WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning again, church. Our sermon text today is Philippians chapter 4, verses 1 through 9.

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 Let me invite you to turn there. I believe that's page 922 or 923, somewhere in there,

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 in the Pew Bible. We'll have it on the screens as I read it in just a minute, but it'll be helpful

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 to have it open during the sermon as we study and listen to this text together. So, as we turn there,

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 let me pray for us, and then I'll read.

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 Father, we do ask as we come to your word that you would grant our minds understanding

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 and you would grant our hearts a receptivity to what you are saying to us. Father, thank you

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 that you give us a word outside of ourselves from you that allows us to know you and to live for you

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 and to be recipients of a great saving grace that you've accomplished for us in Jesus.

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 So, help us as we attend to your word to live into all these things by your spirit. We pray this in

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 Christ's name. Amen. All right. Philippians chapter 4, verses 1 through 9. Paul writes,

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 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord,

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 my beloved. I entreat you, Odia, and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also,

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 true companion, help these women who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with

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 Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord

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 always. Again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord

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 is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything. But in everything, by prayer and supplication,

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 with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all

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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true,

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 whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,

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 if there's any excellence, if there's anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

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 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things,

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 and the God of peace will be with you. All right, so we're coming to the end of this letter of

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 Philippians. And at the beginning of chapter four, Paul's clearly bringing things to a conclusion,

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 isn't he? Like many of his letters, he ends with a series of brief but profound exhortations. And

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 here in Philippians, if we were to ask if there's any kind of central or unifying theme to these first

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 nine verses of chapter four, the answer to that question would be in verse one. Now, if you notice,

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 the editors of the ESV, the translation we have in the pews, they put a topic heading between verse

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 one and verses two through nine. And that's understandable because verse one does kind of

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 wrap up what Paul had been saying in chapter three. But in light of that, we might miss the fact that

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 verse one also sets up the exhortations in verse four. It's a bit of a hinge verse. And that verse

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 points to a unifying theme in what Paul says in these verses that we just read. And that unifying theme is

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 one that we've heard before in this book. All the way back in chapter one, verse 27. Do you remember what

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 Paul said there? Turn back a page if you have a Bible open. Turn back to Philippians chapter one, verse 27.

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 Paul writes,

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 Now back here in chapter four, verse one, Paul says,

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 Therefore, now what's he referring to there? Well, the previous two verses.

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 Therefore, because you're citizens of heaven,

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 because you're a colony of God's kingdom on earth,

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 because you're awaiting the arrival of the Lord Jesus, the one who will

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 subject all things to himself, and by that same power,

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 raise our lowly body to be like his glorious body. Therefore, my brothers,

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 which means brothers and sisters, right?

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 Whom I love and long for, my joy and crown. What does he say?

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 Stand firm. Stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. So, Paul comes back to his main theme

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 of this book. Live as citizens of heaven, as citizens of the gospel, and stand firm.

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 Bonnie Thurston, in her commentary on Philippians, says that this term,

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 stand firm, suggests the picture of a soldier who does not leave his post.

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 Or you might think of an analogy or a picture from nature,

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 like a mighty tree, a mighty stately oak,

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 just standing firm in the midst of the wind and the storm and the weather.

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 Like we read earlier in Psalm 1, right?

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 Like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season,

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 and its leaf does not wither.

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 Beloved, Paul says, stand firm.

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 You know, when you read church history, you can see how there's always the danger

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 in every age for the church to fall prey to a kind of cultural captivity,

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 to simply become a mirror of the prevailing context,

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 rather than salt and light within our context.

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 In other words, there's always the danger that the church will forget

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 that ultimately we aren't citizens of Jerusalem or Athens or Rome or England

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 or Nigeria or Korea or the United States.

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 Ultimately, our citizenship is in heaven.

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 We are the people of the risen king.

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 We are the people of the new creation right in the midst of the old.

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 And we need to keep our integrity.

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 No matter how countercultural following Jesus becomes,

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 no matter how countercultural it becomes,

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 we need to be who we are

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 and not succumb to social pressure or compromise.

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 But what exactly does standing firm look like?

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 In our age, in our time, in our context,

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 how do we need to be standing firm?

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 Well, look at what Paul says again in verse 1.

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 He says,

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 Stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

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 Now, a number of commentators agree that that little word thus

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 is actually pointing ahead to what he says in verses 2 through 9.

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 So the apostle is saying,

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 Stand firm in this way.

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 Stand firm like this.

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 I'm going to show you how you want to stand firm.

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 Now, there are three paragraphs in verses 2 through 9, as you notice,

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 and each one of them is telling us then how to stand firm.

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 And we'll look at each one in turn.

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 What does it mean to kind of keep our integrity,

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 to be citizens of heaven in our time, in our age?

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 Well, the apostle says,

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 First, we must stand firm in a contentious age by being peacemakers.

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 Stand firm in a contentious age by being peacemakers.

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 This is verses 2 through 3.

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 So here we learn of Euodia and Syntyche,

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 who are two of Paul's co-laborers in the gospel at Philippi.

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 And apparently, they're having trouble agreeing in the Lord.

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 Now, we don't know exactly what their disagreement is about,

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 but I think we can be fairly certain what it's not about.

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 Their disagreement, I don't think,

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 is about what Paul will call in 1 Corinthians 15,

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 matters of first importance.

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 That is, it doesn't seem that Euodia and Syntyche are having a falling out

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 about the core of the gospel message,

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 that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures,

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 that he was buried,

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 that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures,

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 that righteousness before God can only be found through faith in Christ.

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 Now, why can we be sure that they're not having a falling out

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 over matters of first importance?

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 Because we see how Paul handles these sorts of issues

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 in other places in his letter.

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 When it's a matter of first importance,

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 Paul will correct and instruct,

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 and he even, at times, rebukes when necessary.

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 And yet, that's not how he handles this disagreement.

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 So, I think we're safe to conclude

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 that Euodia and Syntyche

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 must have been disagreeing on a matter

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 that fell more into the realm of wisdom

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 or prudence or Christian freedom.

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 Maybe we can speculate a little bit

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 about what they were disagreeing about.

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 Maybe Euodia was excited

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 to go with a team from Philippi

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 and plant a church in nearby Amphipolis.

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 So, she comes to the congregational meeting

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 with a great idea.

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 Let's go.

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 Who wants to join me?

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 Oh, but perhaps Syntyche had a good reason

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 to point their missionary efforts

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 in the opposite direction toward Neapolis.

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 And suddenly, the church is at loggerheads.

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 Which way do we go?

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 Where do we invest our energies and our time?

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 This way or that?

