WEBVTT

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 Good morning folks, great to see you today. Please do have those verses in 2 Corinthians open in front of you.

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 We are really excited to get into this series together, we've got so much to learn this morning.

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 But here's maybe a joke, an age-old joke, to kick us off and maybe just to kind of point us in the right direction.

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 Here's the joke, how many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?

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 Three. So one to climb the ladder, one to shake the ladder, and another one to work out how they're going to sue the ladder company.

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 Now just in case you think I'm singling out lawyers, used to be one.

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 But if you go on Google you'll find similar jokes all over the place about estate agents, car mechanics, football players, traffic wardens,

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 trades people, builders, bankers, people in investments, people in telesales, and owners of budget airlines.

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 In fact it was really hard today to try and think of a list of people who maybe aren't represented in this room.

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 And it's interesting isn't it, what those jokes kind of convey to us is that there's certain people in our lives, everyday lives,

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 who we instinctively have a really hard time taking them at their words.

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 And my question to you to think about is who would you add to that list?

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 Because many of us will know the pain of being burnt by broken and empty words.

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 There'll be others of us in this room who will know the shame, the crushing shame,

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 of being those who didn't follow through on our words.

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 And so into our lives and into our world where we're all desperate for someone and something that we can be all in on,

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 the good news of this passage is that it shows us the one person in this life whose words is absolutely rock solid.

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 And today we're going to take in one of the most famous and the most cherished verses in all of the Bible.

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 So maybe if you're new to the Bible today, maybe you're new to church,

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 you have picked a cracking Sunday to come and be with us because this really is,

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 this passage contains one of the most loved verses in all of the Bible and it's utterly wonderful.

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 But all of this comes in the context of changed travel plans.

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 Now we all know that feeling, don't we, of tangible disappointment when somebody cancels on you.

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 And those thoughts that run through our heads when we get that text, when we get that call,

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 did they get a better offer?

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 Do they really care? Maybe there's something I've done wrong.

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 Do they really want to spend time with me?

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 Do you know those kind of feelings when somebody cancels on you?

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 Do you know those kind of feelings when somebody cancels on you?

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 Those are the precise feelings and emotions that are hanging in the air in the backdrop of this passage

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 to this church in Corinth.

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 Track with me, we've got to get the backstory here for to understand both the depth and the glory of this passage.

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 So Paul has spent time with these Christians in Corinth

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 and they've developed this real loving bond between them.

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 Paul had originally told them, when he was with them,

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 that his plan, his travel plans,

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 his plan was to spend time, you see it on the map there, in Ephesus,

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 travel through and round Macedonia

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 and end up back in Corinth to spend the winter with them.

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 That was plan A.

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 And everybody was really excited about plan A.

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 We get to spend Christmas with Paul.

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 What a great deal.

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 But Paul rejigged his plans a bit,

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 meaning that he would visit Corinth not once but twice.

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 You see him refer to that in these verses

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 and that's what he's rehearsing from verse 15 onwards,

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 if you want to look at it there in the text.

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 It's what's making sense of this, right?

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 However, when Paul heard how things had got really tough in Corinth,

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 what he did is he changed his travel plans once again

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 and he just makes a beeline to go back to Corinth.

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 And that is what he's referring to at verse 1 of chapter 2

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 when he talks about, do you see it there, that painful visit.

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 So that's the visit he's talking about.

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 He's gone to Ephesus and he's changed his plans

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 and gone back to Corinth to deal with the situation there.

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 Probably likely that he's challenging some really bad behaviour,

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 some confused thinking.

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 But whatever's going on in that painful visit,

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 do you hear it in his voice?

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 Everybody's left that encounter really bruised.

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 And so what Paul has done is that instead,

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 he's left Corinth, but instead of going back again in person,

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 what he's done is he's wrote them a letter,

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 pouring out his heart to them, telling them how he feels.

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 That's likely what he's referring to at verse 3 of chapter 2.

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 It's a letter that we don't have,

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 but we trust that if God wanted us to have it,

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 in our Bibles we would have it.

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 But that visit, whatever happened there,

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 has caused quite the stir.

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 Now why would you write a letter instead of going in person?

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 You ever faced this conundrum before?

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 Answer, to give people time and space

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 to process what you're trying to say to them.

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 I do that all the time with my friends and my family

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 when I don't want them to put them on the spot

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 about a particular question I've got.

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 What I'll do is I'll text it in advance

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 rather than just putting it to them on the spot in person.

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 And the reason is just to give them time

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 to think about the answer

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 so I don't put them awkwardly on the spot.

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 Yeah?

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 So we do this kind of thing.

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 We text ahead before we see them in person.

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 That's the kind of thing Paul's doing here.

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 He's written a letter to give them time

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 to process and to pray and to think

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 on the things that he's saying.

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 But what has happened in the rawness of this situation

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 is that Paul's critics have got the rumour mill started

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 about Paul.

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 This guy says he's going to show up in person

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 always lets you down.

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 This guy's a flip-flop.

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 This guy's flaky.

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 This guy's undependable.

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 This guy's emotionally unstable.

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 This guy, and I think this is crucial here,

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 he's only in it for himself.

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 He doesn't care about you because if he loved you,

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 he would show his face.

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 And what they say is that this guy is just a hypocrite.

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 You know, I love that that's the words that we get

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 from the Greek word hypocrites,

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 which means an actor on a stage during a play.

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 It is an actor who's one thing behind a mask,

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 one thing with the mask,

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 and a totally other thing behind the mask.

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 That's where we get the word hypocrite from.

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 One thing on the mask, another thing behind the mask.

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 And that's what these folks are saying about Paul

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 in his absence.

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 He's a hypocrite.

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 And that's our world, isn't it?

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 Full of hypocrisy.

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 Here's a question that we're rightly asking ourselves

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 all the time.

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 In our world of, and this has been the last few years,

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 even the last few months, even the last few days,

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 in our world of hashtag me too,

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 in our world of fake news,

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 in our world of AI,

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 in our world of fact checking,

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 in our world where just a few weeks ago,

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 did you see the guy from Abercrombie and Fitch

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 exposed as somebody who was just abusing their power?

