WEBVTT

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 Now we turn to the preaching of God's Word.

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 Today we continue our series as we walk through the epistle of Philippians.

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 We're going to be in chapter 1, verses 9 through 11 today.

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 As we get going, though, there was a book that came out a couple years ago.

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 It was called Open, the Story of Human Progress.

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 And it focused on the progress that has been made over the course of the history of mankind.

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 Especially focusing on the last century where we have seen just incredible changes happen.

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 Where we see global hunger has been significantly reduced.

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 Child mortality, extreme poverty to levels that have plummeted.

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 And alongside that, achievements that have been happening.

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 Advancements in technology and in science that have brought unprecedented wealth and opportunity to the world.

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 But in the book it was talking about, even though despite we've seen this progress, there's still this tension that we experience.

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 Because man, as the author says, has this double nature.

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 This, we are both traitors and tribalists, the author said.

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 And so we have this desire for cooperation, but we also have this desire for belonging.

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 And the two can come in conflict.

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 And so as traitors, it says that we are curious and adventurous people.

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 We desire to communicate and work with one another for mutual benefit.

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 On the other hand, as tribalists, we are suspicious of one another.

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 And we can be hostile toward one another.

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 We are quick to divide the world into two camps of us versus them.

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 And so based on this analysis, he says that the greatest advancement that we have seen in human history comes from when societies act as traitors.

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 When there's this great openness in society.

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 Where we see cultures mixed and the movement of people, we see innovation skyrocket and liberty flourishes.

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 But on the other hand, when we act as tribalists, it usually leads to isolation.

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 Oftentimes to authoritarianism.

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 And when this happens, innovation is stifled and societies often suffer.

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 And so naturally, the author advocates for this continued openness, for a free flow of people and ideas and goods.

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 And he sees this as the basis for continued human progress.

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 Well, in this text today, we see Paul, he shares a similar desire for progress, but in a very different way.

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 He's not talking about economic progress.

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 He's not talking about political progress.

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 He's talking about progress in our lives as believers.

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 Progress as we move closer and closer as individuals and as a body toward Christ.

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 And so we see, we've looked over the last couple weeks of how Paul has been encouraged by the church at Philippi.

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 Both in their partnership in the gospel for the love that they have shown him and one another.

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 He highlights the work that God has done in their life that he's continuing to do, that he will bring to completion.

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 And so we see today, this prayer of thanksgiving turns into a prayer of petition.

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 He asks that God continue to work in the lives of the saints in Philippi.

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 Because he recognizes that it's God alone who empowers the church.

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 It is God alone who provides us with the desire and the ability to follow after him.

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 And so we're going to focus on this prayer today.

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 Philippians 1, verses 9 through 11.

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 It should be on the screen behind me.

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 Follow along as I read.

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 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment.

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 So that you may approve what is excellent and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

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 Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.

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 To the glory and praise of God.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Pray with me again.

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 Oh God, we come to you hungry and needy.

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 And so Lord, we ask that you fill us up.

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 That you reveal the truth of the gospel today.

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 In such a way that our understanding may be broadened and our faith may be deepened.

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 God, I ask that you use me as an empty vessel to effectively communicate your truth.

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 Lord, I ask that through our passage today.

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 That we may be convicted.

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 That we may be challenged and encouraged.

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 As we seek to live for you.

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 We pray this in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So as I mentioned, this is our third week in the book of Philippians.

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 And we're finally getting to the end of Paul's introduction.

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 The last couple weeks we focused on Paul as he introduces himself to the church and addresses the church specifically.

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 We've talked about his thankfulness that he has for the church.

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 And how they provided for him and loved one another.

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 And he also highlights the work of God in their lives.

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 The work of God that happens at the point of conversion.

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 The work of God that's continuing to happen in their lives.

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 And looking forward to the completed work of Christ when he returns.

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 And so with an emphasis on the work of God, we may be tempted to think, well, if God's in control, then, you know, there's really not much more for us to do.

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 God is sovereign overall, so we can kind of just sit back and follow along.

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 But that's not the posture that Paul takes in these verses here.

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 He's prayed a prayer of thanksgiving.

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 Now it's a prayer of petition.

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 Asking that God continue to work.

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 Encouraging the church to continue to follow after him.

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 And so we're going to be focusing on this prayer today.

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 Specifically, three aspects of his prayer.

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 We're going to look at the request, the reason, and the result.

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 The request, the reason, and the result for this prayer.

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 So let's first look at verse 9 again at the request that is made.

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 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment.

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 So the very first thing that Paul prays for here when he's thinking about the church in Philippi is that they may increase in love.

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 And it may seem to you as a rather simple request that's made.

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 But the more and more I thought about this, the more and more I was convicted this week.

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 Because it's not how I pray for the church normally.

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 And maybe you struggle with this too.

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 When we think about praying for the church here at Becclew.

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 Or we think about praying for other churches in Edinburgh or Scotland or the global church around the world.

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 Usually, at least for myself, love isn't the first request that comes to my mind.

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 I may pray for the effectiveness of certain ministries.

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 I may pray for people to have endurance in the midst of persecution.

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 We may pray for financial stability for churches.

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 But oftentimes, praying for love, even though it's such a basic request, is not something that we often think of.

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 But this is what Paul is praying for here.

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 This is where his focus lies when he's thinking about the progress within the church.

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 And it's interesting that he doesn't include an object for this love.

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 He doesn't say increase a love for God or love for one another.

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 He just says love that it may abound more and more.

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 And so he's speaking really of the virtue of love.

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 A characteristic that we as believers should have.

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 That should pervade our whole being.

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 And so he's not also speaking of a generic love.

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 A worldly love.

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 If you go out on the streets and ask someone what love is,

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 you're probably going to get a different answer from every person you ask.

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 But he's speaking very specifically here of the love of the Father.

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 And so if we look at Jesus, before he was arrested and crucified,

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 we have a recording of his high priestly prayer.

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 Where he prays for the saints.

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 He prays for you and me.

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 And he asks in that prayer, speaking to the Father,

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 he says that the love with which you have loved me may be in them.

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 And so Jesus desires that the love of the Father,

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 the same amount of love, the same quality of love,

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 that the Father loves the Son,

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 is the same love that is extended to us.

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 And so, of course, throughout the Bible,

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 we see this theme of love repeated.