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 Now, if you've been around the church long enough,

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 or just around people long enough,

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 you know that disagreements can crop up

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 over all sorts of things,

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 a lot of them much less noble

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 than where we should plant a church, right?

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 And we live in a contentious age

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 where disagreement and outrage and offense

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 and falling out,

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 it's like the air that we breathe.

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 How countercultural it is

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 for us to have a conversation face-to-face

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 where we hear one another out,

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 where we clothe one another in good intentions,

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 where we try to find common ground.

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 Ah, but that's not easy, is it?

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 We need to help one another.

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 And in verse three, Paul says just that.

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 He says,

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 I ask you also, true companion,

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 help these women.

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 Now, we don't know who Paul's referring to here.

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 The word companion, as your footnote says in the ESV,

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 that could actually be a proper name, Syzygous.

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 So Paul could be saying,

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 hey, Syzygous, I want you to step in

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 and help resolve this conflict.

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 But either way, whether it's a proper name

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 or whether Paul just is saying,

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 hey, companion, help them out.

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 Either way, the Philippians must have known

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 who Paul was talking about.

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 And he's saying, hey, come alongside

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 these two godly women

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 and help them come to agreement in the Lord.

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 And that phrase, help them to agree in the Lord,

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 it's the same as chapter two, verse two,

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 have the same mind.

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 Help them work through their differences

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 and come to agreement.

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 In other words,

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 Paul is calling us

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 to the work of peacemaking in the church,

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 the work of reconciliation.

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 Now, what does that look like?

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 Paul doesn't say as much here,

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 but as we look across the New Testament,

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 it looks like listening to one another.

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 It looks like trying hard to find common ground.

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 It looks like not being afraid

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 to admit where you're wrong.

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 It looks like not being afraid

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 to gently point out

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 where you think others are wrong.

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 It looks like examining the issues

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 in light of Scripture.

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 It looks like asking

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 whether we're valuing what God values

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 in this situation.

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 It looks like inviting repentance

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 and forgiveness where necessary.

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 It looks like forging agreements

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 and ways forward

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 that honor both parties,

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 if possible.

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 Now, if you want to learn more

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 about the kind of work

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 of peacemaking in the church,

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 of reconciliation,

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 Ken Sandy wrote a book

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 called The Peacemaker

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 a number of years ago,

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 which is quite good,

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 and I would recommend it to you.

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 The Peacemaker by Ken Sandy

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 will give you a great start

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 on how to think biblically

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 about all this.

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 But to be sure,

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 even as I just listed

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 some of those basic principles,

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 we can acknowledge

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 that peacemaking is hard work.

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 It's a lot easier

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 to just be a peacekeeper, right?

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 To just agree,

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 to just sort of go along

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 with the flow,

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 to just avoid conflict

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 or confrontation

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 or hard conversations.

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 That's a much easier path,

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 at least in the short term.

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 But to really help make peace

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 and not just keep peace,

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 that takes time and energy

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 and sometimes sacrifice.

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 It's messy to jump

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 into a disagreement,

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 isn't it?

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 And oftentimes,

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 when the mud is getting

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 thrown around,

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 some of it hits you.

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 And in those moments

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 when the work of peacemaking

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 is hard,

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 we'll want to just give up.

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 It's easier just to write people off

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 to say it's hopeless

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 to give up.

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 But we need to remember

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 in those moments,

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 we need to remember

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 that when we're in the mix

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 of peacemaking,

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 whether,

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 especially when it's

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 with fellow church members,

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 when we're in the mix

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 of trying to bring peace

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 between fellow church members,

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 and maybe that's where

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 you're at right now.

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 You know,

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 maybe you're working

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 through something

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 with two people

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 in your small group.

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 Or maybe you're trying

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 to help a couple

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 of Christian friends.

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 Or maybe you're working

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 through conflict

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 in your marriage.

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 When you're in the mix,

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 remember.

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 When you're in the mix

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 and you just want to check out

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 and say,

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 I'm done with this,

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 remember.

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 Paul says that the names

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 of the people

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 you're helping,

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 their names are written

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 in the very book of life.

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 That's how he ends

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 in verse 3.

00:14:02.319 --> 00:14:02.779
 You know,

00:14:02.819 --> 00:14:03.899
 these people aren't just

00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:06.100
 some insignificant anybody's

00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:06.899
 that it would just be

00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:08.019
 better to ignore

00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:08.740
 or write off.

00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:09.940
 That's the world's

00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:10.460
 way of thinking.

00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:11.080
 No.

00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:12.879
 God,

00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:14.860
 from all eternity,

00:14:15.680 --> 00:14:17.820
 set his saving love

00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:19.340
 on these fellow Christians.

00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:22.060
 He saw them in their sin

00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:23.340
 and sent his own son

00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:24.440
 to bleed and die

00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:25.120
 to rescue them

00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:25.639
 and redeem them

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.080
 from wrath.

00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:27.419
 He sent his own spirit

00:14:27.419 --> 00:14:28.299
 to liberate them

00:14:28.299 --> 00:14:28.960
 from unbelief

00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.779
 and seal them

00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:30.360
 as his own.

00:14:32.180 --> 00:14:32.460
 You see,

00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:33.480
 to have your name

00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.120
 written in the book

00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:34.700
 of life,

00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:35.539
 that's a metaphor

00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:36.680
 found throughout scripture

00:14:36.680 --> 00:14:37.700
 of the way in which

00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:38.720
 God personally

00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:40.460
 and eternally

00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:42.019
 knows and loves

00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:43.500
 and saves his people.

00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:45.200
 So when the work

00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:46.600
 gets hard,

00:14:47.460 --> 00:14:48.680
 when the relationships

00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:50.019
 get fraught,

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:52.200
 when you're in the midst

00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:52.879
 of conflict

00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.180
 and mud is hitting you

00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:55.100
 as it's getting thrown

00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:56.120
 across the room,

00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:59.160
 remember that the people

00:14:59.160 --> 00:14:59.899
 before you,

00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:02.139
 their names

00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:04.000
 are on the guest list

00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:05.639
 of the greatest gala

00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:06.620
 in all eternity.

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:08.039
 their names

00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:08.539
 are etched

00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.259
 into the walls

00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:09.840
 of the most

00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:11.220
 magnificent monument

00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:13.039
 in all of redemptive history.

00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:14.179
 They are written

00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:15.419
 in the book of life

00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:18.259
 and they are worth

00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:19.220
 the effort.

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:23.039
 So Paul is saying

00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:24.220
 we have to stand firm.

00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:25.659
 We have to stand firm

00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:27.100
 by being peacemakers

00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:29.340
 in a contentious age.

00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:30.860
 The church is the place

00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:32.299
 where we work through

00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:33.359
 our differences

00:15:33.359 --> 00:15:34.339
 in love.