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 Does it not seem day after day,

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 we get another allegation about Mohammed Al-Fayed,

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 people who were just one thing in public,

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 but were a completely different thing in private.

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 And we rightly ask the question,

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 who can we trust?

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 And they're saying you can add Paul

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 to this whole list of people who in life

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 that you can't trust.

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 What's up for grabs in these verses

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 is Paul's authenticity.

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 Right?

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 Is he a fake?

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 Is he a fraud?

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 Because what they're trying to do,

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 if you discredit Paul,

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 then you can totally write off both his message

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 and his pattern of ministry.

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 Do you remember we saw this last week

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 when we thought about weakness as the way?

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 And that's the thing,

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 the false teachers in Corinth

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 because of the city in which they live

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 are trying to undermine.

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 You don't want to go that way.

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 You don't want to follow Paul.

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 You want to follow us.

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 Life shouldn't look unimpressive.

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 Life shouldn't be about suffering.

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 Life shouldn't be full of questions and hardship.

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 You undermine Paul.

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 You undermine his message

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 and his pattern of life.

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 So what's up for grabs here

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 is Paul's integrity.

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 And he defends his integrity.

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 We'll see this by making two appeals.

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 Here's the first one.

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 It is an appeal to his track record

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 of godly character.

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 Now, do you see it?

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 If you tap in there

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 at verse 12 of chapter 1,

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 Paul talks about how his what is clear?

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 His conscience is clear.

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 We don't talk much about our consciences these days,

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 do we?

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 But Paul's all up for talking about his conscience.

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 And he's talking about how

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 my aim is to do the right thing,

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 not in the eyes of man.

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 My aim is to do the right thing

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 in the eyes of God.

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 Now, we've got to be right here.

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 A clear conscience doesn't mean sinless.

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 A clear conscience means that

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 we're living in the light.

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 We're living in the light of Jesus.

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 It means that we live a life

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 where we're constantly asking God

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 by his spirit

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 to be constantly checking our hearts

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 and our motives.

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 I take it a clear conscience means

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 being able to put your hands up

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 when you got something wrong

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 and saying,

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 I own it.

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 I'm sorry.

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 It's what Christians in the past

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 used to refer to as

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 Coram Deo, right?

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 Coram,

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 the Latin meaning face,

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 Deo meaning God.

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 It just means living our lives

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 always before the face of God.

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 There's nothing off bounds.

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 There's no areas of our lives

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 that he doesn't see.

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 Living our lives in light

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 of the all-seeing,

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 all-loving,

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 and all-knowing God.

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 And that means that in life,

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 Jesus is the one

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 who we always aim to please.

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 And this is all wrapped up

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 in how Paul says

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 that he, Silas, and Timothy,

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 how they lived

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 when they were in Corinth.

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 I want you to see

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 these two phrases.

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 And I want you to think about

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 just how counter-cultural

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 these are.

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 How did they live among them?

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 Do you see these two phrases?

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 Simplicity,

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 or maybe you've got

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 holiness,

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 and godly sincerity.

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 Do you not love that?

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 Simplicity

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 and godly sincerity.

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 You know,

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 when I was young,

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 we used to cut out

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 photos of football players

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 and put them on my wall.

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 Players that I wanted to be like.

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 You ever do that?

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 People that you wanted to be like

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 when you grew up?

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 I want to be like this guy.

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 See,

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 when I get to the end of my life

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 and they put my gravestone there,

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 do you know the words

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 I want to be written on it?

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 Simplicity

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 and godly sincerity.

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 The more I go on in life,

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 the word I want for my life

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 is contentment

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 in Christ.

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 Do you see what he's saying here?

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 No hidden agendas.

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 No putting it on for the cameras.

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 We were just genuine.

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 You saw right through us.

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 We lived our lives in front of you.

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 You know

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 that we are the real deal.

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 I guess this is what we would say

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 in our culture today.

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 Our lives were an open book.

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 And so here's some

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 quick fire questions for you

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 just at this point

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 in this passage.

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 Friends,

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 I know many of us

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 are facing situations

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 right now,

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 perhaps at work,

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 perhaps with our

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 family and friends

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 where there's conflict.

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 Where there's tension.

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 Can I plead with

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 all of us

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 when we go through

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 times like this

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 in light of this passage,

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 above all else

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 to strive to maintain

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 our godly integrity.

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 Where is God calling

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 you and I to repent?

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 Is there hidden shame

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 and is there hidden sin

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 in our lives

00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:33.319
 that because of his love

00:12:33.319 --> 00:12:33.840
 for us

00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:35.679
 and because of the forgiveness

00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:37.000
 that's available in Jesus,

00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:38.039
 he's calling us

00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:38.860
 out of the darkness

00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:40.620
 to live our lives

00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:41.840
 in the light.

00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:44.159
 What part of your character

00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:45.939
 and my character

00:12:45.940 --> 00:12:47.940
 is he moulding

00:12:47.940 --> 00:12:49.140
 right now?

00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:51.240
 You know,

00:12:51.280 --> 00:12:51.680
 in our world

00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:52.880
 of imposter syndrome,

00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:55.360
 Jesus frees us

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.300
 to live a life

00:12:56.300 --> 00:12:57.400
 of both radical

00:12:57.400 --> 00:12:58.720
 and liberating

00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:00.060
 simplicity.

00:13:01.520 --> 00:13:01.760
 Do you know,

00:13:01.820 --> 00:13:02.760
 they've got that phrase,

00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:03.180
 don't they,

00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.500
 that culture eats

00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.700
 strategy for breakfast?

00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:06.340
 You heard that?

00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:06.920
 It's so true.

00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:08.140
 Culture eats strategy

00:13:08.140 --> 00:13:08.740
 for breakfast.

00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:09.620
 Can I give you another one?

00:13:10.820 --> 00:13:11.980
 Character eats gifting

00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:12.560
 for dinner.

00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:15.319
 It really does.

00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:18.039
 Character eats gifting

00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:19.339
 for dinner.

