.

00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:40.919
 Most Christians need to get more serious about giving to

00:30:40.919 --> 00:30:44.079
 themselves, as he says, fully to the Lord's work.

00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:47.919
 It's worth it.

00:30:48.699 --> 00:30:51.079
 The day's coming when we'll see that serving the Lord is

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:53.079
 worth it in a big way.

00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:55.659
 I want you to look at something Jesus said at the end of the

00:30:55.659 --> 00:30:57.740
 book of Revelation, the last chapter.

00:30:58.899 --> 00:31:00.299
 Behold, I am coming soon.

00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:04.919
 My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to

00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:07.319
 what he has done.

00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:12.000
 What kind of reward will that be for you?

00:31:13.399 --> 00:31:18.019
 If the Lord comes today, or you die today, and you stand

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:27.299
 before him, what kind of reward do you expect to receive based

00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:28.319
 on your faithfulness?

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:33.659
 Now, you're not going to misunderstand this.

00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:37.860
 Salvation, everything about our relationship with God is based

00:31:37.860 --> 00:31:38.640
 on his grace.

00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:39.360
 We don't earn it.

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.240
 We can't deserve it.

00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:42.019
 It's all a matter of grace.

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:45.380
 Salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus, period,

00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:46.460
 plus nothing.

00:31:48.580 --> 00:31:50.920
 But the Bible tells us over and over again in various kinds of

00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:57.380
 ways, the faith that saves changes us, purifies us.

00:31:58.380 --> 00:32:00.660
 The faith that saves continues.

00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:03.980
 It produces good fruit.

00:32:07.580 --> 00:32:14.259
 God's not calling any of us to burn out in serving him.

00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:21.500
 But at the same time, he is calling us to be active, to be

00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:26.320
 involved in some aspect of gospel ministry.

00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:33.000
 What difference has Christ made in your life?

00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:37.379
 What difference is he continuing to make?

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:42.379
 What would be on your list in terms of character development?

00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:46.939
 What do you need to grow at?

00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:48.299
 What do you need to develop more?

00:32:49.139 --> 00:32:51.500
 What would be on your list in terms of ministry involvement?

00:32:53.179 --> 00:32:55.299
 Could there be some things that you need to add to that?

00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:58.279
 There could be something you need to take away from that.

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:04.299
 What I want us to hear is 1 Corinthians 15.

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:08.460
 The Lord gave his life for us.

00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:13.440
 He arose triumphantly over sin and death and the devil.

00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:17.180
 Look at the last verse one more time.

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:33.180
 Let's pray together.

00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:33.680
 Let's pray together.

00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:38.840
 Father, show us all how we should respond this morning.

00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:45.539
 If there are people in this room that you have shown that while they profess faith,

00:33:46.359 --> 00:33:52.980
 there's no evidence that you have done a work of grace in them.

00:33:53.659 --> 00:33:56.959
 There's no evidence of the Holy Spirit's action in them.

00:33:56.960 --> 00:34:03.779
 If that's true, Father, convict them of their sin, of their fact that they're not Christians,

00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:07.340
 and call them right now to be honest with you,

00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:09.940
 to forsake their selfish way of living,

00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:14.980
 and to put their faith and trust in Jesus wholeheartedly,

00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:17.240
 and call upon him to save them.

00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:18.599
 Help them do that right now.

00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:25.679
 Father, if there are Christians here that they see evidence,

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:29.299
 but it's not recent.

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:34.279
 Father, if there are Christians in this room who know

00:34:34.279 --> 00:34:37.360
 you have made a difference in their life,

00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:44.139
 but you are not making a difference now like you once did,

00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:46.380
 because they're disobedient.

00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:48.179
 They're rebelling.

00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:50.059
 They're indifferent.

00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:53.019
 Lord, wake them up and call them back to you.

00:34:54.619 --> 00:35:00.039
 Call them to get serious about being sensitive to

00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:02.400
 and obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in their life,

00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:04.420
 about developing Christian character,

00:35:05.259 --> 00:35:09.839
 about serving you in meaningful ministry in and through this church.

00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:17.659
 Father, I pray for Christians in this room who do see

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:22.019
 not just the difference you have but are making in their life.

00:35:22.819 --> 00:35:25.219
 There is a list, and it's real.

00:35:25.299 --> 00:35:25.879
 It's genuine.

00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:28.119
 Father, affirm them.

00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:31.980
 Bless them.

00:35:33.719 --> 00:35:34.859
 Help them to hear,

00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:37.359
 well done, my good and faithful servant.

00:35:38.339 --> 00:35:40.379
 But Lord, help them not to become complacent.

00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:45.539
 Help them not to quit regardless of their age.

00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:53.660
 Help them to be faithful as you give them the ability and the opportunity to be faithful.

00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:57.199
 And just in an attitude of prayer,

00:35:57.319 --> 00:35:58.960
 you listen to the Lord and you obey Him.

00:36:01.759 --> 00:36:03.519
 Whatever it is He's calling you to do,

00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:05.259
 to start,

00:36:05.699 --> 00:36:06.599
 to stop,

00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:08.659
 then you do that as we pray.

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:11.679
 And if I could pray with you during the time,

00:36:11.799 --> 00:36:12.659
 this time here at the front,

00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:13.739
 I'd be happy to do that.

00:36:13.799 --> 00:36:17.239
 I'll be right here at the front of this podium here.

00:36:17.239 --> 00:36:18.239
 Thank you.

00:36:18.259 --> 00:36:34.399
 Thank you.