WEBVTT

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 Heavenly Father, I thank you that we're able to come into a building and to worship you,

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 that we're able to pray to you, we're able to study your word,

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 we're able to have fellowship and meet with each other.

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 I just thank you for that, Lord.

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 There might be some of us here who have had a hard year,

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 and there might be also people here who have had a good year.

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 But I ask all those distractions would just fall away,

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 and we would just be focused on what you want to say to us and on your glory and on nothing else.

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 In Jesus' name, amen.

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 So we're in that time of year now where Christmas has happened.

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 We've done all the spending.

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 We've done all the family stuff.

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 And we're kind of in that limbo right now between Christmas Day and New Year's

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 where we don't know when the stores are open or what to do.

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 And if you're anything like me, during this time over the past couple of years,

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 I've tried to use this time to reflect on the past year or things from my past.

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 I haven't been able to do that this year because my brother-in-law is getting married tomorrow,

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 so it's been very chaotic.

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 But normally I would be reflecting about certain things that I've set,

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 like goals I've set over the past couple of years.

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 And the funny thing is, our culture loves to set goals.

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 You see it all in books everywhere, all in bookstores.

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 You see it in magazines.

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 You see it online in podcasts.

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 All over the place.

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 And if you're anything like me, I personally set goals for a lot of things,

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 for my fitness, for my spending habits, even for my marriage, my friendships,

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 and for travel plans, for my dreams that I have to travel.

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 And maybe you're also like me, and maybe you failed at some of these goals.

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 Or maybe you also succeeded in some of these goals.

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 And it's interesting because Paul, in this text that we're about to look at,

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 talks about a goal.

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 He talks about straining towards a goal.

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 He talks about this ultimate goal.

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 This goal that is so great that he gave his life for this goal.

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 So if you could turn with me to Philippians chapter 3, verses 12 to 21,

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 I would like to take a closer look at this.

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 So again, it's Philippians chapter 3, verses 12 to 21.

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 And if you don't have a Bible, there's some up here.

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 Feel free to come up and grab one wherever you want.

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 If you don't have one, you can take it, bring it home, it's yours.

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 Or you can just read from the screen up there.

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 So as you're turning there, I will talk a bit about the context.

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 So this is a letter to a church in Philippi by the Apostle Paul.

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 Paul was writing this letter from a jail in Rome.

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 So this is one of his famous jail epistles.

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 And Philippi, this city, was a city refounded by the Roman emperor Augustus.

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 And because of that, it had special status.

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 It had status because it was the Augustian colony, which let it be exempted from certain taxes.

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 This town was found in eastern Macedonia.

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 It was found along an important Roman commercial road called the Ignatian Way.

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 This church would have been mainly Gentiles.

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 And these people in this church were friends of Paul.

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 You can see that in his writings when he writes this letter to the Philippian church

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 that he has this kind of friendly tone to them.

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 And he says he's visited them a couple times.

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 So he knows these people.

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 So let's take a look at this.

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 So at the beginning in verse 12.

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 Not that I've already obtained this or am already perfect,

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 but I press on to make it my own,

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 because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

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 So in the previous verses, you have to remember when you read the Bible,

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 you have to always take everything in the context of the book that's written.

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 You can't just pick verses out.

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 So in the previous verses of chapter 3,

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 Paul has been talking about, he talked about his past.

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 He talked about how he was a Hebrew of Hebrews.

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 He was a Pharisee.

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 He used to persecute the church.

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 And so he would have had this status

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 where he would have been considered very high,

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 almost above other people.

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 And then he threw it all away.

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 Why did he throw it all away?

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 But he says that he threw it all away

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 because everything is rubbish compared to knowing Christ,

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 compared to knowing Jesus Christ.

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 Another way to describe his level of how high he would have been in his society

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 was I'm currently reading Harry Potter.

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 And in it, there's two different types of wizards.

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 There's pureblood wizards, and then there's halfblood wizards.