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 Especially by Paul here,

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 if we think of many of his other letters to the New Testament church.

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 In 1 Corinthians 13, what's known as the love chapter,

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 faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love.

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 In Galatians 5, where Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit,

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 the first fruit that he lists is love.

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 And so here, too, he's speaking of love,

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 not only that it exists, but that it abounds.

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 That we may experience the love of Christ,

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 the love that drew Christ to the cross,

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 to die for your sins and mine.

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 This is what he wants to abound in the church.

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 And so he uses this language, abound,

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 it's the same words that he uses in chapter 4,

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 when he's talking and recounting about the provision

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 that the church has provided for him.

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 This financial support,

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 how he's been well supplied by the church,

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 when no other church would.

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 He said it's this abundant supply of money and resources that he's received.

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 This is the same imagery that we see here.

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 And so before my family and I moved to Edinburgh,

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 we lived in the city of Greenville, South Carolina.

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 And Greenville is kind of known as,

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 to have this really beautiful city center.

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 It's not a huge city, but it's a growing city.

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 And in the city center, in the middle of downtown,

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 there's this waterfall.

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 And it used to be used to power textile mills back in the day.

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 But now it has been cleaned up.

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 It's now surrounded by this beautiful park.

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 And the water from this waterfall flows into a river.

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 And a little bit beyond downtown,

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 it went right by our neighborhood where we lived.

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 And so around that river, the park continued.

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 There were volleyball courts.

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 There were picnic pavilions.

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 There was a play park.

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 It was a great place to spend time and take the kids.

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 However, the problem with that park,

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 it was very low-lying in elevation.

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 And so when we got significant rainfall,

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 oftentimes the park would flood.

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 And a few times when we lived in that neighborhood,

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 the flood rose so much that not only did it pour over the banks,

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 but it rose to the level that it was above the nets of the volleyball court,

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 that the entire play park was covered in water.

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 And so let this be an imagery then of what Paul is talking about here,

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 that we're so filled up with God's love

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 that we have no room to store it,

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 that we can't contain it,

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 that it naturally flows from us abundantly and consistently to those around us.

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 Another thing happened when that river would flood

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 is it would attract attention from people.

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 Usually the local news stations would come and set up a camera

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 to see how extensive the flooding was in the park.

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 People from our neighborhood would walk down and snap pictures.

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 You could even walk across the bridge in the park.

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 And so the same here.

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 The love that we have for one another should be something that is attractive to the outside world,

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 something that is a curiosity to the outside world,

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 something that can't be replicated outside of Christ.

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 Because Jesus says this himself in John 13, 35.

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 He says,

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 By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.

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 So the love that Paul is talking about here,

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 the love that we receive from Christ,

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 should not only link us to one another as saints,

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 but it should also identify us with Christ.

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 But we see here that this love is not just an emotion or a sentimental feeling here.

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 It's grounded in truth.

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 And so that's why Paul continues that our love should abound more and more with knowledge and discernment.

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 Maybe you've heard people in the church before say something like,

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 you know, I don't really care much for theology.

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 I just try to love Jesus.

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 Or, you know, I don't spend a whole lot of time studying the Bible.

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 I just think it's important to love one another.

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 But it's important to remember this truth,

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 that if we remove our knowledge of God from our love for God,

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 then we are just worshiping a God of our imagination.

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 Martin Luther said this,

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 that I am not permitted to let my love be so merciful as to tolerate and endure false doctrine.

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 The love that we experience through Christ,

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 that we share to one another,

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 is not a license for naivete.

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 It's not this aimless emotion that just leads to general indifference or tolerance in our lives.

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 Love is to be directed.

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 We cannot love what we do not know.

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 And so if we think about a marriage relationship,

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 maybe if you're married,

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 you can think about maybe when you first started to get to know your spouse.

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 You were first introduced to them.

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 There might have been that initial attraction.

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 Maybe you had this growing infatuation for them.

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 But it wasn't until you actually started spending time with them,

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 until you actually started talking with them and getting to know them,

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 did that genuine and authentic love begin to develop.

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 And so knowledge is not the enemy of love.

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 Knowledge is a necessary requirement for its existence.

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 Authentic love for God is founded on a knowledge for God.

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 And so when Paul speaks of knowledge here,

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 love that must abound more and more with knowledge,

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 he's talking about a spiritual knowledge.

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 A knowledge that comes through knowing God,

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 the character of God,

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 being able to understand the depth of his love for us

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 and the truth of the gospel.

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 And so how do we develop this knowledge?

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 Is it just by showing up on a Sunday morning?

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 That's part of it through the preaching of God's word.

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 But is this something that we hunger after?

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 Is this a knowledge that we desire so much in our Christian lives,

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 as Paul does here?

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 In chapter 3, later on in Philippians, in verse 8, he says this,

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 I count everything a loss

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 because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord.

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 There is nothing more important in Paul's life than knowing Christ.

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 It is this knowledge that gives him purpose in his life.

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 It is this knowledge that propels him forward to be a servant and a saint of God.

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 But we see that this knowledge is not alone.

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 It's actually coupled with discernment.

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 And so this Greek word that's used for discernment here

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 is actually a term that would be used for testing materials,

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 or testing metals, rather,

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 to see their quality,

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 to figure out the ingredients within this metal.

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 And so when we think about discernment,

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 it's really this deep perceptiveness,

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 this insight and understanding that we have.

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 So not only does Paul want the church

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 to have a love that comes through knowledge of God,

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 but also a love that is discerning,

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 a love that can be applied

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 to others within the church.

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 And so if we think back again about a relationship with your spouse,

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 or maybe even a close friend of yours,

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 spending time with them,

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 you get to know them.

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 But the quality of your friendship

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 is not based on the amount of information

00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:28.620
 you know about that person.

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.860
 A mark of a quality marriage

00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:33.740
 is not how many questions you can get right

00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.679
 on a trivia question,

00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:37.179
 a game show about your spouse.

00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:40.679
 We must have wisdom and understanding

00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:42.859
 not only in the love and knowledge we have,

00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:45.979
 but how to apply that love to one another.

00:15:46.079 --> 00:15:47.399
 So if you think of your spouse,

00:15:48.359 --> 00:15:50.000
 you should be the one who knows best

00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.399
 how to comfort your spouse when they're struggling,

00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:54.659
 how to encourage them when they're discouraged,

00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:55.899
 how to love them in such a way

00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:58.120
 that they can appreciate and receive well.

