WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.280
 Okay, thanks, Kate. Good morning, everyone. Hope you're well. If you have a Bible, come with me to

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 2 Corinthians. We do this every Sunday. We turn to the Bible. It's our deep conviction here at

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 Brunsfield, as is many churches throughout the city, that when we open this book, we find that

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 it is no ordinary book, that it is the voice of the living God. And so we expect to encounter God

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 by his spirit as we open the pages of the Bible. So please go to 2 Corinthians. If you need to

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 use the contents page of the Bible, I always think we get ourselves in knots over that. Please feel

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 absolutely free to do that. This is a letter that we've never been in before at Brunsfield in my time

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 here. So it's really exciting, and there's so many lessons for us to learn here. I think we're in for

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 an absolute treat. So we're going to start it this morning. We're going to take a little break for

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 Christmas, and then we're going to go all the way through to just before Easter next year. And

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 hopefully that's a way of as many of us as possible getting the whole of this series, accounting for

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 holidays and stuff, and when people are back. So this is going to be an absolute treat. But let me try

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 and get us to the big thing that's at the heart of this letter. Here's the question, okay? What kind of

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 person do you find impressive in life? Do you not love that face? Wish I could make that face. What kind of

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 person do you find impressive in life? So as you're chewing on it, something I learned recently, one of you

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 knew this. Every year the co-op funeral directors publish the top 10 songs requested at funerals list.

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 So I went on this week and I had a look. You've got your classics in there. You've got

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 Bette Midler, Wind Beneath My Wings. You've got Eva Cassidy, Over the Rainbow. Ed Sheeran somehow

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 made it in this year as well. But a timeless song that often comes in at number one, and if you trace

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 it back, has never been dislodged from the top 10, is this song. It is My Way by Frank Sinatra.

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 Right? Fact for you, between 1969 and 1971, that song stayed in the UK top 40 for a record 75

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 weeks. Now you bring those two facts together, and I think it shows that we love this song as a

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 culture. Right? It's a pretty decent song. I'll give him that. Could hit a note in his day. But it's a very

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 popular song in our day. Do you know the lyrics? I've lived a life that's full. I've traveled each and

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 every highway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way. And it's a song that's all about

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 self-confidence. And those are the people that my heart finds so naturally impressive in this life.

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 Do you find that? The student who can stay out all night and still get straight A's in the exams?

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 The colleague who can both work hard and play hard, who can burn the candle at both ends and

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 somehow manage to do it? The dad from Bluey, who seems to have endless fun and boundless energy for

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 his kids? The parent at the school gate, who has snuck in a little workout before work and dropping

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 the kids at school, looking polished and clean at 8.50 and looking lean? The person who appears on a

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 place in the sun, who's saved enough on their pension to comfortably retire to write their memoirs?

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 The person in bargain hunt, who seemed to make 15 quid on that piece of ornament that no one else

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 wanted to look at? The family next door who go for the extension on the side of the house, hearing the

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 story of the self-made man on Dragon's Den? All of these things, I look at it and I think, that's kind of

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 how I want to be. I want to be impressive. I want to be self-sufficient. And I look at them and I look at my

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 own life and I think, if only I had it more altogether. And what I do is, as I import that

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 vision of success in life, and what I do is I just transpose it onto the Christian life and I think

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 that's how it must work. And so my mind becomes full of words like bigger, better, faster, stronger,

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 and the one that I think we fall for, hook, line and sinker, busier.

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 And this letter has been gold for me and I pray that it's gold for us because through it, God has

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 both exposed the folly of the fact that I'm way too easily impressed. And he's also reminded me of

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 the things when it comes to the heavenly places, the things that are really impressive in this life.

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 And it's nothing to do with being self-sufficient. And it's reminded me of how he, the triune God,

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 Father, Son, and Spirit has shown his power and his wisdom in the things that look like foolishness

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 in the eyes of the watching world. He's going to flip what we understand impressive to be. He's

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 going to flip it on its head. You up for it? And it all centers in Jesus.

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 You remember those black and white movies that you sometimes still get on TV? I'll be honest,

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 because I sometimes still read the Gospels like that, as if they were black and white film.

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 The people, the places, the conversations that Jesus has with people, all of them like a black

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 and white film. Because I remember the moment it occurred to me when I was first reading the

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 Gospels that Jesus, as he walks in on the scene, he's the only person in 3D color.

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 Here is a man doing more than just turning the world upside down. Here is a man actually showing

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 the world what it is to live the right way up. A life not of self-confidence, but a life of walking,

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 having deep communion with and full dependence on God. You look at Jesus as you read about him in the

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 Gospels. And if you haven't done that this morning, can I suggest that be a great thing to do after the

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 lunch this afternoon? If you want to read it to somebody, please grab me. I'd love to do that with

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 you. You read about Jesus in the Gospels and you think to yourself, here is a man who is fully alive.

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 And yet his life is marked by what? Unimpressiveness. From cradle to grave,

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 unimpressiveness, right? Here is the boy from Bethlehem. Here is the man who picks 12

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 of the most normal ragtag guys to be his disciples. Here is the man who's hanging out with the most

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 questionable of people, reaching its apex, that foolishness at the cross, the place of utter

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 weakness and defeat. And yet that is the place to the glory of God, which is the place that God shows

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 both his wisdom and his power to the watching world. Such is the life of the man from Nazareth.

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 That's the place in the Bible, isn't it, that people make fun of? You're from there.

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 Could anything good come from Nazareth? Friends, Christianity will always be from Nazareth.

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 Following Jesus faithfully, following in his footsteps is really tough.

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 I take it that when Paul speaks in this passage of the sufferings of Christ here,

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 that's what he's talking about. The cost of following Jesus.

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 You come across that. My flatmates think I'm a space cadet.

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 My family think I'm just going through a phase.

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 Trying to do the faithful, next right thing, sexually, ethically. It just feels so hard.

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 My colleagues find my takes strange. And if I really ask them, they really feel sorry for me.