00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:37.459
 But our text goes on.

00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:39.159
 There's a second way

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:39.839
 that we're called

00:15:39.839 --> 00:15:40.740
 to stand firm here.

00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:43.039
 In verses 4 through 7,

00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:43.979
 we're called

00:15:43.979 --> 00:15:44.959
 to stand firm

00:15:44.959 --> 00:15:47.099
 in an anxious age

00:15:47.099 --> 00:15:48.839
 by being people

00:15:48.839 --> 00:15:49.599
 of prayer.

00:15:50.359 --> 00:15:51.019
 Stand firm

00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:52.419
 in an anxious age

00:15:52.419 --> 00:15:53.319
 by being people

00:15:53.319 --> 00:15:53.819
 of prayer.

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:54.379
 Now,

00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.299
 when Paul says

00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:56.000
 in verse 6,

00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:57.219
 don't be anxious

00:15:57.219 --> 00:15:58.099
 about anything,

00:15:58.099 --> 00:15:59.219
 we have to be clear

00:15:59.219 --> 00:15:59.639
 what he does

00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.240
 and doesn't mean.

00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.500
 On the one hand,

00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:02.460
 Paul's not saying

00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.919
 that every anxious thought

00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:04.580
 that you have

00:16:04.580 --> 00:16:05.360
 is a sinful thought.

00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:05.860
 Stop it.

00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:06.360
 Knock it off.

00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:07.159
 You're disobeying God.

00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:07.379
 Right?

00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:10.179
 Paul himself expressed anxiety

00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:11.080
 back in chapter 2,

00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:11.759
 verse 28,

00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:13.019
 when Epaphroditus was sick.

00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:14.639
 So Paul isn't meaning

00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.100
 this verse

00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:16.259
 to kind of bury us

00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:17.299
 in a bunch of false guilt.

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.179
 No,

00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:19.899
 it's meant to acknowledge

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:21.039
 our anxious hearts

00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:22.980
 and to invite us

00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:23.919
 into something new.

00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:27.960
 We live in a very anxious age,

00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:28.379
 don't we?

00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:31.379
 And in a good way,

00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:32.840
 I think we've come

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.679
 to learn a lot

00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:35.679
 about how anxiety works

00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:38.100
 and how sometimes anxiety

00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:39.199
 can actually become

00:16:39.199 --> 00:16:40.399
 clinical and persistent.

00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:42.340
 And we should be thankful

00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:43.519
 that we have psychiatrists

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:43.980
 and doctors

00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.899
 who through common grace

00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:45.980
 can help us.

00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:47.860
 So none of what Paul

00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.399
 is saying here

00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.620
 is denying or refuting

00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.379
 any of that.

00:16:50.939 --> 00:16:51.620
 The Bible,

00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:51.980
 after all,

00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:52.620
 teaches that we're

00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:53.740
 embodied humans

00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:54.919
 and we need to attend

00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:56.059
 to our bodies

00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:56.879
 and be thankful

00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:59.580
 for the help

00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:00.360
 that comes,

00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:02.060
 be thankful

00:17:02.060 --> 00:17:02.500
 for the help

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:02.900
 that comes

00:17:02.900 --> 00:17:03.780
 through the help

00:17:03.780 --> 00:17:04.559
 of exercise

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.539
 or medicine

00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.920
 or just a good night's sleep.

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.059
 But along

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:10.140
 with these good gifts,

00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:12.940
 what are the spiritual practices

00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:14.500
 that help us

00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:16.000
 confront anxiety?

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.200
 Now,

00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:18.860
 don't get me wrong.

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:19.600
 We should eat,

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:19.940
 sleep,

00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.400
 exercise,

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.259
 and even take medicine

00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:21.840
 when necessary

00:17:21.840 --> 00:17:22.940
 all to the glory of God.

00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:23.559
 I'm not suggesting

00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.120
 we have sort of

00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:25.019
 our physical life

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:25.420
 over here

00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:26.200
 and our spiritual life

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:26.539
 over here.

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:26.740
 No,

00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:27.920
 we're whole people.

00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.839
 We're body and soul.

00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:30.099
 But too often,

00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:31.799
 we approach anxiety

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.859
 without any reference

00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:33.420
 to God.

00:17:35.399 --> 00:17:36.500
 And what a silly thing

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:36.899
 to do.

00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:40.119
 Because in God,

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:42.059
 first Paul says,

00:17:42.159 --> 00:17:42.440
 in God,

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.460
 we have a boundless

00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:44.639
 source of joy.

00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:46.579
 Paul says,

00:17:46.659 --> 00:17:47.659
 rejoice in the Lord

00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:48.240
 always.

00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:49.299
 Again,

00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:49.839
 I'll say it,

00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.420
 rejoice.

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:53.279
 Even if our circumstances

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.899
 don't provide much material

00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:55.920
 for rejoicing,

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:58.220
 we can rejoice.

00:17:58.380 --> 00:17:58.600
 Why?

00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:01.340
 Because one real glimpse

00:18:01.340 --> 00:18:02.519
 at the Lord

00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:04.740
 shows us

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.960
 how much joy

00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:07.840
 is really ours.

00:18:08.800 --> 00:18:10.420
 One good glimpse

00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:11.080
 at the Lord

00:18:11.080 --> 00:18:12.960
 helps us to see

00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:13.640
 that our sins

00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:14.160
 are forgiven,

00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:16.360
 that our future

00:18:16.360 --> 00:18:18.380
 is unimaginably glorious.

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.800
 And right now,

00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:21.259
 the Lord is using

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.980
 even our trials

00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:25.019
 to make us beautiful.

00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:28.559
 But in God,

00:18:28.620 --> 00:18:29.259
 we don't just have

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:30.240
 a source of joy,

00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:31.220
 a source where

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:32.559
 we ought to be rejoicing.

00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:34.519
 We also have

00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.720
 a sovereign king.

00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:38.360
 In everything,

00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.180
 by prayer

00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:40.019
 and supplication

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.779
 with thanksgiving,

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:42.160
 let your requests

00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:43.339
 be made known

00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:44.480
 to God,

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.140
 Paul says.

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:46.880
 Now,

00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:47.799
 I know my own heart

00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:49.360
 and I know

00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:49.779
 what it's like

00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.240
 to struggle

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.120
 with anxieties.

00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:52.739
 And you know,

00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.119
 for me,

00:18:53.199 --> 00:18:54.259
 much of my anxiety

00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:56.279
 stems from feeling

00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:58.559
 like I'm in control.