00:15:59.859 --> 00:16:01.839
 And so the same goes for the church.

00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:04.519
 Our love for Christ is not

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:07.299
 just some mushy sentiment.

00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:10.079
 We can love each other well

00:16:10.079 --> 00:16:11.679
 because we know the gospel.

00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:14.199
 And we can love each other well

00:16:14.199 --> 00:16:16.079
 because we know how to apply the gospel

00:16:16.079 --> 00:16:17.199
 in our daily lives,

00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:19.159
 in individual relationships,

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:21.120
 in the church at large,

00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:22.980
 in the global church.

00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:27.919
 And so that leads us then to our second point.

00:16:28.439 --> 00:16:29.899
 We looked at Paul's request,

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:32.019
 now the reason for his request.

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:33.919
 What is this reason that he says we need

00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:35.779
 for deserving love?

00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:39.199
 Why does Paul pray

00:16:39.199 --> 00:16:40.719
 that it may abound within the church?

00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:41.539
 Look at verse 10.

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.779
 So that you may approve what is excellent

00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:47.360
 and so be pure and blameless

00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.419
 for the day of Christ.

00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.919
 And so we can split this up into two parts.

00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:52.059
 What first does it mean

00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:54.279
 to approve what is excellent?

00:16:55.659 --> 00:16:56.699
 One of my best friends

00:16:56.699 --> 00:16:57.980
 who I've known my entire life,

00:16:58.059 --> 00:17:00.319
 he works actually in the fashion industry.

00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:03.780
 He's someone who pays

00:17:03.780 --> 00:17:05.620
 very close attention to detail.

00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:07.120
 And this has benefited him well.

00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.460
 He works for a clothing company

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:10.080
 in New York City

00:17:10.080 --> 00:17:11.620
 in their corporate office.

00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.799
 And his job is a chief merchandiser.

00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:15.860
 And I'm not going to pretend to know all

00:17:15.860 --> 00:17:16.900
 what that includes.

00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:17.940
 But basically,

00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:19.380
 part of his responsibility

00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:20.259
 is figuring out

00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:22.200
 what the line is going to be

00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:22.820
 for the next season.

00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:24.180
 What clothes and articles

00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:25.680
 are going to be included

00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:27.140
 included in the sale

00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:28.960
 for the fall, winter, spring,

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.200
 seasons ahead.

00:17:31.060 --> 00:17:32.180
 And so part of that responsibility

00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:35.420
 is working with designers,

00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:37.820
 working with the financial side

00:17:37.820 --> 00:17:38.980
 to see what's going to sell,

00:17:39.080 --> 00:17:40.060
 what do we want to include,

00:17:40.360 --> 00:17:42.299
 looking not only into articles of clothing,

00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:43.320
 but how we're going to make

00:17:43.320 --> 00:17:43.940
 these clothing,

00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:44.820
 this clothing.

00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:46.320
 What materials are we going to use?

00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:47.420
 What dyes are we going to use?

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:49.140
 What buttons are we going to put on a shirt?

00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.480
 Someone has to make those decisions.

00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:53.340
 And so he does this well

00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:54.940
 because of his attention to detail.

00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:56.120
 And this really is something

00:17:56.120 --> 00:17:57.580
 that I see throughout his life

00:17:57.580 --> 00:17:58.680
 that has really benefited me

00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:00.759
 because this applies to technology

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:02.519
 and computers and audio equipment

00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:03.960
 and tools and household goods.

00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:04.799
 So he's really,

00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:06.360
 I use him as my personal shopper

00:18:06.360 --> 00:18:07.140
 that whenever I have

00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:08.059
 a big purchase to make,

00:18:08.100 --> 00:18:09.100
 I'm going to call him up and say,

00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.480
 hey, what do you think about

00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.240
 such and such?

00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:12.580
 Last year,

00:18:12.600 --> 00:18:13.700
 I wanted to get some new

00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.620
 Bluetooth headphones.

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.620
 So I call him up and say,

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.880
 hey, what do you think?

00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:17.600
 What are my options?

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.360
 Without even doing research,

00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.580
 I mean, he could spit off,

00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:22.000
 well, these are the best ones

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.759
 for exercise.

00:18:22.860 --> 00:18:24.259
 These ones are really good

00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.140
 waterproof ones.

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.440
 These,

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.839
 you should avoid these.

00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:27.720
 The quality is not best.

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.299
 These are the ones

00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.460
 that have the best sound quality.

00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:32.180
 And so when we look

00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:34.379
 at what Paul's saying here,

00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:36.279
 this is really what he's talking about.

00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:37.259
 Being able to approve

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:37.900
 what is excellent

00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:39.440
 means being able to see

00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.500
 and decide

00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:41.640
 what is superior

00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:43.359
 in our lives.

00:18:43.859 --> 00:18:44.960
 Not just to distinguish

00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:46.359
 between good and evil.

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.879
 That is oftentimes easy to do.

00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:49.079
 But be able to distinguish

00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.240
 between what is good

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.599
 and what is best.

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.960
 What is permissible

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:56.039
 and what is preferable.

00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:58.819
 Paul wants the saints

00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.460
 at Philippi

00:18:59.460 --> 00:18:59.880
 to determine

00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:01.519
 what really matters

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.779
 within the church.

00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:05.079
 What is of primary importance

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:06.420
 and what is of secondary nature.

00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:08.279
 What has eternal value

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.620
 and what is just temporal

00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:10.680
 in nature.

00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:13.200
 And so I think

00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.019
 we can oftentimes

00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:14.740
 get wrapped up

00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:15.400
 in things that are

00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.200
 secondary in nature

00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:17.380
 if we think of society

00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:17.940
 in general.

00:19:19.080 --> 00:19:20.440
 Maybe it's politics

00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.820
 for you.

00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:23.100
 Maybe it's social issues.

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:24.020
 Maybe it's your job.

00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:24.960
 Maybe it's your family.

00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:27.340
 Not to say any of these things

00:19:27.340 --> 00:19:28.340
 are bad.

00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:30.160
 But are these things

00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.000
 what are supposed to be

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.360
 of primary importance

00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:32.800
 in our lives.