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 And the way you're a pureblood wizard is if both your parents were wizards,

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 one's a wizard, one's a witch.

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 And if you're a halfblood, one is only magical, one is not.

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 So Paul would have been a pureblood.

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 He would have almost like a higher status.

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 People would have came to him for advice and all that.

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 And then he threw it all away.

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 He says it.

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 He got rid of it because he considered it rubbish.

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 Now what does he mean by obtained when he says,

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 not that I've already attained this or am already perfect?

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 Well, if you look at verse 11, he says,

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 that by any means possible, I may obtain the resurrection from the dead.

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 Now some of you here might be like, oh, time out.

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 Matt, you just said resurrection.

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 Don't you know we live in the 21st century?

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 These things don't exist.

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 It's been proven by science.

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 Well, I believe this because there's hundreds of eyewitness accounts of the resurrection.

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 They're written down.

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 It's the same way in the history books that are in our schools or in libraries.

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 The way they make, they write these history books is from eyewitness accounts of ancient,

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 like if there's something about the ancient wars, it's all written from eyewitness accounts.

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 And it's interesting because there's more, there's more written accounts on, for the resurrection

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 than there is for a lot of the, a lot of the great ancient wars that they're talked about in schools.

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 And it's interesting also that people are so quick to, to throw away that the resurrection

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 could actually happen, that this miracle could happen.

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 But then they're so quick to hold to the theory of evolution, which is also a miracle event.

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 The evolution theory is how, is how it's claimed that how the world came to be from a big bang.

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 But that takes also a faith to believe in.

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 That also takes a faith in a miracle event that happened.

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 But there's no eyewitness accounts of that.

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 So when Paul talks about a resurrection, we could actually believe this because there's,

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 there's written accounts of eyewitnesses.

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 So continuing in verses 13, brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I've made it my own.

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 But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

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 I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

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 So Paul, he says he left behind, in the previous verses, he left behind the status he had.

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 He left behind, he left behind all these like sins he committed, everything.

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 He's, he's tried to forget about them to look forward.

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 Many of us have past hurts.

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 Many of us have these things that we've committed that we think are so bad that like no one could possibly love us.

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 Many of us have past accomplishments that we put our pride in, that we hold to.

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 How many of us can't seem to forget about our past?

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 Now I'm not saying, and Paul isn't saying that we shouldn't just block out our past,

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 that we shouldn't just, like we shouldn't suppress it.

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 We should remember our past.

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 But when our past controls us, that is when we, that is when it's wrong.

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 And that's what Paul does.

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 He wants to forget about the past so we can strain forward,

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 so he can put all his hope in Jesus, in Jesus Christ.

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 You could be here, and you don't know God.

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 And you don't, maybe you don't want to know God.

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 But you're tormented.

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 You could be tormented by these pains, these hurts,

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 or you could put all your pride in these accomplishments that you have.

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 The world tells you to never forget your past,

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 or to never forget where you came from.

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 But it offers you no way to deal with the pain of your past.

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 It says that it has certain things that could help you,

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 but in the end, it'll always fail.

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 And here Paul is saying there's something.

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 There's a hope.

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 There's something found in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

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 He strains forward, and that is what he's telling the church in Philippi,

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 the Philippians, and that's what also we could take from it.

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 And notice how he says strain in verse 13,

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 and press on towards the goal in verse 14.

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 Now, I'm really into climbing.

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 I've been climbing for about 10 years,

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 or I guess a little bit more than 10 years now.

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 And when you get to a certain point in rock climbing,

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 where once you've done all the easy stuff,

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 you have to start selecting routes that you want to spend more time in.

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 A route is when you start from the bottom and you get to the top of the cliff.

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 There's certain lines in the rock features that you climb,

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 weaknesses in the rock.

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 And when you pick these harder routes,

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 you have to actually train for them.

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 You have to train your fingers,

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 your tendons have to be strengthened,

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 you have to have a general fitness.