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 Following Jesus will always be baffling in the eyes of the watching world as we follow the crucified man from Nazareth.

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 And that's particularly acute in a city like Corinth.

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 This booming port city, if you find it on the map there, a little southwest of Athens.

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 How strategic is that city in terms of where it's located?

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 Here is a total melting pot of peoples.

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 Here is a place where money and pleasure and making a name for yourself are the name of the game.

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 Do you know where we were a few weeks ago? Or last week, rather?

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 We drove past Benidorm.

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 Right? Alex and I saying to each other in the car.

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 Here is a city that is just coming out of nowhere huge.

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 That is just existing for pleasure.

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 Corinth is like that.

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 It is like Benidorm and Manhattan rolled into one.

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 In fact, to Corinthianize was a jokey way of saying that someone was into wild living.

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 Such is Corinth.

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 One commentator, and I thought I'd give you this, describes it like this.

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 Corinth was a city with a Roman face, a Greek heart, a large Jewish minority,

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 and a deeply, and get this, ingrained universal desire to impress.

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 And that's why Corinth is not the place that we'd imagine the message about a crucified and resurrected man would get any kind of traction.

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 Talk about a place that isn't full of low-hanging fruit.

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 And yet God, because he is this kind of God, because he is the one who works by his spirit to draw all sorts of people to his son Jesus,

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 from all strata of society.

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 Jesus has been proclaimed by Paul, and God has birthed a church in the city of Corinth.

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 And let's never lose sight of the fact that God is this kind of God, and God is working in these kind of places and has done throughout history.

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 Because God is this kind of God.

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 Dear friends, this world that we live in is full of what?

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 Possibilities.

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 Evangelistic possibilities.

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 Take that in today.

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 If God can birth a church in a city like Corinth through the preaching of his words,

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 then there really is no place that's out of bounds.

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 There is no person who's out of reach, and there's no prayer that's off the table.

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 And the amazement of it all is that he uses everyday weak people like you and me and Paul

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 to reach people with the news about his son.

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 D.L. Moody, the famous American evangelist, tail end of the 18th century,

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 who God would use to let thousands of people around the world hear about Jesus,

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 including in this city.

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 What was his background?

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 Shoe salesman.

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 Love it.

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 Shoe salesman.

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 He said this,

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 The world has yet to see what God can do through a person who is totally dedicated to him.

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 So, Paul arrives in Corinth, let's call it A.D. 50, just to locate it.

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 A.D. 50.

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 And you can read about that in Acts chapter 18,

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 the first time that Paul rocks up in Corinth.

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 And all the things that God did there,

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 typical Acts, both revival and riot.

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 That's what you get in Acts 18.

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 And the relationship between Paul and this church is,

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 well, it's complicated.

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 So, on the one hand, they drive him absolutely nuts.

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 And yet, on the other hand, he loves them so, so deeply.

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 Right?

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 He's so encouraged by their progress, I think.

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 And you get this in 1 Corinthians,

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 where you see a lot of their questions and a lot of their mistakes

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 as young baby believers trying to work out how they do this Jesus thing

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 in a place like Corinth.

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 And in between, you kind of see them making progress.

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 But here's the thing that's going on in the background of 2 Corinthians.

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 And it's that a group of false teachers have arrived on the scene in Paul's absence,

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 and they're peddling a Jesus-sounding message

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 that downplays suffering and hardship

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 and emphasizes looking good on the outside.

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 And what they're trying to do is lure these young believers away from Paul

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 and Paul's message about Jesus

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 and his accompanying cross-shaped life.

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 And they say, come on.

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 Paul looks so unimpressive.

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 The way he talks is so unimpressive.

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 Do you not think that God's got better things for you?

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 Higher experiences that you can tap into?

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 Do you not want the world to like you?

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 Paul means well,

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 but surely if he had got this message right,

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 his life would be hashtag blessed all over Instagram.

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 And that's why this is one of the most raw

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 and the most affectionate of letters

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 that we find anywhere in the New Testament.

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 Because Paul is all heart and all sleeve here.

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 Unapologetically defending the message and pattern of his life.

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 But here's the incredible thing.

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 I want you to tap into this

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 because this really gets us to the heart of the letter.

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 Here's the incredible thing.

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 The way Paul desires to show the legitimacy of his leadership

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 isn't by holding up his CV

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 and holding it up against the CV of the false teachers

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 and say, do you see how I'm better than them?

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 Do you see how I'm better than them?

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 No, he does the opposite.

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 The big thrust of this letter is that he's saying,

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 what qualifies me to be a leader is not my brilliance.

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 It's my need.

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 I always think C.S. Lewis captures this so wonderfully in his Narnia series.

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 I'm surprised you to hear me say C.S. Lewis gets this so right.

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 But there's this wonderful scene in Prince Caspian, I think it is,

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 where Aslan and Caspian, who's on the cusp of becoming king,

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 are having this conversation.

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 And Aslan says to Caspian,

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 do you feel yourself sufficient to take up the kingship of Narnia?

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 To which Caspian replies, I don't think so, sir.

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 I'm only a kid.

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 And Aslan responds, good.

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 Do you get that?

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 If you felt that you were sufficient,

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 if you felt you could do this on your own,

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 it would be proof that you aren't ready.

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 Dear friends, here's the thing, okay?

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 Progress in the Christian life

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 is not us understanding that we need Jesus less.

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 It's as if Jesus is some kind of stabilizers on our bike.

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 No, progress in the Christian life

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 is realizing that you need Jesus more.

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 And you need his people more.

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 You need us someday more.

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 Paul has tapped into the secret

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 that we are never more useful to the Lord

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 than when we are completely dependent on him.

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 Do you see how he says that in verse eight?

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 He says, and it's really striking

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 that he would open his letter with this,

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 not keep it right to the end.

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 He would front it with this.

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 He's unashamed about the hardships

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 that he goes through

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 as a result of following Jesus.

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 His suffering in Asia, make no mistake,

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 it's not trivial.