00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:22.679
 And just to encourage us

00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:23.079
 this morning,

00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:23.899
 if we feel like we're

00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:24.439
 living our lives

00:13:24.439 --> 00:13:24.879
 in the world

00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:25.739
 and no one notices,

00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:28.439
 just from my short time

00:13:28.439 --> 00:13:28.899
 in the workplace,

00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:29.159
 remember,

00:13:29.239 --> 00:13:29.779
 as a young lawyer,

00:13:30.359 --> 00:13:30.559
 friends,

00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:31.279
 people notice

00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:32.359
 way more than they,

00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:33.500
 you think they do.

00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.679
 When you live a life

00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:36.319
 that's godly

00:13:36.319 --> 00:13:37.419
 in front of people,

00:13:37.959 --> 00:13:39.259
 they really do notice.

00:13:40.059 --> 00:13:40.679
 It will come out

00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:41.539
 on a work night out,

00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:42.219
 it will come out

00:13:42.219 --> 00:13:43.019
 on a drinks evening.

00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:44.480
 People notice

00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:46.199
 when we live our lives

00:13:46.199 --> 00:13:47.379
 as walk-in question marks.

00:13:47.459 --> 00:13:48.620
 What is it that makes them tick?

00:13:48.699 --> 00:13:49.439
 Why are they not behaving

00:13:49.439 --> 00:13:49.899
 like us?

00:13:49.939 --> 00:13:50.519
 What's going on?

00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:53.199
 In a world

00:13:53.199 --> 00:13:54.799
 where we so often chase,

00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:56.059
 and I'm so guilty of this,

00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:57.399
 the next big thing,

00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:58.179
 right?

00:13:58.559 --> 00:13:59.779
 The next big holiday,

00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:01.039
 the next big house move,

00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:02.459
 the next big job promotion.

00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:04.039
 Do you see Paul refer there

00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:04.919
 at verse 14

00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:06.299
 about what the next big thing

00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:07.259
 is on his radar?

00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:08.240
 And this is why

00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.480
 he acts like he does.

00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:12.240
 The next big thing

00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.159
 on the mind of the Christian

00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:15.200
 is the day of the Lord.

00:14:17.060 --> 00:14:17.680
 Do you see how

00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:18.399
 in our world

00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.720
 of short-term gains

00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:21.159
 and short-term goals,

00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:23.240
 Jesus woos us

00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:24.220
 to him

00:14:24.220 --> 00:14:26.159
 and calls us

00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:26.680
 to a life

00:14:26.680 --> 00:14:27.720
 of long-term

00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:28.779
 patient plodding.

00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:30.480
 In the words

00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:31.159
 of Martin Luther,

00:14:31.420 --> 00:14:34.080
 he said this,

00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:34.639
 there are two days

00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.400
 in my calendar,

00:14:36.020 --> 00:14:36.560
 this day

00:14:36.560 --> 00:14:37.620
 and that day.

00:14:38.040 --> 00:14:38.480
 Love it.

00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:39.540
 This day,

00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:40.840
 that day.

00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:42.540
 So he appeals

00:14:42.540 --> 00:14:43.920
 to a track record

00:14:43.920 --> 00:14:44.940
 of godly character.

00:14:45.280 --> 00:14:45.660
 Secondly,

00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:46.420
 he appeals

00:14:46.420 --> 00:14:47.420
 to a diary

00:14:47.420 --> 00:14:48.980
 driven by gospel motives.

00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.680
 And he does

00:14:50.680 --> 00:14:51.100
 what he does

00:14:51.100 --> 00:14:51.980
 because he's following

00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:52.680
 the Lord.

00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:53.740
 Get that right?

00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:54.780
 He does what he does

00:14:54.780 --> 00:14:56.840
 because he loves

00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:58.100
 them so dearly.

00:14:58.280 --> 00:14:59.200
 Do you see

00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:00.860
 the affectionate language

00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:02.220
 that Paul uses

00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:02.940
 to describe

00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:03.800
 how he feels

00:15:03.800 --> 00:15:04.860
 about these believers?

00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:05.720
 As he says,

00:15:05.800 --> 00:15:06.419
 Dear Corinthians,

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:07.300
 you are never,

00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:08.980
 ever far from my heart.

00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:11.360
 Verse 4 of chapter 2.

00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:13.120
 Do you see

00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:13.539
 what he's saying?

00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.240
 When I picked up

00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.060
 my pen,

00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:15.980
 probably wasn't a pen,

00:15:16.220 --> 00:15:16.980
 probably with a quill,

00:15:17.560 --> 00:15:18.139
 to write,

00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:20.200
 I did so

00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:21.159
 with tears

00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:22.200
 in my eyes.

00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:23.720
 Yeah?

00:15:24.060 --> 00:15:24.980
 I did so

00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:26.200
 with much anguish

00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:27.340
 in my heart.

00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.100
 Such is,

00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:28.899
 right at the end there,

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:30.420
 such is the depth

00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:31.879
 of the love

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:33.500
 that I have for you.

00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:34.860
 He is pouring out

00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:35.500
 his heart

00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.919
 on this page.

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.620
 You can feel

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.519
 the tears

00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:40.219
 smudging the ink

00:15:40.219 --> 00:15:40.959
 as he writes.

00:15:43.599 --> 00:15:44.599
 Such is the depth

00:15:44.599 --> 00:15:45.479
 of his love for them.

00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:46.639
 Even in the conflict,

00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.679
 even in the chaos,

00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.500
 he's still clinging

00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:49.039
 to the fact

00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:49.579
 that he wants

00:15:49.579 --> 00:15:50.319
 these guys

00:15:50.319 --> 00:15:51.459
 to progress

00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:52.479
 in their love

00:15:52.479 --> 00:15:52.979
 for Jesus.

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:53.299
 Now,

00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.719
 here's what I've been

00:15:54.719 --> 00:15:55.779
 asking myself all week.

00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:58.860
 What would I have done

00:15:58.860 --> 00:15:59.740
 in this situation?

00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:02.699
 I reckon

00:16:02.699 --> 00:16:03.759
 if I was in a situation

00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.240
 like this,

00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:05.439
 with conflict like this,

00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:06.659
 I think I probably

00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:07.120
 would have been

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:07.719
 tapping out.