00:19:00.399 --> 00:19:01.699
 That it all comes down

00:19:01.699 --> 00:19:02.239
 to me

00:19:02.239 --> 00:19:03.500
 and what I do

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:05.039
 or don't do.

00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:07.419
 And when I'm in that

00:19:07.419 --> 00:19:08.279
 mode of thinking,

00:19:08.479 --> 00:19:10.639
 it makes me very anxious.

00:19:12.459 --> 00:19:13.000
 You know,

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.399
 but sometimes

00:19:13.399 --> 00:19:14.379
 we can get anxious

00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:15.479
 because we feel like

00:19:15.479 --> 00:19:16.939
 we're not in control.

00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.419
 When things are

00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:19.419
 out of control,

00:19:19.479 --> 00:19:19.739
 we think,

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.479
 who will help me?

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.740
 Who will keep me safe?

00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.480
 But you see,

00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:25.860
 friends,

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.039
 in prayer,

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.920
 in supplication,

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:30.079
 in asking God

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:30.740
 for things,

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:32.259
 we are remembering

00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:34.960
 that we are creatures

00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:37.480
 and God is the creator.

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:40.319
 We are subjects

00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.299
 and God is the sovereign.

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:45.319
 We aren't in control.

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.480
 God is.

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:50.660
 And because of the cross,

00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:52.039
 we,

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.339
 creatures,

00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.460
 subjects,

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.740
 because of what Jesus

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.259
 has done,

00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:58.539
 we actually have

00:19:58.539 --> 00:20:00.640
 God's ear.

00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.360
 He listens to us

00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:05.599
 and he answers us.

00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:07.980
 Not always the way we expect,

00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:09.259
 not always when we expect,

00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:10.900
 but he answers the prayers

00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:11.559
 of his beloved.

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:11.679
 God is the prophet.

00:20:14.159 --> 00:20:14.919
 And notice,

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.700
 Paul reminds us

00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:17.460
 to pepper our prayers

00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.379
 with what?

00:20:18.919 --> 00:20:19.940
 With thanksgiving.

00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:22.139
 You know,

00:20:22.179 --> 00:20:23.159
 long before Barnes & Noble

00:20:23.159 --> 00:20:24.480
 sold gratitude journals,

00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:26.240
 true confessions,

00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:27.240
 who has a gratitude journal?

00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:27.599
 I'm kidding,

00:20:27.679 --> 00:20:28.419
 don't raise your hand.

00:20:29.879 --> 00:20:32.200
 Long before Barnes & Noble

00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:33.419
 sold gratitude journals,

00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:34.500
 the Christian church

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.899
 knew the power

00:20:35.899 --> 00:20:37.319
 of thanksgiving.

00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:40.539
 So we rejoice

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:42.599
 and we give thanks

00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:44.279
 and we ask,

00:20:45.659 --> 00:20:47.559
 knowing that our God

00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:49.019
 is the sovereign source

00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:50.679
 of everlasting joy

00:20:50.679 --> 00:20:52.539
 and he has placed his love

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.480
 on us

00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:54.659
 through his son

00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.939
 and in us

00:20:55.939 --> 00:20:56.879
 through his spirit.

00:20:58.579 --> 00:21:00.019
 And through prayer,

00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:02.200
 we're promised this.

00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.559
 We're promised

00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:05.000
 the peace of God

00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:06.319
 which surpasses

00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:07.420
 all understanding

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:09.079
 will guard your hearts

00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:09.680
 and your minds

00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.519
 in Christ Jesus.

00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:13.200
 Now realize,

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:13.519
 friends,

00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:15.900
 you may still have anxieties.

00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.980
 They will come and go,

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.200
 but

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.720
 through the practice

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.380
 of prayer,

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:22.839
 there will be

00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:24.519
 a new sentry

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.299
 at the door

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:25.880
 of your heart,

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.519
 a new guard

00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.900
 standing watch.

00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.740
 Not the old

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.900
 idol of control

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:33.000
 or whatever it is,

00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:34.819
 but the new reality

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:36.559
 of God's peace.

00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:38.619
 God's peace

00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.380
 like a watchman

00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:40.019
 at the gate

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.759
 residing there

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.119
 letting you know

00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:45.259
 that all will be well

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:45.880
 through the night.

00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:47.140
 Even through

00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:48.200
 the darkest hours,

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:51.079
 all will be well.

00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:55.099
 Do you know that peace?

00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.480
 Maybe today,

00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.240
 this God,

00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.500
 this God of peace

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.359
 is inviting you,

00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.380
 is calling you

00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:04.900
 to come to him,

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:07.039
 to believe in his son

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:08.180
 who died for your sins,

00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.779
 to entrust your life

00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:11.140
 to his lordship.

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:14.140
 I know it's hard

00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:14.980
 to let go

00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.880
 of control,

00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.500
 isn't it?

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:18.859
 But friends,

00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:19.579
 if God is

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.599
 who he says he is,

00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.880
 if Jesus is

00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:22.819
 who he says he is,

00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.619
 then giving your life

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:25.119
 to him

00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:27.460
 is the most reasonable

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.619
 thing in all the world.

00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:30.779
 and it comes

00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.659
 with the gift

00:22:31.659 --> 00:22:32.699
 of peace.

00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.959
 Not just a temporary

00:22:34.959 --> 00:22:35.819
 peace that comes

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.259
 and goes,

00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:37.419
 but peace with God,

00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:39.039
 a peace that surpasses

00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.779
 understanding.

00:22:42.679 --> 00:22:43.399
 Maybe you're here

00:22:43.399 --> 00:22:43.759
 and you've been

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.859
 considering Christianity

00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:45.679
 for a while.

00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:46.359
 You've been sort of

00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:47.919
 thinking this thing out.

00:22:49.159 --> 00:22:50.379
 But maybe it's time.

00:22:51.219 --> 00:22:52.279
 Why not today

00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.899
 take the step

00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:55.199
 and entrust your life

00:22:55.199 --> 00:22:55.579
 to him?

00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:58.279
 Let him make good

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:59.539
 on his promises

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.259
 to you

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.939
 through his son.

00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.359
 So then we've seen

00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:06.960
 how this text

00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:08.419
 calls us to stand firm

00:23:08.419 --> 00:23:09.859
 in a contentious age

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.799
 by being peacemakers

00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:12.139
 and to stand firm

00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:13.099
 in an anxious age

00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:14.179
 by being people of prayer.

00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:15.939
 Third and last then,

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.299
 we are called

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.460
 to stand firm

00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:20.259
 in a distracted age

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.879
 by being people

00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:23.359
 of practice.

00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:25.159
 Stand firm

00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:26.380
 in a distracted age

00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:27.259
 by being people

00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.460
 of practice.

00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:29.840
 This is verses 8 and 9.