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 In fact, do you see him right?

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 It burdened him far beyond the limits of his,

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 do you see it?

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 His own strength.

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 So much so that he despaired of life itself.

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 That ain't trivial.

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 Read that to say that we were so utterly spent

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 mentally, emotionally, and physically,

00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:10.340
 our supplies were utterly gone

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 and we just didn't know what to do

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 or where to turn.

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 Paul's life is the opposite of Instagrammable.

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 Yeah?

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 You go on Facebook,

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 everyone's sitting telling you

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 about their best moments,

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 their best photos.

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 Paul's game for telling you about his toughest.

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 And here's the point.

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 And if you want a strapline,

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 if you remember one thing from this,

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 I hope you take a lot.

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 Remember one thing from this, make it this.

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 Okay, here's the strapline over this letter.

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 Weakness is the way.

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 Yeah?

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 Weakness is the way.

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 That's what Paul wants these Christians in Corinth

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 who are being sucked into this whole idea

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 of Christianity should look impressive

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 in the eyes of the watching world.

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 He's saying, no, weakness is the way.

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 And it's really striking, isn't it?

00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:03.120
 Because that's not what I would have done.

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 It's not what I would have done.

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 I would have kept that at least to the last page

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 and dropped that in as a PS.

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 But it's really striking, isn't it?

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 And you ask yourself, why?

00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.819
 Why is he all heart and all sleeve

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 about weakness being the way?

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 Can I just pull out a couple of things

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 in these first 11 opening verses?

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 You ready for this?

00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:25.539
 I want us to see a one and a two.

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.319
 One and a two.

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:30.740
 So here's one big thing that God does

00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.599
 in our times of trouble.

00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:37.139
 Times of trouble are not a source of shame to Paul.

00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:39.339
 Do you see if verse three,

00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:41.799
 ultimately they are a source of praise to God?

00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:42.660
 Now how?

00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:46.339
 In verses three to seven,

00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:48.500
 do you see how often that word comfort crops up?

00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.839
 It's always a great thing to do

00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:52.019
 when you see a repeated word in the Bible

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:53.799
 to ask yourself why?

00:17:53.939 --> 00:17:55.980
 It's not just that they need a thesaurus

00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:57.039
 and they couldn't find one.

00:17:57.419 --> 00:17:58.359
 If a word is repeated,

00:17:58.459 --> 00:17:59.939
 we ask ourselves why?

00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:03.799
 How often that word comfort crops up?

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.539
 Dear friends, Paul wants us to know

00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:06.879
 and these Christians to know

00:18:06.879 --> 00:18:08.639
 that we're dealing with the God

00:18:08.639 --> 00:18:11.059
 who draws near to his people

00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:12.319
 in their darkest moments.

00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:14.899
 That it's when we realize

00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:16.759
 that Jesus is all we have.

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:20.200
 When there's nowhere else to go,

00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:22.440
 that that is when God meets us

00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.519
 in our darkest moments.

00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:25.480
 Do you see the description of him

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.280
 there at verse three?

00:18:26.360 --> 00:18:27.500
 And this is all tied up

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.759
 with who this God is.

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:31.060
 Do you see the description of him

00:18:31.060 --> 00:18:31.880
 there at verse three?

00:18:33.320 --> 00:18:35.120
 And I cannot think of a more sweeter

00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:36.440
 description of God than this.

00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.340
 He is what?

00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:41.060
 He is the father of mercies.

00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:44.019
 That word mercy is used

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.839
 in the Old Testament

00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:47.039
 to describe the tender way

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:49.599
 in which God showers his people

00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:52.079
 with undeserved kindness.

00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:56.460
 And he's the God of all comfort.

00:18:56.839 --> 00:19:00.180
 Comfort there is an Isaiah 40 word.

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:04.059
 Isaiah 40, God saying in the future,

00:19:04.180 --> 00:19:05.319
 what's he going to do to his people?

00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:06.960
 Comfort, comfort my people,

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:07.720
 says the Lord.

00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.279
 There's coming a new day

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.299
 when God's comfort

00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:12.920
 is going to be so much more tangibly real.

00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:17.579
 I cannot think of more sweeter

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:19.379
 sounding descriptions of God's heart

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:21.039
 than this.

00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:24.180
 Our father has the finger,

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:26.200
 his finger on the pulse

00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:29.000
 of every single detail of our lives

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:32.119
 as we take daily steps of faith.

00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.079
 Dear friends,

00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:37.480
 he hears our cries of distress.

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:43.579
 And he sees our tears of despair.

00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:46.860
 And one of the things

00:19:46.860 --> 00:19:48.559
 that this invites us to do surely

00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:51.640
 is to embrace a more honest

00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:54.299
 and a more raw prayer life.

00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:57.259
 One in which we come to this God

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.720
 and tell him exactly

00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.620
 how we are feeling

00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:03.160
 and what it is that we are going through.

00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:04.680
 We don't surprise him when we do that.

00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:09.779
 What we're doing right now

00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:11.759
 is fighting the temptation

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.799
 to believe that God by his spirit

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:15.200
 cannot offer us

00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:16.840
 the perfect comfort

00:20:16.840 --> 00:20:18.640
 that we so desperately need

00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:20.180
 in our lowest moments.

00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.539
 Jesus is the most sovereign

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:26.980
 and the most willing of saviors.

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:30.860
 in the words of Dane Ortlund

00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:34.559
 in his lovely little book

00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.620
 Gentle and Lowly

00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:38.059
 he says,

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:39.099
 When you come to Christ

00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:40.259
 for mercy and love

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:40.819
 and help

00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.860
 in your anguish

00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:42.860
 and perplexity

00:20:42.860 --> 00:20:43.700
 and sinfulness

00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:45.819
 you are going

00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:47.480
 with the flow

00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:49.039
 of his deepest wishes

00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.779
 not against them.

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:54.920
 Truly in Jesus

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.639
 we have one

00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:57.160
 a bruised reed

00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:58.000
 he will not break

00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:01.299
 and a smoldering wick

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.379
 he will not put out.