00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:33.560
 The trouble is

00:19:33.560 --> 00:19:34.780
 when we spend so much time

00:19:34.780 --> 00:19:35.360
 and attention

00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:37.120
 on these secondary issues

00:19:37.120 --> 00:19:39.020
 that we can elevate them

00:19:39.020 --> 00:19:39.440
 in status

00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:40.180
 that they become

00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:42.080
 gods in our life.

00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:44.280
 And we can lose track

00:19:44.280 --> 00:19:45.480
 of what is most excellent.

00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:47.839
 We can see this

00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:48.940
 within the church as well.

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.720
 It's very easy

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.039
 to cling to secondary issues

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.940
 within the church, right?

00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.559
 We may have a preference

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:56.160
 on how ministries are run.

00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:57.960
 How the church service

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.799
 should be conducted.

00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.240
 What changes we should make

00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.940
 to the sanctuary.

00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:02.099
 It's okay to have opinions.

00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:03.059
 There's nothing wrong with them.

00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:04.799
 But when we elevate

00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.460
 the importance

00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.180
 of those opinions

00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:07.019
 to primary

00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:08.319
 in our lives

00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.640
 that's when we forsake

00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:10.519
 the gospel.

00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:12.860
 If we look through

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:14.220
 the history of the church

00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:15.940
 it's a history

00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.980
 filled with divisions.

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.480
 And not to say

00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.200
 some of those divisions

00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.240
 weren't necessary

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.259
 and essential

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:21.960
 for the preservation

00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.920
 of the gospel.

00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:23.640
 Some were.

00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.279
 But if we think

00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:27.860
 especially in modern times

00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:28.960
 when there are arguments

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.740
 within the church

00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:30.460
 when there are splits

00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:30.900
 and divisions

00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.640
 within the church

00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:33.160
 what's the reason

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:33.819
 for that happening?

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:36.200
 Is it because of a lack

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.279
 of discerning love

00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:38.819
 for one another?

00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:40.700
 Is it because we've made

00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.660
 secondary issues

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.740
 primary issues?

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:45.840
 That's a problem

00:20:45.840 --> 00:20:46.800
 that we need to avoid.

00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:49.540
 My pastor back in the States

00:20:49.540 --> 00:20:50.980
 he'd always used to say

00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.019
 whenever he was asked

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:52.720
 to give an opinion

00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.940
 or would offer his opinion

00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.980
 on a secondary issue

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:56.420
 related to the church

00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.880
 he'd always end his comment

00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:58.300
 by saying

00:20:58.300 --> 00:20:58.860
 well that's not

00:20:58.860 --> 00:21:00.640
 that is not a hill

00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.759
 I'm willing to die on.

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.040
 And so that's something

00:21:04.040 --> 00:21:05.140
 I think is important

00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:05.700
 to remember

00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.360
 when we're talking

00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:07.420
 about secondary issues

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.040
 or opinions

00:21:08.040 --> 00:21:08.779
 that we have

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:10.040
 it's perfectly fine

00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:10.819
 to have those opinions

00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:11.440
 but if they're on

00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.139
 secondary issues

00:21:12.139 --> 00:21:12.779
 it shouldn't be

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.920
 a hill

00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:14.960
 that we're willing

00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.079
 to die on.

00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:17.759
 We should not be willing

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.500
 to risk

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:20.099
 what is most excellent

00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:21.240
 in our lives

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:23.180
 the unity of the church

00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:25.359
 the love among the saints

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.259
 the centrality

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:26.980
 of the gospel

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:29.480
 simply so we can get

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.480
 our own way.

00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.440
 So let's look further

00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.279
 then at verse 10

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.799
 we looked at

00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:37.420
 seeing what is most excellent

00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:38.539
 choosing what is most excellent

00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:39.279
 but it also says

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:40.559
 so that we may be pure

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.319
 and blameless

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.539
 for the day of Christ.

00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:43.940
 And so what does it mean

00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:44.559
 to be pure

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.259
 and blameless?

00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:47.119
 A few weeks ago

00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:48.000
 we talked about

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.660
 why Paul calls

00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:50.740
 the church saints

00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:52.240
 because that's

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.059
 our identity

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.700
 in Christ

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.839
 Christ has given us

00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:56.220
 his righteousness

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.180
 that we are holy

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:57.899
 and set apart.

00:21:59.099 --> 00:21:59.639
 But I don't think

00:21:59.639 --> 00:22:00.559
 that's quite what Paul

00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.500
 is getting at here

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:03.259
 this is a prayer

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.240
 for action

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:04.799
 so yes

00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.859
 although we identify

00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:06.500
 in Christ

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.940
 we are also called

00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:08.779
 to holiness

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.380
 as well

00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.000
 and so that's

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.740
 I think what he's

00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.460
 referring to here

00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.259
 is our own

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.200
 sanctification

00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:14.320
 our calling

00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:15.720
 to pursue holiness

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.799
 as Christ

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:20.160
 as is at work

00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:21.000
 in our lives

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:23.120
 so we should desire

00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:23.880
 to be more

00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:25.200
 and more like him.

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:28.160
 And so this doesn't mean

00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:29.220
 that we reach

00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:30.140
 a point of perfection

00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:30.600
 in our life

00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:31.259
 that's not what Paul

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:31.880
 is saying here.

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.320
 In fact he makes

00:22:33.320 --> 00:22:34.160
 that point himself

00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.039
 later on in the letter

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:36.579
 in chapter 3

00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:37.159
 verse 12

00:22:37.159 --> 00:22:37.619
 he says

00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:38.440
 not that I've

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:39.779
 already attained this

00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:41.019
 referring to being

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:41.599
 like Christ

00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:43.220
 or I am already

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:43.680
 perfect

00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:45.599
 but I press on

00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.579
 to make it my own

00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.379
 because Christ

00:22:47.379 --> 00:22:48.740
 Jesus has made me

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.399
 his own.

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:51.960
 And so

00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:53.099
 since we are in Christ

00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:53.920
 we are motivated

00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:55.399
 to be pure.

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.279
 Some places

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:58.299
 the same Greek word

00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:58.980
 is translated

00:22:58.980 --> 00:23:00.059
 as sincere.

00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:02.859
 Are we inwardly pure?

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:04.599
 do we live lives

00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.459
 of sincerity

00:23:05.459 --> 00:23:06.819
 as saints?

