WEBVTT

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 Can I go on in Philippians 4? Just go ahead and turn there, Philippians 4.

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 I hope you've enjoyed studying through Philippians. We're pretty much on our way to being done with Philippians.

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 It was one of the first books that we talked through about six years ago in Wes's old apartment, I think, something like that.

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 So, tonight we're going to pick up in verse 10 of chapter 4.

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 And, as always, I definitely feel the weight of life. This is like one of those coffee mug versus t-shirt, Christian t-shirt versus.

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 And so, I understand just the weightiness of what I'm about to speak on tonight, and I pray the Lord really works.

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 So, verse 10, chapter 4.

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 I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your concern for me.

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 You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.

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 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

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 I know to be brought low. I know how to abound.

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 In any and every circumstance, I've learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

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 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

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 So, let's pray for me for a minute.

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 Lord, I just give you praise for these words.

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 And, Lord, I recognize that even for those of us who are born again, who have you in our lives,

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 it is a daily fight to believe these words in a way that affects how we live.

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 Even up until 15 minutes ago, I was battling, trying to believe these words.

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 And, Lord, can just so easily be attacked.

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 And so, Father, I pray that you would enable us to truly come around this idea tonight of contentment and joy in you.

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 I just give you the praise.

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 In Christ's name, amen.

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 So, just a little bit of introduction.

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 Verse 10, where he says,

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 I've rejoiced in the Lord greatly, but now at length you have revived your concern for me.

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 You were indeed concerned for me, but had no opportunity.

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 And so you know what he's just mentioning here in this first verse.

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 Ten years prior to this, Paul had been in Philippi.

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 And he had received the generous gift from the Philippians church, a financial gift to kind of support his ministry when he arrived in Thessalonica.

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 So they supported him financially.

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 And their giving came from an overflow of joy in Christ.

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 It wasn't something they did under compulsion or something that they thought they had to do.

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 They did it out of the overflow of their hearts in Christ.

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 And even as someone who lives on, you know, financial support myself to do ministry,

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 I realize that a lot of times some of the most cheerful givers and people that even support me in what I do

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 are those who have really been touched by Christ, who really have been satisfied in Christ.

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 And in some way have been ministered to by someone at some point who told them the gospel.

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 And they know the power of the gospel and they want to support those who are, you know, continually ministering to people.

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 So it was out of gratitude they supported Paul financially, but lately they haven't really had an opportunity to support him.

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 So he's talking about that and kind of addressing that.

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 And so a major theme, the major theme that we're going to talk about tonight is the word contentment.

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 And it's what we're going to be unpacking.

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 And so, but where it says it right here in verse, let's see.

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 Yeah.

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 In verse 11, we said, I've learned, you know, whatever situation I'm to be content.

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 And that word for content, it just means having enough.

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 It actually means even to be self-sufficient.

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 It means to be, to be pleased with or to be satisfied with something.

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 You're not looking to something else.

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 You're not dependent on something else.

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 It's contentment.

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 It's what really what the word kind of comes from to.

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 So to possess contentment is really to possess joy and peace.

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 If you have those things kind of, they all kind of connect together.

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 Joy, peace, contentment.

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 They're all, we use those a lot in the Christian life, kind of almost as just different substitute words for the same thing.

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 So contentment is what we're going after tonight.

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 And I'm saying that joy, contentment is a fight for even those who have Christ and an impossible fight for those who are without Christ.

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 And so I have just three things to focus on tonight out of this.

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 But the first one is true contentment is not circumstantial.

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 True contentment is not circumstantial.

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 And that's seen in verses 11 through 12.

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 Now I'm not speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I'm to be content.

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 I know how to be brought low and know how to abound.

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 In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

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 So you see here that he's like in any situation, in any circumstance.

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 That's his language he's using.

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 And so he's kind of like been all over the spectrum.

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 He's had an abundance.

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 He's had like wealth.

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 He's actually been like in poverty and in great need.

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 He's been all over the map with that.

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 He hasn't just lived a certain way his entire life.

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 And so the point kind of is this teaches us that contentment is something not found in the current situation.

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 Because he says, I have contentment.

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 I've found it.

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 I've learned it.

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 And I've learned it in every circumstance.

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 And it's not in a particular circumstance that you actually find contentment.

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 And that's really a, we're going to kind of go after here.

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 It's not circumstantial.

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 And so in other words, it's not something that we can attain that's outside of us.

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 That's what we constantly tell ourselves.

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 Because what we've got to understand is that the problem is internal.

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 The problem is something not outside that we need.

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 It's something that's like wrong with us.

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 Something that is internal.

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 So kind of go here with me.

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 This will be a question later.

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 Many think if only I had or if only I could fill in the blank, I would be content.

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 If I had good health, if I had good looks, good grades, millions of dollars, a nice house, you know, a husband or wife or family.

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 Then these things, if I had these things, then I would be content.

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 I mean, I just came straight from the gym to here.

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 And like, I go to the Delano Catholic Center.

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 And it's just, it just really breaks my heart.

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 I was even thinking about it while I was there.

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 Just how, man, so many of those guys particularly just think that, man, if I can just look like I had to rip somebody's head off, like I'll be content.

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 And just see them in there just fighting for that.

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 And that one thing day after day.

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 And spend their lives trying to attain these things.

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 All these things that we mentioned, which are not bad things.

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 But we spend so much time and energy, whatever the cost, to attain them.

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 And so we fail to see that discontentment is a bitter fruit of like an inward condition that we have.

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 And that condition is indwelling sin.

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 Even for the believer, we have indwelling sin.

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 Sin that's a part of us.

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 An inward condition.

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 And so even as believers, we still have like the fallen flesh that we are kind of cloaked in.

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 And this flesh is under the sentence of death.

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 Like what you see right here and what you are will eventually die.

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 It's not going to live forever.

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 It's not what's eternal.

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 And so that's why even Paul calls it, Paul, being a believer, he says this body of death.

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 And he says, even when I want to do good, evil is like ever present with me.

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 Like it's like right there with me.

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 Like trying to pull me away and to make me draw to it.

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 So the things that are outside of us, you know, we battle.

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 It says in Scripture we battle that.

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 We battle the devil.

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 We battle the world.

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 And a lot of times we stop there.

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 Like in reality, we think it's the devil who's making me feel this way.

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 Or it's just the stuff in the world.

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 But to be honest, like those things just kind of encourage you to act according to what's already inside of you.

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 Like which is your sinful, your indwelling sin.

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 And so it encourages you to sin.

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 It doesn't make you sin.

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 As a believer, we're talking about.

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 And so it kind of draws from us.

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 And so turn to, you know, as always, keep your hand in Philippians.

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 But turn to Mark 7 real fast.

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 And let's just read something that Jesus himself says about this.

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 So for the believer, you can't ever say the devil made me do it.

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 Or my circumstances were just so terrible that I just had to sin.

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 I had to go this way.

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 You can't say that.

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 Not if you have Christ abiding in you.

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 And so look at Mark 7 verse 19.

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 And we'll see that it's not what's outside of somebody, but what's in somebody.

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 Verse 20.

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 He said,

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 Wow.

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 So our enemy, really, a lot of the time is ourselves.

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 We're our own worst problem.

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 And so we have so many things that pull us into that state.

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 And so we see that, like, contentment and joy are not the things that just naturally flow out of us.

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 It's something that, what flows out of us is the natural soil of our flesh is grumbling, covetousness.

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 I'm always thinking, if I just had this, this contentment.

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 That's what kind of naturally comes.

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 We have to battle for contentment.

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 And a book that I'm going to refer to quite a bit throughout the night, I do recommend it.

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 If you want, like, a reading recommendation, it's called The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.

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 And it was written by a Puritan back in the day in the 1600s named Jeremiah Burroughs.

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 And he, that's the focus of this book.

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 He just talks about contentment.

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 And it's so good.

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 It's a book that Nathan West and I read while we were in school a few years ago.

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 So it's so good.

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 But something he said was,

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 The mystery of contentment consists not in bringing anything from outside to make my condition more comfortable,

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 but in purging out something that is within.

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 And so it's something that we have to deal with.

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 It's inside of us.

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 Let's see.

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 Turn over to 1 Timothy 6 real fast and go to verse 6.

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 1 Timothy 6, verse 6.

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 And so we have warnings all throughout Scripture saying,

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 Don't look for this outside of, in the world.

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 Don't look for, this isn't an external thing that you need.

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 The problem is inside of you.

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 It's a battle for contentment.

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 And so we're warned about that.

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 And so look at 1 Timothy 6 and go to verse 6.

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 He says,

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 Now there is a great gain in godliness with contentment.

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 For we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of the world.

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 But if we have food and clothing with these, we'll be content.

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 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation,

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 into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires

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 that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

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 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

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 So it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith

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 and have pierced themselves with many pains.

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 And so he's saying like a immoderate love for money.

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 And money is not a bad thing,

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 but he just understands, as Jesus does,

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 that money can be used to do great evil or do great good.

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 And he's saying that if you love money, if that's your goal to attain,

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 then it will bring great harm upon you.

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 But he says like godliness, like being like God,

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 like pursuing Him, knowing Him, becoming like Him,

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 there's great contentment.

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 And so there's all these warnings about this.

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 So something else, Jeremiah Burroughs says,

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 that the Christian, this is one of those little nuggets,

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 a Christian comes through contentment,

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 not so much by way of addition as by way of subtraction.

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 We don't think if I just had this,

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 if I just could add this to my life, I would be content.

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 And he was saying that true satisfaction in Christ,

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 you actually might be able to subtract things from your life.

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 Like that's what it really looks like,

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 to have something of great value

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 to where you don't really need all these other things.

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 So if you're saying,

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 if I had a little more,

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 if I just had a little more of this,

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 a little more of that,

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 like seriously mistaken,

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 and I know I've been in this position so many times.

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 So if you're not satisfied with what you have now,

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 you won't be satisfied when that portion is doubled or tripled.

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 It's like you have to,

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 it's something to be possessed now.

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 And it's the fruit of indwelling sin.

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 Just remember that.

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 Like discontentment is the fruit of indwelling sin.

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 Even for the believer,

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 even at our best,

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 sin is always there trying to make us drowsy and lazy

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 and tries to prevent us from doing any good thing before God.

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 So there's something on this inside.

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 So that's the first point.

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 True contentment is not circumstantial.

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 The second point is true contentment is found only in Christ.

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 Go back to Philippians again.

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 True contentment is found only in Christ.

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 And this is found in verse 13 where he says,

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 I can do all things through him,

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 Christ.

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 Okay.

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 And so flip to back one chapter in Philippians to chapter three.

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 Something that we covered a few weeks ago.

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 But Philippians three and go to verse seven.

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 He says,

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 but whatever gain I had,

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 I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

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 Indeed,

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 I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus,

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 my Lord.

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 For his sake,

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 I've suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I

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 might gain Christ.

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 So what does that,

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 what does that look like?

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 Does it sound like he's trying to add stuff for,

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 for joy,

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 trying to add stuff to his life for contentment?

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 He's like,

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 no,

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 like I've lost everything to possess Christ,

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 the one eternal treasure that will satisfy and bring me contentment.

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 And he's like,

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 that's,

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 that's what he said right here.

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 The surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus,

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 my Lord.

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 And the Greek word for knowing right there,

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 we've,

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 we've mentioned this before.

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 It's an experiential personal involvement.

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 No,

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:14.099
 it's something that you've actually laid hold of.

00:17:14.399 --> 00:17:14.480
 And,

00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:16.539
 and to the Greeks,

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:20.740
 this meant like a mystical secret union with a God.

00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.679
 Like when they use this,

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.940
 when they use this phrase,

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:23.419
 like a,

00:17:23.419 --> 00:17:25.599
 a secret mystical union with a God.