00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:07.259
 And flowing from that one big thing

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.019
 that God does

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:09.000
 in our times of trouble

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.559
 says Paul

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:11.059
 here are two great ways

00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:12.500
 that God uses

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.460
 our times of trouble

00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:16.200
 that God uses

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:17.000
 our times of trouble.

00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:18.299
 Now even with that

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:21.180
 do you see how we are

00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.919
 swimming against

00:21:21.919 --> 00:21:23.059
 the stream of our culture?

00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:25.240
 Friends,

00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.119
 you and I are breathing

00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:26.639
 in the air

00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:27.279
 every day

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:28.319
 just like osmosis

00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:30.319
 of our highly

00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:32.279
 individualistic culture

00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:34.759
 that is saying to us

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:36.220
 the thing to really get

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:36.859
 in life

00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:38.379
 is happiness

00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:40.039
 and comfort.

00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:44.079
 Everything in our world

00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:44.579
 is set up

00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:45.460
 to provide you and I

00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:46.000
 with as much

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.259
 cotton wool insurance

00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.000
 around our lives

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.660
 as we can

00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.220
 with the goal

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.220
 of being the avoidance

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:50.700
 of what?

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.259
 Discomfort.

00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:55.359
 Do you see Paul

00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:56.359
 right after telling them

00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:57.039
 about his troubles

00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:58.599
 he keeps using that phrase

00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.240
 do you see it?

00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:01.319
 It is for.

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:03.019
 Do you see that in the text?

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:05.000
 It is for.

00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:05.720
 Verse 6

00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:07.420
 It is for.

00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:09.000
 Which tells you what?

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:12.299
 That Paul perceives

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:14.559
 that even in the hardest

00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.019
 of moments

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.119
 even in our darkest

00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:16.719
 of times

00:22:16.719 --> 00:22:17.939
 God has not

00:22:17.939 --> 00:22:18.779
 dropped the ball

00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:20.639
 that more than that

00:22:20.639 --> 00:22:21.479
 God is

00:22:21.479 --> 00:22:22.819
 at work

00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:23.539
 somehow

00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:26.299
 and it tells us

00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:26.979
 that our times

00:22:26.979 --> 00:22:27.639
 of trouble

00:22:27.639 --> 00:22:28.259
 are not

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.859
 purposeless

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:31.419
 and we don't think

00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:32.219
 like that do we?

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:33.339
 We think tough times

00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:34.699
 are times to be avoided.

00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:36.099
 I mean

00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:36.739
 think about it

00:22:36.739 --> 00:22:37.699
 what's your instinctive

00:22:37.699 --> 00:22:38.199
 reaction

00:22:38.199 --> 00:22:39.139
 when something

00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:41.039
 in our lives

00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.179
 doesn't go to plan?

00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:44.440
 When you hit

00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:45.120
 times of trouble

00:22:45.120 --> 00:22:45.779
 what is our

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.900
 instinctive

00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.980
 reaction?

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.140
 Tell me what mine is

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.779
 mine is to go

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:51.080
 total Bob the Builder

00:22:51.080 --> 00:22:53.120
 and try and fix it

00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:53.880
 yes I can

00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.799
 all the time

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:56.799
 all the time

00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.700
 I can do this

00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.580
 I can fix it

00:22:58.580 --> 00:22:59.299
 some of us

00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:00.200
 play the blame game

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:00.840
 that's another one

00:23:00.840 --> 00:23:01.600
 I love to play

00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:03.060
 it's other people's

00:23:03.060 --> 00:23:03.500
 faults

00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:05.820
 many of us

00:23:05.820 --> 00:23:06.740
 turn to the bottle

00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.980
 we drown our sorrows

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.519
 some of us

00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.400
 turn to the packet

00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.440
 and we comfort eat

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.720
 some of us

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.480
 turn for the TV

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:12.860
 remote

00:23:12.860 --> 00:23:13.940
 and we binge watch

00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.440
 some of us

00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.420
 grab for our phone

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.320
 and we doom scroll

00:23:16.320 --> 00:23:17.360
 on social media

00:23:17.360 --> 00:23:18.000
 looking for that

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.080
 next dopamine hit

00:23:19.080 --> 00:23:19.940
 to escape

00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:21.240
 our world

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.000
 is offering us

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.860
 plenty of

00:23:22.860 --> 00:23:24.140
 ways to try

00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:24.779
 and cope

00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:26.440
 with difficult times

00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:29.440
 and yet Paul says

00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.259
 would you perceive

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:31.160
 when times

00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:32.220
 of trouble

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:32.759
 come when you

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.580
 follow Jesus

00:23:33.580 --> 00:23:36.059
 it is not

00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:36.740
 purposeless

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:39.759
 because God

00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:40.599
 because he loves

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:40.819
 us

00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.480
 because he loves

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:41.640
 us

00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.220
 because he loves

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.619
 us

00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:44.379
 do you not love

00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:44.519
 that

00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.059
 done nothing

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:45.859
 to deserve

00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:46.559
 the grace

00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.019
 of God

00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:48.099
 the love

00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:48.519
 of God

00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.519
 means I can do

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.240
 nothing to lose

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.539
 the love

00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:50.940
 of God

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:53.480
 because he loves

00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:53.700
 us

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:54.359
 because he loves

00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:54.559
 us

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.180
 because he loves

00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:55.480
 us

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.480
 he so often

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.319
 does the deepest

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:58.980
 work in our

00:23:58.980 --> 00:23:59.480
 hearts

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:01.420
 during some of

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:01.920
 the toughest

00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:02.640
 moments of

00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.160
 our lives

00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:05.480
 and the two

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.140
 ways that God

00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:06.680
 uses our

00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.099
 hardships

00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.759
 says Paul

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.099
 do you see

00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:08.559
 the first

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.319
 at verse 9

00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:11.859
 so that we

00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:12.599
 might become

00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:14.079
 less self-reliant