00:23:08.439 --> 00:23:09.399
 We're also called

00:23:09.399 --> 00:23:10.299
 to be blameless.

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:11.740
 And this word

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.899
 really has a dual meaning.

00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.379
 It means

00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:14.799
 to personally avoid

00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.959
 tripping over obstacles

00:23:15.959 --> 00:23:17.859
 but also prevent others

00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:19.339
 from tripping over obstacles

00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:20.159
 that we've created.

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:22.019
 And so Paul is saying

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:23.059
 that our conduct

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:24.979
 should not cause offense

00:23:24.979 --> 00:23:26.539
 to those around us.

00:23:27.679 --> 00:23:29.139
 And so when we combine

00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:30.439
 these ideas together

00:23:30.439 --> 00:23:31.299
 purity

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.859
 and blamelessness.

00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.200
 We see that Paul is

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:34.919
 talking about this

00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:35.879
 inward character

00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:36.940
 that we should have

00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.599
 but also this

00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.700
 outward conduct

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:40.079
 that should be evident.

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.680
 Inwardly our minds

00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.460
 and our hearts

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.460
 should be pure.

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.200
 Paul says in Colossians

00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.200
 to set our mind

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.240
 on things above.

00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.359
 Outwardly

00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:53.139
 we need to live lives

00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:54.299
 that are above reproach.

00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:55.659
 Our actions

00:23:55.659 --> 00:23:56.500
 should be evidence

00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.079
 of the work

00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:58.019
 that God is doing

00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:58.639
 in our lives.

00:23:58.940 --> 00:24:00.039
 This is a comprehensive

00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.500
 holiness

00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:01.919
 inside out.

00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:03.619
 That Christ alone

00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.960
 can see inside our hearts

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.740
 and that others

00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:07.379
 can see around us.

00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:09.899
 And so Paul says

00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:10.940
 we live this way

00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:11.980
 for the day

00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:13.000
 of Christ.

00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:15.339
 Now this is the second time

00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:16.159
 in just a couple verses

00:24:16.159 --> 00:24:17.119
 that Paul has talked

00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.960
 about the day of Christ

00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:19.240
 just in his introduction.

00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:21.819
 And so what is the importance

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.859
 of the day of Christ?

00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.200
 What does it mean?

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:24.980
 We talked about this

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:25.619
 last week

00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:27.240
 where the day of Christ

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.799
 is a time

00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.339
 where Christ

00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:29.099
 will come again

00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:30.339
 where the nations

00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:31.159
 will be judged

00:24:31.159 --> 00:24:31.759
 where the people

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.399
 of God

00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:33.639
 will receive salvation

00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.819
 and vindication.

00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:38.079
 And so this is a good thing

00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:39.279
 if we are saints

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.059
 if we are brothers

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.740
 and sisters

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.679
 in Christ

00:24:41.679 --> 00:24:42.459
 to await

00:24:42.459 --> 00:24:43.419
 the day

00:24:43.419 --> 00:24:44.319
 of the Lord.

00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:46.219
 But not only

00:24:46.219 --> 00:24:47.159
 wait for that day

00:24:47.159 --> 00:24:48.480
 but also to prepare

00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.339
 for that day.

00:24:50.459 --> 00:24:51.480
 The day of the Lord

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.159
 provides us

00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:52.779
 with direction.

00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.559
 It provides us

00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:54.279
 for motivation

00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.199
 in our lives.

00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:57.440
 What if we knew

00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:57.960
 that Christ

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:58.620
 was coming again

00:24:58.620 --> 00:24:58.920
 tomorrow?

00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:00.920
 How would that

00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:01.740
 change our lives?

00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.100
 How would that

00:25:02.100 --> 00:25:03.180
 change our priorities?

00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.840
 In our relationships

00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:06.620
 certainly we'd be

00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:08.000
 more merciful

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.640
 toward others.

00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:09.880
 More willing to forgive

00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:11.039
 and extend forgiveness

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.980
 to those around us.

00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.160
 Certainly we'd have

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:14.680
 a desire

00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:15.640
 to share the love

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.180
 of Christ

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:17.019
 with those

00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.720
 that don't know him.

00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:20.100
 To see the gospel

00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:20.559
 expand.

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.539
 That we may personally

00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.559
 be prepared

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.380
 for his return.

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.519
 Jesus gives us

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.779
 a couple parables

00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:29.220
 related to his return

00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:29.700
 and one of those

00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.660
 is the parable

00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:31.480
 of the ten virgins

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.539
 who are awaiting

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.100
 the arrival

00:25:33.100 --> 00:25:33.840
 of the bridegroom.

00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.279
 Five of them

00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.680
 are wise

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.360
 and five of them

00:25:36.360 --> 00:25:37.039
 are unwise.

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.039
 The unwise ones

00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:39.080
 forget to bring

00:25:39.080 --> 00:25:39.759
 extra oil

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.480
 for their lamps

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.200
 as they wait

00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:41.620
 in the night

00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:42.220
 for the arrival

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.880
 of the bridegroom.

00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:44.580
 And so they hurry

00:25:44.580 --> 00:25:46.019
 out to go

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.900
 buy more oil.

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.700
 Of course a bridegroom

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:49.980
 comes in their absence

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.620
 and they're left

00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:52.440
 out of the wedding.

00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:55.960
 Jesus says

00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:56.519
 at the end

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.160
 of that parable

00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:58.420
 he says that

00:25:58.420 --> 00:25:59.460
 we do not know

00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.400
 the day

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.180
 nor the hour

00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.900
 of his return.

00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.180
 And so even though

00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.880
 we don't have

00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.580
 that information

00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:06.820
 we should nonetheless

00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:07.620
 be ready

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.220
 and eager

00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.000
 and prepared

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:10.500
 for his return.

00:26:12.580 --> 00:26:13.680
 And so that brings us

00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.700
 then to that final

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.640
 R

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.360
 the result.

00:26:17.820 --> 00:26:18.960
 What is the result

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.559
 of Paul's request?

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:22.679
 Look in verse 11.

00:26:24.379 --> 00:26:24.659
 He says

00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:25.740
 we are to abound

00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.740
 in discerning love

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.519
 in order to be pure

00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.139
 and blameless

00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:29.099
 as a result

00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:30.779
 filled with the fruit

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.399
 of righteousness

00:26:31.399 --> 00:26:32.940
 that comes through

00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.679
 Jesus Christ

00:26:33.679 --> 00:26:34.299
 to the glory

00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:35.059
 and praise

00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:36.119
 of God.