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.919
 And like a,

00:17:26.919 --> 00:17:30.119
 a transcendent knowledge that goes beyond just like the mundane,

00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:32.139
 everyday things of life.

00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:34.239
 And so that's what they were saying.

00:17:34.639 --> 00:17:36.799
 And the same word in Hebrew,

00:17:36.939 --> 00:17:40.699
 the equivalent of knowing in Hebrew means like an intimate knowledge of

00:17:40.699 --> 00:17:41.000
 something,

00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:42.439
 a love bond,

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.599
 a union,

00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:44.459
 the way,

00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:44.979
 like a,

00:17:44.979 --> 00:17:47.259
 way a husband would know his wife.

00:17:47.879 --> 00:17:49.139
 And so this is like a,

00:17:49.139 --> 00:17:52.899
 a warming theological concept of like knowing Christ.

00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:53.299
 And,

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:56.699
 and so he's not just saying no about Christ.

00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:59.119
 I know so many people,

00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.699
 and even myself,

00:18:00.699 --> 00:18:02.359
 when I was a teenager,

00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:05.719
 I could tell you like a lot of correct theology about who Jesus was.

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:07.119
 I didn't know him.

00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:10.039
 Like I had not like encountered him at all.

00:18:10.219 --> 00:18:14.879
 I wasn't really experientially walking with him and knowing him.

00:18:15.219 --> 00:18:15.399
 So,

00:18:15.399 --> 00:18:17.939
 and then in Hebrews 13,

00:18:18.679 --> 00:18:19.839
 I'll just read you this.

00:18:19.899 --> 00:18:20.199
 It says,

00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:21.339
 verses four and six,

00:18:21.939 --> 00:18:22.259
 it says,

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:25.179
 keep your life free from the love of money.

00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:27.659
 Be content with what you have.

00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:29.860
 For Christ has said,

00:18:30.080 --> 00:18:32.160
 I will never leave you nor forsake you.

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:35.440
 So we can confidently say the Lord is my helper.

00:18:35.820 --> 00:18:36.960
 I will not fear.

00:18:37.060 --> 00:18:38.140
 What can man do to me?

00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:39.120
 So he,

00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:40.120
 he's saying like,

00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:46.059
 I can be content because Christ has told me he'll never leave me or forsake me.

00:18:46.159 --> 00:18:46.659
 And like,

00:18:46.679 --> 00:18:47.359
 he is my helper.

00:18:47.479 --> 00:18:49.099
 He is the one that I need.

00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:52.019
 It's not found in what I can attain outside.

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:53.519
 And,

00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:53.839
 uh,

00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:54.859
 so,

00:18:55.699 --> 00:18:56.079
 so,

00:18:56.199 --> 00:18:56.779
 um,

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:58.000
 just a warning though,

00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:01.939
 about satisfaction in Christ and contentment in Christ.

00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:03.580
 Um,

00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:10.700
 I've even heard some very dear brothers of mine share the gospel this way before.

00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:12.259
 And,

00:19:12.340 --> 00:19:16.440
 and I've also seen the devastating effects of sharing the gospel this way.

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.840
 So if you're,

00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:18.860
 if you're aware that,

00:19:19.100 --> 00:19:19.460
 um,

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.960
 that you are sharing this way,

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:24.480
 you can just kind of keep that yourself and just ask the Lord,

00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:24.740
 uh,

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:27.400
 to help you not share the gospel this way.

00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:32.360
 But I'm going to tell you like a tale of two plane passengers.

00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:32.880
 Okay.

00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:37.220
 And I hope this really alters how you think a little bit,

00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:45.840
 but two well-traveled men are on an airplane together and a flight attendant goes up to the first man.

00:19:45.840 --> 00:19:46.680
 And he says,

00:19:47.820 --> 00:19:49.460
 and offers this man a parachute.

00:19:49.600 --> 00:19:49.880
 And he says,

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:51.100
 put this parachute on.

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:53.140
 If you put this parachute on,

00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:54.019
 it's going to make your,

00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:55.540
 your flight a lot more comfortable,

00:19:55.860 --> 00:19:57.180
 a lot more enjoyable.

00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.420
 um,

00:19:58.660 --> 00:19:59.540
 just do this.

00:19:59.620 --> 00:19:59.840
 And,

00:19:59.840 --> 00:20:00.820
 um,

00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.060
 she,

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:02.320
 and even she's wearing one,

00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:03.600
 the flight attendant is wearing a parachute.

00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:04.759
 She's like,

00:20:04.780 --> 00:20:08.160
 I promise like it will bring you joy on this flight.

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:09.700
 It'll make your flight a lot better.

00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:10.680
 It'll improve it.

00:20:11.080 --> 00:20:12.880
 And so he just kind of like,

00:20:12.900 --> 00:20:13.220
 okay.

00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:14.940
 And that sounds good.

00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:15.360
 And so he,

00:20:15.360 --> 00:20:16.259
 he tries it on,

00:20:16.300 --> 00:20:16.960
 he puts it on.

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:19.700
 And immediately he feels like how heavy it is,

00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.500
 how cumbersome it is.

00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.040
 And,

00:20:22.040 --> 00:20:23.080
 and like,

00:20:23.080 --> 00:20:27.080
 he tries to sit down in his seat and he's just so like thrown off.

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:28.059
 And uncomfortable.

00:20:28.659 --> 00:20:30.199
 And he's thinking in his mind,

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.599
 this is not what she said,

00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:33.419
 but I'm going to give it a chance.

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.279
 I just put it on.

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:36.460
 I'm just going to wait it out for a while.

00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:40.620
 And he's just sitting there getting hot and his clothes are getting all

00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:40.980
 wrinkled.

00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:44.640
 And then he hears people across the aisle laughing at him.

00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:45.819
 They're like,

00:20:45.840 --> 00:20:47.079
 what is that guy doing?

00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:47.740
 Look,

00:20:47.840 --> 00:20:48.259
 what an idiot.

00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:50.360
 And so then like,

00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:51.380
 not only is he uncomfortable,

00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:53.039
 but he's feeling like humiliation,

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:57.360
 like some kind of like persecution from the people on the plane.

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.899
 And so he,

00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.379
 he said,

00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.119
 you know,

00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:01.319
 he,

00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:04.579
 he keeps it on just for a little while longer because the flight attendant did

00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.119
 promise him,

00:21:05.179 --> 00:21:06.459
 this will make your flight more enjoyable.

00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.639
 But finally he had a,

00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:11.139
 and he like took the parachute off and he threw it down the aisle.

00:21:11.179 --> 00:21:11.559
 And he's like,

00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:11.939
 this is,

00:21:12.439 --> 00:21:13.119
 this is stupid.

00:21:13.939 --> 00:21:15.079
 What was I thinking?

00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:20.000
 And he actually gets angry and bitter at the attendant that told him that.

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.400
 so that's the,

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.759
 that's the first man.

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:28.079
 The second man is also offered a parachute from a flight attendant.

00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:31.079
 Who's wearing a parachute herself,

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:33.119
 very kind lady.

00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:34.200
 And she just says,

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:39.160
 put this parachute on because in two minutes,

00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:40.880
 the plane's going down.

00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:44.359
 Like we're having some serious malfunctioning problems.

00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:49.640
 Put this parachute on and it'll save your life.

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:58.119
 And so he quickly traps the parachute on with delight and takes no notice of how

00:21:58.119 --> 00:21:59.640
 like uncomfortable it is at all.

00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:01.960
 And then when people start laughing at him,

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.980
 he really doesn't care.

00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:03.740
 Like he's like,

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.119
 that's,

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:05.420
 that's all right.

00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:05.880
 And he,

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:11.039
 he thinks only about how awful that jump would be without the parachute.

00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:16.339
 And actually having that parachute does bring him like some comfort and peace

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:17.299
 while he has it on.

00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:19.339
 Cause he knows that he knows what's about to happen.

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:24.839
 So consider like the motive and the result of each,

00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.660
 each passenger.

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:27.039
 The first man,

00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:29.539
 he was offered by the attendant who was well-meaning,

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.720
 you know,

00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:34.859
 like put this parachute on and it'll bring you comfort and enjoyment.

00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:36.079
 It'll improve your flight.

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:38.960
 And the result was anger,

00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:40.119
 bitterness,

00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:40.980
 and frustration.

00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:42.000
 That's like how this guy,

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.900
 the first man felt.

00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:44.360
 The second man,

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.860
 not so much.

00:22:46.560 --> 00:22:46.780
 Um,

00:22:46.780 --> 00:22:50.360
 he did to escape the danger of jumping out of the plane at 2000 feet.

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:52.940
 And so he feels joy and peace and,

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:54.140
 and delight.

00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:54.759
 Um,

00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:58.120
 and he's actually very thankful to the attendant that told him that.

00:22:58.560 --> 00:22:58.759
 Actually,

00:22:58.800 --> 00:23:01.100
 the other guy is embittered and angry with the attendant.

00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:03.099
 All right.

00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:03.480
 So,

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:05.259
 so here's the deal.

00:23:05.939 --> 00:23:12.599
 The gospel message is not come and be joyful and happy in Jesus.

00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:16.159
 God loves you and has a great plan for your life.

00:23:16.699 --> 00:23:17.219
 That's not,

00:23:17.459 --> 00:23:18.659
 it's not the gospel message.

00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:20.199
 If you tell anybody that,

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.879
 they'd be a fool to be like,

00:23:22.659 --> 00:23:23.559
 I don't,

00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:24.319
 I don't want that.

00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:25.039
 I don't want joy.

00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:25.839
 I don't want fulfillment.

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.199
 Um,

00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:27.779
 they would,

00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:28.819
 they'd be like,

00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:29.159
 okay,

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.000
 sounds good.

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:32.299
 And so they buy that message.

00:23:32.879 --> 00:23:34.419
 And then like later on,

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.559
 life doesn't get better.

00:23:35.659 --> 00:23:36.559
 Like life gets harder.

00:23:36.959 --> 00:23:38.539
 People start laughing at them.

00:23:38.679 --> 00:23:40.679
 They realize how hard things are.

00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:41.919
 They,

00:23:42.139 --> 00:23:43.779
 they usually,

00:23:44.679 --> 00:23:46.599
 people that I've met that have experienced this,

00:23:46.679 --> 00:23:47.099
 like they're,

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.079
 they're,

00:23:48.139 --> 00:23:49.279
 they're pretty cool for a while.

00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.799
 They're kind of experiencing a new thing.

00:23:50.899 --> 00:23:53.720
 And then like the talk I have with them later is,

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:55.819
 I was a Christian until this.

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.459
 This happened.

00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:57.179
 Fill in the blank.

00:23:57.899 --> 00:23:58.859
 I lost my girlfriend.

00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.819
 My mom got sick.

00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:01.459
 I broke,

00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:02.459
 you know,

00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:04.500
 something in my body where I can't do this anymore.

00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.599
 I lost my job.

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:09.439
 And so I just concluded that Christ is just a big hoax.

00:24:09.659 --> 00:24:12.839
 And I'm actually angry with the person that told me that Jesus would give me

00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:14.459
 fulfillment and happiness.

00:24:15.679 --> 00:24:16.079
 So,

00:24:16.379 --> 00:24:18.720
 so here's the gospel message.

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:20.799
 The gospel is out of the words of Jesus,

00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:21.959
 Mark one,

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:24.740
 repent and believe the gospel.

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:27.380
 For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:32.420
 And like the gospel is like you are condemned before God and that you're an

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.120
 enemy of God.

00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:35.460
 Unless you turn from your sin and come to Christ,

00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.759
 you'll perish.

