WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 I would like you to turn in your Bibles this morning to Philippians chapter 3 and before we open the text together. 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:36.280 All right, that's something I want to work at and I'm going to be conscious and deliberate in doing so. 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:39.079 So here's my appeal to do. 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:44.859 At least when we're singing. 00:00:46.400 --> 00:00:49.480 Now I understand some of us are linear and some of us are global. 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:51.359 You know, some of us are all over the place. 00:00:51.939 --> 00:00:54.480 And some of us are pretty tracky. 00:00:54.540 --> 00:00:55.960 You know, it's like one thing after another. 00:00:55.960 --> 00:01:00.560 So I'm asking you to do something that may be stretching things a little bit. 00:01:00.660 --> 00:01:09.700 But when we are singing, would you mind cross-referencing the things we're singing about with Scripture? 00:01:10.599 --> 00:01:11.579 Does that make sense? 00:01:12.620 --> 00:01:13.859 Hey, listen to me. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:17.859 Isaiah chapter 8 verse 20 says this. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:23.560 To the law and to the prophecies or the testimonies, if it speaks not according to this, there is no light in them. 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:26.920 In other words, the benchmark of truth is really the Bible. 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:47.760 And I am so appreciative of the fact that when we gather to sing, that those who minister to us and encourage us in singing are very conscious and deliberate about taking the passage that we are going to study. 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:55.100 And finally, John gets this most of the time in advance, quite a bit in advance, about a week or so. 00:01:55.160 --> 00:01:57.280 And he has time to kind of ponder this. 00:01:57.480 --> 00:02:01.920 And then the songs reference back to the text. 00:02:03.600 --> 00:02:05.300 And so my plea is this. 00:02:05.460 --> 00:02:07.680 This is on your 15 to-do list, right? 00:02:07.740 --> 00:02:08.259 You got that? 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:16.019 And I'll try not to nag too often about this, but at least bump your wife and say, hey, what passage? 00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:17.060 Do that, okay? 00:02:17.579 --> 00:02:20.519 Or nudge your children and say, what passage? 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:23.599 Or do you understand what I'm saying? 00:02:24.739 --> 00:02:26.259 Here's my plea. 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:26.719 Listen. 00:02:27.479 --> 00:02:28.060 Everybody look up. 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:28.359 Smile. 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:29.060 Please. 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:30.159 Seriously. 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:37.399 I want us to learn to be conscious and deliberate in thinking scripturally. 00:02:38.259 --> 00:02:45.899 And probably one of the easier places to exercise is when we are singing. 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:51.919 So you say, all right, Holy Spirit, bring to mind passages that I need. 00:02:51.979 --> 00:02:53.500 Am I the only one getting hot in here? 00:02:54.280 --> 00:02:56.639 I see lots of people fanning. 00:02:58.219 --> 00:03:00.859 And I am very tempted to take off my sweater. 00:03:01.019 --> 00:03:01.659 That's a threat. 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:02.840 But anyway, okay. 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:04.299 All right. 00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:05.299 Here we go. 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:07.859 Philippians chapter 3. 00:03:08.259 --> 00:03:10.379 Let me read the passage to you. 00:03:11.179 --> 00:03:12.500 Beginning there in verse 8. 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:19.079 Indeed, I count everything as lost because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, 00:03:19.259 --> 00:03:22.060 my Lord, for his sake. 00:03:22.060 --> 00:03:32.259 I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, 00:03:33.219 --> 00:03:36.379 not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, 00:03:36.640 --> 00:03:42.360 but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:47.980 Now here's verse 10 that I want us to focus on this morning, 00:03:48.480 --> 00:03:52.820 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, 00:03:52.820 --> 00:03:58.980 and I may share in his suffering, becoming like him in his death. 00:03:58.979 --> 00:04:03.859 Will you pray with me and pray for me? 00:04:07.359 --> 00:04:11.519 Holy Father, for us to take this passage in mind and hand this morning 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:21.720 is to do something that is important and we trust is enabled by the Spirit of God. 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:30.660 Lord, we are often guilty of hearing and not applying. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:37.040 We're often guilty of allowing time that should be spent profitably, 00:04:37.640 --> 00:04:42.140 focusing on things that are of Christ's preeminence and glory, 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:49.079 and squandering that time in thinking of things that are of no eternal value and purpose. 00:04:50.699 --> 00:04:55.180 And so we would ask humbly this morning that your Spirit would enable me as I preach, 00:04:55.479 --> 00:05:00.139 that I might do so in such a fashion that it is evident that it is the work of God 00:05:00.139 --> 00:05:04.839 that is playing out in real time in the teaching and the preaching of the Word, 00:05:04.939 --> 00:05:09.159 but also, Lord, that it is received with the help of the Spirit 00:05:09.160 --> 00:05:14.640 that it might bear fruit in the lives of those who know the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:19.240 and it might be used by your Spirit to draw those who are here today 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:22.820 that do not know the Lord Jesus to the cross and to salvation. 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:30.280 And so, Lord, as I preach, I'm committed to bathe this message in prayer, 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:35.560 and as I preach, I trust your people will pray that we might rejoice together 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:40.920 and seeing you at work in our fellowship and in our lives individually this morning. 00:05:40.980 --> 00:05:43.839 And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:51.000 As we take up this passage, I really look at verse 10 as being one of those focal passages 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:53.600 that helps us in our journey. 00:05:53.740 --> 00:05:56.279 And I think about the year that lies in front of us, 00:05:56.300 --> 00:06:00.100 and I would imagine that there are some of you that have consciously and deliberately 00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:04.019 made some decisions about things that you're going to work on this year. 00:06:04.019 --> 00:06:08.639 Now, you may be on the other side of Christmas, and you're thinking to yourself, 00:06:09.099 --> 00:06:12.279 well, okay, Christmas and New Year has come and passed, 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:17.120 and I need to do something about the fact that I have overindulged myself a little bit. 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:19.899 I don't want you to raise your hand and give yourself away, but you understand that. 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:22.399 There are some of you who might be saying, well, okay, 00:06:22.779 --> 00:06:25.579 last year was a bust in such and such an area, 00:06:25.579 --> 00:06:28.259 and this year I'm going to be conscious and deliberate, 00:06:28.479 --> 00:06:30.279 and this is what I'm going to work on. 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:33.879 I'm just curious, how many of you have a plan to read through the Bible this year? 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:35.319 Raise your hand and wave at me. 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:37.659 Get it up above the elbow like this. 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:40.560 Okay, you're going to read through the Bible. 00:06:40.719 --> 00:06:43.540 How many of you are thinking about it and might be a good idea, 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:44.500 but you haven't decided yet? 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:45.019 Raise your hand. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:47.360 Let's try that again. 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:49.519 It was a real soft question. 00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:51.860 Are you alive? 00:06:52.860 --> 00:06:54.459 Are you thinking about it maybe? 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:56.159 And it might be a good idea. 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:57.339 Thank you. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:58.560 I like seeing that hand. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:00.939 Okay, that's a goal. 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:04.480 That's one that's worthy of your consideration. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:07.740 You may have others that you've thought about and decided, 00:07:07.879 --> 00:07:11.220 man, this is what I'm going to focus on, God being my help, 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:14.100 and as a result of that focus, it's going to make a difference. 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:17.560 How many of you have ever gone to the store and didn't make a list 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:19.759 and then come back and decided you needed to go again? 00:07:20.340 --> 00:07:20.920 You ever done that? 00:07:22.060 --> 00:07:24.100 Well, with life, you don't get a do-over. 00:07:24.100 --> 00:07:27.180 It kind of whittles out behind you, 00:07:27.300 --> 00:07:29.620 and if you haven't planned and thought about it intentionally, 00:07:30.080 --> 00:07:32.580 the outcome often is a level of disappointment 00:07:32.580 --> 00:07:34.700 as you look back across the path and say, 00:07:35.020 --> 00:07:36.340 man, I should have. 00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:36.980 I wish. 00:07:37.320 --> 00:07:38.640 I could have done better. 00:07:40.080 --> 00:07:44.480 And so my appeal, my plea for you this morning 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:49.340 is that you who are believers would consciously 00:07:49.340 --> 00:07:52.200 and deliberately make some objective decisions 00:07:52.199 --> 00:07:53.939 and mark them down 00:07:53.939 --> 00:07:57.639 and keep those in front of you in the coming year. 00:07:57.699 --> 00:07:59.579 And I can tell you this, it'll make a difference. 00:08:00.219 --> 00:08:02.439 What we're looking at in this passage, actually, 00:08:02.539 --> 00:08:03.759 in Philippians chapter 3, 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:06.779 is the apostle kind of pushing together 00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:09.000 his life objectives and goals, 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.519 and he's separating out all the chaff 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:13.219 and setting aside those things 00:08:13.219 --> 00:08:15.579 that are of no importance to him 00:08:15.579 --> 00:08:18.399 and zeroing down on those things 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:21.819 that were at the very center of his life. 00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:25.159 And it is from that core 00:08:25.159 --> 00:08:27.659 that I want to encourage you this morning 00:08:27.659 --> 00:08:29.360 to take the pattern of the apostle 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:31.439 and make it true for your life. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.539 So let's look here at the things 00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:35.580 that really governed the apostle's life 00:08:35.580 --> 00:08:38.059 as he kind of ground on through life. 00:08:38.919 --> 00:08:40.559 Look at the passage in verse 10. 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:40.939 It says, 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:42.840 that I may know him. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:46.980 And so let's take this simple statement up 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:48.960 and just kind of ponder what Paul means 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:50.840 because we understand, for one thing, 00:08:50.920 --> 00:08:54.540 that Paul's background was very, very significant 00:08:54.540 --> 00:08:57.360 in understanding all about the Old Testament. 00:08:58.400 --> 00:09:00.960 He was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. 00:09:01.060 --> 00:09:02.940 He was a well-trained Jew. 00:09:03.460 --> 00:09:05.620 He had sat at Gamaliel's feet, 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:07.259 and without question, 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:11.320 if you had asked him about any of the Old Testament passages 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:13.639 that had reference to the Messiah, 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:15.980 he probably could have spoken on them 00:09:15.980 --> 00:09:18.560 and referred to them and understood the relationship 00:09:18.560 --> 00:09:21.560 that those passages had to the hope of Israel. 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:22.420 But nevertheless, 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:26.039 he'd never come to a personal relationship with Christ 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:29.180 until on the road to Damascus. 00:09:29.259 --> 00:09:30.120 Do you remember what happened? 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:32.879 Christ revealed himself to him. 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:35.639 Christ drew him to salvation, 00:09:36.420 --> 00:09:38.960 and Paul's life was radically changed. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:40.440 Where at one time, 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:43.860 he had been a persecutor of believers. 00:09:44.400 --> 00:09:49.120 He became one of the preeminent spokespersons for the gospel 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:52.259 and the one that God used in a very particular way 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:54.280 to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:55.100 That's who we are. 00:09:56.379 --> 00:10:00.000 Paul was a phenomenal instrument in the hands of God. 00:10:00.860 --> 00:10:03.960 And so as you hear him say this this morning, 00:10:04.040 --> 00:10:05.519 you understand that when Paul says, 00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:07.120 that I might know him, 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:11.000 he's not speaking just about that academic information 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:12.899 that he gathered at one time. 00:10:13.700 --> 00:10:14.960 And there are some of you sitting here 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:16.799 that maybe grew up in a Christian home. 00:10:16.919 --> 00:10:18.539 You heard the Bible stories. 00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:20.659 You know about who Jesus is. 00:10:20.940 --> 00:10:24.200 You know that he was born in a manger in a stable. 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:25.980 You know that he was born of a virgin. 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:29.379 But all that information is just kind of academic 00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:31.519 and kind of abstract. 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:34.039 It doesn't really have a personal connection to you. 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:38.120 When Paul makes that statement that I might know him, 00:10:38.439 --> 00:10:41.120 he's talking about having more than a head knowledge 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:42.139 about who Christ is. 00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:44.240 He's talking about having a personal, 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:48.599 genuine relationship that is governed by the reality 00:10:48.599 --> 00:10:50.279 of who that person is. 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:53.579 I don't want to overplay the importance of the word, 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:57.579 but when Paul speaks about knowing here, 00:10:57.899 --> 00:11:00.099 he's talking about that kind of knowledge 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:02.240 that is something that is personal 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:04.159 and experiential in nature. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:04.639 In other words, 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:07.440 I understand by virtue 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:10.080 of what I've gone through and experienced. 00:11:11.420 --> 00:11:14.279 So in relationship to this business of knowing Christ, 00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:15.540 let me draw out several truths 00:11:15.540 --> 00:11:17.019 that I want you to think about this morning. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:18.720 For one, 00:11:19.060 --> 00:11:21.180 our knowledge of Christ can be deepened. 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:24.120 Our knowledge of Christ can be deepened. 00:11:24.160 --> 00:11:25.300 And I want to assure you 00:11:25.299 --> 00:11:27.620 that a deepening relationship 00:11:27.620 --> 00:11:30.019 and understanding of the person of Christ 00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:33.240 will make a significant difference 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:35.299 in the life of the believer. 00:11:36.959 --> 00:11:37.759 You see, 00:11:38.099 --> 00:11:39.759 the things that we care about 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:41.799 and the things we invest our energy in 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:43.979 end up having a profound influence 00:11:43.979 --> 00:11:44.919 on who we are 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:46.859 and how we go about life. 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:48.939 Go back just a little bit. 00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:49.799 We're in verse 10. 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:51.099 So go back to verse 8. 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:52.079 And here's Paul saying, 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:52.400 Indeed, 00:11:52.800 --> 00:11:55.860 I count everything as loss 00:11:55.860 --> 00:11:57.420 because of the surpassing worth 00:11:57.420 --> 00:11:58.759 of knowing Christ. 00:11:59.920 --> 00:12:00.379 Indeed, 00:12:00.920 --> 00:12:02.420 I count everything 00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:04.920 as loss 00:12:04.920 --> 00:12:08.700 so that I may have 00:12:08.700 --> 00:12:10.660 a growing understanding 00:12:10.660 --> 00:12:11.960 of the person of Christ. 00:12:12.060 --> 00:12:13.040 It's amazing when you stop 00:12:13.040 --> 00:12:13.840 and think about this. 00:12:14.280 --> 00:12:15.120 Paul was saying that 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:16.879 all the other things in my life 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:18.860 are of relative insignificance 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:20.740 in comparison to the importance 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:22.259 of knowing the Lord Jesus. 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:25.120 Now, it's easy for us 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:25.940 to hear that said, 00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:27.519 but let's kind of play it out 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.259 in real time. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:29.580 So there you are. 00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:30.539 You get up in the morning 00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:31.960 and you have all good intentions 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:33.980 of spending some time 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:34.860 with the Lord, right? 00:12:35.060 --> 00:12:35.340 I mean, 00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:36.100 after all, 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:36.580 Christians, 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:38.259 we know that. 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:39.000 That's important. 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:41.019 But there you go. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:41.899 You grab your iPad 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:42.940 and before you actually 00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:43.820 have time with the Lord 00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:44.620 and time with the Word, 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:45.460 guess where you go? 00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:47.519 Not to Facebook. 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:48.759 You wouldn't do that 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:49.939 because Jesus is first. 00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:52.519 And you don't go to MSN 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:53.340 or CBS 00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:54.240 or whatever else 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:55.200 the news feed is. 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:56.720 You don't even check the weather. 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:58.220 You go right to the book, 00:12:58.679 --> 00:12:59.039 right? 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:01.240 And all God's people say, 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.299 yes, that's me. 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:03.460 I'm there. 00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:05.340 It's the book that I want 00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:07.039 because I want to know Jesus 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:08.860 more than the weather 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:11.840 or what somebody posted, right? 00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:14.299 Paul says this. 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:15.379 Listen, look at the passage. 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:17.600 He says, 00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:19.860 I count everything as loss 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:22.059 because of the surpassing worth 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:24.320 of knowing Christ Jesus, 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:26.059 my Lord. 