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 And when you pick these routes and you put all that time in,

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 the goal of climbing is to start from the bottom and get to the top without falling.

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 But when it comes to climbing,

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 when you get up to the hard parts,

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 this thing's called the crux,

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 the crux of the route.

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 If you hesitate,

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 you'll fall.

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 If you look back,

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 you'll fall.

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 And it's the same thing with Olympic athletes.

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 These people spend their entire lives for the one moment,

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 the one opportunity they have,

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 to try to get the gold medal.

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 And if an Olympic runner was running the race and it was really close,

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 if he looks back,

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 that would actually bring him back in the race

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 because it would reduce his speed.

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 So when they're running,

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 they're straining towards the goal,

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 the prize,

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 which to them is the gold medal.

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 But isn't Paul already a Christian?

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 Why must he strain?

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 Well,

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 any goal you set

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 and become slack in,

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 you won't achieve it.

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 And when Paul says,

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 the goal or prize,

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 what is he talking about?

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 He is talking about Jesus.

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 Jesus is the ultimate prize.

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 Jesus is the ultimate goal.

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 The finished work of the cross,

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 that is the goal,

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 that is the prize.

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 You see,

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 when you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ,

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 you are instantly justified.

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 It's like,

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 there's this thing that's like,

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 the already happened.

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 Because of what Jesus did on the cross,

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 and when you put your faith and trust in it,

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 you're instantly justified.

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 You are right before God.

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 But then there's also a process after,

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 and that process is called sanctification.

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 So what that means is,

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 when you put your faith and trust in Jesus,

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 you're justified.

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 But that doesn't mean you continue on

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 just doing the same thing you're doing.

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 You have to actually do a 180

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 and go the opposite way.

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 Before I became a Christian,

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 I was involved in many,

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 like,

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 I was doing drugs,

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 I was a heavy drinker.

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 I come from a pretty rough past.

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 And when I became a Christian,

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 when I had that moment,

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 if I continued in what I was doing,

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 I wouldn't have been,

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 I wouldn't have been the right way.

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 You have to,

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 when you become a Christian,

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 you have to go the other way.

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 It's a higher calling.

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 And continuing in verse 15,

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 Paul says,

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 let those of us who are mature think this way.

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 And if in anything you think otherwise,

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 God will reveal that also to you.

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 Only let us hold true to what we have obtained.

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 Now when Paul says mature,

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 he's not talking about,

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 he's like,

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 it's not talking about older people.

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 When he says mature,

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 the word in the Greek

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 could also mean perfect.

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 But that kind of sounds a bit,

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 it sounds a bit like Paul's full of himself.

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 But that's not what he's saying.

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 What Paul is saying

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 is those who are,

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 who are mature slash perfect

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 are the ones who realize

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 they are not mature slash perfect.

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 They're the ones who realize

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 that they can do nothing

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 to obtain the prize.

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 They can do nothing

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 to obtain the goal.

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 They have to put all their faith

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 and trust in Jesus Christ.

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 They have to let him

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 win the race for them.

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 But some of you might be saying,

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 but surely I've been a good person

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 and that's enough

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 to get me right with God.

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 Other people could be saying,

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 but I've served at the church

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 for many years.

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 Isn't that enough?

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 Other people could say,

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 but I tithe

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 and I follow everything

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 that the Bible says.

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 Isn't that enough?

00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:26.899
 It's only when you realize

00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:27.940
 that the finished work

00:14:27.940 --> 00:14:29.220
 of the cross

00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:30.539
 and your faith in Jesus Christ

00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:32.220
 is the only way to be saved.

00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:34.120
 And when you realize that,

00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:35.740
 that is when you start the race.

00:14:35.820 --> 00:14:36.779
 That is when you get up

00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:37.580
 and you start going

00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:38.420
 towards the goal.

00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:40.440
 But it's so easy

00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:41.980
 to get pulled off to the side.