00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:16.200
 and come to

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:17.079
 trust in Jesus

00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:18.039
 more

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:20.599
 I remember

00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.099
 chatting to my

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.480
 good friend

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.200
 Dave Hampton

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:25.119
 who works for

00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:25.539
 Christians in

00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:25.819
 Sport

00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.319
 chatting to him

00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:26.720
 one day about

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.159
 parenting

00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:27.799
 we've got kids

00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.559
 the same age

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:30.359
 he's got three

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:30.919
 and at the time

00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.740
 I had three as

00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:31.960
 well

00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.539
 and we're talking

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.359
 about how tired

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:33.899
 we are as

00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:34.299
 parents

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.940
 it's a game

00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.419
 that we often

00:24:35.419 --> 00:24:37.379
 play as parents

00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:38.240
 who's tired

00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.980
 and how do

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.539
 we cope

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.019
 when it gets

00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.779
 really tough

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:44.079
 and I'm

00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:44.400
 starting

00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:44.859
 I'm telling

00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:45.180
 him about

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:45.559
 all our

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.140
 tactics

00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:46.819
 as parents

00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:47.579
 right

00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:48.059
 I'm telling

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.519
 him about

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.579
 sticker charts

00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.859
 on fridges

00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:52.359
 and I'm

00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:52.720
 telling him

00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:53.779
 about limiting

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.700
 TV time

00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.240
 to an hour

00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:55.740
 there's nothing

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.160
 wrong with

00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:56.740
 those things

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:58.640
 but I kind of

00:24:58.640 --> 00:24:59.160
 tag him in

00:24:59.160 --> 00:24:59.579
 at this point

00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.019
 and said Dave

00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.500
 what do you

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:00.700
 do

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.160
 and he said

00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:01.380
 listen

00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:01.839
 when Joe

00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.200
 and I

00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:02.640
 are at

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.140
 wits end

00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:03.420
 we don't

00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:03.720
 know where

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.299
 to go

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.799
 see

00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.900
 instead of

00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.359
 just trying

00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:06.899
 harder

00:25:06.899 --> 00:25:09.439
 we've been

00:25:09.439 --> 00:25:09.819
 convicted

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.259
 just to

00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:10.459
 pray

00:25:10.459 --> 00:25:10.879
 together

00:25:10.879 --> 00:25:13.719
 and that's

00:25:13.719 --> 00:25:14.039
 the point

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.399
 and Dave's

00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:14.719
 one of these

00:25:14.719 --> 00:25:15.199
 guys who

00:25:15.199 --> 00:25:15.659
 is just

00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:16.699
 straight back

00:25:16.699 --> 00:25:18.479
 I remember

00:25:18.479 --> 00:25:18.819
 hearing it

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.199
 and thinking

00:25:19.199 --> 00:25:20.199
 ouch

00:25:20.199 --> 00:25:22.559
 he's bang

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:22.979
 on the money

00:25:22.979 --> 00:25:23.379
 isn't he

00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:27.179
 friends no

00:25:27.179 --> 00:25:27.879
 experience is

00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:28.379
 wasted in

00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:28.979
 God's flawless

00:25:28.979 --> 00:25:29.539
 economy

00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.259
 as he teaches

00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.019
 us not to

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.500
 just try

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.219
 harder when

00:25:32.219 --> 00:25:32.859
 tough times

00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.299
 come to

00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:33.619
 think that

00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.099
 we can get

00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:34.399
 ourselves

00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:34.840
 through it

00:25:34.840 --> 00:25:35.600
 but as

00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:36.100
 he weans

00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:36.580
 us off

00:25:36.580 --> 00:25:37.160
 takes us

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.420
 to the

00:25:37.420 --> 00:25:37.580
 end

00:25:37.580 --> 00:25:37.940
 weans

00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.340
 us off

00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:39.140
 our own

00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:39.560
 resources

00:25:39.560 --> 00:25:40.400
 and just

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.600
 faces our

00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:42.160
 minds towards

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.460
 him

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:45.100
 helping us

00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:45.880
 understand more

00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:46.600
 that he is the

00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:47.320
 God who raises

00:25:47.320 --> 00:25:47.820
 the dead

00:25:47.820 --> 00:25:48.380
 you see that

00:25:48.380 --> 00:25:48.820
 there Paul

00:25:48.820 --> 00:25:49.259
 just drops

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:49.720
 that in

00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:51.920
 which I

00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.220
 take it

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.740
 means regardless

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.600
 how scary

00:25:53.600 --> 00:25:54.519
 this world

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.040
 becomes

00:25:55.040 --> 00:25:56.060
 we can know

00:25:56.060 --> 00:25:56.420
 that this

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.600
 God of

00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:58.019
 power

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.460
 absolutely

00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.200
 holds our

00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.580
 lives

00:26:00.580 --> 00:26:03.080
 that's the

00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:03.420
 first thing

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:03.800
 God does

00:26:03.800 --> 00:26:04.240
 he weans

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.560
 us off

00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:05.420
 self-reliance

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.340
 and the

00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:06.900
 second comes

00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:07.220
 at the end

00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.539
 of verse

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:07.840
 three

00:26:07.840 --> 00:26:08.620
 and I

00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.259
 love this

00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:10.860
 so that we

00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.360
 can share

00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:11.860
 that same

00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:12.580
 comfort that

00:26:12.580 --> 00:26:13.080
 God gave

00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:14.720
 us with

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.120
 others

00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:16.720
 think of

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.259
 this as a

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:17.740
 bit like a

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.380
 suffering and

00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:19.460
 comfort chain

00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:21.160
 so as Paul

00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:22.680
 experiences God's

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.380
 comfort through

00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:23.960
 his spirit

00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:24.920
 he becomes

00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:26.000
 perfectly equipped