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.300
 Now imagine the background

00:23:31.300 --> 00:23:32.000
 of these verses.

00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:33.080
 You know,

00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:33.900
 a Roman colony

00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:34.759
 like Philippi

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.620
 would have been filled

00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:36.660
 with messages, right?

00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:37.860
 Political messages

00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:38.900
 about the Roman Empire

00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:39.560
 and emperor.

00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.160
 Religious messages

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.000
 about gods

00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.600
 and temples

00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:43.259
 and favors

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.320
 and sacrifices.

00:23:45.340 --> 00:23:46.340
 Economic messages

00:23:46.340 --> 00:23:47.080
 about work

00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:48.120
 and food shortages

00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:49.400
 and trade negotiations.

00:23:50.340 --> 00:23:50.820
 And of course,

00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.620
 that's all in the mix

00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:52.420
 of the typical news

00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:53.100
 of everyday life.

00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:54.040
 The neighbor who got sick,

00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:55.000
 the baby that was born,

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.079
 the marriage that fell apart,

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.059
 the shop that just opened

00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.599
 down the street

00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:58.940
 that sells a great falafel

00:23:58.940 --> 00:23:59.960
 or whatever it is.

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.799
 A life filled

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.460
 with messages,

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.579
 filled with noise,

00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.819
 filled with all sorts

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.599
 of distractions.

00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:09.660
 And if that was true

00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.519
 in the first century,

00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:10.819
 friends,

00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:12.099
 how much more is that true

00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:13.279
 in the 21st century?

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:16.079
 How much more true

00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:16.440
 is that

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.259
 when our smartphones

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:19.019
 bombard us 24-7

00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.019
 with messages

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.680
 and noise

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.319
 and distractions

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.099
 the likes of which

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:23.019
 people could not

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.719
 have imagined

00:24:23.719 --> 00:24:25.579
 even 20 years ago?

00:24:27.959 --> 00:24:28.299
 And of course,

00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:28.899
 the irony is

00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:29.939
 that even as our inboxes

00:24:29.939 --> 00:24:30.419
 and smartphones

00:24:30.419 --> 00:24:31.399
 get fuller and fuller

00:24:31.399 --> 00:24:32.219
 and fuller and fuller

00:24:32.219 --> 00:24:32.639
 and fuller,

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:34.939
 personally and interpersonally,

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:36.019
 we seem to get emptier

00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:36.559
 and emptier

00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:37.119
 and emptier

00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.639
 and emptier.

00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:40.639
 We have practically

00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:42.059
 limitless knowledge

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.939
 at our fingertips,

00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:45.360
 but often we don't

00:24:45.360 --> 00:24:46.080
 seem the wiser.

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.940
 We have practically

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:49.160
 limitless capacity

00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:49.799
 to communicate

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.480
 with anyone

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.559
 at any time,

00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:52.640
 but we don't seem

00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.059
 the happier.

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:56.120
 So what's the answer?

00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.320
 Reject technology?

00:24:59.059 --> 00:25:00.100
 Try to turn the clock

00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:01.840
 back to 1980

00:25:01.840 --> 00:25:02.420
 when no one

00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.000
 had a smartphone?

00:25:04.320 --> 00:25:05.140
 Some of you are thinking,

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.980
 I love the 80s.

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.820
 That was my time.

00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.820
 I was in my prime

00:25:07.820 --> 00:25:08.400
 in my 80s.

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.019
 Let's go back.

00:25:09.340 --> 00:25:09.799
 But no,

00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:10.860
 that's not what Paul says.

00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:13.599
 Notice Paul doesn't

00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.399
 tell the Philippians,

00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:14.659
 look,

00:25:14.879 --> 00:25:15.679
 here's what you gotta do.

00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.579
 Move out of the city,

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.539
 create a commune,

00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.279
 and never interact

00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:18.779
 with the world.

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.699
 No.

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.740
 He says practice.

00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:26.339
 Create a new way

00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:26.779
 of being

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.819
 right where you are.

00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:30.079
 What you've learned

00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:31.119
 and received

00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:32.119
 and heard

00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:33.479
 and seen in me,

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.299
 practice these things.

00:25:36.159 --> 00:25:37.179
 Put them into motion.

00:25:37.719 --> 00:25:38.519
 Work at them.

00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:39.500
 Let them shape

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.219
 your time

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.360
 and your choices.

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.940
 Create a new way

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.259
 of being

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.240
 right where you are.

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:46.980
 You see,

00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:47.880
 standing firm

00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:48.420
 as the church

00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:49.480
 in a distracted age

00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:51.319
 won't happen automatically.

00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:53.039
 If we don't have

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.559
 concrete practices

00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:56.039
 for following Christ,

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:57.480
 then we will inevitably

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.799
 be blown and tossed

00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:00.400
 by the myriad messages

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.640
 swirling around us.

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.380
 If we don't have

00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:04.539
 concrete practices

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:06.259
 for shaping our lives

00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.220
 into lives

00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.980
 that honor Christ,

00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:09.319
 then we will be shaped

00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:10.539
 by the forces around us

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.220
 and it won't be

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.539
 in a way

00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.539
 that's honoring to Christ.

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:15.960
 Let me give you

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.359
 an example.

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.139
 The world around us,

00:26:18.179 --> 00:26:18.799
 I think you'll agree,

00:26:18.859 --> 00:26:20.500
 is wildly consumeristic,

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:20.759
 right?

00:26:21.419 --> 00:26:22.379
 Descartes famously said,

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:22.899
 I think,

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.759
 therefore I am.

00:26:24.159 --> 00:26:24.700
 I think today

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.619
 our motto might be,

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.279
 I buy,

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.299
 therefore I am.

00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:28.299
 Right?

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.460
 That's sort of

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:29.839
 the rationale

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.779
 behind every commercial

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.700
 you will ever listen to

00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.139
 or watch.

00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:34.519
 If I have the latest clothes,

00:26:34.639 --> 00:26:35.039
 the latest piece

00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:35.679
 of technology,

00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:36.519
 then I'm happy,

00:26:36.619 --> 00:26:37.159
 then I'm good,

00:26:37.419 --> 00:26:38.079
 then I'm somebody.

00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:38.819
 Well,

00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:41.599
 as Christians,

00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:43.480
 what practices

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:45.799
 are we going to embody

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:48.299
 that push against

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.960
 this inevitably shaping

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:51.259
 force around us?

00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.960
 Or are we just going to be

00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.480
 swept away

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.699
 in the consumeristic tide?

00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:57.859
 What practices

00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.799
 will we put in place

00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.919
 that we can do

00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:01.480
 that help carve out

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.199
 a new way of being

00:27:02.199 --> 00:27:02.939
 right where we are?