00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.379
 Probably would have

00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:11.120
 called it a date.

00:16:11.319 --> 00:16:12.279
 Probably this were

00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:13.319
 us in our world.

00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:13.659
 We would have

00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:14.539
 cancelled each other.

00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:14.779
 Yeah?

00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:17.379
 In our world

00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.079
 that too easily

00:16:18.079 --> 00:16:18.819
 walks away

00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:19.659
 when a relationship

00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:20.620
 gets messy

00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:22.519
 or costly,

00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:24.779
 I've been so

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:26.139
 profoundly affected

00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.839
 by the fact

00:16:26.839 --> 00:16:27.399
 that the love

00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:27.939
 of Christ

00:16:27.939 --> 00:16:29.399
 by the indwelling

00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:30.379
 spirit in Paul

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:32.459
 causes him

00:16:32.459 --> 00:16:33.799
 not to withdraw.

00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.840
 It causes him

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.620
 to press

00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:37.740
 all the more

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:39.220
 in to this

00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:40.120
 relationship,

00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:41.720
 persevering in

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.740
 prayer and affection.

00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:44.799
 He doesn't

00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:45.639
 cancel and run.

00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.459
 Paul pours his

00:16:47.459 --> 00:16:48.100
 heart out

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:49.120
 towards them.

00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:49.639
 Do you see it?

00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:51.720
 Friends,

00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.319
 I just wonder

00:16:52.319 --> 00:16:52.960
 if there's a

00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.939
 strained relationship

00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:54.600
 that the Lord

00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:55.320
 might be putting

00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:56.440
 on your heart

00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:57.860
 right now

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:59.200
 to fight

00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.340
 to see right.

00:17:02.640 --> 00:17:03.560
 And with that

00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:04.460
 we get a fascinating

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.160
 little insight

00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:06.059
 into what makes

00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:07.019
 Paul tick

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.940
 and I find this

00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.400
 hugely challenging.

00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.380
 What does he want?

00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.539
 He wants their

00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:14.080
 joy in the Lord.

00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:14.779
 Do you see that?

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:17.080
 He wants their

00:17:17.080 --> 00:17:17.860
 joy in the Lord.

00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:18.740
 That's why he lives.

00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:19.400
 That's why he does

00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:19.860
 what he does.

00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:20.539
 Not for him.

00:17:20.820 --> 00:17:21.700
 He does it for them.

00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:25.180
 We make decisions

00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:25.799
 all the time,

00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:26.180
 don't we?

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.160
 When we make decisions

00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:28.200
 because of the world

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.259
 that we've grown up in

00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.100
 and the air that

00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:31.080
 we're breathing every day,

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:31.960
 we are used to

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.759
 making decisions

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.940
 where we're looking

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:35.100
 after number one

00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:35.960
 first.

00:17:36.580 --> 00:17:37.279
 Everything and

00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.019
 everyone else

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:39.700
 falls in behind that.

00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:41.400
 And I wonder

00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:41.860
 if some of us

00:17:41.860 --> 00:17:42.580
 are facing a big

00:17:42.580 --> 00:17:43.420
 decision right now.

00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:43.860
 Can I ask you

00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:44.380
 to think about

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:45.120
 what are the top

00:17:45.120 --> 00:17:45.960
 three factors

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.620
 in that

00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:47.860
 decision making

00:17:47.860 --> 00:17:48.380
 process?

00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:51.820
 Here's the challenge

00:17:51.820 --> 00:17:52.760
 of this passage

00:17:52.760 --> 00:17:53.520
 as we see

00:17:53.520 --> 00:17:54.180
 Paul's heart

00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:54.700
 for them.

00:17:55.840 --> 00:17:56.460
 Where does

00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:58.000
 following Jesus

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.600
 and loving

00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:00.120
 and serving

00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:00.960
 his people

00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:02.480
 fit into

00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.500
 our decision making?

00:18:04.860 --> 00:18:05.860
 The decisions

00:18:05.860 --> 00:18:06.420
 that we make,

00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.020
 do we think about

00:18:07.020 --> 00:18:07.760
 the impact

00:18:07.760 --> 00:18:08.840
 that they will have

00:18:08.840 --> 00:18:10.140
 on our fellow

00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:11.980
 brothers and sisters?

00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:12.280
 See,

00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:12.780
 if the Lord

00:18:12.780 --> 00:18:14.300
 is moving you on

00:18:14.300 --> 00:18:15.420
 to a different

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.800
 season of your life,

00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:17.780
 have you thought

00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.339
 about how you

00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:19.039
 can finish

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.779
 as well as you

00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:20.119
 can?

00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:22.500
 Does finding

00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.200
 a good local

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:23.819
 church where

00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.740
 you can grow

00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:26.399
 and be a blessing

00:18:26.399 --> 00:18:27.220
 to other brothers

00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:27.819
 and sisters

00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.879
 is that feature

00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:30.440
 in our decision

00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:30.899
 making?

00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:32.799
 You know,

00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:33.399
 one thing I think

00:18:33.399 --> 00:18:34.000
 that God has

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.700
 taught me

00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:37.139
 through his word

00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:37.960
 over the years

00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:38.539
 through the things

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.500
 that I've experienced

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:41.379
 is that he's

00:18:41.379 --> 00:18:41.819
 concerned,

00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:42.220
 yes,

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:42.799
 about what we

00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.700
 decide to do

00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:45.099
 in our lives,

00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:47.299
 but equally,

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:47.819
 and you could

00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.220
 argue

00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:49.839
 probably more

00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:50.200
 so,

00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:51.740
 he's interested

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.599
 in the thought

00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:53.619
 process that we

00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:54.159
 went through

00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:54.899
 to get there.

00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:57.720
 What if instead

00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.680
 of asking ourselves

00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:59.639
 what should we do,

00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:02.039
 we asked ourselves

00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.919
 first and foremost

00:19:02.919 --> 00:19:03.940
 who should we be?