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:29.360 And so as you think 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:30.200 about this business, 00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:31.960 we recognize that our knowledge 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:33.600 of Christ can be deepened 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:36.600 and that the knowledge 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:38.120 of Christ being deepened 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:40.139 comes about from a conscious 00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:41.379 and deliberate choice 00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:43.559 on our part, 00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:45.039 in our heart 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:45.819 to put Him 00:13:45.819 --> 00:13:46.539 in that position 00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:47.539 of preeminence. 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:50.619 I want you to understand, 00:13:50.839 --> 00:13:51.059 secondly, 00:13:51.199 --> 00:13:51.779 that our knowledge 00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:53.219 of Christ can be deepened 00:13:53.219 --> 00:13:54.879 by pursuing time 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:55.500 with Him 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.479 and obedience. 00:13:57.779 --> 00:13:59.539 By pursuing time 00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:00.179 with Him 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:01.179 and obedience. 00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:02.859 Let me give you 00:14:02.859 --> 00:14:03.359 several things 00:14:03.359 --> 00:14:04.479 in relationship to this. 00:14:04.579 --> 00:14:05.019 Number one, 00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:05.939 if you're going to grow 00:14:05.939 --> 00:14:06.859 in knowing Christ, 00:14:07.239 --> 00:14:07.819 there must be 00:14:07.819 --> 00:14:09.219 a willingness to hear. 00:14:09.219 --> 00:14:11.119 Be humble to hear. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:12.960 It's very interesting 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:13.519 when you stop 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:14.120 and think about 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:15.720 this business 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:16.779 of picking up information 00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:17.779 about who the Lord Jesus 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:19.139 actually is. 00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:21.139 It doesn't come by osmosis. 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:21.799 Does anybody know 00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:22.879 what osmosis is? 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:25.000 It's the transfer 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:25.759 of something 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.120 from a place 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:28.179 of lesser density 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:29.539 or how does that go? 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:30.139 Help me here. 00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:31.279 Mark, 00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:32.080 spare me. 00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:33.200 From greater density 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:33.899 to lesser density. 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:34.639 There we go. 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:35.379 Thank you. 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:36.799 A PhD can help me anytime. 00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:38.120 So here we go. 00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:39.779 Osmosis is not 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:41.079 how we gain information 00:14:41.079 --> 00:14:42.379 about the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:42.939 --> 00:14:44.360 Laying your pillow 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:46.000 on top of the Bible 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.600 and sleeping with the Bible there 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.600 doesn't mean it's going 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.220 to kind of work 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.419 its way up into your brain 00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:50.919 and you're going 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:53.299 to become more deeply affectionate 00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:54.559 with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:56.799 There has to be 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:58.120 a willingness to hear 00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.199 who He is 00:14:59.199 --> 00:15:00.579 and that takes time. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:02.259 That takes time. 00:15:03.059 --> 00:15:03.959 It's very interesting 00:15:03.959 --> 00:15:04.399 when you stop 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:04.899 and think about 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:05.600 the issue of 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.379 how we grow 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.759 in knowing who God is 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:09.019 and knowing about 00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.960 the Lord Jesus Christ 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:10.679 that we recognize 00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:11.840 we are dependent 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:12.700 upon revelation. 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.240 We're dependent 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.600 upon Him telling us. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.539 I think for a moment 00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:19.039 about the story of Job 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:20.039 and in Job 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:21.419 you have a man 00:15:21.419 --> 00:15:22.799 who was a good guy. 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:24.559 He was an upright man 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:25.419 and eschewed evil. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:26.639 You kind of look up 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.399 the word eschewed. 00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:28.559 It means he kind of avoided it. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.139 He was into 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:30.659 not doing all the bad things. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:31.960 But you know what? 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:33.100 Job's understanding 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:33.600 of God 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.240 was kind of 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:36.580 not where it needed to be 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.879 and God allowed Job 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.440 to go through 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:39.580 all kinds of 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:39.980 what? 00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:42.160 Heartache and difficulty. 00:15:43.660 --> 00:15:44.879 Chapter 38 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:46.460 through 42. 00:15:47.540 --> 00:15:49.580 Every one of those chapters 00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:52.040 is God coming to Job 00:15:52.040 --> 00:15:52.580 and saying 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.580 by the way Job 00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:54.320 it's time for you 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:55.020 to listen up 00:15:55.020 --> 00:15:55.700 because Job 00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:57.360 was a little full of himself 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.560 and why am I suffering 00:15:58.560 --> 00:15:59.139 these things 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.160 and what's going on 00:16:00.160 --> 00:16:01.259 and why are you doing 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:01.879 this to me? 00:16:03.420 --> 00:16:03.940 By the way 00:16:03.940 --> 00:16:04.960 did God ever answer 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:05.860 Job's questions 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:07.419 about why he was suffering? 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:08.019 No. 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:10.100 All God did 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:11.700 in those chapters 00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:12.680 essentially 00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:14.000 was give Job 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.779 a picture 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:16.720 of God's 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:18.340 great wisdom 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:19.220 in particular 00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:20.539 in relationship 00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:21.860 to creation. 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.700 Are there any other 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:24.259 illustrations 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.320 of God's wisdom 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:25.779 and power 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.680 besides creation? 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:27.840 The answer is 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:28.960 you bet. 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:31.139 In those chapters 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.620 we find Job 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:34.080 first saying 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:34.279 you know 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:34.840 it's time for me 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.379 to be quiet 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:35.940 but then 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:36.820 at the end 00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:38.259 of God's recitation 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:39.780 of who he is 00:16:39.780 --> 00:16:40.420 in relationship 00:16:40.420 --> 00:16:41.120 to creation 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:42.840 here's what Job says 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:44.560 I have heard of you 00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:45.280 by the hearing 00:16:45.280 --> 00:16:46.040 of my ear. 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:46.740 In other words 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.060 there are some things 00:16:48.060 --> 00:16:48.800 I knew about you 00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:49.560 I'd heard 00:16:49.560 --> 00:16:50.940 but now my eye 00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:51.700 sees you. 00:16:51.780 --> 00:16:52.080 In other words 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:52.940 I've gained 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:54.780 further understanding 00:16:54.780 --> 00:16:55.940 and further insight 00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:57.160 into who you are. 00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.240 And so I would appeal 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:00.379 to you this morning 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.340 as you kind of 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:02.400 look into the future 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.600 to say to yourself 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:04.960 one of the deliberate 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.680 intentions of my life 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.379 this year 00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:08.519 is going to be 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.180 I by God's grace 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.900 am going to grow 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:14.839 in knowing Christ. 