00:24:37.120 --> 00:24:44.660
 And so is it true that Jesus does give us contentment and does give us joy and

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.579
 give us satisfaction?

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:46.500
 Yes.

00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:51.119
 But that comes only by repentance of sin,

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:53.619
 taking up your cross and following Christ.

00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.559
 There's no other way.

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.380
 Like that's just it.

00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:56.460
 And so,

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:58.400
 because your joy is not in the present world,

00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:01.380
 but in the life to come and found in Christ.

00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:01.779
 So,

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:03.480
 so just,

00:25:03.619 --> 00:25:05.119
 just kind of keep that in mind.

00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.259
 You know,

00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:07.160
 like we don't want to,

00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:13.000
 like we have Christ and we repent of our sins and those things are the result of

00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.660
 having Christ.

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:16.360
 And so you got to be careful with the gospel message.

00:25:17.060 --> 00:25:17.540
 So,

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:17.920
 uh,

00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.560
 he says,

00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:19.860
 knowing Christ Jesus,

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.560
 my Lord,

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:22.500
 Paul says in Philippians,

00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:23.279
 knowing Christ,

00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:23.700
 that word,

00:25:23.800 --> 00:25:24.200
 Christ,

00:25:24.860 --> 00:25:25.320
 Messiah,

00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.040
 savior,

00:25:26.800 --> 00:25:27.540
 anointed one.

00:25:28.100 --> 00:25:29.240
 Where is he saving you from?

00:25:29.320 --> 00:25:30.860
 He's saving you from sin and judgment,

00:25:30.860 --> 00:25:31.940
 um,

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:32.900
 and eternal death.

00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.120
 My Lord,

00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:35.879
 he's your sovereign.

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.719
 He's your master.

00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:37.679
 You will follow him.

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:40.219
 Like you can't like neglect those words.

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:44.119
 And so the peace and joy and contentment are the result of,

00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:47.500
 of having Christ truly possessing Christ.

00:25:48.159 --> 00:25:48.639
 Um,

00:25:48.699 --> 00:25:49.419
 Thomas Brooks,

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.819
 another Puritan guy said,

00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:52.899
 God has in himself,

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.599
 all goodness to supply you,

00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:56.879
 all happiness to crown you.

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:59.519
 God is an all satisfying good,

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:02.399
 a good that fills the heart and quiets the soul.

00:26:02.919 --> 00:26:03.679
 He says,

00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.240
 in him,

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.299
 in him,

00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:08.340
 I have all comforts and all delights,

00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.440
 all contentments,

00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:11.799
 no good below him.

00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:14.640
 Who is the greatest good and can only satisfy the soul.

00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.960
 A good wife,

00:26:16.080 --> 00:26:16.740
 a good child,

00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.539
 a good name,

00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:18.860
 a good estate,

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:21.140
 a good friend cannot satisfy the soul.

00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:22.660
 These may please,

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.019
 but they cannot satisfy.

00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:24.840
 It's like what he said.

00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:30.900
 And so the secret is having knowing Christ and having Christ dwell in us.

00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:33.040
 If you were here last week,

00:26:33.820 --> 00:26:34.080
 um,

00:26:34.180 --> 00:26:36.259
 you remember the analogy that I gave you from,

00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.420
 from,

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:37.800
 uh,

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:39.540
 that Burroughs used in his book.

00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:41.600
 He was saying that if you're sick,

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.840
 like,

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:44.780
 you naturally actually get cold,

00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:45.720
 like pretty easy.

00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:47.040
 So you get cold anyway.

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.019
 Like,

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.099
 if you really are sick,

00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:51.839
 you have to search from some kind of outside source,

00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:52.819
 outside source,

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:54.500
 to make yourself warm.

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.059
 A fire,

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.480
 a warm coat,

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:56.759
 and like,

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:59.279
 you need those external things to make you warm,

00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:00.460
 because your body's sick.

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:00.500
 Like,

00:27:00.860 --> 00:27:02.360
 but if your body is healthy,

00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.299
 like,

00:27:03.340 --> 00:27:05.360
 you can actually put cold clothes on,

00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:06.680
 and it warms the clothes up,

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:06.960
 right?

00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:09.279
 It's like an inside out kind of thing.

00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:12.480
 And he's saying that if you really are healthy in Christ,

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:12.860
 like,

00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:15.980
 you don't need these external things to make you joyful,

00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:17.120
 to make you content.

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:19.120
 It's something that kind of happens from,

00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:20.240
 from within.

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.799
 And so,

00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:22.799
 knowing Christ Jesus,

00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:26.240
 only in Christ is our true contentment found.

00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:27.380
 Um,

00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:28.360
 and even for the believer,

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.079
 it's a battle.

00:27:29.079 --> 00:27:30.259
 But,

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.819
 but we've experienced this.

00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:32.819
 So,

00:27:33.439 --> 00:27:35.179
 this leads us to the third point,

00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:36.639
 which is,

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:41.879
 true contentment is sustained by God's power.

00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:45.679
 True contentment is sustained by God's power.

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.639
 And then,

00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:46.919
 um,

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:48.079
 verse 13,

00:27:48.399 --> 00:27:49.839
 back in chapter 4,

00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:53.339
 I can do all things through Him,

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.119
 through Christ,

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:55.119
 who strengthens me.

00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:56.539
 All right?

00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.259
 And this is that.

00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:59.000
 This is the coffee mug.

00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.380
 verse.

00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:00.740
 Um,

00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:02.700
 I've actually been to,

00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:02.819
 like,

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.839
 a baseball game before,

00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.319
 where I saw,

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:04.519
 like,

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:06.460
 one guy had this verse,

00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:07.559
 this verse written,

00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.619
 like,

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:09.680
 like,

00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.099
 on his,

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.619
 on his,

00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:11.220
 you know,

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:12.299
 with the paint they put on.

00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:13.460
 And,

00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:15.119
 it's just saying,

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.319
 like,

00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:16.660
 I can win this baseball game

00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:18.680
 with the strength that Christ gives me

00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:19.839
 to win this baseball game.

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.959
 And then,

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:22.279
 I saw another guy on the team

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.019
 that had painted,

00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:24.039
 like,

00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:24.439
 Romans,

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.240
 Romans 8,

00:28:25.459 --> 00:28:26.199
 forgot the verse,

00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.139
 Romans 8,

00:28:28.159 --> 00:28:29.039
 if God is for me,

00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:30.000
 who can be against me?

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.779
 Someone's gonna lose.

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.339
 Like,

00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.639
 both can't win.

00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:34.460
 So,

00:28:35.780 --> 00:28:37.140
 and I've actually been around,

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:37.440
 like,

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.660
 seeing in Christian bookstores,

00:28:38.780 --> 00:28:39.040
 like,

00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:40.600
 the stuff plastered all over,

00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.780
 sports equipment and everything.

00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.400
 I'm just saying,

00:28:43.020 --> 00:28:43.400
 oh,

00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.020
 no,

00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.520
 like,

00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:47.740
 this verse is for the single mom

00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.900
 who works two jobs

00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:51.039
 and has three kids at home

00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:53.259
 and who feels like she's going to die

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:55.619
 under the weight of what she's going through.

00:28:56.619 --> 00:28:57.559
 She can say,

00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:59.200
 I can do all things through Christ

00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.039
 who strengthens me.

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.339
 That's for her,

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:03.119
 not for these athletes

00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.379
 who want to swell their pride up

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:05.619
 like Jesus is a means for me

00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:08.259
 to be winning glory in some sport.

00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:09.539
 It's not,

00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.339
 not a means.

00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:11.579
 So,

00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.000
 so,

00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:13.859
 um,

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.900
 back to the verse.

00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:17.220
 That was what the verse doesn't mean.

00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.279
 Um,

00:29:19.139 --> 00:29:19.480
 so,

00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.559
 strength for lasting joy

00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:22.740
 and contentment

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:24.059
 is found only in Christ.

00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:26.000
 The strength for lasting joy

00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.579
 and contentment.

00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:27.839
 So,

00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:29.559
 this same Greek word

00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.000
 for,

00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:31.559
 for contentment

00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:32.359
 is used by,

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:32.779
 like,

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.119
 the Greek Stoics,

00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:35.039
 the Roman Stoics,

00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:36.119
 but the philosophers,

00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:36.859
 I don't know if you know

00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:38.139
 anything about that,

00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:39.039
 but Stoics are people

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.839
 who just say,

00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.200
 come what may,

00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:42.859
 no matter what happens,

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.779
 I'm undaunted.

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.379
 I'm going to continue

00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:47.660
 pursuing my whatever.

00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:48.039
 Like,

00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:48.980
 I'm this way.

00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:50.680
 And nothing can alter that.

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.420
 It's kind of like a,

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.539
 kind of like,

00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.319
 whatever comes,

00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:55.059
 I'm going to be that way.

00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:56.220
 And they would say that,

00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:56.420
 like,

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.139
 I'm content.

00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.400
 I'm content.

00:29:58.400 --> 00:29:58.879
 But,

00:29:59.019 --> 00:30:00.559
 Paul is saying,

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.039
 like,

00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:02.379
 eh,

00:30:02.379 --> 00:30:03.579
 not really the same way.

00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.579
 He's using this term

00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:05.420
 completely differently.

00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:06.539
 He says,

00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.339
 I can do all things

00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:07.980
 with Christ

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:09.539
 who strengthens me.

00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:10.599
 So,

00:30:10.659 --> 00:30:11.500
 contentment in Christ

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.659
 is going to be the result

00:30:12.659 --> 00:30:14.720
 of His strengthening you,

00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:15.700
 even as a believer.

00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:16.740
 So,

00:30:16.859 --> 00:30:18.099
 yeah.

00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:19.259
 So,

00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:19.599
 he's like,

00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:20.480
 I know what it's like

00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.740
 to be in financial poverty,

00:30:22.399 --> 00:30:23.700
 to be in unhealthiness,

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:24.240
 loneliness,

00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:25.299
 whatever.

00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.559
 Christ will strengthen you.

00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:27.259
 He'll grant you

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.420
 what you need

00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:29.639
 to have contentment and joy.

00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:31.379
 So,

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.680
 let me see.

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.039
 Sorry.

00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:34.819
 And this is something else

00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:35.940
 that Burroughs wrote,

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.599
 just follow me.

00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:37.740
 He said,

00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:39.440
 a Christian finds satisfaction

00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:41.319
 in every circumstance

00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:42.460
 by getting strength

00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.559
 from another,

00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.599
 by going outside

00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:46.460
 of himself

00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.599
 to Christ Jesus.

00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:49.319
 By his faith

00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:50.639
 and acting upon Christ

00:30:50.639 --> 00:30:52.180
 and bringing the strength

00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:52.740
 of Christ

00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.720
 into his soul,

00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:54.899
 he is thereby

00:30:54.899 --> 00:30:56.019
 enabled to bear

00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:57.559
 whatever God lays on him

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:58.899
 by the strength

00:30:58.899 --> 00:30:59.700
 that he finds

00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.899
 from Christ.

00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.680
 There is strength in Christ,

00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:03.720
 not only to sanctify

00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.560
 and save us,

00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:06.380
 but strength to support us

00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.960
 under all our burdens

00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.840
 and afflictions.

00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:10.580
 And Christ expects

00:31:10.580 --> 00:31:11.200
 that when

00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:13.019
 we are under any burden,

00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:13.740
 we should act

00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:15.100
 our faith upon him

00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:16.160
 to draw virtue

00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:16.880
 and strength.

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.400
 Really good.

00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:18.980
 Like,

00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:19.700
 in Christ,

00:31:20.340 --> 00:31:21.200
 acting upon him

00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:21.860
 in faith

00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:24.080
 results in satisfaction

00:31:24.080 --> 00:31:24.980
 and contentment

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.240
 no matter what.