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.319
 You know,

00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:05.980
 the early Christians

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.539
 were known

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:08.000
 as being radically

00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.159
 generous.

00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.740
 What if every month

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.799
 you had some regular

00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:15.480
 practice of generosity

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.299
 or giving

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:17.460
 that kind of pushed

00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:19.079
 against the distraction

00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:20.139
 of consumerism?

00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:22.059
 What if you had a practice

00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:22.559
 that helped you

00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.619
 live out the truth

00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:24.819
 that we aren't defined

00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.740
 by what we buy

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.859
 or what we own,

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.779
 but we're defined

00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:29.019
 by what we've been given?

00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:31.819
 And what if you made

00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.740
 a practice of giving

00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:33.500
 to others

00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:34.700
 in a way that

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:36.420
 enfleshed that reality

00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:37.600
 into a practice?

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:41.259
 Or maybe another example.

00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:42.519
 We live in a very noisy age,

00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:42.860
 don't we?

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:43.840
 You know,

00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:44.400
 with a smartphone

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:44.900
 and earbuds,

00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:46.019
 we can literally go

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:47.360
 every waking hour

00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:48.720
 listening to something.

00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:50.460
 I know a lot of teenagers

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:52.259
 who spend every sleeping hour

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:53.299
 listening to something.

00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:55.740
 And yet,

00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:57.399
 for all of the content

00:27:57.399 --> 00:27:58.700
 that we listen to,

00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.839
 for all the talk,

00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.720
 are we really

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:04.059
 more reflective people?

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:06.180
 Are we wiser people?

00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.559
 Are we more creative people?

00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:11.319
 What if for maybe

00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:13.039
 just five or ten minutes

00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.500
 a day

00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.299
 you practiced

00:28:14.879 --> 00:28:16.599
 the biblical discipline

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.299
 of silence?

00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:17.899
 Silence.

00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:21.639
 Rather than talking

00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.839
 or listening

00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:24.000
 to other people talk,

00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.379
 what if you simply

00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:27.119
 got quiet before God

00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:28.139
 and listened?

00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:30.940
 I love the verse

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.799
 at the end of Habakkuk

00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.319
 chapter 2

00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:32.779
 that says,

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.079
 the Lord

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.859
 is in his holy temple.

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.879
 Let all the earth

00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:38.720
 keep silence

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.399
 before him.

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.539
 Maybe just five minutes,

00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.539
 maybe just ten minutes,

00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.379
 we can actually obey

00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:47.320
 that verse in the Bible.

00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.680
 You know,

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.300
 there's one practice

00:28:51.300 --> 00:28:52.040
 that the Apostle Paul

00:28:52.040 --> 00:28:53.220
 mentions right in this passage.

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.320
 It's verse 8.

00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.660
 The Apostle lists

00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.740
 a whole range

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.880
 of virtues.

00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.580
 Whatever's true,

00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:01.560
 honorable,

00:29:01.840 --> 00:29:02.280
 just,

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.020
 pure,

00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:03.480
 lovely,

00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.100
 commendable,

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:04.560
 excellent,

00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:05.440
 worthy of praise.

00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.340
 And then he says,

00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:08.060
 think about these things.

00:29:10.820 --> 00:29:11.620
 That's actually

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:13.120
 a spiritual practice.

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:14.960
 Think about it.

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.700
 What do you fill

00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.559
 your mind with

00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.220
 during the day?

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.480
 What news programs

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.100
 do you watch?

00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:21.299
 What music

00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:22.019
 do you listen to?

00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.400
 What literature

00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.019
 do you read?

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.140
 What are you watching

00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:26.600
 on YouTube

00:29:26.600 --> 00:29:27.620
 or TikTok?

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.000
 What are you looking

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.620
 at on Instagram?

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.960
 What are you reading

00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.480
 on Facebook?

00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.100
 Hold it up

00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:37.759
 to the eight virtues

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:39.120
 that Paul lists here.

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:41.659
 How does it measure up?

00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.319
 Is it true?

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.439
 Is it honorable?

00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:46.839
 Is it just?

00:29:47.239 --> 00:29:48.019
 Is it pure?

00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:50.539
 Now,

00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.159
 I know everything

00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:51.639
 on TikTok

00:29:51.639 --> 00:29:52.599
 nails each

00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.839
 of those eight categories,

00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.699
 so you're good.

00:29:55.899 --> 00:29:56.579
 But what about

00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.079
 the other stuff

00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.699
 that you consume

00:29:57.699 --> 00:29:58.319
 during the week?

00:30:01.439 --> 00:30:02.459
 What practices

00:30:02.459 --> 00:30:03.019
 are you going

00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:04.000
 to put in place

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.079
 so that your mind

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:06.159
 isn't constantly

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.540
 bombarded

00:30:07.540 --> 00:30:08.420
 with content

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.580
 that is less than true

00:30:09.580 --> 00:30:10.300
 and honorable

00:30:10.300 --> 00:30:10.820
 and just

00:30:10.820 --> 00:30:11.400
 and so on?

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.460
 What practices

00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:13.860
 are you going

00:30:13.860 --> 00:30:14.660
 to put in place

00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.400
 so that you can

00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:16.340
 develop a sense

00:30:16.340 --> 00:30:17.860
 of looking at content

00:30:17.860 --> 00:30:18.560
 and discerning

00:30:18.560 --> 00:30:19.240
 within it

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:19.740
 what is true

00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:20.140
 and just

00:30:20.140 --> 00:30:20.540
 and honorable

00:30:20.540 --> 00:30:21.240
 and so on?

00:30:23.560 --> 00:30:24.259
 What things

00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:24.600
 do you need

00:30:24.600 --> 00:30:25.080
 to cut out

00:30:25.080 --> 00:30:25.519
 of your life

00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.040
 altogether

00:30:26.040 --> 00:30:26.940
 starting today?

00:30:28.800 --> 00:30:29.460
 What things

00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:29.900
 do you maybe

00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.440
 need to take

00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:30.940
 a week or two

00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:31.540
 break from?

00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.380
 I've had to do

00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:34.019
 that at times.

00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:35.359
 Sometimes I find

00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:35.980
 myself spending

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:37.180
 so much time

00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:37.960
 doing something

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.379
 that's like

00:30:38.379 --> 00:30:39.200
 kind of neutral.

00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:39.879
 It's not bad

00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:40.139
 but it's not

00:30:40.139 --> 00:30:40.500
 really good.

00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:40.920
 I'm just like

00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.740
 I think I need

00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.440
 to take a break

00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:42.799
 from this

00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:43.279
 for a while.