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.579 That's my goal. 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:19.599 That's my goal. 00:17:20.879 --> 00:17:22.099 I want you to understand 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:23.440 also that we grow 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:25.039 by being humble 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:25.960 to obey. 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:29.359 John chapter 15 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.099 verse 10 00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:30.879 let's look at that 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.500 just for a moment 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.800 keep your finger there 00:17:32.800 --> 00:17:34.080 in Philippians 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:34.720 but I want you 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.360 to go back 00:17:35.360 --> 00:17:38.060 to John chapter 15 00:17:38.060 --> 00:17:45.940 if you keep 00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:46.700 my commandments 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:50.060 you will abide 00:17:50.060 --> 00:17:50.700 in my love 00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:51.460 just as I've kept 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.620 my father's commandments 00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:53.980 and abide in his love. 00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:56.280 If you keep 00:17:56.280 --> 00:17:57.100 my commandments 00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:58.700 you will abide 00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.380 in my love. 00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:01.080 You know 00:18:01.080 --> 00:18:01.840 one of the things 00:18:01.840 --> 00:18:03.060 that I kind of 00:18:03.060 --> 00:18:03.860 am flummoxed 00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:04.580 a little bit by 00:18:04.580 --> 00:18:05.060 today 00:18:05.060 --> 00:18:06.560 is I look at 00:18:06.560 --> 00:18:07.980 the general 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:09.700 spiritual poverty 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:12.140 of many many 00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:12.880 people in America. 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:15.080 I was reading 00:18:15.080 --> 00:18:17.500 a Facebook post 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.260 by an individual 00:18:18.260 --> 00:18:19.140 who at one time 00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:22.880 quite an effective 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.520 speaker 00:18:23.520 --> 00:18:25.080 pastor 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:25.119 pastor 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:27.079 and the guy 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:27.659 has drifted 00:18:27.659 --> 00:18:28.240 far away 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:28.799 from the Lord 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.480 and as I was 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.240 as I was 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.819 paying attention 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.399 I don't know 00:18:31.399 --> 00:18:31.980 where his heart 00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:32.559 is for sure 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.319 but as I read 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.399 his recurring 00:18:35.399 --> 00:18:35.939 posts 00:18:35.939 --> 00:18:36.639 it seems that 00:18:36.639 --> 00:18:37.759 so much 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.480 of the truth 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.399 has been lost 00:18:39.399 --> 00:18:40.000 and just kind of 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:40.599 laid aside 00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:42.460 and I thought 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.480 what is behind 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.279 all this? 00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:47.019 Well for one thing 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:49.279 in order to grow 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.240 in understanding 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.339 who Christ is 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:51.960 there must be 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.480 a willingness 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.399 to follow 00:18:53.399 --> 00:18:54.139 his instruction. 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.720 Do you understand 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.060 that? 00:18:56.800 --> 00:18:57.520 How many of you 00:18:57.520 --> 00:18:58.020 remember 00:18:58.020 --> 00:19:00.740 learning the 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.960 multiplication tables 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.680 and the addition 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.080 tables? 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:03.960 I mean it was 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.780 just drudgery. 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:05.240 Do you remember 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:05.500 that? 00:19:05.800 --> 00:19:06.400 Flash cards. 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:06.960 How many of you 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:07.740 did flash cards 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.380 besides me? 00:19:08.820 --> 00:19:09.600 Flash card 00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:10.759 hands up. 00:19:11.320 --> 00:19:11.480 Okay. 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.400 Whoa! 00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.660 Real crowd here. 00:19:13.780 --> 00:19:14.540 I mean I got it. 00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:15.160 Okay put them down. 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:15.620 Put them down. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:16.740 You know do you 00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.520 remember the dull 00:19:17.520 --> 00:19:18.460 business of two 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.280 plus two equals 00:19:19.280 --> 00:19:19.740 what? 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.100 Four. 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:21.840 I mean yeah 00:19:21.840 --> 00:19:22.640 we've got it. 00:19:23.080 --> 00:19:24.040 But there were 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:24.839 times when we 00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:25.680 kind of floundered 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.579 with that basic 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:27.879 information and 00:19:27.879 --> 00:19:28.480 some of us 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.059 actually thought 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.579 to ourself 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.299 why do I need 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:30.899 to do this? 00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:34.659 Some of us 00:19:34.659 --> 00:19:35.399 stayed in that 00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:36.039 state of why 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:36.440 do I need 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:36.980 to do this 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.700 and then when 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.379 we got on to 00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:38.799 a little more 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.799 complex problems 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.859 like you know 00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:43.299 N and P 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.480 over blah blah 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:44.740 you know 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:46.440 it's way beyond 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:46.680 me. 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.659 I rely on others 00:19:47.659 --> 00:19:48.079 to help me 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.500 with that kind 00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:48.879 of detail. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.200 But you know 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.720 eventually we 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.460 got caught out 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:52.920 because we 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.400 weren't willing 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:53.920 to follow 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.579 the line. 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.059 Beloved I 00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:57.420 want you to 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.400 understand this 00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:59.900 obedience is the 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:00.779 key that unlocks 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.259 the door of 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:01.759 understanding. 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.299 And if you're 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.000 sitting here this 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.600 morning and you're 00:20:04.600 --> 00:20:05.180 saying well listen 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:06.019 I want to know 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:06.940 more about Christ 00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.980 here's what I can 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.640 tell you is going 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:09.039 to happen. 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.759 Listen to me 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.100 carefully. 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.900 You are in your 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:13.160 journey of learning 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:14.100 who Christ is 00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:15.220 going to have him 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:15.920 speak to you 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.460 and say hey 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.559 it's time to stop 00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:18.299 doing this 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.240 and it's time to 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:20.079 start doing that. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:20.779 And when you 00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.679 say no to him 00:20:21.679 --> 00:20:22.159 guess what's 00:20:22.159 --> 00:20:22.759 going to happen? 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.899 His voice gets 00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:28.159 softer and his 00:20:28.159 --> 00:20:28.659 voice gets 00:20:28.659 --> 00:20:29.240 repetitious. 00:20:29.379 --> 00:20:29.740 How many of you 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:30.359 understand what I 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.179 mean by repetitious? 00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:32.779 You know if you're 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.339 not willing to 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.279 obey him on point 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.119 A he's not going 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:35.599 to move on to 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:36.279 point B and say 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.039 well let point A 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.279 go. 00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.079 He's going to keep 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.699 on coming back 00:20:38.699 --> 00:20:39.019 to it. 00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:41.099 And so if you 00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:41.720 want to grow in 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.659 understanding Christ 00:20:42.659 --> 00:20:43.579 there must be a 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:44.519 willingness to hear 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.799 and there must be a 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.480 willingness to 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:46.859 obey. 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.899 I want to make one 00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:49.559 other point before 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.099 we leave this 00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.299 here. 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.059 Knowing him 00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:54.159 must come first. 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.619 Make no mistake 00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:57.119 about it going 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:57.619 back there to 00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:58.379 Philippians chapter 00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:59.519 3 we understand 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.339 that Paul is 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:01.220 laying out things 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:03.220 here in a sense 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:03.980 in a sequence 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.839 that has some 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:05.359 importance. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.899 I want you to 00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.619 know that Bible 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:09.759 behavior and 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.500 Bible obedience 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.319 are important. 00:21:12.419 --> 00:21:12.940 But the 00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:13.919 contemporary pattern 00:21:13.919 --> 00:21:14.740 of providing 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.960 instruction in 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.980 certain behaviors 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.720 without helping 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:18.519 people understand 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.500 the underlying 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:20.759 issue of our 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.799 relationship with 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.720 Christ is 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.720 ultimately pretty 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.779 bankrupt and 00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:25.220 ineffective. 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.460 Let me explain 00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:27.980 it this way. 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:30.180 It is not an 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.379 accident that 00:21:31.379 --> 00:21:32.299 Paul in 00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:34.240 Ephesians spends 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.299 three chapters 00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:37.000 helping you and 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.859 helping me 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.660 understand the 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.480 wonder of our 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.359 relationship with 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.660 Christ before he 00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:44.359 talks at all about 00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:45.220 the way in which we 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.920 relate with one 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:46.259 another. 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.300 You see a husband 00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:49.640 who has not come 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:50.880 to grips with the 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.519 beauty of his 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:52.440 relationship with the 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.900 Lord Jesus Christ and 00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:55.340 is not influenced by 00:21:55.340 --> 00:21:56.600 his growing affection 00:21:56.600 --> 00:21:58.460 for Christ can never 00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.640 really love his 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:01.960 bride much more than 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.620 he loves the Lord 00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:03.279 Jesus Christ. 00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:03.720 Do you understand 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.039 that? 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.980 And so a reasonable 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:07.240 wife who would like 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.220 her husband to love 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:09.860 her more, guess what 00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:10.700 she should be doing? 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.960 She should be quietly 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:14.019 encouraging his 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:15.319 spiritual growth and 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:16.500 doing everything she 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:18.220 can in prayer to help 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:19.079 him grow to be the 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:20.000 man that God needs 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.740 him to be because 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.279 what? 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:23.519 His love for her 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:25.600 rests upon the 00:22:25.600 --> 00:22:26.600 foundation and the 00:22:26.600 --> 00:22:28.299 bedrock of his love 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:29.220 for him. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.259 And to teach 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:33.019 Ephesians 5 without 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.680 teaching Ephesians 1, 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:36.559 2, 3 is to lay a 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.740 very shallow and 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:39.860 shaky moral bedrock. 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.539 Let me have you look 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.360 at another illustration 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.859 of this and turn over 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.439 in your Bible. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.979 We're talking here in 00:22:44.979 --> 00:22:46.179 1 Thessalonians about 00:22:46.179 --> 00:22:47.039 the matter of moral 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.500 purity. 00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:50.779 Moral purity is an 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.959 ongoing battle in our 00:22:51.959 --> 00:22:52.619 culture today. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.859 Everywhere you turn you 00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.939 see the evidence of it. 00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:58.740 1 Thessalonians chapter 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:01.139 4 verse 3. 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:03.059 For this is the will of 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:04.259 God, your sanctification. 00:23:05.479 --> 00:23:06.439 Boy, that sounds pretty 00:23:06.439 --> 00:23:07.199 good in the abstract. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:09.619 God's interest is that I 00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:11.439 grow to be more godly, 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.079 more pure. 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.699 And then Paul immediately 00:23:13.699 --> 00:23:14.699 cuts to the practical 00:23:14.699 --> 00:23:15.339 application. 00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:17.119 He says that you abstain 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:18.500 from sexual immorality. 00:23:18.679 --> 00:23:19.319 All kinds. 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:24.639 God has made the sexual 00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:25.979 communion of a husband 00:23:25.979 --> 00:23:28.279 and wife as a blessing 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:29.179 in marriage. 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.859 Outside of that, we are 00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:32.199 to abstain and to wait 00:23:32.199 --> 00:23:33.219 for God to be the one 00:23:33.219 --> 00:23:34.719 that provides the life 00:23:34.719 --> 00:23:35.579 partner for us. 00:23:35.639 --> 00:23:36.519 And so here is Paul 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:38.579 writing to a church in a 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.279 pagan culture. 00:23:39.439 --> 00:23:40.339 He says, hey, don't be 00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:41.759 doing what the rest of 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:44.980 the unsaved pagan world 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.859 is engaged in. 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:48.319 And then he lays out for 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:48.579 them. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:50.819 He comes down there in 00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:52.539 verse 5. 00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:54.980 He says, your behavior is 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:56.159 not to be like the lust 00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:57.079 of the Gentiles. 00:23:57.159 --> 00:23:58.000 And what's the problem 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.319 that the Gentiles have? 00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.599 Everybody smile. 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:01.339 Listen. 00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:03.139 It's not that they don't 00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:03.899 know the rules. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.500 It's that they don't know 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:06.920 God. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.579 Do you understand that? 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:10.559 It's not that they don't 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.299 know the rules. 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:12.220 It's that they don't know 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:12.539 God. 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:14.880 The underlying problem 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:16.279 with their moral behavior 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:18.119 is that it is a reflection 00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:20.460 of the relationship or the 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:22.299 absence of a relationship 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.140 with the God of this 00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:23.460 universe. 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.940 That's the reason that 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:27.799 when Joseph was tempted 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:29.279 by Potiphar's wife back 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.160 in the book of Genesis, 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:33.099 that when Joseph ultimately 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:34.220 responded to that 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:35.880 temptation, he said, how 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:37.920 can I do this great 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.480 thing against God? 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.460 And so I want you to 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.519 understand this morning as 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.559 you think about the matter 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:46.400 in Philippians of goal for 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:48.539 this year, number one, my 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:50.980 personal goal is I want to 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.559 grow in knowing Christ. 00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.720 Knowing Christ. 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.940 That's my goal. 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:55.900 Write it down. 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.720 Make it clear. 00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.360 Consciously and deliberately 00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.500 make that determination. 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:01.500 And if you want to go out on a 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.600 limb, say it to somebody 00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:03.079 else. 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:05.379 Now what's the danger of 00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:06.339 telling somebody else that 00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.000 that's your goal? 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.919 What's the danger? 00:25:12.699 --> 00:25:13.639 Accountability, but not only 00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:14.839 that, but sometimes when 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:15.759 you're drifting left of 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.740 center, they're going to 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.559 remind you of that. 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.159 Am I correct? 00:25:18.919 --> 00:25:20.319 So there you are being a 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:20.899 little surly. 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.719 How many of you understand 00:25:21.719 --> 00:25:22.679 what I mean by surly? 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:25.480 Grumpy, sarcastic. 00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:27.139 Don't ever tell me. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:29.059 Don't ever tell me that 00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:30.519 sarcasm is your love 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:30.859 language. 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:32.179 That's a lie from hell. 00:25:32.919 --> 00:25:34.119 That's not Bible truth. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.199 And so there you are. 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:36.799 You're being a little 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:38.240 sarcastic, a little grumpy. 00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.779 And the person that you 00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:41.839 asked to pray for you about 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.979 growing in your love for 00:25:42.979 --> 00:25:45.439 Christ says, hey, you're not 00:25:45.439 --> 00:25:46.879 doing very well today. 00:25:46.979 --> 00:25:47.479 How's that? 00:25:49.159 --> 00:25:50.619 So I encourage you. 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.059 Go ahead. 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.439 Write it down somewhere 00:25:53.439 --> 00:25:53.959 personally. 00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:57.000 But then step out on a limb and 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:58.639 say to someone close to you that 00:25:58.640 --> 00:25:59.280 has teeth. 00:25:59.380 --> 00:26:00.240 You know what I mean by teeth? 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:02.800 Posting it on Facebook is not 00:26:02.800 --> 00:26:03.660 the same as telling your 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:06.660 husband, hey, I want you to 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:08.360 pray for me that I grow in 00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:09.360 loving Christ. 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:11.160 And here, here's the deal. 00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:13.880 And as this year progresses, I 00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:15.660 want you to let me know whether 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:17.259 you see any signs of it. 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.200 Let's go to the second one. 00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:23.100 Paul says that I may know him 00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:24.580 and the power of his 00:26:24.580 --> 00:26:25.180 resurrection. 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:26.840 resurrection, the power of his 00:26:26.840 --> 00:26:27.340 resurrection. 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.500 Now ask yourself the question, 00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:31.620 why is knowing his resurrection 00:26:31.620 --> 00:26:32.779 power important? 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.480 Well, there's a reason that Paul 00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.840 puts it here in relationship to 00:26:36.840 --> 00:26:38.180 this matter of spiritual growth. 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:40.279 I'm going to mention in broad 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:41.640 terms several of the things that 00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:44.340 the resurrection has value to 00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:45.980 the believer in regards to, but 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.620 then I'll come down and focus on 00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:49.880 one particular thing, namely that 00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:51.740 of our progressive sanctification and 00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:53.640 growing to be more like Christ over 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.040 time. 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:56.640 I do want you to understand that 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:59.900 his resurrection is proof that 00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:03.720 his substitutionary death, he died 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.680 in my place. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.860 How do I know that his death 00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:09.300 satisfied the righteous judgment of 00:27:09.300 --> 00:27:11.140 a holy God against my sin? 00:27:11.280 --> 00:27:12.820 His resurrection proves it. 00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:16.480 I have confidence that Jesus has 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:19.180 paid my penalty and that that debt 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:21.420 is satisfied because Christ rose from 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:21.820 the dead. 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:23.960 There's another thing that the 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:25.420 resurrection provides to me as a 00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:25.700 believer. 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:28.759 It provides to me great assurance of 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.759 my own resurrection. 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:35.140 Earlier this month, I was at the 00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:37.660 graveside with my family where we 00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:40.240 laid my father's body to rest, 00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.720 waiting for the day of the 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.200 resurrection. 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.940 And I can tell you this without any 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:46.440 hesitation, I have confidence in the 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:48.519 day that I will see the Lord Jesus 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:50.599 Christ and I will also see my father 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:51.500 face to face. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:51.859 Why? 00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:55.519 Because Jesus rose from the dead, I 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:57.000 have confidence in the resurrection. 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.579 But I want you to understand that the 00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:01.859 primary focus that Paul has this 00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:05.119 morning is on the matter of the 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:07.359 resurrection's power being available 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:10.740 for me in progressive sanctification or 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:12.240 growing to be more like Christ. 