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.740
 So in my back garden

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.720
 we have an apple tree

00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.500
 that we've enjoyed

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.500
 for the past couple years.

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.619
 It's been really nice

00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:45.399
 when we first arrived

00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:45.859
 it was just

00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:47.039
 heavy laid with apples.

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:47.859
 So many apples

00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.579
 that we can't possibly

00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:49.039
 eat them all.

00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:50.079
 We actually bought

00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:50.599
 a juicer

00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:51.379
 to try to juice

00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:51.819
 some of the apples.

00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.559
 We've made pies

00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.039
 that we've given

00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:53.619
 away to people.

00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:56.099
 And last year

00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:56.379
 I noticed

00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:56.819
 that some of these

00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.339
 branches were

00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:57.940
 kind of struggling.

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.539
 Some of the apples

00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.359
 weren't really that good

00:26:59.359 --> 00:26:59.859
 so I decided

00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.659
 I need to figure out

00:27:00.659 --> 00:27:01.740
 how to prune this tree.

00:27:02.119 --> 00:27:02.659
 I never pruned

00:27:02.659 --> 00:27:03.420
 an apple tree before

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:03.759
 and didn't know

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.259
 how to do it.

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.519
 A little internet

00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.220
 research says

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.000
 that the apple tree

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:08.399
 it should be trimmed

00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:10.779
 like a goblet.

00:27:11.159 --> 00:27:11.779
 So the growth

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.220
 should happen

00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:12.920
 on the outside.

00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:13.539
 There shouldn't be

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.460
 any inward growth

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.480
 any apples or branches

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:17.079
 inside the interior

00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.619
 of the tree.

00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:19.679
 And so I did my best

00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:20.299
 to do that

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:21.419
 and now seeing

00:27:21.419 --> 00:27:22.359
 the fruits of that labor

00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:23.339
 we see more fruit

00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:24.579
 being growing

00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.159
 even apples

00:27:25.159 --> 00:27:26.079
 the size of probably

00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:27.099
 golf balls

00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.919
 right now in the tree

00:27:27.919 --> 00:27:28.500
 looking forward

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.239
 to when they will

00:27:29.239 --> 00:27:30.119
 be ripe

00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:30.859
 before the harvest

00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:32.119
 in a few months.

00:27:32.979 --> 00:27:33.699
 We all know

00:27:33.699 --> 00:27:34.519
 basically how

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.059
 this fruit

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.119
 is grown.

00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.179
 This is something

00:27:37.179 --> 00:27:38.559
 we learn in primary school

00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.279
 how the roots

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.399
 suck up the water

00:27:40.399 --> 00:27:40.959
 and the nutrients

00:27:40.959 --> 00:27:41.659
 from the ground.

00:27:42.159 --> 00:27:42.979
 The trunk

00:27:42.979 --> 00:27:44.039
 spreads out

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.619
 these nutrients

00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.259
 to the branches.

00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:46.140
 It's the leaves

00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:46.619
 that collect

00:27:46.619 --> 00:27:47.099
 the sunlight

00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:47.839
 that's necessary

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:48.460
 for growth.

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.220
 And so we see here

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:52.420
 this is true

00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:53.000
 of the life

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.500
 of the saints

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:53.900
 as well.

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:55.180
 Paul is explaining

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.940
 this process

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.879
 that we receive

00:27:56.879 --> 00:27:57.700
 the love of God

00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.980
 we show this love

00:27:58.980 --> 00:27:59.420
 to others

00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:00.619
 we grow in holiness

00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:01.759
 and as a result

00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:03.359
 we see fruit.

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:06.039
 So as we undergo

00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.799
 sanctification

00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.720
 as we grow

00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.579
 more and more

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.160
 like Christ

00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:10.400
 fruit should be

00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:12.079
 a necessary result.

00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.119
 Conduct

00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:14.500
 in our lives

00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.059
 where we see

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.579
 and desire

00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.219
 the advancement

00:28:16.219 --> 00:28:16.919
 of the gospel

00:28:16.919 --> 00:28:17.719
 where others

00:28:17.719 --> 00:28:18.259
 are benefited

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:18.839
 and ultimately

00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.839
 God is pleased.

00:28:21.699 --> 00:28:22.599
 But it's important

00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:22.879
 to note

00:28:22.879 --> 00:28:23.500
 that this righteous

00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:25.000
 fruit also needs

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:26.659
 a righteous root.

00:28:27.639 --> 00:28:28.259
 As Paul says

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.719
 the righteousness

00:28:28.719 --> 00:28:29.679
 comes through

00:28:29.679 --> 00:28:30.579
 Jesus Christ.

00:28:30.979 --> 00:28:31.579
 Our fruitfulness

00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:33.079
 is not self-generated.

00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:34.879
 It's not based

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.779
 on our own efforts.

00:28:35.899 --> 00:28:36.339
 The harvest

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.579
 of our good deeds

00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.199
 is a product

00:28:38.199 --> 00:28:39.839
 of Jesus Christ

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.379
 himself.

00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:42.800
 And so if we

00:28:42.800 --> 00:28:43.200
 think back

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.000
 to the passage

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.680
 that we read

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.900
 earlier from John 15

00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:46.900
 where Jesus refers

00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:47.600
 to himself

00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:49.240
 as the vine.

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.140
 In verse 5

00:28:51.140 --> 00:28:51.460
 he says

00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.220
 I am the vine

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.260
 you are the branches

00:28:53.260 --> 00:28:54.680
 whoever abides in me

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.740
 and I in him

00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.520
 will bear much fruit

00:28:56.520 --> 00:28:57.260
 apart from me

00:28:57.260 --> 00:28:58.040
 you can do nothing.

00:29:00.120 --> 00:29:01.540
 And so our fruitfulness

00:29:01.540 --> 00:29:03.000
 is wholly dependent

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.900
 on Christ's work

00:29:03.900 --> 00:29:04.460
 in our lives.

00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:05.400
 And so that should be

00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.400
 reassuring to us

00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:07.760
 because it's not based

00:29:07.760 --> 00:29:08.440
 on our own efforts

00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:09.020
 it's not about

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.940
 how hard we try

00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:11.099
 or how good we are

00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:12.379
 that we may see fruit.