00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:07.440
 And as we do that,

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.180
 we pray that God

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:08.819
 would shape our

00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.359
 character

00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:10.779
 so that we will

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.519
 come to reflect

00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.960
 more of his

00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.700
 priorities

00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:15.160
 as we see

00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:15.779
 them in Jesus.

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.039
 And I think

00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.940
 that's the thing

00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:20.000
 that takes us

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.819
 beyond this

00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:21.460
 being just

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:21.960
 a set

00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:23.019
 of good morals.

00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:24.819
 Because it would

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.059
 be the easiest

00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:25.440
 thing to do

00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.799
 to cut ties

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.460
 of this passage

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:27.980
 here and say

00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.080
 let's go and do it.

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.080
 But I know my own

00:19:30.080 --> 00:19:30.279
 heart,

00:19:30.340 --> 00:19:30.700
 I don't think I'll

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.440
 last ten minutes

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.059
 for that thing.

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:32.720
 Okay?

00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:34.840
 Paul tells us

00:19:34.840 --> 00:19:35.340
 how he came

00:19:35.340 --> 00:19:36.059
 to be this

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:36.799
 kind of person.

00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.740
 And what follows

00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.400
 is the most

00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.840
 wonderful description

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:42.039
 of the Bible

00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:43.519
 story that exists

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:45.199
 anywhere in

00:19:45.199 --> 00:19:45.599
 Scripture.

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.299
 And the point

00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:47.019
 is Paul is

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:47.399
 saying that

00:19:47.399 --> 00:19:48.299
 I've come

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.019
 to be this

00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.699
 kind of person

00:19:49.699 --> 00:19:50.859
 only because

00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:51.480
 God is this

00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.079
 kind of God.

00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:54.439
 If you're new

00:19:54.439 --> 00:19:54.980
 to the Bible

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.279
 here,

00:19:55.379 --> 00:19:56.220
 what Paul writes

00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:57.019
 at verse 20,

00:19:57.159 --> 00:19:57.779
 it's on the screen,

00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.480
 I'd love you to

00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.039
 look at it in the

00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.359
 text.

00:19:59.699 --> 00:20:00.519
 What he writes

00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.339
 here is the

00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.279
 cheat code for

00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.059
 understanding the

00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:03.339
 Bible.

00:20:04.419 --> 00:20:04.859
 Right?

00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:06.220
 It is the key

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.319
 that unlocks

00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:08.399
 the whole thing.

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.259
 And here it is,

00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:10.679
 he writes it

00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.019
 there,

00:20:12.080 --> 00:20:12.740
 that Jesus

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.180
 is the yes

00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:15.680
 to all of

00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.420
 God's promises.

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:18.640
 I think so

00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:19.279
 often we're

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.320
 familiar perhaps

00:20:20.320 --> 00:20:20.920
 as Christians

00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.960
 with the stories

00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.940
 of the Bible,

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.539
 perhaps to

00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.220
 the neglect

00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:27.019
 of understanding

00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:27.920
 the story

00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:29.279
 of the Bible.

00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:31.759
 Friends,

00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:32.160
 to read the

00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:32.560
 Old Testament

00:20:32.560 --> 00:20:33.160
 without Jesus

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:33.880
 is like watching

00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:34.480
 a box set

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:34.960
 all the way

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.600
 through and

00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.160
 then realizing

00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:36.820
 the last one

00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:37.420
 isn't uploaded

00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:37.799
 yet.

00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.120
 You ever

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:38.380
 heard that

00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:38.799
 experience?

00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:40.819
 reading the

00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.240
 Old Testament

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:41.879
 without Jesus

00:20:41.879 --> 00:20:42.700
 is like

00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:43.740
 persevering with

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.579
 a jigsaw puzzle

00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:45.180
 before getting

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:45.639
 to the end

00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:46.139
 and realizing

00:20:46.139 --> 00:20:46.500
 that there's

00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:46.899
 a piece

00:20:46.899 --> 00:20:47.779
 missing.

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.700
 Every type,

00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:52.879
 every pattern,

00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:55.099
 every promise,

00:20:55.899 --> 00:20:56.579
 every loose

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.619
 ended question,

00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.419
 every longing,

00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:01.539
 all roads

00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:03.819
 lead to

00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.240
 Jesus.

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:07.400
 Jesus is the

00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:11.900
 promised

00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:13.620
 Genesis 3

00:21:13.620 --> 00:21:14.140
 serpent

00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:14.700
 crusher

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.059
 who will

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:15.759
 reverse the

00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.519
 effects of

00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:16.960
 sin and

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.279
 death.

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.200
 He is the

00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:18.559
 one who

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.079
 will crush

00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:19.640
 Satan's

00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:19.960
 head.

00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:21.720
 Jesus is

00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.220
 the one

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:22.779
 through whom

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.220
 God will

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:23.839
 bless the

00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.559
 nations as

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.160
 God promised

00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:26.240
 Abraham way

00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:26.839
 back in

00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:27.720
 Genesis 12.

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:29.720
 Jesus is

00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.420
 the end to

00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:31.180
 the sacrificial

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:32.039
 system that we

00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.440
 see in

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:32.960
 Leviticus.

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.620
 He is the

00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:34.680
 perfect priest.

00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.299
 Jesus is the

00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:37.319
 greater Joshua

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.559
 who will fully

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.279
 and finally

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.880
 lead his

00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:40.600
 people into

00:21:40.600 --> 00:21:41.279
 the promised

00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:41.840
 land where

00:21:41.840 --> 00:21:42.059
 they will

00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.840
 have rest.

00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.460
 He is the

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.299
 promised Davidic

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:45.799
 king who will

00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.360
 defeat his

00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:46.940
 enemies and

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.720
 win rest for

00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:48.340
 his people.

00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.380
 He is the

00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:50.420
 suffering servant

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:52.160
 of Isaiah 53.

00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:53.940
 He is the

00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.660
 promised mighty

00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:55.200
 king from

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.039
 Bethlehem that

00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.920
 Micah spoke

00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.819
 about and on

00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:59.259
 and on and

00:21:59.259 --> 00:22:00.700
 on we could

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:00.940
 go.