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.900
 to pass on

00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:27.420
 that same

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:29.259
 comfort to

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.000
 the Corinthians

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.539
 when they

00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.000
 suffer

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:33.440
 and it's

00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:33.900
 always great

00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:34.279
 you may be

00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:34.640
 thinking well

00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:34.900
 I'm not

00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:35.519
 suffering right

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:35.859
 now I'm not

00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.279
 going through a

00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:36.960
 hard time right

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.440
 now but the

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.019
 thing is we

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.640
 need to put

00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:40.579
 this in the

00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:41.380
 tank of our

00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:42.019
 lives because

00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:42.819
 one day that we

00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:43.519
 will suffer and

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.119
 find times

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:44.640
 difficult

00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:48.339
 as Paul suffers

00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:49.019
 and experiences

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.700
 God's comfort

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.720
 he wants to

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.839
 pass that on

00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.400
 to others

00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:53.420
 and I love the

00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:53.839
 phrase and I

00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.519
 only noticed it

00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.240
 about an hour

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.079
 before coming out

00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:56.619
 this morning

00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:58.399
 verse 4

00:26:58.399 --> 00:27:00.559
 who comforts

00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.559
 us in all

00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:02.219
 our troubles

00:27:02.219 --> 00:27:03.559
 so that we

00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:04.119
 can comfort

00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:04.779
 those in

00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:06.059
 any trouble

00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:07.779
 and it's the

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.399
 word any

00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:08.759
 there

00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.379
 I've never

00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:09.739
 seen it

00:27:09.739 --> 00:27:10.039
 before

00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:11.079
 any trouble

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:13.139
 and here's

00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:13.479
 what I think

00:27:13.479 --> 00:27:14.039
 I so often

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.359
 do

00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:15.059
 I look at

00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:15.439
 my brothers

00:27:15.439 --> 00:27:15.839
 and sisters

00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.179
 who are going

00:27:16.179 --> 00:27:16.579
 through really

00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:17.179
 hard times

00:27:17.179 --> 00:27:17.759
 and I think

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.239
 because I've

00:27:18.239 --> 00:27:18.619
 not gone

00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.019
 through that

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:20.359
 specific thing

00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:21.619
 that I've

00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:22.199
 got nothing

00:27:22.199 --> 00:27:23.099
 to offer

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:24.139
 if you ever

00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:24.739
 feel like that

00:27:24.739 --> 00:27:25.339
 in our church

00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:25.980
 life that we've

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:26.359
 got nothing

00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:26.759
 to offer

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.179
 because we

00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:27.599
 haven't been

00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:28.079
 through that

00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:28.699
 now listen

00:27:28.699 --> 00:27:29.179
 God might

00:27:29.179 --> 00:27:29.619
 bring you

00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.319
 into someone's

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:30.579
 path

00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:31.220
 you have

00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.039
 gone through

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.319
 what they're

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:32.720
 going through

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.339
 and you can

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:34.359
 speak specifically

00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:35.379
 into a situation

00:27:35.379 --> 00:27:36.759
 as we'll come on

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.500
 to see in a moment

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.720
 but just to fight

00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.500
 the temptation

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:41.659
 that we have

00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:42.059
 got nothing

00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:42.839
 to offer each

00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.279
 other when it

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.059
 comes to comfort

00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.879
 this would tell

00:27:44.879 --> 00:27:45.339
 us that that

00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.099
 isn't true

00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:48.000
 you know

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.439
 there's

00:27:48.439 --> 00:27:49.720
 something wonderful

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.559
 about us

00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:51.419
 drawing alongside