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.200
 And it comes from him.

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.660
 It's something

00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:28.519
 that he supplies.

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.259
 So,

00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:32.460
 application,

00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.140
 real fast.

00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.200
 And,

00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:35.740
 man,

00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.380
 there was so much

00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.000
 to say in this.

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.180
 And so,

00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:37.720
 I was just trying to,

00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:37.860
 like,

00:31:37.860 --> 00:31:38.380
 I can't say that,

00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:38.880
 I can't say that,

00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.440
 I don't have time.

00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:40.220
 So,

00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.240
 getting into

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.539
 a little bit

00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.200
 of application,

00:31:44.120 --> 00:31:45.059
 look back at the text

00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:46.319
 again in Philippians 4,

00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.620
 and you see Paul

00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:48.920
 uses a phrase twice.

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.680
 He's like,

00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.819
 I've learned.

00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.559
 I've learned.

00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:55.279
 And,

00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:56.720
 he says that twice.

00:31:56.879 --> 00:31:57.720
 I've learned this.

00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:59.679
 I've learned to be content.

00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:01.319
 And he says,

00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:04.399
 learning something

00:32:04.399 --> 00:32:05.339
 does not come easy.

00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:05.599
 Like,

00:32:05.639 --> 00:32:06.419
 learning contentment

00:32:06.419 --> 00:32:07.200
 is not something

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:08.399
 you can just read a book on

00:32:08.399 --> 00:32:09.440
 and you're squared.

00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:09.940
 Like,

00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:11.319
 it's something

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:12.259
 that you've got to learn

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:13.379
 through experience

00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:15.099
 that these other things

00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:15.759
 don't content,

00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:17.259
 so by letting down

00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:17.899
 by things,

00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:19.179
 but also actually

00:32:19.179 --> 00:32:20.059
 being able to find

00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:21.799
 contentment in Christ.

00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.940
 So,

00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.519
 so Paul,

00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:24.879
 you know,

00:32:24.899 --> 00:32:25.879
 he's not getting contentment

00:32:25.879 --> 00:32:26.919
 being in a dungeon cell.

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.139
 Like,

00:32:27.159 --> 00:32:28.159
 he's not getting all this

00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:29.059
 stuff,

00:32:29.139 --> 00:32:29.419
 you know?

00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:29.779
 Like,

00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:29.980
 he,

00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:31.980
 he realizes that contentment

00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:32.700
 is something that he,

00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.359
 that has to come from within,

00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:36.000
 with Christ inside of him.

00:32:36.619 --> 00:32:37.099
 And so,

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.680
 learning this is a discipline,

00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:39.980
 like learning contentment.

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.119
 And,

00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.159
 so,

00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:43.619
 something else that will,

00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:44.799
 we'll talk about this

00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:45.779
 in the groups,

00:32:46.419 --> 00:32:46.680
 but,

00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:49.059
 cultivate thankfulness

00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:49.680
 in your life.

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.299
 Like,

00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.399
 I mean,

00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:52.220
 I can talk for an hour

00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.920
 on thankfulness.

00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:53.100
 Like,

00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:55.600
 just cultivate thankfulness

00:32:55.600 --> 00:32:56.380
 in your life.

00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:59.340
 Charles Spurgeon said,

00:32:59.420 --> 00:33:00.120
 very simply,

00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:02.620
 he that deserves nothing

00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:04.220
 should be content

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:05.060
 with anything.

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.720
 It's pretty good.

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:08.019
 And like,

00:33:08.560 --> 00:33:09.400
 all of us,

00:33:10.060 --> 00:33:11.259
 being like sinners

00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:12.720
 and rebels against God,

00:33:12.780 --> 00:33:13.320
 we don't deserve

00:33:13.320 --> 00:33:15.140
 one good thing.

00:33:15.360 --> 00:33:15.519
 Like,

00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:16.780
 like that's the weight

00:33:16.780 --> 00:33:17.380
 of your sin.

00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:17.740
 Like,

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.600
 someone asked me,

00:33:19.080 --> 00:33:20.420
 one of my best friends,

00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:20.820
 actually,

00:33:20.900 --> 00:33:22.400
 who doesn't know the Lord.

00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.539
 He's my oldest friend.

00:33:24.340 --> 00:33:25.840
 I literally had pictures of like,

00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:27.340
 he and I as like babies together.

00:33:28.360 --> 00:33:29.100
 He says,

00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:29.340
 how,

00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.279
 how in the world

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:32.720
 can you still love Christ

00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:33.880
 after all the stuff

00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:34.580
 that he's allowed

00:33:34.580 --> 00:33:35.380
 to happen to you?

00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:36.800
 And that's like,

00:33:36.820 --> 00:33:37.640
 what his response.

00:33:37.800 --> 00:33:38.279
 And this is,

00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:39.940
 this was kind of my response.

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:40.700
 Like,

00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.480
 a true understanding

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.160
 of the gospel

00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:42.640
 means like,

00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:43.660
 you don't deserve anything.

00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.840
 Not the air you breathe,

00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:46.000
 the food you eat,

00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:47.000
 the clothes you have,

00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.059
 nothing.

00:33:48.619 --> 00:33:48.899
 And,

00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:50.519
 it all is grace.

00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.259
 Like,

00:33:51.619 --> 00:33:52.379
 the unmerited,

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.279
 undeserved

00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:54.439
 blessing

00:33:54.439 --> 00:33:55.759
 and favor of God.

00:33:56.879 --> 00:33:57.319
 And so,

00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.199
 like that's the very

00:33:58.199 --> 00:33:59.099
 foundational principle

00:33:59.099 --> 00:33:59.699
 of the gospel

00:33:59.699 --> 00:34:01.399
 is that you don't deserve anything.

00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:04.119
 And grace is getting something

00:34:04.119 --> 00:34:05.139
 that you don't deserve.

00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:06.419
 So,

00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.139
 learn to cultivate

00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:09.340
 thankfulness.

00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:09.960
 I think that

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:11.640
 when we're dealing with

00:34:11.640 --> 00:34:13.579
 discontentment,

00:34:14.700 --> 00:34:15.880
 I think that often

00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:16.800
 is at the heart of it.

00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:17.740
 We've forgotten,

00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.260
 like,

00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:19.740
 who God is,

00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:20.660
 who we were,

00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:21.780
 and how much

00:34:21.780 --> 00:34:22.240
 he is like,

00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:24.220
 so richly lavished upon us.

00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.500
 Keep that in your mind.

00:34:26.620 --> 00:34:26.720
 Like,

00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:27.579
 learn to cultivate

00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.760
 thankfulness.

00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.160
 And,

00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:31.400
 just a little personal note

00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:31.960
 before we

00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:33.400
 break up

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:35.240
 in the groups

00:34:35.240 --> 00:34:36.500
 that discuss some things.

00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:38.180
 So,

00:34:38.179 --> 00:34:39.440
 I'm just going to share

00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.259
 with you a little bit

00:34:40.259 --> 00:34:40.980
 about my

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:42.539
 quest,

00:34:42.859 --> 00:34:43.819
 my search for

00:34:43.819 --> 00:34:44.960
 contentment

00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:46.179
 throughout my life.

00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:46.699
 And,

00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.460
 but if you had asked me

00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:49.359
 when I was 18,

00:34:50.339 --> 00:34:52.719
 what would make you content?

00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.099
 Like,

00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:54.099
 what would make you satisfied?

00:34:54.419 --> 00:34:54.759
 Like,

00:34:55.259 --> 00:34:56.639
 if only I had,

00:34:56.759 --> 00:34:57.099
 right,

00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:58.019
 question,

00:34:59.099 --> 00:34:59.679
 I would have probably

00:34:59.679 --> 00:35:00.679
 put two things in there.

00:35:00.779 --> 00:35:01.399
 I would have said,

00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:02.599
 good health

00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:03.960
 and

00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:04.980
 a wife.

00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.399
 That's probably

00:35:05.399 --> 00:35:06.099
 what I would have said.

00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.119
 Good health

00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:07.679
 and a wife,

00:35:07.739 --> 00:35:08.159
 a family.

00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:09.579
 And,

00:35:09.699 --> 00:35:10.599
 so,

00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:11.679
 then I'll be satisfied.

00:35:12.199 --> 00:35:12.839
 I would have said that

00:35:12.839 --> 00:35:13.960
 to you without hesitation.

00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:15.199
 So,

00:35:15.500 --> 00:35:15.779
 so,

00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.679
 if you don't know,

00:35:16.779 --> 00:35:17.659
 I have a,

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:19.000
 a disease

00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:20.619
 called cystic fibrosis.

00:35:20.759 --> 00:35:21.099
 It's a,

00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:22.539
 a lung disease

00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:23.099
 that like,

00:35:23.179 --> 00:35:24.839
 produces abnormally thick

00:35:24.839 --> 00:35:26.559
 mucus in the lungs.

00:35:26.919 --> 00:35:27.179
 And,

00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:29.079
 around 30,000 people

00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:29.799
 in the U.S.

00:35:29.819 --> 00:35:30.759
 are infected with it.

00:35:30.760 --> 00:35:31.980
 and it kills

00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:33.560
 half of those

00:35:33.560 --> 00:35:35.020
 by age 30.

00:35:35.660 --> 00:35:36.400
 And so,

00:35:36.620 --> 00:35:37.080
 like,

00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:39.000
 I lost the ability

00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.780
 as I got older.

00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:40.000
 Like,

00:35:40.020 --> 00:35:40.860
 I lost the ability.

00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:41.640
 By the time I was

00:35:41.640 --> 00:35:42.880
 probably 16,

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.700
 I hardly could do,

00:35:43.740 --> 00:35:44.040
 like,

00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:45.200
 a lot of the big

00:35:45.200 --> 00:35:46.140
 physical activities

00:35:46.140 --> 00:35:46.480
 that I,

00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:47.220
 I once did.

00:35:47.219 --> 00:35:47.359
 And,

00:35:47.959 --> 00:35:49.439
 but,

00:35:49.739 --> 00:35:50.679
 but,

00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:52.179
 playing sports,

00:35:52.959 --> 00:35:55.079
 lost that ability.

00:35:55.399 --> 00:35:55.599
 Like,

00:35:55.659 --> 00:35:56.699
 I didn't have the endurance

00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:58.279
 to keep playing things.

00:35:58.319 --> 00:35:58.599
 Although,

00:35:58.719 --> 00:35:59.359
 I was a pretty

00:35:59.359 --> 00:36:00.759
 decent,

00:36:00.879 --> 00:36:01.699
 maybe a little better

00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:02.959
 than average baseball player.

00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:03.159
 Like,

00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:03.539
 I couldn't,

00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:03.800
 like,

00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:04.599
 I didn't have the stamina

00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:05.240
 to do it.

00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:06.280
 Had the skill,

00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:08.019
 just not the stamina.

00:36:08.720 --> 00:36:09.079
 And,

00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:10.460
 I couldn't get out

00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:10.960
 and really go,

00:36:11.019 --> 00:36:11.280
 like,

00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:12.440
 hiking and do the things

00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:13.099
 I really enjoy,

00:36:13.159 --> 00:36:13.320
 like,

00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:13.940
 out in the mountains.

00:36:14.720 --> 00:36:15.159
 And so,

00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:16.400
 you know,

00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:17.679
 you just want to,

00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:18.619
 you just want to feel good

00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:19.340
 in life so you can,

00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:20.300
 so you can do a lot,

00:36:20.340 --> 00:36:20.539
 right?

00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:21.559
 And so,

00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:22.300
 like I really said,

00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:24.579
 if I only had good health,

00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:24.900
 like,

00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:25.720
 I would be content.

00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:27.340
 That's something I would,

00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:28.519
 I would say at that point.