00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.380
 Here's the

00:22:01.380 --> 00:22:01.720
 point.

00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:04.220
 God is not

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.240
 like a jazz

00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:07.100
 musician who's

00:22:07.100 --> 00:22:07.620
 taken a

00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:08.140
 notion to

00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:09.000
 improvise.

00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:12.360
 Evil doesn't

00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:13.000
 have him on

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:13.700
 the back foot.

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.259
 God is not

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:15.340
 responding to

00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:16.340
 world events as

00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:17.059
 they happen

00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.000
 thinking I

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.740
 didn't see that

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.120
 coming.

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:20.799
 No, Jesus

00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:22.160
 is the glorious

00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:23.799
 climax to

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.620
 God's plan,

00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.180
 get this,

00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.360
 hatched before

00:22:26.360 --> 00:22:27.079
 the foundation

00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:28.000
 of the world

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.400
 to rescue

00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:31.359
 guilty, sinful,

00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.599
 clueless and

00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.720
 weary human

00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.759
 beings like

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.319
 us.

00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.660
 I think so

00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.559
 often we

00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:41.220
 come to this

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:44.819
 book and we

00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.299
 think it's

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:45.859
 about us.

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.000
 Friends, can I

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.420
 say that's

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.180
 precisely where

00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:50.160
 you and I go

00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:51.059
 wrong with our

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.660
 Bible reading?

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.420
 Because we come

00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:54.079
 to this and we

00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:55.059
 go looking for

00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:55.380
 us.

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:55.900
 Can I tell you

00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:56.380
 what's the way

00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:57.040
 more satisfying

00:22:57.040 --> 00:22:57.800
 experience?

00:22:59.200 --> 00:22:59.780
 The way more

00:22:59.780 --> 00:23:01.180
 eye-opening

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.220
 experience is to

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.980
 come to this

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:04.220
 and go looking

00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:05.320
 for him.

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.640
 The great lover

00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:08.620
 and the great

00:23:08.620 --> 00:23:09.800
 pursuer of

00:23:09.800 --> 00:23:10.400
 souls.

00:23:11.280 --> 00:23:12.220
 Jesus Christ is

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.020
 God's yes to

00:23:13.020 --> 00:23:13.820
 all his promises.

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.040
 Christianity is

00:23:17.040 --> 00:23:18.820
 a yes religion.

00:23:19.860 --> 00:23:20.040
 Right?

00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.500
 There's tons of

00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.240
 stuff that we say

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.880
 no to that the

00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.920
 world says yes to

00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:25.700
 but that only

00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.500
 happens because

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:26.940
 we've been

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:28.940
 captivated by the

00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:30.100
 life-transforming

00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:31.080
 message of Jesus

00:23:31.080 --> 00:23:31.920
 who is the most

00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:33.279
 significant yes

00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:34.300
 that you and I

00:23:34.300 --> 00:23:35.620
 can ever hope

00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:36.500
 to know.

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.720
 It's all about

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.000
 him.

00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:42.500
 You know,

00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:42.960
 there's an old

00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:44.039
 pub down in

00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.759
 Oxford called

00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:47.779
 the Eagle and

00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:49.900
 Child and it's

00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.380
 got a plaque

00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:51.039
 inside that

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.860
 commemorates it.

00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.480
 It's the place

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.240
 where C.S.

00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:53.779
 Lewis and

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.400
 J.R.R.

00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.240
 Tolkien and a

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.660
 few others

00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:56.240
 used to meet

00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:56.940
 to talk about

00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:57.680
 life, God and

00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.019
 everything.

00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.680
 You know the

00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:00.900
 whole, if you

00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:01.579
 could go back in

00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:02.180
 time in a time

00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:02.839
 machine to any

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.480
 point in history,

00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:03.960
 where would you

00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.160
 go?

00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.620
 See for me, this

00:24:05.620 --> 00:24:06.339
 is up there as

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:06.740
 one of them.

00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:07.920
 Imagine eavesdropping

00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.420
 in on those

00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.160
 conversations.

00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:10.740
 That's where I'd

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.319
 go in my time

00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:11.620
 machine.

00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:13.259
 That and 1924

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:13.880
 when Adrian won

00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:14.579
 the Scottish Cup

00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:15.539
 because believe me

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.160
 that ain't happening

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.720
 again anytime soon.

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:19.839
 But one of those

00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:20.640
 conversations that

00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:21.240
 happens between

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.059
 Lewis and Tolkien

00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:23.100
 apparently goes,

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:23.720
 the two of them

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.579
 are talking about

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.819
 stories.

00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.860
 And one turns to

00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:28.339
 the other, I can't

00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:28.980
 remember who to who,

00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:29.819
 but he says, do you

00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:30.740
 know why we love

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.880
 stories so much?

00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:34.279
 Because we're in

00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:34.579
 one.

00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:37.120
 We're in one.

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:40.059
 This is what Paul

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.900
 is saying here.

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.920
 His life is caught

00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:43.120
 up in God's

00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:44.380
 wonderful story

00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:44.839
 about his

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.519
 faithfulness and

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.059
 his love.

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:48.079
 And I think,

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:48.779
 friends, we need

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:51.480
 to feel the

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:54.379
 pressure off us

00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:55.139
 trying to be the

00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:56.019
 hero of our own

00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.579
 stories.

00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.740
 We need to feel

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.919
 the pressure off

00:25:00.919 --> 00:25:02.279
 trying to always be

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.319
 winning at life.

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:04.879
 Right?

00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:05.599
 We need to feel

00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.639
 the pressure off

00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:12.879
 of smashing it

00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:13.460
 at parenting.

00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:15.620
 to feel the

00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.519
 pressure off of

00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.140
 acing your

00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:17.680
 studies.

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.819
 Feel the

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.600
 pressure off of

00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:20.019
 trying to make

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.920
 every decision

00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:21.700
 perfectly.

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.620
 Having it all

00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:25.319
 together with your

00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:25.900
 mental health.

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.640
 Feel the pressure

00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.180
 off.