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:14.759 Turn back in your Bible, you're in the 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:16.059 book of Philippians, turn back to 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:19.000 Ephesians chapter 1 verse 19. 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:21.119 Ephesians chapter 1 verse 19. 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:24.759 One of two primary prayers that the 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:27.440 apostle prays in Ephesians. 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:31.399 And taking from verse 19, here is the 00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:32.639 apostle saying this. 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:34.559 He says, let me kind of pick it up. 00:28:34.679 --> 00:28:36.740 He says there in verse 16, I do not 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.980 cease to give thanks for you, 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:40.460 remembering you in my prayers, that the 00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:41.960 God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:45.079 Father of glory, may give you a spirit 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:47.019 of wisdom and of revelation in the 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:49.220 knowledge of him, knowing Christ. 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:51.419 Having the eyes of your hearts 00:28:51.419 --> 00:28:53.720 enlightened, that you may know what is 00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:55.639 the hope to which he has called you, 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:58.119 what are the riches of his glorious 00:28:58.119 --> 00:29:00.419 inheritance in the saints, and what is 00:29:00.419 --> 00:29:02.779 the immeasurable greatness of his power 00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:06.299 towards us who believe, according to the 00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.379 working of his great might. 00:29:07.419 --> 00:29:08.799 In other words, hey listen, Paul's saying, 00:29:09.179 --> 00:29:11.419 I want you to get your hands around how 00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:14.360 wonderful the blessing of God is in 00:29:14.360 --> 00:29:17.100 relationship to the work that God is 00:29:17.100 --> 00:29:18.460 doing in you. 00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:23.640 Well, what power is available to help me 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:25.000 grow to be different? 00:29:25.360 --> 00:29:25.980 Here's the truth. 00:29:27.060 --> 00:29:30.720 There's not a one of us that when we look 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:34.140 privately in the mirror of our own soul, 00:29:35.060 --> 00:29:37.420 do not end up with a sense of, man, there 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:38.580 are things that need to be changed. 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.539 Would you agree with that? 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:42.019 Yeah, I'm not where I need to be. 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:44.039 I need to grow in grace. 00:29:44.139 --> 00:29:45.659 I need to grow to be more like Christ. 00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:48.619 How will that growth come about? 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:51.559 Well, Paul argues here. 00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:54.839 He says you need to understand that the 00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:56.899 power that is available to help you 00:29:56.899 --> 00:29:59.619 change is the resurrection power that 00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:01.379 raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. 00:30:02.139 --> 00:30:03.399 I want to encourage you with that. 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:05.859 So you think this morning about the fact 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:08.099 that here you are, you're a person who is 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:10.659 struggling with the reality of some 00:30:10.659 --> 00:30:12.319 pervasive sin in your life. 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:14.079 Secret, nobody else knows about it maybe, 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.939 but you're sitting there, man, how can I 00:30:15.939 --> 00:30:16.679 change? 00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:19.299 You can change through the power of the 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.319 cross and the resurrection. 00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:22.919 The power that raised Jesus from the dead 00:30:22.919 --> 00:30:26.000 is available to raise you up in newness 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:28.639 of life, in salvation, but also to begin 00:30:28.639 --> 00:30:30.579 the process of helping you grow in grace. 00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:34.599 So here's the blessed fact that I am 00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:35.879 completely confident in. 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:40.399 We who know Christ are not doomed to stay 00:30:40.399 --> 00:30:42.460 slaves to our pasts. 00:30:42.699 --> 00:30:44.879 Can I say that slowly so you don't forget it? 00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:50.559 We who are in Christ Jesus are not doomed to 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:53.039 stay slaves to our past. 00:30:55.579 --> 00:30:58.579 Contemporary psychology indicates that people 00:30:58.579 --> 00:31:00.159 cannot escape their past. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:04.259 The fact of the matter is, is that if a man 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:06.000 is in Christ Jesus, he is a what? 00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:08.720 He is somebody different. 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:11.699 And not only is he somebody different, 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:14.679 but he also has the power of the Spirit of God, 00:31:14.919 --> 00:31:18.859 better yet, slap my mouth, it's not just the 00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:21.139 power of the Spirit of God, it's the Spirit of God. 00:31:21.199 --> 00:31:21.819 Do you got that? 00:31:21.899 --> 00:31:23.359 It's better than just the power. 00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:26.679 It's the person of the Spirit of God in me. 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:28.120 And why is he there? 00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:28.860 Does anybody know? 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.860 Well, there are a number of things, but one of the 00:31:31.860 --> 00:31:33.460 reasons he's there is to help me change. 00:31:34.600 --> 00:31:35.580 I like that. 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:42.240 And so this morning, as you stop and think about 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:44.400 who wrote this letter, you stop and recognize that 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:47.720 the man who writes this there in Philippians was at 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:50.799 one time an incredibly arrogant and murderous 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.279 individual. 00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:53.420 Individual, not individuals. 00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:56.060 He was a persecutor of the church. 00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.720 He was full of himself. 00:31:58.420 --> 00:32:02.480 And he came by the grace of God to realize the bankruptcy 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.400 of his own soul. 00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.600 And he was drawn to the cross. 00:32:04.840 --> 00:32:07.759 And his life continued to grow in grace and knowledge of the 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.259 Lord Jesus. 00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:15.259 If that power was available for Paul to change him from Saul to 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:19.600 becoming Paul, is that power available for you this morning? 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:21.599 And the answer is yes. 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.179 Yes. 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:27.939 And so I want you to recognize that to know that power, 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:31.619 to know that power, is to trust him to help you change and 00:32:31.619 --> 00:32:33.799 then see the change taking place in time. 00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:36.359 One of the advantages of getting older in the faith, 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:40.599 now here's the truth, growing in grace is a little, 00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:44.639 it's like a roller coaster ride a little bit with an uphill 00:32:44.639 --> 00:32:45.019 journey. 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:47.180 A roller coaster ride goes how? 00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:51.019 Up, down, up, down, up, down, down, down, right? 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.480 Do you follow me? 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:53.759 I mean, they're relying on gravity to take you where? 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:55.779 Down. 00:32:58.920 --> 00:33:01.720 Progressive sanctification is relying on grace and the power of 00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.980 the Holy Spirit to take you where? 00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:04.200 Up. 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:07.859 And if you kind of look and chart your life, 00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:10.660 you would see that there are ups and downs in the journey. 00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:11.879 How many of you realize that? 00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:14.400 There are ups and downs in the journey. 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:16.940 Do I wish it was straight uphill? 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:17.540 Bang. 00:33:17.860 --> 00:33:18.259 Yes. 00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:19.660 Is it? 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:20.360 No. 00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.420 But you know what? 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:25.560 One of the privileges of being a 66 is I can see where the dots on 00:33:25.560 --> 00:33:29.160 the chart are going in the right direction and he gets the credit 00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:29.759 for it. 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:36.379 I love the blessing of being able to say to people who are caught in their sins, 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:39.119 I've got good news for you. 00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:43.700 Jesus can save you and give you complete forgiveness for all of your sins. 00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:46.519 And not only that, you don't have to stay the way you are. 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:49.900 You don't have to stay the way you are. 00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:54.920 That brings me to a third thing that we find there in the passage in Philippians. 