00:36:29.220 --> 00:36:30.679
 And then the other one was,

00:36:30.740 --> 00:36:31.059
 you know,

00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:31.619
 a wife,

00:36:31.720 --> 00:36:32.079
 marriage.

00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:33.759
 It was a true desire

00:36:33.759 --> 00:36:35.659
 for companionship.

00:36:35.860 --> 00:36:36.299
 And I was,

00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:36.659
 so,

00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:37.960
 it was a real desire.

00:36:39.059 --> 00:36:39.860
 Still is,

00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:40.199
 but,

00:36:40.799 --> 00:36:41.319
 it's like,

00:36:42.139 --> 00:36:43.500
 the world told me,

00:36:44.139 --> 00:36:45.239
 you have to be married

00:36:45.239 --> 00:36:45.880
 to be a man.

00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:47.139
 That's like what I kind of

00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:47.739
 gathered.

00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:49.519
 And then I also learned

00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:51.340
 that sometimes,

00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:51.759
 you know,

00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:52.960
 well-intentioned people,

00:36:53.019 --> 00:36:53.739
 even in the church,

00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:55.000
 can almost indirectly

00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:56.000
 make you feel that way.

00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:57.119
 And,

00:36:57.259 --> 00:36:58.219
 I kind of grew up

00:36:58.219 --> 00:36:59.380
 in my big brother's shadow.

00:36:59.559 --> 00:37:00.340
 I have an older brother

00:37:00.340 --> 00:37:01.460
 named Lee,

00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:02.340
 and he's one of my

00:37:02.340 --> 00:37:02.980
 best friends.

00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:05.179
 He doesn't know the Lord.

00:37:06.280 --> 00:37:06.639
 And,

00:37:06.760 --> 00:37:09.099
 he was like the cool

00:37:09.099 --> 00:37:09.780
 older brother.

00:37:10.340 --> 00:37:10.679
 Like,

00:37:10.720 --> 00:37:11.860
 let me do everything

00:37:11.860 --> 00:37:12.360
 with him.

00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:13.300
 And if I ever had,

00:37:13.699 --> 00:37:13.920
 like,

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:14.579
 an older guy

00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:14.880
 that was,

00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:15.059
 like,

00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:15.820
 picking on me,

00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:17.179
 I'd always be like,

00:37:17.320 --> 00:37:17.780
 bring it on,

00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:18.119
 man.

00:37:18.199 --> 00:37:18.340
 But,

00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:18.599
 like,

00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:20.039
 my brother would be like,

00:37:20.099 --> 00:37:21.360
 come and knock the guy out

00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:21.840
 kind of guy.

00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:22.119
 Like,

00:37:22.179 --> 00:37:23.240
 let my little brother alone.

00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:23.699
 You know,

00:37:24.119 --> 00:37:24.480
 he was,

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:26.220
 we were pretty tight.

00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:27.280
 We did everything together.

00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:28.680
 And,

00:37:28.740 --> 00:37:30.300
 you know,

00:37:30.700 --> 00:37:31.940
 but my brother was also,

00:37:31.940 --> 00:37:32.340
 like,

00:37:33.040 --> 00:37:33.960
 a good looking dude.

00:37:34.060 --> 00:37:34.740
 He always got,

00:37:34.920 --> 00:37:34.980
 like,

00:37:35.060 --> 00:37:36.400
 the best looking girls.

00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:38.240
 Always was dating somebody.

00:37:39.260 --> 00:37:40.400
 He was a star athlete.

00:37:40.560 --> 00:37:41.380
 He got Gwinnett County

00:37:41.380 --> 00:37:42.080
 Pitcher of the Year

00:37:42.080 --> 00:37:42.660
 in baseball.

00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:43.580
 That's,

00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:44.340
 if you know anything

00:37:44.340 --> 00:37:44.940
 about Gwinnett County

00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:45.320
 baseball,

00:37:45.480 --> 00:37:46.360
 that's a pretty big achievement.

00:37:48.260 --> 00:37:49.160
 He got one,

00:37:49.200 --> 00:37:49.880
 one offer

00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:51.060
 for,

00:37:51.200 --> 00:37:51.500
 like,

00:37:51.600 --> 00:37:52.060
 minors,

00:37:52.120 --> 00:37:53.280
 but just didn't take it.

00:37:54.280 --> 00:37:55.040
 He started having

00:37:55.040 --> 00:37:56.360
 some throwing problems.

00:37:57.440 --> 00:37:57.460
 And,

00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:57.840
 and so,

00:37:57.940 --> 00:37:58.100
 like,

00:37:58.180 --> 00:37:58.920
 I just thought,

00:37:59.240 --> 00:38:00.400
 if I could

00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:02.360
 just get like that,

00:38:02.420 --> 00:38:02.680
 you know,

00:38:02.740 --> 00:38:02.940
 like,

00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:03.620
 if I could just have

00:38:03.620 --> 00:38:04.400
 these things,

00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:05.220
 like,

00:38:05.260 --> 00:38:06.000
 I'll be a man

00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:07.260
 and I'll have contentment.

00:38:08.240 --> 00:38:08.600
 And,

00:38:08.720 --> 00:38:10.320
 so,

00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:14.360
 guess what?

00:38:14.440 --> 00:38:15.019
 Since then,

00:38:15.760 --> 00:38:15.960
 like,

00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:17.540
 God has granted me

00:38:17.540 --> 00:38:19.360
 one of those things,

00:38:19.600 --> 00:38:19.880
 right?

00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:21.100
 He gave me

00:38:21.100 --> 00:38:22.019
 a lung transplant

00:38:22.019 --> 00:38:23.460
 almost five years ago.

00:38:24.259 --> 00:38:24.460
 So,

00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:25.239
 although my health

00:38:25.239 --> 00:38:25.659
 isn't,

00:38:26.380 --> 00:38:27.360
 probably not really

00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:27.900
 great compared

00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:28.420
 to a lot of you

00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:28.759
 in here,

00:38:28.860 --> 00:38:29.000
 like,

00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:29.400
 it's still,

00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:29.679
 like,

00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:30.500
 loads better

00:38:30.500 --> 00:38:31.619
 than it used to be.

00:38:31.759 --> 00:38:32.000
 Like,

00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:33.759
 I can do a lot now,

00:38:34.179 --> 00:38:36.019
 you know,

00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:36.920
 still with difficulty,

00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:37.500
 but I can get out

00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:38.380
 and do most things.

00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:39.559
 And,

00:38:39.739 --> 00:38:40.480
 so,

00:38:40.579 --> 00:38:41.119
 I have that.

00:38:41.940 --> 00:38:42.500
 Guess what?

00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:43.559
 I still struggle

00:38:43.559 --> 00:38:45.039
 with discontentment.

00:38:45.840 --> 00:38:46.059
 Like,

00:38:46.079 --> 00:38:46.960
 I'm still not

00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:48.139
 satisfied

00:38:48.139 --> 00:38:48.940
 with,

00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:50.840
 with just being able

00:38:50.840 --> 00:38:51.759
 to feel a little better.

00:38:52.519 --> 00:38:52.739
 So,

00:38:52.820 --> 00:38:53.539
 if that's true,

00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:55.199
 why in the world

00:38:55.199 --> 00:38:55.880
 would I think

00:38:55.880 --> 00:38:56.639
 that a wife

00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:57.059
 would bring me

00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:57.619
 contentment?

00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:58.599
 Like,

00:38:58.659 --> 00:38:58.980
 if that's,

00:38:59.079 --> 00:38:59.460
 if this is,

00:38:59.500 --> 00:39:00.320
 if I'm struggling now,

00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:00.739
 like,

00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:02.199
 what about this later?

00:39:02.239 --> 00:39:02.659
 And those of you

00:39:02.659 --> 00:39:03.119
 who are in here

00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:03.739
 who are single

00:39:03.739 --> 00:39:05.219
 and do desire

00:39:05.219 --> 00:39:05.759
 to be married

00:39:05.759 --> 00:39:06.239
 and that's like

00:39:06.239 --> 00:39:06.579
 you're filling

00:39:06.579 --> 00:39:07.320
 the blank thing,

00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:08.179
 like,

00:39:08.259 --> 00:39:09.360
 discontented single people

00:39:09.360 --> 00:39:10.159
 make discontented

00:39:10.159 --> 00:39:10.800
 married people.

00:39:10.900 --> 00:39:11.059
 Like,

00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:11.500
 you drag that,

00:39:11.559 --> 00:39:11.659
 like,

00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:12.159
 right into

00:39:12.159 --> 00:39:14.340
 your marriage.

00:39:15.539 --> 00:39:15.940
 So,

00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:17.179
 unless we have

00:39:17.179 --> 00:39:18.119
 Christ himself,

00:39:18.619 --> 00:39:19.860
 we'll remain that way.

00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:20.320
 Like,

00:39:20.920 --> 00:39:21.840
 he is what we

00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:23.220
 must battle

00:39:23.220 --> 00:39:24.340
 to be content in.

00:39:25.260 --> 00:39:26.079
 And when I say battle,

00:39:26.180 --> 00:39:26.660
 because there's all these

00:39:26.660 --> 00:39:27.740
 other voices telling you

00:39:27.740 --> 00:39:28.860
 that he's not what you need.

00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:30.120
 You need this.

00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:30.800
 And,

00:39:30.860 --> 00:39:32.019
 so,

00:39:32.099 --> 00:39:32.740
 it is a battle.

00:39:34.300 --> 00:39:35.320
 Jeremiah Burroughs,

00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:36.160
 I'm just going to start

00:39:36.160 --> 00:39:36.660
 calling him JB.

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:38.200
 JB wrote,

00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:40.419
 it is not so much

00:39:40.419 --> 00:39:41.039
 the removing

00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:42.019
 of the affliction

00:39:42.019 --> 00:39:43.960
 that is upon us

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:45.219
 as the changing

00:39:45.219 --> 00:39:46.059
 of the affliction,

00:39:47.079 --> 00:39:47.379
 okay,

00:39:47.460 --> 00:39:47.899
 so you got like

00:39:47.899 --> 00:39:48.619
 a present thing

00:39:48.619 --> 00:39:49.299
 bothering you,

00:39:49.579 --> 00:39:50.699
 it's not so much

00:39:50.699 --> 00:39:51.439
 like removing

00:39:51.439 --> 00:39:52.159
 that affliction,

00:39:52.819 --> 00:39:54.899
 but the metamorphosizing,

00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:55.960
 that's a big word for you,

00:39:57.000 --> 00:39:57.960
 of that affliction

00:39:57.960 --> 00:39:59.460
 so that

00:39:59.460 --> 00:40:01.119
 it is turned

00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:01.799
 and changed

00:40:01.799 --> 00:40:02.699
 into something else.

00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:03.519
 So,

00:40:03.579 --> 00:40:04.359
 you have some kind

00:40:04.359 --> 00:40:05.599
 of issue going on.

00:40:06.419 --> 00:40:06.639
 The,

00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:07.839
 the key to contentment

00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:08.500
 is not to,

00:40:08.500 --> 00:40:09.920
 to just remove it.

00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:10.300
 We just think,

00:40:10.380 --> 00:40:11.160
 if I just could get rid

00:40:11.160 --> 00:40:11.579
 of this

00:40:11.579 --> 00:40:13.620
 or just get this,

00:40:14.280 --> 00:40:14.960
 I'd be content.

00:40:15.240 --> 00:40:16.200
 But he's saying that

00:40:16.200 --> 00:40:17.420
 what you need to do

00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:18.440
 is take that same affliction

00:40:18.440 --> 00:40:19.320
 and like change it

00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:19.940
 into something else.