00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:43.980
 So that's why Paul says

00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:44.840
 we must strain,

00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:45.940
 we must press on

00:14:45.940 --> 00:14:46.779
 towards the goal.

00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:50.839
 Now as you read Philippians,

00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:51.879
 there's clearly,

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.240
 there's a clear distinction

00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.559
 between two themes.

00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:57.000
 One is this theme of joy.

00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:59.379
 Paul says joy constantly

00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:00.139
 through this.

00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:02.240
 The other theme

00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.699
 is a theme of unity.

00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.039
 And it's interesting

00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:06.819
 when you look closely at it,

00:15:07.079 --> 00:15:07.959
 the only way you could get

00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:10.659
 this joy that Paul talks about

00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.639
 is in the unity.

00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:11.759
 unity.

00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.519
 And we see that

00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:16.120
 in verses 15 and 16.

00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:18.519
 Paul talks about being unified.

00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:19.559
 He talks about

00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:20.759
 that we need to,

00:15:21.059 --> 00:15:22.220
 you guys need to come together

00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:23.059
 and be unified.

00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.620
 So in climbing,

00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:26.659
 when you've done

00:15:26.659 --> 00:15:27.279
 all your training,

00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:27.919
 when you've done,

00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:28.860
 when you've picked your route

00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:29.600
 and when you're trying

00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.319
 to climb it,

00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:32.559
 you can't just go up

00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:33.519
 and climb it on your own.

00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.299
 You need a partner.

00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:35.659
 You need a belayer.

00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:36.720
 And this belayer

00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.539
 is the person

00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:39.139
 who feeds your rope out.

00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:39.960
 He's the one

00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:41.120
 who gives you all,

00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.360
 gives you the slack,

00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:44.039
 who keeps the rope tight

00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:44.860
 in certain spots

00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:46.399
 that may be a bit more dangerous.

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.080
 He's the one

00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:47.820
 who catches you

00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:48.480
 if you fall.

00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:50.679
 And the rope,

00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:51.980
 the rope that's

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:52.919
 between the two of you

00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:53.679
 holds you together

00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:54.360
 to the cliff.

00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:55.279
 It is what keeps you

00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:55.960
 to the cliff.

00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.679
 And most people

00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:00.259
 who climb without a rope

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.159
 or without a partner,

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:01.980
 unfortunately,

00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:03.139
 eventually fall

00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:04.279
 and they die

00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:04.820
 because they have nothing

00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.560
 to catch them.

00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:07.340
 And it's the same

00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.460
 with the church

00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:10.320
 except the gospel of Christ

00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:11.060
 is the rope.

00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.460
 That is what keeps you

00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:13.399
 together.

00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:15.000
 And you have the belayer.

00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:16.179
 You may think

00:16:16.179 --> 00:16:17.240
 you don't need fellowship

00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:19.200
 or you can't relate

00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:19.700
 to the people

00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:20.360
 at the church

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:22.159
 or you've heard it all before

00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.659
 or the sermons

00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:24.779
 might be too long

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:26.000
 or the service

00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:26.740
 might be too long

00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:27.620
 or it doesn't fit

00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.980
 with the way you feel

00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:30.519
 church service should be.

00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:31.340
 Well,

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:32.019
 I encourage you

00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:32.580
 to reflect

00:16:32.580 --> 00:16:33.539
 and look around.

00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:35.039
 Are you alone?

00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.939
 Do you have

00:16:36.939 --> 00:16:37.959
 unbearable stress

00:16:37.959 --> 00:16:39.079
 and no one

00:16:39.079 --> 00:16:39.939
 to share the burden

00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:40.659
 with besides

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.860
 it could be yourself

00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:42.639
 or your spouse?

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.219
 We need each other.

00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:45.379
 It's all through

00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:46.079
 the New Testament.

00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:46.819
 It's all through

00:16:46.819 --> 00:16:47.299
 Philippians.

00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:48.079
 We need unity.

00:16:48.199 --> 00:16:49.099
 We need to be together.