00:27:51.419 --> 00:27:52.179
 each other

00:27:52.179 --> 00:27:53.259
 and saying to

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:53.579
 each other

00:27:53.579 --> 00:27:54.359
 listen I love

00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:54.619
 you

00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:56.299
 I don't know

00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:57.659
 how you feel

00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.059
 what you're

00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.539
 going through

00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:59.159
 but I'm here

00:27:59.159 --> 00:27:59.899
 to listen

00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:02.019
 and I want

00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.659
 to learn

00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:03.459
 and if nothing

00:28:03.459 --> 00:28:04.259
 else I want

00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:04.779
 to be those

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:06.199
 who pray

00:28:06.199 --> 00:28:06.739
 with you

00:28:06.739 --> 00:28:07.079
 do you see

00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:07.619
 that in verse

00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:07.959
 11

00:28:07.959 --> 00:28:10.959
 friends that

00:28:10.959 --> 00:28:11.959
 we really

00:28:11.959 --> 00:28:12.859
 have something

00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.339
 wonderful

00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:13.819
 let's not

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.399
 underestimate

00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:15.379
 God's spirit

00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:15.959
 and what he

00:28:15.959 --> 00:28:16.339
 can do

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.000
 as we draw

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.959
 alongside each

00:28:17.959 --> 00:28:18.239
 other

00:28:18.239 --> 00:28:19.139
 trying to

00:28:19.139 --> 00:28:20.059
 offer comfort

00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:20.339
 you know

00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:20.739
 for making

00:28:20.739 --> 00:28:21.500
 this place

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.819
 a community

00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.539
 of comfort

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:25.539
 that we

00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.039
 really do

00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.799
 walk side

00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.559
 by side

00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.440
 through all

00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:28.899
 the ups

00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.639
 and downs

00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:31.180
 of life

00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:34.319
 but here's

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:34.859
 some quick fire

00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:35.579
 questions as we

00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:36.079
 begin to work

00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:36.720
 this towards a

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.099
 close

00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:39.799
 as we think

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.339
 about passing

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:40.819
 that comfort

00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:41.420
 on to other

00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:41.720
 people

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:43.000
 what are the

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.720
 biggest things

00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.139
 that God

00:28:44.139 --> 00:28:44.599
 has taught

00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.220
 you during

00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:46.000
 the course

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.299
 of your

00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:46.659
 life

00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:50.180
 what are

00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.740
 the hardest

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.460
 things that

00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:51.920
 he's brought

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.440
 you through

00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:55.560
 what scripture

00:28:55.560 --> 00:28:56.779
 in those

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.500
 times became

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:59.300
 so precious

00:28:59.300 --> 00:29:00.680
 to you

00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:01.540
 that perhaps

00:29:01.540 --> 00:29:02.200
 that you can

00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:03.460
 share with

00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.120
 someone going

00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:04.480
 through a

00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.200
 difficult time

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.700
 you know I've

00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.140
 got mates like

00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:06.420
 that in my

00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:06.900
 life who just

00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.620
 text me random

00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:08.200
 verses now

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:08.560
 and again

00:29:08.560 --> 00:29:09.820
 one of them

00:29:09.820 --> 00:29:10.259
 sitting over

00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:10.580
 there

00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:12.140
 just text me

00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:12.840
 random verses

00:29:12.840 --> 00:29:13.420
 he's got no

00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:13.880
 idea what's

00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:14.220
 going on in

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.720
 my life at

00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.140
 the time

00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:16.259
 but boy I

00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:16.680
 tell you see

00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:17.020
 when I read

00:29:17.020 --> 00:29:17.520
 it I think

00:29:17.520 --> 00:29:18.580
 that is just

00:29:18.580 --> 00:29:19.080
 the verse I

00:29:19.080 --> 00:29:19.520
 needed this

00:29:19.520 --> 00:29:19.800
 morning

00:29:19.800 --> 00:29:20.400
 let's not

00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:20.820
 underestimate

00:29:20.820 --> 00:29:21.160
 the Holy

00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:21.480
 Spirit

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.840
 what he

00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:23.800
 does is we

00:29:23.800 --> 00:29:24.720
 take this

00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.040
 word and

00:29:25.040 --> 00:29:25.640
 apply it to

00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.180
 each other's

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:26.500
 lives

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.320
 friends who

00:29:27.320 --> 00:29:27.740
 could you

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.460
 get alongside

00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.660
 with the

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:31.040
 express purpose

00:29:31.040 --> 00:29:31.960
 of sharing

00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.360
 that

00:29:32.360 --> 00:29:34.720
 who is God

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.060
 the Holy

00:29:35.060 --> 00:29:35.820
 Spirit putting

00:29:35.820 --> 00:29:36.220
 on your

00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:36.840
 heart and

00:29:36.840 --> 00:29:37.300
 who is he

00:29:37.300 --> 00:29:38.440
 putting in

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.540
 your path

00:29:39.540 --> 00:29:41.320
 again let's

00:29:41.320 --> 00:29:41.980
 not underestimate

00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:43.120
 his sovereignty

00:29:43.120 --> 00:29:43.780
 when it comes

00:29:43.780 --> 00:29:44.420
 to the people

00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:44.980
 that appear

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.319
 in our

00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:45.700
 past

00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.200
 the amount

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:46.460
 of great

00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:46.920
 conversations

00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:47.259
 I've just

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:47.759
 had with

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.799
 people at

00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.420
 the door

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:52.319
 dear friends

00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:52.620
 have we

00:29:52.620 --> 00:29:53.039
 stopped to

00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:53.640
 consider the

00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:54.339
 possibility

00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:56.500
 that we

00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.819
 might be

00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.640
 the perfect

00:29:58.640 --> 00:29:59.120
 way

00:29:59.120 --> 00:30:00.579
 that God

00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.420
 brings this

00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:01.900
 comfort

00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:03.299
 to one of

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:03.620
 his own

00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:04.059
 people

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:06.500
 you know our

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.019
 time is gone

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.700
 I'm so excited

00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.180
 to journey

00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:08.700
 through this

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.420
 letter together

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.240
 and see everything

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:10.839
 that God is

00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:11.559
 going to teach

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.019
 us weakness

00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:12.440
 weakness is

00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:12.839
 the way

00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:14.420
 but our

00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:14.740
 time is

00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:14.920
 gone

00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.240
 here's what

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.519
 I want to

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:15.879
 do just

00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:16.160
 as we

00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.500
 close

00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:18.279
 I want to

00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:18.960
 tell you about

00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:19.539
 to bring us

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.119
 back to the

00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:20.539
 big thing

00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:21.420
 why I love

00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:22.420
 WD-40

00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:26.680
 this little

00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:27.380
 magical

00:30:27.380 --> 00:30:28.460
 bottled

00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:29.400
 substance

00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:31.039
 that you

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.460
 use to

00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:31.900
 grease the

00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.340
 hinges of

00:30:32.340 --> 00:30:32.940
 your door

00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:34.200
 you use

00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:34.800
 it to

00:30:34.800 --> 00:30:36.480
 make the

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:36.880
 hinges in

00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:37.320
 your gate

00:30:37.320 --> 00:30:37.660
 work

00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:38.220
 you do it

00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:38.600
 to change

00:30:38.600 --> 00:30:39.060
 the gears

00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:39.500
 on your

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:39.759
 bike

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.039
 there are

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.640
 many signs

00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:40.980
 in life

00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.220
 that you're

00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:41.480