00:40:20.720 --> 00:40:21.079
 Like,

00:40:21.579 --> 00:40:22.600
 allow it to like

00:40:22.600 --> 00:40:23.579
 work for you

00:40:23.579 --> 00:40:24.400
 and not against you,

00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:24.780
 idea,

00:40:25.340 --> 00:40:25.559
 that,

00:40:25.680 --> 00:40:26.600
 that particular affliction

00:40:26.600 --> 00:40:27.140
 you've got.

00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:28.480
 And,

00:40:28.600 --> 00:40:29.640
 he actually talks about,

00:40:29.840 --> 00:40:31.420
 he quotes Martin Luther

00:40:31.420 --> 00:40:31.980
 in this book

00:40:31.980 --> 00:40:32.940
 and Martin Luther said

00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:33.960
 that Christians

00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:35.340
 have been given

00:40:35.340 --> 00:40:37.700
 an ability

00:40:37.699 --> 00:40:40.000
 by God

00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:40.739
 to create

00:40:40.739 --> 00:40:42.259
 as their,

00:40:42.359 --> 00:40:42.960
 their God

00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:43.699
 as their creator

00:40:43.699 --> 00:40:44.699
 so that,

00:40:44.859 --> 00:40:46.119
 now they can create

00:40:46.119 --> 00:40:47.439
 like light

00:40:47.439 --> 00:40:48.500
 out of darkness,

00:40:49.219 --> 00:40:50.579
 healing out of brokenness.

00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:51.139
 They can like

00:40:51.139 --> 00:40:51.799
 do things

00:40:51.799 --> 00:40:52.799
 with what they've been given

00:40:52.799 --> 00:40:54.059
 and create something

00:40:54.059 --> 00:40:54.679
 out of it.

00:40:55.279 --> 00:40:55.799
 So,

00:40:56.480 --> 00:40:57.439
 that's what he's saying.

00:40:58.339 --> 00:40:58.899
 So,

00:40:58.899 --> 00:40:59.359
 I'm not,

00:40:59.359 --> 00:40:59.859
 not,

00:40:59.859 --> 00:41:01.719
 not perfect at this,

00:41:01.859 --> 00:41:02.099
 but,

00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:04.299
 but I can honestly

00:41:04.299 --> 00:41:05.079
 say before you

00:41:05.079 --> 00:41:05.900
 without a lie

00:41:05.900 --> 00:41:06.360
 that I feel like

00:41:06.360 --> 00:41:06.980
 I've learned

00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:08.319
 to be content.

00:41:08.500 --> 00:41:09.219
 It's still a battle.

00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:10.539
 I still really,

00:41:10.599 --> 00:41:11.340
 really suck at it

00:41:11.340 --> 00:41:11.759
 sometimes,

00:41:12.019 --> 00:41:12.219
 but,

00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:13.460
 but I do think

00:41:13.460 --> 00:41:13.920
 that it's something

00:41:13.920 --> 00:41:14.460
 I've learned.

00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:15.000
 I've learned these

00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:15.360
 other things,

00:41:15.440 --> 00:41:15.719
 don't,

00:41:15.759 --> 00:41:16.679
 don't cut it.

00:41:17.420 --> 00:41:17.860
 And,

00:41:17.960 --> 00:41:19.000
 for instance though,

00:41:19.739 --> 00:41:20.039
 just,

00:41:20.199 --> 00:41:21.460
 I made a little list here.

00:41:22.539 --> 00:41:22.980
 Um,

00:41:23.799 --> 00:41:24.639
 in my sickness

00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:25.259
 and suffering,

00:41:25.259 --> 00:41:25.719
 I'm going to give you

00:41:25.719 --> 00:41:26.319
 like a list

00:41:26.319 --> 00:41:27.219
 of things I learned

00:41:27.219 --> 00:41:29.179
 in that present

00:41:29.179 --> 00:41:30.420
 circumstance

00:41:30.420 --> 00:41:31.200
 that I had

00:41:31.200 --> 00:41:32.539
 in my sickness

00:41:32.539 --> 00:41:33.139
 and suffering,

00:41:33.220 --> 00:41:33.920
 it made me thankful

00:41:33.920 --> 00:41:34.559
 for what help

00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:35.300
 I do have.

00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:36.880
 Um,

00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:38.000
 sickness and suffering,

00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:39.480
 um,

00:41:39.860 --> 00:41:40.720
 allowed me

00:41:40.720 --> 00:41:43.000
 to comfort others

00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:43.579
 with the comfort

00:41:43.579 --> 00:41:44.260
 that I've received

00:41:44.260 --> 00:41:44.840
 from Christ

00:41:44.840 --> 00:41:46.920
 in those hard situations.

00:41:47.800 --> 00:41:48.880
 And in my sickness

00:41:48.880 --> 00:41:49.500
 and suffering,

00:41:49.659 --> 00:41:50.680
 God has made me long

00:41:50.680 --> 00:41:51.740
 for eternity more

00:41:51.740 --> 00:41:53.240
 to be in heaven

00:41:53.240 --> 00:41:53.740
 with Him.

00:41:54.059 --> 00:41:54.280
 Like,

00:41:54.320 --> 00:41:55.079
 I'm sick of,

00:41:55.700 --> 00:41:56.639
 like when you're in pain,

00:41:56.720 --> 00:41:57.220
 like you're just like,

00:41:57.260 --> 00:41:58.139
 just get me out of here.

00:41:58.240 --> 00:41:58.400
 Like,

00:41:58.460 --> 00:41:59.539
 even when I got my transplant,

00:41:59.539 --> 00:42:01.039
 the guys in the back

00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:01.699
 can tell you,

00:42:01.880 --> 00:42:02.219
 like,

00:42:02.659 --> 00:42:03.460
 I remember telling them,

00:42:03.599 --> 00:42:03.779
 like,

00:42:04.699 --> 00:42:05.519
 death is great

00:42:05.519 --> 00:42:06.380
 because it takes us

00:42:06.380 --> 00:42:06.980
 to be with Christ,

00:42:07.039 --> 00:42:08.000
 but dying sucks.

00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:08.759
 That's what I told

00:42:08.759 --> 00:42:09.980
 Wes when I was like,

00:42:10.139 --> 00:42:11.239
 coming out of a surgery

00:42:11.239 --> 00:42:12.679
 and like,

00:42:13.559 --> 00:42:14.179
 but I gotta go through

00:42:14.179 --> 00:42:15.039
 dying twice now.

00:42:15.300 --> 00:42:15.820
 It's not fun.

00:42:16.639 --> 00:42:16.980
 So,

00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:18.059
 so my sickness

00:42:18.059 --> 00:42:18.599
 and suffering

00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:19.340
 taught me

00:42:19.340 --> 00:42:20.199
 to long more

00:42:20.199 --> 00:42:20.900
 for eternity.

00:42:21.639 --> 00:42:22.300
 In my sickness

00:42:22.300 --> 00:42:23.279
 and suffering also,

00:42:24.239 --> 00:42:25.340
 it really allowed me

00:42:25.340 --> 00:42:26.239
 to like read

00:42:26.239 --> 00:42:27.460
 and study doctrine

00:42:27.460 --> 00:42:28.139
 and scripture

00:42:28.139 --> 00:42:28.960
 like never before.

00:42:29.539 --> 00:42:30.039
 Like,

00:42:30.119 --> 00:42:31.119
 what was my seminary?

00:42:31.259 --> 00:42:31.880
 Being in the hospital.

00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:33.259
 Like,

00:42:33.279 --> 00:42:34.559
 when I got feeling better,

00:42:35.059 --> 00:42:35.539
 what would I do

00:42:35.539 --> 00:42:36.079
 in my time?

00:42:36.179 --> 00:42:36.300
 Like,

00:42:36.320 --> 00:42:36.559
 I would,

00:42:36.659 --> 00:42:37.300
 I would study.

00:42:37.440 --> 00:42:37.579
 Like,

00:42:37.599 --> 00:42:38.119
 I would read.

00:42:38.219 --> 00:42:38.360
 That's,

00:42:38.380 --> 00:42:38.900
 that's where I,

00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:40.139
 so it was a blessing.

00:42:40.219 --> 00:42:40.940
 That's where I had friends

00:42:40.940 --> 00:42:41.539
 that had like hardly

00:42:41.539 --> 00:42:42.400
 any time for that.

00:42:42.440 --> 00:42:42.539
 Like,

00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:43.519
 I already have 10 minutes

00:42:43.519 --> 00:42:44.099
 to read the word.

00:42:44.159 --> 00:42:44.420
 I'm like,

00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:46.279
 I had like three hours a day

00:42:46.279 --> 00:42:46.900
 to read the word

00:42:46.900 --> 00:42:48.159
 while I was in the hospital.

00:42:48.960 --> 00:42:49.340
 And so,

00:42:49.400 --> 00:42:50.000
 that's where I,

00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:52.099
 and there's no better place

00:42:52.099 --> 00:42:53.059
 to learn theology

00:42:53.059 --> 00:42:53.960
 than when you're suffering

00:42:53.960 --> 00:42:54.559
 because it has like

00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:55.619
 immediate application.

00:42:56.699 --> 00:42:56.980
 You know,

00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:58.980
 tell me about God's sovereignty.

00:42:58.980 --> 00:42:59.460
 Oh yeah,

00:42:59.619 --> 00:43:00.159
 tell me that.

00:43:00.300 --> 00:43:00.500
 Bam.

00:43:00.699 --> 00:43:00.900
 You know,

00:43:00.940 --> 00:43:01.539
 like right there

00:43:01.539 --> 00:43:02.539
 in,

00:43:02.619 --> 00:43:03.219
 in the heart.

00:43:03.980 --> 00:43:04.780
 So also,

00:43:04.920 --> 00:43:06.199
 in my sickness and suffering,

00:43:06.840 --> 00:43:08.199
 God taught me that

00:43:08.199 --> 00:43:09.139
 he's all I need

00:43:09.139 --> 00:43:10.139
 when I'm facing death.

00:43:11.139 --> 00:43:11.940
 It's real.

00:43:12.980 --> 00:43:14.179
 In sickness and suffering,

00:43:14.300 --> 00:43:14.679
 also,

00:43:15.199 --> 00:43:16.820
 when I lost control of myself

00:43:16.820 --> 00:43:19.200
 and I got angry with my friends

00:43:19.200 --> 00:43:19.780
 and my parents

00:43:19.780 --> 00:43:20.780
 who were trying to like

00:43:20.780 --> 00:43:21.460
 help me

00:43:21.460 --> 00:43:23.400
 and my weakness,

00:43:23.539 --> 00:43:24.760
 like his grace was sufficient

00:43:24.760 --> 00:43:26.400
 in those times.

00:43:28.280 --> 00:43:29.840
 In my sickness and suffering,

00:43:30.700 --> 00:43:31.059
 like,

00:43:31.140 --> 00:43:32.019
 I just learned

00:43:32.019 --> 00:43:33.059
 all these things.

00:43:33.180 --> 00:43:33.280
 So,

00:43:33.340 --> 00:43:34.600
 that was what I was dealt with,

00:43:34.620 --> 00:43:34.840
 right?

00:43:35.480 --> 00:43:35.760
 Like,

00:43:35.840 --> 00:43:37.360
 and through Christ in me,

00:43:37.380 --> 00:43:38.100
 I was able to like

00:43:38.100 --> 00:43:38.900
 create that

00:43:38.900 --> 00:43:40.200
 into something else

00:43:40.199 --> 00:43:41.519
 and use it for

00:43:41.519 --> 00:43:42.619
 something else.