00:16:50.579 --> 00:16:51.240
 And I know

00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.399
 church isn't perfect.

00:16:53.219 --> 00:16:53.839
 A lot of churches

00:16:53.839 --> 00:16:55.099
 have a lot of bad things

00:16:55.099 --> 00:16:55.339
 in it

00:16:55.339 --> 00:16:56.099
 but we're human.

00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:56.579
 We're not

00:16:56.579 --> 00:16:57.659
 perfect people.

00:16:57.659 --> 00:17:02.379
 And in verse 17

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.240
 Paul says

00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:04.799
 Brothers and sisters

00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:07.059
 join in imitating me

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.079
 and keep your eyes

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.039
 on those who walk

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:10.720
 according to the examples

00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.000
 to the example

00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.940
 you have in us.

00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:16.539
 When Paul says this

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:17.759
 he's talking to them

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.619
 because there's many

00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.420
 false teachers

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.519
 around in the area

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.019
 who are trying

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:22.139
 to infiltrate the church

00:17:22.139 --> 00:17:23.240
 to make them

00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.399
 go in opposite direction.

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:26.119
 And you could

00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:27.539
 and the way you could

00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:28.480
 tell a false teacher

00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.059
 is someone who's

00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:30.339
 contrary to the Bible.

00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.539
 He's contrary to what

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.240
 they're talking.

00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:32.819
 So Paul

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:34.819
 even though he is human

00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:35.700
 was confident

00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:36.759
 in the way he walked.

00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:37.759
 So he told them

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.519
 to imitate him.

00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:39.639
 It's the same way

00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:41.579
 many people

00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:42.379
 I myself

00:17:42.379 --> 00:17:44.319
 will read like a biography

00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:45.960
 or watch things

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.359
 on YouTube

00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:49.779
 about interesting people

00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:51.319
 and we try to copy them.

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.799
 We try to live out

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:54.500
 the way they live.

00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:56.480
 And it's kind of the same way

00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.519
 that's what Paul's saying

00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:57.940
 here.

00:17:58.740 --> 00:18:00.039
 He says

00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:01.400
 I follow

00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:02.779
 the Bible.

00:18:03.139 --> 00:18:04.099
 I follow scriptures.

00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.859
 So follow

00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:06.839
 what I'm doing.

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.619
 And in verse 18

00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:11.859
 Paul says

00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:13.119
 for many of whom

00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:14.359
 I've often told you

00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:15.500
 and now tell you

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.480
 even with tears

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.839
 walk as enemies

00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:18.839
 of the cross

00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:20.099
 of Christ.

00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.079
 Their end

00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:21.740
 is destruction.

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:22.740
 Their God

00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.420
 is their belly

00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:24.379
 and the glory

00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:25.079
 and their shame

00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:25.980
 with minds

00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.559
 set on earthly

00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:28.399
 things.

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.980
 Now what is the enemy

00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:30.599
 of the cross

00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:31.559
 when he says that?

00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.879
 An enemy of the cross

00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:35.419
 is someone

00:18:35.419 --> 00:18:36.059
 who's contrary

00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.299
 to the gospel.

00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.220
 Who lives contrary

00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:38.899
 to the gospel.

00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:40.299
 But you've got to

00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:41.559
 look at this

00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.339
 because it says

00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:43.699
 to the cross

00:18:43.699 --> 00:18:44.379
 of Christ.

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:45.399
 It doesn't say to you.

00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.460
 It's the cross

00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.059
 of Christ.

00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:47.179
 Christ.

00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:49.240
 So when there's

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.179
 people who live

00:18:50.179 --> 00:18:51.619
 contrary to what

00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:52.539
 the Bible says

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.619
 we're not to make

00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:54.359
 them our enemies.

00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:56.079
 We're to show them

00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:56.440
 Jesus.

00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:57.119
 We're to love

00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:58.059
 on people.

00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.539
 That is the calling

00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.059
 of a Christian

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:01.440
 is to love on people.