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.120
 Or entertaining

00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:31.120
 that paralyzing

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:32.100
 pressure to find

00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:33.140
 your passion and

00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:34.720
 your goal in

00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.000
 life.

00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:35.819
 Feel the

00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:37.740
 pressure off.

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:37.799
 love.

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.579
 Because this

00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:40.339
 tells us by

00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:42.720
 grace that we

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.440
 have been caught

00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.559
 up in God's

00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:46.099
 wonderful story.

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.819
 We're participating

00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.480
 in it.

00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:50.700
 Where Jesus is

00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:51.700
 the glorious

00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:53.079
 yes.

00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:55.900
 And the only

00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:56.759
 thing left to

00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.420
 happen, and this

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.120
 was the kids talk,

00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:58.480
 wasn't it?

00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.500
 I'd love to tell you

00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.259
 Pete and I plan that

00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:00.779
 stuff, but we

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.120
 don't.

00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:03.319
 Not one of God's

00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:04.220
 good promises has

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:04.880
 ever failed.

00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:07.360
 The only one yet

00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:09.160
 to happen in

00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:11.560
 the story is

00:26:11.560 --> 00:26:12.320
 for Jesus to

00:26:12.320 --> 00:26:13.200
 come back and

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:14.560
 decisively conquer

00:26:14.560 --> 00:26:16.460
 evil, justly

00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:17.220
 judge those who

00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:18.020
 haven't accepted

00:26:18.020 --> 00:26:19.320
 him, and make

00:26:19.320 --> 00:26:21.000
 all things

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.780
 new.

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:25.120
 And that's why

00:26:25.120 --> 00:26:25.840
 he must refer

00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:26.500
 here to the

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.400
 spirit as the

00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:28.140
 guarantee.

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:30.240
 As if to say

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.180
 the spirit living

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:31.900
 inside of every

00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:32.600
 single believer

00:26:32.600 --> 00:26:33.820
 testifies to us

00:26:33.820 --> 00:26:34.860
 that that is

00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:36.139
 true.

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.519
 Friends, my

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.399
 question to you

00:26:38.399 --> 00:26:39.439
 as we draw to

00:26:39.439 --> 00:26:40.419
 a close is, do

00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:42.000
 you know the

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.500
 story?

00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.899
 Where are your

00:26:45.899 --> 00:26:47.119
 gaps in your

00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:48.359
 thinking?

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.500
 You know, we're

00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.059
 doing this men's

00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:50.819
 breakfast again on

00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:52.459
 the 23rd, and it's

00:26:52.459 --> 00:26:53.519
 free for anybody to

00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:53.699
 come.

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.199
 We'll spend some

00:26:54.199 --> 00:26:54.659
 time eating

00:26:54.659 --> 00:26:55.139
 together.

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:55.779
 We're going to

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:57.819
 interview a man

00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.500
 called Martin about

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.299
 his life and his

00:26:59.299 --> 00:27:00.179
 faith and his work

00:27:00.179 --> 00:27:00.659
 and how he does

00:27:00.659 --> 00:27:01.199
 all that stuff.

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:01.819
 But part of it,

00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:02.299
 we're going to read

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.959
 this book called

00:27:02.959 --> 00:27:04.079
 Enjoying God by

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:04.839
 Tim Chester.

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.399
 You can pick them

00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:06.960
 up at the back.

00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.699
 We've got a few

00:27:07.699 --> 00:27:08.839
 still to sell, but

00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:09.480
 we're going to just

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.439
 spend 10, 15, 20

00:27:10.439 --> 00:27:11.379
 minutes talking about

00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:12.159
 this book together.

00:27:12.699 --> 00:27:13.639
 If what I'm saying

00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:14.379
 here is connecting

00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:15.379
 with you, this is a

00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:16.720
 great place to go.

00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:18.259
 Knowing God by

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.039
 Tim Chester.

00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:20.500
 Let me ask you,

00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:21.279
 when was the last

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.079
 time you saw a

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:23.240
 glimpse of Jesus in

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:24.039
 the scriptures that

00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.939
 caused your heart to

00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:25.199
 sing?

00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:27.419
 You know, my

00:27:27.419 --> 00:27:28.299
 favorite story last

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:29.359
 year was hearing a

00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:30.240
 story about an

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.059
 older saint in this

00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:32.319
 church who will

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.419
 remain nameless,

00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:33.940
 although if you

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.860
 come and badger me

00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:35.420
 afterwards, I might

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.960
 let it squeak, who

00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.840
 in one of the many

00:27:37.840 --> 00:27:38.779
 Bible studies in

00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.560
 this church, when

00:27:39.560 --> 00:27:40.580
 they saw something

00:27:40.580 --> 00:27:41.460
 about Jesus that

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.140
 they hadn't seen

00:27:42.140 --> 00:27:43.920
 before, they let

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.920
 out a little sigh of

00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.259
 delight.

00:27:47.840 --> 00:27:48.900
 We never stop

00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.279
 learning.

00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.560
 Never stop

00:27:50.560 --> 00:27:50.900
 learning.

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:53.140
 There's more of

00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:54.259
 Jesus here to know

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:54.860
 than I think we

00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:56.080
 will ever get to the

00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:56.800
 bottom of.

00:27:57.880 --> 00:27:58.940
 We never stop

00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.259
 learning.

00:27:59.380 --> 00:28:00.039
 He is God's

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:01.500
 glorious yes to

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:01.940
 all of his

00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.359
 promises.

00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:04.980
 And you say,

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.559
 hang on a minute,

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.059
 I thought we were

00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.779
 talking about travel

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.259
 plans.

00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.240
 And I think this is

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.779
 Paul's point.

00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:11.640
 I'm faithful.

00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.839
 I'm only faithful

00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:14.119
 because the story of

00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:15.559
 God's grace and his

00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.900
 faithfulness, I've been

00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.900
 caught up into that

00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:18.420
 story.

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.920
 Do you see how it is

00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:20.900
 Jesus Christ who

00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:22.160
 produces in us this

00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.880
 transparency and this

00:28:23.880 --> 00:28:25.180
 radical simplicity?