00:43:43.559 --> 00:43:43.819
 So,

00:43:45.019 --> 00:43:45.399
 now,

00:43:45.539 --> 00:43:45.859
 like,

00:43:46.960 --> 00:43:47.379
 now,

00:43:47.480 --> 00:43:48.099
 talking about,

00:43:48.159 --> 00:43:48.359
 like,

00:43:48.419 --> 00:43:48.759
 singleness,

00:43:49.439 --> 00:43:50.239
 and my singleness

00:43:50.239 --> 00:43:51.339
 has taught me

00:43:51.339 --> 00:43:52.699
 that Christ

00:43:52.699 --> 00:43:53.659
 is the most kind,

00:43:54.539 --> 00:43:54.899
 faithful,

00:43:55.039 --> 00:43:55.460
 companion,

00:43:55.559 --> 00:43:55.919
 and friend

00:43:55.919 --> 00:43:57.339
 that anybody could have.

00:44:00.039 --> 00:44:00.739
 Let's see.

00:44:01.739 --> 00:44:02.179
 Also,

00:44:02.379 --> 00:44:02.939
 in singleness,

00:44:02.940 --> 00:44:05.000
 this allowed me

00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:05.720
 to mature

00:44:05.720 --> 00:44:07.260
 and be prepared,

00:44:08.139 --> 00:44:09.320
 mature as a man

00:44:09.320 --> 00:44:09.860
 in general.

00:44:10.639 --> 00:44:11.420
 As were before,

00:44:11.539 --> 00:44:11.720
 like,

00:44:11.760 --> 00:44:12.579
 I was nowhere near

00:44:12.579 --> 00:44:13.460
 ready to be married.

00:44:13.579 --> 00:44:14.139
 I almost

00:44:14.139 --> 00:44:15.579
 came close

00:44:15.579 --> 00:44:16.639
 to being engaged

00:44:16.639 --> 00:44:17.039
 to a girl

00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:17.720
 when I was 20.

00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:20.320
 And,

00:44:20.420 --> 00:44:20.519
 like,

00:44:20.539 --> 00:44:21.500
 I look back on that now

00:44:21.500 --> 00:44:22.260
 and I would have been like,

00:44:22.300 --> 00:44:23.300
 that would have been a disaster.

00:44:23.539 --> 00:44:23.760
 Like,

00:44:24.460 --> 00:44:25.619
 not just because the girl

00:44:25.619 --> 00:44:26.940
 was not the,

00:44:27.220 --> 00:44:28.139
 not the right girl,

00:44:28.460 --> 00:44:28.579
 but,

00:44:28.720 --> 00:44:30.280
 but also because

00:44:30.280 --> 00:44:31.079
 I had a lot

00:44:31.079 --> 00:44:31.840
 of growing up to do.

00:44:31.940 --> 00:44:32.039
 Like,

00:44:32.059 --> 00:44:32.860
 I had a lot of things

00:44:32.860 --> 00:44:33.260
 to learn.

00:44:33.400 --> 00:44:33.800
 It's about

00:44:33.800 --> 00:44:35.120
 being responsible

00:44:35.120 --> 00:44:36.780
 and being a man

00:44:36.780 --> 00:44:37.700
 that God has taught me.

00:44:37.780 --> 00:44:38.120
 And now,

00:44:38.539 --> 00:44:39.579
 if the Lord ever does

00:44:39.579 --> 00:44:40.160
 bring a wife,

00:44:40.220 --> 00:44:40.940
 I feel like I'm far ready,

00:44:41.120 --> 00:44:42.120
 far more ready now

00:44:42.120 --> 00:44:42.880
 than ever before.

00:44:44.280 --> 00:44:44.640
 Also,

00:44:44.780 --> 00:44:45.280
 in my singleness,

00:44:45.280 --> 00:44:46.480
 it's allowed me

00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:47.840
 to develop myself

00:44:47.840 --> 00:44:48.579
 to more study.

00:44:48.760 --> 00:44:48.820
 Like,

00:44:48.840 --> 00:44:49.539
 it's allowed me to,

00:44:50.420 --> 00:44:50.680
 like,

00:44:50.740 --> 00:44:51.559
 even the guys in the back

00:44:51.559 --> 00:44:52.380
 can tell you the families.

00:44:52.500 --> 00:44:52.620
 Like,

00:44:52.640 --> 00:44:53.260
 they do study,

00:44:53.340 --> 00:44:53.760
 but they have to,

00:44:53.780 --> 00:44:53.900
 like,

00:44:53.940 --> 00:44:55.640
 really fight for that time

00:44:55.640 --> 00:44:56.620
 because they have so many other,

00:44:57.140 --> 00:44:57.539
 they have to,

00:44:57.620 --> 00:44:57.880
 like,

00:44:58.200 --> 00:44:58.860
 honorable duties

00:44:58.860 --> 00:44:59.820
 attending their family.

00:45:01.280 --> 00:45:01.599
 Also,

00:45:01.760 --> 00:45:02.380
 in my singleness,

00:45:02.860 --> 00:45:04.079
 it's allowed me

00:45:04.079 --> 00:45:04.940
 more and more time

00:45:04.940 --> 00:45:05.460
 to minister

00:45:05.460 --> 00:45:06.260
 and serve others

00:45:06.260 --> 00:45:07.079
 that probably

00:45:07.079 --> 00:45:08.780
 I wouldn't have

00:45:08.780 --> 00:45:09.940
 if I was married.

00:45:10.700 --> 00:45:11.019
 So,

00:45:11.200 --> 00:45:11.380
 like,

00:45:11.420 --> 00:45:11.780
 until,

00:45:12.900 --> 00:45:13.460
 you know,

00:45:13.800 --> 00:45:14.500
 there's still a desire

00:45:14.500 --> 00:45:15.099
 I have,

00:45:15.640 --> 00:45:16.079
 but, like,

00:45:16.539 --> 00:45:17.240
 there's still a crisis

00:45:17.240 --> 00:45:17.740
 enough.

00:45:18.640 --> 00:45:18.960
 Like,

00:45:19.079 --> 00:45:19.960
 that's not going to make me

00:45:19.960 --> 00:45:20.940
 satisfied and content

00:45:20.940 --> 00:45:21.559
 at the end.

00:45:22.640 --> 00:45:23.460
 Flip to,

00:45:23.800 --> 00:45:24.920
 last place you're going to look,

00:45:25.000 --> 00:45:27.140
 flip to Psalm 73

00:45:27.140 --> 00:45:27.840
 real fast.

00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:30.420
 the bomb-diggity psalm

00:45:30.420 --> 00:45:32.260
 on contentment.

00:45:35.559 --> 00:45:36.620
 Psalm 73,

00:45:36.800 --> 00:45:37.200
 you can go to

00:45:37.200 --> 00:45:39.660
 verse 25.

00:45:43.500 --> 00:45:44.140
 Excuse me.

00:45:46.440 --> 00:45:47.480
 A little context.

00:45:47.880 --> 00:45:49.360
 This is not a psalm of David,

00:45:49.440 --> 00:45:50.539
 it's a psalm of Asaph,

00:45:51.140 --> 00:45:52.680
 one of David's chief musicians,

00:45:52.679 --> 00:45:53.359
 and,

00:45:53.440 --> 00:45:54.980
 and,

00:45:55.119 --> 00:45:55.679
 at the beginning,

00:45:55.839 --> 00:45:56.299
 he's like,

00:45:56.399 --> 00:45:57.980
 surely God has been good

00:45:57.980 --> 00:45:59.159
 to Israel.

00:45:59.639 --> 00:46:00.739
 He kind of mentions that.

00:46:01.219 --> 00:46:01.480
 So,

00:46:01.539 --> 00:46:02.579
 at the outset of the psalm,

00:46:02.619 --> 00:46:03.419
 he tells you that

00:46:03.419 --> 00:46:04.139
 God is good.

00:46:05.119 --> 00:46:06.039
 And then he says that,

00:46:06.099 --> 00:46:06.819
 but as for me,

00:46:06.899 --> 00:46:07.019
 like,

00:46:07.019 --> 00:46:07.759
 my feet had

00:46:07.759 --> 00:46:09.179
 nearly slipped,

00:46:09.339 --> 00:46:10.579
 I had nearly fallen.

00:46:10.679 --> 00:46:11.440
 He kind of tells you,

00:46:11.539 --> 00:46:11.699
 like,

00:46:11.960 --> 00:46:13.219
 he went through an experience

00:46:13.219 --> 00:46:14.199
 where he almost,

00:46:14.679 --> 00:46:15.639
 like,

00:46:15.679 --> 00:46:16.639
 wasn't able to confess

00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:17.659
 that God was good.

00:46:17.759 --> 00:46:17.859
 Like,

00:46:17.859 --> 00:46:18.579
 he was struggling.

00:46:18.719 --> 00:46:19.500
 So then he tells you

00:46:19.500 --> 00:46:21.239
 his situation.

00:46:22.119 --> 00:46:23.239
 And the situation was,

00:46:23.299 --> 00:46:23.699
 basically,

00:46:24.599 --> 00:46:24.960
 Lord,

00:46:25.099 --> 00:46:26.239
 why do I,

00:46:26.379 --> 00:46:27.659
 as a man who loves you

00:46:27.659 --> 00:46:28.879
 and has you in his life,

00:46:29.400 --> 00:46:31.239
 why does life just suck for me?

00:46:31.319 --> 00:46:31.619
 Like,

00:46:32.139 --> 00:46:33.779
 I have nothing I want.

00:46:35.339 --> 00:46:35.739
 Like,

00:46:35.819 --> 00:46:36.000
 I,

00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:36.279
 I,

00:46:36.279 --> 00:46:36.940
 I'm the one who,

00:46:37.019 --> 00:46:37.119
 like,

00:46:37.119 --> 00:46:38.259
 deals with all this hardship.

00:46:38.900 --> 00:46:39.960
 And then I look around,

00:46:40.319 --> 00:46:41.119
 and I see the wicked,

00:46:41.259 --> 00:46:42.179
 the people who hate you.

00:46:42.699 --> 00:46:43.279
 They're living,

00:46:43.359 --> 00:46:43.559
 like,

00:46:43.639 --> 00:46:44.239
 high on the hall.

00:46:44.339 --> 00:46:45.900
 They have all these things that,

00:46:45.900 --> 00:46:47.139
 that I want.

00:46:47.579 --> 00:46:47.940
 And,

00:46:48.059 --> 00:46:49.680
 what is going on with that?

00:46:49.820 --> 00:46:50.039
 Like,

00:46:50.079 --> 00:46:51.260
 why aren't you punishing them

00:46:51.260 --> 00:46:53.280
 and giving me what I want?

00:46:54.019 --> 00:46:55.240
 And so that's kind of his,

00:46:55.240 --> 00:46:56.539
 his attitude.

00:46:56.780 --> 00:46:57.500
 But then it says,

00:46:57.579 --> 00:46:58.440
 this is a little bit before,

00:46:58.619 --> 00:46:59.180
 verse 25,

00:47:00.139 --> 00:47:00.500
 like,

00:47:00.619 --> 00:47:00.880
 he,

00:47:01.460 --> 00:47:02.460
 that's what he believed

00:47:02.460 --> 00:47:02.800
 until,

00:47:02.880 --> 00:47:03.039
 like,

00:47:03.039 --> 00:47:04.280
 he went into the house of God,

00:47:04.360 --> 00:47:07.059
 until he went to worship the Lord

00:47:07.059 --> 00:47:09.340
 and put his mind on the Lord.

00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:10.920
 And then he said,

00:47:11.680 --> 00:47:12.000
 wow,

00:47:12.180 --> 00:47:12.619
 guess what?

00:47:12.740 --> 00:47:13.059
 The evil,

00:47:13.180 --> 00:47:14.559
 the wicked don't have anything.

00:47:14.559 --> 00:47:15.860
 Like,

00:47:15.960 --> 00:47:16.119
 they,

00:47:16.219 --> 00:47:17.179
 they're going to perish.