00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.359
 What things

00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:46.759
 do you need

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.460
 to make a practice

00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.299
 of limiting

00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:49.500
 on a daily

00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.579
 or weekly basis?

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.740
 If we want

00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.460
 to live lives

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.220
 that are true

00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:57.160
 honorable

00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:57.980
 just

00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:58.779
 pure

00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.579
 lovely

00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.440
 commendable

00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:01.019
 excellent

00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:01.879
 worthy of praise

00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:02.319
 don't you want

00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:02.879
 to live a life

00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:03.400
 like that?

00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:07.139
 Then those

00:31:07.139 --> 00:31:07.539
 are the things

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:07.819
 we need

00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.379
 to be setting

00:31:08.379 --> 00:31:08.900
 our minds

00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.259
 upon.

00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:10.779
 That's what

00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.019
 we need

00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.680
 to be thinking

00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.079
 about.

00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:13.339
 You know

00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:13.599
 if you want

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:14.099
 to be a top

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:14.740
 tier athlete

00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.579
 you can't

00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.279
 eat McDonald's

00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:16.700
 three times

00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:16.980
 a day.

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.079
 I tried it

00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:18.339
 it doesn't

00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:18.559
 work.

00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:18.940
 I'm kidding

00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:19.180
 I didn't

00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:19.519
 try it.

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.119
 Your body

00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:23.900
 wasn't made

00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.500
 to run

00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:25.400
 on fast food.

00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:27.059
 It's the same

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:27.859
 with your soul.

00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:28.700
 You can't

00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.339
 fill your mind

00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.000
 with the equivalent

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.779
 of fast food

00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:31.440
 or worse

00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:32.480
 and expect

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.240
 to live

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:33.839
 the kind

00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.400
 of life

00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:35.259
 of freedom

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.000
 and beauty

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.420
 that God

00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:37.019
 designed you

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.359
 for.

00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.140
 And ultimately

00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:40.539
 do you know

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:40.859
 what God

00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:41.319
 designed you

00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:41.599
 for?

00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:42.960
 Do you know

00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:43.240
 why God

00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:43.700
 made you?

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:46.059
 He designed

00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:47.720
 you to reflect

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.700
 his own glory.

00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:51.120
 The God

00:31:51.120 --> 00:31:52.099
 whose glory

00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:53.339
 could shake

00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:53.940
 the mountains

00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:54.620
 to dust

00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:55.400
 and melt

00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:56.180
 the stars

00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:57.299
 that God

00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:57.859
 wants his

00:31:57.859 --> 00:31:58.240
 beauty

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.799
 to shine

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.519
 through you

00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.160
 and through

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.960
 your particular

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.639
 life.

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:05.220
 And that's

00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:05.859
 why we must

00:32:05.859 --> 00:32:06.299
 make it a

00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:06.740
 practice

00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:08.079
 to regularly

00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:08.799
 meditate

00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:09.779
 and think

00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.379
 upon not

00:32:10.379 --> 00:32:10.819
 just the

00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:11.559
 things that

00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:11.980
 are true

00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.480
 and honorable

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:12.839
 and just

00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:13.299
 and so on

00:32:13.299 --> 00:32:13.879
 but we have

00:32:13.879 --> 00:32:14.440
 to regularly

00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:15.119
 spend time

00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:15.700
 thinking about

00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.400
 the one

00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:17.460
 who is true

00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:18.039
 and honorable

00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:18.579
 and just

00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:19.099
 and pure.

00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.480
 We must

00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.759
 set our minds

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.740
 on God

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.599
 himself

00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:26.079
 as he's

00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:27.079
 revealed himself

00:32:27.079 --> 00:32:27.980
 in scripture

00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.859
 and above

00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:29.599
 all in his

00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:29.939
 son.

00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:33.799
 That's the

00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.259
 practice

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:34.740
 above all

00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.240
 practices

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:35.659
 friends.

00:32:37.719 --> 00:32:38.419
 If you have

00:32:38.419 --> 00:32:38.719
 time for

00:32:38.719 --> 00:32:39.319
 nothing else

00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:39.719
 during the

00:32:39.719 --> 00:32:39.980
 week

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.679
 take the

00:32:40.679 --> 00:32:41.099
 time

00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:42.679
 to regularly

00:32:42.679 --> 00:32:43.179
 get

00:32:43.179 --> 00:32:44.000
 let me

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:44.539
 suggest this

00:32:44.539 --> 00:32:44.819
 to you

00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:45.419
 take the

00:32:45.419 --> 00:32:45.779
 time

00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:47.059
 to regularly

00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:47.439
 get

00:32:47.439 --> 00:32:47.879
 with just

00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:48.419
 a small

00:32:48.419 --> 00:32:49.019
 passage

00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:49.539
 from the

00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.019
 gospels.