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.599
 It is the work

00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.299
 of Christ

00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:15.139
 in our lives.

00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:16.339
 It is God's work

00:29:16.339 --> 00:29:16.960
 in us

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:17.940
 that allows

00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.539
 good works

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.700
 to flow from us.

00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:23.400
 This is what Christ

00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.299
 desires to see

00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:24.920
 in his church.

00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:27.680
 To see great fruit

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.859
 happen as a result

00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.460
 of his work

00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:31.400
 in our lives.

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.519
 In Titus 2.14

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:35.839
 talking about Jesus

00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:36.779
 Paul says this

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:38.619
 says he who gave

00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:40.079
 himself for us

00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.839
 to redeem us

00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.799
 from all lawlessness

00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:43.200
 and to purify

00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:43.700
 for himself

00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.180
 a people

00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:45.099
 of his own possession

00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:46.500
 who are zealous

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:48.079
 for good works.

00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:50.879
 So Jesus died

00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:51.680
 to redeem

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.440
 a people

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.399
 who are passionate

00:29:53.399 --> 00:29:55.019
 about good works.

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.680
 Who are passionate

00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:58.759
 about seeing fruit.

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.700
 Notice this logical progression

00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:05.279
 then in Paul's prayer.

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:07.079
 he prays

00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.379
 for loving hearts.

00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.740
 He prays

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.980
 for discerning minds.

00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:11.440
 He prays

00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:12.639
 for this inward purity

00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:13.539
 this outward

00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:14.379
 blamelessness

00:30:14.379 --> 00:30:15.359
 that results

00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:16.000
 in the fruit

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.279
 of righteousness.

00:30:19.379 --> 00:30:20.339
 And so we should

00:30:20.339 --> 00:30:20.980
 live in such a way

00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.740
 our hearts and minds

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.720
 should be so transformed

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.399
 by the gospel

00:30:23.399 --> 00:30:24.079
 that this is just

00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:25.220
 a natural outcome

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:25.960
 of God's work

00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:26.519
 in our lives.

00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.279
 But ultimately

00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:29.440
 this isn't the end

00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:29.899
 of the verse.

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.899
 It doesn't end here.

00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:31.440
 Paul's prayer

00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:32.000
 doesn't end

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.279
 with just our fruitfulness.

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.859
 Our fruitfulness

00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:36.039
 is not the ultimate goal.

00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.039
 We are filled

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.700
 with the fruit

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.240
 of righteousness

00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:39.980
 that comes

00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.879
 through Jesus Christ

00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:41.920
 to the glory

00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:43.099
 and praise

00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:44.240
 of God.

00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:46.799
 And so we bear fruit

00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:47.519
 not so we can

00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.200
 look good

00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:48.799
 or that we can

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.480
 receive the credit.

00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:50.319
 We bear fruit

00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:51.200
 so that God

00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:52.279
 receives the glory.

00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:54.119
 This is our ultimate aim.

00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:55.960
 This is our greatest ambition.

00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.599
 And so if we go back

00:30:58.599 --> 00:31:00.440
 to John 15 again

00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:01.259
 where Jesus calls

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:01.879
 himself the vine

00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.440
 in verse 8

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:02.860
 he says

00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:04.200
 by this my father

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:05.080
 is glorified

00:31:05.080 --> 00:31:06.540
 that you bear

00:31:06.540 --> 00:31:07.260
 much fruit

00:31:07.260 --> 00:31:08.880
 and so prove

00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:09.880
 to be my disciples.

00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:13.200
 So our fruitfulness

00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.920
 it points

00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:15.680
 to the greatness

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:17.020
 of God.

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:17.960
 It points

00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.640
 to the beauty

00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:19.580
 and the excellence

00:31:19.580 --> 00:31:21.000
 of God.

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.560
 It is he

00:31:22.560 --> 00:31:23.580
 who we praise

00:31:23.580 --> 00:31:24.140
 with our actions.

00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:24.600
 It is he

00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:25.340
 that we exalt

00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:26.620
 with our lives.

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.600
 If we think back

00:31:29.600 --> 00:31:30.180
 to the book

00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:30.680
 that I mentioned

00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:31.420
 at the very beginning

00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.600
 this book

00:31:32.600 --> 00:31:33.080
 on the history

00:31:33.080 --> 00:31:34.000
 of human progress

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:36.360
 the author states

00:31:36.360 --> 00:31:37.660
 he says

00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.100
 openness

00:31:38.100 --> 00:31:39.100
 has been

00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:40.180
 the greatest blessing

00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:40.820
 of mankind

00:31:40.820 --> 00:31:42.700
 and will continue

00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.360
 to provide us

00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:44.140
 with new sources

00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:44.779
 of wealth

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.580
 and technology.

00:31:47.360 --> 00:31:48.400
 And so in the mind

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.120
 of this author

00:31:49.120 --> 00:31:50.740
 human progress

00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:52.400
 is the ultimate end.

00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:54.080
 And so that's why

00:31:54.080 --> 00:31:54.759
 it's an imperative

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.460
 that he gives

00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:56.620
 that we need to create

00:31:56.619 --> 00:31:58.179
 political and economic

00:31:58.179 --> 00:31:59.819
 systems that are open

00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:01.319
 that we act

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:02.139
 as traitors

00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:02.839
 in such a way

00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:03.539
 that we can attain

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.099
 more wealth

00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:05.019
 and more technology

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.539
 and ultimately

00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:06.179
 more comfort.

00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.659
 That's the exact opposite

00:32:09.659 --> 00:32:10.259
 of what Paul

00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:11.019
 advocates for

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.500
 when he talks

00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.159
 about progress

00:32:12.159 --> 00:32:13.219
 in these verses.

00:32:14.739 --> 00:32:15.639
 Our sanctification

00:32:15.639 --> 00:32:17.219
 our fruitfulness

00:32:17.219 --> 00:32:18.159
 our holiness

00:32:18.159 --> 00:32:19.339
 is not the end goal

00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:20.459
 of our Christian life.

00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.279
 Instead it is

00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:22.899
 the means

00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:23.799
 by which we

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.799
 glorify God.

00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:26.700
 God is the ultimate ends

00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:27.839
 in our life.

00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:30.819
 The Westminster Catechism

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.639
 very first question

00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:32.519
 sums it up so well.