00:47:17.239 --> 00:47:18.279
 They're going to be judged.

00:47:18.500 --> 00:47:18.739
 Like,

00:47:19.679 --> 00:47:19.940
 like,

00:47:20.000 --> 00:47:21.099
 so they don't really have anything.

00:47:21.199 --> 00:47:22.019
 They're enjoying it now,

00:47:22.099 --> 00:47:22.239
 but,

00:47:22.320 --> 00:47:22.420
 like,

00:47:22.460 --> 00:47:23.039
 later on,

00:47:23.400 --> 00:47:24.039
 not so much.

00:47:24.820 --> 00:47:25.179
 And,

00:47:25.219 --> 00:47:26.219
 and don't let this fool you,

00:47:26.259 --> 00:47:26.779
 even though,

00:47:26.820 --> 00:47:27.079
 like,

00:47:27.079 --> 00:47:29.299
 some of your unbelieving friends

00:47:29.299 --> 00:47:30.980
 who constantly may even persecute you

00:47:30.980 --> 00:47:31.460
 or whatever,

00:47:32.639 --> 00:47:33.380
 and they,

00:47:33.440 --> 00:47:34.599
 they appear after they're really living

00:47:34.599 --> 00:47:35.400
 high on the hog.

00:47:36.039 --> 00:47:36.659
 Not really.

00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:37.199
 Like,

00:47:37.279 --> 00:47:37.799
 deep down,

00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:38.400
 they're like,

00:47:39.039 --> 00:47:39.840
 they don't,

00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:40.659
 they're not happy.

00:47:40.799 --> 00:47:41.099
 They're not,

00:47:41.199 --> 00:47:41.940
 they're not joyful.

00:47:42.659 --> 00:47:43.340
 They're not content.

00:47:43.340 --> 00:47:43.880
 They just try to,

00:47:43.920 --> 00:47:44.000
 like,

00:47:44.019 --> 00:47:44.640
 put on the show

00:47:44.640 --> 00:47:45.539
 as if they are

00:47:45.539 --> 00:47:47.160
 in those things.

00:47:47.579 --> 00:47:47.760
 And,

00:47:47.880 --> 00:47:48.960
 so,

00:47:49.860 --> 00:47:50.800
 so after he realized

00:47:50.800 --> 00:47:51.960
 that the wicked have nothing,

00:47:52.660 --> 00:47:54.260
 he realizes on the other side

00:47:54.260 --> 00:47:55.860
 that he has everything

00:47:55.860 --> 00:47:57.300
 in God.

00:47:58.059 --> 00:47:58.539
 And,

00:47:58.640 --> 00:48:00.420
 and this is like the overflow

00:48:00.420 --> 00:48:00.920
 of that.

00:48:01.220 --> 00:48:02.220
 Verse 25,

00:48:03.140 --> 00:48:03.519
 it says,

00:48:03.519 --> 00:48:05.259
 who am I in heaven

00:48:05.259 --> 00:48:06.000
 but you?

00:48:06.980 --> 00:48:07.880
 And there is nothing

00:48:07.880 --> 00:48:08.719
 on the earth

00:48:08.719 --> 00:48:09.559
 that I desire

00:48:09.559 --> 00:48:10.500
 besides you.

00:48:11.480 --> 00:48:12.239
 My flesh

00:48:12.239 --> 00:48:13.019
 and my heart

00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.820
 may fail.

00:48:14.679 --> 00:48:14.980
 So,

00:48:15.179 --> 00:48:15.719
 in other words,

00:48:15.739 --> 00:48:16.739
 he's going to struggle with this.

00:48:17.440 --> 00:48:18.759
 He's still going to be a battle for him.

00:48:19.500 --> 00:48:19.920
 But,

00:48:20.059 --> 00:48:21.340
 God is the strength

00:48:21.340 --> 00:48:22.079
 of my heart

00:48:22.079 --> 00:48:23.639
 and my portion

00:48:23.639 --> 00:48:24.280
 forever.

00:48:25.980 --> 00:48:26.780
 Portion means,

00:48:26.900 --> 00:48:26.980
 like,

00:48:27.000 --> 00:48:27.759
 what fills you

00:48:27.759 --> 00:48:28.320
 completely.

00:48:28.440 --> 00:48:28.940
 Not like a,

00:48:28.940 --> 00:48:30.300
 a portion of pizza

00:48:30.300 --> 00:48:31.380
 or a portion of pie.

00:48:31.380 --> 00:48:31.980
 It means,

00:48:32.099 --> 00:48:32.180
 like,

00:48:32.240 --> 00:48:33.579
 what fills you

00:48:33.579 --> 00:48:34.180
 completely,

00:48:34.300 --> 00:48:34.820
 your portion

00:48:34.820 --> 00:48:36.119
 forever.

00:48:37.360 --> 00:48:37.940
 For behold,

00:48:38.480 --> 00:48:40.539
 those who are far from you

00:48:40.539 --> 00:48:41.400
 shall perish.

00:48:42.360 --> 00:48:43.200
 You put an end

00:48:43.200 --> 00:48:44.059
 to everyone

00:48:44.059 --> 00:48:46.099
 who is unfaithful to you.

00:48:47.140 --> 00:48:47.900
 But for me,

00:48:47.960 --> 00:48:48.680
 it is good

00:48:48.680 --> 00:48:49.920
 to be nearer to God.

00:48:50.640 --> 00:48:51.680
 I have made the Lord

00:48:51.680 --> 00:48:52.519
 my God,

00:48:52.740 --> 00:48:53.420
 my refuge,

00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:54.860
 that I may tell

00:48:54.860 --> 00:48:56.420
 of all your works.

00:48:57.400 --> 00:48:57.820
 So,

00:48:57.940 --> 00:48:58.660
 a picture of,

00:48:58.660 --> 00:48:58.900
 like,

00:48:59.000 --> 00:48:59.720
 contentment there,

00:48:59.840 --> 00:49:00.360
 like the Lord

00:49:00.360 --> 00:49:00.960
 is my portion.

00:49:02.099 --> 00:49:03.579
 I need nothing else.

00:49:03.800 --> 00:49:04.099
 And so,

00:49:04.860 --> 00:49:05.320
 so God,

00:49:05.420 --> 00:49:05.519
 yeah,

00:49:05.579 --> 00:49:05.700
 like,

00:49:05.740 --> 00:49:06.780
 help us believe

00:49:06.780 --> 00:49:08.200
 that Christ is enough.

00:49:08.300 --> 00:49:08.700
 He is.

00:49:09.559 --> 00:49:09.920
 And,

00:49:10.000 --> 00:49:10.519
 and you know,

00:49:10.619 --> 00:49:10.720
 like,

00:49:10.740 --> 00:49:11.740
 just even look in your life

00:49:11.740 --> 00:49:12.280
 and you'll be able to,

00:49:12.340 --> 00:49:12.400
 like,

00:49:12.420 --> 00:49:13.460
 just trace all the evidence

00:49:13.460 --> 00:49:14.519
 that none of this junk

00:49:14.519 --> 00:49:15.740
 lines up.

00:49:15.920 --> 00:49:17.400
 It's not what satisfies.

00:49:18.160 --> 00:49:19.240
 It doesn't bring contentment.

00:49:19.880 --> 00:49:22.380
 Only found in Christ alone.

00:49:23.340 --> 00:49:23.740
 And so,

00:49:23.820 --> 00:49:24.800
 let me pray for us

00:49:24.800 --> 00:49:25.000
 and,

00:49:26.000 --> 00:49:27.320
 I don't know where Wes is,

00:49:27.320 --> 00:49:27.559
 but,

00:49:27.700 --> 00:49:27.800
 oh,

00:49:27.860 --> 00:49:28.500
 let's get his head down.

00:49:28.920 --> 00:49:29.579
 Wes can come up

00:49:29.579 --> 00:49:31.639
 and play a song.

00:49:33.360 --> 00:49:33.880
 Father,

00:49:33.980 --> 00:49:34.880
 we just want to

00:49:34.880 --> 00:49:36.579
 come before you

00:49:36.579 --> 00:49:37.679
 and confess that

00:49:37.679 --> 00:49:38.920
 even as

00:49:38.920 --> 00:49:41.960
 people who know you,

00:49:42.920 --> 00:49:43.860
 people that you brought

00:49:43.860 --> 00:49:44.860
 salvation to,

00:49:45.679 --> 00:49:47.079
 we still battle

00:49:47.079 --> 00:49:47.559
 with,

00:49:47.619 --> 00:49:47.860
 um,

00:49:48.679 --> 00:49:49.679
 with being content.

00:49:50.039 --> 00:49:50.559
 And,

00:49:50.659 --> 00:49:52.739
 we believe the lies

00:49:52.739 --> 00:49:54.779
 or we believe

00:49:54.779 --> 00:49:55.719
 if we just had

00:49:55.719 --> 00:49:56.739
 whatever

00:49:56.739 --> 00:49:57.879
 that we'd be content.

00:49:58.419 --> 00:49:58.479
 And,

00:49:59.639 --> 00:50:00.659
 but that's the lie.

00:50:01.119 --> 00:50:01.219
 It's,

00:50:02.379 --> 00:50:03.679
 contentment's only found

00:50:03.679 --> 00:50:05.219
 in what we've been given

00:50:05.219 --> 00:50:05.839
 in Christ,

00:50:05.959 --> 00:50:06.500
 in Him.

00:50:06.759 --> 00:50:07.679
 Nothing outside

00:50:07.679 --> 00:50:09.059
 of Christ.

00:50:09.139 --> 00:50:09.899
 Not something that Christ

00:50:09.899 --> 00:50:10.859
 even gives us.

00:50:11.699 --> 00:50:12.759
 Not even a good thing.

00:50:12.819 --> 00:50:14.219
 It's only found in Him.

00:50:14.299 --> 00:50:15.119
 One place

00:50:15.119 --> 00:50:16.719
 with a capital P

00:50:16.719 --> 00:50:17.419
 and it's Jesus.

00:50:17.420 --> 00:50:17.980
 And,

00:50:19.180 --> 00:50:19.420
 God,

00:50:19.480 --> 00:50:20.500
 I pray that we would just

00:50:20.500 --> 00:50:22.820
 believe that,

00:50:22.900 --> 00:50:23.340
 help us,

00:50:23.460 --> 00:50:24.019
 strengthen us

00:50:24.019 --> 00:50:24.800
 to believe that

00:50:24.800 --> 00:50:26.420
 we can do all things

00:50:26.420 --> 00:50:26.880
 through Him

00:50:26.880 --> 00:50:27.940
 who gives us strength.

00:50:28.440 --> 00:50:28.460
 And,

00:50:29.240 --> 00:50:29.780
 so,

00:50:29.880 --> 00:50:30.119
 Father,

00:50:30.460 --> 00:50:32.700
 may that be true of us

00:50:32.700 --> 00:50:34.599
 and may You work

00:50:34.599 --> 00:50:35.400
 in our hearts

00:50:35.400 --> 00:50:36.280
 and as we respond

00:50:36.280 --> 00:50:37.079
 just in singing,

00:50:37.260 --> 00:50:38.920
 may it be a way

00:50:38.920 --> 00:50:40.159
 just to further

00:50:40.159 --> 00:50:42.980
 draw near to You,

00:50:43.099 --> 00:50:43.240
 Lord,

00:50:43.380 --> 00:50:44.619
 and in our discussion

00:50:44.619 --> 00:50:45.320
 groups later.

00:50:45.320 --> 00:50:47.360
 I pray all this

00:50:47.360 --> 00:50:48.740
 in Christ's name.

00:50:49.080 --> 00:50:49.320
 Amen.