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.220
 Not to make people

00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:02.619
 our enemies.

00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.940
 Not to segregate people.

00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.440
 But to love on people.

00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:06.299
 And that is what

00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:07.279
 Paul's telling them.

00:19:10.399 --> 00:19:11.639
 And you see

00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:12.779
 that he cries

00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.299
 for them.

00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.440
 And why does he

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.099
 cry for them?

00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:17.699
 Because when you

00:19:17.699 --> 00:19:18.240
 look at this

00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.679
 Paul knows

00:19:19.679 --> 00:19:20.500
 these people

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.599
 that have fallen away.

00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.579
 He would have

00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.179
 talked to them.

00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:25.059
 He's talking about

00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:25.839
 Christians who have

00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.519
 fallen away.

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:31.119
 My wife Amy

00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:32.439
 is a huge fan

00:19:32.439 --> 00:19:34.240
 of Christmas movies.

00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:35.059
 So I've been watching

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:35.799
 Christmas movies

00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:37.199
 since like

00:19:37.199 --> 00:19:38.179
 beginning of November.

00:19:39.179 --> 00:19:40.119
 And one of the

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:40.679
 Christmas movies

00:19:40.679 --> 00:19:41.519
 we watched this year

00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.819
 that I've never seen

00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.419
 this version

00:19:43.419 --> 00:19:44.740
 is The Christmas Carol.

00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:47.339
 And there's the

00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:48.279
 Jim Carrey version.

00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:49.299
 So The Christmas Carol

00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:49.839
 if you don't know

00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:50.339
 what it is

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.140
 it's a book

00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:52.940
 by Charles Dickens

00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:54.539
 from the 19th century.

00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:55.700
 And

00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:58.120
 there's a moment

00:19:58.120 --> 00:19:59.019
 in this

00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:01.480
 in the movie

00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.720
 where

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.859
 Scrooge

00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:04.920
 Scrooge is a man

00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.319
 who's

00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:06.279
 very stingy

00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:06.859
 with his money.

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.180
 He didn't like anyone.

00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:09.099
 He kept to himself.

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:09.660
 The only thing he wanted

00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:10.259
 to do was make

00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:10.759
 more money

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.299
 and more money.

00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:12.299
 And he didn't want

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.399
 to share any of it.

00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:15.440
 And there's a moment

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:17.259
 on Christmas Eve

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.240
 in The Christmas Carol

00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:19.440
 that he's visited

00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:21.619
 by his deceased

00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:22.299
 co-worker

00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:23.259
 the person he made

00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:24.139
 his business with.

00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:25.819
 And his name's Marley.

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.500
 And Marley

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:28.480
 warns Scrooge

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.039
 that if he doesn't

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:29.839
 change his ways

00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:30.599
 he's going to end up

00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.839
 the same way as him.

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.700
 And Marley

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.980
 when he comes into the scene

00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:35.639
 he's held by chains

00:20:35.639 --> 00:20:36.919
 to a box of money.

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:37.759
 And he can't

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.319
 grab the box of money

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.159
 but he always tries

00:20:40.159 --> 00:20:40.720
 to get it.

00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.440
 But he can't

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:43.339
 because he's a ghost.

00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:44.120
 He can't grab it.

00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:44.819
 He's tormented.

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.519
 And there's a moment

00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.279
 when Scrooge

00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.440
 is pulled to the window

00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.559
 as Marley is leaving

00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:51.559
 after he warns him

00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:52.220
 that he'd be visited

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.120
 by three ghosts.

00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:54.519
 And he looks out.

00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:55.319
 Scrooge looks out

00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:55.960
 into the city

00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.740
 and he sees

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.860
 an entire city

00:20:57.860 --> 00:20:58.600
 of ghosts

00:20:58.600 --> 00:20:59.839
 who are controlled

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.819
 by what they've idolized

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.680
 through their lives.

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:05.200
 And some are controlled

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.860
 by money.