00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:51.879
 You know

00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:52.799
 our modern

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.299
 translations

00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:53.819
 give us

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.159
 these little

00:32:54.159 --> 00:32:54.579
 units

00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:54.919
 they kind

00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:55.179
 of break

00:32:55.179 --> 00:32:55.439
 it down

00:32:55.439 --> 00:32:55.779
 for us

00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.199
 just pick

00:32:56.199 --> 00:32:56.839
 one of

00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:57.159
 those

00:32:57.159 --> 00:32:58.599
 and read

00:32:58.599 --> 00:32:59.199
 it slowly

00:32:59.199 --> 00:33:00.939
 not just

00:33:00.939 --> 00:33:01.539
 for information

00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.339
 about Jesus

00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:03.000
 but to

00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.519
 actually

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.220
 commune

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:04.579
 with him

00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:04.899
 and to

00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:05.779
 speak

00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.099
 with him

00:33:06.099 --> 00:33:06.339
 and to

00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:06.599
 let him

00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:06.839
 speak

00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.419
 to you

00:33:07.419 --> 00:33:09.279
 slow

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:09.859
 down

00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:10.639
 and gaze

00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:11.039
 on the

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:11.339
 beauty

00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:11.939
 and wisdom

00:33:11.939 --> 00:33:12.559
 and justice

00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:13.339
 and compassion

00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:13.819
 of Jesus

00:33:13.819 --> 00:33:14.319
 set your

00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:14.839
 mind on

00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:15.079
 him

00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:16.379
 let him

00:33:16.379 --> 00:33:16.939
 search you

00:33:16.939 --> 00:33:17.339
 and fill

00:33:17.339 --> 00:33:18.079
 your mind

00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:21.019
 commune

00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.359
 with him

00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:21.819
 as if

00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:22.079
 he is

00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:22.559
 present with

00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:22.659
 you

00:33:22.659 --> 00:33:23.139
 because he

00:33:23.139 --> 00:33:23.519
 is

00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:27.480
 and you

00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:27.859
 will become

00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:28.240
 more and

00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:28.660
 more like

00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:28.859
 him

00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:30.279
 more and

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:30.819
 more lovely

00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.639
 more and

00:33:31.639 --> 00:33:32.259
 more honorable

00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:33.359
 more and

00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:33.900
 more true

00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:35.099
 more and

00:33:35.099 --> 00:33:35.559
 more pure

00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:36.779
 and so on

00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:40.019
 now is it

00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:40.619
 challenging to

00:33:40.619 --> 00:33:41.079
 live a life

00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:41.519
 of Christian

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.200
 practice

00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:42.740
 in a

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.319
 distracted

00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:43.879
 age

00:33:43.879 --> 00:33:44.899
 you bet

00:33:44.899 --> 00:33:45.279
 it is

00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:47.139
 it is

00:33:47.139 --> 00:33:47.700
 much easier

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:48.220
 just to call

00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:48.539
 ourselves

00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:48.920
 Christians

00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:49.279
 come to

00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:49.460
 church

00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:49.799
 for one

00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:50.000
 hour

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:50.440
 on Sunday

00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:50.759
 and then

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.039
 live and

00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.259
 think

00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:51.819
 like the

00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:52.079
 rest of

00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:52.379
 the world

00:33:52.379 --> 00:33:52.740
 for the

00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:52.980
 rest of

00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:53.279
 the week

00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:54.299
 isn't it

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:56.339
 living a

00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:56.700
 life of

00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:57.000
 Christian

00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.619
 practice

00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.139
 is a

00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:58.660
 challenge

00:33:58.660 --> 00:33:59.420
 but listen

00:33:59.420 --> 00:33:59.700
 to what

00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:00.119
 Paul says

00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:00.359
 at the

00:34:00.359 --> 00:34:00.599
 end of

00:34:00.599 --> 00:34:00.720
 our

00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:01.200
 passage

00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:02.319
 he says

00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:02.720
 practice

00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:03.420
 these things

00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:04.840
 and the

00:34:04.840 --> 00:34:05.519
 God of

00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.059
 peace

00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:07.019
 will be

00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:08.199
 with you

00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:11.119
 the promise

00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.280
 is of an

00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:12.840
 ever

00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:14.400
 deepening

00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:15.539
 fellowship

00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:16.460
 and communion

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:17.159
 with God

00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:18.440
 the God

00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:18.920
 of peace

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:21.679
 you see

00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:22.300
 standing

00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:23.079
 fast

00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:24.280
 isn't just

00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:25.340
 about making

00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:26.159
 peace between

00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:26.619
 us

00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:27.440
 as verses

00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:27.760
 two and

00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:28.059
 three were

00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:28.300
 about

00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:29.180
 standing

00:34:29.180 --> 00:34:30.100
 fast

00:34:30.100 --> 00:34:30.760
 isn't just

00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:31.640
 about experiencing

00:34:31.640 --> 00:34:32.380
 peace within

00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:32.680
 us

00:34:32.680 --> 00:34:33.080
 as verses

00:34:33.080 --> 00:34:33.560
 four through

00:34:33.560 --> 00:34:34.000
 seven were

00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:34.260
 about

00:34:34.260 --> 00:34:34.960
 standing

00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.340
 fast

00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:35.960
 is ultimately

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.300
 about

00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:37.360
 communing

00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:37.980
 with the

00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:38.380
 one who

00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:39.320
 is peace

00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:40.000
 himself

00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:45.220
 and maybe

00:34:45.220 --> 00:34:45.680
 others will

00:34:45.680 --> 00:34:46.140
 look at us

00:34:46.140 --> 00:34:46.580
 and say

00:34:46.580 --> 00:34:48.260
 I think

00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:48.640
 God is

00:34:48.640 --> 00:34:49.120
 with them

00:34:49.120 --> 00:34:52.580
 so brothers

00:34:52.580 --> 00:34:53.039
 and sisters

00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:53.600
 stand

00:34:53.600 --> 00:34:54.640
 firm

00:34:54.640 --> 00:34:55.400
 in the

00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:55.720
 Lord

00:34:55.720 --> 00:34:56.480
 beloved

00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.820
 don't let

00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:58.140
 the world

00:34:58.140 --> 00:34:58.620
 squeeze you

00:34:58.620 --> 00:34:58.940
 into its

00:34:58.940 --> 00:34:59.240
 mold

00:34:59.240 --> 00:35:00.559
 live in

00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:01.120
 the freedom

00:35:01.120 --> 00:35:02.039
 and peace

00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:02.519
 that come

00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:03.180
 from knowing

00:35:03.180 --> 00:35:04.100
 and loving

00:35:04.100 --> 00:35:04.980
 the God

00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:05.539
 of peace

00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:07.440
 practice

00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:08.039
 these things

00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:09.680
 and the God

00:35:09.680 --> 00:35:09.940
 of peace

00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.400
 will be with

00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:10.620
 you

00:35:10.620 --> 00:35:11.980
 let's pray

00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:16.220
 our father

00:35:16.220 --> 00:35:16.860
 we acknowledge

00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:17.460
 that we

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:18.480
 certainly need

00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:18.920
 your help

00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:20.539
 and yet

00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:21.120
 we give

00:35:21.120 --> 00:35:21.320
 you

00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:22.960
 so much

00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:23.400
 thanks

00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:24.720
 that where

00:35:24.720 --> 00:35:25.160
 we need

00:35:25.160 --> 00:35:25.660
 your help

00:35:25.660 --> 00:35:26.519
 you gladly

00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:27.239
 provide it

00:35:27.239 --> 00:35:28.239
 what a

00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:28.519
 gracious

00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:28.920
 and good

00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.179
 God

00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:29.579
 you are

00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:30.820
 we pray

00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:31.079
 that you

00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:31.239
 would

00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:32.380
 pour your

00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:32.639
 spirit

00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:33.099
 out afresh

00:35:33.099 --> 00:35:33.699
 upon us

00:35:33.699 --> 00:35:35.360
 and help

00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:35.679
 us to

00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:36.219
 live into

00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:36.880
 these things

00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:38.320
 Lord help

00:35:38.320 --> 00:35:38.619
 them not

00:35:38.619 --> 00:35:39.159
 just to be

00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:39.920
 ideas

00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:41.360
 we think

00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:41.719
 about

00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.980
 but practices

00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:43.559
 we live

00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:44.599
 for your

00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:44.960
 glory

00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:46.300
 amen

00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:57.280
 are

00:35:57.620 --> 00:35:58.220
 refuge

00:35:58.220 --> 00:35:59.039
 in

00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:05.180
 for your