00:33:55.880 --> 00:33:56.720 Mark what it says, 00:33:57.880 --> 00:34:03.620 and may share his sufferings becoming like him in death. 00:34:04.340 --> 00:34:07.840 Let me take a moment and back up and have the larger picture here. 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:09.360 Here is Paul praying. 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:14.280 Number one, he prayed for an intimate knowledge of Christ. 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:19.660 He prayed for an understanding of the divine power that's available to help him 00:34:19.660 --> 00:34:20.040 grow. 00:34:21.120 --> 00:34:23.980 But then he comes to this business also of the matter of suffering. 00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:25.340 To what end? 00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:31.780 I want you to understand that the believer is called to be a living sacrifice 00:34:31.780 --> 00:34:34.320 worthy of his high calling. 00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:36.240 And so here's Paul who says, 00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:40.320 Hey, listen, I want to grow in knowing Christ. 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:44.120 I want to grow in seeing the power of the resurrection work in my life. 00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:49.620 And I want to grow to the point that suffering and challenge and hardship is not something 00:34:49.620 --> 00:34:54.680 to be avoided, but it's something to be received for the sake of the kingdom and for the sake 00:34:54.680 --> 00:34:55.200 of Christ. 00:34:56.860 --> 00:35:01.100 You see, when we share in his suffering, we become like him. 00:35:01.220 --> 00:35:02.660 We grow through that. 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:07.900 And I want you to understand that the one who was writing this, Paul, was someone who suffered 00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:08.280 deeply. 00:35:08.280 --> 00:35:14.740 When he wrote the epistle to the church at Philippi, he was writing it in prison. 00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:23.780 And there is not a single note in this entire epistle of Paul kind of commiserating about how hard 00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:26.840 and how difficult his journey was. 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:31.780 By the way, does anybody know how Paul's last lap in life played out? 00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:41.640 2 Timothy, we find the apostle largely abandoned by the entire church that he had ministered to and raised up through the 00:35:41.640 --> 00:35:42.260 grace of God. 00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:44.140 Most of them had turned their backs on Paul. 00:35:46.900 --> 00:35:51.160 And yet Paul here in the midst of all that hardship and suffering, he says, 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:53.360 Man, I am ready to be offered up. 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.360 I've run my race. 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:55.420 I've kept the faith. 00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:58.100 And I'm looking forward to the day I'm going to see Christ. 00:35:58.200 --> 00:35:58.380 Why? 00:35:58.380 --> 00:35:58.700 Why? 00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:05.980 Because he understood who he was following and who he was serving. 00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:10.220 And he understood the value of the hardship and difficulty that he faced in life. 00:36:11.559 --> 00:36:16.760 Paul's suffering for Christ and for the gospel was a blessing to be desired rather than a pain to be avoided. 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:21.320 So I want you to think with me just for a moment about what it means to suffer with Christ. 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:27.099 Christ suffered in loving people that had no time for his love or his salvation. 00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:35.400 Do you ever find yourself small group leader, deacon, Sunday school teacher, youth leader? 00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:42.339 You find yourself investing in the lives of kids and lives of other people and you find yourself frustrated 00:36:42.339 --> 00:36:46.279 by the fact that they don't even seem to appreciate what you're putting into it. 00:36:46.280 --> 00:36:52.220 You are suffering in place of Christ and for him. 00:36:53.560 --> 00:36:59.880 Jesus also suffered with intentional rejection by those who most desperately needed him. 00:37:00.700 --> 00:37:01.840 Stop and think about that. 00:37:02.840 --> 00:37:08.400 Jesus suffered at the hands of those who most desperately needed him. 00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:14.180 One of the things that goes with ministry, whatever role you have and whatever place you have, 00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:23.360 you're going to find yourself investing repeatedly in individuals who desperately need the work of Christ in their life. 00:37:23.800 --> 00:37:28.519 And as you pour the ministry of the gospel into their lives, sometimes they're going to say, 00:37:28.619 --> 00:37:29.340 Hey, no, thank you. 00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:30.660 In fact, it's going to go worse than that. 00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:31.920 They're going to say, Leave me alone. 00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:39.900 I want you to understand that Christ suffered because what he did was he revealed the light of man's heart 00:37:39.900 --> 00:37:41.940 or the real depravity of man's heart. 00:37:42.240 --> 00:37:45.680 And when he turned on the light, those who didn't like the light, guess what they did? 00:37:46.180 --> 00:37:47.039 They hated him. 00:37:47.780 --> 00:37:48.400 They hated him. 00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:52.079 I can think back to this last year and several of the incidents. 00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:58.760 Most of you know that I am not a frequent poster on Facebook. 00:37:58.760 --> 00:38:04.920 It's a rare situation that leads me to post something on Facebook. 00:38:05.380 --> 00:38:09.020 There's so much blather out there that I don't engage in it, but I do read a lot of it. 00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:11.760 And every now and then something will light me up to the point I say, 00:38:11.820 --> 00:38:16.160 You know, I think about this and I craft it over a period of days and finally put something out there. 00:38:16.200 --> 00:38:22.200 I can tell you some of the most scathing things I've ever had said to me have been said by people on Facebook 00:38:22.200 --> 00:38:27.580 in regards to things that I've said that were sweet and simple gospel truths. 00:38:28.760 --> 00:38:30.540 Understand this. 00:38:30.620 --> 00:38:33.980 You're going to suffer for representing Christ faithfully. 00:38:35.120 --> 00:38:39.920 I want you to recognize this morning that Paul here says, 00:38:40.100 --> 00:38:40.880 I want to know him. 00:38:41.180 --> 00:38:42.440 I want to know his power. 00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:48.480 And I want to know the fellowship of suffering along with him in the ministry of the gospel. 00:38:48.580 --> 00:38:49.840 Is that your desire for this year? 00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:51.500 Think with me. 00:38:52.580 --> 00:38:55.120 I want to grow in knowing Christ. 00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:56.200 I can do that. 00:38:56.199 --> 00:39:03.939 But the practical part, I want to grow in understanding Christ's power to help me change. 00:39:04.279 --> 00:39:06.679 I need to be someone different than I am. 00:39:07.279 --> 00:39:08.219 I can do that. 00:39:09.199 --> 00:39:14.179 I need to grow to be one who sees suffering not as something to be avoided, 00:39:14.559 --> 00:39:16.919 but something to be joyfully received, 00:39:17.259 --> 00:39:22.799 because when I am suffering for the testimony of Christ and the glory of his gospel, 00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:25.340 I am suffering according to the will of God. 00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:27.720 I want to be there. 00:39:28.860 --> 00:39:29.860 I want to be there. 00:39:31.220 --> 00:39:37.300 So this Sunday, as we think of our first Sunday together, 00:39:37.300 --> 00:39:39.880 I want to challenge you. 00:39:43.560 --> 00:39:47.660 Consciously and deliberately, without emotional fanfare, 00:39:48.380 --> 00:39:50.840 and with the brutal reality of the scriptures, 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:53.720 which speaks authoritatively into the life of a believer. 00:39:53.800 --> 00:39:54.800 Do you understand what I just said? 00:39:55.300 --> 00:39:57.900 God's word has a right to tell you how to live and how to think. 00:39:57.900 --> 00:40:01.800 On the basis of the authority of the scripture, 00:40:02.300 --> 00:40:04.880 I encourage you to consciously and deliberately say, 00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:06.740 Philippians chapter 3 verse 10, 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:13.079 or one such verse like that will determine the year in front of me. 00:40:13.079 --> 00:40:19.719 And if you have the intestinal fortitude 00:40:19.719 --> 00:40:26.480 and a deliberate intention to be a person who grows in grace, 00:40:26.799 --> 00:40:28.159 write it down. 00:40:30.059 --> 00:40:32.500 Tell someone with teeth 00:40:32.500 --> 00:40:41.739 and ask them to help you track the work of grace in your life this year. 00:40:41.739 --> 00:40:43.559 Let's close in prayer. 00:40:46.479 --> 00:40:47.899 Our Father God, this morning, 00:40:48.039 --> 00:40:49.739 as we think in particular of believers, 00:40:49.899 --> 00:40:51.759 of the blessing we have in our salvation, 00:40:51.939 --> 00:40:56.119 we understand that you have delivered us out of darkness into marvelous light. 00:40:57.539 --> 00:41:00.619 And you have set the year in front of us 00:41:00.619 --> 00:41:03.959 and called us through your spirit 00:41:03.959 --> 00:41:05.679 and through the authority of your word of God 00:41:05.679 --> 00:41:08.099 to be a people that are conscious and deliberate 00:41:08.099 --> 00:41:12.000 in pursuing a growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ 00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:16.179 and an understanding that we can count upon your power to help us change 00:41:16.179 --> 00:41:20.799 and a willingness to be sacrificial in servanthood. 00:41:22.400 --> 00:41:24.539 I pray, Lord, for your people this morning 00:41:24.539 --> 00:41:26.480 that as we have heard your word, 00:41:26.960 --> 00:41:31.519 that your spirit would take and chisel it firmly into the heart. 00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:34.900 that, Lord, in the year to come, 00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:38.719 it might be evident that we individually 00:41:38.719 --> 00:41:41.219 and we as a body of believers 00:41:41.219 --> 00:41:44.759 are growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:47.539 And unbelievers watching us 00:41:47.539 --> 00:41:50.059 ask us a reason for the hope. 00:41:51.500 --> 00:41:52.759 Believers who are struggling 00:41:52.759 --> 00:41:54.420 are encouraged by the evidence 00:41:54.420 --> 00:41:57.019 of progressive sanctification in our heart. 00:41:57.019 --> 00:41:59.159 and we rejoice 00:41:59.159 --> 00:42:01.679 in seeing your power at work. 00:42:01.800 --> 00:42:03.300 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:42:03.880 --> 00:42:04.139 Amen. 00:42:05.239 --> 00:42:07.440 As John comes to lead us in our closing song, 00:42:07.519 --> 00:42:09.320 let me encourage you to stand, if you would, please.