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.600
 Some are controlled

00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.220
 by food.

00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:07.980
 Some are controlled

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.700
 by their lust.

00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:10.019
 Some are controlled

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.860
 by their debts.

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:11.980
 Some are controlled

00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:13.259
 by just trying

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:14.120
 to obtain power.

00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:14.799
 And you see them

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.200
 going through

00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:15.960
 all the city

00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:17.819
 trying to obtain this

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.840
 but they can't get it.

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.000
 These are the people

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.240
 that it's showing

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:21.980
 that their end

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.600
 is destruction

00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:23.700
 because they weren't

00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:25.000
 following

00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:26.279
 they didn't follow

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:27.059
 the goal.

00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.700
 And they've tried to

00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.600
 they've tried to

00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:32.840
 when they're all this

00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:33.759
 they're trying to

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:35.900
 they have no hope.

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:38.000
 But as Christians

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.080
 there is a hope

00:21:39.080 --> 00:21:40.100
 and that hope

00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:40.820
 is in Christ.

00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:42.200
 And that is the only thing

00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:43.160
 that will break you free

00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:45.140
 from your desires.

00:21:46.600 --> 00:21:47.540
 And when Paul talks

00:21:47.540 --> 00:21:49.060
 about these people

00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:49.540
 at their end

00:21:49.540 --> 00:21:50.280
 is their destruction

00:21:50.280 --> 00:21:51.000
 their God

00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.620
 is their belly

00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:53.060
 and they glory

00:21:53.060 --> 00:21:53.759
 in their shame

00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.420
 with minds

00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.880
 set on earthly things

00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:57.380
 you have to look at

00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:57.840
 when he says

00:21:57.840 --> 00:21:58.519
 mindset

00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:00.000
 when he says

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.620
 mindset

00:22:00.620 --> 00:22:01.660
 he's talking about

00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:02.019
 people

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:03.120
 who are

00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:03.780
 who are gone

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.519
 the other way

00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:04.879
 who are

00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:05.660
 who does not

00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.759
 who aren't living

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.799
 the Christian life anymore

00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:08.779
 they're going somewhere else

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.460
 their minds are

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.480
 completely set

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:12.379
 on another direction.

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:12.940
 It's not

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.779
 he's not talking about

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.559
 people who struggle

00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.279
 with sins

00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.259
 he's talking about

00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:16.680
 people who

00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.859
 who are actively

00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:19.200
 who are glorifying

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.119
 in the way they live

00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:20.859
 that are contrary

00:22:20.859 --> 00:22:21.539
 to the Bible.

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.500
 And Paul says

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.519
 something very interesting

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.819
 in verse 20

00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:28.079
 when he says

00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.000
 but our citizenship

00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:29.980
 is in heaven

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:32.039
 and from it

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.079
 we await a savior

00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:34.539
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.079
 who will transform

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:37.259
 our lowly body

00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:37.899
 to be like

00:22:37.899 --> 00:22:38.899
 his glorious body

00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:39.699
 by the power

00:22:39.699 --> 00:22:40.699
 that enables him

00:22:40.699 --> 00:22:42.019
 even to subject

00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:43.000
 all things

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:44.240
 to himself.

00:22:45.659 --> 00:22:46.419
 Now there's two

00:22:46.419 --> 00:22:47.279
 citizenships

00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.679
 that Paul is talking about

00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:49.579
 there's the worldly

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.259
 citizenship

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:52.000
 and to them

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.220
 to the Philippian church

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.919
 in Philippi

00:22:53.919 --> 00:22:54.759
 their citizenship

00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.379
 would have been

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:56.299
 a higher value

00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:57.460
 in the Roman colonies

00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.179
 because

00:22:58.179 --> 00:23:00.019
 they were exempted

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.740
 from taxes

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.640
 they lived

00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:03.180
 in a prospering city

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:04.779
 so to live there

00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.940
 to have that citizenship

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:07.519
 was of great value

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:09.200
 to have a Roman citizenship