00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.900
 A life that's not

00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:27.779
 trying to impress

00:28:27.779 --> 00:28:28.240
 people.

00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:29.579
 A life that's not

00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:30.240
 trying to be

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:31.339
 two-faced.

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.579
 A life where we

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.359
 don't talk ourselves

00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:33.779
 up.

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.420
 A life where we

00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:34.980
 don't flatter

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.559
 others.

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.000
 A life where we

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.640
 don't live for the

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.319
 pleasure of other

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:38.799
 people.

00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:39.859
 A life where we

00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:40.799
 don't exaggerate our

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.339
 importance.

00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:42.400
 A life where we

00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:42.940
 don't hide our

00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.279
 weakness.

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.380
 This is what God's

00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.339
 story of grace does

00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.440
 when it burrows its

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.420
 way down into our

00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:49.160
 lives and into our

00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:49.640
 hearts.

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.279
 So friends, would

00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:55.279
 our friends say and

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:56.180
 families say that we

00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:57.200
 are people marked by

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:59.680
 simplicity and godly

00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.140
 sincerity.

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.100
 You know, just to

00:29:01.100 --> 00:29:01.940
 bring us back to the

00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:04.400
 big thing, I want

00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:05.180
 just to close by

00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:05.920
 telling you, and you

00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.480
 can turn around and

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.080
 look at them if you

00:29:07.080 --> 00:29:08.740
 want, about the glass

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.880
 doors in this foyer.

00:29:11.080 --> 00:29:12.140
 Every single one of us

00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:12.900
 walked in here today.

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.460
 Do you see how there's

00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:15.100
 two glass doors that

00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:15.620
 you walked in?

00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:18.580
 So on Monday we had

00:29:18.580 --> 00:29:19.700
 Michael's funeral.

00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:20.819
 Something I learned at

00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:23.340
 this funeral is that

00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:24.440
 Michael was the

00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:25.360
 central, one of the

00:29:25.360 --> 00:29:26.360
 central drivers of the

00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:27.519
 team that designed that

00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.879
 glass foyer.

00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:32.099
 Now previously, before

00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:33.459
 my time, but Pete tells

00:29:33.459 --> 00:29:34.399
 me this, there were two

00:29:34.399 --> 00:29:35.899
 brown partition doors,

00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:38.139
 two brown partition doors

00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:38.819
 that went all the way

00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.799
 along that people had to

00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.859
 pass through to get into

00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:41.519
 this hall.

00:29:42.979 --> 00:29:44.679
 And a generation before

00:29:44.679 --> 00:29:45.579
 us sensed that our

00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.559
 neighbours and people who

00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.719
 walked past this building

00:29:47.719 --> 00:29:49.339
 thought of this church as

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:50.919
 a mysterious place where

00:29:50.919 --> 00:29:52.019
 no one could see what

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.859
 happened inside.

00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:55.079
 So what they did is they

00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:56.059
 raised the money wanting

00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:57.419
 to change that perception

00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:59.059
 and they drew up plans,

00:29:59.159 --> 00:30:00.299
 they put in the graph to

00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.479
 take out those brown

00:30:01.479 --> 00:30:04.339
 partition walls and put

00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:06.259
 in all that glass.

00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.479
 And what they wanted to

00:30:08.479 --> 00:30:11.119
 show outsiders, passers-by,

00:30:11.639 --> 00:30:13.439
 you can see straight in

00:30:13.439 --> 00:30:13.759
 here.

00:30:14.459 --> 00:30:15.199
 Now of course it's to let

00:30:15.199 --> 00:30:15.979
 light in, isn't it, as

00:30:15.979 --> 00:30:16.079
 well?

00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:16.679
 It's another reason.

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:18.259
 But you can see straight in

00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.479
 here.

00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:20.799
 There's nothing to hide and

00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:22.180
 there's everything to see.

00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:25.319
 You see, authentic lives

00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:26.639
 of simplicity and godly

00:30:26.639 --> 00:30:29.299
 sincerity, that is how we

00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:30.879
 will make the real Jesus

00:30:30.879 --> 00:30:33.960
 non-ignorable in Edinburgh

00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.579
 and beyond.

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:37.460
 Simplicity and godly

00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:37.980
 sincerity.

00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:40.359
 This is love.

00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:43.379
 Not that we loved God, but

00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:45.759
 that he loved us and sent

00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:47.240
 his son as an atoning

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.779
 sacrifice for our sins.

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:50.920
 Dear friends, since God

00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:53.180
 so loved us, we also

00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:54.740
 ought to love one

00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.059
 another.

00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:56.180
 No one has ever seen

00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:57.980
 God, but if we love one

00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:59.920
 another, God lives in us

00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:01.460
 and his love is made

00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:03.000
 complete in us.

00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.639
 And so Father, we thank

00:31:04.639 --> 00:31:05.599
 you so much this morning

00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.319
 for each other.

00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:08.220
 And we thank you for the

00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:09.420
 relationships of love that

00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:10.319
 exist between us.

00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:11.460
 And Lord, I pray that you

00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.579
 would be helping us this

00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:12.899
 morning.

00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:16.220
 Lord, in all the different

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.180
 things that are going on in

00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:18.299
 our lives, I pray that your

00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:20.240
 spirit would help, Lord,

00:31:20.340 --> 00:31:22.420
 both comfort and challenge

00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:25.100
 and just convince us of your

00:31:25.100 --> 00:31:27.500
 wonderful, heartfelt love

00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:29.960
 towards us and your

00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:31.200
 faithfulness in Jesus.

00:31:31.360 --> 00:31:32.460
 So Lord, I thank you for this

00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:34.039
 morning and I pray you'd be

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:35.060
 with us now, Lord, particularly

00:31:35.060 --> 00:31:36.140
 as we move to a time of

00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:37.460
 communion and as we remember

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:39.779
 who Jesus is, that glorious

00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:40.259
 yes.

00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.880
 Father, that you would fill our

00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:43.759
 hearts with greater affection

00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.859
 towards him.

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:47.000
 And it's in his wonderful name

00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.460
 that we pray.

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:48.279
 Amen.