00:32:32.659 --> 00:32:33.759
 What is the chief end of man

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.899
 to glorify God

00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:36.480
 and to enjoy Him

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.119
 forever?

00:32:37.919 --> 00:32:38.879
 This should be the reason

00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:39.759
 for doing everything.

00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:40.740
 The reason we come here

00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.200
 to worship.

00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:42.139
 The reason the Word

00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:42.599
 is preached.

00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:43.419
 The reason we gather

00:32:43.419 --> 00:32:44.200
 as community groups

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:44.879
 that we're involved

00:32:44.879 --> 00:32:45.379
 in ministry.

00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.659
 The reason we work

00:32:46.659 --> 00:32:47.599
 and have families

00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.419
 and go to school.

00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:49.579
 All for the glory

00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:50.099
 of God.

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.940
 Paul sums it up well

00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:54.639
 in Romans 11.

00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:55.100
 He says,

00:32:55.320 --> 00:32:55.980
 For from Him

00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:56.840
 and through Him

00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:57.680
 and to Him

00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.940
 are all things.

00:32:59.259 --> 00:32:59.800
 To Him

00:32:59.800 --> 00:33:00.700
 be glory

00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.460
 forever.

00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:03.980
 And so when we

00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:04.840
 take a step back

00:33:04.840 --> 00:33:05.780
 we've looked at this prayer

00:33:05.780 --> 00:33:06.680
 in three parts.

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:08.220
 But if we consider

00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:09.020
 the prayer as a whole

00:33:09.020 --> 00:33:09.259
 yes,

00:33:09.540 --> 00:33:10.820
 Paul is praying

00:33:10.820 --> 00:33:12.020
 for the church

00:33:12.020 --> 00:33:13.300
 that they may

00:33:13.300 --> 00:33:14.340
 show progress

00:33:14.340 --> 00:33:14.960
 in their faith

00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:16.040
 that they may be holy

00:33:16.040 --> 00:33:17.220
 and blameless

00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:17.840
 and pure

00:33:17.840 --> 00:33:19.640
 that they may bear fruit.

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:21.000
 But if we boil it down

00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:21.880
 to what Paul

00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:22.840
 is really asking

00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:24.500
 He is asking God

00:33:24.500 --> 00:33:26.139
 to glorify Himself.

00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:28.779
 His prayer

00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:30.199
 for our progress

00:33:30.199 --> 00:33:30.959
 is ultimately

00:33:30.959 --> 00:33:31.579
 a prayer

00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:32.859
 for God

00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:33.819
 to be praised.

00:33:35.679 --> 00:33:36.779
 And so that needs

00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.519
 to be our prayer

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:37.939
 as well.

00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:38.619
 When we think about

00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:39.839
 progress in the Christian life

00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:40.559
 it's not about

00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.819
 how good we are

00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:43.599
 or how hard we try.

00:33:44.439 --> 00:33:45.259
 It's not about

00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:46.079
 proving ourselves

00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:46.839
 to God

00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:48.019
 or to others.

00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:50.960
 may it be our prayer

00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:51.779
 that God

00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:52.799
 deepen our love

00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:53.460
 so that He

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.740
 may receive the glory.

00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:56.279
 That He give us discernment

00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:57.519
 that He be praised

00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.559
 that we can have fruit

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.539
 in our lives

00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:00.079
 that ultimately

00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:00.599
 God

00:34:00.599 --> 00:34:01.859
 can be exalted.

00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:05.119
 That's our prayer

00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:05.759
 as believers.

00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:08.119
 That our fruit

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:09.579
 is not for our own benefit.

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:11.320
 We have already received

00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:11.840
 the benefit

00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:12.699
 of salvation

00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:13.659
 through the love

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.039
 of Christ.

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:15.139
 So let that love

00:34:15.139 --> 00:34:16.880
 embody us.

00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:18.400
 may be something

00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.039
 that we desire

00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:19.680
 to share

00:34:19.680 --> 00:34:20.400
 with one another

00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:20.980
 that ultimately

00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:21.440
 God

00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:22.559
 receives the glory

00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.599
 and the praise.

00:34:24.640 --> 00:34:25.420
 Let's pray.

00:34:30.160 --> 00:34:31.200
 God we thank You

00:34:31.200 --> 00:34:32.000
 for the example

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.760
 of Paul's prayer.

00:34:35.680 --> 00:34:36.920
 How he desires

00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:37.960
 that love

00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:39.280
 abound within the church.

00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:40.579
 Love that is grounded

00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.320
 in the love

00:34:41.320 --> 00:34:42.480
 of the Father.

00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:44.320
 The love

00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:44.900
 that the Son

00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.599
 has demonstrated

00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.300
 to us

00:34:46.300 --> 00:34:47.460
 through His

00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:48.420
 sacrificial death

00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:49.820
 that we may

00:34:49.820 --> 00:34:50.380
 have life.

00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:53.800
 God may we be

00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:54.420
 a church

00:34:54.420 --> 00:34:56.640
 that is characterized

00:34:56.640 --> 00:34:57.640
 by love

00:34:57.640 --> 00:35:00.840
 that is coupled

00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:01.580
 with knowledge

00:35:01.580 --> 00:35:02.320
 and discernment.

00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:03.880
 God we desire

00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:04.420
 fruitfulness

00:35:04.420 --> 00:35:05.220
 in our own lives

00:35:05.220 --> 00:35:06.260
 not that we receive

00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:06.700
 the praise

00:35:06.700 --> 00:35:07.400
 but that God

00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:08.800
 receives all the glory.

00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:12.840
 May that be

00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:13.740
 our heart's

00:35:13.740 --> 00:35:14.380
 desire.

00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:15.980
 we pray

00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.360
 in Jesus'

00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:16.760
 name.

00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:17.780
 Amen.

00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:21.000
 Now if you'll

00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:21.800
 stand for our

00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:22.539
 final hymn

00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:23.760
 the deep

00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:24.500
 deep love

00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.579
 of Jesus.

00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:28.360
 heaven.

00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:29.599
 If you'll come up

00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.259
 and then

00:35:30.259 --> 00:35:47.239
 larger

00:35:47.239 --> 00:35:48.759
 through the

00:35:48.759 --> 00:35:48.960
 peace

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:49.619
 is

00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:49.920
 where

00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:50.679
 you