00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.799
 you have to

00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:12.220
 pay a high price

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.579
 unless you're born

00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.220
 into it

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:15.900
 and then he talks

00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:17.120
 about heaven citizenship

00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:18.500
 heavenly citizenship

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:20.160
 this citizenship

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.720
 is a free

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.440
 citizenship

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.240
 that's offered

00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:23.900
 to everyone

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:26.079
 getting a citizenship

00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.940
 in the world

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:28.059
 is extremely hard

00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:28.799
 people come

00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:29.579
 overseas

00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:30.259
 and they have to

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:30.659
 go through

00:23:30.659 --> 00:23:31.579
 all this paperwork

00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:33.200
 and spend many months

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.299
 trying to get a citizenship

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:35.200
 they have to pay

00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:36.419
 a high fee for it

00:23:36.419 --> 00:23:37.899
 but this citizenship

00:23:37.899 --> 00:23:38.960
 is freely given

00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:41.720
 when you put your faith

00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:43.099
 and trust in Jesus

00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:43.980
 all things

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.819
 that pull you down

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.659
 won't have their

00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:46.379
 hold on you

00:23:46.379 --> 00:23:48.180
 when you strain

00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:48.960
 for the prize

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.259
 of seeing Jesus

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.240
 face to face

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:52.019
 when you run

00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:53.460
 with fellow believers

00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:54.379
 for the goal

00:23:54.379 --> 00:23:56.059
 for the goal

00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:57.019
 you're freely given

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:58.119
 your citizenship

00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:58.980
 will be in heaven

00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:00.420
 and Christ attained

00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:01.220
 that on the cross

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:02.220
 there's nothing you can do

00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:03.099
 to attain it

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:06.240
 you'll experience

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.339
 joy of knowing

00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:08.000
 that you have

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.039
 a father in heaven

00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:10.900
 and as we approach

00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:11.759
 this new year

00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:14.279
 why not set the goal

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.059
 of straining towards

00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:15.900
 the prize

00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:17.059
 of the gospel

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.599
 of Christ

00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.259
 straining towards

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.879
 the ultimate

00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:20.319
 the ultimate prize

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.079
 which is being

00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:22.400
 which is seeing Christ

00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:23.440
 face to face

00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:25.100
 and if you don't

00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:25.779
 know God

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:27.279
 now is the time

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.420
 to call out to him

00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:29.860
 now is to start

00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:30.440
 the race

00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.519
 now is the time

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.740
 to put all the

00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:34.400
 distractions of the world

00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.620
 and to turn your eyes

00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.120
 to Jesus

00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:37.299
 now is the time

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:39.019
 to know him

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:41.220
 please stand

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:49.680
 heavenly father

00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:54.860
 I thank you

00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:56.620
 thank you for

00:24:56.620 --> 00:24:57.980
 your word

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:59.259
 I thank you for Jesus

00:24:59.259 --> 00:24:59.960
 and what he did

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.640
 on the cross

00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:02.140
 I thank you for the

00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:03.140
 finished work

00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:03.920
 of Christ

00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:08.500
 I'm sure there's

00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.319
 people here

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.220
 I myself

00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:10.860
 who struggle

00:25:10.860 --> 00:25:12.720
 with constantly

00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.460
 looking towards

00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.019
 this goal

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.680
 and straining

00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:15.339
 towards it

00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:16.980
 I ask Lord

00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:18.799
 that you would

00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.839
 minister to us

00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.680
 you would work

00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.519
 in our lives

00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.600
 you would show us

00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:23.539
 that nothing else

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:25.039
 nothing else

00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:25.539
 matters

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.059
 except

00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:27.960
 except for you

00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:28.539
 and for

00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.839
 and your glory

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:31.299
 and I ask

00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:31.819
 that you would

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:33.519
 you would just

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.279
 minister to us

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:34.579
 Lord

00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:36.039
 in Jesus name

00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:36.759
 Amen