 hitting

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.080
 middle age

00:30:42.080 --> 00:30:42.460
 and here's

00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:42.800
 one of

00:30:42.800 --> 00:30:42.920
 them

00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:43.140
 when you

00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:43.640
 get excited

00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:44.080
 about things

00:30:44.080 --> 00:30:44.580
 like this

00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:47.419
 but do

00:30:47.419 --> 00:30:47.919
 you know

00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:48.439
 why it's

00:30:48.439 --> 00:30:48.659
 called

00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:50.199
 WD-40

00:30:50.199 --> 00:30:52.679
 I thought

00:30:52.679 --> 00:30:52.939
 it was a

00:30:52.939 --> 00:30:53.259
 band at

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.599
 first but

00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:53.779
 that's

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.720
 WB-40

00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.059
 isn't it

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:56.199
 WD-40

00:30:56.199 --> 00:30:57.399
 because the

00:30:57.399 --> 00:30:57.799
 people who

00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.359
 designed this

00:30:58.359 --> 00:30:58.699
 formula

00:30:58.699 --> 00:30:59.179
 they got

00:30:59.179 --> 00:30:59.659
 it right

00:30:59.659 --> 00:31:01.740
 on the

00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.500
 40th

00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.059
 attempt

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:04.859
 in other

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.139
 words it

00:31:05.139 --> 00:31:06.059
 took 39

00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:06.859
 failed

00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:07.699
 attempts of

00:31:07.699 --> 00:31:08.079
 learning

00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.439
 to get

00:31:09.439 --> 00:31:10.059
 this right

00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.359
 do you know

00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:10.879
 why I love

00:31:10.879 --> 00:31:11.159
 that

00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:12.179
 I love

00:31:12.179 --> 00:31:12.519
 it because

00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.079
 no one

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.519
 needed to

00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.000
 know that

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.880
 yeah

00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:16.859
 we should

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:17.359
 be up

00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:18.059
 here waxing

00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:18.480
 lyrical

00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:18.779
 about

00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:20.579
 WD-1

00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:22.539
 but they

00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:23.059
 chose to

00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:23.480
 call it

00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:25.200
 WD-40

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.740
 here's a

00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.519
 brand that

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.319
 is wearing

00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:29.339
 and gladly

00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:29.940
 telling the

00:31:29.940 --> 00:31:30.359
 world the

00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:30.859
 story of

00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.920
 its weakness

00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:33.339
 and its

00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:33.720
 need

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:35.640
 and that

00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:36.000
 is the

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.359
 backing

00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:37.079
 track of

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.900
 this letter

00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:38.240
 that we're

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:38.460
 going to

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.960
 keep hearing

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:40.240
 again and

00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:41.299
 again and

00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:41.799
 again

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:43.980
 wearing it

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.640
 that

00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:45.120
 weakness

00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:46.400
 is the

00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:46.759
 way

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:48.680
 Paul's

00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.200
 letter as

00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:50.460
 it holds

00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:52.839
 to us

00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:53.279
 God's

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.779
 gospel

00:31:53.779 --> 00:31:54.940
 is an

00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:55.960
 invitation to

00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:56.980
 embrace a

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.920
 fully dependent

00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:59.440
 life as we

00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.360
 rest on a

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:01.160
 fully sufficient

00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:01.640
 Jesus

00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:03.279
 just as we

00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:03.779
 close in the

00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:04.099
 words of

00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:04.920
 Charles Spurgeon

00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:05.660
 really simply

00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:06.960
 I have a

00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:07.640
 great need

00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:08.460
 for Christ

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:10.540
 and I

00:32:10.540 --> 00:32:10.840
 have a

00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:11.640
 great Christ

00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:12.120
 for my

00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:12.560
 need

00:32:12.560 --> 00:32:16.160
 1 Peter

00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:17.320
 chapter 5

00:32:17.320 --> 00:32:19.279
 in it

00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.000
 verse 6

00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.859
 humble

00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:21.799
 humble yourselves

00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.579
 therefore

00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:24.440
 under God's

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:25.460
 mighty hand

00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:27.200
 that he may

00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:28.099
 lift you up

00:32:28.099 --> 00:32:28.859
 in due time

00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:30.059
 cast all

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:30.960
 your anxiety

00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:31.740
 on him

00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:33.220
 because he

00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:34.480
 cares for you

00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.779
 and Lord we

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.480
 just thank you

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.099
 simply this

00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:37.720
 morning Father

00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.140
 for that

00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:38.799
 wonderful

00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:39.519
 description

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:39.920
 and we

00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:40.240
 don't take

00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:40.500
 it for

00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:40.779
 granted

00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:41.099
 that we

00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:41.339
 have it

00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:41.559
 in our

00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:41.859
 own

00:32:41.859 --> 00:32:42.759
 language

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:44.299
 that you

00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:44.640
 are the

00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.400
 father of

00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:46.039
 mercies

00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:47.099
 and the

00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:47.379
 God of

00:32:47.379 --> 00:32:47.980
 all comfort

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:48.720
 truly our

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.599
 only plea

00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.500
 is that you

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.460
 are the

00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:51.879
 kind of

00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:52.220
 God that

00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.680
 you are

00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:53.899
 and so

00:32:53.899 --> 00:32:54.259
 Father we

00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:54.779
 thank you

00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.200
 just for this

00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:55.480
 time that

00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:55.879
 we've had

00:32:55.879 --> 00:32:56.220
 in this

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:56.599
 letter

00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:57.339
 thank you

00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:57.819
 Lord that

00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:58.359
 is Kate

00:32:58.359 --> 00:32:58.759
 prayed at

00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.200
 the beginning

00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:00.399
 truly your

00:33:00.399 --> 00:33:00.839
 word is

00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:01.339
 alive and

00:33:01.339 --> 00:33:01.680
 active

00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.599
 sharper than

00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:02.960
 a double

00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.619
 edged sword

00:33:03.619 --> 00:33:04.539
 and I

00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:05.039
 pray Lord

00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.500
 as we

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.059
 spend a

00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.319
 bit more

00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:06.819
 time together

00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:07.279
 now as

00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:08.119
 we close

00:33:08.119 --> 00:33:08.759
 and then as

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:09.200
 we have

00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:09.539
 lunch

00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:10.019
 together

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:11.019
 Lord that

00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:11.299
 you would

00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:11.940
 be working

00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:12.359
 in our

00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:13.180
 conversations

00:33:13.180 --> 00:33:14.779
 Father that

00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.019
 you would

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.619
 be moving

00:33:15.619 --> 00:33:15.940
 in

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:17.000
 ways to

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:17.519
 encourage

00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:17.980
 and to

00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:18.440
 strengthen

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:19.120
 and equip

00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:19.720
 thank you

00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.220
 Lord for

00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:20.820
 your grace

00:33:20.820 --> 00:33:21.860
 and we

00:33:21.860 --> 00:33:22.279
 just commit

00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:22.720
 this time

00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.080
 to you

00:33:23.080 --> 00:33:23.299
 as we

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:23.799
 close in

00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:24.420
 Jesus name

00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:25.080
 Amen